When Bai Shi went out to take out the trash, he was called out to by Mrs. Jose from next door.
The sun had just risen, and its golden light held no warmth yet. Mrs. Jose was holding a flexible leather hose, watering the blue flowers in her yard. She wore a wide-brimmed straw hat and yellow rubber gloves. The hat framed her face, which was lightly beaded with sweat that didn't smudge her morning makeup; she wore a pale lipstick suited for early morning chores.
She stopped the hose and waved at Bai Shi. Bai Shi smiled and nodded back, intending to head inside after tossing the trash, but Mrs. Jose called to him again across the fence. Bai Shi understood this was the time for small talk.
He walked over.
Mrs. Jose tilted her straw hat back, the string catching right by her ear. A red flower was tucked into the brim, which, combined with her deep-set features, made her look exceptionally charming.
But the charming lady was more interested in other matters.
"I haven't had the chance to properly congratulate you. Your brother is finally out of the hospital." The lady pulled off her gloves.
Bai Shi smiled. "Thank you."
"What about his follow-up treatments? If you need it, I happen to know a doctor—a family friend—who seems to be quite a researcher in neuroscience." She gave a shy smile. "I don't know much about these things myself."
"Neuroscience? What’s going on?" Santino ran over from somewhere. She seemed to have just finished a morning jog, wiping sweat with a towel around her neck as she leaned in. "Is it..."
The lady frowned, her face tightening as she hissed Santino’s name under her breath before turning back to Bai Shi. "My apologies."
"No need," Bai Shi replied, then continued to explain, "It’s his..." He pointed to his own head.
A look of sudden realization dawned on Santino’s face.
Mrs. Jose looked quite sympathetic. "When we were walking by the river last night, we heard..." She shot a quick glance at Bai Shi. "It must be very hard on you..."
Bai Shi smiled and waved it off. "Not at all."
"True, that’s a public place, everyone goes there. If there were any other way, I imagine you wouldn't want him in public..." She hesitated. "In any case, everyone is very willing to help if you need it."
Bai Shi looked touched. "Thank you." He paused. "Does everyone know now?"
Mrs. Jose nodded. "What exactly is his condition?"
Bai Shi spoke slowly. "It’s not the kind of illness where he’d hurt anyone."
Mrs. Jose waved her hands frantically. "I didn't mean it like that. I was just thinking perhaps you should notify the community police, just in case he gets lost?"
"Yes, though he doesn't go out much. If you see him, please help send him back."
"Of course, we’d be happy to help." Mrs. Jose’s expression turned serious. "By the way, I heard there was a break-in at 8A. Fortunately, no one was home, so no one was hurt."
"Is that so? Did they catch anyone?"
The lady shook her head. "No. Patrols will likely be increased." She sighed. "I heard a factory closed down recently, leaving many unemployed. There are a lot of protests in the Lower District. Sigh, in any case, we have to keep an eye out for them."
Bai Shi nodded.
Santino leaned on the fence, swinging her feet. "Mr. Bai, can we go over and play with him?"
Bai Shi hesitated for a moment, and Mrs. Jose reacted quickly, stopping Santino’s questioning again.
Bai Shi laughed. "I’m planning to hold a housewarming party anyway. You’re all welcome to come."
Mrs. Jose’s face instantly brightened. She clapped her hands, a girlish glint in her eyes. "Then we’ll definitely come to help."
Bai Shi thanked them.
The front door was suddenly pushed open. Pei Cangyu stood in the doorway with a toothbrush in his mouth, calling out loudly, "Hey—"
Then he saw the two ladies and immediately wilted. He gave a sheepish greeting, then looked at Bai Shi, his voice dropping. "Uh, we’re out of toothpaste..."
Bai Shi politely bid them farewell, walked back to the house, and closed the heavy door.
Mrs. Jose put her gloves back on and patted Santino, who was still staring at the door. "What are you looking at?"
Santino pursed her lips. "I just feel like they’re very strange." Then she laughed. "In their language, is 'Hey' Mr. Bai’s name?" She mimicked the shout Pei Cangyu had just made.
***
Bai Shi walked inside. "The furniture delivery is coming today."
"That fast?" Pei Cangyu took the toothpaste Bai Shi handed him. "What time?"
"Around nine." He checked his watch. "We need to move the old sofa out of the way." As he spoke, he moved to head out and start moving it.
Pei Cangyu quickly grabbed him, ignoring the foam still in his mouth. "Wait for me!"
Bai Shi looked down at the foam Pei Cangyu had splattered on him. Pei Cangyu hurriedly reached out to wipe it off and rinsed his mouth, never letting go of Bai Shi’s clothes the whole time.
"I mean, we’ll move it together. And we should move the stuff upstairs first, right?"
"Fine, but haven't you eaten yet?"
"I don't need to eat; I don't like eating. Let’s go!" He quickly walked out, standing in the middle of the hall with his hands on his hips, waving his arms like a commander. "Like this: upstairs to move the bed first, then the sofa once the upstairs is done."
Bai Shi looked at him. "We don't need to move them. They’ll do it for us and dispose of the old ones too."
"Then why were you moving the sofa?"
"Just moving it to a different spot."
"Oh, oh." Pei Cangyu thought about it. "Where to?"
"Wherever."
"Is upstairs okay?"
"...It’s not impossible."
"Good." Pei Cangyu walked over and patted his shoulder. "You go upstairs and pick a room; I’ll clear off the sofa."
Bai Shi’s gaze moved past him toward the sofa. "Clear off what?"
Pei Cangyu turned his head too. "The pills, the syringes... speaking of which, I just remembered you sticking me with needles..."
Bai Shi fell silent.
"You go up first then."
Bai Shi nodded and went upstairs.
He chose a room with a view of the distant mountains. A sofa would be perfect here; perhaps he could renovate this room when he had time. Having decided, he went back downstairs and saw Pei Cangyu from a distance, squatting behind the sofa.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Pei Cangyu stood up quickly. "Did you pick one?"
"Yes. The second room on the north side. You can see the mountain peaks from the window. In the summer, there will be clouds layered over the ridges; you can also sit there and watch the sunrise..." He saw Pei Cangyu suddenly chuckle. "What is it?"
"I just feel like... you’re quite happy." Pei Cangyu leaned against the sofa, tilting his head to look at him.
Bai Shi didn't answer.
Pei Cangyu clapped his hands loudly and stretched his arms. "Alright, let’s get to work."
Perhaps because he really hadn't eaten, Pei Cangyu felt exceptionally tired. After they finished moving things downstairs, he sat on the floor, his stomach growling. Bai Shi poured him a glass of water.
"What do you want to eat?"
Pei Cangyu looked up at him. "Are you making it for me?"
"Yes."
"Then..." Pei Cangyu downed the water in one go and flopped onto his back on the floor. "Pick whatever you’re best at. If it’s not good, I’m not paying."
Bai Shi stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
Pei Cangyu looked at Bai Shi’s silhouette from his position on the floor; the world was upside down in his eyes. Just like his current muddled life—though lying with his head down made the blood rush to his brain, being a bit dizzy wasn't necessarily a bad thing for a fool like him.
The doorbell rang.
The movers were efficient, quickly placing everything according to instructions. Pei Cangyu sat in the corner eating the pasta Bai Shi had made, a Coke on the floor beside him. He watched them work as he ate, thinking that this job wouldn't be bad. They all had the look of "upright citizens" on their faces. In contrast, Bai Shi stood nearby with his hands in his pockets, looking like a pampered scion who had never touched a speck of dust in his life.
Pei Cangyu finished his noodles in a few bites and helped them lift a kitchen cabinet. Once he started moving, Bai Shi, who had been watching from the side, more or less lent a hand too, though he looked lazy, as if he still didn't want to do manual labor.
They even gave Pei Cangyu a towel. Wearing only a tank top, Pei Cangyu blended in with the workers who had taken off their jackets; he looked like a short novice, fitting in quite well.
Bai Shi stood far off to the side, arms crossed, looking at the furniture critically, his hands clearly having never touched dishwater.
Pei Cangyu was gesturing something to the workers, laughing as he did. Bai Shi frowned from behind. Pei Cangyu turned around and waved at Bai Shi. "Hey, pour a few glasses of water."
Bai Shi didn't move. "They should be finished by now."
"Huh?"
Bai Shi walked over, maintaining a distance from the group sitting on the floor. He told them they had worked hard and that because the weather was hot today, he would increase their labor fee. The leader, a Black man, immediately understood his meaning and signaled the others to stand up and prepare to leave.
Pei Cangyu didn't understand what they said; he only saw the people sitting next to him stand up one by one and say goodbye to him, presumably leaving.
Bai Shi bid them farewell again, saw them to the door, and then returned.
Pei Cangyu was sitting on the floor, picking at a loose splinter on the edge of the floorboards. A blue-gray shirt was tied around his waist, the back of his black tank top was soaked with sweat, and he was still wearing slippers. He must have stubbed his toe earlier; his big toe was bleeding. But Pei Cangyu just kept his head down, picking at the floor.
Bai Shi took a few steps toward him and then stopped. His sensitive nose twitched. "Take off the clothes you're wearing."
Pei Cangyu looked up blankly, then realized. "Crap, I borrowed someone's shirt to block the dust and forgot to give it back." He scrambled up, wanting to see if they had gone far.
Bai Shi grabbed his arm. "No need. I’ll return it to their company."
Pei Cangyu gave an "oh" and slowly took it off, holding it out to Bai Shi. "If you're giving it back to someone else, give it a wash."
Bai Shi looked at him in surprise. Seeing that Bai Shi didn't take it, Pei Cangyu looked back in surprise as well.
"Why are you handing it to me?"
Pei Cangyu found it strange too. "Ah, aren't you going to wash it?"
"What?"
Pei Cangyu spread his hands. "It’s not that I won't wash it, it’s just that I thought," he pulled it back, "you were planning to do everything—cooking, laundry..."
Bai Shi stared at him.
Pei Cangyu summoned his courage to look back. "Then what about my old clothes?"
"Thrown away."
"..."
"What is it?"
Pei Cangyu leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "I’m talking about you. You won't eat at street stalls, you won't sit on the floor, you won't do heavy labor... you’re practically like a spoiled young lady."
Bai Shi narrowed his eyes. "And you?"
"Me?" Pei Cangyu grinned. "I’m just the hired hand working himself to the bone for the young lady." He tossed the shirt over his shoulder and whistled as he walked toward the laundry room.
Pei Cangyu hummed an old song, scrubbing the clothes as he sang. Realizing someone was behind him, he didn't even turn his head. "What is it?"
"Why aren't you using the washing machine?"
Pei Cangyu whipped his head around. "Crap, I wanted to ask you that! What’s the deal with you buying a coin-operated one?"
"Is it?" Bai Shi seemed to be hearing this for the first time. He walked over, looked at it, touched it, and nodded. "Indeed."
Pei Cangyu: "..."
He continued scrubbing, then turned back again. "What do you want?"
Bai Shi hesitated. "Do you want to drink some milk?"
Pei Cangyu stopped and looked at him. "Whatever, why?"
"So that’s a yes?"
Pei Cangyu felt a bit strange. "What are you doing?"
He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but Bai Shi seemed to cough awkwardly. "Come out for a moment."
Pei Cangyu followed him out.
Bai Shi stood outside the kitchen, pointing at the sink inside. "Do you know how to fix a drain?"
He asked the question, but his gaze drifted away, avoiding Pei Cangyu’s eyes.
Pei Cangyu looked at the sink, then at Bai Shi, and laughed knowingly. "Oh, so now you remember your hired hand?"
Bai Shi cleared his throat. "Not exactly, but since you lived alone, you should be good at repairing things."
Pei Cangyu walked over to check it out while replying, "Listen to you, as if you didn't live alone too."
"It’s different." Bai Shi followed him. "I don't do much manual labor."
Pei Cangyu curled his lip and nodded. "Yeah, I can tell." He reached down and opened the cabinet under the sink.
"I received professional training. It was goal-oriented, very busy. I couldn't do everything." Bai Shi was actually explaining himself.
Pei Cangyu nodded dismissively, almost wanting to laugh. "Right, right. You’re a busy man, a high-tech talent."
Bai Shi agreed. "Yes." Then he realized. "It’s not that I can’t, it’s that I don't have the time, do you understand?"
Pei Cangyu simply sat on the floor and looked up at him, his expression saying he saw right through him. "Alright, alright, I know you’re a 'real man,' okay? So you don't know how to fix things—knowing how to cook is enough." He patted the floor. "Bring your hired hand a wrench. Do you even know what a wrench is, Young Lady?"
Bai Shi’s ears actually turned a bit red. He stood there, pursed his lips, and turned to leave, his movement stirring a gust of wind.
Pei Cangyu’s gaze followed him, and he sighed in disbelief. "Holy crap... he really hasn't changed much..." Then he thought about it. "Except for being even gayer..."
He saw Bai Shi turning the corner to come back and quickly turned his head, returning his attention to the pipes.
Bai Shi dropped the toolbox on the floor with a thud. The wrenches and screwdrivers inside clattered loudly, and the lid was jolted open.
But the angrier Bai Shi got, the more Pei Cangyu wanted to laugh. He thought inappropriately: *Is this how Bai Shi reacts when I’m the one who’s angry?*
He picked out a small flashlight and held it in his mouth. He looked up at Bai Shi. "Want me to teach you?" As he spoke, he scooted forward, using his tongue to click the switch at the back of the flashlight. The light flickered on, and he looked up at the path of the pipes.
Bai Shi watched him. Not only did he not sit down to learn, he even crossed his arms. "I can hire someone to fix it. It’s not expensive."
Pei Cangyu chuckled muffledly. "Oh, then go ahead."
Bai Shi didn't go. He took two steps back, intending to leave, but then he turned and saw Pei Cangyu sitting on the floor with his back arched, busy at work, the curve of his spine prominent.
So he walked back.
Pei Cangyu poked his head back out. "There’s a small crack. Just needs a patch."
"If it’s cracked, shouldn't it be replaced?" Bai Shi asked.
Pei Cangyu rummaged through the toolbox and found some soft aluminum tape. "It’s not that serious. I’ve fixed things at home many times. This is just a tiny crack..." As he spoke, he stuck his head back in.
"Eh?"
Bai Shi stepped forward. "What is it?"
"What’s this?" He pulled his head back out, holding a book covered in a layer of black mold.
Bai Shi shook his head. "I don't know."
Pei Cangyu wiped it, getting his hands covered in black grime, but he didn't care much. He looked at the cover. Oh, an erotic magazine. Why? Because the two men on the cover were leaning back, thrusting their meager scraps of fabric toward the camera. There was a hint of hair visible, and combined with their deliberate gazes, unless one was blind, it was impossible not to guess what it was.
Pei Cangyu gave Bai Shi a strange look. "Your hobbies have a long history, I see."
"It’s not mine." Bai Shi looked at him. "My hobbies are very singular."
Pei Cangyu quickly looked down and coughed. "Then whose is it?"
"I don't know." Bai Shi wiped the floor with a rag, then wiped it again with some tissue before sitting down. He took the magazine from Pei Cangyu. "It probably belonged to the person who helped me look after the house. Many years ago."
Pei Cangyu shrugged and went back to work.
Bai Shi sat beside him and flipped open the magazine.
Pei Cangyu glanced over. "...Hey, I’m telling you, doing this in broad daylight... I always watch at night, with the screen brightness at the lowest..."
Bai Shi continued flipping and drew in a breath.
Pei Cangyu suppressed his curiosity. "What? What is it? What?"
Bai Shi sighed softly. "I didn't know a man could twist himself like that..."
Pei Cangyu: "..."
He rolled his eyes at Bai Shi, who was discovering a whole new world, and continued his labor. As he worked, he heard the sound of pages turning and occasionally felt a gaze on him. It was annoying as hell.
He wiped his grime-covered hands all over Bai Shi’s white shirt, then laughed heartlessly.
Bai Shi froze for a moment. He stared at the soiled shirt and frowned. He frowned for a long time—so long that even Pei Cangyu didn't dare to laugh anymore. Finally, Bai Shi gave Pei Cangyu one last, deeply meaningful look before lowering his head to continue reading the book.
Pei Cangyu suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine.
***
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Stolen Jade | Chapter 112 | The Handyman and the Young Lady | Novela.app | Novela.app
