Tang Rui’s car didn’t have soundproofing as good as Yao Yi’s. The sounds from outside were very clear: someone who had just failed their test complaining, people on the phone, cars driving in, cars driving out…
Amidst the chaotic sounds, Chen Jian could still clearly hear his own heartbeat and breathing.
The air he breathed out felt hot against his nose.
He didn’t dare to look at Shan Yu, just lowered his head and stared at Shan Yu’s hand. Although it was wrapped in a bandage, Shan Yu’s hand was kept very clean, his nails neatly trimmed.
It was a bit awkward.
The warmth from his fingertips had already spread up his arm and all the way to his ears.
His ears were definitely red by now.
But he didn’t want to let go of Shan Yu’s hand.
So he squeezed Shan Yu’s fingertips—index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinky—one by one.
Just as he was about to squeeze them again in reverse, his phone rang.
He picked up his phone and saw it was his driving instructor, Coach Li.
He didn’t let go of Shan Yu’s hand, simply answering the phone with one hand, “Hello, Coach Li.”
“You have your exam in a bit, right?” Coach Li said. “I’m right at the entrance of the waiting hall…”
Chen Jian suddenly felt guilty like a thief and scanned the waiting hall… The instructors all dressed similarly and even looked somewhat alike. He had only met Coach Li once during the physical exam and couldn’t pick him out.
“Yes, there’s still…” Chen Jian glanced at his phone and was startled. There were only ten minutes left. “The test starts in ten minutes.”
“Don’t leave after the test. Since you’re already here,” Coach Li said, “I’ll take you for a practice run first.”
“Okay,” Chen Jian hung up the phone and turned to Shan Yu. “Damn, there are only ten minutes left.”
“Go on,” Shan Yu said.
“Mhm,” Chen Jian responded. He looked down and only then remembered that he was the one holding Shan Yu’s hand, not the other way around. He quickly let go and opened the car door.
As he jumped out of the car, he asked worriedly, “Are you just going to wait for me here?”
To be honest, the area was pretty desolate. There was only a general store across the street; he hadn’t seen any milk tea shops or cafes.
“Stop wasting time.” Shan Yu looked at him. “We arrived half an hour early; don’t be late and have to retake it.”
Chen Jian closed the car door and ran towards the exam hall.
Shan Yu got out of the car and walked around, intending to take a stroll nearby, but returned to the car in less than two minutes. It was cold.
He adjusted the seat, lay down, and held up his right hand.
When Chen Jian held his hand just now, it was as if he had forgotten that under the bandage was an injured hand. His grip had been quite strong, twisting his wound and making it ache. Holding it up now to reduce the blood flow made it feel a little better.
If Chen Jian had gone in five minutes later, his wound might have split open.
After holding it up for a while, Yue Lang’s call came through, as expected. He must have finished rafting.
“You’re truly my dear brother,” Yue Lang said.
“What, you want to kill me to inherit my mom’s company?” Shan Yu asked.
“Where are my cigarettes?” Yue Lang asked. “What were you just doing? You even took my wife’s conference pass?”
“It’s in my pocket, I forgot to put it back,” Shan Yu said, still holding up his hand and looking at his fingers.
“Did you also forget to put my cigarettes back?” Yue Lang asked.
“Smoking is bad for your health. You should quit, big brother,” Shan Yu said.
“Screw you,” Yue Lang said.
“I just went to negotiate about the bonfire festival,” Shan Yu said. “Those businesses in there are too inefficient. Wasted a carton of your cigarettes.”
“When’s the bonfire festival?” Yao Yi’s voice came through the receiver. “Can we wait for it?”
“Are you two really going to waste your entire annual leave here?” Shan Yu sighed. “The opening is in three days. If you don’t leave, you’ll be able to join.”
“She really likes it here,” Yue Lang said. “I’m just so-so. The rafting today was quite interesting, might go again tomorrow… Where are you now? Let’s have dinner at that half-mountain restaurant tonight.”
There was a half-mountain restaurant?
He really didn’t know. As a boss, he knew less than a tourist who had only been here for two days.
“In the old town. Chen Jian is taking his subject one exam,” Shan Yu said. “He has to practice driving after the test, so we’ll probably be back after eight.”
“Then we’ll go up first,” Yue Lang said. “Just drive straight up when you two get back.”
“You want me to drive up the mountain in the dark?” Shan Yu asked.
“It’s a wide, smooth road! Very smooth!” Yue Lang said. “You’ve been here for months, have you ever been up there?”
“No, my wheelchair’s engine displacement is a bit small, can’t make it up,” Shan Yu said.
“Your wheelchair is electric,” Yue Lang said.
“Not enough power, and the battery life is a bit lacking,” Shan Yu said.
“Cut the crap. If you don’t know the way, have Chen Jian take you up,” Yue Lang said. “We’re going back to change first, we’re frozen solid.”
Chen Jian?
Chen Jian had never been up there either. He had no time.
He didn’t even have time to play in the place where he grew up.
Although it was possible he was just used to the sights and wasn’t curious, judging from Chen Jian’s drive to pay off his debt, he really didn’t have much time.
Shan Yu closed his eyes. He hadn’t slept much yesterday and wasn’t sleepy, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a bit drowsy.
He’d just rest his mind.
But it felt like he hadn’t rested for long before he heard the car door click and then get pulled open.
He opened his eyes. Chen Jian jumped into the car, wrapped in a gust of cold air.
“How did it go?” Shan Yu looked at him.
“Passed with a ninety-six,” Chen Jian smiled. “I finished early.”
“You were worried you wouldn’t pass before you went in, but you ended up finishing early during the test?” Shan Yu said.
“These questions were simpler than the ones I practiced. I knew the answers as soon as I saw them,” Chen Jian said with a smile.
“What now?” Shan Yu asked.
“Going to practice driving for a bit,” Chen Jian hesitated slightly. “Why don’t you…”
“Don’t worry about me,” Shan Yu said. “I don’t mind.”
“Then wait for me for a bit,” Chen Jian unzipped his jacket and took out two paper bags covered in plastic, handing one to him. “Let’s have lunch first.”
“You still remembered this?” Shan Yu was very surprised. “I thought you’d forgotten.”
“I remembered the whole time. I thought you forgot.” Chen Jian opened the paper bag, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. “I’m starving. During the test, my stomach rumbled with every question I answered…”
“What is this?” Shan Yu adjusted his seat upright.
“Rice balls,” Chen Jian said. “I just called Coach Li to ask where to find fast food, and he recommended these rice balls, said they’re tastier than fast food.”
“They smell pretty good,” Shan Yu opened his paper bag. It was steaming hot. He hadn’t felt anything before, but now he was suddenly hungry.
“The practice ground is just one street away from here,” Chen Jian said while eating. “I can just walk over later.”
“Is there a need for that?” Shan Yu said. “It’s no trouble. I’m driving you there, not carrying you on my back.”
Chen Jian thought for a moment and laughed.
Lunch was very simple, but the rice balls were indeed delicious and huge. After finishing, he felt a bit stuffed.
After eating, Shan Yu glanced at Chen Jian, who then pulled out two cartons of yogurt from his pocket.
“I can’t eat anymore,” Shan Yu said quickly.
“I’ll manage,” Chen Jian said and started drinking the yogurt.
“You can manage to have both,” Shan Yu said. “I’m afraid if you have one sip less, you’ll start chewing on the coach’s car later.”
Chen Jian laughed, took two more sips, and then said, “That coach’s car is so dirty.”
“Then go back and eat Yao Yi’s car. Her car is new, clean, and smells nice,” Shan Yu said.
“You’re crazy,” Chen Jian said with a laugh. “How did we get onto this topic?”
“Yue Lang is treating tonight.” Shan Yu looked at him. “Do you know about a half-mountain restaurant?”
“I know,” Chen Jian nodded. “There are a few guesthouses on the half-mountain, right? This restaurant is on the winding road just above them. It’s pretty high-end. I heard it cost a lot to build.”
“You know quite a bit. I thought you wouldn’t know,” Shan Yu started the car.
“I heard it from others,” Chen Jian said. “I’ve never been up there.”
“Let’s go up and see tonight,” Shan Yu said. “You’ve been here for twenty years, it’s about time you went up to see it.”
“…Mhm,” Chen Jian bit on his yogurt straw.
He quickly calculated in his mind if there was anything else to do at the inn that night.
There were three other people practicing with Chen Jian: an older man, an older woman, and a young man about Chen Jian’s age.
These three were not first-timers, so their progress was different from Chen Jian’s. However, judging by the coach’s explosive temper, their progress wasn’t exactly fast either.
In this lesson, while Coach Li was ranting at the other three students, Chen Jian first familiarized himself with the structure of the driver’s cabin, followed by learning all the adjustments, from the steering wheel to the seat and the rearview mirrors.
Then he started learning to shift gears.
As Chen Jian shifted gears, the coach shouted at the students outside the car window, “See that! He gets it in one try! It’s just a straight push, horizontally and vertically! How long have you guys been confused by this simple thing! All these wrinkles on my face are from you guys shifting gears!”
Chen Jian didn’t dare to stop, diligently repeating first gear, neutral, reverse, neutral, back and forth, afraid that the coach’s lingering anger would turn on him.
“Alright, that’s good. You’re a quick learner,” Coach Li said. “If everyone were like you, I’d be a much more cheerful teacher. Now, try starting the car.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian started the car.
“Try driving it a bit,” Coach Li said. “Your brother said you’re in a hurry, so we’ll speed up the progress a little. Stay focused and be serious.”
Chen Jian acknowledged, then slowly followed what Coach Li had taught before: handbrake, clutch… the car slowly moved forward.
“Good, brake, stop.” Coach Li glanced at him. “Have you driven before?”
“No, just a motorcycle,” Chen Jian said.
“Your coordination is not bad,” Coach Li nodded.
After practicing for a while, Chen Jian got out of the car and squatted on the side, watching others practice.
He glanced towards the parking lot and noticed that Shan Yu wasn’t waiting in the car. Instead, he had gotten out and was leaning against the railing, watching him.
He took out his phone and sent a message.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: Is it windy?
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: Mhm, what, can you make it stop?
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: ………………………………..
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: Get back in the car and wait.
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: I’ll watch for a bit first.
Chen Jian saw Fa Dan Ke Chen’s profile picture again. Although he knew he was the only friend on this side account of Shan Yu’s, seeing a close-up photo of himself wrapped in a blanket sleeping on the floor every time he opened the chat was really… His gaze would subconsciously avoid it, too embarrassed to look closely.
He still hadn’t taken a close look at this photo.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: Your profile picture…
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: What about it?
Before he could react, Shan Yu had already sent the photo.
“Ah, damn it.” Chen Jian almost wanted to throw his phone away.
He turned his head and glanced at Shan Yu.
Shan Yu was smiling quite happily.
He sighed, brought the phone back in front of him, and gritted his teeth as he tapped open the photo to look.
…It was actually okay.
He wasn’t drooling.
Nor were his eyes half-open.
One night, he returned to his dorm and found Lao Si sleeping with his eyes half-open. It would definitely be lethal to a burglar. He was so scared at the sight that he didn’t dare move for a long time. Finally, after confirming Lao Si was asleep, he carefully went over and helped him close his eyelids.
From that day on, he always suspected he might do the same, but he was too embarrassed to ask anyone to check for him at night…
Thankfully, his eyes were closed.
He didn’t have to squat by the roadside for long before it was his turn to get in the car again.
Because he was a quick learner and his brother had specifically mentioned he was in a hurry, after a few tries, the coach let him join the other students to start learning how to reverse.
As they rotated through, Chen Jian found it very interesting, even feeling an urge to drive back to the small town himself. When the coach announced that the day’s lesson was over, he realized the sky had already turned dusky.
And Shan Yu was no longer standing by the railing, probably having gone back to the car because of the strong wind.
After saying goodbye to the coach, he sprinted towards the parking lot.
When he reached the car, he found Shan Yu sitting inside, looking at his phone. He immediately saw that the screen showed a photo of him, and it wasn’t the one of him sleeping on the floor, but one taken at the barbecue party.
“Did they send the photos?” he asked.
“They only finished editing one and sent it over for a preview,” Shan Yu turned off the screen and looked at him. “Are you done with your practice?”
“Finished. My progress is impressive, received high praise from the coach,” Chen Jian leaned closer to him. “Can I see the photo?”
“You’d get a better effect looking at it on their computer tonight,” Shan Yu said, but still opened his phone and handed it to him. “Just this one. We’ll have to wait for Yao Yi to go back and slowly sort through the rest to send to me.”
Chen Jian saw a photo of himself standing behind Shan Yu, holding a handful of skewers and eating.
The tone was a warm, golden yellow. He was eating with great relish, and Shan Yu was smiling… warmly.
But he quickly realized this was Yue Lang and Shan Yu’s private chat window. He paused, “You’re using your main account?”
“Mhm, how else would they send me the photos,” Shan Yu smiled. “Want to add me? We can add each other when we get back.”
“Okay,” Chen Jian nodded and handed the phone back to him.
He really wanted to add him right now, to see what Shan Yu’s old username was, what was on his Moments feed…
…His Moments feed isn’t set to “visible for the last three days,” is it?
“Did you tell Chen Xiaohu we’d return the car tomorrow?” Shan Yu asked as he drove out of the parking lot.
“Mhm,” Chen Jian replied. “Let’s go straight up the mountain later. I’m afraid if we go back to the inn first, it’ll be too late to go out again. It’s not good to keep people waiting for too long.”
“They won’t just sit there and wait,” Shan Yu said. “They’ve definitely started eating. When we get there, they’ll just eat again with us.”
Chen Jian laughed.
In this season, the sky darkened quickly. By the time the car turned onto the side road leading to the small town, it was already completely dark.
The road had no streetlights, and theirs was the only car. The headlights illuminated the path ahead, revealing fine leaves and debris dancing in the wind, creating the illusion of snowfall.
It was very tranquil.
A unique tranquil atmosphere belonging to this place where he had grown up.
After driving for a while, the tranquility was broken.
A loud ‘bang’ sounded from outside the car.
“What was that sound?” Chen Jian was startled. “A flat tire?”
“I don’t know,” Shan Yu slowed down and slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road. “Let’s get out and check.”
They both put on their jackets, got out of the car, turned on their phone flashlights, and circled the car twice. The tires were intact, and there were no obvious marks on the car body.
“It might have been a rock hitting the wheel hub,” Shan Yu said, leaning against the passenger side door with his arms crossed.
“Possibly. As long as it’s not a flat tire, otherwise we’d have to change it,” Chen Jian said, checking the wheel hub with his phone’s light.
As he straightened up, a gust of wind blew past, lifting Shan Yu’s hair.
Although the scene was completely different, Chen Jian still froze for a moment, his mind flashing back to the moment Shan Yu had turned his head at the railing of the viewing platform.
That instant when his breath had briefly lost its way.
He stood still, face to face with Shan Yu.
“Hm?” Shan Yu tilted his head.
Chen Jian didn’t make a sound. The sound of the wind in his ears was particularly loud now, roaring like a drumbeat.
Shan Yu didn’t move either. After a moment of silence, he opened his arms.
With almost no hesitation, as if pushed by the wind, Chen Jian took a step forward. His hands went straight under Shan Yu’s open jacket and wrapped around him.
A wave of warmth enveloped him a second later. He tightened his arms abruptly, turned his head, and buried his face in the side of Shan Yu’s neck.
