In the Same Boat

Having not seen each other for fifteen years, Qu Yiheng was a little unfamiliar with Yao Zhan’s voice.

As the two were walking outside the cemetery with their umbrellas, he suddenly remembered that Yao Zhan touched him first at the gymnasium.

He panicked at first, but a few seconds later he knew what he had to do and what he wanted to do.

They were just a few years old then, and they were acting on impulse.

At that time, the words Yao Zhand said against his ear suddenly emerged from the memory of the deep sea. At that time, Yao Zhan leaned against him and said, “You are too thin.”

As soon as he thought of this, Qu Yiheng felt as if his whole body was electrocuted. He didn’t dare to think about it. He held up his hand and pinched his neck, squeezing those memories out of his head.

They followed everyone to the gate. Shao Wei greeted these old classmates whom he hadn’t seen for a long time, to get together.

The class president, who is a fancy person after all, arranged for everyone to get on the bus, leaving Qu Yiheng and Yao Zhan standing still at the end.

“What are you both doing? Get in the car!” Shao Wei suddenly thought of something and asked Yao Zhan, “Did you drive here?”

Yao Zhan pointed across the road, “Over there, we’re not going, we have something to do.”

Shao Wei was a bit surprised, “What do you two have to do? If you have something to do, you can do it after eating. It’s not bad to have a little meal.”

Qu Yiheng was a little embarrassed. He didn’t want to go and didn’t know how to refuse.

It was more acceptable for him to have a drink with Yao Zhan than having dinner with those people.

Shao Wei was still urging “Let’s go!”

Yao Zhan frowned “Let’s go another day, something really came up.”

He glanced back at Qu Yiheng who was standing behind him “Shall we go first?”

Qu Yiheng nodded to Shao Wei apologetically and followed Yao Zhan.

Shao Wei scolded Yao Zhan behind them, saying that Qu Yiheng had come here for a long time and he wouldn’t even let him eat with others.

Qu Yiheng had left the city after graduating from high school, when his mother had just remarried and he had gone to university and never returned.

It was a good place to be, a first-tier city. Most of his high school friends were born and rooted here, such as Shao Wei, Che Hao and Yao Zhan.

So, it’s been fifteen years since he disappeared from their world. In fact, Shao Wei and others have always been in contact with each other and they were even on good terms.

Qu Yiheng walked behind Yao Zhan, and when he looked back, those people were already driven away.

Yao Zhan pulled open the car door and let him in, but he accidentally threw water on Yao Zhan when he was putting away his umbrella.

Rainy days are a bit annoying.

When he got into the car, Qu Yiheng put the umbrella under his feet and just fastened his seat belt. Yao Zhan asked, “It’s been a long time since you came back, right?”

As he spoke, Yao Zhan took out a cigarette box and handed it to Qu Yiheng.

Qu Yiheng took out a cigarette and touched his pocket, but couldn’t find a lighter.

He doesn’t smoke very often, only when he’s rushed for a draft or when he is upset.

Yao Zhan took out the lighter, leaned over and lit it up for him, then lit one himself and held it in his mouth.

The car windows were half open, allowing smoke to disperse. The smell of smoke was mixed with the smell of rain, which was quite pleasant.

“I haven’t been here since graduation.”

Yao Zhan nodded “Ok, then you will do as I say today.”

He drove the car out of the parking space, “In broad daylight, brother will take you to drink.”

Qu Yiheng has the feeling of revisiting his hometown, but his ‘Hometown’ has changed too much and is already too unfamiliar.

The cemetery was on the outskirts, and by the time they drove back to the city, the rain had subsided considerably. And around a corner, Yao Zhan said, “Remember? That’s our school in front of us”

It was one of the best high schools in the city, where Qu Yiheng went in at his own expense. There were only five self-funded students in the class, and he was one of them.

In fact, his grades are not too bad. If they were really bad, the Fifth High school would not have accepted him for any amount of money.

“Want to go for a walk?” Yao Zhan asked.

If it was usual, Qu Yiheng would not want to go, but with Yao Zhan by his side, it was inevitable that he would feel a bit like yesterday again.

He nodded, “Let’s go.”

The Fifth Middle School has not changed much. It was still a five-storey building, and the upper floors were covered with five-leaf brocade.

Yao Zhan parked his car by the roadside, and the two looked in through the iron fence. There were students playing football on the lawn, braving the rain.

They walked to the gate, which was open, but the gatekeeper who was watching the door refused to let them in.

Yao Zhan said, “Uncle, we are students of this school.”

“Come on,” said the uncle. “Look at you two, how do you look like students?”

Qu Yiheng smiled, “We graduated here, it’s been fifteen years.”

“Oh, those are people in the community. I can’t answer the phone here, so I can’t let you in.”

There was no way, the two big men could only stand outside and look at it. Yao Zhan said, “Wait for the holidays, no one will care about the students when they are on vacation.”

Qu Yiheng didn’t speak because he didn’t know if he would come here again .

After a short walk around the outside of the school, there was nothing interesting. So the two of them went to the bar as originally planned.

In daylight, not many bars were open. Yao Zhan took him into a small alley. After turning a few more corners in the alley, he finally saw the bar.

The bar is called ‘Y.’ Yao Zhan said it was opened by his friend. Let’s clear it up and don’t make trouble.

Qu Yiheng didn’t know if Yao Zhan chose this place because it was the only place open for business here or if he remembered that he didn’t like places that were too noisy. It didn’t matter, why did he care so much.

At 9:30 in the morning, there were no customers in the bar.

As they entered the door, a young boy standing behind the bar looked at them, then yawned and asked, “Brother Zhan, are you here to help close the door?”

Yao Zhan took Qu Yiheng over, and the boy saw that there was another person behind him.

“Yo, I brought someone here.”

“What are you drinking?” Yao Zhan directly turned around and asked Qu Yiheng.

“Handsome guy, would you like a special drink?” The boy at the bar looked at Qu Yiheng with a smile, and that smile was somewhat profound.

Qu Yiheng seldom came to the bar, and when he did, he just ordered randomly, so when he saw how enthusiastic the boy was, he was too embarrassed to refuse, so he simply nodded.

“You’re almost done,” Yao Zhan said to the boy, “I’m the same as always.”

Yao Zhan took Qu Yiheng to the inside of the restaurant and waited for the drinks to be served, fiddling with a lighter in his hand.

The two of them didn’t say anything for a while, and Qu Yiheng became more restrained.

Since he had stopped teaching at the studio, he hardly came out to make contact with people. He spends most of his time at home. At most, he goes downstairs to the supermarket to buy some food.

In fact, he could have refused Yao Zhan’s invitation, but for some reason, he could never shake his head in front of this man.

Just like fifteen years ago, Yao Zhan held his hand and placed it on his crotch area and asked him if it was okay. He didn’t nod or shake his head, and reached in directly.

After all, although he didn’t feel that he had any special feelings for Yao Zhan fifteen years ago, and although he hadn’t thought of Yao Zhan much in fifteen years, it was still different in the end.

The boy in the bar brought the drinks, but his eyes were still glued to Qu Yiheng.

“Where is the handsome guy from?I haven’t seen him before.”

Yao Zhan frowned “Tsk, mind your own business.”

The boy left reluctantly, Qu Yiheng looked at him and smiled.

“Do you come here often?” He has nothing to say, but he can’t just be so stiff.

There were only two of them in the bar, and the awkwardness of the atmosphere made him feel sick all over.

“I come here for a drink occasionally,” Yao Zhan said, “I’m too busy to come all the time.”

Qu Yiheng nodded, without asking him what he was busy with.

Then, the two were silent again.

They drank their own drinks, and those who didn’t know would think that these two people didn’t know each other at all.

The boy at the bar watched them with great interest, and sent a message to the boss: Brother Zhan brought someone.

After a while, a man came downstairs wearing a white sleeveless T-shirt and a pair of home shorts underneath. At first glance, he was still sleeping and his hair was messed up into a chicken coop.

Qu Yiheng watched the man come over, and Yao Zhan said, “The owner of this shop.”

Yang Kan walked over, ignoring Yao Zhan, and directly shook hands with Qu Yiheng “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my name is Yang Kan, and I’m his brother.”

Yao Zhan glanced at him and told Qu Yiheng not to pay attention to this person.

Qu Yiheng was anxious when he saw a stranger, but he had to be polite no matter how he was. When someone stretched out his hand, of course he had to hold it back.

“Qu Yiheng.”

“Nice name!” Yang Kan pointed to the side, “I’m sitting here, am i intruding?”

“Yes.” Yao Zhan said, “Go to sleep.”

Most bars were open at night and closed in the morning. So if they came ten minutes later, they wouldn’t be able to get in.

Yang Kan was bored and went to the bar with a grimace.

The boss and the bartender at the bar had a good chat, and of course the topic revolved around the two drinking there.

Qu Yiheng hadn’t had a drink for a while. He likes to drink, but he can’t stop when he drinks. The point is that the amount of alcohol is okay, and he doesn’t feel addicted to drinking.

Originally, Yao Zhan was the one who started drinking, but as he drank one glass after another he passed out first.

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After drinking a little, the two of them got along less awkwardly and chatted about the topic of Che Hao.

It’s nothing more than sighing at the impermanence of life and cherishing time, Yao Zhan said, “You said that we haven’t seen each other for fifteen years. If it weren’t for today, maybe we wouldn’t recognize each other face to face when we walked on the street.”

Qu Yiheng felt that he was right. If he really walked down the street and saw Yao Zhan, he would definitely not recognize him.

It didn’t take long for the empty wine glasses to be filled in front of the two of them. Yao Zhan leaned back in his chair and stared at Qu Yiheng.

“You haven’t changed much.” His gaze went all the way down from Qu Yiheng’s face, and he found that this person seemed to have several pierced ears, but he didn’t wear anything on his ears. Not only were the pierced ears, but the edges of the tattoos could be vaguely seen where the shirt collar was covered. He was a little surprised. He didn’t expect that the honest Qu Yiheng had done such a rebellious thing before, whether it was pierced ears or tattoos, there was some indescribable contrast in him.

Yao Zhan took a closer look at Qu Yiheng, and finally looked all over his body and smiled.

Alcohol had no effect on Qu Yiheng, and it was Yao Zhan’s gaze that made him blush.

He remembered uncontrollably the memories of the two comforting each other. At that time, they were in their teens, and now they are in their thirties.

When the two went out of the bar just after eleven o’clock, they both smelled of wine. Yao Zhan put his arm around Qu Yiheng’s shoulder and asked him, “Where are you going? I will give you a lift.”

Their bodies were close together, the weather was hot, and so were they.

Qu Yiheng’s body was a little tense when he was hugged by him. He raised his head slightly, Yao Zhan lowered his head, and the heat when he breathed hit the others face.

“Are you staying in a hotel?” Yao Zhan asked.

When he asked this, his eyes were neither clear nor too drunk. The tone of his voice like hook, hooked a certain nerve of Qu Yiheng.

Qu Yiheng said, “The place where I live is not far from here.”

He beckoned and stopped a taxi. The two of them sat in the back with their thighs pressed against their thighs.

It was hot, hot, very hot everywhere.

Qu Yiheng looked out of the window and felt that he was going to burn.

He hoped the car was going faster.