In the Same Boat

Affection is always short-lived, and Qu Yiheng has long realised.

This afternoon felt both slow and fast to him. He felt that every movement and every conversation between them were like long shots in a movie, stretching the whole world and making everything slow, romantic, as if all the plotlines were meant to be infinitely extended. But in reality, this movie only lasted for a few short hours

In the evening, Qu Yiheng sent a message to Dou Yucong, telling him that he wouldn’t be going back home tonight.

Dou Yucong replied with a mysterious smiley face and didn’t say anything else.

When Qu Yiheng turned off his phone, he glanced at the time and unconsciously started counting down the remaining time he had with Yao Zhan.

On this last evening, Yao Zhan was so gentle that he almost melted Qu Yiheng away. They had already spent several days together, but it still felt like it wasn’t enough.

Qu Yiheng’s back was uncomfortable, but Yao Zhan was infinitely considerate, and in the end, the two of them experienced the easiest and yet hardest pleasure together.

Yao Zhan gently stroked Qu Yiheng’s sweaty hair and asked, “Are you tired?”

Qu Yiheng smiled, tears sliding down the corners of his eyes.

“I’m fine.”

He leaned forward, and the two of them embraced each other, and they even stayed awake until dawn.

It was the first time Yao Zhan had this feeling, not wanting to leave a place, not wanting to leave a person.

It was truly wonderful. They had been separated for fifteen years, and if you counted the time they spent together day and night, it would only be about five or six days, but he felt so deeply moved by this person, a feeling he had never experienced before.

He actually wanted to seriously consider whether what Shao Wei said was true, that he had feelings for Qu Yiheng fifteen years ago, but he just wasn’t aware of it at the time. In the years that followed, the seeds of affection had always been there, but they grew slowly, and it took a long time for them to become saplings, and he didn’t know whose name was carved on the trunk.

But he didn’t have time to think about it. He had to busy himself with remembering everything about Qu Yiheng in the present moment.

“I have something to give you.” At six o’clock, the two of them got up to clean up, and after Qu Yiheng was dressed, he said, “It’s not too late, so let’s go back to my house.”

Yao Zhan was surprised. He had never imagined that Qu Yiheng would give him something.

They dragged their luggage to Qu Yiheng’s house and when they entered, Dou Yucheng had not yet left.

“Yo, are you planning to move in?” Dou Yucong joked as he looked at Yao Zhan’s suitcase.

“I’d like to.” Yao Zhan joked with him, “But I have to catch my flight later, so I have got to get back.”

Dou Yucong looked at him in confusion and then back at his brother who had gone into his bedroom.

“What a pity.”

“Pity about what?” Yao Zhan asked.

“Nothing.” Dou Yucong said as he rushed to pack his things and leave due to overtime. Before he left, he asked Yao Zhan, “Hey handsome, will you come again in the future?”

Yao Zhan hesitated for a moment: “Probably.”

“Okay, then you better keep your word,” Dou Yucong said before running off, leaving Yao Zhan pondering whether Qu Yiheng had said something to him and Dou Yucong.

When Qu Yiheng came out, he held a black tube in his hand and somewhat awkwardly handed it to Yao Zhan, saying, “It’s not something valuable or important, and maybe you won’t like it…”

“How do you know I won’t like it?” Yao Zhan smiled and took it, “I’ll have to see when I get back.”

Qu Yiheng laughed and breathed a sigh of relief.

Yao Zhan didn’t casually say “like” just to please him because that would make him even more embarrassed.

“Did you paint this?” Yao Zhan asked without opening it, following Qu Yiheng as they dragged their luggage, prepared to go to the airport.

“Yes.” Qu Yiheng said, “But It’s not very good.”

“You can’t say it’s not good, that’s not objective. Let me be the judge,” Yao Zhan said, looking at him. “After we return, I’ll take a good look and give you an objective evaluation.”

Qu Yiheng smiled, his face blushing, and his ears turning red along with it.

The airport was crowded, and Qu Yiheng was feeling somewhat agitated

Yao Zhan finished the check-in process and sent his luggage, but he carried the painting with him, unwilling to check it in with the rest of his belongings.

The two of them stood at the security checkpoint, not saying anything for a while.

Eventually, Yao Zhan said, “Your brother asked me if I’ll come again.”

Qu Yiheng paused for a moment, then said in a casual manner, “How did you answer?”

“I said I would.” Yao Zhan lifted his hand to fix Qu Yiheng’s hair. “If you want to come, I would be happy yo have you.”

Qu Yiheng looked up at him and smiled.

“By the way, there’s something important,” Yao Zhan took out his phone. “We can consider ourselves acquaintances now, right? Would it be possible for me to have the privilege of keeping your phone number?”

As he said this, he smiled while looking at Qu Yiheng, wondering what kind of feeling the other person had in his heart.

Qu Yiheng began to recite his phone number.

Yao Zhan saved it and then called him.

“Then, can you also save mine?”

Qu Yiheng nodded. “Okay.”

There was nothing more to say, and Yao Zhan prepared to go through security.

“You should go back,” Yao Zhan said, “Can I have one last hug?”

Qu Yiheng didn’t expect him to make this request. The airport was crowded, and it would be strange for two grown men to embrace each other.

But Yao Zhan didn’t care if he agreed or not. He took a step forward and hugged Qu Yiheng.

He whispered softly into Qu Yiheng’s ear, “The answer blowing in the wind, right?”

Qu Yiheng froze.

“Alright, I’m leaving.” Yao Zhan straightened up and said to him, “See you next time.”

When Yao Zhan left, Qu Yiheng did not go home immediately.

He found a coffee shop at the airport, had a cup of coffee, and even took a nap while lying down.

For some reason, he just didn’t feel like going back.

He lay on the table, watching the planes take off outside, knowing that the one carrying Yao Zhan had long flown away, and he didn’t know if there would be a day when he would sit on a plane and land here again.

Qu Yiheng understood that it wasn’t that he didn’t want to go home, but that he couldn’t bear to part with Yao Zhan

These past few days felt like a dream. He had never been so reckless before. Now that the other person had left, there was a sense of emptiness after the excitement, and he needed to calm down slowly.

Qu Yiheng sat in the coffee shop, scrolling through the chat records of the class group. Everyone had already decided on a destination for the National Day holiday trip, saying they were going to Rome.

Shao Wei was tallying the list of people who could go, but Qu Yiheng didn’t get involved.

He had no intention of going in the first place. With so many people, he hardly knew anyone. What was the point of joining in the fun? Besides, he didn’t even have a passport.

Over the years, he hadn’t gone anywhere. It was fine within the country, but going abroad required temporary documents, which he was even less willing to bother with.

During Yao Zhan’s one week here, he hardly paid attention to the group messages. Now that Yao Zhan had left, he sat here and read through each message, realizing that lunchtime had already passed.

In the early afternoon, his phone suddenly rang.

This time, it wasn’t WeChat or a text message, but a phone call.

The caller was Yao Zhan.

When he saw the name, Qu Yiheng was so nervous that his heart trembled. He thought that the caller would just be getting off the plane, but he didn’t expect him to call immediately.

He was so nervous that he didn’t know what to say when he answered the phone.

“Hello.”

Yao Zhan’s voice was laced with smile, “I’m getting off the plane.”

“Yeah.”

That voice came from over a thousand kilometers away, transmitted through the airwaves. It no longer sounded exactly like Yao Zhan’s original voice, but with just a listen, Qu Yiheng knew it was him.

Qu Yiheng couldn’t help but smile and asked, “Are you tired?”

“Yes.” Yao Zhan said, “I’m waiting for my luggage, so I’ll go back later and take a shower and sleep.”

Qu Yiheng didn’t know what to say.

“What are you doing?” Yao Zhan asked.

“I’m ……” Qu Yiheng looked back and lied, “I’m getting ready to paint.”

Yao Zhan listened to his voice and felt that something was not quite right, but did not think too much about it and asked him, “Am I disturbing you then?”

“No.” Qu Yiheng hurriedly said, “No, I’m not bothered.”

Yao Zhan smiled, he could hear Qu Yiheng’s nervousness.

Since he was nervous, did it mean that he cared about him?

“It’s raining again here.” Yao Zhan said, “I didn’t bring an umbrella.”

Qu Yiheng pursed his lips and said, “Well, do they sell umbrellas at the airport?”

Yao Zhan smiled and laughed out loud, “Shao Wei came to pick me up.”

When Qu Yiheng heard him laugh, he stopped talking again.

The luggage arrived, and Yao Zhan held the luggage in one hand and the phone in the other, with Qu Yiheng’s painting hanging on his shoulder.

“Last time you came, you didn’t get to meet Shao Wei’s son. He’s a chubby little boy, very cute. Next time you come, I’ll bring him out for you to play with,” Yao Zhan said.

Qu Yiheng smiled, “I don’t get along well with children.”

“It’s okay, he’s my godson, You can squeeze and pinch him however you like.”

Yao Zhan’s words made Qu Yiheng burst into laughter, “You make it sound like children are toys.”

“More or less, kids are more interesting than toys,” Yao Zhan walked out through the exit and saw Shao Wei holding his son outside.

He took two quick steps and said, “I see Shao Wei.”

“Let’s talk later then.”

“Don’t hang up yet,” Yao Zhan said, “Wait a minute.”

Shao Wei and his son also noticed him. The chubby little boy refused to let his dad carry him and rolled down, running toward his godfather.

Yao Zhan pulled the child aside, crouched down, and said to the chubby little boy, “Qi Qi, say hello to Uncle Qu.”

The chubby little boy shouted into the phone, “Hello, Uncle Qu!”

“It’s Uncle Qu.” Yao Zhan corrected him, “Come again.”

The chubby little boy grumbled, “Hello, Uncle Qu!”

Yao Zhan laughed, pinched the chubby little boy’s cheek with satisfaction, and then put the phone back to his ear. “Did you hear that?”

Qu Yiheng laughed until his eyes curved. “So adorable.”

“He’s cute on the outside too,” Yao Zhan said, “When will you come? Let him greet you in person.”

Qu Yiheng’s smile gradually faded. He didn’t know when they would be able to meet again.

Shao Wei came over and helped Yao Zhan with his luggage.

Yao Zhan said to Qu Yiheng, “That’s all for now, we’re going back, I’ll call you later.”

“Well, get some rest.”

The phone hung up, but the smile on Yao Zhan’s face was still there.

Shao Wei clicked his tongue and said to his son, “Did you see that? You’ve got a godmother now.”

“Stop talking nonsense.” Yao Zhan picked up the chubby little boy and walked out. The little boy curiously fiddled with the painting tube, and Shao Wei asked, “What’s this?”

Yao Zhan replied, “A token of affection given to me by Qi Qi’s godmother.”