Chapter 43

During that time, no matter what Yang Lei did outside, returning to that small building was the happiest thing to him.

Yang Lei had been there for as long as he could remember. The building that was very beautiful and mysterious in outsiders’ eyes had long lacked feeling in his eyes. But now, he felt that this building and this garden had never been this beautiful.

Because inside was the person he liked, the person he was attached to, and the person he wanted to see all the time. There was even an extra halo around the entire building.

This was the magic of love.

Under the meticulous care of Aunt Zhang and several elders, Fang Yu recovered very quickly. He had good health to begin with, he was young, and adding on the unceasing tonics and delicious foods every day, Fang Yu’s complexion recovered to be even better than before the injury.

Fang Yu also liked this place, especially the families here.

When he lived here, he accompanied Aunt Zhang, Uncle Wang, and other elders by chatting, talking, and helping them do things. He was very diligent. After his legs and feet were a little better and he could walk freely, Fang Yu practically took care of all the physical work for the elderly who lived downstairs. How could these elders allow him to do this? They all told him to go back upstairs and rest, but they couldn’t shoo Fang Yu away. When they turned around, the floor was already mopped, and if they didn’t pay attention, a lightbulb that had been out for a long time was fixed.

“It’s okay! I also need to exercise!” Fang Yu said with a smile.

Aunt Zhang, Uncle Wang, and these old people all thought that this young man was kind hearted and capable. They liked Fang Yu very much. Young people rarely had the patience to be willing to chat with the elderly and listen to them ramble. They couldn’t even take care of their own entertainment, but Fang Yu had the patience. Fang Yu could diligently help do things while chatting with the elderly, and he could make them all happy.

This was also Fang Yu’s skill. Being likeable.

Yang Lei especially loved seeing Fang Yu, Aunt Zhang, and the others being happy together. He especially liked Aunt Zhang continuously praising Fang Yu.

He had the feeling of bringing his wife back home.

Of course, he wouldn’t dare to say these words aloud even if he were beaten to death.

“Xiao Yu, don’t leave. Be my son!” Aunt Zhang really liked Fang Yu. She couldn’t even bear to let Fang Yu go.

“If you don’t have objections, then I’ll be your son. Godmother!” Fang Yu did not hesitate at all.

“Yes!” Mother Zhang promptly answered extremely happily.

Yang Lei was at the side with folded arms, smiling.

There was a special warmth and contentment in his heart.

Hua Mao, Lao Liang, and the others knew Fang Yu was living here to recover. When they came to see Fang Yu, Fang Yu told them not to enter by the door and wait far away at the street corner.

These brothers were all big and tall, with strong arms and tattoos. When ten or twenty stood together without even doing anything, it was like they were about to cut someone. Fang Yu was afraid of scaring the elderly, so he found an excuse to go out every time and meet them at the street corner.

The area around Gulin Road was always a district for senior officials. Such a scene of gangdom fighters gathering clashed with the artistic and petite bourgeoisie style of the shaded roads and Western buildings. It was extremely strange.

Yang Lei later knew about it and said that it was fine. “Just let them in. I’ve also brought Li San and the others here.”

Fang Yu said, “Forget it. The way they are, they’ll definitely scare Godmother.”

That was until Mister Liu was weeding a large patch of grass in the courtyard. When Fang Yu helped him, Mister Liu beat his sore waist and sighed as he said, “It would take more than half a month to finish this large patch of grass.”

At that time, Fang Yu didn’t say anything. In the afternoon, he called over eight or nine decent-looking young men. They came in with bright smiles as they said: “Uncle, we have come to help you pull up weeds.”

Hua Mao, Lao Liang, and other ruthless people were used to carrying knives to stab people with, rods, and guns. That afternoon, all of these famous Jianghai gangster leaders wore oversized blue sweatpants with white stripes. This was the standard attire that Fang Yu had set for them. Those who had gone to school in those years knew that these symbolic and shocking blue and white-striped sweatpants had ruined a generation of youths’ figures. These people were all dressed in a refined manner, like they were lab high school students. Lao Liang had even perched a pair of glasses on his nose, and Hua Mao hid his long hair under a hat. There were smiles on their faces and their voices were soft. When they spoke, it was all, “hello,” “please,” “thank you,” and “no problem.” They were even better than the best students. Each of them buried their heads and worked hard to pull weeds like they were elementary students cleaning an assigned area. With these tough men’s fighting capabilities, they soon took care of the entire large patch of weeds. Mister Liu was very touched. He repeatedly thanked them and shouted to keep the “students” for dinner. These “students” repeatedly waved their hands: “Thank you. This is what we… er… should do…”

Having spoken these words with great difficulty, their faces had gone green.

Fang Yu was on the sidelines holding in his laughter, laughing until he wanted to smash the wall.

Mister Liu went up and grabbed Lao Liang’s hand.

“Child, what year are you?”

“Er… high school senior…”

Lao Liang stammered, desperately pushing up his glasses.

“Liberal arts or sciences?”

“…Liberal… liberal arts…” Lao Liang was even sweating.

“Liberal arts is good. Just looking at your glasses, you’re very educated!”

“…”

Lao Liang ran away.

“They’re all like Lei Feng!” Mister Liu stood at the door, watching the “students” who got onto the motorcycle and dashed away, very touched.

“Oh my goodness, it’s more tiring than cutting people!” After riding past the corner, Lao Liang tossed his glasses away, sighing deeply to the sky…

Yang Lei was afraid that Fang Yu would be bored in the house, so he brought him his guitar.

That day, Yang Lei opened the iron gate, entered the courtyard, and saw Fang Yu sitting on the wisteria flower rack, playing the guitar.

There was a long corridor outside the little building. The corridor was covered with wisteria, flowers and vines, layer upon layer, like purple clouds. Fang Yu sat under the flower rack, playing the guitar. He played “Love Song 1990,” and as he played, he used his feet to lightly tap the rhythm while plucking the chords.

When Yang Lei saw this scene, he was infatuated.

The sunset’s golden red rays gently shrouded this quiet courtyard. The green grass was like a bed; the flowers were like a dream. In the dream, there was a person playing an old love song.

For many years, this scene became deeply interwoven with Yang Lei’s heart and entered into his dreams.

Yang Lei softly walked over from behind. Although Fang Yu concentrated on playing, many years of fighting experience made him very alert to the sound of someone approaching from behind. Once Fang Yu turned around, Yang Lei hugged his back and pressed himself completely against him.

“You’re back?” Fang Yu was already used to Yang Lei’s clinginess. Yang Lei just clung to him like that.

“Continue playing.” Yang Lei hugged him without letting go.

“You play. Do you still remember how to play?” Fang Yu stood up and handed the guitar to Yang Lei.

Yang Lei really hadn’t played the guitar in a long time. He sat down holding the guitar and started plucking. Fang Yu leaned against the flower rack facing him and watched. As Yang Lei played, he raised his head and smiled at Fang Yu, who was standing and looking at him.

Fang Yu started smoking a cigarette and also smiled at him. The setting sun cast onto Fang Yu’s face, making it appear quiet and handsome.

Yang Lei hadn’t played in a long time. He’d truly forgotten. After playing a few bars, he was out of practice.

“I’ve forgotten this part. Teach me again,” Yang Lei said.

Fang Yu gave him two sentences of instructions. Yang Lei said, “Give a demonstration,” and Fang Yu took out his cigarette and held it in his hand. He went over and encircled Yang Lei from behind, demonstrating how to pluck a few parts.

In this position, Fang Yu had to bend down. He lowered his head, and casually placed his left hand holding the cigarette on Yang Lei’s shoulder. Yang Lei seemed to be caged in his arms.

Yang Lei looked at Fang Yu’s fingers that were plucking the guitar. His mind had long wandered. He leaned back, leaning into Fang Yu’s arms, pressing against Fang Yu’s broad chest.

Fang Yu also felt it. Fang Yu was silent, but he didn’t leave.

The two of them just quietly stayed close like this. Neither of them spoke.

Yang Lei felt the warmth on his back, felt the heat of Fang Yu’s breathing by his ear, and heard his own heartbeat. He looked at Fang Yu’s fingers that were slowly plucking the strings, his heart beating faster and faster. Suddenly, he put his hand up hard and grabbed Fang Yu’s hand.

In the two or three seconds of stillness, Yang Lei slowly held Fang Yu’s hand in his palm.

Right at this time, Aunt Zhang came over from behind.

“Xiao Lei! Xiao Yu! Time to eat!”

Aunt Zhang’s call made the two of them suddenly separate.

“…Oh! Coming!” Yang Lei was a little flustered.

He glanced at Fang Yu. Fang Yu was already walking towards the small building.

“…”

Yang Lei also followed him in…

That night on the balcony, the two of them sat, smoking.

“It’s about time for me to go back,” Fang Yu said.

Yang Lei was shocked.

“Why? Is living here not nice?”

“No. I’ve just about recovered. If I’m here, I’ll cause trouble for Godmother and them,” Fang Yu said.

“What trouble? Don’t you know that they don’t want you to leave?”

This was the truth. The elderly got along with and had feelings for Fang Yu.

“Besides, your injuries still aren’t completely well. Those swollen places haven’t gone down.”

“I’m not that delicate.”

Fang Yu had suffered all kinds of hardships.

“It was much worse than this before. At that time, without you, without Godmother, I had also laid down for a bit and got through it.”

At that time, he had gotten through it. But Fang Yu had never been taken care of like this. He was grateful from the bottom of his heart.

“…”

Once Yang Lei thought about how Fang Yu could only endure alone in that lonely house after being injured before, without even someone to take care of him, his heart was upset. How did someone like Fang Yu, who never spoke of his difficulties, get through it?

Yang Lei’s heart ached very much.

“Cut the crap. You just keep living here. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Fuck, can I live here a lifetime?” Fang Yu joked.

“Live here a lifetime!” Yang Lei said, without the slightest hint of humor.

Fang Yu looked at him and stopped talking.

Yang Lei looked at Fang Yu, who was silent in the darkness, and his heart started to become restless.

He had made a decision not to drag Fang Yu underwater. He wouldn’t let Fang Yu walk onto this path where no light could be seen.

But he couldn’t control himself.

Since ancient times, how many heroes have had difficulty escaping love? How could they restrain themselves when one word of love would reach so deep?

Yang Lei gazed at Fang Yu for a while, then put out his cigarette and approached him. He got very close and reached out a hand to gently rub a wound on Fang Yu’s shoulder.

“…Does it still hurt?” Yang Lei’s voice was a little hoarse.

“It’s fine,” Fang Yu replied.

Yang Lei stopped talking. He hugged Fang Yu and started to touch him.

“I want to do it.”

Yang Lei quietly spoke these words by Fang Yu’s ear.

Yang Lei had already held back for a long time.

Ever since Fang Yu had gotten injured, Yang Lei kept restraining himself. Seeing Fang Yu’s body covered in injuries, no matter how fired up he was, he had to forcefully push it down.

It had been difficult to wait until now. Yang Lei could no longer hold back anymore.

Yang Lei already didn’t want to think about the questions that he had struggled with, like whether or not he should say it, and whether or not he should confess. Youthful, impulsive, passionate, his brain was filled with male hormones, so he just wanted to possess and obtain. He hoped that Fang Yu was also the same as him. He didn’t want to think about or care about anything. He just wanted to share this secret that only belonged to the two of them. The most intimate secret between two men, they had to share it for a lifetime…

That night, Fang Yu was a little crazy.

Conflicted and crazy.

On the bed, Yang Lei was worried about Fang Yu’s wounds, and pretty much didn’t have the space to fight back. Fang Yu completely controlled him, and he was willing to be controlled by Fang Yu.

They hugged tightly and moved together. Fang Yu kissed his body hard. Fang Yu’s lips were passionate with some dejection. He sucked on his body, leaving red marks. That strength even caused Yang Lei to feel pain, but it was a pain that made him feel very good. Fang Yu’s movements were too big, and the old-fashioned carved bed shook as well, also causing the old-fashioned floor to sound. Fang Yu panted hard and slowed down. Yang Lei knew what he was worried about. He hugged Fang Yu’s neck and said by his ear that it was fine, no one lived in the room downstairs… Fang Yu picked him up and pushed him hard against the wall…

Yang Lei was as crazy and dejected as Fang Yu.

When Fang Yu’s scalding hot fluid sprayed onto his abdomen, when Yang Lei trembled as he came, he tightly hugged Fang Yu’s neck. His voice shook as he quietly cried for Fang Yu by Fang Yu’s ear! He sucked hard on Fang Yu’s earlobe and kissed his neck. He wanted to shout loudly, “I like you! I fucking love you! …”

Yang Lei even had the impulse to shed tears…

When everything had subsided, Yang Lei lay quietly by Fang Yu’s side.

Neither of them spoke, but their hearts were equally at a loss and dejected…