LCFM Chapter 21

Jiang Xinghuai was stunned when he saw the entire cabinet full of leather shoes. He also liked buying sneakers, but he had never gone this overboard.

At most, he could only fill up one wall.

And—

“When you’re unhappy, you polish shoes?” Jiang Xinghuai hesitated and took two steps back. “You’re not messing with me, right?”

“This pair of shoes I personally made under the guidance of a master,” Fu Yan took down a pair of vintage brown leather shoes. “They’re very comfortable to wear. Do you want to try them?”

“Mm.” Jiang Xinghuai froze for a moment, but curiosity made him nod.

He had never worn leather shoes before.

Fu Yan moved over a low stool and let him sit down.

Jiang Xinghuai took off his own high-top cloth shoes, then lifted his head to glance at Fu Yan.

“Try them.” Fu Yan encouraged him.

“Your feet are so big…” After slipping his foot in, Jiang Xinghuai looked at the huge empty space left at the heel, laughed, and even pointed it out to Fu Yan. “This is much bigger.”

“It’s because your feet are too small.” Fu Yan also laughed, crouching down to help him put on the other shoe.

Jiang Xinghuai stood up, imitating the way his father walked with big strides, trying it twice. Finding it not uncomfortable, he simply dragged his feet forward, even hopping occasionally.

The soles of the leather shoes clattered nonstop against the wooden floor.

Like a child sneaking on an adult’s shoes—proud and showing off.

“Careful with your legs.” Fu Yan watched him with a smile, the tenderness in his eyes something even he himself didn’t notice.

Fu Yan’s leather shoes were indeed comfortable. After bouncing around once, Jiang Xinghuai suddenly remembered a saying. “You’ve collected so many pairs of shoes, is it because of that phrase, what was it again… ‘A good pair of shoes can take you anywhere you want to go’?”

“No.” Fu Yan chuckled. “It’s just because I have money.”

Jiang Xinghuai: “…………”

“Go on, polish.” Fu Yan brought over a toolbox and handed him a small brush.

“You really mean polish?” Jiang Xinghuai took the little brush, looked at the leather shoes on his feet, and didn’t know where to start. “Wait. What’s so fun about polishing shoes? Are you some kind of masochist?”

“First, take the soft, damp cloth and wipe the entire surface of the shoe once.” Fu Yan handed him a small wet towel.

Though Jiang Xinghuai complained with his mouth, he still obediently followed the instructions.

Whatever Fu Yan said, he did.

Before today, Jiang Xinghuai had absolutely no idea there were so many rules about polishing shoes.

Nor did he know that one pair of shoes could take a whole half hour to polish.

When the first pair was finally done, Jiang Xinghuai hugged the now gleaming leather shoes and sighed: “I don’t even brush my teeth this diligently…”

“After brushing, doesn’t it feel like you’ve relaxed a lot?” Fu Yan suddenly asked.

“No, not really.” Jiang Xinghuai looked puzzled.

“Really?” Fu Yan smiled.

“Wait…” Jiang Xinghuai’s already round eyes slowly widened.

“Polishing shoes is a process of settling oneself. Your heart hasn’t calmed down, so you don’t feel relaxed.” Fu Yan restrained his smile, his face turning serious.

“You just tricked me into polishing your shoes!” Jiang Xinghuai glared at him. “Old liar!”

“Little firecracker.” Fu Yan laughed happily.

“You’re done for!” Jiang Xinghuai tossed aside the leather shoes and rushed over, pretending to hit him.

Fu Yan didn’t dodge, just stood there smiling.

Seeing him not move, Jiang Xinghuai could only raise his hand high, then let it fall down lightly.

Fu Yan immediately burst out laughing at that.

Jiang Xinghuai had still been trying to keep a stern face, acting cool. But after holding Fu Yan’s gaze for a while, he couldn’t help laughing either.

The two of them laughed at each other for a long time, without even knowing why.

Only after quite a while did they finally stop. Fu Yan pulled him down to sit and drink some water, then spoke to comfort him: “Don’t worry about Teacher Geng, there will be a way.”

“A way…” Jiang Xinghuai suddenly thought of something. He set down the cup, wiped his mouth, and said, “You said before that your friend was involved in researching this virus. He must have a way. If we can find that friend of yours, won’t Teacher Geng be saved?”

“He didn’t come here to meet me as we had agreed.” Fu Yan frowned as he looked at him. “So I’m not sure where he is. He might still be stuck in Beijing.”

“Even so, we have to try. Old Geng can’t just lie there like this forever. That’s no different from being dead.” Jiang Xinghuai looked into his eyes, full of urgent hope. “Let’s go find him.”

“Us?” Fu Yan repeated his wording.

“Yes, us.” Jiang Xinghuai nodded. “You want to find your friend, and now I also need to find your friend. The two of us should go together.”

Fu Yan looked at him. The smile at the corner of his lips disappeared, and his brows furrowed again.

He patted Jiang Xinghuai’s thin back and said, “Go to sleep.”

Seeing him avoid the subject, Jiang Xinghuai stood up, frowning tightly as he spoke: “I’m not afraid of danger.”

“I know,” Fu Yan said.

“You don’t know.” For the first time, a solemn and serious expression appeared on Jiang Xinghuai’s face. As if making an oath, he said, “I’m not afraid of danger. I’m only afraid of you all encountering danger.”

“I also know, you’re the same,” Jiang Xinghuai added.

Fu Yan fell silent. After quite a while, he finally stood up and said, “It’s too late. Go to sleep first.”

Jiang Xinghuai looked at him, his chest rising and falling, his eyes filled with nothing but confusion and anger.

He opened his mouth again, but in the end, not a single word of his last sentence could come out because of the anger. He simply turned around and left.

He believed Fu Yan understood what he meant, but Fu Yan would never see him as an adult.

In Fu Yan’s eyes, he was only a child. He was someone who needed to be protected, cared for, and kept behind.

After Jiang Xinghuai entered the room, he slammed the door shut, threw himself onto the bed, and pounded the blanket hard.

He knew he wasn’t that mature yet, but he would learn. He would try to change. He would… he would…

He would mature!

By tomorrow, he’d ripen completely and scare Fu Yan to death.

Jiang Xinghuai was extremely angry, but he very maturely finished taking his bath.

Because with hot water, you cook faster.

The moment he closed his eyes under the blanket, Jiang Xinghuai suddenly felt a bit unaccustomed. These past few days, he had been sleeping alone.

The faint unease before sleep, he forced himself to press it down.

Even so, after he fell asleep, that nightmare he could never escape arrived as expected.

A distorted shadow morphed into the heads of a man and a woman, then squirmed into countless pairs of hands.

Those black hands clamped tightly around him, covering his eyes, blocking his nose.

He began desperately running forward.

Fu Yan suddenly appeared on the road he was passing by.

For no reason, Jiang Xinghuai let out a sigh of relief, smiling as he ran toward Fu Yan with open arms.

Just as he embraced him full in his arms, Fu Yan lifted his head.

Fu Yan’s face instantly twisted and distorted. He has blood-red, bulging eyes and a mouth swelling until it splits open.

Fu Yan had turned into a zombie!

Terrified, Jiang Xinghuai snapped his eyes open, clutching the blanket tightly. For quite a while, only his rapid, gasping breaths spread through the darkness.

This dream was no different from the ones he had every day before. The only difference was that, in the past, he would very quickly be caught by the dark shadow. But this time, he met Fu Yan, and the shadow hadn’t managed to catch up. Yet, in the end, Fu Yan turned into a zombie.

Jiang Xinghuai pushed away the blanket, propped himself up with his hands, and slowly sat up, adjusting his breathing.

His mouth was so dry it felt like smoke was rising. Even his throat hurt with a pulling pain. Could it be that he had cried out in the dream?

Frowning in doubt, Jiang Xinghuai stood up, pushed open the door, and walked toward the other side of the corridor.

He remembered that if he went left, there was a small hall with a refrigerator. There should be water.

He had only walked forward a short distance when suddenly a room door beside him opened, and a burst of yellow light instantly spilled out.

Startled, Jiang Xinghuai jumped, retreating several steps in a row until his back pressed against the railing.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Fu Yan was a little surprised to see him.

Clearing his throat, Jiang Xinghuai straightened his posture. He was still holding onto his anger. His tone carried neither humility nor arrogance: “Got up to drink some water.”

Only then did Fu Yan notice he was wearing just a T-shirt as he came out. He frowned, turned back, fetched a suit jacket, and handed it to him: “Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Jiang Xinghuai froze for a moment. He reached out to grasp the corner of the jacket, and his heart softened.

He held it in and held it in, but still couldn’t stop himself from confiding: “I… I had a dream…”

“What did you dream of?” Fu Yan noticed the fine beads of sweat on his forehead and took out a handkerchief to wipe them for him.

“I dreamed that I kept running in my darkness, and then I met you.” Jiang Xinghuai lowered his head, his voice very soft. “And then you turned into a zombie and wanted to bite me.”

The light from inside the room spilled out through the doorway, yet Jiang Xinghuai happened to be standing right in the shadows. Head bowed, he looked dejected, like a little dog that couldn’t find its way home.

Jiang Xinghuai had always been of a rather thin build. These past days of fleeing for his life, he hadn’t eaten his fill either. So now, wearing an oversized suit, he looked even more frail, the sight tugging at the heart.

In the end, Fu Yan stepped forward, reached out, and pulled him into his arms, gently patting his back in comfort.

“Don’t be afraid,” Fu Yan said.

“Take me with you, okay?” Jiang Xinghuai muffled his words against his chest, his voice heavy with nasal tones. “Let’s go together.”

“Three rules,” Fu Yan sighed helplessly.

“Rules, rules, rules!” Jiang Xinghuai nodded in a flurry.

“All right.” Fu Yan nodded.

“So what are the rules? You should at least say them.” Seeing that he still hadn’t spoken of the three rules, Jiang Xinghuai grew anxious and lifted his head to look at him.

“We’ll set them when the time comes.” Fu Yan let him go, turned, and poured him a glass of water.

“No problem!” Jiang Xinghuai hurried to follow, snatching the cup from his hand. “I’ll pour it myself! Do my own things myself!”

“Leave after your birthday.” Fu Yan picked up the bottle and poured him half a glass of water.

“You’re going to give me a gift?” Jiang Xinghuai asked in puzzlement.

“Is there something you want?” Fu Yan asked.

“Then I’ll have to think carefully about it…” Jiang Xinghuai narrowed his eyes as he drank the water, the smile at the corner of his lips looking even more sly.

“Then take your time thinking.” Watching him, Fu Yan also smiled. “I still have some things left unfinished. If you don’t want to sleep now, then wait for me a bit.”

Jiang Xinghuai nodded. He put down the glass cup, glanced around the spacious study, and walked toward the wall on the left.

That place was an entire wall of photos. Every photo frame was exactly the same, and every photo was placed at the same angle.

Fu Yan absolutely had obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Jiang Xinghuai curled his lips in disdain and casually took down a frame to have a look.

In the photo were Fu Yan and another boy.

The Fu Yan in the photo didn’t look much different from the current Fu Yan. Only his brows and eyes were more youthful. He didn’t seem quite so stern.

The other boy beside him was wearing a white shirt, with eyes that bent slightly in a smile, the corners of his lips carrying a gentle curve. His appearance was… very gentle.

For some reason, Jiang Xinghuai suddenly associated it with that boy in his class who sat in front of him, the one who always wore a white T-shirt.

Also like this, mild and gentle, making people want to lean against him and nap for a while.

“He’s called Zheng Yi.” Fu Yan suddenly walked up behind him.

“You went to the same university,” Jiang Xinghuai noticed the words written on it, saying it was a graduation keepsake.

“Mm.” Fu Yan nodded.

Jiang Xinghuai looked at the photo a couple more times, then suddenly froze, his eyes widening as he pointed to the middle of the photo in surprise: “Wait, why are you two still holding hands?”

Fu Yan stiffened. There were quite a lot of photos on that wall. He hadn’t expected Jiang Xinghuai to pick that one so accurately.

That was the only photo where, at the moment of the candid shot, Zheng Yi had quietly held his hand.

As the doubt in Jiang Xinghuai’s eyes grew deeper, Fu Yan could only admit: “…He used to pursue me.”

“Your ex-boyfriend?” Jiang Xinghuai, after saying that, froze again. “Wait… Uncle, you like men?”

“I didn’t agree to it.” Fu Yan skipped right over the topic of liking men or women, deliberately diverting, “Also, Zheng Yi is the person we’re going to look for this time.”

“So the one we’re going to look for this time is your ex-boyfriend?” Jiang Xinghuai frowned. As he spoke, he turned the photo over face down onto the table.

Fu Yan was startled. A certain sense of crisis suddenly rose. His sixth sense, which was usually dull about this kind of thing, abruptly pulled the alarm.

“Your ex-boyfriend is pretty handsome,” Jiang Xinghuai added.

As expected.

Fu Yan looked at the smile tugging at the corner of Jiang Xinghuai’s lips. His heartbeat, for some reason, started racing in a fluster. He knew this was the time he had to show some reaction. Otherwise, with Jiang Xinghuai’s childish temper, he’d probably stay mad for half the night again.

He cleared his throat: “I think you’re more—”

“His looks are exactly my type,” Jiang Xinghuai cut in again.

Fu Yan: “…”

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