AAWOMAHI Chapter30

Lu Shiran stood by the doorway, holding a small cake in one hand and carrying two bags in the other.

 

Upon seeing Lu Xingmian, he smiled gently. He walked through the cold winter to stand before Lu Xingmian, who felt as if he was witnessing the most beautiful scene.

 

Lu Xingmian thought Lu Shiran looked incredibly handsome in his wool coat. He was practically a walking clothes hanger; everything looked good on him, but he looked even better when he smiled.

 

Lu Xingmian giggled foolishly, completely forgetting to speak.

 

The two stood facing each other until Lu Shiran spoke: “Lu Xingmian, Happy New Year. Aren’t you going to let me in?”

 

Not only did Lu Xingmian see the most beautiful scene, but he also heard the most pleasant voice as well.

 

Lu Xingmian quickly ushered him inside.

 

“Ge, you’re here.” The voice brimmed with the boy’s unrestrained excitement.

 

As Lu Shiran changed his shoes, he suddenly noticed the slippers fit unexpectedly well. The last time he wore slippers here, they were clearly ill-fitting, with his heels dragging on the ground.

 

He looked at the boy standing beside him, realizing Lu Xingmian had specifically bought new slippers just for him.

 

Lu Shiran put on the slippers and placed the cake on the table. He glanced around; it was still the same as usual, completely devoid of any festive atmosphere. He knew Lu Xingmian would be like this alone. This kid, really.

 

Lu Shiran opened another bag, and only then did Lu Xingmian see it contained many things. The first thing that caught his eye was a piece of red paper. Once Lu Shiran took it out, Lu Xingmian immediately recognized it as a pair of spring couplets.

 

Lu Shiran then successively took out several window decorations and several “good fortune” characters. This bag, filled with vibrant reds and golds, was incredibly festive.

 

The other bag contained the ingredients Lu Shiran had brought, which he placed in the kitchen.

 

Lu Xingmian watched Lu Shiran the entire time, still unable to fully process the excitement of seeing Lu Shiran today.

 

He still found it a bit hard to believe that Lu Shiran had just appeared before him. Would he leave soon? He must, right?

 

Lu Shiran waved his palm in front of Lu Xingmian: “Lu Xingmian, do you have tape at home? Come help me put up the spring couplets.”

 

Lu Xingmian snapped back to attention and immediately said, “Yes, yes, yes.”

 

He found the tape in the drawer. As Lu Xingmian took it out, the front door was open, and Lu Shiran stood by the doorway, holding up the spring couplets to gauge their position.

 

At that moment, Lu Xingmian felt a sense of security he’d never experienced before. Lu Shiran was standing right there, and he was going to put up the spring couplets with him.

 

When Lu Xingmian went to the supermarket that afternoon, he had paused by the shelves selling spring couplets, window decorations, and other adornments. He’d considered them for a while but ultimately bought nothing. It didn’t matter if he celebrated the holiday alone; putting up these things would only make him feel more isolated.

 

But now, Lu Xingmian was incredibly glad he hadn’t bought anything. Even if Lu Shiran left later, it didn’t matter either. At least he saw Lu Shiran today and put up spring couplets with him.

 

The two stood at the doorway. Lu Shiran held up the couplet and asked Lu Xingmian if it was straight. Lu Xingmian looked and said it looked quite straight.

 

Lu Shiran’s height allowed him to reach the spot with ease, while Lu Xingmian, if left to do it alone, would have to strain on tiptoe just to touch it.

 

Once the position was set, Lu Xingmian handed Lu Shiran the tape.

 

Working together, they quickly put up the left spring couplet.

 

After one side was up, Lu Shiran asked if he was cold and told him to go inside and wait. He’d noticed Lu Xingmian’s ears were red, and the temperature outside was different from inside.

 

Lu Xingmian said he wasn’t cold.

 

He really wasn’t cold. His ears were red because each time he handed Lu Shiran the tape, their fingertips touched.

 

Lu Shiran’s fingers carried a gentle warmth, almost like a spark. The moment they brushed against his own, a tingling spread through his fingertips—a peculiar yet delightful feeling.

 

He loved putting up spring couplets with Lu Shiran.

 

Worried that Lu Xingmian might get cold standing outside for too long, Lu Shiran sped up, quickly putting up the other spring couplet, then the horizontal banner, and finally the large “good fortune” character centered on the door.

 

All the spring couplets were up.

 

With the couplets in place, the entire security door looked different, instantly radiating a festive New Year atmosphere.

 

Lu Xingmian, however, wondered why they finished putting them up so fast. Was Lu Shiran planning to rush back soon?

 

Seeing Lu Xingmian spacing out, Lu Shiran gently ruffled his hair: “Let’s go inside, it’s cold out here.”

 

Window decorations were simpler to put up than spring couplets, since they used static cling, just a quick rub and they would stick right onto the glass.

 

Lu Shiran had also brought along a large illuminated “good fortune” character, which Lu Xingmian hung in his room. Once lit, it cast a beautiful glow.

 

With the spring couplets and window decorations all in place, Lu Shiran started cooking, and Lu Xingmian stayed beside him, wanting to help.

 

Then Lu Xingmian saw that Lu Shiran had actually brought four large, tightly bound Chinese mitten crabs.

 

Noticing Lu Xingmian’s confused look, Lu Shiran said, “Oh, these crabs were given as New Year’s welfare from our company.”

 

Lu Xingmian thought Lu Shiran’s company seemed pretty good, giving out Chinese mitten crabs as New Year’s gifts. But then he remembered how Lu Shiran often had to go to social events for work, he felt it wasn’t so good after all.

 

While Lu Shiran was cooking, Lu Xingmian finally couldn’t help but ask him, “Ge, are you leaving soon? Do you have to rush back to spend New Year’s with your family? It’s already dark, you should head back early.”

 

Although he didn’t want Lu Shiran to leave so soon, he also didn’t want to disturb his reunion with his family.

 

Lu Shiran replied calmly, “I’m the only one staying here.”

 

Lu Xingmian uttered a soft “Oh.” What did he mean, “only one staying here”? Was Lu Shiran also alone? So he didn’t need to rush back to the city?

 

Lu Shiran looked up at him: “Today, I’m also alone.”

 

Lu Xingmian’s eyes instantly brightened: “Ge, it’s okay! We’ll spend New Year’s together today. I’ll keep you company.”

 

Lu Shiran: “En, you’ll keep me company for New Year’s.”

 

Lu Xingmian happily said, “Ge, let me help you!”

 

Finally seeing Lu Xingmian’s happy smile, Lu Shiran also smiled: “Alright, find the bunch of cilantro from the bag and wash it.”

 

Lu Xingmian: “Ah, Ge…” Do we really have to eat this cilantro?

 

Lu Shiran: “I’m just teasing you, there’s no cilantro.”

 

As Lu Shiran was preparing the ingredients, his phone rang. Seeing his hands were greasy, he said, “Lu Xingmian, can you help me get my earphones?”

 

Lu Xingmian: “Of course.”

 

Lu Shiran: “The earphones are in my jacket pocket.”

 

Lu Shiran’s jacket was hanging in the living room, and Lu Xingmian found the earphones in the pocket.

 

Lu Shiran: “Help me put them on, will you?”

 

Lu Shiran was in the middle of preparing a perch, and his hands were stained with blood.

 

The phone had already rung several times, so Lu Xingmian quickly helped Lu Shiran put on the earphones. When the call connected, Lu Xingmian saw a woman’s name on the screen.

 

Lu Shiran kept arranging the perch in his hands as he spoke on the call.

 

Lu Xingmian quietly peeled onions beside him.

 

He secretly glanced at Lu Shiran, who seemed to be in a good mood. It must be because of the person on the phone.

 

Could it be someone Lu Shiran liked? Lu Xingmian had just seen it; Lu Shiran smiled very happily when he saw the caller ID, even with a hint of affection.

 

The person on the other end seemed to be asking if he had eaten and what he was doing, and Lu Shiran patiently answered each question, his voice extremely gentle.

 

Lu Xingmian continued to peel the onion layer by layer. Strange, why did his nose feel a bit sour? Why had his vision suddenly blurred? Was he crying? Why was he crying?

 

Then Lu Xingmian heard Lu Shiran’s voice: “Don’t rub your eyes.”

 

It was too late. As Lu Shiran spoke, Lu Xingmian had already rubbed his eyes, and the irritation from the onion instantly stimulated his entire nasal cavity.

 

Lu Xingmian’s tears flowed like a surging river, it was unstoppable. He finally understood why he had felt like crying just now; he had forgotten he was peeling onions.

 

Lu Shiran quickly came over, held his hands, and led him to the bathroom: “Don’t rub your eyes, it’s okay.”

 

Led by Lu Shiran, they arrived at the bathroom. Lu Shiran asked him, “Which towel is for washing your face?”

 

Lu Xingmian: “The blue one.”

 

Lu Shiran wet the towel with warm water: “Close your eyes first, I’ll wipe them for you.”

 

Lu Shiran quickly wiped his eyes and then his nose with the towel. Only then did Lu Xingmian feel his eyes weren’t as uncomfortable, and his tears weren’t flowing so intensely anymore.

 

Staring into the mirror, his eyes were red and his nose slightly flushed. To anyone unaware, it would seem as if Lu Xingmian had been forced to tears.

 

Lu Shiran was also stunned. He hadn’t seemed to wipe hard, yet Lu Xingmian’s eyes and nose were so red.

 

Lu Shiran asked him, “Are your eyes and nose still uncomfortable?” The reason peeling onions causes tears is because the onion irritates the nasal cavity, which then leads to tearing.

 

Lu Xingmian shook his head: “It’s fine now, not uncomfortable anymore.”

 

Watching Lu Shiran wash the towel, Lu Xingmian felt a bit embarrassed: “Ge, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

 

He felt like he had disrupted Lu Shiran’s call.

 

Lu Shiran shook his head, wiped his face once more, and turned on the faucet, planning to guide Lu Xingmian to wash his hands. But when his hand came within about five centimeters of Lu Xingmian’s, he stopped.

 

“I forgot to tell you that you can’t peel onions like that; it easily makes you cry. Wash your hands to rinse off the onion smell, and it won’t irritate your eyes.”

 

Lu Shiran stood by, watching him wash his hands: “You ah, sometimes you’re quite like my little niece.” Both are very cute and need looking after.

 

Lu Xingmian remembered that Lu Shiran had a little niece.

 

Lu Shiran said, “That was her calling me just now.”

 

Lu Xingmian’s ears twitched. So the person who called Lu Shiran just now was his little niece.

 

As soon as Lu Xingmian finished washing his hands, he heard a knock at the door.

 

He went to open it.

 

This time, it was Xie Jiaze standing at the door, holding a plate of dumplings.

 

Seeing Lu Xingmian, he happily said, “Lu Xingmian, these are the three-delicacy dumplings our family made; they’re delicious! My mom and grandma asked me to bring some up for you and your brother.”

 

Lu Xingmian felt a bit embarrassed: “Thanks, grandma and auntie.”

 

Xie Jiaze chuckled: “You’re welcome, you—”

 

When Xie Jiaze looked at Lu Xingmian again, he froze. Lu Xingmian’s eyes and nose were red, clearly indicating he had just cried. No wonder he felt Lu Xingmian’s voice sounded a bit off; he must have been crying.

 

Xie Jiaze pulled Lu Xingmian by the arm: “Lu Xingmian, did your brother scold you?”

 

Lu Xingmian: “No, no.”

 

Xie Jiaze: “Then why are your eyes red? Did you cry?”

 

Lu Shiran leaned half his body out of the kitchen, saw Xie Jiaze holding Lu Xingmian’s hand, and said gently, “Lu Xingmian, come over and help me wash the spring onions.”