UCS Chapter 43

For Gao Gusheng, freely going out shopping was actually a rare event.

 

When he was little, Gao Gusheng was almost taken away by a kidnapper while being walked by his nanny. It was only because Gao Shi happened to be returning from school and arrived in time, knocking the kidnapper unconscious with his schoolbag, that he saved the still-chubby Gao Gusheng.

 

Since then, Gao Shi never complained about having too much homework.

 

-Though having a lot of homework could knock a kidnapper unconscious, the point was, having a lot of homework could knock a kidnapper unconscious!

 

Starting with that kidnapper, following that lead, the police dismantled a criminal gang and rescued a large number of abducted children, making headline news.

 

The headline was [One Schoolbag Decides Fate! Elementary School Student Knocks Out Kidnapper with Schoolbag, Helps Police Crack Major Trafficking Ring!]

 

This led to discussions such as:

 

[Save the Elementary School Students! Homework Heavy Enough to Knock Out Kidnappers, When Will Children’s Burdens Be Reduced?]

 

[Severe Competition! Do Elementary Students Also Have to Study Through the Night?]

 

[XX Exercise Book, Explained by Multiple Instructors, One Thousand Pages, Giving Your Child One Thousand Nights of Companionship! Thickness Up to 12mm, Second to None for Self-Defense!]

 

At that time, twelve-year-old Gao Shi, who had actually already completed his elementary school entrance exams, didn’t know whether to explain that he had already graduated from elementary school, or to clarify that the homework in his bag wasn’t assigned by the school, but by his father.

 

In any case, afterward, Gao Gusheng received even more stringent protection and had hardly ever been to places like shopping malls. When he needed something, brands would be invited to his home for selection.

 

One of Gao Gusheng’s rare outings even involved a malicious begging incident.

 

After that, Gao Gusheng rarely went out shopping.

 

However, after he turned eleven, the concentration of perverts around Gao Gusheng decreased significantly. Gao Shi thought it might be because the tribulations before eighteen had passed, and the plot had relaxed its supervision.

 

So occasionally, Gao Shi would take Gao Gusheng out to play.

 

Strangely enough, as long as Gao Shi was by Gao Gusheng’s side, Gao Gusheng could return safely.

 

…

 

“Dad, how about barbecue tonight?”

 

Gao Gusheng was jumping around like a dog let out of the house for fun.

 

“Sure. Does Daoist Ying want anything in particular?”

 

Ying Bujie, who had been staring at an ice cream nearby, immediately turned his head when he heard this, “Barbecue is good.”

 

His serious demeanor made it seem as if he hadn’t been staring at the ice cream just now.

 

Gao Shi felt somewhat touched by his cuteness, though it seemed a bit strange to describe a man taller than himself as cute.

 

Gao Shi went over to take out his phone and paid for three ice creams.

 

“Good, then let’s go for barbecue.”

 

Gao Gusheng’s ice cream was cola-flavored, Ying Bujie’s was matcha, and Gao Shi’s was lemon. The three of them walked forward with their ice creams, attracting many glances.

 

Gao Gusheng held his ice cream while looking around, and his eyes lit up when he saw takoyaki, “Dad, I want takoyaki!”

 

“Let’s buy some.”

 

Gao Gusheng excitedly ordered two large boxes of twelve, waiting for his dad to pay.

 

Although he had quite a bit of money himself, there was a difference between paying with his own money and whining to his parent, “I want this.”

 

Gao Shi was quite receptive to his son’s occasional clingy whining. According to Grandma Gao, he was a stubborn mule who responded to gentleness but not to force.

 

As Gao Shi lowered his head to pay, he suddenly felt a faint matcha scent approaching. Ying Bujie had come very close to him.

 

“Want to taste the ice cream.”

 

Gao Shi instinctively said, “Go ahead.”

 

Hadn’t he already given him ice cream?

 

Before he could react, he felt a tickle by his ear as Ying Bujie leaned in.

 

In that moment, the bustling crowd seemed completely isolated, and the surroundings became quiet. Gao Shi almost thought he was going to kiss him.

 

But Ying Bujie’s pale pink lips opened and closed, merely bending down to bite a piece of the lemon-flavored ice cream.

 

Gao Shi stood frozen in place. Ying Bujie seemed completely unaware of the unusual atmosphere and only commented, “This tastes good.”

 

Gao Gusheng had been leaning against the stove, watching whole small octopuses being wrapped in batter and turned into beautiful golden balls. The stall owner asked what sauce he wanted, and Gao Gusheng suddenly turned around, “Dad, Daoist Ying, do you want…”

 

Gao Gusheng instinctively stopped speaking.

 

?

 

Wait, what is this feeling?

 

Why did he suddenly feel like he and his dad and Daoist Ying weren’t in the same world?

 

Gao Shi turned back, his expression composed, “Tomato, I think. What about you, Daoist Ying?”

 

Ying Bujie nodded.

 

Gao Gusheng turned his head, his brain working frantically. What did Daoist Ying mean? He wanted tomato too, right? Why did his attitude suggest he would share a box with Dad?

 

No, no, it must be a misunderstanding. Daoist Ying is a guest, and with such a big appetite, how could half a box possibly be enough for him.

 

Gao Gusheng carried two boxes of tomato-flavored takoyaki, handed one to Ying Bujie, then opened the box he was sharing with Gao Shi. As he pushed it toward Gao Shi, it bumped against Ying Bujie’s box.

 

Gao Gusheng: ???

 

Faced with the astonished looks from Gao Gusheng and Gao Shi, Ying Bujie pushed his box toward Gao Shi again. Strangely, Gao Shi could read his meaning from his eyes-

 

I tasted your ice cream earlier, now I’m giving you takoyaki.

 

Who was Ying Bujie? He was the man who could eat enough for six cooks, a hungry wolf who made Gao Gusheng worry he might accidentally be eaten too. Yet he was willing to share his food?

 

Compared to the dumbfounded Gao Gusheng, Gao Shi, who had been fed candy by Ying Bujie before, wasn’t as surprised, though that strange feeling lingering in his heart grew stronger.

 

Gao Shi instinctively wanted to refuse, but seeing Ying Bujie’s clear, bright eyes, he still speared a takoyaki ball.

 

The whole octopus inside was very satisfying to eat, juicy and flavorful, with the sweet and sour tomato sauce refreshing and cutting through the richness, leaving one wanting more.

 

Seeing Gao Shi take a takoyaki ball, Ying Bujie contentedly withdrew the paper box and ate one himself. He ate with elegance and focus, somehow always reminding Gao Shi of a little hamster eating.

 

“Cough, cough, cough-”

 

Gao Shi looked toward Gao Gusheng, “What’s wrong? Choked?”

 

Gao Gusheng’s eyes darted around, “Mm… a bit. Dad, give me a takoyaki ball for a change of taste.”

 

While spearing a takoyaki ball, Gao Shi said, “Aren’t they all tomato flavor? What change…”

 

He suddenly stopped.

 

Gao Shi ruffled his son’s head, “Let’s go eat!”

 

…

 

This barbecue restaurant was quite famous, with air-flown ingredients that were very fresh.

 

Most importantly, customers could choose between grilling the food themselves or having the staff do it for them.

 

Gao Shi decisively chose both services simultaneously.

 

Usually when out with Gao Gusheng, for activities they could do together, Gao Shi would generally choose to do them together, as Gao Gusheng enjoyed these rare parent-child moments.

 

But today with Ying Bujie present, Gao Shi worried that slow grilling might cause Ying Bujie to faint from hunger.

 

The beautifully marbled beef sizzled with oil, its edges turning a lovely caramelized brown, releasing a rich meaty aroma.

 

The bacon curled slightly, with the fatty parts becoming almost transparent, thinning to a delicate sheet.

 

The basa fish meat was snow-white, deliciously fresh, tender yet firm to the bite-a delicacy even without dipping sauce.

 

After grilling two pieces of black charcoal, Gao Gusheng eagerly watched Gao Shi grill meat while poking at the cheese corn that somehow never burned no matter how much he stirred it.

 

Beside them, Ying Bujie faced another grill with a serious expression. If one didn’t see the slightly blackened meat on his grill, one might think he was battling fierce ghosts.

 

Gao Shi skillfully flipped the grilling meat, distributing it to Gao Gusheng and Ying Bujie.

 

Gao Gusheng, who had been waiting until his mouth watered, pounced on the food with a “Rawr!” like a hungry tiger, refusing to spit it out even when it burned his mouth.

 

At that moment, a pair of tongs appeared, and a slightly charred meat slice was added to the edge of his plate.

 

Gao Gusheng looked up to see Ying Bujie withdrawing his tongs, and noticed his father’s plate also had a slice of meat that he clearly hadn’t grilled himself.

 

Looking at Ying Bujie’s grill, only a few unrecognizably black items remained. Gao Gusheng could barely make out what might have been a potato slice.

 

Gao Shi looked at the grilled meat on his plate and cleared his throat, “For me?”

 

Ying Bujie nodded solemnly.

 

He had only managed to grill two edible pieces-one for Gao Shi and one for Gao Gusheng.

 

Gao Shi thanked him and picked up the meat slice.

 

It was slightly overcooked, not particularly delicious, but not bad either.

 

Gao Shi couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling.

 

Ying Bujie’s mental clarity was somewhat lacking; he didn’t understand many things, just like a child.

 

He simply wanted to share his best with him.

 

Gao Gusheng ate the meat Ying Bujie had grilled while secretly glancing at Gao Shi and Ying Bujie.

 

Damn, what’s going on? Why does this feel like a family of three?

 

For the first time in his eighteen years, Gao Gusheng seriously considered this question-

 

Does my dad prefer men or women?

 

***

 

The meal was eaten with mixed feelings, but overall it was enjoyable. After eating, Gao Shi took them to the arcade.

 

Gao Gusheng loved going to arcades, where he and Gao Shi could be just an ordinary father and son, having fun and enjoying themselves without thinking about his unfortunate constitution.

 

The three of them played everything from claw machines to basketball, from coin pushers to fishing games, succeeding at everything they tried.

 

Gao Gusheng, with a bag of stuffed toys on his back, a basket of coins in his left hand, and another toy tucked under his right arm, called out to Gao Shi and Ying Bujie, “Dad! I want to play this racing game!”

 

“Coming.”

 

Gao Shi sat in the driver’s seat, connecting with Gao Gusheng who was seated at another machine. Ying Bujie also sat in a driver’s seat, still holding a cup of milk tea.

 

With the starting signal, three race cars sped off.

 

Accompanied by Gao Gusheng’s strange sounds like “Waaah!” and “Ohohoho,” the three cars reached the finish line one after another. As expected, Gao Shi came in first, but what Gao Gusheng couldn’t accept was that Ying Bujie, playing for the first time, came in second.

 

Wasn’t Daoist Ying supposed to be mentally lacking?!

 

Gao Gusheng’s competitive spirit ignited, “Again!”

 

Under the alternating bright and dim lights, the young man’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Beside him were two young men-one with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, the other ethereal and otherworldly-drawing countless gazes.

 

In a corner, a young man with dyed red short hair stared fixedly at Gao Gusheng.

 

He looked at the person before him as if his soul had been drawn away, murmuring.

 

“Mingue…”

 

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