Coming Out

On Saturday, Shi Sui and the others played all night at the internet cafe, only heading to their respective homes when the sky was just beginning to turn grey.

[Wang Wang: Everyone made it home? Take a shower and sleep, we’ll continue tonight.]

[Chi Qing: Home, I have to accompany Weiwei.]

Chi Qing had originally made plans to meet with Tao Lingwei on Saturday night, but Wang Cheng had stubbornly held him back to prevent him from leaving, even blowing smoke all over him, so he had no choice but to schedule the date for Sunday.

[Wang Wang: Fine, fine, fine, we get it, you have a girlfriend. It’s not like anyone is envious.]

[Wang Wang: @Lu, @ss, let’s do a three-man queue. Top Student, you’ve practiced your marksman well, you’re actually pretty good.]

Lu Huaizhi only used those one or two champions. Once he got the hang of them, he still needed Shi Sui’s help to secure solo kills, but it could only be said that the Top Student’s brain truly worked efficiently.

[ss: Not playing, I have to work a part-time shift at the internet cafe tonight.]

[Lu: Then I won’t play either.]

[Wang Cheng: Fck, then what’s the point of me playing alone? Better off just staying home under the air conditioning.]

The four-man gaming squad dispersed just like that.

Shi Sui took a quick combat shower first thing upon returning home, then walked to his bedroom and lay down on the wooden board bed.

Because his movements were a bit careless, his leg suddenly kicked the edge of the bed, causing him to hiss from the sharp pain. A nerve in his mind instantly snapped taut.

Life had been too comfortable lately; he hadn’t experienced this kind of bruising in a very long time.

Lying on the bed, Shi Sui let out a deep breath. Even though he was so tired that he could barely lift his fingers, there wasn’t a single bit of pleasant satisfaction in his heart; instead, it felt incredibly stifling.

He didn’t want this kind of exhaustion. It was meaningless.

He sent a WeChat message to Li Lulu, [If any strange people appear at the internet cafe again, contact me immediately.] Li Lulu quickly replied with a ‘good’.

Clutching his phone, Shi Sui thought for a moment, then sent a message to Chi Qing, [Do you have Qian Hao’s contact information?]

He still hadn’t settled the score with that kid for intentionally tripping him up during the relay race at the sports meet.

Fortunately, Lu Huaizhi had stepped in to cover for him, and he had successfully taken first place due to those two competing events, causing Old Man Deng to reduce several of his lighter disciplinary warnings.

[Chi Qing: I have it, I’ll push it to you.] [Chi Qing: What’s wrong? Did he provoke you again?]

[ss: Nothing.]

Shi Sui sent a friend request to Qian Hao, with the application reason: [I am Shi Sui, let’s settle our score.] Not just the account from the sports meet, but also the time he was forced to stand as punishment by Old Tian when he was sick.

Shi Sui placed the phone beside his pillow, his fist clenching and unclenching. He was completely awake now, crossing his legs on the bed while waiting for Qian Hao’s reply.

The phone vibrated once, and Shi Sui picked it up.

[Class 3 Grade 11 Lu Huaizhi: I have some things to take care of tonight, so I might arrive a bit late. Save a seat for me at the internet cafe.]

[ss: ?] Neither Wang Cheng nor the other guy was coming, so why was Lu Huaizhi still joining the bustle, and even asking for a saved seat?

With an expressionless face, he typed out: [There’s a seat on the floor.] But before he could hit send, Lu Huaizhi sent another message.

[Class 3 Grade 11 Lu Huaizhi: A bit sleepy, going to sleep. I’ll try to find you as early as possible.] [Class 3 Grade 11 Lu Huaizhi: See you tonight.]

Shi Sui stared at the word ‘sleepy’ for a few seconds, deleted the words he had just typed, threw the phone aside, and ignored the person. He had truly never met anyone more troublesome than Lu Huaizhi.

Shi Sui played dead on the bed for a minute, then picked the phone back up, sending a message to Li Lulu: [Sister Lulu, after 8:00 PM, please help me save that machine right in front of the counter.]

Li Lulu replied with an OK hand gesture.

Once the matter was settled, Shi Sui couldn’t help but let out a yawn. Disrupted by Lu Huaizhi like this, he actually started to feel sleepy after all.

Shi Sui turned on the small fan beside his bed, preparing to sleep.

It was just that this sleep was exceptionally restless. The couple upstairs had encountered some sort of conflict and were constantly arguing, even smashing things onto the floor. Even with his ears covered, Shi Sui could clearly hear the sound of porcelain bowls shattering.

It was also interspersed with a little boy’s crying. He was crying so hard he was hiccuping.

Sleeping in a daze, Shi Sui felt like he had heard a similar sound of crying mixed with hiccups a very long time ago somewhere.

Following right behind his tail, unable to be shaken off no matter what.

Shi Sui wanted to see clearly who that little brat was, straining to open his eyes, and the dream broke.

He looked at the ceiling with its slightly peeling paint. After the sleepiness faded, he sat up from the bed, glancing at the time on his phone—1:00 PM.

He boiled a pack of instant noodles to make do simply, then went outside to buy some paint, planning to find a time to bring the internet cafe’s ladder over to patch up the places where the paint was peeling on his walls at home.

The weather outside was hot, and after making a round trip, Shi Sui was covered in sweat again. He took a shower, washing his short-sleeved school uniform and jacket while he was at it.

By the time he finished hanging out the clothes, he heard the frequent vibrations of his phone resting on the coffee table.

After sleeping their fill, the group chat [A Nest of Dogs], which had been quiet all day, began to grow active again.

[Wang Wang: I’m seriously done for. My dad insisted on dragging me out of the house to accompany him fishing. I’m currently sitting by the river, with sweat steaming all over my face.]

[Wang Wang: [Image]] [Wang Wang: See the little water droplets!]

No one paid attention to him.

Wang Cheng didn’t care, continuing to talk to himself.

[Wang Wang: My dad caught a big grass carp, saying he’ll fry it when we go back. I’ll bring some for you guys to taste tomorrow, hehe.]

[Chi Qing: Not bad.]

[Chi Qing: A new milk tea shop opened in South Alley, running a promotion, buy one get one free, the taste is alright.]

After Chi Qing finished speaking, he sent a picture showing two cups of milk tea held by two people. One hand was broad and rough, while the other was pale and small. There were also two shadows on the ground, and the person beside Chi Qing was clearly a girl wearing a skirt.

[Shi Sui: .] [Wang Wang: ???]

Wang Cheng was probably dealt a blow, as he muted himself.

Meanwhile, Lu Huaizhi, who usually never missed messages, was unexpectedly quiet. He must really be busy with something.

Seeing that the time was about right, Shi Sui headed out to start his part-time shift at the internet cafe.

The sky outside gradually darkened, and the vendors along the main road of South Alley had all come out. The sound of shouting was continuous, and the aroma of food drifted out with the wind, filled with the bustling atmosphere of life.

Shi Sui walked for a while, glanced at the picture sent by Chi Qing, turned right, and entered a small side lane.

On the other side, completely different from the clamor of South Alley, the area surrounding Anhe Community was entirely peaceful. Every household kept their doors and windows tightly shut, running their air conditioners inside to escape the heat.

Only occasionally did people dressed in casual clothes come out for a stroll.

Lu Huaizhi hadn’t gone out; he was currently on a video call on his computer with his mother, Lu Jie.

He sat beside the desk in his bedroom, with a physics exam paper resting on the desk, occasionally picking up a pen to circle a few key points on it.

This was the paper from the recent monthly exam. He was circling the scoring points for Shi Sui so that Shi Sui could compare them when the teacher explained the questions later.

“Is it very hot in Ancheng lately? Do you have a poor appetite? You look thinner.” Lu Jie asked, “How about after this semester ends, Mom fetches you back to A City.”

“I’m not returning to A City.” Lu Huaizhi only exposed half of his face, keeping his head lowered as he wrote, “I did the monthly exam paper from Qinghe High School last time, my grades are stable, you don’t need to worry.”

“I didn’t say I was worried about your grades.” Lu Jie’s expression didn’t look too good, “I know I might have neglected you before, and I’ve noticed it too, I’m working hard to change. Why do you always stubborn with me, kid? Even running off to Ancheng all by yourself.”

“Are you punishing me in a disguised way?”

“Mom, before coming to Ancheng, I already expressed my meaning.” Lu Huaizhi’s gaze finally moved away from the exam paper, looking toward the person in the video, “I’ve already passed the age where I need care. You can live your life just like before, whether focusing on your career, dating a boyfriend, or establishing a new family like Dad—”

Lu Huaizhi paused on his last sentence, “I will wish you well, and I also hope you respect my decision.”

Perhaps because Lu Huaizhi spoke too directly, Lu Jie’s voice suddenly grew louder, “Respecting you also means letting you mess around with that brat?!”

After she finished speaking, she realized something, instantly biting her lip tightly, explaining: “Your father and I divorcing was a matter of absolute necessity. I know it caused a lot of harm to you at the time, I have nothing to say to that, but you can’t joke with your own future.”

“I do the exam papers of my original school every month, and my grades are also sent back to your hands at the very first moment.” Lu Huaizhi said, “You don’t need to use this as an excuse to make me go back.”

Lu Jie was left speechless by the retort, standing up and walking back and forth in the room quite anxiously several times, “You’ve made up your mind not to come back, right?”

“Mm.”

“Then I’ll come over.” Lu Jie spoke coldly, “I’ll sort through the work on my hands and come to Ancheng to accompany you for your studies.”

Lu Huaizhi’s expression grew much colder: “Is this also the purpose of your video call with me?” Coming over to monitor him.

Lu Jie said, “I’m merely accompanying my own son for his studies, that’s all.” Lu Huaizhi could use high-sounding reasons, and so could she.

The space between the two fell quiet for a moment.

Just then, Lu Huaizhi’s phone rang once, a private WeChat message from Shi Sui.

[ss: A milk tea shop is having a promotion, the signature is buy one get one free. Do you drink it? If not, I’ll just give it to a random passerby.]

After saying that, he sent a picture of the notice board outside the milk tea shop, indicating that he was only asking because there was indeed a promotion.

[ss: Don’t misunderstand, I just happened to pass by on my way to the internet cafe. Chi Qing and his girlfriend also bought it, saying it tastes pretty good, so I just bought a cup casually.]

Lu Huaizhi glanced at the address on that notice board.

[Lu: This shop is in the opposite direction of the internet cafe.]

Shi Sui was currently dragging a boy who had cut in line ahead of him backward, “Didn’t you see everyone is lining up?” Shi Sui’s expression was very fierce, and seeing this, the guy didn’t dare to utter a single word, preparing to head to the end of the line dejectedly.

But just as the line-cutter took a step back, he suddenly saw the person opposite him lower his head to glance at a phone message, his expression stiffening, and then his ears turned red to the naked eye.

?

“Have you looked enough?” Shi Sui swept a cold glance over him, “Do you need me to personally escort you away?” The guy instantly scrambled to the back.

Shi Sui turned his head to look at the notice board at the entrance of the milk tea shop, the address was precisely at the very bottom…

However, when had Lu Huaizhi mapped out South Alley so clearly.

[ss: Can’t I come over if I have business? If you don’t drink it, then forget it!] After Shi Sui sent the message, he stuffed the phone into his pocket with a sour face.

Not long after, the phone in his pocket rang.

Shi Sui endured it for a bit before pulling it out to check.

[Class 3 Grade 11 Lu Huaizhi: Drinking it, need 50% sweetness, less ice.] Shi Sui complained inwardly, so many demands.

It just so happened that it was his turn in line, and Shi Sui spoke up: “Two signature milk teas, one with 50% sweetness and less ice, the other whatever.”

On the other side, Lu Huaizhi looked at the picture of the purchased milk tea sent over by Shi Sui, replying with a sentence: [I’ll rush over as quickly as possible.]

“Who are you talking to?” Lu Jie suddenly asked a question.

The atmosphere between the two before had been a bit stiff, but someone seemed to have sent a message to Lu Huaizhi’s side, and after that, she saw Lu Huaizhi’s originally cold and hard expression soften bit by bit. Finally, there was actually a trace of a curve at the corner of his mouth.

However, that smile was suppressed right after she spoke up.

Lu Huaizhi put down his phone, saying, “You know who it is.”

Lu Jie’s anger was instantly provoked, but she didn’t follow Lu Huaizhi’s words further, “I will try my best to finish the work on my hands and come over.”

“Up to you.” Lu Huaizhi didn’t try to persuade her otherwise either.

In fact, this day would come sooner or later. During the period he had been in Ancheng, his mother called him almost every single day to confirm where he was, what he was doing, and who he was with.

She would even call the community security guards, asking when he returned home and whether he had stayed out overnight.

Even though his mother had never spoken about matters in this regard, Lu Huaizhi was clear in his heart that his mother didn’t want him to have involvements with Shi Sui.

Now she had merely chosen the most direct method to restrict him.

Lu Huaizhi lowered his eyes, suddenly asking very softly: “Mom, did I disgrace you?”

“How could that be?” Lu Jie answered without a shred of hesitation, “You have proper looks, treat people politely, and have excellent grades. I have always been proud of you.” After divorcing her ex-husband, fighting for Lu Huaizhi’s custody was the decision she regretted least.

“I mean—” Lu Huaizhi lifted his head, staring fixedly into Lu Jie’s eyes, “I am gay. Did I disgrace you?”

Beep… The video call was cut off.

Lu Huaizhi leaned against the back of his chair, quietly glancing at the physics paper on the desk, marking the key points of the unfinished question clearly. Just as he stopped his pen, the phone vibrated once.

[ss: Are you here yet?] [ss: The outside of the milk tea is covered in melted water, so annoying.]

After saying that, he snapped a picture of the milk tea resting on the counter desk, the edges completely covered in water droplets, with several soaked paper balls thrown beside it.

Lu Huaizhi’s gaze rested quietly on these two messages, the heaviness and helplessness in his heart dispersing bit by bit.

Seeing that no one was responding, Shi Sui sent another line. [ss: If you don’t come soon I’m throwing it away?]

Standing nearby, Li Lulu found it amusing watching him, “I thought this milk tea was brought for me, but it’s actually not? Yet it looks like no one is drinking it either? Why don’t you just give it to me, I’ll order a large cup for you later.”

Coincidentally, Lu Huaizhi’s reply came through at this moment.

[Class 3 Grade 11 Lu Huaizhi: Coming right now.]

Just as Li Lulu was about to reach out to take that cup of milk tea, Shi Sui snatched it away with quick eyes and fast hands.

“Someone is drinking it.” Shi Sui flicked the water droplets off the milk tea, placing it at the furthest end away from Li Lulu, keeping his lips taut, “Don’t steal it.”