There was once a Saturday during Tao Ling’s second year of graduate school. Tao Jun headed to work early in the morning, although, in the afternoon, he suddenly came home and dragged Tao Ling who’d stayed up late last night out of the bed, telling him he was craving rose cake all of a sudden and had to eat it on the spot.
T/N: there are actually two types of 玫瑰糕: one that has a glutinous texture and one that is a dry pastry. So it’s up to you to decide which one they are having.
Tao Ling cursed as he threw back the covers. Nevertheless, he was no match to the “superior” before him, thus, in the end, he was dragged into the car. The two brothers drove for six hours straight on the highway to a marketplace in the capital city of the neighboring province.
On that day, it was already evening by the time they arrived there. Tao Jun brought Tao Ling to an old town. They wormed their way through the crowd of people and entered a small alley, found an ordinary shop, and bought the last few pieces of handmade rose cakes.
Tao Ling doesn’t like eating these. After taking two bites of the one in his hand, he didn’t feel like eating it anymore. Tao Jun therefore took it and finished it himself.
The utterly satisfied Tao Jun was in ecstasy. He ate as he said, “This cake brings back old memories. It’s only sold here, the one and only shop in the whole nation. Let’s take this chance; otherwise, we won’t be able to eat it in the future.”
“If you want to eat it, why not just come over again?” Tao Ling yawned, rolling his eyes.
Tao Ling is not familiar with this marketplace. He has no idea how Tao Jun found this kind of place in an unfamiliar city, nor did he know why he had to come here on this day.
But Tao Jun has always been like this. He does not feel sorry for his graceful image in private, and will often act out of impulse. Being carried away by a whim is his lifestyle. In such moments, tormenting Tao Ling is his entertainment.
It took a very very long time for Tao Ling to slowly see that whenever Tao Jun does these things, he finds the strength to move forward all through impetuousness.
But, that is another story.
During that day when they were in the marketplace, Tao Jun went to drink at night. He often attends too many dinner parties, so drinking in everyday life is not something he would do at will. However, he behaved very differently on this day and appeared to be in an extremely great mood. Tao Ling thought he was happy as he had negotiated some sort of big business deal, so he drank a few glasses with him.
In the evening, they found a hotel in the urban district. Tao Ling finished washing and then sat on the edge of the bed, folding their clothes. Tao Jun watched the TV for a bit. And all of a sudden, he opened his arms to hug him, smiling and saying, “Xiao-Ling, come here, come give brother a hug. Brother only has you now.”
“Go away, Tao Jun! Are you crazy or what? Did you get your head stuck in your boss’s door?” Tao Ling retaliated and then turned him over.
Tao Jun was pressed down onto the bed. He laid down, laughing uproariously from his heart. He laughed and laughed, when his voice suddenly cracked. Tao Ling felt something off and quickly turned his head, only to find that his face was covered with tears.
Those eyes were glistening sharply, but with tears that welled up from misery and sorrow.
Even if these were memories from many years ago, Tao Ling could still see this one scene playing before his eyes, wrenching his heart with the slightest bump. He felt his heart ache so much he could not breathe.
Since young, the two brothers have always been dependent on each other. Tao Jun was an elder brother and also a parent to him. Like a god, he had never cried in front of Tao Ling. As such, seeing him break down like that, Tao Ling began to panic and asked in a rush, “Brother, what’s wrong?”
Tao Jun raised his hand to cover his face, the corners of his mouth still turned upwards. Nevertheless, his laughter sounded more unpleasant than his sobbing.
Stumped, Tao Ling tried to cheer him up. After a long time, Tao Jun no longer forced his smile. He hugged Tao Ling firmly, shedding tears on his shoulder without saying a word. His tears flowed and flowed, not intending to stop anytime soon.
It seemed as though all the tears from the past twenty years have been collected only to leave a small trace in an unfamiliar city. And when the sun rises, it will vanish into the thin air.
That evening brings back painful memories. Tao Ling only hates himself for being able to remember these so clearly. He had done his best to deceive himself that he’d already gotten over the past, and yet they flooded back so unexpectedly.
His chest moved up and down violently a few times. He turned the box over. In the end, his anger increased, thus he got up and heartlessly kicked it.
The box was kicked from the middle of the living room to a wall corner. The rose cakes inside that came from very far away were now rolling all over the place.
After standing for a while, Tao Ling quickly retreated a few steps and pressed his back hard against the door, and forced himself to breathe deeply.
A few minutes later, as though trying to flee, he rushed to grab his keys and phone and staggered out of the house.
He went downstairs, then sat down on the bench in the garden of the neighborhood for a while. At last, his wild mood fell calm. Tao Ling walked out of the neighborhood, went out, and then ended up at the street in front of the west gate of the school, unconsciously.
Before he knew it, he was already standing in front of the flower shop entrance.
When Tao Ling turned his head, Wen Qingying just happened to turn in his direction too.
They smiled at each other. Wen Qingying put down the wrapping paper in his hands and stood up.
“Mister, I saw you a moment ago. You were on the bus.” He walked up to him, passing over his phone.
Tao Ling stared at it blankly. So turns out that the eye contact was not speculation.
He forced a smile, replying: “I had a meal with a teacher, and now I’m just taking a stroll outside.”
Wen Qingying’s smile was pretty, so bright that Tao Ling felt a little inferior to him. He threw a glance at the wutong tree outside, then wrote: “The weather has been great these past two days; it’s indeed a suitable time to stroll outside. It will get cooler in a while, though. Mister, would you like to come in and have a seat? I’ll brew some coffee for you.”
Tao Ling agreed.
He sat beside the table and watched Wen Qingying’s side profile in silence. The anger in him had finally dissipated completely, leaving only an indescribable feeling of sorrow to ferment inside his chest that would furthermore aggravate.
Tao Ling felt extremely unwell. He did not know how to describe this feeling, and could only force himself to brush those thoughts away and fix all of his attention upon Wen Qingying.
Wen Qingying’s hands were very pretty. They look pretty when wrapping flowers, they look pretty when typing on the phone, they look pretty when holding a pen, and they look pretty when making coffee…
Perhaps, they will also look very pretty when cupping someone’s face, when holding someone’s waist, and when holding someone’s hand.
The coffee is ready to be served. Wen Qingying lifted his arm to grab a cup when, suddenly, Tao Ling grasped his right hand unwittingly, as though possessed.
Wen Qingying was startled. Then the next second, he twirled his wrist slightly as if trying to free himself.
Because of this one gesture, Tao Ling got freaked out, and then immediately released the four fingers he could not lock with. His hand brushed past his forefinger, as if he had always been meaning to do it.
But what Tao Ling was not aware of just now is that Wen Qingying was, in fact, also trying to take his hand.
After two seconds, Tao Ling cracked a sheepish smile. He did not rush to look at Wen Qingying, and just said with both awkwardness and hurry: “Sorry, I wanted to help you wipe off the coffee powder.”
He raised his phone towards Wen Qingying, then pointed at the faint brown mark he touched a moment ago.
Upon reading this, Wen Qingying smiled and pulled out a piece of tissue paper for him.
Tao Ling took it and wiped his hand clean. His fingertips could not stop quivering, so he could only clench his fist, put away all the places he had touched from Wen Qingying, and grasp that tissue paper tightly to his palm.
The coffee has been brewed. Tao Ling raised the cup absentmindedly and took a mouthful, only to find himself burning his tongue numb. He swallowed half of it and then spit out the other half. He opened his mouth to relieve the pain, frowning.
Wen Qingying freaked out upon seeing this and went to find a glass of water right away.
Tao Ling waved his hand in a flurry, gesturing that he was all right. Wen Qingying nevertheless ignored him and continued to pour a glass of cool water for him.
In the end, he filled his mouth with water. Tao Ling felt awkward. Just as he was trying to find a way to make amends, Wen Qingying leaned over all of a sudden and cleaned the corner of his mouth with his finger.
Caught off guard, Tao Ling pulled away out of reflex, then used the tissue from a moment ago to wipe the wet spot on the corner of his mouth.
Wen Qingying’s hand was poised in the air. After a brief moment, he turned up the corners of his mouth and retracted his hand.
Today’s coffee was very fragrant. However, Tao Ling did not taste its flavor at all.
Perhaps due to the fact that he always pulls that nonchalant face, and because he is good at hiding his emotions, Wen Qingying did not seem to have noticed the slightest hint of oddness in him. He was still peacefully cutting wrapping paper beside him.
At last he finished the last sip of coffee. Tao Ling took out his phone and wrote: “Thank you, the coffee was very good. I just remembered that I have some matters to do. See you tomorrow.”
He showed Wen Qingying his phone. Then, without waiting for his reply, he quickly got up and walked out of the flower shop, looking calm but was actually in a big hurry.
That tall and slender back view had vanished a while ago, yet Wen Qingying was still gazing at the door.
After a long time, he lowered his head and brought his right hand to his eyes.
After looking at it for a very long time, he closed his eyes, and gently planted a priceless kiss on his finger.
There was once a Saturday during Tao Ling’s second year of graduate school. Tao Jun headed to work early in the morning, although, in the afternoon, he suddenly came home and dragged Tao Ling who’d stayed up late last night out of the bed, telling him he was craving rose cake all of a sudden and had to eat it on the spot.
T/N: there are actually two types of 玫瑰糕: one that has a glutinous texture and one that is a dry pastry. So it’s up to you to decide which one they are having.
Tao Ling cursed as he threw back the covers. Nevertheless, he was no match to the “superior” before him, thus, in the end, he was dragged into the car. The two brothers drove for six hours straight on the highway to a marketplace in the capital city of the neighboring province.
On that day, it was already evening by the time they arrived there. Tao Jun brought Tao Ling to an old town. They wormed their way through the crowd of people and entered a small alley, found an ordinary shop, and bought the last few pieces of handmade rose cakes.
Tao Ling doesn’t like eating these. After taking two bites of the one in his hand, he didn’t feel like eating it anymore. Tao Jun therefore took it and finished it himself.
The utterly satisfied Tao Jun was in ecstasy. He ate as he said, “This cake brings back old memories. It’s only sold here, the one and only shop in the whole nation. Let’s take this chance; otherwise, we won’t be able to eat it in the future.”
“If you want to eat it, why not just come over again?” Tao Ling yawned, rolling his eyes.
Tao Ling is not familiar with this marketplace. He has no idea how Tao Jun found this kind of place in an unfamiliar city, nor did he know why he had to come here on this day.
But Tao Jun has always been like this. He does not feel sorry for his graceful image in private, and will often act out of impulse. Being carried away by a whim is his lifestyle. In such moments, tormenting Tao Ling is his entertainment.
It took a very very long time for Tao Ling to slowly see that whenever Tao Jun does these things, he finds the strength to move forward all through impetuousness.
But, that is another story.
During that day when they were in the marketplace, Tao Jun went to drink at night. He often attends too many dinner parties, so drinking in everyday life is not something he would do at will. However, he behaved very differently on this day and appeared to be in an extremely great mood. Tao Ling thought he was happy as he had negotiated some sort of big business deal, so he drank a few glasses with him.
In the evening, they found a hotel in the urban district. Tao Ling finished washing and then sat on the edge of the bed, folding their clothes. Tao Jun watched the TV for a bit. And all of a sudden, he opened his arms to hug him, smiling and saying, “Xiao-Ling, come here, come give brother a hug. Brother only has you now.”
“Go away, Tao Jun! Are you crazy or what? Did you get your head stuck in your boss’s door?” Tao Ling retaliated and then turned him over.
Tao Jun was pressed down onto the bed. He laid down, laughing uproariously from his heart. He laughed and laughed, when his voice suddenly cracked. Tao Ling felt something off and quickly turned his head, only to find that his face was covered with tears.
Those eyes were glistening sharply, but with tears that welled up from misery and sorrow.
Even if these were memories from many years ago, Tao Ling could still see this one scene playing before his eyes, wrenching his heart with the slightest bump. He felt his heart ache so much he could not breathe.
Since young, the two brothers have always been dependent on each other. Tao Jun was an elder brother and also a parent to him. Like a god, he had never cried in front of Tao Ling. As such, seeing him break down like that, Tao Ling began to panic and asked in a rush, “Brother, what’s wrong?”
Tao Jun raised his hand to cover his face, the corners of his mouth still turned upwards. Nevertheless, his laughter sounded more unpleasant than his sobbing.
Stumped, Tao Ling tried to cheer him up. After a long time, Tao Jun no longer forced his smile. He hugged Tao Ling firmly, shedding tears on his shoulder without saying a word. His tears flowed and flowed, not intending to stop anytime soon.
It seemed as though all the tears from the past twenty years have been collected only to leave a small trace in an unfamiliar city. And when the sun rises, it will vanish into the thin air.
That evening brings back painful memories. Tao Ling only hates himself for being able to remember these so clearly. He had done his best to deceive himself that he’d already gotten over the past, and yet they flooded back so unexpectedly.
His chest moved up and down violently a few times. He turned the box over. In the end, his anger increased, thus he got up and heartlessly kicked it.
The box was kicked from the middle of the living room to a wall corner. The rose cakes inside that came from very far away were now rolling all over the place.
After standing for a while, Tao Ling quickly retreated a few steps and pressed his back hard against the door, and forced himself to breathe deeply.
A few minutes later, as though trying to flee, he rushed to grab his keys and phone and staggered out of the house.
He went downstairs, then sat down on the bench in the garden of the neighborhood for a while. At last, his wild mood fell calm. Tao Ling walked out of the neighborhood, went out, and then ended up at the street in front of the west gate of the school, unconsciously.
Before he knew it, he was already standing in front of the flower shop entrance.
When Tao Ling turned his head, Wen Qingying just happened to turn in his direction too.
They smiled at each other. Wen Qingying put down the wrapping paper in his hands and stood up.
“Mister, I saw you a moment ago. You were on the bus.” He walked up to him, passing over his phone.
Tao Ling stared at it blankly. So turns out that the eye contact was not speculation.
He forced a smile, replying: “I had a meal with a teacher, and now I’m just taking a stroll outside.”
Wen Qingying’s smile was pretty, so bright that Tao Ling felt a little inferior to him. He threw a glance at the wutong tree outside, then wrote: “The weather has been great these past two days; it’s indeed a suitable time to stroll outside. It will get cooler in a while, though. Mister, would you like to come in and have a seat? I’ll brew some coffee for you.”
Tao Ling agreed.
He sat beside the table and watched Wen Qingying’s side profile in silence. The anger in him had finally dissipated completely, leaving only an indescribable feeling of sorrow to ferment inside his chest that would furthermore aggravate.
Tao Ling felt extremely unwell. He did not know how to describe this feeling, and could only force himself to brush those thoughts away and fix all of his attention upon Wen Qingying.
Wen Qingying’s hands were very pretty. They look pretty when wrapping flowers, they look pretty when typing on the phone, they look pretty when holding a pen, and they look pretty when making coffee…
Perhaps, they will also look very pretty when cupping someone’s face, when holding someone’s waist, and when holding someone’s hand.
The coffee is ready to be served. Wen Qingying lifted his arm to grab a cup when, suddenly, Tao Ling grasped his right hand unwittingly, as though possessed.
Wen Qingying was startled. Then the next second, he twirled his wrist slightly as if trying to free himself.
Because of this one gesture, Tao Ling got freaked out, and then immediately released the four fingers he could not lock with. His hand brushed past his forefinger, as if he had always been meaning to do it.
But what Tao Ling was not aware of just now is that Wen Qingying was, in fact, also trying to take his hand.
After two seconds, Tao Ling cracked a sheepish smile. He did not rush to look at Wen Qingying, and just said with both awkwardness and hurry: “Sorry, I wanted to help you wipe off the coffee powder.”
He raised his phone towards Wen Qingying, then pointed at the faint brown mark he touched a moment ago.
Upon reading this, Wen Qingying smiled and pulled out a piece of tissue paper for him.
Tao Ling took it and wiped his hand clean. His fingertips could not stop quivering, so he could only clench his fist, put away all the places he had touched from Wen Qingying, and grasp that tissue paper tightly to his palm.
The coffee has been brewed. Tao Ling raised the cup absentmindedly and took a mouthful, only to find himself burning his tongue numb. He swallowed half of it and then spit out the other half. He opened his mouth to relieve the pain, frowning.
Wen Qingying freaked out upon seeing this and went to find a glass of water right away.
Tao Ling waved his hand in a flurry, gesturing that he was all right. Wen Qingying nevertheless ignored him and continued to pour a glass of cool water for him.
In the end, he filled his mouth with water. Tao Ling felt awkward. Just as he was trying to find a way to make amends, Wen Qingying leaned over all of a sudden and cleaned the corner of his mouth with his finger.
Caught off guard, Tao Ling pulled away out of reflex, then used the tissue from a moment ago to wipe the wet spot on the corner of his mouth.
Wen Qingying’s hand was poised in the air. After a brief moment, he turned up the corners of his mouth and retracted his hand.
Today’s coffee was very fragrant. However, Tao Ling did not taste its flavor at all.
Perhaps due to the fact that he always pulls that nonchalant face, and because he is good at hiding his emotions, Wen Qingying did not seem to have noticed the slightest hint of oddness in him. He was still peacefully cutting wrapping paper beside him.
At last he finished the last sip of coffee. Tao Ling took out his phone and wrote: “Thank you, the coffee was very good. I just remembered that I have some matters to do. See you tomorrow.”
He showed Wen Qingying his phone. Then, without waiting for his reply, he quickly got up and walked out of the flower shop, looking calm but was actually in a big hurry.
That tall and slender back view had vanished a while ago, yet Wen Qingying was still gazing at the door.
After a long time, he lowered his head and brought his right hand to his eyes.
After looking at it for a very long time, he closed his eyes, and gently planted a priceless kiss on his finger.
