Childhood Affection - Chapter 20 - Annoying Bastard!

The antique market was so quiet, and the entrance to Erji was equally silent. The persimmon yellow, placed on the counter, glowed a reddish hue under the light.

Just like Yin Qianyang’s face at that moment.

After Nie Weishan spoke those words, he somewhat regretted it. He had heard all about love and affection from Nie Yingyu, but forgot that Yin Qianyang hadn’t. “Do you like me?” After all, once these words were asked, everything changed.

If Yin Qianyang didn’t like him, could they still be childhood friends? Would Yin Qianyang still tuck things into his pockets when he rode his bike? Nie Weishan felt a surge of nervousness, his grip tightening unconsciously.

He repeated, “Yang, do you like me?”

Still not enough, he added a nervous yet gentle threat: “You damn well better like me, or else I’ll beat you up.”

Yin Qianyang was already stunned, and now, sensing Nie Weishan’s seriousness, he grew a bit scared. His heart racing, he said, “If you were just standing there asking, I would definitely say I like you, but you’re holding me, and I don’t dare answer.”

Nie Weishan was at a loss for words; he understood what that meant. Yin Qianyang might like him, but it was the kind of like that came from being friends or relatives. Now, with the embrace, it all changed-the fool hadn’t thought about that.

Yin Qianyang struggled free and slid off Nie Weishan’s lap, facing the door, afraid to see the disappointment on Nie Weishan’s face. He said, this person he cared about so deeply, he cared about their feelings, so he tried to reassure: “Weishan, you’ve got it wrong.”

Nie Weishan, looking at the pristine neck hidden under the collar of the cotton jacket, just wanted to bite down hard, asking, “What did I get wrong?”

“Just whether you like or not,” Yin Qianyang mimicked, “Because of your family situation and our growing up together, my concern might have confused you, giving you the wrong impression. Relax, you don’t really like me like that.”

Nie Weishan immediately retorted: “You’re not me, how do you know I got it wrong?”

“It’s what Bingbing said, ‘The spectator sees the game better than the player.’ I believe Bingbing!” Yin Qianyang turned around, speaking more confidently. Nie Weishan’s heart nearly broke. He picked up the persimmon yellow and slammed it onto the glass counter, cursing, “First Qin Zhan, now Bingbing, you believe what others say but not me?”

Yin Qianyang stepped closer, fearing the persimmon yellow might shatter. After a long moment, he gritted his teeth and said, “You once said you’d make one for me every month if I stayed out of trouble. I can’t do it, so don’t bother making them anymore.”

“Fine, no problem.” Nie Weishan’s gaze fell to the other’s ankles, as if he could see through the pants to the treasure bracelet inside, even feeling stung by the bright red string. He looked away, “I’ll make them and wear them myself!”

Yin Qianyang’s eyes flashed with anger: “It won’t look good on you with your skin tone, forget it! I’m going to sleep!”

The backyard had six rooms-two large ones served as a warehouse and a workshop, two small ones as a kitchen and a bathroom, and the remaining two were for sleeping. Elder Nie occupied one, so even if these two had a falling out, they still had to share a room.

Nie Weishan pulled down the roller shutter, turned off the lights, washed up, and by the time he returned to the bedroom, Yin Qianyang was already in bed, lying down with a fist’s distance between their pillows. He couldn’t hear the other’s breathing and knew Yin Qianyang wasn’t asleep. He wanted to say something sweet but couldn’t think of anything.

Feeling the other turn over, Yin Qianyang’s tense nerves finally relaxed. In his memory, he had never thrown a tantrum at Nie Weishan. He was good-tempered; as long as it was a friend, no matter the joke, he wouldn’t get angry, and he equally avoided making others angry.

Let alone Nie Weishan.

“Aren’t you mad?” Yin Qianyang couldn’t hold back anymore.

No response. Yin Qianyang turned from facing the wall to facing away from it, asking Nie Weishan’s back, “Really mad?” Still no response. He saw Nie Weishan slightly curled up and hesitated, “Are you cold?”

Still no movement from the other, it seemed he had fallen asleep.

It was still cold before the heating came on, and Yin Qianyang wasn’t warm either, but he could endure it. However, in the dim light, looking at Nie Weishan curled up, he couldn’t bear it anymore.

Gently moving closer, then crawling under Nie Weishan’s blanket and draping his own over him, they ended up covered with two blankets. Only then did he realize just how much thinner Nie Weishan’s blanket was compared to his.

He began to wonder, was Nie Weishan’s kindness due to brotherly love, or because he liked him?

This person is so silent, could he really like someone? He hadn’t noticed.

And after tonight, would Nie Weishan still treat him well?

If not, how would he cope?

Yin Qianyang was quite frightened by his own thoughts, reaching out to hug Nie Weishan from behind. After a shiver, he let go and lay back, back to back, quietly reassuring himself, “Just a moment of impulse, just a moment of impulse.”

A long time passed, and finally, the person behind him breathed steadily. Nie Weishan slightly opened his eyes, then turned over, pulling Yin Qianyang into his arms and lowered his head to nibble on the nape of his neck.

After biting, he whispered against the skin, “Impulse my ass.”

The next morning, when Yin Qianyang woke up, the space beside him was already empty. In the bathroom, he saw Nie Weishan brushing his teeth as usual. He naturally went about his business, and Nie Weishan also naturally stepped aside to give him space at the washbasin.

One after the other, they brushed their teeth. Nie Weishan stared at the faint pink mark on Yin Qianyang’s neck, smiled subtly without a sound, and the toothpaste foam hid it all; Yin Qianyang saw nothing.

“Let’s go back after washing up, I didn’t buy your breakfast.” Nie Weishan pushed him aside and bent down to rinse his mouth.

Yin Qianyang swallowed a mouthful of foam in anger, “Come on! Not even giving me food now! I’ll go back and block Eryun Alley entrance with bricks, and you won’t be able to come home!”

Nie Weishan had once been punished to stand for an entire morning because he threw bread to him during class.

He had also been kicked out of the flag-raising team because he was frequently late to the flag-raising ceremony while lining up for him to buy pancakes.

And now he wasn’t even giving him breakfast, was he really not going to treat him the same as before?

Swallowing the foam killed his appetite. Yin Qianyang washed his face hastily, grabbed his jacket, and prepared to leave. Passing by the kitchen, still unable to calm his anger, he ran in and punched Nie Weishan in the back to vent his frustration, then snatched a sesame seed cake and ran off.

It was sweet because it was coated with white sugar, but not as sweet as when the other person gave it willingly.

“Damn, I’m really being too fussy.” Yin Qianyang finished it in a few bites and rode back home, his mind endlessly replaying Bingbing’s words, comforting himself, “Bingbing has been by my side through so many battles, even sharing a bed and having heart-to-hearts during trips. Trusting Bingbing can’t be wrong.”

His mind was already a mess, his ability to think independently completely shot.

But what Yin Qianyang absolutely didn’t expect was that Nie Weishan not giving him breakfast was just the beginning. On Monday, he didn’t wait for him to go to school together, didn’t eat lunch with him during the break, and from morning until school ended at eight, Nie Weishan didn’t speak to him, not even a glance.

What’s going on here! Even countries in a cold war send telegrams!

This situation lasted three or four days, and during these days, Yin Qianyang got used to it. If they met in the corridor, they just passed by each other, if they met in the cafeteria, he just changed windows, if they met during peak times at the washroom, he just waited a bit longer.

“It’s no big deal!” Yin Qianyang leaned against the wall studying geography, the industrial situation in Germany, the agricultural situation in the United States, and the situation of high school students in China mistakenly dating because of their gender, “Stop thinking about it, my grades are this bad, and here I am wanting a relationship, even with a guy, trying to drive Xiangdong and Meixian crazy.”

His deskmate asked, “What are you mumbling about?”

Yin Qianyang asked back, “Xiaomo, do you have any boys you like in our class?”

Xiaomo was smarter, counter-asking, “What for, you have a girl you like? Is it Zhang Xiaoqi?”

“Why bring up Zhang Xiaoqi, she’s a nice girl, and she often lends me her homework to copy.” After saying this, Yin Qianyang glanced at Zhang Xiaoqi, who seemed to have heard and caught his gaze for a moment. Xiaomo whispered, “Others have a hard time borrowing homework from her, but she just gives it to you straight away, are you dumb?”

Yin Qianyang held his face and giggled foolishly, “I’m not dumb, she pities me for being dumb, so she lends me hers.”

Xiaomo flipped open the cover of the “Encyclopedia of Basic Geography,” revealing the title page with “Nie Weishan’s” name, saying, “There are quite a few people who pity you, how about we start a fundraiser to get your brain checked?”

“You always tease me, you’d definitely donate the least.” Yin Qianyang tugged at Xiaomo’s braid, suddenly raising his voice, but his gaze snuck toward Nie Weishan, who was looking out the window drinking water, completely unaware of them.

The leaves on the trees outside the window had all fallen. Nie Weishan held his breath for five seconds after putting down the water bottle, then leaned on the desk, coughing until he was hoarse. He had been sneakily watching Yin Qianyang chatting with someone else, who knew that guy was sharp, yet still playing dumb? Fortunately, he reacted quickly by turning his head to drink water, but he choked on the first sip because he was flustered.

Yin Qianyang propped his chin up like a model, watching Nie Weishan cough, each cough as if deliberately for him to hear, couldn’t help but say, “Such a big person still chokes on drinking water, still has the face to play cold war.”

Xiaomo curiously asked, “Who?”

“Girls buy more clothes, gossip less.” Yin Qianyang couldn’t stand it any longer, got up to go over, and before going, he picked up the encyclopedia. After reaching Nie Weishan, he used the spine of the book to knock on his back, but not hard, each tap more like a pat.

Nie Weishan calmed down, sat up, and looked at him once, then took the book and placed it properly, saying nothing.

Yin Qianyang turned around and walked away, realizing he had forgotten all the content he had been studying.

After finishing his afternoon training and returning home, he completed his homework in an hour, and by eight o’clock, Nie Weishan came to deliver the papers. Bai Meixian said, “Weishan, come help me serve the food.”

“Alright, right away.” Nie Weishan put down his schoolbag to help, “What did you make that smells so good?”

Bai Meixian said, “Your Uncle Yin went to Guangzhou for a research meeting a few days ago, said there was a lot of steamed food that was less oily and healthier, so I learned to steam a few dishes, steamed crispy meat and shrimp dumplings for me and Qianjie, and steamed chicken legs and spare ribs for you and Qianyang, eat more later.”

Nie Weishan felt warm inside and asked, “What did you steam for Uncle Yin?”

Bai Meixian “hmphed” and said, “Steamed him two buns.”

Saying this, she arranged the dining table. Yin Qianyang, hungry after training, ate in silence during the meal, and Yin Qianjie, sipping soup, wondered, “Why is it so quiet today, aren’t we supposed to talk during meals in our family?”

Yin Xiangdong was also puzzled, “Right, Qianyang isn’t even chatting with Weishan.”

Yin Qianyang kept his head down and ate, “I have a sore throat.”

Bai Meixian chimed in, “Then don’t eat meat, eat vegetables.”

Nie Weishan held back his laughter, wanting to see Yin Qianyang act spoiled, but later on, Yin Qianyang indeed didn’t pick any more meat, even eating half as much rice as usual. Could his throat really be sore?

After dinner, Yin Qianyang washed the dishes in the kitchen, taking the opportunity to sneak a few pieces of meat, having been stifled earlier. Just as he finished, he saw Nie Weishan coming out of his room, and the two passed by each other without eye contact, completing their tasks.

Nie Weishan greeted and went back, Yin Qianyang entered his room to write the papers, and just as he sat down, he saw a pack of Caoshanhu buccal tablets on the table.

He popped one into his mouth, the entire oral cavity feeling cool, cool enough that he opened his mouth and laughed.

In the alley behind the wall, Nie Weishan was sitting on the doorstep smoking, and Nie Yingyu, returning from tutoring class, was startled and snatched the cigarette, saying, “My mom’s nose is sharp, aren’t you afraid she’ll find out?”

Nie Weishan stood up and walked inside, “I’m in a bad mood, if you don’t let me smoke this, I’ll smoke you.”

Nie Yingyu felt wronged, “What did I do to you?”

“You set me up.” Nie Weishan, like a lonely and desolate swordsman, turned his back on Nie Yingyu, “I listened to your lecture, took it to heart, but who knew the consequences would be so unthinkable.”

Nie Yingyu said, “Did you expect to get full marks just by attending Jiangang’s class?”

Nie Weishan was speechless, suffering from insomnia for half the night, and finally broke down at three in the morning, opening his phone to send Yin Qianyang a message, “Did you take your medicine, does your throat still hurt?”

“Damn, I’m really dawdling.” He then retracted it.

Yin Qianyang, who had paused his game of gobang, hurriedly opened the message, getting so angry he almost flipped over, he had stayed up all night just for a “Message retracted”!

A friendship of seventeen years, probably ending tonight!

Nie Weishan stared at the chat screen, the chat background was a photo of National Day at Tianshui Mountain, taken on the bridge where Yin Qianyang almost fell off. At that time, he had rushed over, and Yin Qianyang had clung to him so tightly.

“Ding-ding!” A message popped up, “You damn come out!”

Nie Weishan touched the darkness under his bed, grabbed his jacket, and ran outside. It was almost four o’clock, and the door opened to a freezing cold, but he felt a fire in his chest, running to the front door and taking a deep breath. Opening it, he saw Yin Qianyang wrapped in a cotton jacket standing under the eaves, his pajama pants fluttering non-stop.

Yin Qianyang asked, “What did you send?”

Nie Weishan stood next to him and said, “Sent it wrong.”

“You stop it, my profile picture is a crutch, who the hell could it be similar to?” Yin Qianyang didn’t believe it, suddenly feeling foolish for rushing over, seeming so caring, he turned to leave, “Forget it, I don’t care to know.”

Nie Weishan stretched out his arm and hugged him around the waist, leaning against Yin Qianyang’s hair from the side, saying, “You just torment me, you annoying bastard.”

“Who’s tormenting who.” Yin Qianyang looked toward the dark alley entrance, “I didn’t understand, and you just changed, you’re forcing me to think.”

He leaned his head against Nie Weishan’s shoulder, leaning more and more, “What exactly did you send, tell me.”

Yin Qianyang looked at Nie Weishan, exhaled a face full of Caoshanhu buccal tablet scent. Nie Weishan frowned, “How much did you eat?”

“I almost finished a pack, I won’t die, right?” Yin Qianyang answered and tightly closed his mouth.

Nie Weishan, holding the other, felt warm, he changed his mind, and said solemnly, “Yang, the message I retracted was: No matter what you think, I’ll always treat you the same.”

Yin Qianyang’s heart raced, breaking free and sprinting out into the darkness, laughing all the way, scattering the Caoshanhu scent like a beggar who had found a treasure, or like winning a fifty million jackpot.

That’s right, he really is a lucky annoying bastard.