Chapter 33: A Spring Evening’s Confession
by xennovelXu Chen rifled through those two athletic outfits again.
The summer set was just a short tank top and shorts.
It was still chilly now—not wearable and too revealing anyway.
He pulled out the autumn set and handed it to Xie Bingran:
“Put this on. Quick!”
Xie Bingran took the clothes and glanced around.
Xu Chen pointed to a corner of the athletic field:
“I think there’s a changing room and lounge over there. Not sure if we can still use it.”
The so-called changing room and lounge were just two shabby bungalows in the corner of the field.
When Xu Chen and Xie Bingran approached, they saw a huge iron lock hanging on the worn wooden door, looking unused for ages.
Just as Xu Chen was about to speak, Xie Bingran lifted his foot and kicked the door hard.
Ka-crack—the old door collapsed inward, raising clouds of dry dust.
Xu Chen stared in disbelief.
My guy Bing Ge… he’s something else.
Before long, Xie Bingran came out in the new outfit.
The tracksuit was all black, paired with red running shoes.
Xu Chen had picked them out himself.
The clothes were black because Bing Ge only wears black.
The shoes were red because in his past life he saw Bing Ge win a championship on TV wearing red shoes.
The tracksuit hugged every curve, outlining Xie Bingran’s lean form perfectly.
Xu Chen sized him up, glancing a few extra times.
Seeing Xie Bingran holding the old clothes, Xu Chen reached out, took them, and dropped them into his bag.
…
Early spring’s breeze still carried a chill.
On the rundown field, patches of withered weeds were sprouting green shoots.
The cinder track was littered with gray-black ashes, looking uneven.
Xu Chen sat on the bleacher edge, legs dangling and swinging.
He watched the girl on the track who ran like a cheetah, his expression distant.
This spring felt wonderful.
Everything was reborn; everything was changing.
…
Time passed in silence.
When the red sun drew close to the horizon, Xie Bingran walked toward the bleachers with hands on hips.
His short hair was damp with sweat and tousled by the wind.
He casually brushed it back, resuming his “Bing Ge” look.
Xu Chen handed him a bottle of water:
“How’s it going? Feeling confident?”
Xie Bingran grabbed the bottle, twisted off the cap, and gulped down half with loud gulps.
“Don’t forget Wednesday afternoon’s city meet trials.
Chen Dahai from my class said he’ll get us in.
I can’t wait to see you blow those athletes away.”
Xie Bingran screwed the cap back on. “I’m hungry.”
Xu Chen smiled:
“Sure. I love feeding you! I think your height and strength owe something to my past snack deliveries.”
A chill flashed in Xie Bingran’s eyes:
“Strength? Want to die?!”
…
There weren’t many food options in town, so Xu Chen decided to take Xie Bingran for beef.
Not some fancy Western steak.
Just stewed beef at a Northern-style diner.
“This place makes killer beef. My dad used to bring me here all the time!”
Xu Chen chatted happily as they reached the door.
Pushing it open, they were greeted by a strong aroma of braised beef.
A forty-something man came out and eyed the two high schoolers, then fixed his gaze on Xie Bingran:
“Well if it isn’t Bing Ge! You guys haven’t come to support the shop in ages! Sit, sit!”
Xu Chen: “…”
Turns out Bing Ge was the regular.
After they sat, the owner joked a bit, and Xu Chen learned that Xie Bingran and his crew often ate beef here too.
Half a pound of braised beef, half a pound of beef shank, half a pound of offal.
Two beers, one soda.
The beers were all for Bing Ge.
Hungrier than ever, Xie Bingran devoured it like a whirlwind.
His appetite was bold.
Holding the soda bottle, Xu Chen couldn’t help recalling the timid, skinny kid in middle school who couldn’t even afford lunch.
When they left the diner, darkness had fallen. The two walked to the bus stop.
It was Sunday; classes started early tomorrow.
Xie Bingran would catch the bus back to Tiancheng No. 1 High School tonight, while Xu Chen had to go home; Xu Zhiquan would drive him to school in the morning.
Xie Bingran was still in his tracksuit, but he’d taken off the shoes and held them in his bag.
They walked in silence. Xie Bingran stayed quiet and seemed distant.
Xu Chen kept chatting loudly about their middle school memories.
A few lines even made Xie Bingran smile secretly.
Soon they reached the bus stop sign.
No sooner had they stood there than a Route 16 bus pulled up.
It was heading downtown, but Xie Bingran didn’t board.
Xu Chen looked at him, puzzled.
Xie Bingran paused, then said coolly,
“I ate too much. I want to sit a bit. Let the next one come.”
Xu Chen laughed and sat on the stainless-steel bench behind him.
Xie Bingran plopped down beside him, holding the bag.
Xu Chen resumed his chatter; Xie Bingran listened silently, occasionally smiling.
Buses came and went in front of them.
…
Fifteen minutes later, another Route 16 bus arrived.
Without a word, Xie Bingran grabbed his bag and boarded.
Xu Chen waved at the silent Bing Ge as he helped him up the steps.
Just as the doors were about to close, Xie Bingran suddenly spoke:
“Xu Chen, why did you start talking to me out of the blue?”
Xu Chen froze.
The question felt odd, but Xu Chen understood what he meant.
Yeah, from second grade in middle school all through three years of high school,
Xu Chen and Xie Bingran hardly ever spoke.
So why did he start the conversation now…
But before Xu Chen could answer, the doors closed.
The glass doors split them into two worlds.
The bus pulled away into the night.
Xu Chen smiled helplessly and waved goodbye.
He knew Xie Bingran was watching him.
…
…
Xu Chen made another trip to the shopping street to return the two pairs of ill-fitting shoes.
When he got home by bus, he found the living room lights on.
Upon stepping in, he saw three men around the table studying documents and smoking.
Xu Zhiquan, seeing his son, smiled and stubbed out his cigarette:
“Son, come meet your Maternal Uncle!”
The three men were, besides his father and Fourth Uncle, a bespectacled young man who looked bookish.
Xu Chen recognized him as the “Third Maternal Uncle” from his maternal grandmother’s side.
He hurriedly smiled and obediently said, “Maternal Uncle!”
“Xiao Chen, long time no see.”
Adjusting his glasses, his Uncle smiled shyly.
He couldn’t be much older than Xu Chen, having graduated from university recently.
He graduated from the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry College, so his presence wasn’t surprising.
Xu Chen had mentioned this Uncle from the Agricultural and Forestry College when he gave his father his first lesson.
Unexpectedly, his father’s nursery business had grown enough to bring this Uncle on board.