Chapter 77 Part 2

“Let’s go shopping,” Chu Yi said.

“Okay,” Yan Hang pushed the door open and walked out.

The shops on this bar street side were all high-end boutiques. No matter the quality, the prices would shock you first. Not to mention Chu Yi, even Yan Hang himself wouldn’t buy things here. Just taking a look around was fine though.

But Chu Yi couldn’t even manage a casual browse. He just kept looking from outside, glancing at the display windows as they passed the shop entrances.

“Why not go in and take a look? They won’t reach into your pockets to grab money,” Yan Hang said.

“I can see everything at a glance,” Chu Yi said. “My eyes are very special.”

Yan Hang sighed and put his arm around his shoulders. The two of them walked slowly together, appreciating the displays as they went.

After walking half the street, Chu Yi turned his head and looked at him, then turned away again.

A moment later, he turned his head again, took a breath as if to say something, but then turned away again.

“I won’t pinch you if you don’t speak,” Yan Hang said.

“Oh,” Chu Yi scratched his head. “I just wanted to ask you something.”

“Mm,” Yan Hang made a sound of acknowledgement.

“I wanted to ask about what they said back there,” Chu Yi said. “What is that stuff?”

“What stuff are you asking about?” Yan Hang looked at him.

Chu Yi looked back at him.

"A gay bar?" Yan Hang asked.

"Mm." Chu Yi nodded.

"It's a bar for homosexuals, right," Yan Hang said, "You want to go?"

"No." Chu Yi shook his head.

"Why not?" Yan Hang asked.

"I don't want to see, see other..." Chu Yi lowered his voice, "homosexuals."

"Right, exactly," Yan Hang nodded, "Knowing one other homosexual like Chunyang is enough."

Chu Yi turned to look at him, and after a long while, clicked his tongue.

After thinking for a moment, he asked another question: "Have you been there before?"

"No," Yan Hang said, "What would I do there? I didn't know I liked men before."

"Oh," Chu Yi looked down at the ground, sighing, "Without me, you wouldn't have be-become homosexual, right?"

"What kind of talk is that, 'become'," Yan Hang said, "You think you're doing magic? Point a little stick at me and I turn into a homosexual?"

Chu Yi laughed, rubbing his nose.

"It's quite good actually," Yan Hang said, "Without you, I probably would have only been able to like myself. So handsome, so smart, so talented... It's good I have you, turning me from a fairy into an ordinary person."

Chu Yi pointed at a huge circular advertisement screen hanging on a building in front: "Look."

"What?" Yan Hang looked over.

"Your face." Chu Yi said.

Yan Hang laughed, hugging him tightly: "I just love this about you."

He had originally wanted to help Yan Hang relax, but they ended up encountering something unpleasant at the bar. He wasn't sure if Yan Hang's mood would worsen, but it seemed okay. After Chu Yi returned to the dormitory, Yan Hang sent him a photo, leaning against the headboard, looking like he was about to try to sleep.

-My face isn't that big

-Wow, Brother Xiao Tian is so handsome!!! Oh my god, I'm exploding!!!

Chu Yi sent him a reply.

He stared at the photo for a long time, not even knowing when he fell asleep. When he woke up in the morning, his phone was still in his hand.

Chu Yi usually starts looking forward to the weekend from Tuesday, but this week, when he finally reached the weekend, he received a call from Sister Bai.

This incoming call suddenly made him nervous.

Based on the timing, it should be about the results of his dad's case.

When he answered the phone, he could barely even say hello.

"Chu Yi, this is Sister Bai," Sister Bai said on the other end, "First, I have good news for you. Your dad can go home today."

"Ah." Chu Yi responded, suddenly not knowing what to say next.

"After the police investigation, your dad has been released without charge," Sister Bai said, "You can relax now."

"Ah." Chu Yi stood in the dormitory hallway, feeling like he couldn't produce any sound other than "ah".

"Do you want to talk to your dad first?" Sister Bai asked.

"Thank you, Sister Bai," Chu Yi finally managed to say a complete sentence, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm passing the phone to your dad now." Sister Bai said.

"Chu Yi?" His dad's voice came through immediately, "Chu Yi, it's Dad."

"...Dad." Chu Yi felt his voice was a bit dry.

"I'm okay now," his dad said, "Everything's fine now, I can leave right away. I've already come out of the detention center."

"Mm," Chu Yi walked to the window at the end of the hallway, "You should go to grand-grandpa's house first."

"I know," his dad chuckled a bit helplessly, "I can't go anywhere else right now anyway."

"I'll come to-tomorrow." Chu Yi said.

"Are you taking the bus?" his dad said, "Don't let your aunt drive you, I don't want them to know..."

"I'm flying back," Chu Yi interrupted his dad, "I'm away at sch-school now."

"When did this happen?" his dad was a bit surprised, "What kind of school are you going to that's out of town? Aren't you still in middle school?"

"I'm almost in se-second year of high school," Chu Yi closed his eyes, not knowing what Sister Bai would think if she heard his dad's words, "Let's not talk now, I'll be back tomorrow."

Yan Hang looked at Chu Yi who was stuffing underwear into a small bag, and glanced at the time - it was about time to head to the airport.

But he was still a little worried and asked again: "Are you sure you don't want me to go back with you?"

"No need," Chu Yi said. "I'll only be there one night."

"Call me if anything comes up," Yan Hang said.

"I'll call even if nothing happens," Chu Yi said. "If I miss you, I'll call."

"Okay," Yan Hang smiled.

Chu Yi put on his backpack and sighed, "I'm not looking forward to going back at all."

"No kidding, that's why I offered to go with you," Yan Hang said.

"Get some good rest and sleep," Chu Yi said. "I saw you took sleeping pills again."

"You were spying on me," Yan Hang clicked his tongue.

"I was spying on your medicine," Chu Yi turned around and hugged him, resting his face on his shoulder. "Yan Hang."

"Hmm?" Yan Hang patted his butt. "Bouncy."

"I want to ask you something," Chu Yi said.

"Ask whatever you want, don't ask if you don't want to," Yan Hang said. "You don't have to force yourself to ask anything."

"If I don't ask, what's the point of going back," Chu Yi frowned. "I'm only going back to ask."

"Alright," Yan Hang rubbed his back. "Just ask him what he told the police then."

"Okay," Chu Yi nodded. "I'll drink with him."

"Silly dog," Yan Hang leaned over and kissed his face.

In his life so far, Chu Yi had never drank with his dad before. His dad always drove, and didn't drink much usually, only having a few drinks on holidays. He didn't dare drink too much either, because his mom would scold him.

So unlike other kids, he never really drank with his dad occasionally.

Perhaps their relationship was not close enough. After all, even using his disappearance as an excuse, it still didn't explain his dad not even knowing what grade he was in all this time.

But it didn't matter anymore, Chu Yi felt he probably never had any expectations for familial love to begin with.