After the coworker who had come out of the supermarket handed two cardboard boxes to the old man collecting recyclables and went back inside, Xiang Xi finally let out a breath and turned to look at Cheng Boyan.

Cheng Boyan was still covering his nose and looking at him, with no intention of driving off.

“Drive already,” Xiang Xi shoved him lightly. “If we don’t leave soon, my coworkers are going to come out and ask questions!”

Cheng Boyan started the car. Once his hand left his nose, Xiang Xi saw that it was a bit red and immediately felt bad. He lowered his voice and said, “Sorry… I nailed you.”

“Wipe it,” Cheng Boyan said, turning the car around and tossing the tissue box onto Xiang Xi’s lap. “You practically gave me a bath.”

Xiang Xi grabbed some tissues and wiped the seat. Cheng Boyan laughed and sighed. “Wipe yourself first.”

“I was worried you’d feel uncomfortable,” Xiang Xi said, lowering his head to wipe the yogurt off his pants. Just as he was about to wipe the seat again, Cheng Boyan reached a hand toward his face.

The distance was way too close—their eyes practically crossed.

“What are you doing?” Xiang Xi leaned back a little, then saw the big drop of yogurt on Cheng Boyan’s hand. “I… I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Cheng Boyan didn’t say anything and lifted his hand a bit higher.

“Watch the road!” Xiang Xi warned him. When he turned his head, he caught a faint smile hanging at the corner of Cheng Boyan’s lips. He froze for a moment, then suddenly bounced back against the seat.
“You pervert! I’m not licking that!”

Cheng Boyan eased off the accelerator and glanced at him, the smile becoming more obvious, before finally laughing out loud. After a long moment, he said, “I was asking you to help me wipe my hand.”

“I...”
Xiang Xi instantly felt like his whole body was on fire. How could this get any more embarrassing?!

He hurriedly took the tissue in his hand and wiped Cheng Boyan’s hand. Cheng Boyan quickly pulled it back. “Use a clean one. That tissue’s been all over the country already, don’t wipe my hand with it.”

“Hey!” Xiang Xi shouted, then pulled out a fresh tissue and wiped the yogurt off properly. “Just drive!”

Cheng Boyan smiled and put his hand back on the steering wheel, eyes on the road. After a brief silence, he suddenly said, “So… you really wanted to lick it?”

Xiang Xi had his forehead pressed against the window, watching the scenery outside. The moment he heard that, every pore on his body exploded. He spun around. “Cheng Boyan! Calling you a pervert back then was absolutely correct!”

“You said it yourself,” Cheng Boyan said with a smile, turning on the car radio to listen to traffic updates.

“I didn’t say that! I said I wasn’t licking it!” Xiang Xi glared at him, then after a moment pointed at him. “You totally set me up! If you wanted me to wipe your hand, couldn’t you just say so?!”

“I was wrong,” Cheng Boyan said, still smiling.

“You admit it fast…” Xiang Xi withdrew his finger, rubbed his hands together, and muttered quietly, “You scared the hell out of me just now.”

“I only planned to touch you for a second and pull away,” Cheng Boyan said, the smile fading. “I was startled too. I didn’t know your coworker would come out all of a sudden.”

“You? Getting startled?” Xiang Xi glanced at him. “I thought nothing ever bothered you.”

“I don’t mind,” Cheng Boyan tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “You could have me stand in the middle of a plaza and I wouldn’t care. I was worried you would care.”

Xiang Xi didn’t speak. He stared at his fingers for a while, then turned sideways again and pressed his forehead to the window, watching the street pass by.

The tea house Cheng Boyan was taking him to mainly sold organic tea from a scenic tea mountain just outside the city. The mountain wasn’t in town, so unless people were going sightseeing, most buyers simply purchased tea at this tea house.

Cheng Boyan parked outside. When Xiang Xi saw the tea house through the window, he hesitated. Cheng Boyan walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for him, and only then did Xiang Xi slowly get out.

“This place is way too elegant, isn’t it?” he whispered by Cheng Boyan’s ear.

The tea house was large and full of classical charm. Tea trees were planted on both sides of the entrance, and an artificial rockery flowed continuously with water. Above the gate was a massive slab of unpolished wood with four bold, flowing characters written across it.

There were also couplets on both sides of the entrance, the calligraphy equally free and sweeping.

Xiang Xi felt he already recognized quite a lot of characters, but written like this, he stared for ages and could only tell that the name was four characters long—he couldn’t recognize a single one of them.

“What does it say?” Xiang Xi asked.

“ ‘Clouds and Water, an Ordinary Heart’ (云水凡心),” Cheng Boyan said after a glance, walking inside.

“This place and I are not the same aesthetic at all,” Xiang Xi said softly, walking beside him. “Have you noticed?”

“It’s just a place that sells tea,” Cheng Boyan said, gently pushing him from behind and patting him. “What does business have to do with aesthetic styles?”

That sentence gave Xiang Xi a lot of comfort. And thinking about it again—people like Uncle Ping put on airs of lofty elegance all the time. It was just a tea house, after all.

The moment they entered, the smell of tea hit them. The tea house’s entrance led into a large hall, with several tea tables arranged inside. Around the edges were shelves with a classical, antique style, neatly displaying various tea utensils and teas.

A few customers were sitting at the tea tables. A woman in her thirties wearing a floral long dress was introducing teas to them. Her hands moved expertly over the tea utensils, but Xiang Xi couldn’t catch what she was saying, only that her voice was gentle and soft.

There was no one else in the hall. Cheng Boyan and Xiang Xi stood by the shelves, slowly inspecting the various tea utensils. Most didn’t have price tags. Xiang Xi noticed two sets with price tags, leaned over, and saw one set cost over three thousand, the other over six thousand.

From a hallway leading inward came a young woman dressed in a simple white-and-blue floral top and blue pants. She looked like a server.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” the young woman said as she approached them. “Looking at tea?”

“Let’s have a taste first,” Cheng Boyan said.

“Of course, please this way.” She smiled and gestured politely, then walked inward.

Cheng Boyan tugged Xiang Xi, who was still examining the price tags, and followed her inside. Xiang Xi looked around curiously as they walked.

Through a small corridor, they reached the tea house’s back courtyard. The same mountain rocks and flowing water, very tranquil. The trickling water in the afternoon sunlight made everything feel refreshingly cool.

The young woman led them into a room. It was spacious, similar to the outer hall, with several tea tables. The difference was that this room didn’t display teas or utensils. Around the walls were calligraphy and paintings, along with various bottles of different sizes.

Even before entering, Xiang Xi could hear the sound of a guqin (NT: ancient string instrument). Inside, he saw a guqin set up on one side, with a man leaning over it, plucking the strings. His white outfit looked like the ones people wear when practicing Tai Chi.

In the centre of the room was a large tea table. An elderly man sat beside it, with a young woman standing nearby.

The old man’s clothes were similar to the man playing the guqin, though gray in colour. Xiang Xi thought the gray outfit looked nice—like an old immortal.

“You two are lucky to come today,” the young woman said softly, leading them to the table. “This is Master Lu, our resident tea master. He’s only here two days a week.”

Cheng Boyan and Xiang Xi sat beside the old man. Seven or eight customers quietly chatted while watching Master Lu brew tea.

“You brought me here just to watch this?” Xiang Xi whispered.

“Yes,” Cheng Boyan smiled and nodded. “How does it feel?”

“Pretty… immortal,” Xiang Xi said softly after a moment. “Guess what I’m thinking?”

“What?” Cheng Boyan leaned closer.

“I’m thinking… everyone is pretending to be so refined and quiet,” Xiang Xi cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “What if someone farts…”

Cheng Boyan lowered his head and laughed silently for a long while, then frowned slightly. When he looked up at Xiang Xi, he smiled again.
“Shut up. Where’s your decorum?”

“I don’t have any,” Xiang Xi smiled. “I never did.”

The server placed two plates of tea snacks on their table and walked away.

Xiang Xi didn’t eat. Although his first thought had been something as crude as a fart, the old man’s movements quickly drew their attention.

The old man didn’t look particularly immortal, but he sat calmly, every motion deliberate, brewing tea with an aura of immortality.

This was different from Uncle Ping’s fake elegance. The old man’s charm radiated naturally from within. He seemed like an ordinary old man, yet every gesture quieted those around him. For a moment, Xiang Xi felt he and the tea were one.

After a round of tea was brewed, the young woman took the brewed tea and placed it on their table.

Xiang Xi brought the cup to his nose, inhaled, examined the tea, and sipped.

“How is it?” Cheng Boyan asked, imitating him—smelling, inspecting, and sipping.

“This must be their organic tea. It has a slight bean fragrance,” Xiang Xi said. “I quite like it.”

Cheng Boyan smiled silently. Xiang Xi hadn’t taken his eyes off the old man throughout the brewing process and looked again after sipping.

The old man began brewing a second round. Xiang Xi continued watching him. None of the other customers paid him this kind of attention—they chatted, took photos of the guqin, or got up to watch.

Xiang Xi, usually restless even while watching TV, didn’t move at all.

Only when the old man got up and left the tea table did Xiang Xi look away. “He’s gone?”

“Yes,” Cheng Boyan nodded. “If you want to watch again, we can come back next time he’s here.”

“Maybe later,” Xiang Xi seemed dazed, staring at the empty tea table for a while before turning to Cheng Boyan. “You mean… people can actually learn this somewhere?”

“Yes,” Cheng Boyan said. “This gentleman used to work at the Tea Research Institute. He takes apprentices, but many want to learn, and he is selective.”

“…Oh,” Xiang Xi said softly, slightly disappointed, tapping the table. “Is there anywhere else to learn?”

“Anywhere else? Why not try learning from him?” Cheng Boyan looked at him. “Many tea houses invite him to perform. He can recommend his apprentices. That’s better than just learning somewhere else and then trying to find a place to practice.”

“Doctor Cheng, look at me,” Xiang Xi said, pointing to his face. “If you were that old man, would you pick me?”

Cheng Boyan opened his mouth but didn’t answer. Xiang Xi clicked his tongue. “Wrong person to ask. You’d probably… reject me.”

“You really don’t know me,” Cheng Boyan laughed. “Not probably—definitely.”

“I’m serious,” Xiang Xi sighed.

“So am I,” Cheng Boyan said, stopping his smile, patting Xiang Xi’s shoulder. “You have something different about you. Very special. Fang Yin told me the same, and I agree.”

“He told me too,” Xiang Xi lowered his eyelids. “But what’s so special? My voice is loud? I swear a lot…”

“Do you want to be serious or not?” Cheng Boyan interrupted.

“I am serious! I just don’t know what’s so special about me.” Xiang Xi bit his lip.

“Some things are rare precisely because you don’t know them yourself,” Cheng Boyan thought for a moment. “You are pure, think a lot, but want simple things. The past you least want to face… its only value is giving you this. You have much that you don’t understand, and much that you see through… no, comprehend… You have both innocence and experience…”

“Are you drunk on tea?” Xiang Xi said. “Can you make it simpler?”

“All right, I’ll make it simple,” Cheng Boyan nodded, staring at the table. “Go try.”

“Huh?” Xiang Xi blinked.

“Simply put: you should go try.” Cheng Boyan said.

Cheng Boyan gave him a box of tea—the same kind they had tasted today, the organic green tea brewed by the old master. Xiang Xi guessed it wasn’t cheap and insisted on only taking two liang (NT: 100 g) of it. When Cheng Boyan went to pay, Xiang Xi didn’t have the nerve to follow.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Boyan scratched his head as they stepped out of the tea house. “Didn’t you say this tea was pretty good?”

Xiang Xi sighed without answering. He regretted not stopping Cheng Boyan.

Although Ping Shu had introduced him to tea, the brewing method truly affected the flavour. If he went back to the supermarket to get a kettle, boiled water, and used a plain white porcelain cup to brew it, the tea would be entirely wasted.

“I got it,” Cheng Boyan suddenly stopped and turned back. “Let’s buy another set…”

“Hey! Ge! Ge!” Xiang Xi shouted, quickly grabbing his arm and tugging him toward the car. “Don’t torment me, no need, no need!”

Only after pushing Cheng Boyan into the car did Xiang Xi let go, standing by the door holding the handle. “This is what I’m thinking.”

“Hm?” Cheng Boyan smiled at him.

“I’ll go find the old master and try it out,” Xiang Xi said, bouncing with determination. “But, um, how much do you think he’ll charge?”

“He doesn’t charge,” Cheng Boyan said.

“What?” Xiang Xi suddenly lifted his head. “Wha—what?”

“I asked around. He doesn’t charge apprentices, only teaches based on fate,” Cheng Boyan smiled. “I think you’d be intersted…”

“Interested? Of course I’m interested!” Xiang Xi shouted, his voice bright. “Why didn’t you say earlier! If it’s free, I definitely want to try it!”

“Hey, I just wanted to make sure you were interested first, then…” Cheng Boyan covered his ears. “You’re such a money-grubber.”

“Really free?” Xiang Xi excitedly patted his leg twice. “Are you sure? Is the old master crazy?”

Cheng Boyan didn’t say anything, just looked at him and laughed.

“So how do I go find him?” Xiang Xi leaned on the car door eagerly. “Go to his house? Does he have a classroom? Or come here? Or wait until he finishes performing and then… thud! Kneel down, crying: ‘Coach, I want to play basketball … No! Master, I want to learn tea!’”

“Then the master would call the police immediately,” Cheng Boyan laughed. “Going to his house works too. I’ll have my uncle ask for the address…”

“Your uncle?” Xiang Xi was stunned.

“Yes, my great-uncle,” Cheng Boyan said.

“Your great-uncle? You call your great-uncle ‘uncle’?” Xiang Xi was surprised. “Scared me! Your… great-uncle…”

“Shut your mouth,” Cheng Boyan clicked his tongue.

“Then, can you… your great-uncle,” Xiang Xi cleared his throat, “ask for me?”

“Yes, once I know, I’ll tell you,” Cheng Boyan said. “Then when I have time, I can go with you?”

“No need,” Xiang Xi waved. “Your ‘free time’ is too mystical. I’ll go myself. If he doesn’t charge, I have the confidence.”

“I see,” Cheng Boyan patted the steering wheel. “Shall we go? Eat first, I’m hungry.”

“Hungry?” Xiang Xi rubbed his stomach. “I feel kind of full.”

“Water fills you up,” Cheng Boyan pressed his hand over Xiang Xi’s, “Just a pee’s worth.”

Cheng Boyan’s hand on his was a little cool, his own hand trembled slightly. The back of his hand felt cool, but his palm could sense the warmth from Cheng Boyan’s stomach. The sensation was strange.

“I’m telling you to shut up, and you make me say…,” Xiang Xi said, suddenly lost for words, hand frozen and unwilling to move. “You… are peeing too…”

“Mm.” Cheng Boyan responded without saying more.

Xiang Xi felt the conversation was a little inappropriate, so he also fell silent, staring Cheng Boyan in the eye.

Cheng Boyan leaned back against the seat, turning his face slightly toward him.

His eyes were beautiful—deep brown, calm and penetrating. Xiang Xi felt like every thought of his was being seen, yet he didn’t feel embarrassed.

He slowly leaned toward Cheng Boyan. Cheng Boyan didn’t move, just held his hand.

He could feel the faint pulse in Cheng Boyan’s palm. Not obvious, but every beat passed clearly through the skin, slowly travelling up his arm.

Finally, it synchronized with his own heartbeat.

He leaned closer to Cheng Boyan, feeling like in a dream. His mind was aware, yet wrapped in a thick, soft cocoon.

Cheng Boyan’s breath brushed his face. With each exhale, he could feel it—from a near touch, to his lips meeting Cheng Boyan’s, breathing moving from calm to slowly rapid and urgent.

He felt everything.

Cheng Boyan’s lips were moist and soft, familiar and reassuring. Xiang Xi leaned forward, pressing his lips more firmly.

The sensation was incredible—his heartbeat lost rhythm, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, occasionally seeming to stop, then racing again. His heart didn’t feel like it was only in his chest—it was beating through his whole body: fingertips, arms, legs, ears, neck…

The lips pressed tightly together… also beating.

Xiang Xi could see Cheng Boyan’s eyelashes flutter slightly. This movement, mirroring the heartbeat, made him dizzy. He closed his eyes within Cheng Boyan’s breath.

He knew what a kiss meant. After lips meet, he knew what should come next.

But now, he didn’t want to do anything. The strength in his body faded bit by bit. He only relied on the lips pressed against Cheng Boyan’s—warm and strong.

He closed his eyes, not wanting to move, not wanting to move at all. He just wanted to stay quietly pressed together.

The same breathing, the same temperature, and the same heartbeat.

 

Translator : DarNan