Go to Hell, White Lotus

[47. Romance may not Bloom with Spring Flowers]

Bai Lian Hua’s hand trembled and he almost dropped the phone in his hand. “Song Qingge you…have a fever?”

“I am serious.” He paused. “You know that.”

I know bullsh*t! Bai Lian Hua swears that he would rather not know anything! When he was Song Qingge, they were senior/juniors; when he was Roommate, they were brothers; when he was Great God, they were master/disciple…..How can they become lovers…..To try dating? …..Can he really?

“I…..I’ll consider it.” All those words of rejection that he had wanted to say ended up becoming those three words.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.” Probably because his voice sounded a little different through the phone, Song Qingge’s voice was unexpectedly magnetic and had a hint of gentleness within.

For some reason, Bai Lian Hua recalled some cheesy lines: The most touching words in the world was not “I love you” or “Together forever” but rather, “I’ll wait for you.” How long can someone wait in their lifetime? Memories and feelings may fade away with time but to wait, it is something that can last a lifetime…..

Bai Lian Hua and his team rushed through the rest of the instance to the point that he didn’t even know what happened at the end. Looking at the time, he saw that it was 1:30am. Fortunately, his school did not lock the gates at night otherwise Bai Lian Hua could only try scaling the wall or sleeping at the internet café.

Releasing a big yawn, Bai Lian Hua stood up and left the café with not much money left. The summer night wasn’t too hot and, with the occasional breeze, it was quite refreshing. Occasionally he would encounter a few night owls on the way back to his school. Once he reached his dormitory room on the third floor, he rummaged around in his trouser pockets trying to find the key.

Eh? Where’s the key? He was shocked and turned his trouser pockets inside out. Except for a wallet, a mobile phone… Nothing! Is it at the Internet cafe? No, he didn’t remember taking out the keys at the internet café.

So to say, he came out without a key? The wind blew gently as Bai Lian Hua stood shocked and coated in cold sweat.

—– No keys. Where was he going to sleep tonight? Is he really going to sleep on the streets?! Bai Lian Hua really wanted the punch the wall at this moment: You idiot! Who told you not to bring your keys! F*ck!

Bai Lian Hua turned on his phone and looked at the time. It was half past two and still early in the morning. He guessed that Chu Zhongtian, Li Hei and Zhou Nanjiang couldn’t be counted on as they are all scattered at different places. Finding a teacher or locksmith wasn’t a realistic option either. Bai Lian Hua flipped through his contacts and couldn’t find a single person he could ask for help.

Go to a hotel? But he only has 20 yuan left on him. He only intended to visit it internet café and naturally didn’t bring a lot of money or his card with him……If he really needed help, there was one person he could contact —-Song Qingge.

But….Bai Lian Hua slightly creased his eyebrows and felt a little hesitant inside. Just seeing him in the game made him feel embarrassed to the point of dying. If he met him in real life…..Bai Lian Hua had nothing against homosexuality nor does he discriminate against it but….he really didn’t have any experience with facing another man who likes him. Furthermore…..he can’t say that he didn’t feel anything towards him.

Yes that’s right. This was what troubled Bai Lian Hua the most. He didn’t hate Song Qingge or hate his behaviour. Although it was a little unexpected, it was also as if he had expected it. If Song Qingge was a woman or if he was a woman, Bai Lian Hua could picture themselves getting married right after graduating….but…..Song Qingge is a man.

Yet he felt no reluctance or rejection towards him and was consequently even more distressed by the situation.

Bai Lian Hua had wanted to borrow some money from Song Qingge so that he can spend the night at a hotel but he already owes him 600; and after what had happened today…if he wasn’t put into this situation, he really didn’t want to find him. He is afraid of trouble and afraid of awkwardness. These words floated around inside him like invisible curses making him tempted to just leave and fly back to his hometown tomorrow morning. If you ask him what he is afraid of, he really couldn’t put his finger on it. He just wanted to escape or just pretend that he didn’t know anything.

Stuck between the fear of awkwardness and the need to seek refuge, Bai Lian Hua hesitated for a while and finally made a decision.

Selecting the dial button, a faint ringtone resonated harshly through the empty corridor. After a while, the phone connected.

“Good evening.” He heard Song Qingge say. Shouldn’t people usually answer with “Hello” or “Why are you calling so late”? ….Sure enough, it was impossible to understand the workings in Song Qingge’s mind.

“Good evening.” Bai Lian Hua replied. He then said, “Song Qingge…..can you lend me two hundred?”

Very quickly, the person on the other end asked, “What happened?”

Bai Lian Hua very simply and clearly gave an explanation of his situation. Song Qingge went silent. Was he not happy? The ancestors have said before “It is difficult to borrow again after not returning the first time.” The ancestors really knew what they were talking about! See? After not paying back his debt after so long, even Song Qingge is starting to doubt his character! Bai Lian Hua silently vowed that he would pay back the money before school starts!

“Oh.” After a long time, Song Qingge finally made a sound. “Bai Lian Hua, come and stay at my place.”

“……..”

“No accommodation fees.” Song Qingge’s voice was low and deep, like a wolf abducting a white rabbit. “Also, I’m currently heating up milk. If you come, we can drink it together.” At the end, he also added, “There are also cold ones.”

No accommodation fees + milk. Bai Lian Hua was tempted by these two options. It should be okay if he just spends the night there? Bai Lian Hua silently persuaded himself: both of them are male so nothing will happen ———-Bai Lian Hua, you really are too simple. Young man, it is because both of you are male so something can happen……..

“Okay, then I’ll go to your house.” Bai Lian Hua heard himself say.

On the other end, Song Qingge silently rubbed his chin as he hung up. What should he do? He didn’t actually buy any milk….If he lied and told him that he drank it or spilt it, will he believe it?

The ‘he’ that he is referring to, I’m sure everyone already knows.

After thinking about it for a while, as if he suddenly came to a realisation, Song Qingge rushed to his computer room and pulled out a piece of paper in the drawer. On the paper was a phone number that was scribbled on and was barely recognisable. Entering the numbers into his phone, he quickly dialled.

“Yun Yu, send me a box of Yili milk. Fast. I will pay you double.”

He said this with a firm tone, contrary to his usual dull and emotionless manner of speech.

Yun Yu was obviously very sleepy. He yawned on the other end and asked: “Didn’t you say that you hated drinking milk?”

“Bai Lian Hua is coming to my place. I told him that I have milk here.” Song Qingge pressed.

“Aha?” Yun Yu gently raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t a look of surprise but more of a “is that so” kind of look. “Congratulations. I will immediately send the milk.”

As the call ended, Yun Yu couldn’t help but add a sentence: “Do you need Durex? There’s milk flavoured ones~”

Hit by Yun Yu’s words, the corners of Song Qingge’s mouth twitched: “No thank you. “Oh then do you need antiperspirant? Aphrodisiac? Vibrator? There’s also some oil and….” Before Yun Yu could finish, Song Qingge hung up on him with a wooden face.

Yun Yu looked at his phone and shook his head. He couldn’t help but tease young people. As s proper businessman who is honest and trustworthy, how can he have any of those things! Even if the boys at the school are lonely, he couldn’t sell items that are harmful to the health of teenagers. Yun Yu exposed a helpless expression: Song brother, you really are so easy to aggravate……..

Bai Lian Hua walked from his student dormitory to the teacher’s apartment and climbed three floors. Looking out from the third floor, the originally gloomy and dark sky had seemingly brightened a little and even the moon could no longer be seen. He knocked onto the door in front of him. Soon afterwards, Song Qingge opened the door. The Song Qingge this time was once again wearing the grey wolf slippers and the Tom and Jerry pyjamas. On his pyjamas, there was a picture of Tom laughing stupidly with his mouth open.

Song Qingge looked at him and moved to the side, making room for him to pass. Pointing at the white sheep slippers in front of him, he said: “Wear it.”

Bai Lian Hua acted nonchalant and peeked at his grey wolf slippers on his feet….Is this the legendary couple slippers?! Bai Lian Hua couldn’t keep calm!

“The milk is heating up,” Song Qingge said softly, “Pyjamas are on the bed in the middle room. If you want to take a shower, there is a small bathroom in the room. You should change your clothes first. I’ll bring the milk over later.”

So concise and thoughtful. If he wasn’t Song Qingge, Bai Lian Hua would have tearfully given him a handful of tips! “It’s okay, I’ll drink it in the living room.” Two men facing each other drinking milk in the bedroom…..cough, no matter how he thinks about it, it is too strange.

After Song Qingge finished speaking, he pointed out the way to the middle room and turned back to head to the kitchen. Bai Lian Hua was also happy; it was better not to talk too much as he didn’t know what to say. Although many people may think that he is outgoing and extroverted, but Bai Lian Hua sincerely expresses that you are mistaken! He is, in fact, a thin and frail introverted child! Though every time he says this to Chu Zhongtian, Chu Zhongtian would always exclaim with a look of disdain that he is the very representation of a faker.

Wearing his white sheep slippers he entered the middle room. Sure enough, there was a small bathroom inside. Bai Lian Hua sat on the white double bed and looked around. Well, the bed is very comfortable…….Wait?! Why is it a double bed??

The Bai Lian Hua who was temporarily intoxicated with happiness suddenly had a thought: Song Qingge won’t be sleeping with him will he? Uh…..but this bed is his bed. If they sleep together, would it be considered as “sleeping together”? Maybe he should go find Song Qingge and discuss it with him and take the initiative volunteer for sleeping on the sofa?

Bai Lian Hua looked around the room and finally stopped his gaze at the pyjamas left on the bedside table sitting in a neatly stacked pile. Pulling them apart, he noticed that it was a pair of silky t-shirt like pyjamas and on the shirt was the print of Jerry. Your mum….is this the legendary couple pyjamas?? He remembered that the style of pyjamas worn by Song Qingge was similar to this one! To think that someone actually used silk to make this stupid pair of pyjamas. What brand is it……Going through the shirt, he eventually found a small label in the top right hand side. “Moon Brand”? What? Never heard of it……

Should he ask Song Qingge to change it? This thought flashed through Bai Lian Hua’s mind but he quickly dismissed it. Forget it. Isn’t it just wearing the same pyjamas? Maybe when he bought it, it was on sale for buy one get one free. Why should he be embarrassed to wear it? What’s more, it’s not like they were made just for one person. No matter how you pick them, there will definitely be another one somewhere in the world.

And so, Bai Lian Hua who is wearing Tom and Jerry pyjamas and white sheep slippers; and Song Qingge who is wearing Tom and Jerry pyjamas and grey wolf slippers…..faced each other drinking milk.

Although the hot milk did not emit vapour on a summer night, it still warmed up his hands. Of course, Bai Lian Hua still prefers drinking cold milk.

As if he could tell what Bai Lian Hua was thinking, Song Qingge placed down his cup of milk and said: “Drinking cold milk at night may give you diarrhoea.” So considerate!

Bai Lian wanted refute but he had nothing to say in response to that. After all, he was saying it for his own well-being and if he refuted his goodwill, he’s afraid that he may be sent to the 18^th level of hell. Opposite Bai Lian Hua was a clock on the wall which pointed to three in the morning. He finished his milk in one go, placed down the cup and finally asked about something that he had been worried about for some time: “Song Qingge, if I’m sleeping in the middle room, where are you sleeping?”

“There is a room next door.” Said Song Qingge.

“Oh!” Bai Lian Hua nodded his head and internally felt a little relieved. To sleep with Song Qingge, if you say that he felt no pressure, that would be impossible especially since just last night he…..cleared things up. If you compared their relationship right now to that of a metaphorical girl, they are currently at the extent where the girl is still wearing a bikini…….Hey! Is it really okay to use such a strange comparison??

“That- is the sink in the kitchen? I’ll go to the kitchen to wash the cup.” He raised the cup that he had just emptied. Song Qingge looked at him, “Wait for me to wash. You can go to sleep early.”

Bai Lian Hua felt like he shouldn’t behave like this and just eat and drink whilst being serviced by others. You see, you shouldn’t just act all high and mighty god just because the other party expressed that they liked you. But hearing Song Qingge’s words, Bai Lian Hua couldn’t help but accept it. Not to mention, he was also very sleepy. Nodding his head, he said to Song Qingge: “Good night. You should also go sleep.” and returned to his room.

Once confirming that Bai Lian Hua entered his room, Song Qingge stood up  and picked up his glass of milk which still had four fifths of milk left with a grimace. He went straight to the bathroom and slowly poured the milk in the toilet….The whole process was completed without sound making the entire situation seem even more eerie.

“Sure enough, I still don’t like milk.” Song Qingge said to himself.

If you ask about how Bai Lian Hua slept…..the quilt was soft, the pillow was comfortable and mattress was also of a suitable hardness. If this was not a hotel, Bai Lian Hua would really like to sleep here more often.

In the middle of the night, it seemed that there was a thunderstorm. A huge roar broke through the sky and couldn’t help but waken Bai Lian Hua who was sleeping like a dead pig. However, what really caused him to wake up was Song Qingge who was leaning against the bed watching him.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Lian Hua wasn’t angry that he was awakened but rather, he felt uncomfortable being woken up in the middle of the night hence causing him to instinctively frown.

“I am afraid of thunder.” Song Qingge said. As he said this, he couldn’t help but silently berate himself.

You should know that Song Qingge assembled his first computer when he was 8 years old and even appeared on TV as a genius child when he was 10….Yet at this moment he was nervous to the point that he couldn’t sleep because of a particular person sleeping in the next room….That’s right, he was nervous.

Then, at 3:30 in the morning, a thunderous roar and flash of light made Song Qingge’s mind light up along with it.

Bai Lian Hui who was just woken up proceeded to squint while rubbing his eyes. He guessed that it was because he had just woken up and his mind was stilled clouded with sleep. Otherwise why would he Song Qingge say something like that……..

“What did you just say?”………Song Qingge was silent for a while and, with a small voice, repeated his words.

Bai Lian Hua looked at Song Qingge and Song Qingge looked at Bai Lian Hua. One was lying on the bed and the other had their hands on Bai Lian Hua’s shoulders. One of his legs was also half kneeling onto the bed and the two faced each other with about an arms distance between them. Bai Lian Hua could almost feel Song Qingge’s breath on his face, giving him a slight sensation of warmth. Although he couldn’t see his expression in the dark, he could still see Song Qingge’s bright eyes which flashed momentarily with an unknown emotion.

No matter how you look at it, it’s very ambiguous…..Bai Lian Hua was startled and almost completed sobered up.

“…..Can you make some space? It’s a little stuffy.” “………….” Song Qingge changed his posture to that of a standing posture and Bai Lian Hua got up unhappily.

Once again, a flash of light shone through the window and it was soon followed by loud roaring thunder. Song Qingge’s performance was very simple and straightforward. Regardless of whether or not Bai Lian Hua was willing, he promptly climbed onto the bed, wrapped himself with the blanket and laid down.

The expression of Bai Lian Hua changed from ‘_>’ to ＝口＝!

“Don’t tell me you’re really afraid of thunder?” He poked at Song Qingge. Song Qingge who was curled up in the blanket trembled and replied with a : “Yes.” Actually, I’m afraid that you will kick me out…..

Bai Lian Hua went silent for a few seconds and finally spoke before the next thunder clap hit.

———“Hey! At least leave me half the blanket!”

Song Qingge immediately pulled apart the cocoon he made and said to Bai Lian Hua: “Come in.”

Bai Lian Hua Looked at Song Qingge and then casually glanced out the window. “Forget it. It’s summer anyway so I won’t catch a cold even if I don’t cover myself up. Sleepy….I’m going to go sleep first. Goodnight”. As if to show that he was really sleepy, Bai Lian Hua released a big yawn and then gently closed his eyes.

How long? Perhaps after about an hour, the sky slowly became a light blue colour. The thunderstorm had already stopped and what remained was the dripping sound of water. Song Qingge softly called out Bai Lian Hua’s name but no one answered.

Still asleep? Song Qingge thought. He slowly turned around to face Bai Lian Hua and lifted up the blanket to cover Bai Lian Hua. Feeling the warmth from the blankets, Bai Lian Hua who slept with no covers gradually inched towards Song Qingge’s direction.

“Good morning.” Although he knew that no one would answer, Song Qingge still uttered those words. After not being able to peacefully rest the whole night, he could finally close his eyes at this moment and enter his dreams.

….Waking up the next day, he found that it was already past noon. Pulling off the blankets and changing his clothes, he could hear a slight clattering sound coming from outside the door which sounded like the sound of someone cooking. Bai Lian Hua walked into the kitchen and saw Song Qingge cutting up vegetables while still wearing his pyjamas. Bai Lian Hua’s expression became one that resembled the character 囧. Aiyou Song brother. You really are the ideal 21^st century man! Can’t you give some leeway for other men so that they can survive? No….Bai Lian Hui couldn’t help but realise something before changing his words: Song brother, why don’t you give some leeway for other women…..

Seemingly as if he sensed his presence, Song Qingge looked up at him with dark circles under his eyes which clearly indicated that he had not slept well. “Awake? Lunch is almost ready. The milk is in the microwave.” At the end, Song Qingge also added, “Actually, drinking too much milk can cause diarrhoea.”

Bai Lian Hua scratched his head awkwardly. For some unknown reason, he felt a strange sense of warmth, like vine circling one by one entangling around his heart which had slowly started to beat again.