Times of Our Lives - Chapter 15

As the weather gradually cooled, one day when Xie Meng came out to practice boxing, he unexpectedly didn’t spar with Zhang Xiujuan. The old lady was sunbathing in the yard, squinting her eyes and unknowingly dozing off.

“Grandma,” Xie Meng wiped his sweat, “go inside and rest, it’s cold outside.”

Zhang Xiujuan smiled with her eyes squinted. Since November, she was about to enter old age, and recently she hadn’t been as energetic as before.

“I suddenly feel that I’ve really grown old.” Zhang Xiujuan adjusted the white hair beside her ears and patted the spot next to her, “Come, sit with grandma.”

Xie Meng sat down beside her and massaged her hands, saying, “Talking about being old now doesn’t mean you’re actually old.”

“It’s not the same,” Zhang Xiujuan said lightly, “when I say I’m old, I really am old. I know it myself.”

Mo Suyuan rarely woke up early on Saturdays to go fishing with Ji Shanrong. She had already gotten used to her son’s daily routine of running and practicing boxing in the morning.

“Do you want me to prepare anything for your friend when you bring him back?” Mo Suyuan yawned and rummaged through the refrigerator, muttering to herself, “There doesn’t seem to be enough dessert…”

Ji Qinyang put on his shoes and put on his headphones. “He can do it himself, don’t worry.”

Mo Suyuan gave him a reproachful glance. “How can you let the guest do it himself?” Then she added uncertainty, “…really not a girlfriend?”

“He’s a boyfriend,” Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow, half jokingly, “his name is Xie Meng, I’ll introduce you next time.”

Mo Suyuan thought he was joking, waved her hand, and planned to wait for her son to leave before taking the strawberries from the fridge to wash in the kitchen.

Xie Meng opened the courtyard door and waited for Ji Qinyang to park the car. When the boy was locking the car, he suddenly said, “Huh? Why won’t the key go in?”

“Let me see.” Xie Meng bent down without suspicion. In that instant, Ji Qinyang turned his head abruptly and lightly kissed him on the lips.

Xie Meng: “…”

Zhang Xiujuan called from inside the house, “Xiao Ji, come taste Grandma’s red bean porridge.”

“Coming.” Ji Qinyang hugged Xie Meng’s shoulder.

Xie Meng sighed, “…stop with the surprise attacks.”

Ji Qinyang: “?”

Xie Meng: “You’re scared me to death with a heart attack.”

Ji Qinyang smiled and, when Zhang Xiujuan wasn’t paying attention, leaned close to Xie Meng’s ear and whispered softly, “Couldn’t help it.”

Xie Meng looked at him.

Ji Qinyang’s expression was serious, “I feel uncomfortable if I don’t kiss you.”

Zhang Xiujuan’s radio broke last week. At that time, Xie Meng had just finished his mid-term exams and mentioned it casually to Ji Qinyang. The boy volunteered to come over and help fix it.

Originally, Xie Meng thought the other party was just making an excuse to come to his house, but Ji Qinyang actually took apart and repaired Zhang Xiujuan’s radio. After adjusting it for a short while, the radio played the tune of “The Ballad of Mulan.”

Zhang Xiujuan exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my!”

Ji Qinyang turned up the volume a bit. Although there was still some static, it was much clearer than before.

Zhang Xiujuan happily said, “Oh… I can finally understand it.” She couldn’t help but praise her grandson, “Look how capable Xiao Ji is!”

Ji Qinyang also didn’t hold back, speaking in Suzhou dialect, “I want to be a good grandson for Grandma too.”

“You are all my grandsons, you are all my heart.” Zhang Xiujuan smiled like a flower, “Hurry, go eat the red bean porridge.”

Since Zhang Xiujuan cherished her repaired radio so much, Xie Meng simply let the old lady quietly enjoy it alone, while he pulled Ji Qinyang out to eat red bean porridge. He served a full bowl for Ji Qinyang, but only took a pancake for himself.

“You don’t like sweet things, huh?” Ji Qinyang didn’t take a spoon and drank most of the porridge directly from the bowl.

Xie Meng shook his head, “Do you like it?”

“I like it,” Ji Qinyang smiled, he finished the remaining half bowl of porridge and put the bowl in the sink.

“Let’s buy Grandma a new radio later,” Ji Qinyang poured some dishwashing liquid, “I could only fix it roughly this time, it’s too old, it needs to be replaced.”

Xie Meng reached out to help him roll up his sleeves and said with his head down, “She’s used to it and doesn’t want to change it. As long as she likes it, it’s fine.”

Ji Qinyang didn’t say anything. His gaze fell on Xie Meng’s focused profile, and suddenly said, “You’re also my heart.”

Xie Meng: “…”

Ji Qinyang smiled and kissed his temple, “Extremely sweet.”

The old lady still had to go to the teahouse in the afternoon to listen to storytelling. Xie Meng finally locked the courtyard door, and Ji Qinyang stretched his bicycle nearby waiting for him.

“What do you want to eat tonight?” The boy confirmed once again without giving up, “Are you really not staying overnight at my place?”

Xie Meng looked at him helplessly.

Ji Qinyang shrugged, “Okay.”

Xie Meng chuckled and reached out to rub the back of the other’s head: “You…”

Amidst the deep autumn atmosphere, Ji Qinyang carried Xie Meng on his back across a small bridge over flowing water. Both sides of the streets were lined with gingko trees, their fan-shaped yellow leaves covering the path silently under the rolling wheels.

Ji Qinyang hummed a tune of unknown origin as they crossed the street. Xie Meng, following behind, listened for a while before asking, “That song?”

Ji Qinyang’s voice came through the wind with a smile, “Which one?”

Xie Meng recalled for a while and awkwardly hummed a part.

Ji Qinyang waited until Xie Meng stumbled through almost the entire verse before replying, “It’s not finished yet… Do you like it?”

Xie Meng nodded, “Yes.”

Ji Qinyang said, “Then it’s all yours.”

“Really?” Xie Meng smiled and asked.

“All the songs I write from now on will be for you,” Ji Qinyang turned around, looking at Xie Meng. “They’re all for you.”

When the two arrived at Ji Qinyang’s home, Mo Suyuan hadn’t returned yet. There were washed strawberries on the table, tempting and delicious to look at.

“Want to eat something?” Ji Qinyang held half a strawberry in his mouth and vaguely gestured, “Here.”

Xie Meng leaned in against his head, and the two kissed passionately for a long time, their mouths filled with the sweet juice of strawberries.

Ji Qinyang held him tightly and didn’t want to let go, their lower bodies pressed together, both clearly showing arousal.

After calming down a bit, Xie Meng whispered, “Are your parents coming back?”

“Probably later,” Ji Qinyang stepped back a bit but still held Xie Meng’s hand tightly. He led him to his music room, where handwritten music sheets were scattered around the piano.

Xie Meng picked up a few to look at.

“They’re all scribbles,” Xie Meng smiled. “I can’t understand any of them.”

Ji Qinyang sat with him on the piano stool, fingers pointing around on the score, “dodo, miso, fafarui~”

Xie Meng followed and sang seriously, “dodo…”

Ji Qinyang’s hand slipped under the boy’s shirt, his lips touching the other’s fair neck.

Xie Meng, “…”

Ji Qinyang licked his earlobe, Xie Meng evaded playfully: “Don’t…”

Ji Qinyang turned him around, Xie Meng straddled his lap, face-to-face. The boy covered his face with the score, wrinkling the paper on both sides.

“What are you doing?” Ji Qinyang smiled and tried to pull the score away, “If you tear it, who will I ask for it?”

Xie Meng put down his hand, his face slightly red, his expression still calm. Ji Qinyang leaned in and kissed his eye corner and forehead.

The room was heated, Xie Meng’s thin sweater was rolled up by Ji Qinyang, and the boy kissed his chest, playing with his nipples.

Xie Meng pushed him away a bit uncomfortably, “Stop playing there all the time.”

“Why?” Ji Qinyang smiled, “Does it feel uncomfortable?”

Xie Meng didn’t want to talk awkwardly. Ji Qinyang laughed and deliberately said, “Then it looks like you like it.”

Behind the two was the piano. Xie Meng couldn’t escape, so he could only lean on it.

Ji Qinyang kissed him again, unable to help but pull down his pants.

The male semi-erection inside was wrapped in the underwear, the shape and color exposed were very beautiful. Xie Meng subconsciously lifted his hand to cover it, but Ji Qinyang gently patted it away.

Recalling his experience with firearms, Ji Qinyang helped Xie Meng to use his hand. The latter grabbed his shoulders and blushed deeper and deeper.

Ji Qinyang looked at the boy’s expression, his movements on his hands continued to move, and he said hoarsely, “Can I use my mouth… Can I?”

Xie Meng trembled, and before Ji Qinyang could react, he had already eja—culated.

“…..”

Ji Qinyang muttered disappointedly, “What a pity…”

Xie Meng didn’t know how to react to Ji Qinyang’s expression of regret. He hurriedly grabbed a tissue to clean himself up, accidentally brushing against Ji Qinyang’s thigh and realizing he was still aroused.

“I…,” Xie Meng took a breath, “I can help you…”

Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow, grabbed Xie Meng’s hand and pulled it behind him, enclosing him in his arms. “Let’s leave it for this time.”

Xie Meng felt guilty, “But…”

Ji Qinyang kissed his lips gently, “Can you help me with oral next time?”

Xie Meng: “…”

When Mo Suyuan returned, Ji Qinyang was teaching Xie Meng to recognize musical notation. She quietly pushed open the door, and the two boys didn’t notice her, their heads together in quiet conversation.

Mo Suyuan silently approached behind Ji Qinyang, and Xie Meng looked up and saw her.

Mo Suyuan gestured to be quiet with her index finger, then covered her son’s eyes with her hand.

Xie Meng: “…”

Mo Suyuan pretended to speak in a childish tone, “Guess what Mommy wore today~”

Ji Qinyang laughed and pulled Mo Suyuan’s hand down, “Whatever you wear looks good.”

Xie Meng stood awkwardly aside and greeted, “Hello, Auntie.”

Mo Suyuan showed no formality as an elder, patting Xie Meng’s shoulder affectionately, jokingly saying, “You really are my son’s ‘boyfriend,’ so handsome~”

Xie Meng: “…”

Rarely having his son’s friend stay for dinner, Mo Suyuan wished she could cook a feast. Xie Meng’s bowl was never empty throughout the meal.

Halfway through, Mo Suyuan remembered something, “When your dad and I were fishing today, we met Teacher Wu. He asked if you had read the recommendation letter for the Conservatory.”

Xie Meng hadn’t heard Ji Qinyang mention anything about the Conservatory before. He paused eating, turned to Ji Qinyang, and asked, “Have you?”

“I have,” Ji Qinyang scooped soup into Xie Meng’s bowl and handed it over, “I’m still considering.”

“This is a good opportunity,” Mo Suyuan said, “Teacher Wu has already helped you apply for the music theory exam this summer. Work hard.”

Ji Qinyang had no objections. He picked food for Xie Meng and noticed the boy staring into his bowl in a daze.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Qinyang nudged him.

Xie Meng came to his senses, “Are you… planning to apply to Beijing?”

Ji Qinyang shrugged, “Not sure yet, maybe.”

Xie Meng hesitated, swallowed his food, unsure of what to say.

“What about you, Xie Meng?” Mo Suyuan showed concern, “Where are you planning to apply?”

“Mom, isn’t that a pointless question?” Ji Qinyang chuckled, “He’s definitely going with me…”

“Shanghai,” Xie Meng calmly interrupted him, avoiding Ji Qinyang’s surprised look, and said slowly, “I plan to apply to Shanghai.”

The street lamps on Shantang Street were sparse, and Ji Qinyang walked silently beside Xie Meng, the light and shadows slowly overlapping and receding like an old movie, blurring the expressions on their faces.

“Are you blaming me for not telling you about the Conservatory?” Ji Qinyang suddenly spoke in the darkness, and it wasn’t until they were about to reach the next street lamp that he heard Xie Meng sigh.

“No,” Xie Meng stood under the light, the dim yellow light falling on his face, his expression gentle. “I’m just a little surprised…” He considered his words, “I’m really happy for you to go to the Conservatory. It’s impressive.”

Ji Qinyang frowned, “But you don’t want to go to Beijing.”

Xie Meng pursed his lips, avoiding Ji Qinyang’s gaze, trying to remain calm, “Even if I don’t go to Beijing, it won’t change anything…”

“Are you suggesting a long-distance relationship with me?” Ji Qinyang’s tone was sharp, cold and piercing. “Or do you think, even if we break up because of the distance, it doesn’t matter?”

Xie Meng widened his eyes, his expression a mix of surprise and anger. He retorted, “What are you talking about…!”

“You don’t tell me anything. I don’t know what you’re thinking,” Ji Qinyang stared at his expression, “I’m just like a fool who’s too hot-headed.”

Xie Meng clenched his fist, seemingly enduring something, and after a while, he said coldly, “Well, did you tell me about applying to the Conservatory? You’d rather tell Qi Fei than tell me!”

The deserted alley was silent, broken streetlights fell on Ji Qinyang’s feet, he turned away, stiffly said, “I don’t want to argue with you.”

Xie Meng remained silent, watching Ji Qinyang straddle his bicycle. With one foot on the ground, he leaned over and kissed his browbone forcefully.

“I’m going back,” Ji Qinyang said softly, “See you tomorrow.”