Chapter 25
WHEN HE WOKE UP AGAIN, it was already 5 p.m., and the sun was on its way down. Everyone gathered in the park again, each having bought their own souvenirs. Zhang Yuwen, who had Huo Sichen’s coat around him, opened his bleary eyes to see Chang Jinxing taking photos of him, and Huo Sichen smiling and not stopping him. Zhang Yuwen made as if to get up to kick Chang Jinxing’s ass, causing everyone to laugh and disperse.
When they returned to the resort, everyone went to soak in the hot spring separately. “I’ll watch Xiao-Qi while you guys go enjoy the hot spring,” Zhang Yuwen volunteered. Huo Sichen wanted to stay with Zhang Yuwen, but Zhang Yuwen shook his head. “You were exposed to the wind in the park without a coat. Don’t catch a cold.”
Yan Jun smiled. “Then I’ll go take a bath.”
Chen Hong moved his belongings to Yan Jun’s room, and Chang Jinxing went over to share a room with Zheng Weize; something had definitely happened between them again today. And then everyone was gone.
The common area was strangely quiet, their game of Monopoly lying unfinished on the table. Xiao-Qi, no longer satisfied with exploring the furniture, was picking up the game money and looking at it curiously. “Don’t tear it, okay?” Zhang Yuwen told her. He put the dice away in case she decided to eat them.
Zhang Yuwen was fond of children. If he’d had a daughter like Xiao-Qi, he probably wouldn’t date again. He would devote himself wholeheartedly to taking care of her, showering her with all his attention; he’d spoil her and treat her like a little princess from the moment she was born—
Suddenly, Xiao-Qi looked at Zhang Yuwen and said, “Yuwen?”
Zhang Yuwen froze. For one wild moment he panicked, thinking something supernatural was occurring, but then he realized what had happened. “Are you calling me? Xiao-Qi, you can say my name?”
“Yuwen?” Xiao-Qi said again in her baby voice.
“What?!” Zhang Yuwen was stunned. As far as he knew, this was Xiao-Qi’s second word, her first besides “Papa!” His name wasn’t easy to pronounce, either—how had she learned it?
Xiao-Qi, who found Zhang Yuwen’s reaction hilarious, came over to hand him the Monopoly money. “Yuwen?”
“Oh my god…” This was the first baby who had ever fully trusted Zhang Yuwen and called him by his name. He couldn’t help the tears that sprang to his eyes. He wanted to pick Xiao-Qi up, but she refused.
“Yuwen! Yuwen!” Xiao-Qi said again, and toddled away.
“Is anyone here?” Zhang Yuwen was so worked up that he wanted to find someone to show this off to. Alas, everyone was gone. Light from the setting sun streamed through the doorway, casting everything in a golden glow, and Zhang Yuwen felt that he grasped the transient meaning of existence. He would remember this moment for the rest of his life! “Oh wow,” he said. He was so moved he almost cried.
Yan Jun was the first to return.
“Sh-sh-she… She can say my name!” Zhang Yuwen exclaimed when he saw Yan Jun. “Yan Jun! Did you hear that? She can say Yuwen!”
Yan Jun wore a bathrobe, his hair still damp. His smile was striking. “Maybe she picked it up because of how often we all say it.”
“Say it again?” Zhang Yuwen said to Xiao-Qi.
Xiao-Qi ignored him and opened her arms to Yan Jun, who picked her up. She was still grasping Zhang Yuwen’s clothes, though, refusing to let him leave. “Yuwen.”
Zhang Yuwen laughed delightedly. “You hear that?! How many words can she say now?”
“Three. This is the third. She can say ‘auntie’ too.”
Zhang Yuwen was beside himself with joy. Gradually, the others returned, and when they heard Xiao-Qi could say names now, they took turns coaching her.
“That’s not fair!” Chen Hong complained. “Hey! Yan Jun! Have you only been teaching your daughter Yuwen’s name?” Except for Yan Jun, who was in his room blow-drying his hair and didn’t hear them, they all erupted into laughter.
“Where’s Sichen?” Zhang Yuwen asked.
“He’s still waiting for you at the hot spring,” Chang Jinxing told him. Zhang Yuwen quickly changed into a bathrobe and made his way there.
Huo Sichen was sitting on the stone area by the hot spring when Zhang Yuwen jumped in and splashed water all over his face. He watched Zhang Yuwen. “You’re in a good mood.”
Zhang Yuwen grinned but didn’t explain.
“Feeling refreshed after your nap?” Now that Zhang Yuwen had arrived, Huo Sichen got back into the water—but Zhang Yuwen, noticing how red his skin was from the steam, made him get back out in case he fainted.
“No more drinking tonight,” Zhang Yuwen said in a warning tone.
“Of course. I’d get a good beating if I wasted a beautiful night.” Zhang Yuwen didn’t reply, and Huo Sichen came closer. “Are you looking forward to tonight?”
Zhang Yuwen tried to dunk Huo Sichen’s head into the water, but Huo Sichen was ready and fended off his attack. They wrestled in the water for a while, and Zhang Yuwen realized that Huo Sichen was much stronger than him; the guy almost upended him, but ultimately, he teased Zhang Yuwen playfully for a moment and then let him go.
Once they’d calmed down, Huo Sichen asked, “What do you think it should be like when two guys are together?”
“All I know is that they can soak in a hot spring together.” Zhang Yuwen knew what he was trying to ask, but he refused to take the bait.
Huo Sichen laughed. “Uh-huh, that’s one thing.”
“You should get out of the water and drink something,” Zhang Yuwen said. So Huo Sichen got up, naked, and sat at the edge of the pool to continue their conversation.
Zhang Yuwen sized Huo Sichen up. He was a bigger guy than Zhang Yuwen. In the natural world, larger animals often played the role of the “protector”—that is, the male. In same-sex relationships, this was maybe the top.
“By the way,” Huo Sichen said, “can I ask to take the lead?”
“That’s called being the top, or ‘1,’” Zhang Yuwen said. “I knew you’d been thinking about this.”
Huo Sichen’s breathing quickened, nerves setting in. He licked his lips and looked at Zhang Yuwen. “Just an idea… I’m just throwing it out for discussion.”