Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The fireworks display lasted a solid half-hour.

Fang Bingxue never hung up the phone. He brought out a small stool from inside, perched on it, and chatted while looking up at the sky.

Zhou Xu said it was perfect—today was Children’s Day, so the county kids could join the excitement and enjoy the show.

After sitting for a while and seeing the fireworks still going, Fang Bingxue asked, "This must’ve cost you a lot, right?"

If it had just been set off in one place, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But these fireworks practically blanketed the entire Lichuan County. Fortunately, the county’s regulations weren’t strict, and they were set off in wide-open, sparsely populated areas—otherwise, they wouldn't have passed inspection.

Zhou Xu replied, "It’s fine. Did you eat noodles?"

"Yeah," Fang Bingxue answered. "Tossed in two eggs."

Zhou Xu asked, "Made them yourself?"

Fang Bingxue ducked his head, laughing. "Bro Xu, you seem like such a straightforward guy, but your words always carry weight, huh?"

"Didn’t mean it like that," Zhou Xu laughed on the other end. "I just didn’t want you to be alone."

He didn’t say the rest—that he thought spending a birthday alone would be kind of sad.

Fang Bingxue didn’t respond. He just kept looking up at the fireworks. Work had been so busy lately that he hadn’t had time to sit quietly like this, completely absorbed in the night sky, waiting for one brilliant burst after another.

They didn’t talk much. After the fireworks ended, the afterimages still lingered in their vision, tinting everything with a faint red hue. Fang Bingxue said, "Bro Xu, I’m gonna tidy up and head to bed." Zhou Xu replied, "Alright, rest early."

Fang Bingxue said, "Will do. You too."

After hanging up, Fang Bingxue went to the kitchen and made himself another bowl of noodles.

After this birthday, the two of them didn’t see each other for a while. Fang Bingxue was busy setting up a local database system, spending his days sorting through aging records with Ma Rui while also handling training sessions. Zhou Xu seemed equally occupied, so Fang Bingxue didn’t ask too much—they still exchanged occasional messages and chatted.

Before they knew it, mid-month arrived. That afternoon, Fang Bingxue went to the police station to submit some documents. While handling the handover, an officer mentioned offhand that summer vacation was approaching in June and July, so they were ramping up drowning prevention measures this year.

"We installed guardrails before, but they didn’t do much good," the officer said, holding a thick stack of files. "The river’s too long, with plenty of deep holes and treacherous currents."

Fang Bingxue knew about the illegal sand mining that had happened here before. That operation fell under water regulation, but during enforcement, violent resistance against enforcement broke out—the sand mining gangs even armed themselves and attacked law enforcement with high-pressure water guns aimed at their eyes. It had caused quite the uproar.

The case was solved, but the river’s ecosystem had been damaged, and it remained an ongoing disaster.

"We’re in the process of rehabilitating it," the officer continued. "Building concrete embankments."

Fang Bingxue asked, "Why not set up a rescue team? Routine patrols could help, and they’d be able to respond quickly in emergencies."

The officer set the files down on the table. "Who’s gonna pay their salaries?"

Volunteer rescue teams had always existed in civilian circles, mostly government-led with public participation. Without thinking, Fang Bingxue blurted out, "Recruit volunteers."

The officer laughed and didn’t say anything else.

Fang Bingxue understood the implication.

Lichuan County was small, with a sparse population. Many social initiatives never gained traction—people didn’t see the need, lacked awareness, and even if they did start a rescue team, who would manage it? Where would the equipment and facilities come from? And if financial issues arose, how would the funds be supervised?

Whether rescuing people or recovering bodies, they couldn’t rely entirely on volunteers’ goodwill.

Not to mention, traditional cultural sensitivities and families expressing gratitude with monetary gifts were unavoidable issues. What if disputes over money arose?

It sounded simple, but when you look closer, the details were complicated and messy.

Lost in thought, Fang Bingxue walked out of the station. Just as he stepped outside, he spotted a familiar figure—lanky, with a scalp shaved clean, flanked by two officers, seemingly in the middle of some discussion. The moment the guy saw Fang Bingxue, he froze, then immediately turned and bolted.

He didn’t get far before being hauled back by the scruff.

Fang Bingxue wasn’t in uniform, just wearing his work ID around his neck. He ambled over to A Liang and spoke slowly, "What's with the dash? You think I’ll eat you?"

A Liang kept his head down, avoiding his lips.

The officer holding him looked up. "Oh, you know him?"

"What happened?" Fang Bingxue flipped his ID over. "Yeah, he’s a friend."

"Nothing major," the officer explained. "This mute kid was walking down the street when a bunch of kids started mimicking his signing. Things got heated."

Fang Bingxue was surprised. "Did he fight them?"

The officer chuckled. "Nah. He pulled the valve cores out of their bikes. Summer break’s coming up, so the kids are getting restless, running wild in packs. When they couldn’t ride their bikes, they had no choice but to wheel them home crying. Parents got mad, so now we’re dealing with the fallout."

Fang Bingxue couldn’t help but smile.

A Liang couldn’t hear, but he could guess what was being said. He had a hangdog expression, nervous.

"This little guy holds a grudge," the officer added. "He laid in wait for two whole days, stalking those kids until they were far enough away before he struck. Yanked the stems and ran."

Fang Bingxue asked, amused, "Any property damage or serious consequences?"

The officer clapped his hands. "Nope. But the parents kicked up a fuss. We just finished the counseling session and mediated the dispute—releasing him now."

A Liang finally looked up, scanning the room with a sullen expression.

"So no big deal," the officer said cheerfully. "You’re free to go. Why’d you run earlier?"

In a police station, running just triggers everyone’s reflexes to tackle you.

Fang Bingxue reached out and slung an arm over A Liang’s shoulder. "I’ll take him home."

The officer waved them off. "Sure. Have a word with him—no more bike sabotage."

Once outside, Fang Bingxue led A Liang to the passenger seat, tossing his work ID into the console. "You ran ‘cause you didn’t want Bro Xu to find out, huh?"

A Liang read his lips and nodded.

"Some tough guy," Fang Bingxue said. "You were all brave when you pulled those valve cores, though."

With that, he started the car and hit the gas.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xu had just slammed shut the hood of a car. He’d been busy with a new shipment lately. After finishing the repairs, he didn’t rush to wash up—instead, he angled the rearview mirror to check himself.

Nope. A grease smudge on his chin.

He clicked his tongue before letting go and lazily heading to the faucet to wash his hands. Summer heat meant people doing manual labor preferred loose, comfortable clothes. Zhou Xu wore a black tank top and camouflage shorts, his muscles bulging noticeably. He wiped his face and arms with a towel before unscrewing his water bottle and downing most of it in one go.

As he drank, an apprentice called out from behind, "Bro Xu, someone’s looking for you!"

"Not interested," Zhou Xu said without turning around. "Tell them I’m not here."

Because of the shipment, a certain Mr. Huang had been trying to get a piece of the action, pushing for a distribution deal. Zhou Xu had only eaten with the guy twice—they weren’t close, and he couldn’t be bothered with the hassle.

The apprentice agreed and shouted loudly outside, "Bro Xu's not here!"

Zhou Xu had his hands full.

He planned to go home and take a shower first, then see if Fang Bingxue wanted to grab a bite. If Fang didn’t want to come out, that was no big deal—he’d just make something delicious and bring it over. It was summer, and the heat might've ruined Fang’s appetite, so Zhou Xu had asked a friend to buy some fruits from out of town—kinds you can't get in Lichuan County. They had just arrived that afternoon, and he’d left them in his room, keeping cool in ice water.

Lichuan County was inland, and by June, the most common fruits were apples, pears, and honeydew melons. So when Zhou Xu saw that basin full of lychees and peaches, it made him happy.

His phone rang. He picked it up—Xiao Xuebing.

Zhou Xu quickly answered. Before he could even say "hello," a laughing voice came through, light as a breath in his ear.

"Bro Xu, where are you?"

"At the auto shop," Zhou Xu stood up straight. "Just finished work, nothing to do now. Wide open."

Fang Bingxue said, "You pulling my leg?"

Zhou Xu was stunned. "No? When have I ever lied to you? What’s wrong?"

"I’m right outside," Fang Bingxue leaned against the car door, looking casual. "Heard you weren’t here, was about to leave."

He hung up. Sure enough, half a minute later, Zhou Xu rushed out of the shop in a rush, taking long steps. "Why didn’t you say anything?"

"I did," Fang Bingxue tilted his head up. "You said you weren’t here."

Zhou Xu laughed. "Heck, had no idea it was you."

"Was just about to bring you some fruit," he stopped a few steps away from Fang Bingxue. "Do you like lychees? What about peaches?"

Fang Bingxue asked, "Hey, where’d you get these?"

"A friend drove them over," Zhou Xu was a little out of breath, staring at him. "It was on his way, so I had him bring some..."

Before he could finish, he felt a poke on his arm. Turning, he saw A Liang and jumped. "You’re here? Since when?"

A Liang silently looked at him, then turned to Fang Bingxue.

The look was downright pathetic that even Fang Bingxue felt a little embarrassed—A Liang had been standing there the whole time. He cleared his throat. "Oh, bumped into A Liang on the way. Also... on the way."

Zhou Xu’s eyes lit up. "So you were coming to see me?"

Fang Bingxue had trapped himself. "Ah, no, not exactly..."

After arriving, he’d exchanged a few words with A Liang—just a few words, really. He told him to protect himself, not act impulsively, and asked if he wanted to continue school.

A Liang blinked rapidly.

He’d faced plenty of setbacks growing up. Getting bullied was just part of growing up. Later, Zhou Xu sent him to school, pointing at the national flag on the school building and saying, "If anyone bullies you, come find me. If I’m not around, go to the police."

A Liang had never told anyone, but slowly, he’d started dreaming—to become a police officer.

But after middle school, he stopped studying.

The county had no special education schools, and A Liang struggled with learning. Though his teachers were kind, speaking slowly and writing detailed, neat notes on the board, he still gave up on high school.

Zhou Xu hadn’t persuaded him then, just left it up to him.

A Liang signed, *Bro, I want to earn money.*

So Zhou Xu took him to earn money.

Truthfully, A Liang was solid and dependable, never any trouble for Zhou Xu. He got along well with the younger guys at the shop, all of them joking around. But when he saw kids with backpacks following him, deliberately mimicking his sign language, A Liang still chose childish revenge.

Those kids were young, part curious, part mean-spirited.

Fang Bingxue didn’t say much more, just asked his age and mentioned that vocational schools in the provincial capital accepted hearing-impaired students. They could learn skills, continue studying, and could even go to college. If he was interested, he could come to him.

Before getting out of the car, Fang Bingxue patted A Liang’s hand, making him look at his lips. "You’re earning money honestly. That’s impressive."

He gave A Liang a thumbs-up.

"...Just talked a bit," Fang Bingxue said awkwardly. "Just happened to come by. Really, just passing by."

Zhou Xu raised an eyebrow, silent, just smiling at him.

A Liang looked left and right for a moment, rubbed his stomach, then pointed inside the shop and made a gesture.

Zhou Xu said, "Alright, go ahead."

A Liang didn’t even look back, taking off like a shot.

"He said he’s hungry," Zhou Xu walked closer to Fang Bingxue. "Going to eat with Zhang Yang."

Fang Bingxue blinked. "Oh."

"What about me?" Zhou Xu played dumb, hands in his pockets, scuffing a small pebble under his foot. "Can I... take you to dinner?"

It had been half a month since his birthday. Fang Bingxue had been swamped with work—and also deliberately avoiding him. Now, standing face to face, refusing would just be awkward.

Awkwardness meant guilt, meant backing down.

Fang Bingxue was straightforward. "Sure, it's on me. What do you want?"

Zhou Xu turned his face away, smiling. "Anything. You pick."

"You—do you know how annoying 'anything' is? At least pick one."

"Really, anything. As long as it’s with you, I’m happy."

Fang Bingxue hit the brakes, pulling over. "Say that again and I’ll make you walk!"

This time, Fang Bingxue was driving, Zhou Xu in the passenger seat. It was Zhou Xu’s first time in Fang’s car, and he was on cloud nine, grinning like a fool, so smug Fang Bingxue almost lost it. He threatened a few times—*Keep staring and I’ll throw you out for the wolves!*

Zhou Xu didn’t speak, just kept smiling at him.

Fang Bingxue couldn't stand it, finding it too sappy. After parking, he glared. "Zhou Xu!"

Zhou Xu said, "Yeah?"

Deep down, he was still a good kid—couldn't swear to save his life. After struggling, he spat out, "You’re shameless!"

Zhou Xu rested his elbow on the window. "How am I shameless?"

Fang Bingxue was at a loss.

He made no secret of liking him, nothing hidden, no harassment, not even annoying chitchat—

He never got on Fang's nerves.

Zhou Xu's way of pursuing someone was like the silent and gentle nourishing of rain—quietly standing by, ready to listen when you're tired, and without you even having to ask, he'd already have whatever you needed ready for you. Being with someone like him was effortless and comfortable, no stress, just ease, the kind where you could order whatever you were craving, knowing he'd just smile and say, "It's fine, I'll finish whatever you can't."

"Wait, Bro Xu," Fang Bingxue rubbed his face roughly, "I told you, I'm leaving next spring."

Zhou Xu looked at him: "Are you saying if you weren’t leaving, you’d be with me?"

Fang Bingxue’s heart skipped a beat: "No—"

Suddenly, a loud ringtone blared abruptly through the car.

It was so abrupt and loud that it actually jolted Fang Bingxue. He picked up his phone—it was a call from his mentor.

Fang Bingxue glanced at Zhou Xu.

"I’ll go out for a smoke," Zhou Xu unbuckled his seatbelt, "You take the call."

The car door closed softly, unexpectedly gentle for someone with his rough exterior. Zhou Xu treated things carefully, whereas Fang Bingxue was the clumsier one.

Fang Bingxue hesitated before answering: "Hello?"

His mentor asked if he was busy, mentioning he’d be in the provincial capital for a conference next week.

"Sure," Fang Bingxue’s eyes lit up, "It’s just a two-hour drive. I can come over."

That was exactly what his mentor had in mind—grabbing a meal together over the weekend.

After hanging up, Fang Bingxue looked out the window.

Zhou Xu wasn’t smoking at all. He was standing across the street, facing away, idly studying the flower bed, looking utterly bored.

"Come back," Fang Bingxue teased, "If you don’t get in soon, I’m ditching you."

Only then did Zhou Xu open the door and sit back down: "That was fast."

A simple remark, but it struck Fang Bingxue as odd—hadn’t he said the same to Zhou Xu before? He couldn’t recall, so he just replied casually: "Decided yet? What do you want to eat later?"

"How about barbecue? There’s a good place," Zhou Xu said, "Great for chatting, really relaxed... Wait, no, the owner’s son is getting married. They’re closed for a few days."

He coughed: "How about stir-fry today, barbecue next week?"

Fang Bingxue said: "No, I’ll be gone next week."

Zhou Xu froze: "Gone?"

"Where are you going?" he asked quickly, "Who’s making you leave? Are you coming back? I thought you said next spring?"

Fang Bingxue realized the misunderstanding and opened his mouth: "No, I’m just going to the provincial capital... to have dinner with a teacher. I’ll be back the same day."

Zhou Xu’s chest rose and fell sharply. He lowered his head and stayed silent.

He looked oddly pitiful.

Fang Bingxue started the car slowly, also silent.

They picked a random restaurant, only to find the interior surprisingly nice—super private, with curtains around each table, clearly catering to young couples.

Fang Bingxue paused: "Let’s bounce."

Zhou Xu said: "Okay."

His mood had clearly tanked. Ever since Fang Bingxue mentioned leaving, he’d been barely holding it together—but he didn’t ask, didn’t let it show, just trailed behind without a word, sticking close.

Like he’d vanish if he looked away.

Back in the car, Fang Bingxue didn’t start the engine or look for another place.

"Zhou Xu," his fingers rested on the steering wheel, "Let’s talk?"

The car’s privacy was even better than the restaurant’s little curtains. Outside, the sky had darkened, the summer night breeze whispered. An ice cream vendor sat by the roadside, the stars sparse, hazy and distant above.

Zhou Xu pressed his lips together, silent.

A few seconds later, Fang Bingxue’s eyes flew open as he pressed a hand against Zhou Xu’s chest.

Without warning, Zhou Xu had crowded in insistently—in the cramped space, half-kneeling on the seat, his right arm braced against the car, practically caging Fang Bingxue in. Their breaths mingled, close enough to see the faint flutter of each other’s lashes.

But he didn’t move further.

After a full half-minute, Zhou Xu’s gaze was heavy and intent: "Fang Bingxue, if you like men, why not try accepting me?"

Fang Bingxue opened his mouth but no sound came out.

"You didn’t push me away," Zhou Xu repeated, "When I leaned in like this, you didn’t push me away."

"No," Fang Bingxue floundered, "I just didn’t know how to—"

Zhou Xu watched him: "Are you scared?"

That, Fang Bingxue couldn’t take.

He shoved Zhou Xu back into the passenger seat, then snapped loudly: "What a joke! Who’s scared? I’ve never known how to write the word ‘fear’ since the day I was born!"

Zhou Xu exhaled and sat properly.

Fang Bingxue grumbled under his breath as he restarted the car: "I’ve never been afraid of the dark, or ghosts—who do you think you’re looking down on?!"

Zhou Xu rubbed his chest, chuckling low and warm: "Yeah, you’re brave. I know."

The weird tension from earlier vanished. Fang Bingxue spent the whole ride bragging nonstop, and to prove his bravado, he went out of his way to pick a barbecue joint, ordering a hefty order of red willow lamb skewers.

And a dozen beers.

"Here," he clinked glasses with Zhou Xu, "We’re drinking till we drop!"

Zhou Xu clicked his tongue: "Who’s ‘we’?"

Fang Bingxue shot back: "We’re both men, of course it’s ‘we’!"

"Really?" Zhou Xu grabbed a napkin, wiping Fang Bingxue’s wrist where frothy overflow had spilled from the enthusiastic toast, "Then call me ‘brother.’"

Fang Bingxue snatched the napkin away: "You’re nuts! Men don’t call each other that!"

"Why not?" Zhou Xu took a slow swig of beer, "If you don’t like it, I can call you instead."

Fang Bingxue: "Huh?"

Zhou Xu set down his glass, calm: "Xuebing-ge, please like me too."

Fang Bingxue froze on the spot.

At the bustling, noisy barbecue joint, a handsome and burly man stared at him expressionlessly and just casually dropped a 'bro' without any hint of embarrassment—it was downright...

Fang Bingxue couldn't drink since he had to drive later, so he merely tapped his cup halfheartedly, now wishing he could gulp down a big mouthful.

"Not feeling the nickname, man?" Zhou Xu continued, "As long as you’re willing, I’ll call you anything."

Fang Bingxue closed his eyes briefly. "No, just stop calling me that."

Zhou Xu looked at him and suddenly laughed, his shoulders shaking.

"Weren’t you the one who said you weren’t afraid of anything?" He lazily lifted his beer. "Look at you getting all worked up."

Fang Bingxue: "...You’re the one getting all worked up!"

Zhou Xu clinked his cup against Fang Bingxue’s proactively. "My bad, no hard feelings."

Fang Bingxue glared at him. "Who's mad? Not me!"

"Right, you’re not," Zhou Xu was still laughing. "Whatever you say."