Chapter 87: I don’t want to forget any of the things you’ve taught me
Yu Shi chose a place and rented a house.
Feng Xuexiang knew what he was doing. Although he really wanted to help him with those matters, he was afraid of making him angry, so he didn’t intervene.
Yu Shi was very efficient, and everything was handled quickly. The house was ready to move into in less than half a month.
Whenever Feng Xuexiang wasn’t in front of Yu Shi, his expression was gloomy, and just sitting there made others anxious. Even the servants didn’t dare come within three meters of him.
Why did Yu Shi rent another house? Was it because he didn’t like living in the Feng family home?
Would Yu Shi live there permanently in the future? Was it because he was tired of him always clinging to him?
Feng Xuexiang couldn’t help but wonder.
There was no way he would let Yu Shi live outside alone. Even if Yu Shi found him annoying, he wouldn’t let him go.
“The house I rented has been completely set up,” Yu Shi told him one day.
Feng Xuexiang’s smile was a bit stiff. “So quickly?”
Yu Shi replied, “So I wanted to ask if you’d like to stay there with me for a few days.”
Feng Xuexiang asked, “You want to take me with you to live there?”
Yu Shi answered, “Of course.”
He had always felt that it wasn’t good for Feng Xuexiang to stay in a remote and quiet mansion for too long in his current state. He needed to interact with more people and experience a more colorful life.
So, this time, Yu Shi rented a house in a convenient location. There were shopping malls, a large supermarket, a plaza, a park, and even a big market for vegetables and flowers nearby.
Yu Shi liked places full of life and wanted to take Feng Xuexiang to experience it.
“However, the house isn’t very big, and it’s not as luxurious as the Feng family’s home. We’ll stay there for a while, and if you’re not comfortable, we can come back.”
…
The house was in a residential complex, on the fifth floor. The space was indeed small, but it was much better than what Yu Shi had described.
Every corner was spotless, and though the space was small, it had everything they needed. The furniture style was soft and refreshing, making anyone who entered feel relaxed.
Yu Shi watched with a smile as Feng Xuexiang toured the house and said, “Let’s go. We’ll head to the nearby supermarket to buy some household items.”
…
The supermarket, which took up the entire first floor of the mall and covered thousands of square meters, was fully stocked with everything they could need.
Since it was a rest day, the place was especially crowded. Yu Shi pushed a small cart and walked with Feng Xuexiang through the aisles.
“Pick out a few bowls you like. We’ll use them for our meals from now on.”
Feng Xuexiang, wearing a hat and a mask, had never been to a supermarket like this. With one hand resting on the cart’s handle, he curiously looked around. Hearing what Yu Shi said, he squatted in front of the shelves to pick out bowls and plates.
“Can I choose chopsticks too?”
“Of course.”
In fact, Yu Shi could have prepared all these items in advance, but he thought that letting Feng Xuexiang pick them out himself would probably make him happier.
Just as he expected, Feng Xuexiang, selecting the items they would use, was visibly pleased even through his mask. If Yu Shi hadn’t stopped him, he might have emptied the entire shelf.
After buying household items, Yu Shi led him to pick out some vegetables and fruits.
As Yu Shi selected the produce, Feng Xuexiang watched and tried to learn how to choose each type. Yu Shi explained to him how to pick each vegetable.
“Do you want to eat seafood? The prawns look very fresh today,” Yu Shi asked.
Feng Xuexiang noticed a couple nearby also selecting prawns. They seemed to be husband and wife.
The man suggested buying more prawns because his wife liked them, but she playfully scolded him, saying they were too expensive and that a small amount would be enough.
Feng Xuexiang looked back at Yu Shi, feeling a warm sense of joy. “Yes, I want some.”
“Alright, then let’s get more,” Yu Shi said as he asked the seller to pack the prawns. He glanced around the area, then asked Feng Xuexiang, “Is there anything else you’d like to eat?”
Feng Xuexiang walked beside him, and the two of them chatted about small, everyday matters.
They talked about what to eat that day, how to cook the food to make it delicious, what kind of fruit to buy, what household items they still needed, a couple arguing by the shelves they passed, and a group of schoolchildren in uniforms debating which drinks to choose at the beverage aisle.
Feng Xuexiang had never seen many of these things before, and when he made a small mistake, Yu Shi’s eyes would light up with a hint of amusement, and he would carefully explain it to him.
They shopped together and carried the bags home together.
After dinner that evening, Yu Shi asked him, “Do you want to go for a walk?”
They went downstairs and headed to the nearby plaza.
On the way, Feng Xuexiang noticed many people walking their dogs. The small dogs seemed to like Yu Shi a lot, often coming over to sniff at his pant legs and wag their tails at him.
It wasn’t just dogs that liked Yu Shi—children did too.
While they were walking in the plaza, they came across a child who couldn’t find her mother. Yu Shi helped her look for her, and the child stopped crying as soon as she clung to his neck, chatting with him in her soft, childish voice.
Feng Xuexiang: “…”
Yu Shi turned back to look at him, smiled, and with one arm holding the child, he took Feng Xuexiang’s hand with the other.
After returning the child to her mother, they sat down on a bench under a tree to rest.
Suddenly, a sleek, glossy stray cat jumped out of the bushes behind them, meowing as it rubbed against Yu Shi’s leg before flopping down at his feet, exposing its fluffy white belly.
Yu Shi petted the cat for a while, but when Feng Xuexiang reached out his hand, the cat hissed, puffed up its fur, and darted back into the bushes.
Yu Shi burst out laughing, suddenly reminded of his third brother. When he and his third brother, Yu Yan, went out together, the cats would always act the same way—cuddling and rolling around at his feet, but as soon as his brother reached out, they would scratch him.
Seeing that Feng Xuexiang was a bit upset, Yu Shi stood up and pulled him along. “Shall we go get some midnight snacks?”
If they walked about two kilometers along the plaza, they’d reach a university, near which was a lively night market street.
“What midnight snacks? Are they good?”
“I can make all those foods myself, but it’s not the same as eating them at a street stall.”
It has to be the mix of various smells of smoke and oil, the chatter from people coming from all over, the busy vendors, and the constant flow of customers.
It’s not just the students from the nearby university who come to eat here, but also many working professionals.
At the table next to them, two young women in shirts and dress pants were seated. Their makeup was slightly smudged, but their smiles were relaxed.
Feng Xuexiang tried the skewers the vendor brought over and said, “They’re not as good as yours.”
Yu Shi chuckled. “Give it a try. If you don’t like it, I’ll eat it.”
Feng Xuexiang didn’t actually dislike them. With his knee brushing against Yu Shi’s, he ended up finishing everything they had ordered without even realizing it.
There were so many people around that, even though he kept his attention on Yu Shi, his mind was filled with the bustling noise.
Behind them, two women were complaining that their boyfriends weren’t considerate, giving them lousy birthday gifts; at the next table, a man was bragging about landing a multi-million-dollar project; someone else was talking about their cat, while another person was on the phone with their mother.
These were things Feng Xuexiang had never really paid attention to before.
Suddenly, Feng Xuexiang turned his head slightly, noticing a swirling mass of black mist expanding in a nearby dark alley.
In crowded, bustling places like this, where emotions run high, it’s inevitable for such things to form.
Seeing Yu Shi across from him, still eating a piece of grilled vegetable, Feng Xuexiang casually released a few butterflies with a wave of his hand.
There were many people around, but no one noticed the ethereal purple butterflies. They flew over the heads of the diners and into the dark alley.
The swirling black mist was touched by the butterflies, and soon, it deflated like a punctured balloon, dissipating into a pile of dust.
A potential disturbance was quietly resolved.
…
On the way back, Feng Xuexiang asked, “That girl was upset because her boyfriend gave her something she didn’t like and she got angry with him. I remember you didn’t like the house I gave you before. Will you get angry with me too?”
Yu Shi asked, “If I gave you a gift that you didn’t like, would you get mad at me?”
Feng Xuexiang replied, “Of course not. I like anything you give me.”
Seeing that Feng Xuexiang was still thinking about the villa, Yu Shi said, “I do like the house; it’s a very precious gift. I just felt it wasn’t quite right.”
The villa was near the Feng family’s estate, quiet and secluded, with a butler provided. In truth, living there wasn’t much different from staying at the Feng family’s residence.
“Next time, when we go out shopping, you can pay for everything. How about that?”
Feng Xuexiang readily agreed, hoping that Yu Shi would buy a lot of things.
The next morning, Yu Shi took him to the farmers’ market.
This kind of market had more variety than a supermarket, and it was a bit more chaotic, especially in the morning when it was crowded to the point of blocking the roads.
“Many people here set up small stalls to sell the vegetables they grow themselves. There are also a lot of things you can’t find in a supermarket.”
Feng Xuexiang was still wearing his hat and mask. Occasionally, someone would glance at him, but no one paid him much attention, as they were all busy with their own business.
Yu Shi spotted some fresh lotus seeds and bought a few, along with various spices and dried goods from a small shop.
Whenever Feng Xuexiang asked about something, Yu Shi would explain what delicious dishes could be made with the dried goods and what was special about the spices.
There were also people selling flowers at the market, mostly older folks who spoke with a bit of an accent.
Yu Shi bought a few fresh flowers as well.
Feng Xuexiang carried all these items in his arms.
They also visited a nearby flower and bird market, which was small, with a few pet shops selling common pets like cats, dogs, parrots, and turtles.
At the market, Feng Xuexiang picked up a potted plant and two goldfish.
After they returned, Yu Shi put down the items, rolled up his sleeves, and set up a small tank with water plants for the goldfish. He also sprayed water on the potted plant and placed it in a sunny spot.
Two goldfish swam leisurely in the tank, no longer showing the previous panic, while the small potted plant’s leaves stretched out, green and vibrant under the sunlight.
Feng Xuexiang had just finished washing his hands and tidying up the tools, feeling that Yu Shi was truly amazing.
It seemed that any life, receiving his care and attention, could start to grow.
…
During the few days spent in this house, Feng Xuexiang felt a relaxation he had never experienced before, constantly feeling content and happy.
When Yu Shi asked if he wanted to return to the Feng family, Feng Xuexiang shook his head, saying, “There’s no need; I don’t have anything to return for.”
For so many years before, he had merely been confined, waiting to be used.
He didn’t want to go back, and Yu Shi naturally wouldn’t force him. After thinking for a moment, he suggested, “How about we go fishing tomorrow?”
Yu Shi drove Feng Xuexiang to a remote lakeside for some wild fishing.
They sat on small stools, shaded by trees, with the occasional breeze rustling the tall grass nearby, stirring the fishing line and bobber on the lake.
Feng Xuexiang had never fished before, so he learned some techniques from Yu Shi and, with his help, prepared the bait. They both held a fishing rod, waiting for a bite.
Cicadas were calling from the trees behind them.
Feng Xuexiang held his fishing rod, gradually shifting his gaze from the water’s surface to Yu Shi beside him.
Noticing this, Yu Shi turned and asked, “Do you find it boring?”
His smile was gentle and relaxed as he reassured, “Fishing requires patience; just wait a little longer, and the fish will bite.”
Feng Xuexiang wasn’t impatient; he simply looked at Yu Shi sitting there and suddenly felt…
Feng Xuexiang leaned in and kissed Yu Shi on the forehead, whispering, “I was thinking, I don’t want to forget any of the things you’ve taught me.”
A dragonfly flew past their fishing rods, and the bobber on the water surface moved slightly.
Yu Shi took Feng Xuexiang’s hand, saying, “Whether it’s buying groceries, cooking, taking walks, or fishing, these are all part of daily life.”
“Daily life means things we can do every day. Even if you forget, next year we’ll do the same things.”
“And if you truly forget, then next year you’ll still be as happy as you are now. Every year will feel full of anticipation and novelty. Isn’t that wonderful too?”
