When the two returned to the hospital room, Xiao Lajiao and Shen Ziyao had already established a deep revolutionary friendship. Each holding an ice cream bar in their hands, they saluted Shen Heng and Zhai Yao upon seeing them.
Due to Shen Ziyao’s inability to comprehend sign language, their communication relied solely on drawing and guessing. Nevertheless, it was palpable that they had been enjoying each other’s company.
Upon noticing the band-aid on Zhai Yao’s chin, Xiao Lajiao asked him worriedly how the wound came about, wanting to apply the ice cream on Zhai Yao’s face.
Zhai Yao pushed away the ice cream and gestured in sign language: —Very sticky. Enjoy it yourself.
Xiao Lajiao bit her lip: —Did my dad come back? Did you have a fight with him again?
Zhai Yao shook his head.
Shen Ziyao also drew near with an intention to tear off the band-aid from Zhai Yao. He stared at Shen Heng not far away with a vigilant look and asked quietly, “Did he do this?”
“No.” Zhai Yao glanced at Shen Heng from the corner of his eye, and a sudden wave of sympathy washed over him, if only for a fleeting moment. He had never experienced the feeling of being forgotten by loved ones, but surely it wouldn’t be easy to endure such a plight.
“He’s injured too,” Zhai Yao told Shen Ziyao while taking advantage of Shen Heng’s absence as he went to settle the bill. “In his attempt to help me, he took a blunt blow on my behalf, cried out in pain, and ended up with snot and tears all over his face.”
“Rea… really?” Shen Ziyao asked.
“Mm, it’s quite miserable,” Zhai Yao sprouted his nonsense deadpan. “So, comfort him for me when he returns later.”
Shen Ziyao thought about it and felt that it was indeed appropriate to offer a few soothing words for someone who had been beaten up while trying to protect his grandson. He nodded. “I understand… Actually, despite his short fuse and lack of humour, that lad isn’t a bad person.”
So when Shen Heng returned, Shen Ziyao unprecedentedly beckoned him to his bedside, hesitated for a moment, and then gently patted the back of Shen Heng’s hand.
“Bumps away, bumps away, pain is no more, no more—!”
A flicker of astonishment crossed Shen Heng’s pitch-black eyes. He instinctively turned his head to look for Zhai Yao, but all he saw was the back of the latter as he walked away to smoke.
The callus on Shen Ziyao’s hand was in a special position, and those who understood would instantly recognize that he had carried a gun and been on the battlefield.
The warmth in the palm was familiar yet not at the same time, causing Shen Heng’s gaze to drift into the distance—a long, long time ago, this hand had countless times clasped his own, leading him through the tea garden in front of their old home…
…
*
After escorting Xiao Lajiao back to school and exchanging a few words with her teacher, Zhai Yao returned to 9th High School.
When entering the classroom, he coincidentally bumped into Shen Heng, who had just returned from the hospital. They walked in one after another.
Thereupon, the class erupted in commotion.
“How did Zhai Yao get that injury on his chin?”
“Oh crap, look at the corner of Boss’s eye!”
“They fought, didn’t they!”
“Does anyone know what’s the battlefield situation?!”
Yang Ning formed a tissue into a ball and threw it at Song Kai, signalling him with a few “pssts.”
Sighing, Song Kai turned around and said, “Jie, you may speak.”
Yang Ning faced her head forward while discreetly pointing her fingers backward towards the back row, silently mouthing, “Which of my two husbands won?”
Song Kai shrugged and threw up his hands, shaking his head.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Yang Ning knitted her brows and thought: What’s the use of you! Just as she was about to gesticulate again, her fingertips suddenly poked something hard.
Turning around, she was stunned. Heavens above, did I just poke… Shen Heng’s… abdominal muscles?!
Yang Ning: “!!!!!!”
“Lend me a hand,” Shen Heng said, not minding Yang Ning’s accidental touch as he took a small step back.
Yang Ning mechanically nodded, still immersed in the sensation from just a moment ago.
Shen Heng gestured towards someone at the side with his chin. “His niece wants to learn dancing.”
Yang Ning responded with two “Oh” sounds, thinking to herself: Let me see which lucky star sent my husband over here?
With a grin on her face, she slowly turned her head, her demeanour gentle and nurturing, much like the spring breeze and timely rain…
And then, she petrified once more.
There, beside Shen Heng, Zhai Yao stood with one hand in his pocket, his eyes casting downwards in her direction.
Thin lips tightly pressed together, eyes hidden behind slightly long, dishevelled bangs… All of that, combined with a cool and indifferent, world-weary face, exuded a damn sexy vibe!
How strong must one’s willpower be to withstand such consecutive double critical hits?!
Yang Ning stiffened in her seat, and under the scrutiny of all, a burst of rainbow-coloured fireworks exploded above her head.
…
Saturday arrived at a glance. In contrast to other schools where second-year high school students often had to dedicate half a day to additional classes, it was different at 9th High School. Here, not only students, but even teachers didn’t believe that a mere half-day could produce more university-bound students.
As the evening approached, Zhai Yao asked Xie Ziming to oversee the skating rink for him. He lifted Xiao Lajiao onto his bicycle and rode through the winding alleys towards the clothing wholesale market in the old city district.
The wind blowing against them wasn’t particularly refreshing cool. It slipped into Zhai Yao’s loose black T-shirt, causing the fabric on his back to flutter and puff up.
Xiao Lajiao’s braided pigtails also bounced in sync, each following the other with a lively sway. Her hair today was styled by Zhai Yao, and now, in the excitement of the moment, she couldn’t help but constantly swung her two feet.
Her foot was no longer in pain after a week of rest.
With one hand supporting the handlebars, Zhai Yao reached behind and lightly tapped Xiao Lajiao’s knee with the other, reminding her not to move too much, lest her feet get caught in the bicycle wheel.
At a location just opposite the wholesale market and an intersection, Zhai Yao spotted Shen Heng—
He walked beneath the dusky sky, where the darkness was on the verge of claiming its dominion, still wearing the same timeless white shirt. If it weren’t for the cleanliness of his clothes and the constant fragrance of laundry detergent, Zhai Yao might have doubted whether this person ever changed his clothes.
Shen Heng also caught sight of Zhai Yao. He had just taken out a cigarette pack, but upon seeing the little girl sitting behind Zhai Yao, he kept it again.
Xiao Lajiao tugged at the hem of Zhai Yao’s clothes while fixing her round, sparkling big eyes on Shen Heng.
Before Zhai Yao could park the bicycle, she had already jumped down. Zhai Yao was about to remind her to be careful with her injured foot after witnessing her reckless action, but Xiao Lajiao had already run off towards Shen Heng.
When Xiao Lajiao reached Shen Heng’s side, she once again didn’t know what to do. She twisted the hem of her clothes, quietly observing him. Finally, she gestured a “thank you.”
Shen Hen’s eyes met hers, then shifted his gaze back up expressionlessly.
Zhai Yao: “She’s saying thank you to you.”
Shen Heng acknowledged with a “Mm” and turned to continue walking.
Zhai Yao suddenly remembered that this jerk could understand sign language and silently cursed him for pretending. A frown marred his features as he locked the bicycle and followed behind while pulling along Xiao Lajiao, using sign language as they walked: —You don’t need to thank him.
Xiao Lajiao: —Why not? He helped me.
Chillness crept into Zhai Yao’s expression: —He owes me a favour, so him helping you is only natural.
Xiao Lajiao stubbornly shook her head: —That’s two separate matters.
Zhai Yao: “……”
When they reached the entrance of the clothing wholesale market, Yang Ning was already waiting outside. Next to her was Song Kai, squatting and holding a piece of spicy strip in his mouth.
Watching two handsome guys, one dressed in black and the other in white, strolling towards her, Yang Ning slightly kicked Song Kai’s butt. She found herself genuinely torn and voiced her dilemma, “Hey, which one do you think I should choose?”
Song Kai, who was forcibly dragged along by Yang Ning, had been eagerly anticipating the latest episode of the new animation tonight. However, it seemed that he had no choice but to miss it since he didn’t dare defy Yang Ning.
When asked for his opinion, Song Kai could only respond out of obligation, “The white one; more acquainted.” So if he rejects you, he’ll perhaps do it in a more tactful way.
“But the black one is also good!”
“In that case, go for the black one.” Black isn’t well-acquainted, so if he rejects you, he’ll perhaps do it in a more tactful way.
Yang Ning ruthlessly slapped on Song Kai’s head. “You really have no independent opinion of your own!”
Song Kai sighed helplessly, “Ah…” I really wannna go back and enjoy my donghua and manhua.
Just as Yang Ning was fantasizing about Zhai Yao and Shen Heng, having a street dance battle in the pouring rain to compete for her attention, and she anxiously told them “stop fighting,” the two of them were already standing in front of her.
Yang Ning immediately dispelled her imaginative little theatrical, waved to Zhai Yao and Shen Heng, and then brightened her eyes upon seeing the little girl beside them. She squatted down, greeted Xiao Lajiao, “Hi, you’re the one who wants to learn dancing, right? You’re so pretty, like a doll!”
“She can’t hear.” Zhai Yao came to a brief halt, bent over, and patted Xiao Lajiao’s shoulder to convey Yang Ning’s words to her through sign language.
Xiao Lajiao turned her head, beaming at Yang Ning with a radiant smile and gesturing a “thank you.”
“She said thank you,” Zhai Yao relayed, “Speak a bit slower when you talk to her; she can understand some lip-reading.”
A soft ‘ah’ escaped Yang Ning’s lips. The usually vocal and assertive big sister, when faced with this beautiful little girl in front of her, surprisingly found herself somewhat at a loss for words.
“Well, shall we go to the dance studio first?” Yang Ning suggested.
Zhai Yao glanced towards the depths of the clothing market. Since it was an old wholesale city, there were no bright lights and crowds like in a shopping mall. The outdoor market appeared dilapidated and desolate under the dim light of the overcast sky.
Many shops had already closed for the day with their roller shutter gate pulled down. Inside the ultraviolet light boxes, there were quite a few winged insects that had got stuck and were burnt.
In any case, it didn’t look like a place that had a dance studio.
Yang Ning and Song Kai led the way at the front of the group. Yang Ning cast a glance from the corner of her eyes at Zhai Yao behind her and sighed.
“It’s over; the dream of leaving a glorious image of myself for my second husband is probably shattered,” Yang Ning lamented, “Say, why is my main husband like this; he asked for me to teach someone dancing, but he didn’t mention teaching a deaf and non-verbal person…”
“The way I think about it is that you should probably tell him the truth now; it’s gonna be more embarrassing if you can’t teach well later,” Song Kai added, rubbing salt into her wound.
Yang Ning stopped. “That can’t do—giving up just because of a matter like this? Where else will I place my face as an Aunt in the future?!”
Song Kai: “……?” Aunt?
Ten minutes later, Aunt Yang Ning watched in astonishment as her “little niece” smoothly performed a set of inverted backbend splits, leaving her in awe with her jaw nearly hitting the floor.
“Just these fundamental moves… Are you sure you still need me to teach?”
“She learnt some at school from her teacher.” Zhai Yao checked Xiao Lajiao’s feet, confirmed her well-being, and then told Yang Ning, “She said she can perform individual moves well but struggle when stringing them together.”
“That’s for sure. One must follow the music’s rhythm when dancing, but she can’t hear it.” After having said that, Yang Ning immediately realized her mistake when she saw Zhai Yao’s cold eyes, her tongue stiffening.
Zhai Yao wasn’t actually upset; he only made a soft ‘Mm’ sound and said, “It’s okay. If it doesn’t work, then let’s forget it.”
With that, he gestured to Xiao Lajiao: —Quick, say goodbye to them.
“It’s not entirely impossible.”
A comment drifted in from the side.
Song Kai gulped, took a moment to react, and nudged Yang Ning. “Was that Boss just now?”
Shen Heng shifted his gaze to Zhai Yao. “Is her condition congenital or acquired?”
Zhai Yao frowned; he never liked being asked about Xiao Lajiao’s condition, especially considering that in his living environment, performative good deeds far outnumbered good intentions with genuine kindness.
However, upon sensing Xiao Lajiao’s disappointment and her reluctance to resign, he fell silent and explained, “It’s acquired, a result of a mishap during a childhood injection.”
“Can’t hear at all?” Shen Heng probed further.
“More or less.”
“Has it been definitively diagnosed?”
“Are you done yet?!”
Shen Heng fell silent. His gaze swept across the makeshift dance studio in the converted warehouse, and he headed to the corner where a mop stood, grabbing it in his hand. Turning around, he took deliberate steps towards Zhai Yao.
Song Kai mistakenly thought that Shen Heng was getting impatient with Zhai Yao’s attitude. Wanting to step forward and intervene but didn’t dare to, he stood rooted to the ground and chuckled nervously. “Boss, Boss… If there’s a matter, let’s discuss it calmly; after all, we have a child here!”
Yang Ning: “Yeah, husband… ah no, Shen Heng, don’t be impulsive.”
Zhai Yao maintained an expressionless stare at Shen Heng, slightly narrowing his eyes, and pulled Xiao Lajiao behind him.
Shen Heng walked up to Zhai Yao, lowered his line of sight, and after a moment, squatted down in front of Xiao Lajiao.
Xiao Lajiao hesitantly locked eyes with Shen Heng.
Shen Heng raised a finger, tapping the space between his eyebrows, reminding Xiao Lajiao to pay attention to the sensation. In response, she obediently nodded.
Shen Heng flipped the mop upside down and rhythmically pounded the wooden handle against the wooden floor. A consistent vibration reverberated under everyone’s feet.
Shen Heng stopped and proficiently used sign language: —Can you feel it?
Xiao Lajiao’s eyes lit up, nodding enthusiastically.
“I get it! She can use the vibrations on the floor to grasp the rhythm!” Song Kai clapped his hands. “I remember there was a performance of ‘Thousand-Hand Guanyin’ on the Spring Festival Gala many years ago; those performers seemed to train in a similar way too!”
“Now this simplifies things!” Yang Ning also exclaimed excitedly.
“But we’re not done yet; I reckon you’ll have to learn some basic sign language,” Shen Heng threw the mop aside and stood up, saying to Yang Ning, “Use sign language to help her understand the movements and vibrations to grasp the rhythm.”
“No problem, I’m not gonna study for school anyway; I have plenty of time!” Yang Ning mentally screeched. This way, wouldn’t she be able to openly spend time with her two husbands without any need for excuses?!
Xiao Lajiao also excitedly swayed the corner of Zhai Yao’s shirt: —I’ll work hard, I want to get the first place!
Zhai Yao gave her head a gentle pat, lifting his eyes just in time to catch Shen Heng’s glance. He turned his face, cleared his throat, and mumbled, “Thanks.”
“No need.” Shen Heng withdrew his gaze, pausing before continuing, “Just two more.”
Zhai Yao: “?”
Shen Heng: “Favours.”
Fricking hell, you’re actually being really precise about it, huh!
…
The lil girl is so cute ❤️ and the schoolmate so delulu 😆 none of them will be your husband sorry 😸😆 On a saddest note, their life seem to be really dark.. the scars on the SH’s arms and ZY’s violent bro in law.. they have it hard ☹️😥
So the favours are still being counted 😂😂