Under Clear Skies Chapter 54: Autumn

Chapter 54: Autumn

Translated by Fefe of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Don’t do this next time.

Tang Heng’s first reaction was, what did this mean? Don’t stand up for him? Don’t meddle in his business? Or… don’t let others know about their relationship? No, his uncle and Dean Zhang and the others didn’t know about their relationship at all. Tang Heng standing up for Li Yuechi at most showed that they were friends—very close ones.

Even if Li Yuechi was replaced by Jiang Ya or An Yun, Tang Heng believed he would do the same.

So, what had he done wrong?

“Tang Heng?”

“Yes, I’m listening,” Tang Heng said quickly. “I got it, anything else?”        

Li Yuechi paused. “You’re upset?”

“No.”

“Then we—” A woman’s voice suddenly rang out and Tang Heng listened quietly as the dorm management yelled, “We’re locking the doors! Hurry and get in! Hurry up back there!”

Dorm rooms were limited this year, so the sociology grad students lived in the undergrad dorm and had a 11:30 curfew. They were right across from the girls’ dorm and Tang Heng had heard other students describe the scenes at the doors at night: couples would stand between the buildings, separate pairs hugging each other or holding hands or chatting. Of course, some would also be kissing… Anyway, they were all unwilling to part and insisted on waiting until the dorm manager yelled before parting.

Tang Heng didn’t know what he was thinking about. “Do you guys have to turn the lights off now?” he asked softly.

“It’s already off,” Li Yuechi said.

“Then, let’s end here.”

“Talk tomorrow?”

“Mn.”

Tang Heng hung up and looked around. Indeed, the dorm lights were all off and the campus had fallen into a gentle darkness.        

A few strands of autumn wind brushed past. The shadows of trees swayed under his feet.

He didn’t hurry home and instead sat on the stone bench on the side of the road. He closed his eyes in slight exhaustion. He kind of understood Li Yuechi’s thoughts—perhaps Li Yuechi was scared. As two men who were dating, they should be careful. Best to be so careful that they don’t even seem to be friends.

If only Li Yuechi was a girl, Tang Heng suddenly thought, or if he was a girl. Then they could be like the other couples and boldly hug and kiss outside the dorm building.

A scooter stopped and a security guard walked over. “Hey, kid, are you okay?”

Tang Heng nodded at him. “I’m fine.”

“Hurry back to your dorm, then. The temperature’ll drop tonight.”

“Okay.” Tang Heng sat there without moving. “Thanks.”

The guard rode off and Tang Heng sat there for a while longer before getting up to leave. Wuhan’s short autumn seemed to have come. There was a tinge of coldness in the air.

There was a scooter’s noise behind him again. Does the guard think I’m suspicious? Tang Heng thought helplessly.

“Tang Heng.”

It wasn’t the security guard.

Tang Heng turned around dumbly and saw Li Yuechi sitting on the vehicle, supporting himself with his two long legs. He seemed to have run out in a hurry—his sports jacket was half-zipped, revealing the round collar of his white t-shirt.

Li Yuechi breathed heavily. “Come here,” he said.

Tang Heng’s mind went blank. He walked over and stood before Li Yuechi.

“My phone bills are overdue,” Li Yuechi said.

“Oh…” Tang Heng stared at his face. “So that’s why you came out here?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“The laundry room,” Li Yuechi said quickly. “There’s a rain platform on the second floor.”

Tang Heng grabbed his hand and found his palm covered in dust. The knees of his jeans were dusty too and a bitch scratched up.

After a long while, Tang Heng finally said, “I’m seriously not upset.”

“Yeah,” Li Yuechi laughed. “You just feel wronged.”

“No.”

“Really?”

“…”

Li Yuechi opened his arms. “Hug?”

Tang Heng looked before and behind him. “Here?” he asked cautiously.

Li Yuechi didn’t reply and just looked at him.        

They were on a small path. Even though it was a small path, there were streetlamps on either side and security guards might pass by. Tang Heng hesitated for a second. Then he opened his arms and hugged Li Yuechi tightly.

Li Yuechi’s low laugh came from above his head.

“What’re you laughing about?”

“Nothing.”

Tang Heng buried his face into the crook of Li Yuechi’s neck. A moment later, he mumbled, “Am I stupid?”

“Why’d you say that?”        

“I thought you’d be happy, but I think I messed up.”

“It’s two different things.”

“I won’t let them find out.”

“Tang Heng.”

“Hm?”

“Actually, I don’t want anyone to find out.”

“…”

“It’s like finding a pot of gold on the street, you know?” Li Yuechi whispered half-jokingly. “I just want to hide it away.”

Tang Heng suddenly didn’t know what to say. It was like his mind was filled by this person and he had no more room to think. Right then, there was a beep behind him.

It was the horn of a scooter.

Tang Heng got up in panic, but Li Yuechi pushed him back. He held down the back of Tang Heng’s head and, with the hook of his finger, untied Tang Heng’s ponytail.        

This time, it was a guard with a Henan accent—not the same one as before, fortunately. He sighed and said, “Go back to your dorm! Look at the time!”

Tang Heng pressed his forehead against Li Yuechi’s neck. He was sweating from his nerves.

“We’re having an argument,” Li Yuechi said helplessly.

“Don’t dawdle too much,” the guard instructed. “Be careful.”

“Okay, got it.”

“Be sure to bring your girlfriend back to the dorm!”

“Don’t worry.”        

“You kids…” the guard muttered as he drove off.

“Okay, he’s gone.”

“Fuck…” Tang Heng straightened up and exhaled loudly. 

“You drank wine?”

“Yeah.”

“Who was there?”

“Me, my uncle and aunt, Dean Zhang’s family.”       

Li Yuechi narrowed his eyes and scanned Tang Heng’s body.

Tang Heng pushed his hair back and asked tentatively, “What’s wrong?”

“Never seen you dress like this before.”

“Oh.” Tang Heng looked down at his suit. The black fabric hugged his legs, making them look long and straight. He always hated formalwear because they felt restrictive—but he had to admit right now that there was indeed a reason for Fu Liling to get it tailored for him.

“And you drank with them.”

“…Ah.”

“Did you get drunk?”

“No.”

“Lemme check.”

“Huh?”

Before he could think, Li Yuechi tugged the hem of Tang Heng’s shirt. After a blank second, Tang Heng lowered his head and kissed Li Yuechi’s lips. His lips were a bit cool and dry, probably from the wind. Tang Heng couldn’t help but poke his tongue out to lick them, hoping they could warm up.        

They kissed, unwilling to part. Their bodies pressed together and warmed up as well. The night wind blew past, but they didn’t feel cold.

When the kiss ended and they gasped for breath, Tang Heng realized belatedly that they’d hugged and kissed, and it wasn’t outside the dorm building—it was on the side of the road where any passerby could see. It felt a bit exciting.

In addition, Wuhan’s autumn had really arrived.