Under Clear Skies Chapter 57: On Silent

Chapter 57: On Silent

Translated by Fefe of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Tang Heng found himself comedic—because when Wu Si said that he was her boyfriend, his first reaction hadn’t been anger, nor was it shock.

His first reaction was that sight he’d seen between the crack in the door at Central Hospital.

The thin and frail Zhao Xuelan leaning against Li Yuechi’s body, as if leaning against a sturdy tree.

Tang Heng even wanted to ask her, Do you know Zhao Xuelan? Can you first tell me about her relationship with Li Yuechi?

When Tang Heng didn’t answer, Wu Si continued, “We dated in junior year.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Tang Heng said coldly.

“Let me finish.” Wu Si lit another cigarette. The smoke was thin and white, making the ruby on her nail look even brighter. “I was the one who chased after him. We were part of the philosophy club at the time. Li Yuechi, he’s a great friend, but not a great lover.”   

Tang Heng laughed. “Why not?”

“He has a different mindset, I guess. For example, he’s a math major, right? Exams are difficult, so he made money by helping people cheat. I told him to stop doing that sort of stuff, but he refused. Of course, that’s not the worst.”

“What’s the worst?”

“Never mind.” Wu Si lowered her eyes, looking a bit at a loss. “Anyway, I figured it out in the end. We aren’t from the same world. If I have to say it… Probably only a girl with his same upbringing can date him.”

Tang Heng was silent for a moment before asking, “Why’re you telling me this?”

“Helping explain for Pan Peng. He told me about the project with you. He indeed targeted Li Yuechi because of me… Can I apologize to you guys for Pan Peng? Just let it slide.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah.” Wu Si blinked. “Is it not enough?”

There was a muffled boom and it started raining.

“Enough,” Tang Heng murmured.

 

Wu Si got onto a taxi and left, but Tang Heng didn’t return to Long Love immediately. He stood under the eaves of the shop to stay dry. It was actually just a slight drizzle, while Long Love was right across the street, a few steps away.

It was already 9:05. Guys in white collared shirts would walk into Long Love every now and then, and Tang Heng would study them. Some were with their girlfriends, some were in small groups, some had baggy shirts that hung past their knees—he felt like he’d seen all the guys in white collared shirts in the world, except Li Yuechi.

The rain gradually grew heavier. The shop owner came out and sighed. “It’s raining again.”

“I think there’s rain tomorrow too,” Tang Heng said.

“No gig tonight?”

“Nope.”

“I know that girl earlier.” She suddenly changed the topic and asked with a chuckle, “So, she came to flirt with you?”

Tang Heng didn’t know how to explain. He could only shake his head, saying, “She was just bored.”

“It’s obvious she’s a rich kid.”

“Yeah?”

“Just like you,” she said, half serious and half joking. “You two look quite good together.”

Tang Heng offered a cigarette to her. “Smoke one?”

“I quit already.” She turned around. Before pushing the door in, she added, “You shouldn’t smoke either. It’s bad for your voice.”

It was now that Tang Heng finally realized that he was smoking. He’d opened that red pack of Zhonghua and he held the cigarette butt awkwardly between his forefinger and thumb. He could feel the light burn on his fingertips.

Tang Heng inhaled and the red cigarette tip flickered.

The taste was strong and fierce, vastly different from the fresh beaded cigarettes. Tang Heng couldn’t help but cough and his eyes dampened. He entered the store and went to the glass cabinet again. “Give me a pack of Huangguoshu.”

“That’s not easy to smoke,” the owner said.

“I want it.”

Tang Heng took the pack, paid, went outside, turned right, opened the Huangguoshu, and tossed all the cigarettes into the trash bin.

Then he placed the Zhonghua into the Huangguoshu box, one by one.

 

At 9:27, Tang Heng returned to the entrance of Long Love and dialed Li Yuechi’s number. He absentmindedly listened to the beeps in his phone while thinking dejectedly about how he couldn’t last until 9:30. Things were harder the closer you got to the end—this was probably what people meant. If he’d known he couldn’t resist the urge, he should’ve just called at 8:30.

Li Yuechi didn’t pick up.

Tang Heng put his phone back into his pocket. It was 9:28 now. Thinking a bit, he lit another cigarette. He didn’t know if Li Yuechi was the kind of teacher that liked to drag classes out. But since he was a tutor, he probably had to finish all the content before he could end class.

If he delayed it for 10 minutes, then there were 12 more minutes until 9:40. Tang Heng inhaled the smoke. It didn’t feel as uncomfortable this time. He smoked slowly; the crowd’s cheers and rising guitar music sounded in his ears. That Xi’an band was actually performing Zhang Xuan’s song, but it wasn’t his favorite one.   

When the vocal sang Let you sleep well tonight for the second time, Tang Heng made his second call of the night. It was still 9:28 and still, no one picked up.

Tang Heng’s brows furrowed. He tightened his grip around the phone without realizing. He felt his heartbeat quickening for some reason. Perhaps the bar was too noisy and it was making him anxious. It could also be because he smoked and the nicotine entered his body, putting him into a vague trance.

Tang Heng held the cigarette between his lips and made his third call. It was 9:31 now.

Why—why the fuck was nobody picking up?

Didn’t he pay the phone bill?

Wasn’t class over at 9:30?

Didn’t they agree to meet up tonight?   

The rain drizzled on. Long Love’s neon pink sign reflected in the puddle on the ground and spread into pools of swaying pink. The entire world was so beautiful yet blurred.

Suddenly, Tang Heng saw a pair of canvas shoes shatter the pink.

 

He looked up. Li Yuechi was walking towards him.

He was wearing a white collared shirt, jeans, canvas shoes. Backpack on his shoulders. No umbrella.

Li Yuechi stopped before Tang Heng. He’d walked too quickly and he was out of breath.

Tang Heng still had the cigarette in his mouth. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?” he asked blankly.

“…It was on silent.” Li Yuechi pulled his phone out of his backpack, turned it on, and took a glance. Then he said softly, “Sorry.”

Tang Heng shook his head and looked at his own phone. It was 9:32.

“I ended class early today,” Li Yuechi said. “I came out at 8:15 and thought I could get here in half an hour.”

Tang Heng’s heart gradually calmed down. It seemed to have returned to its regular rate.

“Then, you’re two minutes late.”   

“Mn.” Li Yuechi laughed. “Are you that impatient?”

Of course. Of course he was impatient.

Those two minutes were as long as two lifetimes.

Tang Heng snapped out of his thoughts and pulled the Huangguoshu out of his pocket. “For you to smoke.”

Li Yuechi arched an eyebrow as he accepted it. “Can we smoke inside?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his hand darted over. He took away Tang Heng’s cigarette and put it in his own mouth.  

Tang Heng gaped. He watched as Li Yuechi’s thin lips held the place that he had held, half-closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

Staring at Li Yuechi’s face, Tang Heng realized that his hair was damp and the collar of his white shirt was wet from rain too. The fabric seemed to be thick, weighing down on his shoulders. Tang Heng had never seen this style before. It was short-sleeved with two squarish pockets on the chest and two horizontal straps on the shoulders, like two pure white military badges. It wasn’t a loose, casual style. His shirt was had sharp lines and, when worn on his body, was like a piece of white paper spread across an easel—so neat and clean.

Their eyes met. Li Yuechi lowered his head and tugged at the hem of his shirt. “Is this okay?”

“Huh?”

“Can I go in?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s my dad’s shirt,” he said a bit awkwardly. “It’s very old.”

“It… it looks nice.”

“Then, let’s go in?”

“Oh—okay.”

Li Yuechi turned first and pushed open the glass doors of Long Love.

Tang Heng followed after him. The colorful lights swayed onto Li Yuechi’s body like paint being poured onto white paper, yet not leaving a trace behind. He was like a beam of white light, illuminating everything but unaffected by all.

 

“Li Yuechi.”

“Hm?” Li Yuechi stopped and looked at Tang Heng.

The crowd was dancing crazily and the surroundings were a mix of light and dark. No one paid attention to the two.

Tang Heng grabbed his hand and gritted out, “Next time, don’t put your phone on silent.”