Translator: El

Editors: Miyuki & Lilly

Proofreader: Jesse

 

I had a slight fever, but after eating noodles and taking my medicine I was satisfied and fell asleep; my mom stayed one night with me.

When I woke up the next day, my mom had already left.

She left a note saying: if your temperature has gone down, there is some porridge to warm up and eat. I'm heading back to take care of your dad.

Then I saw these words.

"Find someone to settle down with."

I quietly threw the note into the trash, went to the kitchen and put the porridge into the microwave.

While I listened to the slight buzzing sound from the microwave, I suddenly realized that this means she has accepted my orientation.

Telling me to find someone without specifying a man or a woman; it's my mom's final bottom line.

It took almost 8 years, but I was finally accepted by my mom. The only catch was I still haven't found the right person.

000

In the morning I was too lazy to go to work, so I called in sick. I took my quilts to the living room and nested on the sofa while watching TV.

Really comfortable, I was so comfortable that not even my favorite female program could keep me awake; I fell asleep again and when I woke up I happened to catch the commercial about melasma[1] treatments.

Except for my nose feeling uncomfortable, everything else was fine now.

Mom called and said she is bringing food over to me, I cheerfully rolled on the sofa; she scolded me for being childish and happy from such a trivial thing.

I smiled, but it was kind of a bitter smile.

Mom came at noon, she also prepared my dinner meal and said: "Wait until you get healthy again, come home to visit us more often."

I thought of a song.

Then I shook off the song and nodded.

Mom stayed to have dinner with me; a short while after she left, I received a phone call. I looked at the caller ID and became shocked for a moment.

"Hello"

"Hello? Shou Ning? It's Wang Jin Cheng."

"I know." I was just surprised.

"What's up with your voice? Are you sick?"

"Hm, uh...why are you calling?"

"Can't we meet each other without a reason? I thought that we are buddies."

I got frightened at those words, then asked: "When was it?"

He laughed: "Are you at work?"

I scratched my head: "No, I'm resting at home."

"Hei, it seems a bit serious, but you actually can take care of yourself. I heard Yang Jian said you live alone? Where do you live I'll come to visit you."

"No need, no need."

"I'm looking for you for something and since it's inconvenient for you to go out, I'll go there."

In the end I obediently told him my address and obediently waited for him; after a while Wang Jin Cheng came.

I took the bag of fruit in his hand with a complicated mood.

"Be at ease, I won't do anything to you." He laughed and said that from behind me. I looked down at the bag; well there were oranges inside, which are my favorite, so I forgave him for teasing me.

I invited him to sit down on the sofa, he said I don't need to serve him water, so I also sat down; then suddenly he became serious and said to me.

"I want to apologize to you."

"Ah?"

"What's with the "ah", hurry and accept my apology ah."

"Ok."

"Good." He laughed again, then said: "I'm really sorry for that day, I didn't know Yang Jian didn't tell you."

I stared gloomily at my rabbit beside him, I really wanted to pick it up and hug it.

"Actually Yang Jian had told us earlier." Wang Jin Cheng smiled, his expression became gentle: "He said you are a really honest person and although you're gay, you're very innocent."

....Hearing like that made it seem like I'm a very stupid person; it was not something to be proud of, so I won't admit it.

"He told us that 'we should take him along with us, he has such a distressed look each time'."

Wang Jin Cheng said to me.

I stared blankly while listening. Afterwards he was saying a lot more, something about Yang Jian has great conditions, although he lied to me, he meant well; furthermore it is not easy to find someone that good in this circle to live with.

I was listening to it all in a daze and suddenly said: "I'm well aware of those things."

Wang Jin Cheng stopped talking, looked at me then nodded: "That's good then, think about that; becoming Yang Jiang's acquaintance......"

He laughed: "There are also your friends, they naturally wish the best for you guys."

I could only say: "Thank you."

He said: "Take care of yourself."

"It's just a little cold, nothing that needs nursing. Oh that's right, don't tell Yang Jian about this."

"Don't tell him what?" He stared at me.

I blushed a little and said: "About me catching a cold."

He laughed and said: "Don't want to see him that much?"

".......Let's talk tomorrow."

"Then we're going to karaoke tomorrow, you must come ah."

"Ok."

After sending Wang Jin Cheng off, the relaxing feeling I had just a short while ago suddenly disappeared. I felt a little fretful as I sat down on the chair.

Alright, I decided to immerse myself in the virtual world to numb myself.

I turned on my computer, it has been so long since I last wrote a blog post; so I started to randomly write for awhile, then I turned to play my game.

I played till it was completely dark outside, then I took my time to warm up the food; my mom called to remind me a few things, I replied with yes yes, ok ok, ah ah.

After I finished my dinner, I stared blankly at my computer screen then logged into QQ.

Curious Auntie's avatar flashed up.

......I turned my head and asked myself, why would I feel a little excited?

Then I looked back at the screen and calmly clicked on the chat window.

"Hi"

I looked at the message's time stamp, it was just a moment ago.

I also typed a word "Hi" and sent it over.

"Aiya, Xiao Fen Fen[2], I miss you so much~"

.... a burst of cold air from the computer screen hit me directly in the face and caused me to tremble.

"How was the business trip?"

"So tired, very exhausting, I'm overworking myself like the crazy oxen and horses at work; wait, even the oxen and horses are more fortunate than me."

"Then...What about the president?" I asked cautiously.

"Tch, you only care about him. I don't know what happened to him, he was desperately busting his ass at work. He did not even rest for several days, but I also suffered. Really, what's with the rushing."

I felt a little distressed, it seemed he has worked hard.

"But finally we've finished, I get to have some rest tonight."

"So, when will you get back?"

"Why, you miss President Guan that much? We will probably be back late Monday."

Still a few days left.

"Aiya, it's very tiring to go on a business trip, I used to be able to go sightseeing when I was on a business trip, but after I became the secretary for the president, going on a business trip now is like going to a battlefield. What do they mean by gaining experience or learning, those are just excuses!"

Miss secretary kept on nagging endlessly, while I stared blankly at the screen.

I suddenly interrupted her and said: "Someone wants to pursue me."

She paused for a while, then asked: "Did you accept him?"

"I don't know."

"Why? Do you like him?"

"I don't know that either."

"Why don't you know anything ah; just go with your feelings, follow your feelings ah!"

"He is really nice to me, even though I am quite eccentric. He knows that I'm a lonely person, so he takes the initiative to speak to me and introduced me to some friends. He knows I always stay home, so he takes me out to have fun. No one has ever willingly done so much for me before."

I typed in these words, but the other side only sent over one sentence: "I thought you liked President Guan."

I slightly bit my lips: "What makes you think so?"

"Because you always want to know more about him."

"I just think that he is very good looking, just like a celebrity."

"Well, maybe, but no one has ever been so persistent. Those young girls also did look for me and they pestered me about everything. However, most of them had no patience; most of those girls were just playing around and didn't take it seriously. And you? Tell me, why did you persevere till now?"

I couldn't answer.

"I have seen those people who keep coming but they are always leaving. You are the only one that still keeps asking more details about him; because of this I earnestly told you his information. The reason I did that is because I think you really have feelings for him."

I grit my teeth.

"But, what about me? Who would think like that for me? I'm already 26 years old, with no educational background and no specific skills. My prospects are not that enlightening; I earn minimum wage and only have a little bit of savings. I don't have a car and the tiny house I do own, I still haven't paid off the mortgage loan. I always hang around at home, my social skills are close to none, I have zero passion for anything and always seek out piracy products. I only play free online games and I frequently get nostalgic when thinking about the past."

"Someone like me...." how could I dare to have such high expectations.

After the first time I saw him, I was unable to remove my eyes from him; even if I often stole a glance at him or tried everything in my power to learn more about him. In the end, I'm just a mere passerby on a busy street.

I looked at my own self in a panic, except watching as I kept aging every year, there is nothing about me that would catch people's attention.

"Now someone is willing to accompany me and willing to treat me gently. Please tell me, what should I do now? Are you telling me that I have to hold onto that unrealistic hope until there is no one willing to be with me or willing to love me?"

I can't endure it any longer, not many can bear loneliness.

The other side didn't say anything.

After a long moment, miss secretary said: "Is that so? It turns out that all people are like that. They are willing to accept anyone who loves them. If you think about it though, that makes sense because you haven't been together with the one you like. Even if you are together you may not even understand each other, which could cause some disagreements at a later time, so it's better to find someone you're familiar with from the beginning."

Suddenly I felt a tight tug in my heart.

Even the secretary said it; I ought to give up on this hope and seriously face the reality of the matter, but why do I still feel uncomfortable in my heart like something is being taken away from me.

It's something that has been growing constantly in my heart for a long time.

"But, if there is a chance the person you think is out of your league is willing to be with you, are you willing to give it a try? Neither one of you know each other or even understand each other; it's very possible that you two will have disputes. Even knowing all of this, are you willing to try it once?"

I stared blankly at the front of the computer.

I have never thought about this assumption. If I have a chance...

Is there really such a chance? Is it possible to be moved from the corner to the middle of the screen? {Editor's Input: He means if this is a TV show, he as the background passerby is now becoming the main character.}

I turned off the computer.

My hands were still shaking.

Words from the Author:

13: When the protagonists are not allowed to play their part, it's time for the army of friends and relatives to mobilize the attack.

Notes:

[1] Melasma - A condition in which brown patches appear on the face; can be due to hormonal changes during pregnancy or from sun exposure.

[2] Xiao Fen Fen - the QQ name he used is "粉红女生//Fen Hong Nu Sheng", hence, the secretary called him "Xiao Fen Fen" XDDD