Orange Storm chapter 76

It’s okay, you have me

The photo Fang Xing sent over was a recent selfie. He was alone in a room, wearing a gray hoodie with the zipper pulled all the way up. Not accustomed to selfies, Fang Xing’s face showed little expression, giving off a cool yet incredibly handsome vibe.

Jiang Zhijin looked at it for a while before saving it and setting it as his wallpaper.

After completing everything, Jiang Zhijin put his phone back into his bag and nodded at the elderly lady selling yellow paper in front of him.

“That’s all, thank you.”

After paying and carrying the yellow paper to the car, Jiang Zhijin placed it on the passenger seat and drove towards the outskirts of Chuanzhen.

Chuanzhen was still a remote small town, with most young people working elsewhere. Only during the Chinese New Year would families return, bringing large bags of items with them. It was only during this time that the streets of Chuanzhen would become lively, with the sale of New Year goods, chickens, ducks, geese, vegetables, firecrackers, yellow paper for grave-sweeping, and paper money…

There were no sidewalks on the streets yet, people and cars were scattered everywhere. Jiang Zhijin would drive for a while, then stop, and as he approached the outskirts of the town, where the mountain began, the crowd diminished.

After parking the car, he carried the just-purchased yellow paper and walked slowly towards the mountain.

The road up the mountain was still unpaved, with thorns and withered grass and trees on both sides. Jiang Zhijin walked alone for over ten minutes before reaching the graves of his parents and grandmother.

Although the country advocated for new burials, the graves of those who passed away in the past were still mounds of earth. Jiang Zhijin was wearing only a sweater today. He rolled up his sleeves, pulled out the weeds around the grave, and neatly placed the yellow paper along the grave.

After completing everything, he bowed to the graves of his parents and grandparents one by one before standing up.

“I’m doing well, no need to worry,” Jiang Zhijin smiled at the tombstone. “Happy New Year.”

After saying this, he stayed there for a while. When the wind made the sweat from earlier feel cold, he picked up the remaining half of the yellow paper and continued walking up the mountain.

This time, he walked for about five or six minutes and arrived at another grave. It was a joint grave with the names of two people engraved on the tombstone. On the left side, there was a small line of text: “Filial daughter Zhou Ling, grandson Fang Xing respectfully erected.”

This was the tombstone of Fang Xing’s grandparents.

Similar to Jiang Zhijin’s thoughts, Fang Xing’s family had a lot going on this year, and with his college entrance exams approaching, he probably wouldn’t make it back for the grave-sweeping. Jiang Zhijin, just like before, cleared away the weeds, neatly arranged the yellow paper, and sincerely kowtowed three times before standing up.

His pants were stained with dust after this action, but he didn’t stay in the same place for long to think about what to say.

“Fang Xing’s college entrance exams are this year,” Jiang Zhijin stood there for quite a while before slowly speaking, “he might not come this time—”

He stood still for a long time before slowly opening his mouth again. “I’ll kowtow for him and come to see you after he finishes his exams.”

Fang Xing’s grandparents passed away when Jiang Zhijin was in high school, both were teachers at the local elementary school. Every New Year or holiday, they would come back to see him and his grandmother, leaving a deep impression on him.

Jiang Zhijin wanted to say more, but after a long silence, he just sighed and said, “I’m sorry. Happy New Year.”

After saying this, he remained silent for a long time. He bowed again, then turned and left.

“Bang!”

The basketball hit the backboard, making a heavy sound before falling into the net. Fang Xing pulled back his hand, walked to the side, picked up a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and drank about half of it.

Qi Xiang ran over from a distance, panting. He also picked up a bottle of water and drank half of it, waiting until his breathing steadied before speaking, “Shall we go eat?”

It was the twenty-ninth of the lunar calendar, and there were very few people in the gym. The two had been playing basketball for the whole afternoon, and now it was past five o’clock. Fang Xing put down his water and nodded.

“Let’s go.”

The two casually chose a self-service barbecue restaurant. Qi Xiang was a carnivore and quickly picked up eight or nine plates of meat, neatly spreading them across the grill.

“I swear I was suffocating at home. Going out is like taking a breath of fresh air. Today, my mom asked me where I was going, and I said I was exchanging study experiences with Fang Xing.”

“Is that necessary?”

“I’m the first in my grade; she doesn’t understand the hardships of ordinary students,” Qi Xiang sighed. “My mom set a new goal for me to go to Huada University. I was almost scared to death and wanted to ask her if she thought I looked like someone from Huada. Today, she only let me out after hearing your name and told me to take the opportunity to learn from you before you return to Shaojiang.”

After saying this, Qi Xiang glanced at Fang Xing across from him, hesitating before asking, “This time you’re back… are your parents okay?”

Qi Xiang knew about Fang Xing’s family situation, the big fuss that happened back then, and the reason for Fang Xing’s transfer.

“Still the same,” Fang Xing turned over a piece of meat, speaking amid the faint cooking oil smoke.

“Hey… Anyway, just take care of yourself. How’s your uncle—what’s his name again? Is he treating you well?”

Fang Xing: “…”

His chopsticks paused, and he glanced at Qi Xiang. It wasn’t until Qi Xiang didn’t hear a response that he couldn’t help but look up at Fang Xing, who then spoke, “He’s doing well.”

“Good. After all, it’s only a little over three months.” Qi Xiang took a bite of meat and remembered Fang Xing’s words during their last phone call.

“Oh right, what did you mean last time on the phone?”

“Which time?”

Qi Xiang finished the meat in his mouth, took a sip of cola to moisten his throat, adopting a demeanor as if he was ready for a long conversation.

“Don’t pretend. It’s the last time you asked me how to pursue a girl, that time you seemed ready for an early romance.”

“I didn’t ask how to pursue a girl; I asked how to pursue someone,” Fang Xing said.

“Isn’t it the same?” Qi Xiang was inexplicably puzzled. “So, what happened later?”

Fang Xing hesitated, contemplating whether he should tell Qi Xiang.

But in the end, he spoke.

“I’m in a relationship.”

“… You’re awesome.”

Qi Xiang, forgetting about the meat, stared at Fang Xing. “No, you, back when you were at Chaocheng, you acted like you were going to become a monk. How come you became enlightened after changing places? Was it someone from your school? Oh no, you said it was a working older sister—”

“… No.” Fang Xing sighed, interrupting Qi Xiang. “It’s a guy.”

“My partner is a guy,” Fang Xing said.

This time, Qi Xiang fell silent.

There was over a minute of complete silence between the two, and Qi Xiang finally muttered in a low voice, “Damn.”

When Fang Xing mentioned it, he was quite calm, and he didn’t know why he was so composed. He even felt like laughing at Qi Xiang’s reaction.

“No, I’ll slow down,” Qi Xiang’s tone was a bit absent-minded, and he fell silent again for a while before continuing, “What’s going on with you?”

After saying this, Qi Xiang probably thought that his tone was a bit off and quickly added, “I don’t mean anything else… I’m just a bit silly. You didn’t show any signs of liking… guys before.”

Probably feeling too shocked, Fang Xing hadn’t spoken yet, and Qi Xiang had already said a lot on his own.

“I don’t know either. Anyway, I just started liking him… and I really like him.”

Qi Xiang looked at him for a while, sighed in the end.

“Alright, how do you plan to tell your parents?”

“Haven’t figured it out yet. Maybe after the college entrance exams,” Fang Xing said.

“Okay, okay, after the college entrance exams is best.” Qi Xiang quickly nodded. “Take it slow. Your mom… that will be quite difficult.”

“I know.” Fang Xing glanced at Qi Xiang and couldn’t help but smile a bit. “Why do I feel like you’re more nervous than me?”

“Am I nervous? I’m just shocked.” Qi Xiang sighed. “What kind of person is he to make you like this?”

“Cool guy,” Fang Xing smiled a little. “Very cool.”

“You’re cool enough, bro. You even scared me,” Qi Xiang clicked his tongue. “Both you cool guys like to date other cool guys, huh?”

Fang Xing smiled and didn’t say anything.

A cool guy doesn’t necessarily have to date another cool guy.

But Jiang Zhijin and he must date each other.

“So, how do you plan to explain it at that time? Forget about your dad, but your mom’s temperament…”

During the meal, Qi Xiang hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth and asked, “I think it’s tricky.”

“Not for us,” Fang Xing lifted his head, looking at Qi Xiang and slowly spoke. “I plan to tell her myself.”

It would be challenging for Jiang Zhijin, Fang Xing knew that.

For Jiang Zhijin, Zhou Ling was both an older sister and a benefactor. Initially, taking care of Fang Xing was more about a sense of gratitude. Now, suddenly being in a romantic relationship with her son, even if he didn’t say it, Fang Xing knew how conflicted Jiang Zhijin must be.

Jiang Zhijin appeared invincible, but the sense of responsibility was both his charm and shackles.

Fang Xing hoped to break these shackles himself.

At least, after Jiang Zhijin had said, “It’s okay, you have me” so many times, Fang Xing could say it back to him once.

“It’s okay, you have me.”