Orange Storm chapter 86

Mom

Fang Xing walked alone for over an hour until the sounds of people and cars around him gradually faded away. It was only then that he snapped out of his thoughts and looked around.

After walking for so long, let alone taking a bus, he could almost reach home with another half-hour walk.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, but then his lips slowly drooped again.

When he left, he glanced at Fang Chenglin, who looked pale and seemed to be a mixture of shock and anger. He appeared like he wanted to say something to him, but perhaps he was too stunned to utter a single word.

But then again, it probably wouldn’t have been anything good. Oh well.

It was almost dark now, and Fang Xing walked alone on the road. The night breeze rustled through his long hair, tickling his ears a bit.

Now that he had come to his senses, he knew he had acted rashly just now.

He shouldn’t have come out at this moment, shouldn’t have talked to Fang Chenglin about these things. The degree of disaster from coming out wasn’t even as bad as directly confessing to Zhou Ling first.

But undeniable was the fact that after saying those words, he still felt… good.

Especially after seeing Fang Chenglin’s expression.

“Why parents always couldn’t spend more time with their children when they were young, you’ll understand when you grow up; why parents always quarreled, you’ll understand when you get married; why Fang Chenglin had an affair, you’ll understand when you have children…”

No need to wait.

Fang Xing was eighteen, not eight. It was better to be straightforward, no need to cover up time and time again.

He was almost home, so he didn’t take a bus anymore and continued walking forward.

There were people jogging, walking, and walking dogs on the road, constantly passing by him.

He didn’t know if Jiang Zhijin had gone out for a stroll today. Before, when he was still Shaojiang, he could drag Jiang Zhijin downstairs to take a walk around the neighborhood, but now he probably wouldn’t even bother to go out himself—oh, maybe he would, he still had to go to Cloud Seven..

Fang Xing thought as he walked, and at this moment, his phone rang.

He thought it might be Zhou Ling asking when he would be back, but when he took it out and looked, it was a photo sent by Jiang Zhijin.

It was the cafe they had been to a long time ago, still in its original spot. It was summertime, with no snow on the mountains, just deep and shallow greens, looking incredibly serene in the twilight.

Without hesitation, he dialed Jiang Zhijin’s number.

Once connected, Jiang Zhijin’s voice came through, accompanied by the wind in the mountains, sounding a bit indistinct.

“Good evening, boyfriend.”

Fang Xing laughed, “You’re in the mountains?”

“Yeah.” Jiang Zhijin said. “Since I’m alone anyway, I’ll stay here for a while.”

“It looks nice. Did they replace the outdoor tables and chairs? It wasn’t this set when we last went.”

“You have a good memory. They don’t use the lazy couches in the summer, they’ve changed to bamboo chairs, and there’s also a hammock outside. I’ll bring you here when you come back to Shaojiang.”

When I come back to Shaojiang.

Fang Xing paused, feeling a bit amused. “Do you—”

Jiang Zhijin immediately picked up the second half of the sentence, “Yeah, I do miss you.”

Fang Xing silently laughed for a while. Jiang Zhijin’s tone was neither urgent nor slow, with a hint of a smile, “Tang Yuan misses you too, always sneaking into your room. Your bed is almost turning into its cat nest.”

“I’ll come back and chase it away.” Fang Xing replied.

“When? I’ll treat it to something good before you come back.”

This question was asked in a roundabout way, and Fang Xing remained silent for a while before answering, “End of the month, when I apply for colleges.”

Jiang Zhijin responded with a “Hmm,” “Then I’ll let Tang Yuan stay in your bed for a few more days before you come back.”

This guy is really boring. Fang Xing couldn’t help but laugh, and Jiang Zhijin on the other end asked, “Are you outside?”

“Yeah, I went out to have dinner with a classmate.” Fang Xing paused for a moment,

But in the end, he didn’t mention what happened with Fang Chenglin just now.

“Male classmate or female classmate?”

“…Tsk, male classmate with a girlfriend, okay?”

Qi Xiang reconciled with his girlfriend right after the college entrance examination, looking radiant.

“Okay.” Jiang Zhijin chuckled, “get home soon, it’s late at night, don’t keep your mom waiting.”

“Okay.” Fang Xing smiled and responded, “You too, go back early, drive slowly, and remember to adjust the air conditioner before bed.”

Once they were apart, Fang Xing’s chatterbox index soared. After all, Jiang Zhijin was the type who could skip meals and not even bother to go out, yet still get sick from blowing the air conditioner…

He really should go back to Shaojiang soon.

Fang Xing hung up the phone and glanced at the phone interface, still clean.

Zhou Ling hadn’t called him or sent any messages. He didn’t know if she was working overtime or if she had already gone home.

If she forgot to ask him about his whereabouts due to overtime, that was quite normal. But if she had already returned home, Zhou Ling would usually send a message asking about his whereabouts when she didn’t find Fang Xing at home.

He put away his phone and sighed slowly.

Regardless, he had to face it.

By the time he reached home, it was completely dark outside. He walked to the door and pushed it lightly. It was unlocked and open.

He hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The living room was dark without any lights on. He walked from the doorway to the living room, his gaze sweeping over the sofa, then freezing.

Zhou Ling was sitting on the sofa.

She hadn’t changed her clothes, still wearing the suit dress she wore to work, and her hair was still tied up. It seemed like she had been waiting for him since she got off work.

Upon hearing Fang Xing enter, Zhou Ling turned her head to glance at him and asked, “Back?”

In the dim light, Fang Xing couldn’t see her face clearly, he could only hear her voice.

Zhou Ling’s voice was calm and hoarse. It was a deliberate attempt to stay calm, more like a sense of exhaustion after experiencing intense emotional fluctuations.

Fang Xing stood still, not moving, and softly replied, “Hmm.”

“When I finished work, Fang Chenglin called me.” Zhou Ling paused for a moment, then asked, “Did you meet him today?”

“Yes.”

Silence fell between the two again.

No one turned on the lights, and no one moved. Zhou Ling sat alone on the sofa, while Fang Xing stood nearby. The living room was quiet, like stagnant water.

After a long time, Zhou Ling’s hoarse voice broke the silence.

“What did you say to him?”

Fang Xing didn’t immediately respond.

The feeling of blankness in Zhou Ling’s mind when she received the call returned.

She was driving home at the time and had intended to call Fang Xing to ask if he needed a ride. When Fang Chenglin’s call came, Zhou Ling hung up immediately, but he kept calling, three or four times in a row.

Zhou Ling didn’t know what had gotten into him, so she had to answer. Fang Chenglin’s voice came through with intense emotions.

During that drive, Zhou Ling didn’t know how she got back, how she parked the car, or how she ended up sitting in the living room.

Now, with Fang Xing’s silence, that feeling returned.

“Fang Xing!” Zhou Ling suddenly raised her head, staring at her son, her chest heaving violently, her voice trembling slightly.

“Speak up! What did you say to him today?!”

“I told him I’m gay.”

After a long time, Fang Xing spoke softly.

“I told him I like men.”