Decayed Vulgarian chapter 70
Worth It
“I just… had a nightmare.”
Shen Xun’s throat rolled, and he pursed his dry lips.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” then he heard Meng Yuan Cen’s clear voice, “What kind of nightmare?”
What kind of nightmare was it?
A very ordinary, inconsequential nightmare.
The brief moment of losing composure was only because he hadn’t yet recovered from the nightmare.
Shen Xun fell into silence, while the other side tactfully did not rush or hang up. He filled the conversation with soft breaths, and after a while, he somewhat abruptly chuckled, deliberately using a joking tone to disguise his previous outburst, “I’ll scare you if I tell you.”
Meng Yuan Cen also laughed at his words, understanding Shen Xun’s reluctance to speak, so he didn’t push further.
Shen Xun fell silent for a few seconds before suddenly asking, “Have you seen the Dream of the Wolf King?”
Meng Yuan Cen pondered for a moment, “I watched it when I was very young, but I don’t remember it now.”
“That’s okay, I can help you recall.”
“Then go ahead.”
So Shen Xun softly continued, “There was a she-wolf named Zilan with three sons, Blackie, Blue Soul, and Double Fur. Zilan wanted to raise a new Wolf King, pinning her hopes first on Blackie, but Blackie died. She then put her hopes on Blue Soul, but Blue Soul also died. It was then that she noticed her youngest son, Double Fur.”
“I think I vaguely remember,” Meng Yuan Cen said.
Shen Xun continued, “While Zilan was raising Blackie and Blue Soul, she was biased, treating Double Fur differently, ruthlessly scolding and beating him. As a result, Double Fur grew into a wolf with a submissive nature, a timid personality. Logically, he was no longer fit to be a Wolf King.”
“But since Zilan was left with only this last son, to fulfill her dream of a Wolf King, she tried every possible method to restore Double Fur’s wildness and wolf nature. Double Fur seemed to become much braver, showing the qualities of a Wolf King. Zilan thought she succeeded, but—”
Shen Xun paused, just as many stories often have a ‘but’ at the end, and this one was no exception, “But in the end, when Double Fur and the old Wolf King competed for the throne, as Double Fur was about to bite the old Wolf King—”
“The old Wolf King let out a long howl, making Double Fur instinctively submit. In that moment, Double Fur reverted to his childhood timidity, and the old Wolf King took advantage, biting and killing Double Fur. Finally, Double Fur was swallowed by a swarm of wolves.”
Shen Xun sighed regretfully, “So Zilan never eliminated Double Fur’s submissiveness, Double Fur was originally just a pitiful character who studied with the prince. Later, when he finally had the chance to turn things around, he was forever trapped in the timid soul formed in his childhood, ending in failure.”
Meng Yuan Cen nodded thoughtfully but jokingly asked a question unrelated to the story, “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to talk and just wanted to hear me speak?”
Shen Xun tenaciously responded, “But you don’t remember this story, and I have to help you recall.”
Meng Yuan Cen, seemingly thinking, asked, “Why did you suddenly think of this story?”
Shen Xun blinked and lowered his eyelids, softly saying, “Because… I’m afraid. I’m like Double Fur in the story.”
Meng Yuan Cen had only grasped fragments of Shen Xun’s childhood through bits and pieces from Shen He, faintly understanding the correlation, realizing Shen Xun shunned talking about this past, so he rarely bothered sharing this almost forgotten, fictitious animal story.
After a brief contemplation, Meng Yuan Cen said, “But I think Double Fur was not aware of being trapped by his childhood, so he failed. But you are aware, so you won’t be like Double Fur. People who are aware of being trapped by their childhood will try every means, bravely and resolutely struggling to escape without looking back.”
Shen Xun was first stunned but then suddenly lowered his head and chuckled, laughing until his eyes became narrow slits, “Thank you, Meng Yuan Cen.”
As he laughed, he somehow felt his voice had turned hoarse, “Meeting you is truly lucky…”
“Well, of course, it’s fortunate,” Meng Yuan Cen replied with a smile. “You seem a little different today, quite sensitive?”
“So, do nightmares have this much power?” he muttered this phrase, pausing and then softening his tone, coaxing as if to a child, “Come into Meng’s embrace, and you won’t be afraid anymore.”
But Shen Xun remained silent.
“Meng Yuan Cen.”
“Yes?”
“I came out to my mum.”
The line fell silent for a moment.
He thought, Meng Yuan Cen’s next question would definitely be about the results of coming out, recalling his mother’s reaction, he suddenly didn’t know if his coming out this time could be deemed a success.
But Meng Yuan Cen, very seriously, said to him, “I’m really happy that you came out for me, thank you.”
Shen Xun was startled and hesitated, “You… aren’t asking about the outcome of my coming out?”
“It’s not important.”
Shen Xun was first surprised, then laughed.
“Yes, you’re right, it’s not important.”
Whether or not his family supported him wouldn’t change his mind. Approaching his thirties, economically independent and successful in his career, he had always been clear about what he wanted. Now, he had prepared for everything to welcome the future he desired. The only concern was—was Meng Yuan Cen worth it?
Now, he had an answer.
Meng Yuan Cen was worth it.
“Meng Yuan Cen,” Shen Xun gently uttered the other’s name once again. Whether it was coming out or nightmares, he would not be afraid anymore.
“When are you coming home tomorrow?”
“So eager?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll try to wake up early tomorrow and get home as soon as possible.”
“Really early. Won’t the sound of your arrival wake me up?”
Meng Yuan Cen didn’t immediately catch on, “What?”
Shen Xun remembered something, “Oh, I forgot to tell you, I’m already back at our apartment, came back this afternoon.”
“Why didn’t you say you were coming home today?”
“I was too preoccupied thinking about coming out. It’s not too late to say it now.”
“No, it’s not too late,” static rustling noises came from the receiver, as if looking for something. Then it was Meng Yuan Cen’s voice, “Wait for me.”
Shen Xun didn’t understand, asking hesitantly, “Wait for what?”
“I’m coming back.”
“It’s already 10:23, why not tomorrow?”
Meng Yuan Cen teased, “What? Did you chat enough over the phone and no longer want to see the person behind the voice?”
Shen Xun, “…”
Helplessly, he said, “No, I’m afraid you’ll be tired driving.”
“It’s okay. I took a nap today, it’s just over an hour’s drive, very fast.”
Shen Xun thought and said, “Will your parents agree?”
“They can’t control me.”
“You’re quite rebellious,” Shen Xun couldn’t help but smile, “okay… drive safely?”
“Don’t worry, although it’s late, my driving skills are good. You’ve ridden with me before, haven’t you?”
That statement sounded serious, but Shen Xun misunderstood for a moment. Indeed, he had ‘ridden’ before.
In the next moment, Shen Xun suddenly realized, thinking it was true that “like calls to like.” He shook his head, discarding any lewd thoughts, actively engaging in self-reflection.
On the other end, Meng Yuan Cen couldn’t resist adding, “While waiting, if you feel bored and don’t know what to do, you could take a shower to pass the time because, upon meeting, I might not be able to resist.”
With that said, he laughed and hung up the phone to start his journey back.
Rarely hung up on by Meng Yuan Cen, Shen Xun stared at the phone screen that ended the call and muttered quietly, “Sly fox.”
But after a while, he obediently grabbed his change of clothes and walked into the bathroom.