Spoiled - Chapter 19

The first time Fu Feng saw Fang Baijing was in the high school auditorium. He had already graduated then, but for various reasons, he had to wait a while longer before going abroad. Fu Feng returned to school to collect some documents, coincidentally running into the start of the new academic year. The principal asked him to give a speech to the new students, and after a moment’s hesitation, he agreed.

The auditorium was filled with freshmen. The principal led him directly to the second floor.

Fu Feng had no interest in the freshmen’s performances, but as he overlooked the stage from the second floor, his gaze suddenly paused. The boy on the stage was wearing a white formal suit. From Fu Feng’s perspective, he could only see his profile—fair, delicate, and intensely youthful. A natural smile played on the boy’s face as he played the piano. The stage was dark, with only a beam of light falling on him.

For no particular reason, Fu Feng just thought he looked like a little prince.

This was the first time Fu Feng had ever watched someone so intently. He didn’t even know the little boy’s name, yet his eyes were uncontrollably drawn to him.

In that instant, he became the center of Fu Feng’s world.

The piano piece grew melancholic under his fingers. The tune was one of quiet sadness, and the boy’s emotions seemed to be reflected in his expression; his delicate brow furrowed. But at the final falling note, the boy’s features quickly smoothed out. The beam of light fell on him, naturally forming a halo. His red lips and white teeth made him seem to glow.

The program list was projected onto the large screen above, and Fu Feng saw his name.

“Fang Baijing.” The little sun.

Fang Baijing at that time wasn’t as tall as he was now, a little shorter, but his proportions had always been good—a slender waist and long legs, perfectly suited for the formal suit he was wearing. Fang Baijing stood on his stage, in front of the piano, and completed his bow at the end of the performance.

The stage lit up again. Amidst the thunderous applause, Fang Baijing’s expression was bright and clean. He smiled as he looked around, then walked off the side of the stage. The red curtain on the stage descended once more. Fang Baijing’s back merged into the crowd, like a star disappearing into the galaxy.

Fu Feng’s gaze followed him the entire time. Despite the distance, he saw everything clearly. He watched as Fang Baijing hooked his arm over another boy’s shoulder, laughing heartily. Fu Feng couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but Fang Baijing was bent over with laughter.

“That boy plays the piano well,” the principal standing next to him remarked. “He seems to be a freshman this year.”

Fu Feng didn’t reply, but he repeated the name in his heart—”Fang Baijing.” After seeing the person only once, Fu Feng remembered his name so deeply, as if to carve it into his soul.

He was only distracted for a moment. When his eyes searched the crowd again, Fang Baijing was nowhere to be seen, nor was the other boy.

In that instant, an unfounded sense of anxiety suddenly rose in Fu Feng’s heart.

He rarely lost control of his emotions, especially after growing up.

The stage had changed performers, but all that flashed through Fu Feng’s mind were images of Fang Baijing playing the piano.

Fu Feng lowered his brow, refusing to think further.

His emotions truly fluctuated when the principal called him up to the stage to give his speech. An unfamiliar compulsion made him look up.

Fu Feng’s gaze swept across the crowded audience, trying to find Fang Baijing. But the result was inevitable; Fang Baijing had likely slipped away early.

Fu Feng had just graduated this year, only one year older than the students present. He stood at the microphone on the stage. His speech was highly formal, the kind that could make one’s ears numb. But a pleasant voice and a handsome person always enhanced the effect. Fu Feng was actually quite famous in school. When he finished, the applause from the audience was deafening, but his expression remained completely unchanged.

Fu Feng’s gaze fell deeply on the open door of the auditorium. He finally saw Fang Baijing again. Fang Baijing must have felt hot and changed clothes; he was now wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and black pants. The distance was too great for Fu Feng to see his face clearly, only an extremely blurred shadow, like a silhouette cut out by light.

He was leaning lazily against the doorway, standing without a proper stance, with the same boy from earlier standing beside him. Despite the distance, Fu Feng was certain Fang Baijing was smiling.

That day, after Fu Feng returned home, he found himself, almost on a whim, walking into the long-sealed piano room. He hadn’t touched the piano in a long time, but it was cleaned daily and remained spotless.

Fu Feng pulled out the chair and sat down. His fingers, slightly rusty, landed on the keys. The sound the piano made was clear and crisp. It wasn’t broken, but he couldn’t replicate the feeling of Fang Baijing’s playing.

For the next few days, Fu Feng spent a long time in the piano room. He didn’t play the piano, but just stared quietly at the distinct black and white keys, as if contemplating something. Fu Feng couldn’t explain his odd behavior. His solution was to go see Fang Baijing again.

He could enter the school simply by showing his face.

Fu Feng went during the lunch break. The corridor was sparsely populated. Driven by a sixth sense, Fu Feng didn’t go to the main academic building. Instead, he turned to the practical skills building, where the piano rooms were located. Everyone seems to have their own unique style of playing. At the very least, when Fu Feng heard that smooth piano melody, he could confirm it was Fang Baijing.

There was a window near the corridor, and Fu Feng could see Fang Baijing’s profile clearly from the walkway. Compared to on the stage, the distance now was much closer, and Fang Baijing looked much more vibrant. He was wearing his school uniform, and he seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood today. As he played, he looked satisfied with his music and gave a joyful smile.

It was then that Fu Feng noticed—Fang Baijing had two particularly adorable canine teeth.

The silence was broken by a shout piercing up from downstairs—”Damn it! Fang Baijing! Stop playing! Class is about to start!”

The music stopped abruptly. Fang Baijing frowned with extreme impatience, yanked the window open, and yelled: “Xiao Jing! Don’t rush me! You go to class yourself!” His words were tough, but his body was honest. He grabbed the jacket next to him with his left hand, picked up his milk tea with his right, and rushed out the door.

As Fang Baijing hastily pulled the door open, Fu Feng suddenly took a step to the left. Fang Baijing was running too fast and didn’t look where he was going. He crashed straight into Fu Feng, nearly falling onto his backside, and the milk tea, which only had a lid on, spilled all over Fu Feng’s body.

“Sorry.” Fang Baijing was a little annoyed, his voice close to Fu Feng.

Fu Feng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He replied, “It’s fine.”

Fang Baijing must not have had any impression of the speech and didn’t recognize him at all. Scratching his head, he asked, “Are you a student here?”

On an impulse, Fu Feng said, “Yes.”

Fang Baijing knew he was at fault. He thought for a moment and asked, “Then wait for me. I’ll get you a change of clothes?” He compared his build to the man in front of him, touching his nose as he asked, “Can I get you a jacket? It’s one I bought too big and only wore once.” Perhaps because Fu Feng’s appearance was too cold, Fang Baijing’s voice grew smaller and his confidence slowly wavered.

“You can.”

But to Fang Baijing’s surprise, he was more agreeable than expected.

“Then wait for me!” Fang Baijing finished speaking and ran down the stairs like a lively rabbit.

Fu Feng’s body was covered in the sickly sweet smell of milk tea. He was a bit of a clean freak and frowned slightly. In fact, he could have completely avoided the collision, but Fu Feng deliberately took a few steps in the opposite direction, walking right into Fang Baijing’s path. Fu Feng’s expression was rarely stunned. Ever since he saw Fang Baijing, some of his behavior seemed to have strayed from the track. Like now, Fu Feng didn’t know why his heartbeat was accelerating, thumping like a drumbeat.

Fang Baijing returned quickly. He handed the brand-new jacket to Fu Feng, and then handed him the unopened milk tea he held in his right hand: “Sorry about that. I snatched this milk tea from my friend. Consider it an apology.” Seeing Fu Feng take it, Fang Baijing waved his hand dismissively: “Then I’m off to class. You can keep the jacket, no need to return it!”

Fang Baijing left. He was wearing his school uniform, a blue and white tracksuit. The hem of his shirt bounced as he ran, the fabric billowing, and his silhouette vanished around the corner of the stairs. The jacket he left for Fu Feng smelled of laundry detergent—clean and fresh.

Fu Feng suddenly walked to the window. He looked down and saw Fang Baijing jump, almost making Xiao Jing fall over with his abrupt motion. They walked away with their arms around each other. Fang Baijing’s profile was faintly visible. His hair roots were light brown in the sunlight, and his skin was very fair. Fang Baijing laughed and punched Xiao Jing after he said something.

Only when Fang Baijing had completely disappeared from Fu Feng’s sight did he leave the quiet academic building alone. He hadn’t come alone; Uncle Wang was with him. Fu Feng had told Uncle Wang to wait for him in the parking lot.

When he walked over, he found Uncle Wang leaning against the car, smoking.

Seeing Fu Feng approach, he hurriedly stubbed out the cigarette and prepared to open the back door for Fu Feng.

“Uncle Wang,” Fu Feng suddenly called out, “Can I have a cigarette?”

Uncle Wang hesitated repeatedly before pulling a cigarette from the pack and handing it to Fu Feng. This was the first time Fu Feng had smoked. Uncle Wang’s cigarettes weren’t low quality, but the strong tobacco scent made Fu Feng frown. However, Fu Feng’s troubled mind finally calmed down.

In the days that followed, he still went to watch Fang Baijing play the piano. Most of the time, Fang Baijing wasn’t there; he very much liked to “fish for three days and dry nets for two.”

Fang Baijing probably got used to seeing him, greeting him every time. The presence or absence of others didn’t seem to affect his playing. But perhaps because he recognized Fu Feng, he would smile at Fu Feng every time and ask, “Why are you here every lunch break?” Then he would earnestly suggest, “It’s not comfortable to sleep here. You could go to the rooftop. I don’t know which genius put a lounge chair up there, and it’s in a spot where the sun doesn’t hit.”

Fu Feng had forgotten what he said, but he only remembered that Fang Baijing smiled at him, then went off to play the piano as if no one else was around.

The atmosphere between them was very peaceful. Fang Baijing played, and Fu Feng stood quietly by and listened.

Sometimes, Fang Baijing would turn his head and ask cheerfully, “How was my playing?”

Fu Feng would be momentarily stunned, then nod and say, “Beautiful.”

Fu Feng couldn’t stay in the country for long. The last time he saw Fang Baijing at school, it wasn’t in the piano room. It was downstairs at the academic building. Fang Baijing was half-squatting on the ground. He wore a clean white T-shirt, and his school uniform was tied around his waist, nearly falling to the ground. He reached out to pet the school’s stray cat, a calico that had been fed well by the students and had been there since Fu Feng was a student. Fang Baijing didn’t mind that it was dirty; he bent down, picked it up, and placed it on his lap. He gently squeezed the stray cat’s paw pads, chattering away to the cat.

Fang Baijing looked very cute when he smiled. His features still carried the freshness of a young boy, and the curve of his almond eyes was particularly endearing.

Fu Feng’s steps stopped. He wanted to step forward and say something to Fang Baijing, but in the end, he turned and left without a word.

Fang Baijing should have been nothing more than a passing acquaintance in his life. But as Fu Feng sat on the plane, looking out the window, he belatedly realized a truth.

The reason for all his strange behavior lately was one thing.

—He seemed to like Fang Baijing a little.

The plane flew higher and higher, then smoothly leveled out through the clouds.

Fu Feng lowered his gaze. This realization felt somewhat foreign to him; he thought he would never like anyone in his life. But he knew he couldn’t do anything because Fu Yan would stop him. He would never allow his son to like a man.

So Fu Feng closed his eyes as the air current caused a slight turbulence.

Eighteen-year-old Fu Feng thought, Just wait. Once I have the certainty to protect Fang Baijing, I will stand in front of him and say—”I think I like you a little.”