Spoiled - Chapter 26

Author’s Note: I’m talking a lot today (.).

Fang Baijing never thought that he would one day see so many photos of himself in someone else’s house.

As a normal person, the first reaction to seeing this would be sheer terror, as he couldn’t believe someone had been secretly observing him for so many years. But beyond that, Fang Baijing’s feelings were complicated. He never would have thought that Fu Feng might have liked him for so, so long—so long that Fang Baijing found it unbelievable.

Still dazed, Fang Baijing was pulled up from the floor by Fu Feng: “Don’t sit on the floor, you’ll catch a cold easily.”

It was already autumn, the time when people most easily catch colds during the change of seasons, and Fang Baijing, with his poor constitution, was one of the most susceptible people.

Fang Baijing stood up instinctively. After sitting on the ground for a long time, his vision went black for a moment as he stood. He pulled his hand out of Fu Feng’s grasp. His legs felt numb.

Fang Baijing leaned against the cabinet, mentally replaying scenes from horror movies he had watched, but it felt somewhat far-fetched.

Fu Feng, standing in front of him, didn’t speak. Fang Baijing didn’t know how to face him now. He swallowed hard and asked, “Aren’t you going to explain?”

“There’s nothing to explain.” Fu Feng’s eyelids lowered slightly. His gaze briefly stopped on the cabinet behind Fang Baijing before pulling back. “It’s exactly as you see it.”

He had bought the piano from his former high school principal. He had personally placed the items in the cabinet, and he had framed the photos one by one. The original purpose of this villa was this collection room. Fu Feng hadn’t spoken about it before simply because he believed Fang Baijing no longer remembered him, and the past connection only needed to be known by him alone.

But now that the secret in the cabinet had been discovered by Fang Baijing, Fu Feng wouldn’t deny it, because he had done these things. He just hadn’t figured out how to explain his actions to Fang Baijing yet.

Fang Baijing’s expression showed he was thoroughly scared, barely able to stand steadily. Any normal person would be scared right now.

“Why did you secretly take pictures of me!” Fang Baijing’s voice gradually diminished, finally becoming almost a whisper, “And… and hide my school uniform.”

Fu Feng should have been the one in the wrong, but in this strange atmosphere, Fang Baijing couldn’t muster any defiance. He was like a cat with its claws clipped, lacking the courage to even scratch Fu Feng.

Fang Baijing licked his lip, then involuntarily pursed it. He asked cautiously, “You wouldn’t really lock me up, like they do in movies, right?”

It was then he realized the true threat Fu Feng posed. He didn’t know how long Fu Feng had been hiding his clothes and photos, but Fang Baijing felt it must be a very, very long time. He had always found Fu Feng’s interest in him inexplicable, thinking Fu Feng was merely acting on lust, even though Fang Baijing felt he had no lust to incite. But now, things seemed to have become much more complicated, developing in a way Fang Baijing never expected.

Not receiving an answer from Fu Feng, Fang Baijing couldn’t help but retreat a few steps to the side. A chill ran uncontrollably down his spine.

He tentatively asked, “Would you?”

He had thought Fu Feng would merely interfere with his life, but now Fang Baijing had a bad feeling, a sixth sense. In an instant, he imagined many things.

Fu Feng still didn’t speak. He looked down, seeming to be deep in thought. He raised his hand, but before he could touch Fang Baijing’s cheek, Fang Baijing avoided it. He put his hand back by his side.

Fu Feng said: “I won’t. Because it would make you sad.”

Having received the promise, Fang Baijing breathed a huge sigh of relief. He felt a sense of survival after a disaster as he walked.

“Go eat.” Fu Feng finally stated the purpose of his coming upstairs.

Fang Baijing suddenly became obedient, walking out while occasionally looking back to see if Fu Feng was following. He walked behind Fang Baijing and closed the collection room door.

“Click—” The sound of the door closing was distinct.

Fu Feng paused, taking one last look at the dark wooden door.

Due to his carefree nature, Fang Baijing usually slept very well, falling asleep instantly and sleeping soundly until morning. But tonight, he couldn’t fall asleep.

He and Fu Feng lay in the same bed, but the space between them was wide—a distance Fang Baijing had deliberately created. Curled up with his back to Fu Feng, he couldn’t tell if Fu Feng was asleep.

Fang Baijing cautiously flipped over. Though he had deliberately minimized his movements, he still made a slight sound. Fang Baijing held his breath, facing Fu Feng. In the darkness, he could vaguely make out Fu Feng’s sharply defined features.

He hesitated, then whispered in a breathy voice: “…Fu Feng.”

Fang Baijing had only intended to test him, but he was surprised when Fu Feng responded. “Hmm.” His voice sounded wide awake, with no trace of sleepiness from being disturbed, suggesting he hadn’t been asleep.

Fu Feng asked, “What is it?”

He opened his eyes, but Fang Baijing couldn’t see clearly. His nose wrinkled in confusion, and finally, he couldn’t hold it back: “Did we know each other before?” Fang Baijing could feel Fu Feng staring intently at him. He felt his shoulders tense up under the scrutiny.

After a long pause, Fang Baijing heard Fu Feng’s answer: “No.”

Fang Baijing was silent for a few seconds. He anxiously gripped the blanket and asked again, “Then all those things of yours… when are they from?”

“Fang Baijing,” Fu Feng suddenly called out.

Fang Baijing instinctively answered: “Hmm.” It was a tiny sound, squeezed out of his throat.

Fu Feng suddenly reached out and pulled Fang Baijing into his arms. The distance Fang Baijing had guarded all night instantly collapsed. He rested his chin on Fang Baijing’s hair, gently rubbing it, and said, “When you were in your first year of high school, you often practiced piano in the practice room. Do you remember a Senior who would often appear there during lunch break, just standing by the window frame watching you play?”

Fang Baijing had never had a nighttime talk like this with Fu Feng while embraced. Fu Feng’s arm around his waist was very firm. Fang Baijing instinctively tilted his head back. His lips seemed to accidentally brush Fu Feng’s neck, and the arm around his waist suddenly tightened.

Fang Baijing didn’t react, only subconsciously saying, “Huh?”

His memory was neither great nor terrible, and he never remembered these small details of life. Now that Fu Feng brought it up, Fang Baijing truly couldn’t recall it immediately.

He frowned in concentration. The moment the vague memory surfaced, Fang Baijing’s eyes suddenly widened. Seven years had passed since his first year of high school. His memories from that time were blurry, but he vaguely remembered that he loved running off to play the piano during lunch break. The reason was simple: the classroom was too quiet during lunch, and classmates were either studying or sleeping. Fang Baijing didn’t want to do either, and since attendance was taken in the classroom, he could only find an excuse to go out and play the piano. It seemed… it seemed someone did often stand by the window to listen to him play the piano back then. Fang Baijing slowly recalled. He had even complained to Xiao Jing about it at the time.

What did he say back then? Sixteen-year-old Fang Baijing liked slinging his arm around Xiao Jing’s shoulder. He didn’t wear his uniform properly, the zipper was open, and he wore basketball shorts. He hooked Xiao Jing’s shoulder and complained, “You know I play the piano there every day, right? And there’s this other student, feels like a Senior. He’s pretty handsome, but I don’t think he’s very smart! He just stands there watching me while I play. Hey? Do you think my playing is too good?” Fang Baijing stopped walking. He turned and looked at his reflection in a brightly polished glass pane. He clapped his hands in sudden realization: “I know! I’m so handsome; maybe he doesn’t like my piano playing—he has a crush on me!” Fang Baijing thought about it for a moment and said jokingly, “He’s so handsome, if he really is interested in me, I might consider letting him truly gay me.”

Xiao Jing was used to Fang Baijing’s silliness. He rolled his eyes and joked back: “Go to hell, stop being so narcissistic!”

Fang Baijing’s mouth widened further and further. He still had a vague impression of that Senior’s face, and the more he looked now, the more he resembled Fu Feng. His Adam’s apple bobbed. It was shock.

Fang Baijing asked dryly, “It couldn’t have been you, could it?”

Fu Feng’s breathing seemed to suddenly deepen, exhaling onto Fang Baijing’s hair. His voice was very low and deep: “It was me.”

Fang Baijing was suddenly speechless. Nothing seemed appropriate to say now. He stared blankly at Fu Feng, as if mute.

“You?” Fang Baijing was confused now. “Why did you run over to watch me play the piano every day? You had already graduated by then, hadn’t you?”

Fu Feng suddenly reached out and turned on the small wall lamp hanging beside the bed. The light wasn’t very bright. The warm yellow light shone on Fu Feng’s face. His face was normally cold, but in that instant, he seemed to be softened by the warm light.

Fu Feng slowly spoke: “Fang Baijing, do you know that I’ve liked you for many years? The first time I saw you, you were playing the piano on stage, wearing a white tuxedo with a bright red bow tie around your neck.” Fu Feng remembered details that Fang Baijing himself couldn’t recall. He paused and said, “Very handsome.” Fang Baijing couldn’t speak. He could only listen to Fu Feng continue. “The way you played was also very handsome. When the curtain fell, I heard many girls shouting your name.” Fu Feng echoed the name: “—Fang Baijing.”

Fu Feng’s features actually become more animated when he smiles. His usually stern eyes suddenly softened for a moment. His finger stroked Fang Baijing’s earlobe. He said frankly: “Fang Baijing, sometimes it only takes one second to like a person.”

It only took one second for him to feel that Fang Baijing should be his.