Ch12 - House Slippers

Standing in front of a whole row of winter plush slippers, Shu Jin carefully selected and quickly settled on a pair of dark gray suede slippers with a thin fleece lining. The house is heated and the floor is warm, but it’s still too inconvenient to walk around in just socks.

In the morning, when Shu Jin saw Sheng Xinghe standing on the ground just like that, he always felt neglected in his heart. 

When choosing a size, Shu Jin hesitated for a long time. He didn’t know Sheng Xinghe’s size. After so many years, Sheng Xinghe’s height seemed a little different from what he remembered before.

He took some time in this process, so when Shu Jin returned to the same place just now, Sheng Xinghe was still there, but was answering the phone.

The shopping mall was quite noisy. In addition to the crowds, the stereos are constantly playing a congratulatory New Year’s song. When Sheng Xinghe saw him coming, he looked at his hand. Shu Jin immediately threw the slippers ‌ into the cart, his ears were hot, and he pretended to look at the goods on the shelves next to him naturally.

Then his earlobe was pinched. 

His fingers were warm and his movements were gentle.

Shu Jin then heard Sheng Xinghe speak in his usual tone very close behind him: “Well, feel free to call me if you have any problems.”

“If there is an urgent need for approval, go find Jing Chao, he has nothing to do anyway.”

“Happy New Year.”

Then he hung up the phone.

Shu Jin looked back and asked: “Is it work?”

He didn’t know how long Sheng Xinghe could stay here, and he didn’t ask. Suddenly he felt that the time they could stay together might be very short.

“It’s Jiang Jiang.” Sheng Xinghe said, “My assistant, you met last time.” 

“Oh.” Shu Jin remembered that woman, and she was also there on the day he had a fever, and he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, “She knows that we…”

Sheng Xinghe: “She knows.”

Shu Jin: “Will she find it weird?”

Although the times have changed and young people don’t care about gender, Sheng Xinghe is different after all. And Shu Jin’s first reaction was surprisingly whether it would have an effect on him. 

“No way.” Sheng Xinghe said, “They all know my sexual orientation.”

After buying everything, the two slowly moved the cart to the cashier counter.

This was the first time they talked about topics related to Sheng Xinghe’s work and life. Shu Jin didn’t know anything about them. Sheng Xinghe has developed too fast these years. Because he skipped grades, Sheng Xinghe graduated from college at the age of twenty. Instead of choosing to go to graduate school, he started a small company with his classmates. In the beginning, they only did small and inconspicuous projects, and only showed their brilliance after receiving their first real investment. Because their technology was so new, many people commented that they were just lucky and made the first pot of gold by moving the sword with a side stroke. But Sheng Xinghe’s team got a bigger jumpstart two years ago, with a big tree at their back, and now everyone can’t deny the fact that they are still going higher and higher.

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“I know?” Shu Jin asked, “Who?” 

“Jing Chao.” Sheng Xinghe said, “My college roommate, you have met.”

Only then did Shu Jin remember him, no wonder he felt familiar when he heard the name just now.

They seem to have met two or three times, and his impression on him was that he was a tall and dark boy, and he was quite cheerful. At that time, Shu Jin knew that they were starting a company together, and that Jing Chao’s family was in good condition, but he didn’t expect that they would still be working together until now.

Sheng Xinghe: “The first investment was given by his father.” 

He briefly talked to Shu Jin about what happened in the past few years, and unknowingly they had already arrived at the cash register.

There is a long line here. It’s not often that two young boys who appear to be close come together to buy something, not to mention Sheng Xinghe’s overly eye-catching appearance. Some children in the line peeked at Sheng Xinghe’s gray eye, and other customers cast curious glances at him.

Sheng Xinghe didn’t notice it. For so many years, he had already been immune to such probing glances.

Shu Jin only felt that those eyes were cast on him like a thorn, scratching his heart. He suddenly regretted, he shouldn’t have brought Sheng Xinghe to a place with so many people. Sheng Xinghe shouldn’t be here like an alien for people to look at. 

“Is it difficult at that time?” Shu Jin asked, “That’s when you haven’t got the investment yet.”

“It’s okay.” Sheng Xinghe said, “At most, it is just living in the basement and eating instant noodles. Everyone doesn’t feel bitter about working hard together, and the time is relatively short, only about six months.”

That was six months after Sheng Xinghe completely left the Shu family.

Shu Jin didn’t ask at that time, he didn’t care about it, he didn’t dare, and he was not qualified. 

The line is almost reaching them.

Sheng Xinghe said: “If I have the opportunity, I will arrange a meeting for between you two sometimes, Jing Chao is a good person.”

Shu Jin was silent for a moment, then said: “Okay, let’s talk again when we have a chance.”

This answer was somewhat perfunctory. Sheng Xinghe understood what Shu Jin was thinking, but said nothing and just moved on with the line. 

It’s time for the checkout.

Shu Jin originally had his head down, but his eyes swept towards the row of things near the cashier.

Sheng Xinghe took the things out of the cart one by one, and was talking to the cashier. His profile was very nice. Standing on his right side, Shu Jin looked at him secretly. Knowing that he couldn’t see himself, he looked back at the small boxes with different colors.

There are many brands, many sizes, and even different flavors. 

Shu Jin did not know much, and the only experience he had was when he bought it once and got it wrong, and that was not a pleasant experience.

He felt panic at that time.

In the room on the second floor, Shu Jin’s hands were shaking so badly that he tried several times but couldn’t get it right. Sheng Xinghe helped, and finally pressed him to the floor and laughed. Shu Jin became angry and punched him on the shoulder.

When he bought it, Shu Jin didn’t dare to look at it, so he grabbed the box and threw it into his pocket. You can’t blame him for buying the wrong one, who told Sheng Xinghe to play the side ball, but not do the real thing every time. 

At that time, Sheng Xinghe also did not buy it. After he stopped laughing, he hugged Shu Jin in front of him. The two looked at the cover of the box together, and after determining that it was the wrong size, they threw it in the thrash.

But the housekeeper saw it when she was cleaning up.

She told Shu Zhaoyuan about it.

There are two boys in the family, one is 20 years old and the other just turned 18. They all go through sex education in adolescence, and it’s okay to start dating after college, but young people are not mature enough. If they hurt a girl or do something bad, it will affect their life. 

Shu Zhaoyuan received the call and rushed back from the field overnight.

He didn’t find Sheng Xinghe, so he went straight to the second floor to open his son’s door.

For a long time afterwards, Shu Jin was thankful that Sheng Xinghe did not stay at home that night, but went to school, otherwise Shu Zhaoyuan would definitely discover a surprise in his room.

“Who bought it?” Shu Zhaoyuan was straightforward, “Is it Xiao Sheng?” 

Shu Jin said: “I bought it.”

Shu Zhaoyuan asked seriously: “Did you bring the girl home?”

Shu Jin: “No.”

The next day Shu Zhaoyuan may have had a rare reflection and felt that his tone was too bad. Shu Jin grew up in a single-parent home, and he gave him very little company. Perhaps as a father he should guide his son. 

He said to Shu Jin: “Dad didn’t mean to lecture you last night, you’re grown up and it’s normal to want to fall in love. But you are only 18 years old, isn’t it too early to have a relationship with a romantic partner? Not to mention how old the girl is and what her family’s condition is, you didn’t even tell me.”

So Shu Jin had to say: “I’m not in love.”

Shu Zhaoyuan: “Then why are you buying that kind of stuff?”

Shu Jin just made up something indiscriminately, saying that he was just curious, and blew the whole thing off. 

Shu Zhaoyuan finally said helplessly: “Be good, it’s fine if you don’t. You are still young, it is best not to fall in love so early, if you really want to talk, you must first tell your dad first and I will give you a clearance.”

After the checkout, Sheng Xinghe took out his mobile phone to pay.

Shu Jin immediately came back to his senses and said he was coming, but Sheng Xinghe didn’t give him this opportunity.

When the two of them returned home with big bags and small bags, Sheng Xinghe looked at the time and saw that it was not yet noon, so he said, “I’ll go and bring my luggage over.” 

Shu Jin was surprised: “Did you bring your luggage?”

He thought that Sheng Xinghe came here temporarily.

“Well, it was placed in the hotel yesterday.” Sheng Xinghe said, seeing his expression, he bent his lips again, “Shu Jin, I also want face.”

“I don’t know if you’re just lying to me last time, and if so, then I’d be too presumptuous to come to the door with my luggage.” 

Shu Jin immediately understood.

Sheng Xinghe was talking about the last time when he asked him if he was in a relationship, and his answer was no.

But the five-year separation is too long, it was full of too many uncertainties. Sheng Xinghe is a prideful person, even if he could see through Shu Jin’s heart, he still had to force Shu Jin to say the answer himself, but he was still too unsure.

Traveling from one city to another just to meet someone who can’t give an answer. 

Although he appeared at the door of Shu Jin’s house in a strong and irrefutable manner, in fact, Sheng Xinghe put down almost everything.

Shu Jin was very sad, then he found his conscience and said: “Is it heavy? I’ll go with you.”

“No, you stay home and organize the things you just bought.” Sheng Xinghe said, and added in passing, “Remember to put my slippers in the cupboard by the door.”

The author has something to say: 

Brother is gone, but dad won’t come yet. Rest assured.