Wen Xulong took Nao out for brunch on Sunday. He chose a very nice location, with a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere. It was quite like a café, with large windows letting in plenty of light. Overall, between the soft sound of chatter and clinking dishes and the ambient lighting, the entire place felt airy and magical. Nao found that he liked it a lot.
Wen Xulong herded him over to a table in the corner, with a bit of room between it and the other patrons. He had a prepared and solemn air about him—unbeknownst to Nao, he’d spent the entire previous day planning out this conversation.
They ordered their food, and after that, Wen Xulong cut to the chase. “Nao-chan, how much do you know about seh—” he slowed, then swallowed the word and said instead, “. . .reproduction?”
“Um. . .I’ve learned about it,” Nao said. “Why?”
“Well, it’s. . .it’s a very complex topic, so keep that in mind,” Wen Xulong said. “People don’t. . .do that together only for having children. Passing over the. . .physical sensations, it’s also a very profound and emotional experience.”
Nao was a little lost. “Alright. . .”
“The same is true for kissing,” Wen Xulong continued. “Kissing is often an expression of love. It’s—”
“Uh, Xulong-ge. . .I feel like you’re overthinking this,” Nao said, holding up one hand. “While I’ll admit I’m still a little unsure of why people kiss each other, I actually just wanted to know what makes them want to kiss each other.”
Wen Xulong considered this for a long moment, then said in a sure tone, “Hormones.”
“. . ?”
“Generally, there are two reasons why someone might want to kiss someone else,” Wen Xulong said. “Either it’s because they love that person or it’s because they’re attracted to them.”
“. . .Attracted to them?”
“Yes.” Wen Xulong paused, choosing his words. “You see. . .Another reason why people. . .sleep together is because they find each other sexually attractive. It’s a bit difficult to explain, but it’s. . .basically a physical craving for another person?”
“. . .I see.” Nao rubbed his nose in thought. “. . .And what is it like to be attracted to someone?”
“. . .” Wen Xulong was silent for another stretch. “Um. . .Well, for me personally, it’s. . .sort of awkward, actually. It’s harder to maintain eye contact—but it’s also hard to look away from that person’s eyes because they’re so gorgeous. And I accidentally stare sometimes, then blush when I get caught—sometimes I start blushing for no reason at all around them, and my heart beats faster, and I feel very nervous and jittery.”
Nao compared this to his experiences and felt his face growing warmer. Without looking up from the table, frowning pensively, he asked, “So. . .what’s the difference between loving someone and being attracted to them?”
“Love is something you feel with your heart,” Wen Xulong said. “Attraction is just your body’s reaction to the way someone looks. It really doesn’t have anything to do with love—although people you love typically look better to you than those you don’t.”
“So. . .you can be attracted to someone without loving them?”
Wen Xulong nodded. “Yes.”
“And it isn’t weird?” Nao asked, glancing up. “Even if it’s. . .a friend?”
Wen Xulong coughed into his fist a couple times, then shook his head. “It isn’t weird. It’s just something that happens sometimes, that’s all.”
“. . .Oh.” Nao felt a little better. “Okay.”
So Rin was attractive to him. Now that he’d solved that awkward situation, Nao felt a bit of tension leave his shoulders. But he suddenly felt confused again.
“Xulong-ge. . .what makes people attractive?”
Wen Xulong looked like he was praying to his ancestors. He closed his eyes for a second, then opened them again and said, “Nao-chan, just like everyone has different personalities, they also have different traits that they find attractive. A person you find attractive could look plain to me, and vice versa. It depends on who you ask.”
“. . .Oh. I see.”
The waitress brought over their food then. Nao was in a very cheerful mood now, and when he tasted the light sweetness of the fluffy soufflé pancakes, he felt happy enough to float away.
Wen Xulong observed the change in Nao’s mood and breathed a silent sigh of relief. He had pegged Nao as the innocent sort at the very beginning, but he’d had no idea that Nao was this pure and naïve. It was at the same time very endearing and very worrying. Wen Xulong vowed to himself to protect Nao at any cost.
The two ate in relative silence for a short while before the crisp ring of the bell sounded at the cafe’s door. Wen Xulong glanced up absentmindedly, then raised a brow in surprise. The person who had walked in was Rin’s aunt, Sandie, with her nephew trailing close behind.
Rin looked over and caught Wen Xulong’s gaze; Wen Xulong grinned and waved. After a moment, Rin waved back, then turned and followed his aunt to the counter.
Nao twisted in his seat, then turned back with a curious frown. “Who were you waving to?”
“Shini-sama,” Wen Xulong said. “He came here with his aunty.”
Nao’s expression shifted to an affected calm. “Oh, I see.”
Wen Xulong very naturally took a sip of his tea and forced down a grin while he did so. “Shini-sama’s aunty is very kind. And her cooking is really good.”
“Does she make Rin-san’s lunchboxes?” Nao asked, holding his fork in his mouth.
“Not usually,” Wen Xulong said. “Shini-sama makes his own lunches to try and improve his culinary skills, but his cooking’s so hopeless that he can’t even make decent rice. I tried to teach him the basics once, but in the end all that came of it was a flaming pan and mess of a kitchen.”
Nao hummed. “Then I guess it was his aunt who made that lunchbox. . .”
Wen Xulong raised a brow. “Oh? And which lunchbox was this, Nao-chan?”
Nao blushed and shook his head. “I was hungry when I woke up in the nurse’s office, so Rin-san gave me his lunchbox. But now that I think of it, hadn’t he already eaten his lunch during school?”
“Oh yeah, his aunty made that one and sent it over so Shini-sama wouldn’t go hungry while he watched over you,” Wen Xulong said. He looked toward the counter as he spoke; Rin was walking toward them with a coffee in hand. “Oh look, Shini-sama’s coming to say hello.”
Nao’s eyes widened and he stiffened, but before he had much time to do anything, Rin was already standing beside their table.
“Shini-sama, fancy seeing you here! Lemme try a sip of your coffee,” Wen Xulong said.
Rin was long used to this. He handed the cup over expressionlessly. Wen Xulong took a drink and made a face.
“Same as ever, the coffee’s sweet enough to rot your teeth, and the boba pearls are bitter enough to make you cry,” Wen Xulong said, handing back the cup. “Shini-sama, you’re truly the god of death to have a palate like that.”
Rin sipped his coffee, face not changing in the slightest, and said, “If you say so. Nao, how are you feeling?”
Nao jumped a little, then flushed and grinned nervously. “Ah, I’m feeling very well today, thank you.”
“I’m glad,” Rin said. “So what are you guys doing here?”
Wen Xulong spoke up before Nao could make a fool of himself. “I invited Nao-chan out for a friendly brunch, of course! We were chatting about your awful cooking.”
“I meant what are you doing here so early,” Rin clarified. “You never make plans this early in the day, Long-xiong.”
“Well, if you must know, I have plans tonight,” Wen Xulong said, an air of smug haughtiness about him.
Rin leaned on the back of an empty chair, raising a brow. “Oh yeah? With whom?”
Wen Xulong slurped a bit of his tea, then answered, “My boyfriend.”
Nao clapped. “Congrats, Xulong-ge!”
Rin, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes. “What’s his name?”
Wen Xulong was well-prepared for this interrogation. “Micah Hadad.”
“How old is he?”
“Turned twenty on nine sixteen.”
“Is he nice?”
“Very. He’s your classic gentleman.”
“Is he hot?”
Wen Xulong opened his tablet and pulled up a picture of the man in question. “You tell me.”
Rin appraised the photo. “Mm. . .He’s not bad, but you could do better. Is he rich?”
“Probably not as rich as you, but he’ll do,” Wen Xulong said with a cheery grin.
“Alright, fine.” Rin passed the tablet back, then said, “But if he ever treats you as anything less than royalty, I’ll kick his ass.”
“Didi, your concern is touching, but I can take care of myself,” Wen Xulong said. “Anyway, what are you and Sandie-san up to?”
“Going shopping,” Rin said. “She wants to get me a Halloween costume.”
“Shini-sama, you don’t have a costume yet?” Wen Xulong looked appalled. “It’s lucky Sandie-san looks out for you, otherwise you’d rot away at home.”
Nao frowned. “Is it Halloween already? I completely forgot. . .”
“Nao-chan, you too?!” Wen Xulong looked despairing. “Don’t forget to pick one up today, okay? You definitely have to come trick-or-treating with Shini-sama and I tomorrow!”
“. . .What are you guys going as?” Nao asked.
“I’m going as Pei Ming from Heaven Official’s Blessing,” Wen Xulong said. “Shini-sama’s going as Hua Cheng.”
“Sure, why not,” Rin said lazily.
“Then. . .who should I be?” Nao asked.
“You can go as the main character, Xie Lian!” Wen Xulong said. “Then we’ll all match.”
“. . .” Rin’s expression was odd. “Why not go as the Three Tumors, then? That would fit better.”
“What, and force poor Nao-chan to be Shi Wudu, who gets beheaded?” Wen Xulong said.
Nao winced and rubbed his neck. “What’s Xie Lian like? What do they look like?”
Wen Xulong began to enthusiastically explain Xie Lian’s character to Nao, who listened in earnest. While the two of them were immersed in the conversation, Rin looked over at his aunt. She was on call with someone; after saying a few more words, she hung up and came to join Rin with his friends.
Upon reaching the table, she said, “A-Long, hello there. Ah, and this must be Nao-kun.”
“Long time no see, Aunty!” Wen Xulong said with a cheerful grin. “This is indeed our beloved Nao-chan.”
She bowed to Nao. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Nao-kun. Rin mentions you all the time. I’m Sandie—you can just call me aunty.”
“The pleasure is all mine!” Nao said, bowing in return. “Rin-san also mentions you a lot.”
Sandie smiled. “Rin tends to do that with people he cares about. So what are you and A-Long up to? I’d hate to be interrupting or holding you up.”
Wen Xulong checked his watch and his eyes widened. “Oh shoot, I’ve gotta get going. Sorry, Nao-chan, Aunty. This was really nice! I’ll see you guys soon, okay?”
He got up and gave Sandie a quick hug, waved to Nao, and left like the wind. Nao was a little surprised—he felt that if he had so much as blinked, he would’ve missed it.
“Well, I guess I have to head out and buy a Halloween costume,” Nao said. “Xulong-ge wants me to go trick-or-treating with him and Rin-san tomorrow night.”
“Rin and I were about to go shop for his costume,” Sandie said. With a warm smile, she continued, “If you’d like, you can come with us. Shopping is always more fun with company.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude,” Nao said, but Sandie only shook her head.
“It’s no intrusion, you’re a friend of Rin’s,” she said. “Any friend of Rin’s is welcome at any time.”
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