MM | Chapter 17

Half a Sentence

The car stopped at the entrance of Baima Lane.

Jiang Tian paid the fare and got out first, but Sheng Wang was nowhere to be seen. Circling to the other side, he found Sheng Wang sitting quietly inside with a bag of medicine, waiting for someone to open the door, as if pampered by the driver.

Jiang Tian opened the door with a hint of annoyance. Sheng Wang elegantly extended a leg and politely smiled, saying, “Thank you.”

He had a shoulder bag and medicine, making it inconvenient to get out.

Jiang Tian, holding the car door, couldn’t stand it any longer and reached out. “Give me the medicine.”

Sheng Wang replied courteously, “No.”

Jiang Tian: “…”

He had to change his suggestion. “Wear your backpack on both shoulders.”

Sheng Wang said, “Ugly.”

Jiang Tian gave up.

Sheng Wang stubbornly kept his single-shoulder bag and medicine-holding posture, walking into the depths of the alley. Unlike other drunks, he wasn’t clumsy. If some girls from the Affiliated High School saw him, they might blush and call him pleasing to the eye.

…Just a bit lonely.

For a moment, Jiang Tian suspected Sheng Wang wasn’t that drunk, just using the alcohol as an excuse to act up. If he were truly drunk, how could he care so much about his image?

Then, Sheng Wang, who had walked far, suddenly turned back and retraced his steps.

Jiang Tian thought he was waiting to walk together. But Sheng Wang nodded at him and said, “Where’s your phone?”

“What for?”

“Take it out and snap a photo.”

“Of what?” Jiang Tian frowned in confusion but still reached into his pocket, hesitantly pulling out his phone.

He swiped the screen, and the interface turned into a camera.

In the lens, Sheng Wang stood under the streetlight, his shadow stretched long by the light. He tapped the uneven ground with his toe and said, “This road is bumpy, but I walked straight. Did you see?”

Maybe it was the hoarse nasal sound unique to colds that was deceiving. Jiang Tian, with a face that said “I don’t want to deal with you,” paused and said, “I saw.”

After speaking, he turned to confirm—

Thank goodness, the driver who brought them back had long gone, leaving just him and Sheng Wang in the alley. No one else heard this silly conversation.

“What’s the use of just seeing?” The leader spoke again, “Take a picture.”

“…”

Jiang Tian looked at him silently for a long time, switched the photo mode, and said in a low voice, “I believe you’re truly drunk.”

The distance from the alley entrance to the Sheng Family ancestral home was less than 300 meters, but it took them 20 minutes. Someone went back and forth three times, and Jiang Tian’s lifetime patience was spent here.

Their entrance was a bit loud, and the people inside must have heard. Soon, the door opened, and Jiang Ou, draped in a knitted sweater, peeked out. “Finally back. Why are both of you so late? I thought—what are you doing with your phone?”

“Who knows.” Jiang Tian muttered, putting the phone back in his pocket.

He had been invited to film the entire process. Now with another person here, he couldn’t afford the embarrassment.

“Come in quickly. How did you end up coming back together? I heard from Xiao Chen that Xiao Wang went to a classmate gathering.” Jiang Ou stepped aside, letting Jiang Tian and Sheng Wang enter one after the other.

Although Sheng Wang’s every move was steady, except for a slight wobble when changing shoes, there seemed to be no big issues. But Jiang Ou immediately sensed something was off. She turned and whispered to Jiang Tian, “Did you let him drink?”

“Is that possible?” Jiang Tian replied.

“True.” Jiang Ou knew her son well. He might not even show up at such gatherings, let alone drink with Sheng Wang. “He drank on his own?”

“Yeah.”

Sheng Wang squatted to untie his shoelaces. His fingers were clean and slender, showing no signs of a drunk’s clumsiness, just a deliberate slowness. The plastic bag with medicine was by his feet. Jiang Tian bent down to pick it up but was quickly covered by Sheng Wang’s hand.

“I’m just getting something.” Jiang Tian said.

Sheng Wang looked up at him. Maybe it was because they were too close, he glanced once and then lowered his eyes, murmuring “Oh” as he let go halfway.

Jiang Tian pulled out two dark green round tins from the bag and handed them to Jiang Ou.

When Auntie Sun had treated her burn, she used this, leaving a deep impression. She recognized it at once. She stared at the tins for a while, then looked up and said warmly, “Did you buy this specially?”

Jiang Tian, leaning against the doorframe to change shoes, replied without looking up, “Just on the way.”

“Stubborn.” Jiang Ou mumbled, then looked at Sheng Wang with concern. “Speaking of medicine, I said this morning he’d catch a cold. Listen to his nasal voice. I found some medicine, but he can’t take it now after drinking so much.”

“Forget it.” Jiang Tian glanced at Sheng Wang and said, “Wait until he sobers up.”

Sheng Wang slipped on his slippers and stood up, not forgetting to take the bag. Jiang Ou noticed the name of the Affiliated High School’s clinic on the bag and asked Jiang Tian in surprise, “Did you buy it for him?”

“He bought it himself.”

Jiang Tian adjusted his backpack strap and was about to head upstairs.

“Hey? Don’t run.” Jiang Ou didn’t press further, just grabbed him and said, “Take Xiao Wang to sit on the sofa for a while. I’ll make some honey water.”

The kitchen items were arranged by Auntie Sun. Jiang Ou, having just arrived, wasn’t used to it yet. She instinctively opened the leftmost cabinet, reaching for the honey jar, only to find it filled with an unused induction cooker and pots.

She stood there stunned for a while.

She could understand Jiang Tian’s various discomforts because even she hadn’t fully adapted. She met Ji Huanyu at 15, was with him at 18, married at 22, divorced at 34, and only moved out six years later.

How could years of habits change overnight?

But she was actually quite lucky. The divorce was just due to differing views, not anything devastating. Jiang Tian was so mature he needed no worrying. Sheng Mingyang respected her, and even Ji Huanyu still fulfilled his duties as a father.

At least these 40 years weren’t wasted.

After searching the kitchen, Jiang Ou remembered Auntie Sun mentioning the honey was on top of the fridge.

There was water set at 40°C, originally for Sheng Wang’s medicine. She made a cup, took a long-handled spoon, and stirred as she walked to the living room.

The living room’s main light was off, only the floor lamp by the sofa was on, casting a warm glow around the two boys sitting there.

Jiang Tian had his long legs bent, knees far above the sofa and coffee table. He bent over, pulling a book from his bag, flipping through it idly, his wide school uniform front revealing the T-shirt underneath.

Sheng Wang sat beside him, half a person away, neither too far nor too close.

He sat cross-legged with a pillow on his knees, one hand resting on it, supporting his head, the other hand idly tugging at a corner of the pillow.

He stared into the void between the kitchen and the balcony, lost in thought.

Since they moved in, it was the first time Sheng Wang seemed so relaxed in front of others.

Jiang Ou was self-aware. She knew this relaxation wasn’t because of her, more like an unconscious habit—

Sheng Wang was used to sitting cross-legged in a corner of the sofa, waiting for someone for a long time.

Jiang Ou paused, suddenly unsure if she should approach.

It was Jiang Tian’s peripheral vision that caught her, and he looked up.

He lowered the book, asking, “Is it ready?”

“Yeah.” Jiang Ou resumed walking, stirring the honey water as she approached.

The spoon clinked against the glass, making a soft sound. Sheng Wang finally snapped out of his long daze, turning his face, his eyes red.

Even Jiang Tian was a bit surprised.

“Xiao Wang?” Jiang Ou called softly.

Sheng Wang quickly lowered his eyes. He put on his slippers, grabbed his bag and the medicine bag, mumbling, “I’m really tired, going up first.”

“Hey?” Before Jiang Ou could say anything, he was already on the stairs, footsteps light and heavy, fading into his room, followed by the click of a lock, and then silence.

Jiang Ou held the cup, sighing after a moment. “Probably missing his mom.”

After a while, Jiang Tian finally looked away from the stairs, his lips moved, but he said nothing.

“But he still needs to drink the honey water. If it doesn’t sober him up, he’ll feel terrible in the morning.” Jiang Ou muttered, “Maybe I should take it up to him.”

But she hesitated.

Boys at this age are particularly sensitive about their personal space, always trying to separate themselves from adults. You can’t enter their rooms freely, touch their things casually, upstairs and downstairs are two independent worlds.

As she fretted, the cup was taken from her.

Jiang Tian held the glass, slung his backpack over his shoulder, “I’ll give it to him, you go to sleep.”

*

Sheng Wang changed his spot.

He sat on the bed, staring at the open backpack and the plastic bag of medicine for a long time, unable to remember what he was supposed to do.

Just as his legs were going numb, something vibrated against his leg.

Sheng Wang processed for a moment, pulling out his phone.

There was a new message on WeChat.

Jiang Tian: .

Sheng Wang pressed the send button, lazily saying: What’s up—

He suspected the other was checking if he was still alive.

Soon, another message came.

Jiang Tian: Is the door locked?

Canned: “No—”

Jiang Tian: Then I’m coming in.

Sheng Wang: “?”

He stared at the chat interface, not yet reacting, when someone knocked on the bedroom door, then turned the lock and came in.

This should be Jiang Tian’s first time in this bedroom, but he didn’t look around, wasn’t curious about the layout, just walked straight to the bed, placing the glass on the bedside table.

“Drink this.” Jiang Tian said.

Maybe because it was late and quiet, or maybe because they were close. His voice was low, yet the texture was clear.

Sheng Wang rubbed his right ear, saying, “Oh, I’ll drink it later.”

But Jiang Tian didn’t leave.

Sheng Wang confronted him for a moment, but feeling sleepy, he gave in. He picked up the glass and obediently drank it down, one sip at a time.

“What’s this water? Too sweet.” He complained after finishing.

“Dishwater, sobering.” Jiang Tian replied.

Sheng Wang: “?”

“Forget it.” Jiang Tian reached out, “Give me the cup.”

“No.” Sheng Wang avoided his hand, holding the cup, frowning, “Wait, I have something to do.”

“What?”

“I don’t know, been thinking for ages and can’t remember.”

“…”

Sheng Wang stayed in that position, pondering for a long time. In his peripheral vision, Jiang Tian’s outstretched hand withdrew, resting on the chair back, patiently waiting.

Sheng Wang suddenly “oh” softly, saying, “I remember now.”

“Say it.” Jiang Tian lifted his chin slightly.

“Didn’t you have something unfinished to say in the car?”

“Did I?” Jiang Tian said.

His face was expressionless, unclear if he genuinely forgot or was deliberately asking back.

“Yes.” The drunkard’s mind was sharp now, even recalling details: “I said people think we’re close, but we’ve barely talked. You said actually, and then nothing.”

Sheng Wang rested his elbow on his knee, the cup loosely held in his fingers. He looked at Jiang Tian, his eyes reflecting the lamp’s light, giving an illusion of sobriety.

“Actually what?” he asked.

Jiang Tian’s fingers lightly tapped the chair back, eyes downcast, as if recalling.

After a while, he spoke, “I said actually we could try.”

“Try what?”

“Try being a bit closer.”