Chapter 25
After this meal, the person who had not cooked was responsible for cleaning up, putting the dishes into the dishwasher, and grooming Meimei.
The living room had always been kept very tidy. When it was time to rest at night, Fu Jingqiu had to lower the booth seating and make the bed. It was fine in the short term, but over time, it inevitably became troublesome.
He had to make the bed every day. How could it compare to Jiang Qingyu, who could comfortably and conveniently roll straight onto his bed after taking a shower?
Of course, if Jiang Qingyu took the initiative to bring it up, Fu Jingqiu would definitely say it was fine, that he was not afraid of trouble, and so on. But Jiang Qingyu just felt a little uncomfortable about it.
If not for the need to hide the RV’s secret, Fu Jingqiu could also have a spacious and comfortable bedroom. He would not have to tidy and rearrange things like this every day.
The RV’s upper level could indeed free up space for a bedroom, but that was still troublesome.
After thinking it over, it seemed this was the only way for now. It was not as if Jiang Qingyu could call Fu Jingqiu over to sleep in the same bed as him.
They could fit if they really slept together, but, uh… hahahahaha, just pretend he had never thought about this.
The journey to Haizi Camp was not far, but there were more tourists than expected. Many people had signed up for one-day tour groups to come here, while others had driven over and then rented off-road vehicles.
Just as Fu Jingqiu had said, the photos online were far from the scenery seen with the naked eye. The smell beside the lake was not exactly pleasant.
Probably because it had rained yesterday, the ground was still not very easy to walk on. Weeds grew everywhere, and only a massive signboard stood in the wilderness, its four corners already rusted from wind and rain.
As soon as Jiang Qingyu got out of the vehicle, he heard tourists saying things like natural wild charm. He looked around at the sand dunes and barren land and repeated, “It really does have quite a bit of wild charm.”
The campsite could provide accommodation, and there was also a small store. Parking required a parking fee. Fu Jingqiu went to ask about the price and found it quite fair, so he immediately scanned the code and paid.
Considering that road-trippers would stop here to rest, daily-use water was free. Filtered drinking water, however, cost a small amount of money.
After Fu Jingqiu got out of the vehicle, he was going to empty the black water tank, but Jiang Qingyu stopped him and, bracing himself, said that his was biodegradable and only needed to be emptied once every two or three months.
Fu Jingqiu sighed in admiration at the advanced technology, did not ask further, and went off to do something else.
In truth, Jiang Qingyu no longer needed a black water tank. After the first upgrade of the RV, everything, including kitchen waste and daily garbage, would be biologically decomposed and then converted into electrical energy.
He hoped Fu Jingqiu would not notice certain abnormalities about this vehicle. Otherwise, if they went any deeper, it would be hard for him to explain.
It seemed that sometimes, being too diligent was not necessarily a good thing.
This place was not very suitable for Meimei to get out and play. There were also many people, so Jiang Qingyu did not carry Meimei down. He called Fu Jingqiu and casually walked around nearby.
To be honest, their pair was very eye-catching purely in terms of appearance. A handsome man and a beautiful woman together would attract attention, but a handsome man and a delicate-looking young man together were also very pleasing to the eye.
Jiang Qingyu had both hands tucked in his pockets, the zipper of his shell jacket pressed against his chin. His palm-sized face was delicate and fair. When he tilted his head and lifted his face to look at the person beside him while speaking, his eyes shone brightly, and his expression was very likable.
The person beside him looked cold-faced and serious. He was also tall, not the kind of fashionable young man with strong appeal to the opposite sex, making others somewhat afraid to approach him.
However, when he spoke to the slightly shorter young man, his brows and eyes softened a little. He responded to almost everything the young man said, and even when he was only listening, he kept nodding as a response.
Jiang Qingyu was in a very good mood, immersed in pleasant conversation. Naturally, he did not notice whether anyone was secretly looking at him.
If Fu Jingqiu were not there, he definitely would not have gotten out of the vehicle to wander around.
Although he was also fine in the RV, with food, drink, and a comfortable environment, and could hold his phone and shop for several hours, that did not mean he disliked getting out, feeling the evening breeze, taking a walk, and chatting casually with someone comfortable to be around.
Just like when Jiang Qingyu had been pulled over to eat barbecue at the RV campsite, being approached here was also inevitable. Young people’s nightlife was very rich, and this was not yet the time to rest.
There were many small barbecue carts at the campsite, as well as fruit sellers, grilled sausages, and old-fashioned milk tea made from powder. The flavors were all over the place, and a cup cost three yuan, so cheap it was shocking.
Jiang Qingyu had not been particularly interested in these snacks at first. Unexpectedly, among these snack carts, there was actually a stall selling small wontons, successfully making him stop in his tracks.
Seven yuan a bowl, condiments added freely, soup refills free.
He scanned the code to pay, then sat down at the folding table and chairs in front of the wonton cart, waiting to taste them.
The area nearby was very lively. On a sand dune a hundred meters away, some people had built a bonfire and were dancing. A circle of people beside them were helping with lighting and camera positioning. Over by the snack stalls, fruits, alcohol, dishes, and food had all taken the stage. Though the styles were not the same, the scene was very harmonious.
The young people at the table behind Jiang Qingyu were chatting about their itinerary. It seemed they wanted to postpone their return date.
He had no intention of listening to other people’s conversations, but the young man who suggested delaying their return mentioned that many people in the city had recently developed symptoms of a new type of flu. Thinking of the apocalypse countdown that had just over a month left, Jiang Qingyu found it hard not to care.
Fu Jingqiu was sitting beside him. Seeing that Jiang Qingyu had originally been playing with his phone, but had suddenly frozen, his gaze fixed on a certain point and his expression slightly serious, he could not help asking, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Qingyu gestured to him, signaling him to pay attention to the conversation at the table behind them.
Fu Jingqiu thought something illegal might be happening and subconsciously reached toward his waist. Jiang Qingyu’s puzzled gaze followed his movement. Fu Jingqiu touched empty air before remembering his current situation, and a barely noticeable trace of melancholy flashed across his face.
Fortunately, he quickly adjusted. Knowing he had misunderstood, he still focused and paid attention to the conversation behind them.
“My uncle just called me last night. He’s a director at the hospital, so he gets the news fastest. If the situation weren’t serious, he wouldn’t have specifically reminded me.”
“At most, it’s a new type of flu. Is it really that serious? Just wear a mask when you go out and be careful not to catch a cold.”
“How could it be that simple?” The young man lowered his voice and said softly, “There’s even already a group of people who’ve been quarantined. The information is being sealed off tightly. No one knows what’s really going on.”
“I don’t really understand. How bad can this get?”
“That, I don’t know. The most extreme case would just be working from home, I guess. Anyway, I’m not doing it. I’d be suffocated to death at home. I’d rather play outside for another two months and see what happens.”
As they chatted, they also mentioned that the weather had been unpredictable, that the signs were not good, and that this winter’s temperature might break the historic low. They wondered whether they should prepare in advance and buy cold-resistant clothes and equipment online.
When the boss brought two steaming bowls of small wontons to the table, the conversation next door had also successfully shifted to how they should play tomorrow and what they should eat.
Jiang Qingyu had obtained the information he wanted, so he stopped paying attention to them. He took two spoons, wiped them, and handed one to Fu Jingqiu.
The soup bowl was huge, and the portion was generous. Small bubble-like wontons floated and swayed on the surface of the soup. The wrappers were so thin they were almost transparent, and the fragrance rushed straight toward his face.
Jiang Qingyu scooped one up and tasted it. The meat filling was a little larger than that of ordinary small wontons. It was not like the ones he had eaten before, where one bite barely let him taste any meat at all. With a slightly larger amount, it was actually more fragrant.
He could taste that a little shredded ginger had been added inside. Usually, when stir-frying, he only used ginger for flavor and did not like eating it, but right now, it was just right.
The clear soup at the bottom of the bowl was wrapped with finely chopped pickled mustard tuber. Even drinking the soup alone was flavorful. Seven yuan a bowl was especially worth it.
Jiang Qingyu had now developed the habit of wanting to stockpile eighty or a hundred portions whenever he ate something good. But looking at the boss’s stock, he estimated it would not work, so he regretfully gave up the idea.
As Fu Jingqiu ate, he asked, “Do you think what they said is very likely true?”
Without blushing or his heart skipping, Jiang Qingyu said, “Yes. I saw some posts about this online these past two days too. Back in my hometown, it rained for an entire week, and people had to wade through water when they went out.”
“Whether it’s the flu or not is another matter, but the climate being unpredictable is real. We also have to pay attention. After we pass through Badain Jaran and go to Jiayuguan, we should buy more things along the way and keep them ready.”
Fu Jingqiu hummed and said all right. He stared at Jiang Qingyu for another couple of seconds but did not ask further.
Jiang Qingyu seemed to be slightly more sensitive in this regard. His safety awareness was very strong, and he was always thinking about stockpiling water and food, trying to turn the RV into an alternative kind of “safe house.”
It was not as if Fu Jingqiu never went online or paid attention to entertainment. Discussions about the apocalypse had always existed online. The comments underneath were not all memes and jokes. There were still some people who truly stockpiled water and food, using this method to make up for their sense of security.
Perhaps Jiang Qingyu thought the same way. Add to that the fact that he was driving a modified RV, with internal facilities all optimized for living comfort and a large storage space, and he had even fewer scruples when buying things.
However, this was nothing.
On the contrary, he himself, aside from giving money, seemed not to have added anything to this “home.” Washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, and all kinds of equipment were already complete. There were truly limited things he could do.
He had to buy something. Buy more.
After they finished the wontons, they had already walked through everywhere they could. They returned home, went back to the vehicle to rest, and pet the cat.
The booth sofa was indeed large enough for two people to lie down head-to-head. But Fu Jingqiu was someone who behaved properly whether standing, sitting, or lying down. He would not be like Jiang Qingyu, who hugged a pillow and collapsed, holding Meimei in his arms and staring at his phone in fascination, occasionally sharing a post or video to Fu Jingqiu’s phone.
Fu Jingqiu carefully read every message and even replied to them.
His WeChat profile picture was a landscape photo. His WeChat name was his surname written in capitalized pinyin, and his Moments was completely empty.
With that kind of profile picture, he replied one by one using quote replies:
“All right. We’ll go eat there.” Quoted: The most complete guide to eating and exploring Jiayuguan.
“Understood.” Quoted: Dunhuang Pitfall Avoidance Collection!
“I’ll take a look.” Quoted: If the apocalypse really comes, what should you stockpile?
“?” Quoted: How should men dress after twenty-five—The relaxed vibe of a mature man.
What was the last one?
Fu Jingqiu lifted his eyes and looked toward Jiang Qingyu, who had his back to him and was facing inward while holding his phone. The light from the other person’s screen glowed faintly, making it impossible to see the content. But his shoulders kept shaking uncontrollably, and it was unclear whether he was laughing or crying.
A little strange.
Fu Jingqiu was currently shopping on Taobao.
At first, he had felt like he had nowhere to start. Jiang Qingyu’s stockpiling post was like a pillow handed over when he was sleepy. Fu Jingqiu opened it and read two lines, then subconsciously wanted to frown.
Compressed biscuits? Jiang Qingyu probably would not like eating those. Meimei would not eat them either.
Instant noodles, self-heating hot pot, hot pot, eight-treasure porridge… Mm, Jiang Qingyu also did not seem to like eating those.
Steamed buns, stuffed buns, twisted rolls? These could be bought and eaten at roadside breakfast shops at any time. If they wanted a large amount, it would be better to buy flour and meat filling and wrap them themselves. At least they would be clean and plentiful.
After reading for a few more minutes, Fu Jingqiu silently exited the post.
This guide did not seem very applicable to Jiang Qingyu.
This child looked cheerful and very easy to talk to, but in truth, in some aspects, he was still very picky.
Ingredients had to be clean and fresh, seasoning had to be precise, and the cooking could not be overdone.
Too greasy would not work, and too bland would not work either.
He was the same way when eating fruit and desserts. If it was too sour, he would stick out his tongue. If it was too sweet, he would complain that it was cloying. When he was dissatisfied, all his facial features would scrunch together, making Fu Jingqiu not know whether to laugh or cry.
Fu Jingqiu did not have strong material desires, and his usage rate of shopping apps was low. Now that he was using them again, most of what he bought was for Jiang Qingyu.
Knowing that Jiang Qingyu liked soft and fluffy things, he bought throw pillows, four-piece bedding sets, home clothes, fluffy animal slippers, light-colored thin lace curtains, and all kinds of pretty and delicate bowls, plates, and tableware.
Meimei’s diet was handled by Jiang Qingyu, so it was not convenient for him to interfere. If he bought something unhealthy or something Meimei did not like to eat, it would only waste money.
However, toys, little clothes, cat scratch boards, and similar things could still be bought. As long as they were stored properly when the time came, they would not take up too much space.
Facts proved that no matter who it was, once they entered shopping mode, they could not stop for a while.
The temperature difference between day and night here was quite large, so they mostly wore shell jackets. But when Fu Jingqiu saw the kind of short faux fur coat made of fluffy material, he still could not help being tempted for a moment. In his mind, he put the coat on Jiang Qingyu—
Mm. Very suitable.
So he bought it too.
When Jiang Qingyu ended his high-intensity surfing and shopping and was preparing to get up and stretch, what he glimpsed from the corner of his eye was the orange app on Fu Jingqiu’s phone screen. A rabbit-fur coat with cat ears was being carefully checked by him for sizing and buyer reviews, his expression incomparably serious.
Jiang Qingyu: Wait. What did he just see?
So shocking.
Fu Jingqiu. This nearly one-meter-ninety man with honey-colored skin, sharp and cold features, and a broad chest, wanted to buy a cat-ear rabbit-fur coat to wear? And it was beige-white.
Oh my god…
Before Fu Jingqiu noticed his gaze, Jiang Qingyu quickly turned his face away and started touching the back of his head, moving his neck and shoulders as if he were very busy.
“Tired?” Fu Jingqiu asked.
Jiang Qingyu said, “Mm… a little. My neck and shoulders are so sore.”
Fu Jingqiu beckoned to him. “Come, sit here.”
Jiang Qingyu said, “No way, you know this too?”
Fu Jingqiu said, “Mm. A little.”
Jiang Qingyu sat in front of him as instructed. Fu Jingqiu adjusted his hoodie, rubbed his hands warm behind him, and only then placed his palms against the back of Jiang Qingyu’s neck.
For some reason, Jiang Qingyu’s body subconsciously trembled. From Fu Jingqiu’s angle, this reaction was especially obvious.
Fu Jingqiu asked, “Are my hands very cold?”
“No.” Jiang Qingyu braced himself and said, “I’ve never had a massage before. I’m a little scared.”
“It’s fine,” Fu Jingqiu comforted him. “It’s very comfortable.”
…No.
Why did those words sound so terrible?
He did not know what to say, so he simply closed his mouth and stopped speaking. His thoughts drifted away along with Fu Jingqiu’s movements. His hands seemed very big. One hand alone could grip the entire back of his neck. His palm pressed against his neck and kneaded it, taking care of the slightly sore muscles. The tendons were plucked back and forth like strings.
This felt way too sour and satisfying.
Jiang Qingyu repeatedly sucked in cold breaths, as if he could not bear it, and kept humming and whimpering, making Fu Jingqiu become somewhat suspicious. He slowed his movements and asked, “Did I hurt you?”
Jiang Qingyu waved his hand. “No. It’s very sour and satisfying.”
Fu Jingqiu said, “If it hurts, tell me in time.”
After roughly massaging his neck, his fingers moved to the trapezius and shoulder blades. The posture became somewhat inconvenient, and he could not reach the acupressure points properly. Fu Jingqiu asked, “Can you lie down for me to massage?”
“Sure.” Jiang Qingyu really flopped onto the sofa like a fish, kicked his legs twice to adjust his position, then lifted his face to look at him. “Like this?”
Fu Jingqiu supported one of his arms and very easily lifted his upper body up. Then he sat down in the space that had been freed, letting Jiang Qingyu lie across his lap.
Jiang Qingyu: Wait? He just lifted me up like that?
Fu Jingqiu straightened his clothes, and his warm palm pressed against Jiang Qingyu’s lower back. As expected, the fish in his arms trembled again.
Fu Jingqiu asked him, “Sensitive?”
Jiang Qingyu’s ears felt slightly warm. “A little ticklish.”
Fu Jingqiu said, “I’ll be gentler.”
Big brother, it’s exactly because you’re too gentle that it feels ticklish!
Also, what is with this conversation? It really sounds way too terrible!
Jiang Qingyu’s heart was unsettled, but Fu Jingqiu was extremely calm. Rubbing, pressing, pinpointing—his technique could be called very experienced. In just a few moves, he kneaded Jiang Qingyu back and forth like a noodle, leaving him unsure whether to cry out or stay quiet, lying in Fu Jingqiu’s arms in pain and pleasure.
The professional Fu Jingqiu was clearly very knowledgeable about this. After only rubbing him a few times, he already knew where Jiang Qingyu’s muscles were relatively stiff and where the sore spots needed to be kneaded loose and softened.
Once his muscles relaxed, Jiang Qingyu’s body was clearly no longer so tense, and he had the attention to focus on other things.
For example, Fu Jingqiu’s body temperature, the feel of his muscles, and the faint fragrance that seemed to be there and not there.
It was a little like the very simple scent of old-fashioned laundry powder, making people subconsciously think of clean clothes after washing and soft bedding. Its sleep-inducing effect was first-rate.
Perhaps because his muscles were not exerting force, Fu Jingqiu’s legs were also very comfortable to lie on, soft and fragrant.
Uh, wait. This seemed wrong.
Was their current posture proper?
Before he could become alert, Fu Jingqiu’s fingers moved to the area below the back of his head. His movements became even gentler as he slowly rubbed.
Mm… Why did he want to sleep even more now?
Jiang Qingyu could not control his eyelids from fighting each other. His head tilted to one side, and his lashes seemed incomparably heavy as they slowly lowered.
His breathing gradually became even, and his breaths were very light. Fu Jingqiu was half-holding him, so he naturally noticed the moment Jiang Qingyu entered dreamland.
Fu Jingqiu slowed his movements. His palm rested against Jiang Qingyu’s back. After sitting quietly for a moment, he reached out and gently stroked his head.
