Chà Chà Novel

The Parched Land — Chapter 44

Dinner at the Fu house was unusually quiet.

Fu Baiqi’s earlier anger had not subsided. He was ordinarily reserved, but when his face darkened, that reserve took on a cutting chill that unsettled everyone.

The two teenagers were especially subdued, eating with their heads lowered.

No one knew when he had begun caring so much about Fang Fengzhi that a few remarks from the children could provoke him. The elders might have disapproved inwardly, but none said so.

Fang Fengzhi sat among them, silently chewing.

After the confrontation, the family kept looking at him. Uncomfortable, he forced down a few mouthfuls and excused himself.

As he reached the living room, conversation gradually resumed behind him.

Soon, the dining room was lively again, like a family finally reunited.

He turned toward the television.

People in festive clothes laughed and performed on the screen. It finally felt like New Year.

At that moment, he suddenly missed Min Zhi.

What was he doing?

Was he with his family?

Had he eaten?

Someone sat beside him, interrupting his thoughts.

He turned to find Fu Baiqi.

The man’s expression had eased considerably.

But he said nothing, only watched the television as though passing time.

After a while, he asked, “Are you still angry?”

The words sounded as though they had taken a long time to emerge.

Fang Fengzhi glanced at him in surprise.

Fu Baiqi kept doing unexpected things lately.

But his gaze soon settled again. Looking away, he answered quietly, “I’m not angry.”

Then silence returned.

Fang Fengzhi did not want to speak.

Fu Baiqi did not know how.

Yet Fu Baiqi did not want their conversation to end there.

Perhaps he did not want their relationship to end there either.

His troubled thoughts struggled for a moment.

“We…”

He had barely gathered the resolve to begin when someone interrupted.

“Baiqi.”

His aunt smiled, hoping to ease the tension between him and the younger cousins.

“Don’t stay indoors all evening. Come sit with us in the courtyard.”

Fu Baiqi frowned at the interruption but said nothing.

He nodded.

“I’ll be there in a moment.”

With someone else in the living room, a private conversation was no longer possible.

He stood and looked at Fang Fengzhi, curled on the sofa.

“Come on.”

The Fu family had not invited him.

But Fu Baiqi was.

Fang Fengzhi paused.

If this had been last year, he would certainly have followed.

“It’s too cold. I don’t want to go out.”

The living room soon emptied.

The television remained noisy, yet the room still felt too quiet.

Fang Fengzhi lowered his head and opened a conversation with an unsaved number.

[Have you eaten?]

After sending it, he felt a little less empty.

He stayed where he was, waiting for a reply.

But a long time passed without one.

His heart gradually sank.

He wanted to call Min Zhi, but feared the Enigma might be busy.

He went to the window.

Dusk had fallen. White courtyard lights illuminated everything outside.

The teenagers ran through the thick snow with the dog. The adults sat nearby, chatting and smiling.

Fang Fengzhi lowered his eyes.

He had seen this scene many times in the Fu household.

Each time, he was on the outside.

He no longer remembered exactly how it had felt then. Perhaps envy, perhaps something else.

But now he knew clearly.

He was lonely.

Lonelier than ever.

So lonely that all he wanted was to hear Min Zhi’s voice.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

He paused.

As though anticipating who it was, his heart began to pound.

He answered and pressed the phone close.

“Hello?”

“What are you doing?”

The moment he heard Min Zhi, warmth finally filled his chest.

He always seemed to arrive at the right moment.

“I just finished dinner.”

The other end was completely quiet.

“What about you? Have you eaten?”

“Yes.”

“Oh…”

Fang Fengzhi returned to the living room and quietly listened.

“Did you have a good day?” Min Zhi asked.

He did not answer for a long time.

Because he had not.

Hearing no response, Min Zhi asked again, “What’s wrong?”

His voice was low, but his tone was gentle, almost coaxing.

Fang Fengzhi’s heart ached.

His lips parted, closed, then finally formed a quiet call.

“Mr. Min…”

Something stirred in Min Zhi.

He looked at the research institute’s wall and heard the Omega’s faint, warm voice.

“I miss you a little…”

His hand jolted as though burned.

Heat spread from it through his entire body.

Fang Fengzhi always caught him unprepared.

So timid, yet so unguarded in expressing affection.

Something fierce surged into Min Zhi’s eyes.

He closed them.

“Mm.”

After the call, Fang Fengzhi’s loneliness had eased.

But he missed Min Zhi even more.

Seeing snow beginning to fall again, he suddenly wanted to go outside.

He had taken only a few steps when a cold snowball struck him.

He had not dressed warmly for the impulsive outing. Broken snow slid against his skin and into his clothes, making him shiver.

He looked at the boy who had thrown it.

The boy met him defiantly.

“Sorry. Didn’t see you.”

Fang Fengzhi frowned without appearing angry.

“Childish.”

He knew adolescent boys hated that word.

Sure enough, Fu Yan flushed immediately. His eyes turned fierce, and he was about to snap back when Fu Baiqi approached.

The man gave him one cold, irritated look.

Fu Yan froze, his face paling.

Fang Fengzhi brushed the snow away.

“I’m going to change.”

He went inside. Fu Baiqi followed silently.

Only upon reaching the room did Fang Fengzhi remember that his luggage was still at his father’s house.

Fu Baiqi opened his wardrobe and handed him a shirt.

“Wear mine.”

Fang Fengzhi hesitated, then accepted it.

“Thank you.”

He was about to change when he remembered Min Zhi’s bite on his shoulder.

He stopped and looked at Fu Baiqi.

“I need to change.”

It was only his shirt; there was little reason to be secretive.

Fortunately, Fu Baiqi said nothing and left.

Only after the door closed did Fang Fengzhi relax.

He quickly removed his shirt and glanced at the bite.

Although nearly healed, it remained distinct.

He paused.

Something occurred to him. He stared for a moment, then slowly reddened from his ears downward.

He thought he understood why Min Zhi had suddenly bitten his shoulder that day.

It was as though a small corner had lifted, revealing the possessiveness Min Zhi kept hidden.

Fang Fengzhi did not dislike it.

Instead, it made his heart flutter.

Fu Baiqi seemed to have received a work call and was speaking nearby.

Seeing Fang Fengzhi emerge, he approached.

But Fang Fengzhi went downstairs before he reached him.

Wrapping his scarf around himself, he stepped outside.

The snow was growing heavier.

Perhaps the heaviest snowfall of the year.

Avoiding the Fu family, he went behind the house alone.

There was so little to do here.

He playfully built an ugly snowman. Two lumps stacked together scarcely resembled a person.

Still, he drew it a face.

Frowning brows. A straight line for a mouth.

Very serious.

Just like Min Zhi.

Fang Fengzhi laughed.

Smiling, he took a photograph and sent it.

[Photo]

[Does this look familiar?]

The snowman leaned crookedly. He added more snow to make it larger.

There was still no reply.

Was Min Zhi too busy?

He had once said his family did not particularly care for celebrations.

Then what was he doing now?

Fang Fengzhi pulled on his hood, wrapped himself tightly, and lay back in the snow.

Bored, he punched the snowman a few times, leaving a hollow that made it look ready to collapse.

After repairing it, he slowly returned to the front.

It had been dark for a while.

Everyone had gone inside, probably because of the cold.

He sat on the doorstep, reluctant to enter.

It was probably noisy in there.

He held his phone, the same conversation still open.

Nothing from the other side.

Unable to resist, he called.

It rang for a long time.

No one answered.

Fang Fengzhi tucked his face into his scarf, his nose red.

He missed him so much.

Near midnight, people around the town began setting off fireworks.

Explosions sounded from every direction.

He had planned to call Min Zhi secretly at midnight.

Would he answer then?

Fang Fengzhi looked up.

Fireworks brightened his eyes.

He remembered standing alone by the window as a child, watching other people’s fireworks.

Amid the noise, he seemed to glimpse someone opening the gate.

He turned in confusion.

At that moment, a burst of red bloomed overhead, lighting the courtyard.

And the Enigma who had come to stand before him.

Min Zhi looked tired, his eyes slightly lowered as he regarded the Omega on the step.

In a brief pause between the fireworks, Fang Fengzhi heard him speak.

“Why do you never take proper care of yourself?”