Tattoo刺青

Chapter 13

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This hiking trip had been a fascinating new experience. In the past, they would just follow the stairs until there were no more and then head back. This time, with Jiang Tao guiding the way, Xiao Ke walked another fairly long distance on an unmarked path. But it wasn’t that dangerous. Lots of people had come this way, because the mountain’s residents needed to travel along it too.

Xiao Ke was still wearing Zhou Zui’s black down jacket. His hands were warm from where they were inside the pockets. Zhou Zui walked in front of him; they didn’t say anything along the hike, but with the interlude where Zhou Zui had thrown Xiao Ke his jacket, even if they didn’t speak, the atmosphere between the two of them was a bit suggestive. Old Cao was still coquettishly trying to flirt with Xiao Ke. Xiao Ke had walked all the way up the hill with him so was fairly familiar with the other. When they chatted, he had no regards and felt no pressure.　 

Jiang Tao’s old family home had been reconstructed into a small three-story house with a big garden. There was a golden retriever in the garden. It wasn’t tourist season, so the house was pretty empty. Lots of rooms were still available.

Old Cao said, “I’ll room with Xiao Ke.”

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“Get out.” Lin Xuan elbowed Old Cao away. He glanced at Xiao Ke, then at Zhou Zui. “Stop flirting. Give it a rest.”

“Old Cao can room with me. I’ll keep an eye on him; I’m the only one he won’t flirt with.” The person speaking was Old Zhu. He found a chair and sat down, saying, “One bed or two beds are both fine. It’s whatever.” 

Two to a room. Everyone else had already found their roommates, so only Zhou Zui and Xiao Ke remained.

Everyone looked at them. Fang Xi smiled and peeked at Jiang Tao. He winked. “You don’t have any more rooms left, right Taozi? I think there’s only a room with an extra-large bed remaining?”

Jiang Tao nodded. “Yeah, there’s only one room left.”

Zhou Zui had remained silent all this time. He leaned against the wall smoking a cigarette, his bag in one hand. Xiao Ke turned to glance at him. Zhou Zui didn’t look up, didn’t look over.　 

The thought of rooming with Zhou Zui had never crossed Xiao Ke’s mind. That was the truth. Before coming, he hadn’t thought of it. He wasn’t planning on it now, either. The current relationship between the two of them made it inappropriate for them to room together. Though Xiao Ke was adamant about pursuing Zhou Zui, he didn’t want to do anything by taking advantage of staying in the same room as him. How should he say this, he was pretty serious about Zhou Zui. He didn’t want this to be a one night stand with no contact afterwards; he didn’t want to be so frivolous. The path needed to be taken carefully, one step at a time. This way, it would be long-lasting.

“I’ll take a single……” Xiao Ke started speaking at the same time as Zhou Zui. But right after the first few words, he stopped.

Zhou Zui said, “I’ll stay by myself.”

Everyone in the room turned their attention onto him. Zhou Zui took a puff of his cigarette and repeated, “I’ll room by myself.” 

Xiao Ke smiled and told Jiang Tao, “Me too.”

The atmosphere was truly awkward now. The others were furiously exchanging glances. Fang Xi tsk’d and told Jiang Tao, “Fine fine. Let the two of them each get their own rooms. I’m going to have to keep a close eye on their doors tonight. Don’t let me catch you sneaking into each other’s rooms in the middle of the night!”