Chapter 23 Fireworks Display, PTSD Episode…

Shen Jichuan ultimately couldn’t resist glancing over there out of curiosity.

But he looked too late, only catching sight of a few scattered pedestrians on the road.

So he withdrew his gaze, uninterested.

In the end, most of that bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts ended up being eaten by Shen Zhi while walking Shen Jichuan home.

Shen Zhi stopped at an intersection two hundred meters away from Shen Jichuan’s home. This is far enough. You should head home. I need to leave too.

Shen Jichuan worriedly said, Maybe I should walk you home instead.

Shen Zhi: ……

Are we just going to walk back and forth for fun?

Shen Jichuan: Actually, Brother Shen, you shouldn’t have walked me back.

Shen Zhi replied, It’s dark, and you’re still a student. If you encounter troublemakers or drunkards, I can help you. He was worried Zhang Yanbin might follow them, which was why he came along.

Shen Jichuan tactfully pointed out, Clearly, between the two of us, you’re the one who looks like they need an escort more.

Although they looked identical, Brother Shen clearly didn’t exercise often. When he was drunk that day, he had gripped Brother Shen’s waist—it felt firm yet slender, with a lean build. He could probably take down two of him with one punch.

Shen Zhi fell silent for a moment before defending himself, When I was seventeen or eighteen, I was actually quite good in a fight.

Shen Jichuan said, Brother Shen, you’re still very young now. Age has nothing to do with it—you just need to exercise more.

Shen Zhi raised his hand and smacked him on the back of the head, scolding him with a laugh.

Now that I’m not your boss anymore, you think you can speak without any respect, huh? Go home. I don’t need you to walk me.

Shen Jichuan didn’t dodge. After taking the hit, he remained motionless, standing in place, huffing and puffing for a long time without managing to utter a single word.

Shen Zhi: Is there something else?

Shen Jichuan asked, Brother Shen, about what we talked about earlier on the road—the scenery and fun places around here and such—did you find it a bit boring?

Shen Zhi: No, it was very interesting.

Shen Jichuan’s brow relaxed, and he said happily, Then was there anything you were particularly interested in?

Shen Zhi: What do you recommend?

Shen Jichuan: There’s a fireworks display tomorrow!

He said it too quickly, as if he had planned it all along. Clearly, he realized this himself, as a flicker of regret passed through his eyes.

Shen Zhi pretended to ponder: Tomorrow, huh…

Shen Jichuan’s tone deflated: Brother Shen, do you have other plans?

Shen Zhi laughed and said, Tomorrow, I happen to be free.

Shen Jichuan: Then it’s settled! Tomorrow night, no backing out.

Shen Zhi: Alright, no backing out.

With that assurance, Shen Jichuan immediately headed home, but he still walked backward, skipping as he went, waving energetically at Shen Zhi. Despite being tired from the long day, he was still full of energy.

It’s settled then!

Shen Zhi was slightly exasperated and reminded him, Turn around and watch the road. Don’t look at me.

As he approached the rental house,

the sugar-roasted chestnuts had gone cold.

Shen Zhi was in a good mood; even cold, the sugar-roasted chestnuts tasted sweet in his mouth.

He climbed the narrow staircase, holding the bag of chestnuts in one hand and fishing out his keys with the other to unlock the door. Just as the lock turned, he heard a frail, aged voice murmuring faintly behind him:

Xiao Chuan, turn around and look at Grandma…

Shen Zhi froze.

He whipped his head around to see a hunched elderly woman standing in the corner, her blood-stained hands covering her weeping face.

Smack!

The bag in Shen Zhi’s hand fell to the ground, and round, sweet, glutinous sugar-roasted chestnuts clattered down the steps one by one.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again—

There was clearly nothing in the corner.

A faint chill seeped through his clothes, piercing his skin and drilling into his bones.

Though it lasted only an instant, no one understood better than Shen Zhi what this meant.

Visual hallucination.

This was his first hallucination since stopping his medication.

On a perfectly ordinary evening, one where he had actually been in a rather pleasant mood.

Shen Zhi tightened his grip on the doorknob, not opening the door, but simply standing at the entrance until the motion-sensor light went out.

He stood there until past midnight, until the sky began to lighten.

His gaze remained fixed on that dark corner all the while.

By five in the morning, a hazy mist had drifted into the narrow stairwell. Shen Zhi’s tense body gradually relaxed, and he could even feel his muscles twitching faintly from the strain.

Maybe it wasn’t a hallucination. Maybe he’d just been momentarily dazzled by the motion-sensor light.

He was just too on edge.

Shen Zhi gave a faint, wry smile.

Crouching down, his body chilled and devoid of any warmth, he began picking up the sugar-roasted chestnuts one by one.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Lantern Festival.

Shen Jichuan woke up unusually early.

He was up by 4:55 a.m., heading to the Temple of Eternal Harmony with Shen Chengzong and Ke Chaolan to offer incense.

Actually, the temple hadn’t always been called the Temple of Eternal Harmony—that was a name later generations had given it. Its original name was lost to history, but the current one was certainly more memorable.

The temple was small but drew large crowds of worshippers.

Perched on a small hill, it required climbing a long flight of steps to reach.

Shen Chengzong remarked, Brother, you never usually come along. You always said you didn’t believe in this stuff.

Shen Jichuan brushed his fingers over the Blessing ropes tied along the steps, adorned with red cloth strips, and asked, Do you think these actually work?

Sincerity is what matters.

Ke Chaolan, carrying a basket, turned back with a smile and said, The main hall is off-limits. Later, you two brothers should go pay respects in front of the main hall’s incense burner. It’ll bring smooth progress in your studies.

Shen Jichuan didn’t go to pay respects at the incense burner. While Grandma and his younger brother were offering incense in front of the main hall, he slipped away to the donation box behind the hall—

Beside the donation box, there was a stall selling Blessing ropes and red hand ropes.

They were categorized for love, career, wealth, and so on. Some had been blessed with one day of incense, others with a full month—naturally, the prices varied.

A small crowd had gathered around, most buying the five-yuan Blessing ropes or red hand ropes that had been blessed with just one day of incense.

Noticing Shen Jichuan lingering by the hand ropes, the vendor enthusiastically promoted, Young man, looking for something? These Luck-changing ropes are really popular this year! They ward off ill-wishers, boost academic success—wear one, and everything will go smoothly!

Shen Jichuan’s attention was caught by two particularly distinctive hand ropes on the vendor’s stall.

What’s special about these two? Why isn’t anyone buying them?

The ropes were dark in color, each adorned with a single persimmon-red bead—simple yet elegant.

These beads are genuine Southern red agate, and the ropes have been blessed with a full month of incense in the temple. Whoever wears them will be safe, healthy, and at peace. They’re also perfect to give to a loved one. If it’s for a couple, it ensures their bond remains unbroken. If a married pair wears them together, it brings family harmony and a lifetime of happiness, the vendor coughed lightly before adding, As for why no one’s bought them yet—the right fate hasn’t arrived.

Shen Jichuan asked, How much?

The vendor replied, One hundred and fifty each.

Shen Jichuan fell silent.

No wonder the right fate hadn’t arrived. This was a small town, and most of the temple-goers were middle-aged or elderly. Spending 150 on something like this was madness.

Only a fool would buy them.

Shen Zhi smiled and said, Actually, I got lost and somehow ended up here, then coincidentally saw you.

What a coincidence indeed.

Shen Jichuan leaned closer and whispered, This is the best spot to watch the fireworks. Most people just follow the crowd and don’t come over here.

Of course, there were still people by the lake, just fewer in number.

Shen Zhi: True, it’s very peaceful.

Shen Jichuan’s gaze fell on his profile. The young man was looking at the shimmering lake, his calm dark eyes seeming to reflect the water’s glow.

Just thinking about what he was about to say to Brother Shen made him nervously wipe his sweaty palms. After taking three deep breaths, he feigned calmness and said, By the way, Brother Shen, I have a gift for you.

A gift? Shen Zhi turned to look at him.

Shen Jichuan pulled out an exquisite small box from his pocket. Inside was a black bracelet adorned with a red bead.

Brother Shen, I think it’s nothing short of a miracle that two people who look so much alike could meet. Though we haven’t known each other long, it feels like we’re more familiar than people who’ve known each other for years, and we get along exceptionally well.

You not only didn’t hold it against me for bumping into you, but you even gave me a well-paying job. When I had nowhere to go, you gave me a place to stay. This past month, it’s true I’ve been cooking at your place, but I’ve eaten more of it myself. Brother Shen, you clearly don’t like meat, yet you always tell me to buy and cook it—I know you’re taking care of me…

I’ve never worn such nice clothes before either. This is the first time since I was a child that someone told me ‘kids should wear new clothes for the New Year’.

Shen Jichuan had grown up in the Shen family environment.

After turning four, he never again felt entitled to ask his relatives for affection and warmth. He was like a wolf or a dog raised by the Shen family, guarding the household with all his might just to be thrown a scrap of tenderness.

He was good-looking, did well in school, was filial, loyal to friends, sharp, bold, and would stand up against injustice.

He was the other people’s child that parents talked about.

But when it came to tender emotions, he always placed himself very, very low.

He didn’t even dare to hope for exclusive favor—he only yearned for the ordinary family affection that others had to come his way, even if it was just one-tenth of what others received.

As long as someone was willing to show him a little kindness, even if he was covered in wounds and walking over would be painful, he could endure the pain, go to that person, smile at them, and then repay that little kindness tenfold.

Hoping that next time, this person might give him a little more kindness.

But it was only hope—he never actively asked for it.

This time was different though. He wanted to fight for himself.

Shen Jichuan psyched himself up: Tomorrow school starts, and our relationship… technically ended yesterday. But Brother Shen, I don’t want it to end like this.

Especially since we… we did that thing, um… Anyway, I still owe you one favor, so it wouldn’t be right to just end things like this with no chance to meet in the future.

He spoke vaguely, but both of them understood what that thing referred to.

Shen Zhi became serious.

He couldn’t help wondering: Had the dose been too strong that night, making this silly kid finally wise up? It seemed he hadn’t been that dull when he was young after all.

I bought this at the TempShen Jichuan revealed his left wrist, which bore an exact replica of the one in the box.

He looked up expectantly: Brother Shen, would you wear this?

Shen Zhi was already touched.

His eyes shimmered with softened warmth as he nodded, Alright.

Shen Jichuan: Then let it be the right hand! May it bless your right hand so it never troubles you again! Happily, he fastened the black cord around Shen Zhi’s right wrist.

The pale, slender wrist now bore the black cord with its vibrant red bead—a striking crimson that made the wrist appear exceptionally beautiful.

Shen Zhi gazed at it for a moment before smiling faintly: So from now on, we’ll be…

Shen Jichuan grinned widely, We’ll be sworn brothers from now on!

Shen Zhi: Sworn brothers?

Shen Jichuan: Yeah, the shopkeeper said when sworn brothers wear these, they’ll remain brothers for life.

Shen Zhi: …

What an ominous symbolism for a wrist cord.

You want to be sworn brothers with me?

Mm, we get along so well. When you leave this place someday, and after I test out of here too, I’ll come visit you in the big city.

Shen Jichuan flashed him a bright smile.

In the distance, fireworks blossomed brilliantly across the sky. The crowd around them grew excited, murmuring: It’s starting, it’s starting!

Shen Jichuan followed the voices: Wow, it’s beginning!

Shen Zhi didn’t watch the fireworks.

He was beginning to understand something.

In Shen Jichuan’s perception, ‘Brother Shen’ would always be just passing through this place—someone who would leave, perhaps even disappear entirely.

Meanwhile, Shen Jichuan was rooted here. Even if ‘Brother Shen’ departed, he had nowhere to follow.

He had forcibly severed that thread of dependence on Shen Zhi in his heart. Who knows how long he’d pondered before coming up with this sworn brotherhood idea.

Once the black cord with red bead was fastened, it signified their relationship had transformed from employer-employee to friends and brothers.

This way, when Shen Zhi eventually left, Shen Jichuan visiting him wouldn’t be unwelcome pestering—just friends catching up and having fun together.

Shen Zhi looked at him: Shen Jichuan, you could ask for more.

The fireworks flickered, his words swallowed by the wind.

Shen Jichuan only heard his name called, turning back to ask: Brother Shen, what did you say?Still evidently immersed in the joy of their newfound brotherhood, his eyes sparkled brightly.

Shen Zhi smiled and shook his head.

Nothing.

Oh, Brother Shen, stop looking at me and watch the sky.

So Shen Zhi lifted his gaze to the heavens.

Resplendent fireworks bloomed across the night sky.

Xiao Chuan, you could ask for more. So much more.

Time flowing backwards, wrong people standing at wrong moments—in this world, truly only ‘I’ am connected to myself.

What Shen Zhi didn’t know was this:

Shen Jichuan had another reason for proposing sworn brotherhood.

That being—

Once they were brothers, it wouldn’t be appropriate to keep entertaining those lewd, shameless thoughts in his mind.

Having tasted the forbidden fruit, the high school boy who’d had his first sexual experience with another’s help now found his nightly dreams filled with indescribable chaos.

What Shen Zhi knew even less was this:

The moment that black cord was fastened around his wrist, Shen Jichuan’s mental imagery uncontrollably plunged into yellow abyss.

That pale wrist adorned with black cord and red bead somehow carried the implication of ownership—tinged with an indescribable eroticism, truly resembling a Demon circle confinement and kept by Charlemagne in the mirror, becoming Charlemagne’s exclusive caged bird.

He quickly shook his head and turned to watch the fireworks.le of Eternal Harmony this morning. The vendor said if one person wears it, they’ll have peace and smooth sailing; if a couple wears it, their bond will never break; if married couples wear it, they’ll have lifelong harmony. I bought two—I’m already wearing the other one myself.

Warning himself: Shen Jichuan, from now on Brother Shen is your sworn brother. Even if you’re gay, you cannot have lustful thoughts about your brother—that would be utterly shameless! If Brother Shen found out, he would definitely cut ties with you!

The two of them, each lost in their own thoughts, finished watching the fireworks display and weren’t in a hurry to head home.

They strolled along the pedestrian path by the roadside.

The crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed, but the traffic remained congested with constant honking. It took about twenty minutes for the jam to clear.

Shen Zhi planned to take one more lap around the lake before riding Uncle Zhou’s electric scooter to drop Shen Jichuan off at home. But as they were chatting casually, blinding headlights suddenly flashed from the road corner ahead.

An electric tricycle was cutting across the road. Accompanied by the truck’s sharp, drawn-out horn, the screech of brakes pierced the air!

The tricycle couldn’t swerve in time. The driver had to abandon the vehicle to save himself, leaping off and scrambling away in a frantic roll. But the tricycle continued forward on its original trajectory.

Then—

Crash—!!

A massive impact sound.

The tricycle was sent flying, slamming directly into a sedan behind it. The sedan’s front windshield shattered completely.

The car owner emerged, face covered in blood, grabbing the tricycle driver and punching him: Goddamn it! Are you even human?! Crossing the road like that, you bastard?!

The scene fell silent.

Then screams erupted one after another!

Call 120! Dial 120!!

110! Call the police, damn it—they’re fighting! Holy shit, someone record this!

Shen Jichuan and Shen Zhi were positioned in a corner. Though momentarily blinded by the truck’s headlights, the accident hadn’t touched them at all.

A cold sweat drenched Shen Jichuan’s back: If that had been a direct hit, wouldn’t the person have died on the spot? Brother Shen, look—the car’s full of blood. Must’ve hit his head.

No response came from beside him.

Brother Shen?

Puzzled, Shen Jichuan turned around.

Shen Zhi stood silently beside him, face deathly pale, lips devoid of color, eyes vacant and unfocused. His entire body trembled faintly.

Gazing at the crash site, his consciousness seemed submerged in nothingness, like a shell devoid of awareness.

Shen Jichuan stared in shock, turning to grip Shen Zhi’s shoulders:

Brother Shen?!