OSM Chapter 31: “How about we try? Just the two of us… try dating?”

Translator: Abo Dammen

These three dishes looked quite ordinary, but they shared a common characteristic.

He Zhiqiu didn’t notice, his attention solely focused on the injury on Li Yuze’s arm.

Although Li Yuze had said it was nothing, faint traces of blood could still be seen seeping through the white bandages.

But He Zhiqiu didn’t want to press the matter further, so he decided not to ask any more questions. After all, no matter how much he asked, there was no way to go back in time and take the pain for him. It was better to do something practical—if Li Yuze wanted something, he’d make it for him.

He Zhiqiu wasn’t one to talk unnecessarily. He told Li Yuze to go rest upstairs and then went to the community supermarket to buy the ingredients needed for the three dishes.

Cooking was something He Zhiqiu had always found easy. Having helped out in his family’s kitchen since he was young, there was no dish Li Yuze could ask for that would seem difficult to him.

So, he thought, the kitchen was all he needed.

No help was needed, especially not from someone with a bandaged arm.

“Let me handle it. If you don’t want to sleep, you can go watch TV in the living room,” He Zhiqiu said, cutting the tofu on the chopping board. After he finished, he glanced at Li Yuze, who was standing beside him, trying to find something to do.

Li Yuze was still wearing the same clothes from the morning. He was standing there with his hands behind his back, gazing down at a dead fish in the sink.

That fish would soon be made into fish fillets, coated in cornstarch and egg whites—its smoothness was assured.

He said, “I’m filming every day on a set, and you want me to watch TV? Don’t you find it boring?”

He Zhiqiu replied, “Then don’t stay in the kitchen… You’re already injured, and if you’re not careful, you might hurt yourself again.”

Li Yuze turned to look at him and asked, “You’re worried about me?”

He Zhiqiu had just finished putting the tofu on a plate. He lowered his eyes and hesitated for a few seconds before honestly nodding.

He was indeed worried about Li Yuze, and there was no need to hide it.

Sometimes, a person’s courage could be like a balloon. It might soar high and fly freely, but once it’s pierced by the wind, it bursts apart. The pieces drift down, some hanging on tree branches, others falling to the ground. Gathering those pieces and starting over again might require more than just courage.

Li Yuze wasn’t He Zhiqiu, so he couldn’t know what He Zhiqiu was truly feeling.

But he was a smart man, and it was clear to him that He Zhiqiu had more than just a passing affection for him.

Although he couldn’t judge the depth of those feelings, as long as there was even a little chance, there was unlimited potential to explore.

Li Yuze had been idly watching in the kitchen for a while, but eventually, he found something to do. He stole a glance at He Zhiqiu and, when he wasn’t paying attention, quietly opened the cupboard, pulling out several plates, bowls, chopsticks, and all the spoons.

He Zhiqiu, who had been focused on cooking, quickly put down his spatula and said, “Don’t touch anything!”

Before the words had even left his mouth, there was a loud crash, and everything Li Yuze had been holding—a collection of porcelain dishes—fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

“Ah…”

“What’s wrong? Did you hurt yourself?” He Zhiqiu, noticing Li Yuze’s expression, immediately turned off the stove and rushed over.

Li Yuze furrowed his brows and rubbed his wrist. “I didn’t expect them to be so heavy.”

Of course, he was hurt, so he couldn’t handle the weight. He Zhiqiu checked his arm, confirmed it wasn’t too bad, and let out a sigh of relief. “You took too many. We’re just two people. We don’t need all these plates.”

Li Yuze looked a bit guilty, bent down to pick up the broken pieces, but He Zhiqiu stopped him. “Don’t touch it, I’ll grab the broom.”

Li Yuze followed behind him, speaking sincerely, “I’m sorry. I just wanted to help, but I ended up making things worse.”

He Zhiqiu wasn’t upset, just feeling helpless. “Well, now we don’t have any plates. Want me to go downstairs and buy a new set?”

Li Yuze shook his head.

He peered into the cupboard and surprisingly managed to find three plates and two bowls.

40 minutes later, dinner was served.

It wasn’t until they sat down at the table that He Zhiqiu realized something.

The three dishes seemed to be getting harder to pick up with each one.

Especially the fish fillets and tofu—anyone with a healthy arm would find it difficult to pick up, let alone Li Yuze with his injured hand.

And it was his right hand, too.

He Zhiqiu reached for a spoon but then remembered that all the spoons in the cupboard had been broken, even the biggest soup spoon.

Li Yuze had already tried five times to pick up a piece of fish fillet from the plate.

On the sixth attempt, he still couldn’t grab any.

Seeing how pitiful he was, He Zhiqiu took the chopsticks and helped him pick up a piece, just about to place it in Li Yuze’s bowl when he saw Li Yuze lean forward slightly and eat the fish fillet coated in sauce.

…

The whole motion was so natural that He Zhiqiu’s hand stayed frozen above the table, while Li Yuze had already finished eating the piece.

“You…” He Zhiqiu froze for a moment, staring at his own chopsticks, his face turning red.

Li Yuze looked at him innocently. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing,” He Zhiqiu stammered. “What else do you want to eat?”

Li Yuze said, “How about the meatballs?”

“Of course.”

He Zhiqiu quickly picked up a meatball and hurriedly placed it in his bowl.

The two of them ate together, and it wasn’t especially boring.

To forget about the awkward moment, He Zhiqiu kept stuffing rice into his mouth.

But the more he ate, the redder his face became. He wanted to grab another pair of chopsticks to calm down, but somehow… he didn’t want to.

Li Yuze watched all of this, a small smile curving at the corner of his lips. “Have you ever been in a relationship?”

“Ah?” He Zhiqiu hadn’t expected this question, still shoveling rice into his mouth. “No.”

Li Yuze used his chopsticks to poke a meatball and then asked, “Why not?”

He Zhiqiu replied, “I don’t have the time… and no energy.” Plus, he had always been thinking about Li Yuze, so how could he possibly be interested in a relationship?

“And you?” He Zhiqiu asked, turning the question back on him.

He could probably guess the answer. After all, Li Yuze was so popular, it seemed normal for him to have relationships.

But Li Yuze said, “No.”

“No?” He Zhiqiu was surprised. He asked again, “Why not?”

Li Yuze responded, “For the same reason as you—no time and no energy.” He reached for the fish fillets again. “Plus, I think you’ve realized that being an actor isn’t exactly a relaxing job. Even if you want to date, there’s no time for it.”

He Zhiqiu nodded. Seeing that Li Yuze was struggling again, he once again picked up his chopsticks to help him, then curiously asked, “So, do you want to date?”

Li Yuze replied, “Of course.”

He stopped He Zhiqiu’s hand from pulling back, pressing his chopsticks over his.

“Especially when I’m sick or injured… and when I can’t pick up the fish fillets no matter what.”

When someone spends too much time alone, they start feeling lonely. No matter how popular or strong they seem on the outside, they need emotional comfort.

So Li Yuze said, “He Zhiqiu.”

“Since neither of us has the time for a relationship…”

“How about we try? Just the two of us… try dating?”