Everyday Life of a Dom Boyfriend

Part Eleven: Inner Circle (9)

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After quickly examining her son, Mother Xia re-emerged, her expression looking off. She sat down without saying anything for quite some time. Just as Ye Qia was about to initiate conversation—as getting along with his boyfriend’s relatives was a must—he heard the other party say, “Xiao Ye, come sit down. I have some things to say to you.”

Ye Qia cursed inwardly and silently went over to sit, striving to put on his most sincere look.

Mother Xia did not say one word as if she was in consideration. Just as Ye Qia was envisioning their catastrophically bleak future, she spoke, “Xiao Ye, I’ve imposed on the two of you for long enough. I should be returning home soon.”

“…”

Ye Qia nearly collapsed, unable to imagine that this was what Mother Xia had to say after mulling over it for so long. He resisted the urge to let out a sigh of relief, revealing a smile instead. “Indeed. Auntie, how did you all enjoy your time here?”

“It was quite good.” Mother Xia smiled and then the smile dropped, replaced by unease. After a moment she said carefully, “How long have you and Xia Zhi lived together for?”

“More than half a year, perhaps.”

“I see.” Ye Qia watched as Mother Xia clasped her hands together, rubbing them as they rested on her knee. Xia Zhi had this same behavior, giving Ye Qia the urge to laugh and the ability to nearly overlook her complicated expression. “You both get along well?”

“Yes, Xia Zhi has a strong sense of brotherhood.”

“Sigh, Xiao Zhi’s temper is simply no good, it’s always worried me…”

Mother Xia began to nag for the hundredth time about how Xia Zhi thoroughly pummeled a fellow student in college who had cut in line. Ye Qia listened quietly, somewhat confused about Mother Xia’s intentions, but because she was his elder and hadn’t said anything that crossed a line, he simply listened.

“Xiao Ye,” Mother Xia seemed to notice Ye Qia’s wandering attention. After a pause, she said, “As a mother, I’m not asking for Xia Zhi to become rich, I just want him to be happy. I didn’t live up to expectations in the past, I didn’t find him a good father, and I burdened him. At first, I was hopeful he would wed early, have children, and live the life of an ordinary person. But I didn’t think…”

Ye Qia’s heart was caught in his throat. Was Mother Xia going to out Xia Zhi for him in front of Ye Qia?!

The fortunate or unfortunate thing was that Mother Xia stopped here and was silent. After a moment when she spoke again, it was as if she had already completely forgotten the previous topic. “Xiao Ye, come back with Xia Zhi to visit me whenever you both have the chance. Come and stay over for the New Year, as well, alright?”

“Okay.” This appears to be recognition of my status, Ye Qia thought. He smiled as he answered, “Xia Zhi and I will visit you when the time comes.”

Mother Xia repeatedly nodded. The two chatted about various things until it was late, when Xia Zhi’s aunt came urging them to bed. Mother Xia was suddenly downcast and stood up with a face full of worry.

Watching Mother Xia from behind as she headed towards the bedroom, Ye Qia suddenly spoke, “Auntie.”

“Hm?”

“Xia Zhi will be fine.” Ye Qia was completely serious as he said this, without an ounce of insincerity. “He will be very happy.”

Mother Xia was startled, then sighed with relief, nodding as she replied, “Then that’s good.” She paused and then added, “Young people are just too sappy. What’s all this about being happy or not happy…it’s life. Isn’t it just two people passing time eating and drinking together?”

“…”

Ye Qia at last understood where Xia Zhi’s nature of the extreme pursuit of romanticism came from. It must’ve been due to a complete lack of it at home.

On the day that Mother Xia, Xia Zhi’s aunt, and Xiao Gui left, Ye Qia and Xia Zhi went together to send them off. It was extremely hot and the five of them squeezed into Xia Zhi’s little beat up car, shrieking like birds the entire way. Ye Qia had suggested using the better car but was vehemently vetoed by Xia Zhi. It seemed this conduct of slapping his own swollen face to play a fat man1 was going to continue until Mother Xia left.

1Keeping up with appearances

Xia Zhi was rather lively at the airport as he talked incessantly, bickering with Xiao Gui and sweet-talking his aunt. When it was finally time to board the plane, he suddenly quieted, hovering indecisively in front of Mother Xia until he was pinched on the waist by Ye Qia and finally summoned the courage to say, “Mom.”

“Ah?”

“I, I…safe travels.”

“Alright.” Mother Xia’s smile was extremely kind. She stroked Xia Zhi’s head. “You have to be well here, too. Don’t randomly throw tantrums at Xiao Ye, understand?”

“I didn’t….”

“You definitely have, don’t argue with me!” Mother Xia interrupted her son. “Both of you are good. Live well together and don’t pick fights over small things, okay?”

An announcement started to urge passengers to board and the three women carrying bags big and small headed towards the entrance of the boarding bridge. Xia Zhi stood in the back looking reluctant to part yet inexplicably relieved.

Ye Qia watched from the side and suddenly felt slightly homesick. He leaned in towards Xia Zhi and said quietly, “Your mom actually knows already.”

“Knows what?”

“Knows about our relationship.”

Xia Zhi’s eyes were as round as balls in shock. “No way.”

“For sure.” Ye Qia shrugged. “She understands deep down.”

“Then why didn’t she say anything?”

“Don’t know.” Ye Qia thought about it and said, “Perhaps deep down she doesn’t agree with what you’re doing but pretends she doesn’t know because you’re very happy. Mothers are good at acting clueless.”

Xia Zhi blinked and looked at the ascending plane as he muttered, “Mom, you need to take care, too.”

Certain things didn’t need to be understood and certain words didn’t need to be said aloud. This was enough.

Xia Zhi’s life returned to tranquility. In regards to his mother’s “sudden ambush” this time, he felt quite like he had won a medal for evading death, and would declare at random times, “I guess I’m out of the closet now!”

Every single time Ye Qia would raise a brow, looking disdainful.

After Mother Xia left, Xia Zhi quickly began thinking. To him, sex was like salt in a dish. If he didn’t have salt, he would suffer from “edema,” a “weak penis,” and “listlessness.”

“So is there any other way to use the electro device you made last time?”

“Yes, did you want to try it?”

“Let’s try it out.”

Ye Qia smiled and said, “No.”

“…”

Xia Zhi, who had been ruthlessly shot down, was depressed for a period of time, trying to catch up with Ye Qia while being particularly busy. As if in accordance with the weather heating up, everyone’s lust also began to rise. Typically several days would go by without seeing so much as Ye Qia’s shadow. When it was finally the weekend, Xia Zhi fell asleep alone. When he woke in the morning, he found his partner lying beside him.

Xia Zhi was a particularly heavy sleeper. In the past he had experienced waking up and finding out that he’d had sex overnight. The most that ever happened with Ye Qia was him falling asleep holding Ye Qia’s thigh and waking up to discover that his head and feet had swapped places.

He hazily reached out to touch Ye Qia’s face. “When did you get back?”

“3 o’clock,” Ye Qia answered with his eyes shut. He turned over and went back to sleep.

Xia Zhi quietly got up and was just about to go foraging in the kitchen after washing up when the door rang out. Because he’d been caught unprepared by his mother last time, this time he finally thought of looking through the peephole.

“Zhemei?” Xia Zhi opened the door and said in surprise, “Why are you here?”

When Ai Zhemei burst in, Xia Zhi discovered she was supporting another man. The man seemed to be wearing just a coat with his two hairy legs exposed, and dripping down his legs was blood.