Deep in the Act: Chapter 60

On the weekend, Fang Chi accompanied Gao Zhun to break in his car on the highway. A two hour drive, just right to get to a shooting range in Wuxi for some clay pigeon shooting. Fang Chi was very good with a double barrel shotgun. Gao Zhun wasn’t in a hurry to head back. It got late, so he called a friend who worked as a trader, and stayed a night at the upscale club his friend ran in the suburbs.

Finding the place, checking in, eating dinner, it was already past midnight. Gao Zhun was too excited to want to go back to the room. Fang Chi held his hand, gently pulling: “Why so wild?”

Gao Zhun looked front and back. Too late, no one around. He stood on tiptoe and planted a solid kiss on his mouth: “Can we come shoot clay pigeons again when we have time?”

Fang Chi kissed him back delicately: “You like it that much? You didn’t shoot much today.”

Gao Zhun wouldn’t say that Fang Chi looked incredibly handsome wearing orange shooting glasses and bright yellow ear protection. Raising the gun, aiming, firing. Every shot hit him in the heart. His whole body trembled along.

The two of them stuck together sticky and sweet. Passing the indoor swimming pool, Gao Zhun insisted on pulling Fang Chi in. They got swim trunks from the vending machine, playfully changing in the locker room. Standard pool. All four walls and the ceiling were mirrors, making the space seem very open. A row of night lights was on in the pool. Dark blue water rippled, reflected in the bright mirrors, with a kind of enchanting beauty.

Gao Zhun tossed his phone on a lounge chair, whistled, pinched his nose and jumped in. Water splashed high. Fang Chi got drenched. He was about to jump in too when a text came on his phone. He saw it was from his supervisor Yan at the treatment center. He walked to the pool edge and sat down, both legs dangling in the water. The temperature was just right. Relaxedly swinging back and forth.

“I’ve scheduled your interview for you. Next Thursday morning. Third floor of the psychology department. The dean’s office.”

Gao Zhun swam incredibly fast. Rather than like a fish, more like a gust of wind, sharply slicing through the water. Fifty meter lane, easily touched the wall. One twist of his body, he swam straight back toward Fang Chi. Reaching him, he lightly kissed his left knee, then turned back.

Fang Chi smiled like he had secretly eaten honey, replying to her: “Okay, Supervisor Yan, thank you.”

In the hazy lamplight, Gao Zhun’s body looked snow white. Shoulders, arms, ankles, occasionally breaking the surface. Just that faint flash, and Fang Chi felt his heart sway. Soon, a reply came back: “Don’t mention it, we’re all alumni. Prepare well. Given your current condition, being a university teacher is the most suitable.”

On the second lap, Gao Zhun planted a kiss on Fang Chi’s right knee. Ice cold. In a turn of the eye he swam far away again. Fang Chi put down his phone, quietly watching him touch the wall. He couldn’t believe this moment was real. Gao Zhun really hadn’t given up. Swimming toward him. Always swimming toward him. Only swimming toward him. There was a line between them, unable to be untied or cut. Just like now, Gao Zhun seemed to sense it, swimming over and stopping by his feet. Forehead hair dripping down the curve of his cheeks, lips wet. Water light reflected back, dazzlingly brilliant. He blinked his eyes full of tender affection, both hands parting Fang Chi’s knees, squeezing in, burying his head between his legs.

Fang Chi hurriedly propped up his arms, supporting his leaning back body. His tongue teased mercilessly through the swim trunks. He felt guilty, frequently looking toward the door. In this moment of distraction, Gao Zhun treaded water and retreated, smiling wickedly, very provocatively sticking his tongue out at him.

“Come here!” Fang Chi lowered his voice. You could tell, he was urgent. Gao Zhun smiled triumphantly, both hands reaching underwater, swaying his waist. Fang Chi’s eyes immediately went straight. He had taken off his swim trunks.

Like under a spell, Fang Chi was drawn into the water by him. Gao Zhun saw him coming, splashed water at him, screaming as he swam toward the opposite shore. Fang Chi lunged to grab him. Of course he caught him immediately. Pushing him, forcing him to the pool edge. Gao Zhun looked at him hotly, trembling, seeming to expect him to do something. Fang Chi didn’t disappoint him. Holding his breath he sank down, immediately making him let out a wanton cry.

The sound was loud, and excessively immersed. Gao Zhun grabbed the pool edge with his backhand, floating up and down unbearably. About half a minute, Fang Chi came up for air. Only roughly panting twice, he went back down to keep sucking him. This torturous rhythm drove Gao Zhun crazy. He half lost himself staring at the ceiling, seeing himself shamelessly spreading his legs, using the water’s buoyancy to thrust up his privates.

Maybe he was crying out too explicitly. Or perhaps it was the routine night cleaning. A young man in work clothes came in carrying a mop. Caught off guard seeing this scene, he froze there in fright. Gao Zhun was also startled, awkwardly pushing Fang Chi underwater.

“That… that thing,” the young man stupidly recited management regulations: “Sir, this is a public place, you can’t mess around with men and women…”

Fang Chi suddenly popped his head out of the water: “What?” He had no idea, slowly wiping his face. Following Gao Zhun’s gaze he turned to look. Only a young figure fleeing in panic.

Fang Chi was a bit confused, blankly making eye contact with Gao Zhun. Being seen doing this kind of thing, he thought he would feel very panicked. It turned out he didn’t. Being with the person he liked really made him fearless. He burst out laughing, putting his arm around Gao Zhun’s shoulder: “Let’s go, stop swimming.”

Smiles are contagious. When he laughed, Gao Zhun relaxed. Somewhat embarrassed he said: “You go first.”

Fang Chi insisted on waiting for him. Gao Zhun blushed, swimming back to get his swim trunks. Not putting them on, covering his lower body as he floated to shore. The two went to shower one after another. Not turning on the lights, back to back under the water. The sound of water rustling. Surroundings dim. Only the corridor floor lights glowed faintly. Gao Zhun suddenly asked: “He left?”

Fang Chi repeatedly rinsed his hair with clean water: “Don’t know.”

After a while, Gao Zhun said again: “I think he left.”

Only then did Fang Chi catch the hidden meaning. Turning back, he saw Gao Zhun standing in the water curtain, both hands moving slightly behind him.

“Don’t mess around,” Fang Chi looked toward the door. Clearly afraid, but a smile hung at the corner of his mouth: “Here… it’s very uncivilized.”

He said this, but his feet moved beyond his control, squeezing into Gao Zhun’s shower stream, face pressed against face. Almost no flashy foreplay, and Gao Zhun’s lower body was already pressing over. His right leg raised as high as possible, rubbing against his arm.

Fang Chi didn’t hold him up. His hand reached in from the gap opened by his buttocks. Very deep. Two fingers. Gao Zhun immediately started humming, humming like he wanted the whole world to hear. Fang Chi only played with him a dozen or so times, then somewhat entranced licked his face: “Quieter…”

“Who told you not to come in,” Gao Zhun’s whole body was shuddering, twisting his butt front and back: “Don’t want fingers…”

“You really are something…” Fang Chi impulsively twisted his wrist, pumping his arm in large motions, repeatedly sucking his defenseless lips: “I’m afraid you can’t take it…”

Whether it was hitting some spot or some word said right, Gao Zhun cried out like he was about to stop breathing, hugging him tight, his sweat damp buttocks trembling, coming senselessly.

Fang Chi hurriedly supported him, like soothing a naughty cat or dog, gently stroking his back, kissing him while waiting for him to come back to his senses: “So excited outside,” he picked him up horizontally: “Next time this won’t do.”

Fang Chi helped him with all his clothes. Gao Zhun was soft boned and weak waisted, leaning on him as they walked out. At the exit they ran into that young man again. Clearly they hadn’t been doing anything good all this time. The young man awkwardly lowered his head, occasionally sneaking glances.

Walking far out, getting in the elevator, Gao Zhun finally complained somewhat sensitively: “What’s there to look at.”

Fang Chi comforted him: “He didn’t mean it that way. This kind of thing… it’s not right for men and women either.”

The elevator door opened. Gao Zhun loosely grabbed his shirt collar, pushing him out: “What do you mean, speaking up for someone else?”

It was somewhat of a joking accusation. Fang Chi immediately raised both hands, laughing as he surrendered: “No, whatever you say is right!”

Beep, the door opened and they entered the room. Gao Zhun let go of him, his eye waves flying sideways: “That’s more like it,” he kicked off his shoes and took off his coat: “Wait, giving you a reward.”

This was a large suite, very luxuriously decorated. In the bedroom corner was an old style stereo. Fang Chi tried turning it on to play. The effect was pretty good. The CD was Lana Del Rey’s “West Coast.” He turned up the volume, went to the liquor cabinet and opened champagne, carrying a flute glass toward the walk in closet. The closet was open concept. Standing at the entrance, he stared with his mouth gaping in shock.

Gao Zhun had his back to him, loosely wearing a dark mouse colored fur coat. Naked underneath, showing most of his back. His left foot squeezed into a black stiletto heel. His right foot raised, in the middle of putting on the other. You could see the bright red sole.

“Hey.” Fang Chi leaned against the wall, hitting on him like he was a girl. Gao Zhun was somewhat panicked, explaining with a red face: “When checking in… saw it in the storage cabinet. Probably some ‘socialite’ left it behind…”

Fang Chi carefully approached him, wanting to encircle him, yet somewhat hesitant: “How wonderful,” he said: “Really a surprise.”

“Still like women?” Gao Zhun asked self tormentingly, immediately feeling he was spoiling the mood, adding: “If you like, there’s also lingerie and stockings…”

Fang Chi gazed at him obsessively, his hand reaching under the fur to touch. Gao Zhun trembled and dodged. Fang Chi casually set the glass aside, picking up both the fur and the person, carrying him back to the bedroom, gently placing him by the big bed. Leaning over, his palm slid down the thigh, skillfully taking off one high heel. Gao Zhun was also very skilled in the past: “Charles,” he called in a cutesy way like Zuo Linlin: “Charles!”

“Holy mama!” Fang Chi blurted out a slang expression, ruttingly pulling apart the slippery fur, urgently undoing his belt. Suddenly something sprayed from Gao Zhun’s sleeve, splashing all over his face.

Gao Zhun giggled, kicking off the other shoe by the bed, escaping from his embrace like fleeing. Fang Chi wiped his face, sniffing. It had a sweet fragrance. Women’s perfume. He pretended to be angry, staring at Gao Zhun consumed by lust. That guy had also hidden something in his other sleeve. Now taking it out, it was a tube of lipstick. Bright red, applying it with considerable charm for him to see.

Fang Chi lunged to capture him, huffing heavily from his nostrils, not listening to Gao Zhun’s pleas for mercy, pinning him down and kissing. Lipstick smeared everywhere. Chin, cheeks, ear contours, streaks and strands of red.

Only after 3 in the morning did the two finish. Fang Chi came out of the bathroom, lazily sprawled on the bed, giggling nonstop. Gao Zhun was still washing. His gray silhouette reflected on the frosted glass door. Suddenly his phone rang. Fang Chi looked. It was an out of town landline number. He didn’t answer. The other side hung up and called again. About four or five times. He answered: “Hello?”

The other side made no sound. Fang Chi thought it was probably a harassing call. About to hang up, a woman spoke. She sounded somewhat aged: “So you’re that whatever Fang Chi?”

Fang Chi was stunned: “You are…”

“You bastard!” Although it was cursing, she was like a victim, trembling with a bit of crying in her voice: “Do you have any shame!”

Fang Chi quickly got out of bed, knocked on the bathroom door, handed the phone over. Gao Zhun only looked at the caller ID once, and his face changed. He walked out wet, took a deep breath, and called into the phone: “Mom.”

Fang Chi hurriedly grabbed a towel to dry his head and body, following him pacing back and forth, listening to him say irritably: “Zuo Linlin told you?” In his irritation carrying fear: “Didn’t you hate her the most.”

Then came silence. Gao Zhun’s silence. His mother crying and cursing excitedly on the other end of the phone. Gao Zhun sadly sniffled, wanting to walk toward the closet. Turning back he saw Fang Chi, saw him balling up the towel, sitting on the bed edge nervously looking at himself. So he walked back, signaling him to get in bed.

“I am with him,” the lights turned off. Fang Chi leaned against the pillow. Gao Zhun pillowed on his chest. Arms tightly entwined together: “I pursued him.”

Fang Chi listened quietly, slowly stroking his hair. His mother grew more and more agitated. Fang Chi could feel it. Gao Zhun’s muscles were tense, about to explode at any moment. He kissed the crown of his head: “Don’t get angry at mom. However much she scolds you, she loves you.”

Gao Zhun listened to him. But his stiff muscles didn’t relax, instead growing more tense: “Mom, you’re too overbearing. Sometimes… I’m really afraid of you,” he panicked and panted, hesitating and tormented, finally saying: “There’s something I’ve always been afraid to tell you…”

Every hair on Fang Chi’s body stood up. He didn’t dare guess what Gao Zhun was going to say. Pressed so close, able to perceive each other’s subtle emotional changes. Before he opened his mouth, Gao Zhun started crying first: “I was raped. By a man…”

This was a very long story, Fang Chi thought. Lifting the blanket, he went to the mini fridge to get Gao Zhun a bottle of water.

Thursday, 11:40 in the morning. Gao Zhun waited at the first intersection after turning left from the south gate of Pujiang University. When leaving home in the morning, Fang Chi said he should be done by 10:30. Clearly he was late now. He anxiously lit a cigarette. Because parking was difficult around here, he came by subway. The sun was glaring. So he hid in the shadow of the nearby building. Across a narrow street was the garrison compound. A sentry stood at the gate, carrying a gun. Tall, military uniform crisp and neat. Gao Zhun couldn’t help looking a couple more times.

That soldier was also looking at him. It was rare to see someone dressed so meticulously in this area. Beautiful hairstyle, navy blue suit. One turn and the collar button reflected a faint lotus purple glow. Not tall, but with a kind of exquisite and decadent beauty.

For one fleeting moment, Gao Zhun and he had an unintentional eye contact. Very ordinary, so ordinary it was almost imperceptible. At this moment from the corner came a woman who had changed into a skirt too early. Long hair flowing, waist swaying, carrying considerable mature charm. Like a pair of gorgeous scissors, cutting through the middle of their line of sight. Walking past, quickly turning back, stopping in front of Gao Zhun, lightly swaying as she looked at him. Taking a cigarette from her clutch and putting it between her lips: “Got a light?”

Gao Zhun never considered himself a gentleman: “No.” He gave not an ounce of face. The woman was shocked by his blunt lie, glaring hard a couple times, then continued on her way.

The sentry was surprised. That kind of woman, who wouldn’t want to flirt a bit? Yet this person disdained her. Soon he knew the reason. Gao Zhun urgently finished smoking. The cigarette butt he didn’t throw at his feet, but rather pinched out and deliberately tossed into a sewer opening a few meters away. Then he unbuttoned his suit, fanning hard with both hands. The sentry couldn’t help laughing. He was waiting for his girlfriend.

Gao Zhun rummaged through his handbag, wanting to find a piece of gum. From around the corner someone came again. The person hadn’t arrived, but the phone ring came first: Blue hydrangea, cold cash, divine, cashmere, cologne, and white sunshine…

What a coincidence, Gao Zhun thought. It was Lana Del Rey’s “Old Money.” Last weekend he had just heard it, tangled with Fang Chi in bed, climaxing together… The phone was answered: “Supervisor Yan, mm mm… went very smoothly, thank you.”

It was Fang Chi’s voice. Gao Zhun immediately turned his head. Rimless glasses, a warm smile. It was him.

The sentry watched them in surprise, watching Gao Zhun being hugged around the waist, standing on tiptoe, his body winding languidly, dizzyingly opening his lips. The phone ring from just now rang again. They didn’t answer, but instead forgot themselves in intimate rubbing of cheeks.

The gun on his back suddenly felt somewhat heavy. The sentry hurriedly averted his eyes. So, his world was back to what it originally was. Only the English song with unknown meaning softly sang across the narrow street: “But, if you’d send for me you know I’ll come, And if you’d call for me, you know I’ll run, I’ll run to you, I’ll run to you, I’ll run, run, run, I’ll come to you, I’ll come to you, I’ll come, come, come…”