PD Chapter 10: I’m Gay

Wen Xunchuan slept right through to the evening for a good, long nap. When he woke up, he glanced at his phone to check the time. Seeing he still had plenty, he sat on the bed, spacing out a little.

A few years back, after graduating from college, he came out to his family, which caused some serious tension between them. In a fit of frustration, he’d moved out, a move that only seemed to deepen the rift with his parents, leaving their relationship practically frozen over.

Luckily, in the past couple of years, he’d started to mature and made an effort to repair things with his parents. Every weekend, without fail, he’d head back home, and the once rigid, chilly atmosphere had gradually started to thaw—at least, he could step foot in the house now.

Since last week’s dinner had ended in another minor dispute, he’d deliberately timed his return today to avoid dinner hours. Even though he had his key, he still knocked on the door.

“Ah, Xiao Chuan,” Aunt Chen, who’d worked in the family for years, opened the door, took the bags from him, and sighed, “brought more stuff again, huh? We still have all that health supplement you bought last time, you know. Haven’t even gotten through half of it yet.”

“Aunt Chen.” Wen Xunchuan handed her the bags, closed the door, and balanced himself by the shoe cabinet to change shoes as he said, “I brought some red pears. Could you stew them later? My mom should have some pear water before bed. Last time I was here, I heard my dad say she’s been having trouble sleeping lately? The American ginseng and longan can be brewed for him instead of tea at night.”

“Alright.” Aunt Chen lowered her voice, asking, “Why are you so late today? Your dad told me this morning that you’d be coming over and even sent me to the market to get a fresh carp to make fish soup for you.”

Warmth filled his heart as he glanced toward the living room. “Where are they?”

“They’re all waiting for you to eat.”

“Waiting for me?” He looked a bit surprised, glancing at his watch. “They haven’t eaten yet?”

“Nope. When it got this late and you still hadn’t arrived, I thought you weren’t coming, so I suggested they eat first. But your dad insisted on waiting a bit longer, and well, here we are.”

At that moment, Wen Shuyuan walked out of the study, his gaze casually sweeping past the entryway before he looked away, his face expressionless. “You’re here,” he said stiffly.

Wen Xunchuan nodded respectfully. “Dad.”

“Mm. Let’s eat.” Wen Shuyuan took off his glasses and walked toward the dining table. “Xiao Chen, call Yushu to eat.”

“Okay.” Aunt Chen went to knock on the bedroom door. “Yushu, Xiao Chuan is here. Let’s eat.”

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Zhao Yushu came out in her pajamas.

“Mom,” Wen Xunchuan greeted her.

Zhao Yushu gave him a chilly “Mm” and sat across from him without another word.

He served her a bowl of rice, observing her expression. “Still mad?”

Zhao Yushu didn’t answer directly, picking up her chopsticks and taking a bite. “What would I be mad about?” she said indifferently.

“Good to hear.”

Just as he felt a wave of relief, Zhao Yushu continued, “Your Aunt Wang’s daughter is twenty-six this year, just a year younger than you. She’s coming back next week.”

That wave of relief instantly hitched in his chest, stuck midway. After a moment, he sighed, looking across at his mother with a touch of helplessness and tried to keep his tone even. “Mom, I’m gay.”

“I saw her photo; she’s quite pretty, and tall,” Zhao Yushu continued as if she hadn’t heard him. “Make time next Sunday to meet her. She’s studying medicine, too—you two should have plenty in common.”

The hand that had been holding the ladle paused mid-air, and suddenly, a flash of frustration surged within him.

He pressed his lips together tightly, clamping down on the anger bubbling in his chest. Staring directly at Zhao Yushu, he asked, “Plenty in common?”

She didn’t even look up, simply replying, “Mm.”

Wen Xunchuan placed the ladle back on the table, letting out a dry chuckle that sounded almost resentful. “Sure. At the very least, we’d probably both have plenty to chat about… when it comes to looking at men.”

Zhao Yushu’s knuckles tightened around her chopsticks, her expression hardening. It looked like she was also suppressing some inner emotion.

After a pause, she spoke. “Maybe you should consider changing jobs. Staring at men’s reproductive organs all day, it’d be a wonder if you didn’t have some sort of psychological issue.”

Wen Xunchuan let out a sudden laugh, leaning back against his chair with a lazy posture, eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at her. His lips curved, but his voice was icy. “Oh? So, you think I’m a pervert? Now even my job’s perverted?”

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere froze.

Those two words felt like a small fishbone lodged in the throats of Wen’s parents, irritating yet somehow subtle, impossible to ignore. Just the thought of it made their throats tighten uncomfortably.

Aunt Chen hesitated and gently advised, “Xiao Chuan…”

“Wen Xunchuan!” Wen Shuyuan suddenly rapped the table, his brows furrowing as he spoke sharply. “Eat without speaking.”

He shrugged and picked up his chopsticks with a nonchalant expression. “Fine. Guess the pervert’s not even allowed to speak at home.”

“Wen Xunchuan.” Zhao Yushu finally looked up, her face stern, tone laced with irritation. “Can’t you talk  properly.”

“Alright, then, I’ll say it one last time,” Wen Xunchuan said, dropping his sarcastic tone and looking straight into her eyes, enunciating each word clearly. “I. Am. Gay.”

With that declaration came the clatter of chopsticks on the table, followed by the scrape of chair legs against the floor, and finally, the sharp sound of a bedroom door slamming shut.

Wen Shuyuan set down his own chopsticks, his face dark as he snapped, “Can’t you just let your mother and me have a decent meal for once?”

Wen Xunchuan stayed silent for a moment. After a pause, he set down his chopsticks, stood up, grabbed his coat, and headed for the door.

“Don’t you think I want to have a decent meal with you guys, too?”

He thought to himself as he left.