farm(2)
The supposedly navigator was fiddling on his phone, Xie Mingze was having a hard time helping Fen Yichen with the directions. He was shit when it comes to directions and Yichen knows that.
"I'm not sure if we should turn right on the next turn or the other one, but it's near."
His parents, tired from preparing all morning, were sleeping in the back. Only the sound of the radio silently played through the car. Despite being a bad navigator Fen Yichen miraculously went the right path everytime, he wonders if he was a psychic.
"Do you even need me here?"
"It's your job to talk so I won't fall asleep."
He got a point, it would be a bit lonely to drive without anyone accompanying him while everyone else is sleeping.
Still, it's a bit hard to think about a topic all of a sudden. Xie Mingze's head felt blank.
"Fruit salad tastes good…"
"Hahaha that's so random."
"What am I even supposed to say?!"
Mingze's face heats up from embarrassment. Then he remembered something, "oh yeah the old man at the milk tea shop. I forgot to tell him I would be leaving for a few days."
He would like to believe that the man was coming to the shop for some companionship since his family is busy. He must've been lonely to come to the shop every time Mingze is on shift.
"Grandpa Xiao came so frequently he had his own menu made for him, it's a brewed tea with whatever bread is on the menu. Though usually it would be croissant he would eat by the window."
Grandpa Xiao? He remembered someone but shook his head. Surely not, what would he even do in a milk tea shop.
"I think he wants to reconcile with his grandkid, who's in highschool." Xie Mingze beamed, such stories are really heart warming.
That sentence was all it took for Fen Yichen to conclude that it was not his grandpa. His grandpa's pride is higher than the sky; he would never do such things. If it was his grandfather then the reason he would be there is to check the market or maybe he wants to buy a nearby land.
It was all business when it came to him.
"My grandfather had worked for the military before, he was stern and I was afraid of him before but he was always afraid of grandma."
Xie Mingze remembered how Fen Xiao cherished the old red scarf, even when it was not cold he would bring it with him and put it on his lap. Like finding solace in a lonely place. Even without asking he can feel that it was given by someone important.
***
Finally arriving at their destination! Xie Mingze stretched his arms and legs feeling the fresh breeze in the countryside.
"We are here!" Mingze ran around and went to greet his grandparents and cousins. Apparently his aunts and uncles are too busy to come so only his cousin came. The only downside is that they are all girls, the only boy was him and they're all older.
"First cousin, how are you even gonna farm?"
"I brought my boyfriend, what else? Hah I guess Little Ming would be stuck in the fields again while we eat mochi." his first cousin teased.
"Don't tease your youngest cousin, he also brought his boyfriend." The three girls' eyes sharpened and only then did they notice Fen Yichen's presence.
The boyfriend of their little cousin was tall and handsome.
The three of them are triplets and his only cousins, his father is an orphan so he doesn't have two sets of grandparents while his mother only has one brother. It's a fairly small family compared to others.
"Little Ming has a boyfriend?!" They have a wtf expression on their face.
They peered at the handsome man helping Mama Xie and Papa Xie. He looked polite.
"You must be Ming's cousin. I brought gifts."
When did he have the time? Honestly, it was a mystery he even prepared gifts for the three of them. He brought out three beautiful summer dresses.
"I'm Xie Wan the first cousin, this is Xie Annie and the youngest is Xie Mei. It's nice to know our youngest cousin has someone."
They knew his sexuality, they are very close and always hang out together. Of course his preference was also known by the three.
"I'm Fen Yichen, you can call me Yichen. I also bought some chocolates and snacks for everyone."
"Oh wow you really want to rake up plus points. I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to get married this year." Xie Mei said with an eyeroll.
"Is this wedding candy? You should tell your parents, right?" Xie Annie added with a mischievous smirk on her face.
"You guys are making me crazy, stop spouting nonsense and help with unpacking things up."
The trio said yes in unison before walking away. Is this really okay? They're not even dating for real and now his extended family knows of their existence, he wonders how he would explain once they break up.
Poke.
Something poke his cheeks. It was Fen Yichen's index finger poking his white cheeks.
"What are you thinking? Pennies for Mingze's thoughts."
"I'm just wondering if this is fine?"
"As long as I don't object to it then it's fine. I also want to know more about you and your family in a way."
It was easy for Fen Yichen to say, but Xie Mingze was feeling a bit unsettled with how things are going now. He can't pinpoint why but it felt like something was off.
"Little Ming, Little Yi! Let's go to the farm." After finally unloading everything, they would rest under the shades of the tree and have some breakfast then start working in the fields.
Mingze dreads and loves farming, only because it was satisfying but after a day's of hardwork he would be stuck in bed unable to move his aching muscles.