If Found Return to Hell by Em X. Liu

Author:Em X. Liu
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Solaris
Published: 2023-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

Seventh Court

The packing was uneventful enough, but the real trouble starts when you’ve hauled everything back to your meagre apartment. One extra ice box for the food that Shine’s mother has shoved at you along with a string of thank-yous for taking in her son for his month-long ‘internship.’ What happens after that, well. That’s for future-you to decide, and now-you to shove promptly out of your mind. Wang Ran demands to be let out as soon as Shine’s mother is out of sight, and so it’s you and him who unpack the suitcase stuffed full of clothes that Shine has chosen to bring to your humble abode.

Wang Ran makes a face. “What is this?” he says, nose scrunching up as he holds out a loose beige turtleneck, the sleeves hanging down.

“A shirt,” you say.

Wang Ran holds it against his body. “I’m not wearing this,” he says.

“Good thing there’s more where it came from,” you say. There’s a growing stack of folded clothes. You drop a pressed pair of slim fit dress pants on top of it.

“Sunshine, do you go anywhere other than class?” Wang Ran asks.

The question is not directed at you, obviously, but you’ve gotten better at deducing that when it’s not so evident. Wang Ran rolls his eyes, makes an unconscious gesture as he and Shine carry on with their conversation.

You keep unpacking.

“We’re going shopping,” Wang Ran declares after a moment.

You roll the now-emptied suitcase into the closet, where your own clothes are admittedly piling up. There’s no room for a cot in your room, but Shine just shrugged and said the couch was fine, thanks. Wang Ran didn’t object.

“Hey,” Wang Ran says, trailing you into the closet, “lao ge, did you hear what I said?”

You look over your shoulder. “I’m not buying you clothes.”

Wang Ran looks deeply offended. “Why not?”

“Because,” you say, shoving the suitcase away with a sigh, “I’m in debt, and you don’t need your own clothes.”

“But,” says Wang Ran.

“Take it up with Shine,” you say.

He pouts, but seems to get the message. You hear him loudly whining ‘Sunshine…’ into the other room as you finish stashing the food into the fridge.

The next day, you come home to shopping bags strewn around everywhere on the ground. You sling your bag down, hover a few out of your way as you wade through the mess, and find Wang Ran trying things on in the closet.

“Where did you get all this?” you ask, with some trepidation.

“Shine took me shopping,” Wang Ran says absentmindedly, as he adjusts the line of the maxi skirt on his hips. He has his hair shoved back again, a metal headband holding most of it back, a sleeveless crop, and is what can only be called preening in the mirror.

“Did you just spend all of Shine’s money?” you ask.

Wang Ran scoffs. “No,” he says. “I spelled the cashier.”

You stare at him for a long while. He stares right back, lips pursed. There’s not even a hint of shame in his blinking eyes, and it’s unclear if he realizes the ramifications of any of what he’s said to you.

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