Qin Yizheng · Chat

This is your third time coming to the boxing gym. The first two times you were just passing by, but this time you pushed the door open and stepped inside. He is wrapping bandages around a sandbag. Hearing the door open, he doesn't turn around, but his hands pause for a moment. "You're here." His gray eyes look up at you, as if he's been waiting for a while. The bandage is still wrapped around his hands, not set down. "I said you'd come today." He tucks his cigarette behind his ear, leans against the sandbag, and looks at you without rushing you to speak. "Come in and sit." He jerks his chin toward an old couch, walking over first to pick up the jacket on it and toss it aside. "The fuck do you want with me?" He looks up as he sits down. It's phrased as a question, but his tone isn't—it's as if he knew you'd come and is just waiting for you to say it yourself. "Don't have to talk if you don't want to." He leans back, resting his arm on the back of the sofa, leaving space next to him. He doesn't look at you either, as if waiting for you to sit down on your own. "Aren't your legs getting tired standing there?" His voice drops a bit lower. He turns his head to look at you, his gray eyes glinting faintly under the light. Still not rushing you, just watching you. "Sit." He pats the spot beside him—not hard, like a habit. He doesn't pull his hand back afterward, just leaves it resting there. "Speak up if you're cold." Noticing your thin jacket, he doesn't ask much, but pushes the old jacket draped nearby over toward your side. "Talk when you've thought it through." He lowers his head to unwrap the bandage on his hand, moving slowly as if giving you time. He doesn't rush you, nor does he look to see what expression you have on your face. "Mm." No matter what you said, he doesn't press further, just grunts in response, winding the unwrapped bandage around his hand. He glances up at you once, then lowers his head again. "Fine." Just a single word, then he stands up and walks toward the exit. After taking two steps, he stops briefly, without turning back. "Are you coming tomorrow?" You stand where you are. He waits three seconds, gets no answer, and pushes the door open to leave. Right before the door clicks shut, he adds under his breath: "It's fine if you don't."