Ji Yuchen couldn’t quite grasp Xu Chuang’s logic. Every word seemed to be for his own good, yet Xu Chuang never actually asked for his opinion. Ji Yuchen even wondered if those high-sounding excuses were just that—excuses. Maybe it wasn’t about whether he minded, but rather that Xu Chuang minded—he couldn’t accept having a relationship with another man, so he pretended to be indifferent to keep the peace.
That night, Xu Chuang really didn’t come into the room. After washing up, he asked at the door if Ji Yuchen needed to get up; if not, he’d turn off the lights. Ji Yuchen restrained himself from making any requests, thinking Xu Chuang could sleep wherever he wanted. He was happy to have the big bed all to himself.
However, in reality, he wasn’t that comfortable. It was the first time in a long while that Ji Yuchen slept alone. It was warm, but he felt empty, surrounded by nothing but cold, hard walls. Outside, the cold wind howled, and the shadows of trees cast on the curtains looked like tree demons from ghost stories. Ji Yuchen wrapped himself in the blanket, tossing and turning until he finally fell into a hazy sleep in the middle of the night.
In the following days, neither of them brought up the matter again. Xu Chuang was called to the town’s police station to give a statement and didn’t take Jiu’er with him. He told the police that Jiu’er was too frightened and was still bedridden. The police were understanding and sympathetic, advising him to rest well.
They briefly reported the case: the criminal gang led by a certain Zhang from the hotel was a key player in a transnational human trafficking case. They had been apprehended, and the investigation into other involved parties was ongoing. The guy named Wang Feng, with a long criminal record, had just been released from prison and was now going back.
The police officer taking the statement was from a special task force sent from the city, someone Xu Chuang hadn’t met before. Afterward, he happened to run into the officer who had helped them file the missing person report. After learning the whole story and the victim’s identity, the officer lamented the unpredictability of life and offered some comforting words before seeing him out.
Xu Chuang asked if there was any progress in the search for Jiu’er’s family. The officer shook his head, saying he’d try harder and would contact him if there was any news.
On the way back, Xu Chuang kept thinking about what would happen to Jiu’er in the future. If they found his family, he would surely go home, and they would be separated, perhaps even making meeting up a luxury. But what if they couldn’t find them?
Xu Chuang felt a bit of guilty hope, wondering if they couldn’t find them and Jiu’er’s memory never returned, could he stay here forever? Stay by his side? He knew this thought was unethical and pointless, yet he couldn’t help but anticipate, imagining a life together…
On the other side, Ji Yuchen had been holding back for two days, unable to find the right opportunity. He wanted to have a good talk, to explain that he didn’t mind, and that Xu Chuang shouldn’t worry about it. They could continue as before; one accident wouldn’t change anything. But Xu Chuang avoided him, even dodging eye contact, as if he were something ominous.
After a few attempts, Ji Yuchen lost patience and decided to go along with Xu Chuang’s indifferent attitude, taking things one step at a time.
The day Xu Chuang went to town, the afternoon was sunny and pleasant, a rare comfortable day. There was a knock at the courtyard door, and Ji Yuchen, feeling cold, called out through the window, “Who is it?”
The visitor was short, or rather, a little kid, carrying a bag of oranges and leaning against the doorframe, calling out, “Brother Dali, Pretty Brother, are you home?”
It was Li Shun, wearing a dark blue cotton jacket and a knitted hat, his little face red from the cold. Ji Yuchen saw the figure through the window, immediately jumped out of bed, threw on a coat, and ran into the courtyard.
He was wearing little inside the house because he didn’t like wearing socks, usually curling up on the kang with a blanket over his feet. In his hurry, he ran out barefoot, shoes hastily slipped on, with the cold wind seeping into his clothes from all directions.
Ji Yuchen sneezed at the door, clutching his clothes, and asked, “Why are you here? Did you come by yourself?”
The little guy nodded, lifting the bag in his hand, saying he came to bring him some oranges. Ji Yuchen pulled the little one into the house, kicked off his shoes, and nestled back onto the bed, inviting Li Shun to join him.
The little guy, still in his outerwear, found a spot at the foot of the bed, sitting obediently with the small bag of oranges in his arms. Ji Yuchen crawled over to help him take off his coat, reaching out to warm his red, cold cheeks. He patted the spot beside him, “Come sit here~”
Li Shun obediently moved over, took out two oranges from the bag, and handed them to Ji Yuchen, asking why Brother Dali wasn’t there. Ji Yuchen pouted, thinking it was just as well he wasn’t there; even if he were, he’d be like a block of wood, unable to say a word after being asked for ages.
He casually wiped his hands, not caring if they were clean or dirty, peeled an orange, and popped a segment into his mouth. The sweet and sour juice filled his mouth, refreshing and delightful in the cold winter, making Ji Yuchen smile, “Thanks! It’s really good!”
Li Shun giggled, saying his grandma sent them the oranges, sweeter than in previous years. Ji Yuchen peeled another segment and fed it to Li Shun, and the two laughed together for a long time.
Since the last time he caught Li Shun “stealing” persimmons from their home, the child had admitted his mistake and sweetly called him “brother,” changing Ji Yuchen’s impression of him. He later heard that Xu Xiaohui wasn’t as bad as people said, just someone who liked to take small advantages and was a bit proud. Xu Chuang said she was pretty when she was young and had wanted to leave for the city, but her parents disagreed, forcing her to stay and marry, which left her with some resentment, making her words sharp, but she wasn’t a bad person.
Ji Yuchen remembered something and asked, “Why did you come alone? Where are your mom and dad?”
Li Shun said, “Dad’s at home watching my sister, and mom went to the village entrance to find Auntie Li. She told me to go there after delivering the oranges.”
His eyes sparkled as he looked at the oranges in Ji Yuchen’s hand, as if he hadn’t had enough at home. Ji Yuchen peeled another one and handed it over, and Li Shun took it, his face lighting up with a happy, satisfied smile.
As they ate, Ji Yuchen asked, “Does your mom know you brought me these oranges?”
Li Shun nodded, saying she did. Ji Yuchen thought it was quite rare; Xu Xiaohui was always taking things from others, yet here she was, sending something over. He wondered if it was because of the persimmons he had returned last time.
The two chatted enthusiastically on the kang. If Xu Chuang were there, he might wonder if Jiu’er was really an adult, as he seemed to have more to talk about with kids than with adults.
The little guy stayed in the house for a while, then checked the time and said, “I have to go to the village entrance to find mom, or she’ll be mad.”
Ji Yuchen jumped off the bed, hurriedly putting on his clothes, saying he’d take him there. He was worried the little one might get lost, even though there was only one road from there to the village entrance. Plus, Ji Yuchen wanted to go out for a walk, get some fresh air. Since returning from town, he hadn’t left the house, and if he stayed cooped up any longer, he might start growing mushrooms.
Ji Yuchen put on a cotton coat and a hat, while Li Shun stood by, looking up at him, asking, “Pretty Brother, aren’t you afraid of the cold? It’s really cold outside; you should wear more.”
Ji Yuchen felt his clothes were thick enough, but heeding the advice, he pulled a scarf from the cabinet and wrapped it around his neck. He looked down for approval, “Is this okay? I won’t be cold now, right?”
The little guy nodded ambiguously, holding his hand as they left the house. The early winter afternoon sun warmly bathed the earth, making it feel less cold. After a few steps, Ji Yuchen started to sweat, loosening the scarf and pushing his hat back.
Li Shun held his hand, hopping along in front, telling Ji Yuchen about the secret base he built on the dirt slope at the village’s edge, promising to show him next time. Ji Yuchen laughed and agreed, thinking how innocent and lively kids were. Having one wouldn’t be bad, but he figured he’d never have the chance in this lifetime. He wondered what Xu Chuang thought, whether he liked kids.
As they reached the village entrance, they could hear the chatter from Auntie Li’s small courtyard from afar. Xu Xiaohui was saying, “Well, of course, he doesn’t like her. No matter how much dowry you add, it won’t work!”
Another middle-aged woman’s voice chimed in, “That’s not necessarily true. It depends on the persuasion. That man just wants someone virtuous and obedient. Being a bit silly doesn’t matter; having kids is the main thing…”
The two women laughed together. As Ji Yuchen led Li Shun over, Auntie Li came out of the house with a plate of dried sweet potatoes, offering them to the women in the courtyard, “Here, Yingzi, try my homemade ones.”
She called the woman with a mole at the corner of her mouth Yingzi, suggesting they were old acquaintances. Xu Xiaohui saw Li Shun and called him over to greet Aunt Ying.
Li Shun obediently bowed, “Hello, Aunt Ying.”
The woman with the mole beamed, saying the child was good-looking and would surely be handsome when he grew up. She promised to find him a match then. Xu Xiaohui laughed it off, saying, “That’s a long way off. We’ll talk about it later!”
She took Li Shun home, nodding at Ji Yuchen as they left, as a form of greeting. Li Shun waved goodbye, mouthing, “See you next time!”
Ji Yuchen waved back, also mouthing, “See you next time!”
After sending off the little one, Ji Yuchen felt a bit aimless, but Auntie Li called him over to try her dried sweet potatoes. In the village, people sometimes traded items they didn’t have for things they needed. Auntie Li’s dried sweet potatoes were famously sweet and were considered a hard currency in trades.
She introduced the woman with the mole as Wang Ying, a matchmaker known throughout the ten villages and eight shops. Wang Ying looked Ji Yuchen up and down, asking where this child came from.
Auntie Li said, “Jiu’er got separated from his family and is staying at Dali’s house. Once they find his family, he might not stay here anymore.” She spoke casually, perhaps feeling sorry for him, and sighed after speaking.
Ji Yuchen listened awkwardly, thinking Auntie Li was right. He was staying at Xu Chuang’s because he had nowhere else to go. If he regained his memory and found his family, he probably wouldn’t stay, especially if Xu Chuang didn’t like him.
The dried sweet potatoes in his mouth tasted bland, and Ji Yuchen didn’t know why. He even thought they were a bit tough, not as tasty as Xu Chuang’s dried persimmons.
Wang Ying, hearing he was likely an orphan with no idea where his home was, lost interest, realizing he wasn’t a matchmaking prospect despite his good looks. She perked up at the mention of Xu Chuang’s name, asking, “Is the ‘Dali’ you’re talking about that tall, handsome young man with dark skin and a strong build?”
Auntie Li, munching on sunflower seeds, confirmed, “Yes, that’s him. Dali’s at the age now, and without parents, he’s quite pitiful. You should keep an eye out for him…”
Wang Ying had seen Xu Chuang before, noting he was the type girls liked. But at the time, Xu Chuang’s parents had just passed, and it wasn’t appropriate to introduce him to anyone. Now, she saw it as a business opportunity. Rural girls liked men who were hardworking and strong. Although he might not be able to offer much in terms of a dowry, his good looks could make up for it.
She and Auntie Li chatted, planning to talk to Dali when they had the chance. But since the kids were waiting at home, she decided to head back first.
Ji Yuchen also got up to leave, asking Auntie Li before he left, “Do you know what kind of person Xu Chuang likes? Has he ever told you?”
Auntie Li was taken aback by the question, laughing, “Oh, child, how would I know? You should ask him yourself! But men, well, they usually like a few things: someone pretty, gentle, and a bit virtuous. Who wouldn’t like that?”
She tidied up and went inside, urging him to hurry home before it got dark. After winter, the sun set early, and by four o’clock, it was already nearing the mountain peaks. Ji Yuchen walked home slowly, pondering Auntie Li’s words:
Being pretty was something he definitely had covered. Even if he didn’t remember anything else, his basic sense of aesthetics remained, and everyone who saw him said he was good-looking, not just out of politeness.
But being gentle and virtuous… Ji Yuchen kicked a small stone by the roadside, thinking that was just a stereotype. Who said men only liked gentle and virtuous people? He certainly didn’t.
Feeling a bit disgruntled, he returned home to find the courtyard door ajar. After winter, the wind blew fiercely, and to prevent the door from banging loudly, they usually kept it latched, unlike now.
Ji Yuchen stepped into the courtyard, turned to close the door, and heard voices from inside the house. A woman’s voice was intermittently sobbing, as if she were crying. He couldn’t make out the words, but it sounded like she was upset.
He walked slowly toward the door, and suddenly someone rushed out. Ji Yuchen quickly stepped aside, only to see Xiang Chun wiping her tears as she ran out. She glanced at him with a panicked expression, then ran out of the courtyard without looking back.