Zhu Zhixi looked like she was about to cry from anger.
“Fine.”
She took a deep breath, her eyes reddening at the corners as tears welled up. Staring at Zhu Huaiqian, she said, “If you want to die, then die somewhere far away.”
Zhu Huaiqian pressed his lips together, his bravado finally deflating.
He was in the wrong to begin with, and now he had made Zhu Zhixi cry. Cursing himself as a “bastard” in his heart, he clenched his jaw, his expression a mix of impatience and frustration. He hadn’t meant to make her angry.
This girl was not easy to placate.
Because of Xie Jin, the siblings were at odds, and a group of people began chiming in to mediate.
“Xi Mei, don’t be angry. Is it worth fighting with your brother over Xie Jin?”
“Ah Shen is here too. Why don’t we all hang out for a while?”
Zhao Moran pulled Zhu Huaiqian over to stand before Zhu Zhixi. “As the older brother, can’t you give in a little to your sister? Is it really worth it, the two of you fighting like this over someone else? Apologize to your sister.”
Zhu Zhixi’s fair face turned cold as she shot Zhu Huaiqian a glare. “From now on, don’t interfere with my life, and I won’t interfere with yours.”
What did that mean? Was she disowning him as her brother again?
Zhu Huaiqian opened his mouth to speak, but Zhu Zhixi turned and strode out the door.
Damn it.
Who was the older sibling here, and who was the younger one?
He was the one in charge.
Gritting his teeth, Zhu Huaiqian dashed after her.
In the hallway, he grabbed the stubborn girl by the arm, furious. “What do you mean, ‘don’t interfere with my life’? Nothing’s even happened between you and Xie Jin yet, and you’re already planning to disown me as your brother?”
“Did Xie Jin slip you some kind of love potion? Weren’t you always into Ah Shen?”
“So what if I beat him up tonight? He and Ah Shen are sworn enemies. He has ill intentions toward you.”
Zhu Zhixi shook off his hand. “So what if they’re sworn enemies? Xie Jin hasn’t killed anyone or set anything on fire. What gives you the right to gang up on him and fracture his leg?”
“If you dare to beat people up today, will you dare to swindle or kill tomorrow?” Zhu Zhixi’s eyes were red with anger. She was afraid Zhu Huaiqian would become lawless and reckless.
Would this life end the same way?
“Let me say it again: I don’t like Gu Qishen anymore.”
“Not now, not ever.”
Her soft yet resolute words fell, each syllable striking Gu Qishen’s heart.
The light overhead cast shadows on his cold, pale, and deep-set face. His dark lashes lowered slightly as he clenched his palms.
His chest felt hollow, crushed by an indescribable ache.
A bitter taste spread in his mouth.
Xie Jin, leaning on one leg like a compass, wasn’t one to be overly sentimental. He could survive no matter what.
He was used to it.
Back in his rented room, his phone vibrated with a notification—a friend request: [I’m Zhu Zhixi.]
Xie Jin’s dark eyes lit up.
Zhu Zhixi’s profile picture was a playful selfie she’d taken in front of a Funhouse Mirror. She wore a white spaghetti-strap dress, her hair in two braids.
Charming and cute, though not as beautiful and lively as she was in person.
The corners of Xie Jin’s lips lifted unconsciously as he tapped to accept the request.
[I’ll pick you up for school tomorrow, okay? Xie Jin, which building do you live in? I’ll come find you.]
Before Xie Jin could type out a refusal, another message arrived: [Don’t say no, please? Xie Jin, I really mean no harm. Don’t hate me, okay?]
Her tone was both bossy and pleading.
He could almost picture Zhu Zhixi’s bright eyes looking at him, begging him to agree. Xie Jin rubbed the pad of his index finger, as if he could still feel the lingering dampness from earlier.
How could he ever hate her?
Logically, he knew he should refuse, but he couldn't overcome the longing in his heart.
【Okay.】
Just thinking about seeing Zhu Zhixi first thing in the morning made Xie Jin feel a warmth in his chest.
A sleek, understated black business car was parked beneath a thick-branched banyan tree.
Zhu Zhixi rolled down the window, resting her chin on her fair, delicate hand on the window frame, her gaze fixed on the entrance of the street.
Zhu Huaiqian sat in the back, his eyes drifting unwillingly outside from time to time.
Dilapidated old houses stretched as far as the eye could see, with a row of dusty red tents in the middle that stung his eyes.
Xie Jin lived in this rundown place.
“How much longer do we have to wait?”
Zhu Huaiqian’s impatient voice: “Do you even know which building he lives in? I’ll go get him. This is taking forever.”
Zhu Zhixi ignored him.
Since last night, she hadn’t spoken a word to Zhu Huaiqian.
Zhu Huaiqian was about to burst.
Her dark, gentle eyes lit up the moment she spotted a familiar figure. As soon as the car door opened, Zhu Zhixi hopped out, waving her slender arm: “Xie Jin!”
Her high ponytail bounced with each step.
It made Zhu Huaiqian furious.
His sharp gaze pierced through the window, landing on the tall, broad-shouldered boy limping toward them. The anger in his eyes quietly faded.
Zhu Zhixi ran over and took hold of Xie Jin’s arm. Her hand was cool and smooth, like polished jade against his skin.
Comforting.
Yet unsettling.
A faint, sweet fragrance drifted into Xie Jin’s nostrils, making his heart flutter.
“You didn’t have to come pick me up. Wu Liang could’ve given me a ride on his bike.” Xie Jin felt he needed to say something to suppress the warmth rising within him.
“I wanted to pick you up. Don’t you want to see me?” Zhu Zhixi lifted her fair, glowing face.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
Her words were straightforward.
Even Xie Jin found himself at a loss.
He thought.
He did want to see her, but he feared becoming addicted to her kindness.
If he stayed in this honeyed comfort for too long, he wouldn’t want to leave.
He was afraid that if Gu Qishen beckoned, she would easily walk away.
She was still looking at him, seemingly determined to get an answer.
“I do.”
Xie Jin’s throat tightened as he lowered his gaze, catching sight of the young lady’ rosy lips curving into a smile—a genuinely pleased expression.
At the school gate.
Gu Qishen was talking to Zhao Moran when he saw Xie Jin being helped out of the car by Zhu Zhixi.
The tall, broad-shouldered boy was so delicate he couldn’t even get out of a car without assistance.
Zhu Zhixi seemed to ignore Gu Qishen entirely, supporting Xie Jin as they walked through the school gates.
Zhu Huaiqian scrambled out of the car behind them and strode over when he spotted them.
Zhao Moran tilted his chin up and asked, “What’s going on?”
Zhu Huaiqian frowned. “Are you blind?”
Gu Qishen’s pupils contracted slightly, his brow furrowing.
One advantage of the Advanced Class was that the teachers never dragged out lessons—they were efficient.
The regular classes were different.
When the dismissal bell rang, it wasn’t long before Xie Jin’s gaze inadvertently drifted to the window. Through the clean glass, his eyes met Zhu Zhixi’s. She curved her lips into a sweet, charming smile directed at him.
For the first time, Xie Jin found himself thinking the teacher was being long-winded.
Zhu Zhixi came to walk him home.
Zhu Huaiqian, for some inexplicable reason, had stopped going out to hang around and instead followed Zhu Zhixi everywhere she went.
Sitting in the back of the car, he immersed himself in playing games, the sound drowning out the conversation in the front.
Zhu Zhixi asked Xie Jin if his leg hurt, if he had a lot of homework, if he was eating well, if he was feeling alright, and when he needed to go for another check-up.
She was practically acting like Xie Jin’s mother.
So nagging.
Upon arriving at Litang Village, Zhu Zhixi had no intention of leaving. Her ponytail swayed as her dark, glistening eyes remained resolute. "Aren't you setting up your stall today? I’ll help you."
Xie Jin could tell she was sincere.
"No need."
He refused outright. "This isn’t the kind of place for you."
"If you’re here, why can’t I be?" Zhu Zhixi frowned, her charming eyes looking at him with a hint of innocence. She stood on tiptoe to lean closer. "Xie Jin, do you still dislike me?"
Xie Jin’s chest felt warm.
"No."
The young lady meant well—stubborn yet skilled at acting sweet and coaxing. It seemed that if he didn’t let her help, she’d assume he still disliked her. Her long lashes drooped, and her face fell with disappointment.
Xie Jin’s heart softened again. He explained, "Wu Liang is helping me."
"Then I’ll have Zhu Huaiqian help you too. It’ll go faster." Zhu Zhixi immediately lifted her head and chimed in.
She wasn’t afraid of rejection.
She knew Xie Jin was a very, very good person.
Zhu Huaiqian had never been to a place like this, nor could he imagine what Xie Jin’s life was like. Zhu Zhixi thought he should see it, should experience Xie Jin’s life for himself.
Maybe, like her, he’d also want to be friends with Xie Jin?
Wasn’t it said that twins shared a special bond? If she didn’t dislike Xie Jin, Zhu Huaiqian wouldn’t either.
He, too, would come to know that Xie Jin was a very, very good person.
They weren’t from two different worlds—they could be friends.
Inside the red tent stood a simple stove and a few plain tables and chairs.
This was Xie Jin’s entire means of survival.
Zhu Huaiqian frowned as he watched Xie Jin, limping on one leg, carry bags to arrange vegetables, noodles, and even shake a gas canister to check the remaining fuel.
He was very practiced.
Wu Liang was in charge of cooking today and had gone home to change clothes.
Zhu Zhixi gave Zhu Huaiqian a push, glaring as she ordered him, "Go help."
For the first time, Zhu Huaiqian felt a strange discomfort. He raised an eyebrow and sauntered over casually.
Zhu Zhixi wanted to help Xie Jin neatly arrange the vegetables one by one, but her wrist was caught by the boy’s warm palm. "There’s water," he stopped her.
"It’s fine," Zhu Zhixi looked at him. "I can help you get it done faster."
"No need."
Xie Jin lowered his eyes and continued with his own tasks, arranging the vegetables neatly beside the stove.
Wu Liang rushed over and ducked into the tent, nearly bumping into Zhu Huaiqian. Stumbling, he dodged to Xie Jin’s side and muttered, "Has the young master started acting up too?"
Xie Jin said, "He’s helping you today."
Wu Liang: "…"
Helping or risking his life?
Business at Xie Jin’s stall was always good, though he usually didn’t sell much.
Once the stall was set up, customers arrived immediately, leaving little time for rest. Under Zhu Zhixi’s watchful eye, Zhu Huaiqian had no choice but to stay obediently by the stove, working as a server.
Wu Liang felt uneasy under his gaze.
The young master complained he was cooking too slowly.
Wu Liang, rarely daring to talk back, retorted, "Then you try cooking. Let’s see who finishes faster."
Zhu Huaiqian gritted his teeth. "…"
"Couldn’t you wait until your leg is better to set up the stall? Why today?"
Wu Liang shot him a glance. "This was all arranged yesterday. If we don’t sell these today, they’ll spoil. Want to eat them yourself?"
Zhu Huaiqian clenched his jaw. "…"
A breeze blew through the tent, bringing some coolness. However, Zhu Huaiqian stood close to the fire, sweat beading on his face without ever drying. He had never endured such hardship before.
Zhu Zhixi bought fruit tea and handed a cup to Xie Jin.
Zhu Huaiqian smugly walked over to pick up the other cup on the table, sat down, and began slurping it down in big gulps.
A neighbor from a nearby stall noticed Xie Jin's leg and kindly asked what had happened. Xie Jin went over to speak with them, appearing gentle, mature, and steady.
It was a side of him Zhu Huaiqian had never seen before.
"Someone's finished eating. Go clear the plates," Zhu Zhixi nudged him with her elbow.
Zhu Huaiqian retorted, "I'm your brother, not some beast of burden you can order around."
Zhu Zhixi bit her straw. "Who said you're a beast? At least beasts are useful. What use are you?"
Zhu Huaiqian: "…"
Zhu Zhixi lifted her eyelids to glance at Xie Jin and said softly, "This is Xie Jin's life. What he injured wasn't just his leg—it was his entire way of living. You've had it easy, so you can't imagine how hard it is for him."
Zhu Huaiqian swallowed hard.
He truly couldn't imagine it.
Xie Jin returned from the neighbor's stall with a plate of cold dishes, propped his leg up, and sat down opposite Zhu Zhixi. "I won't be setting up the stall tomorrow. You don't need to come. Wu Liang will take me to school."
He was sending her away again.
Zhu Zhixi pursed her lips, flattening the slight pout she had been wearing. She pretended not to hear and didn't respond to Xie Jin.
Xie Jin lifted his pale eyelids, his dark eyes fixed on Zhu Zhixi. The corner of his mouth curved upward as he leaned his handsome face closer to hers. "Did you hear me, young miss?"
Zhu Zhixi couldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb any longer.
She let out a dejected "Mm" and said, "Fine."
This place was a mixed bag, home to all sorts of people. It wasn't safe for her to come here often.