The long, quiet corridor was dim, and Zhou Xundu’s words received no response.
The boy in pajamas had a cold and fierce gaze, his expression so calm it was devoid of any ripples, like a lake covered in thick ice, impervious to anything thrown at it.
He was so composed that there was not a trace of emotion, something no normal person should exhibit.
Or perhaps, he completely regarded Zhou Xundu as a dead man, so he didn’t care about his words at all.
If a person is calm to such an extent, either they’re pretending, or they’re a complete lunatic…
It was impossible to tell which side Xu Wangzhi was on, perhaps he was somewhere in between.
Zhou Xundu’s gaze shifted from initial surprise to something more intriguing.
If ignored, someone like Han Tian might become irritable and impulsive, but not him. He merely chuckled, as if complimenting, “You’re quite interesting.”
Xu Wangzhi ignored him, slowly rolling up his sleeves. His demeanor was cold and dignified, each movement as captivating as a figure in a painting.
His pale wrist was exposed, and only then did Xu Wangzhi’s gaze fall on Zhou Xundu. He spoke in a flat tone, “Will you leave on your own, or should I ‘invite’ you to leave?”
Zhou Xundu chuckled, rubbing his forehead, his voice still gentle but tinged with slight disdain, “My dear classmate, I’m not one to resort to violence. I came to take Ning Ning with me, so please don’t make things difficult. You have no right to stop me, nor to refuse.”
“Just an ordinary classmate, why put yourself in an inappropriate position?” he said, tugging at his tie.
Xu Wangzhi replied with a question of his own, “In what capacity are you taking him away?”
“Friend, brother, or even future boyfriend, take your pick. No matter what, he’s coming with me today.” Zhou Xundu’s lips curved into a gentle smile.
The atmosphere seemed to tighten, Xu Wangzhi lowered his gaze slightly, watching Zhou Xundu’s hand against the door, then stepped out of the room.
Seeing this, Zhou Xundu paused briefly, then withdrew his hand from the door with a smile.
The two exchanged no words, yet it felt as if some unspoken agreement had been reached.
The door closed softly, and the hallway’s sensor lights went out, plunging the surroundings into darkness.
Not long after, the sensor lights flickered back on.
*
Cheng Shuoning suddenly woke up, realizing he had shifted from the far right to the far left.
He turned on the light, finding himself alone in the room, with no sign of Xu Wangzhi.
In the silence, Cheng Shuoning heard a faint noise, so subtle he wasn’t sure if it was real.
He left the bedroom to find the living room lit but empty.
The noise came from outside the door. Cheng Shuoning opened it to see two bruised faces.
He hadn’t expected to see Zhou Xundu here, and was even more surprised that the two had fought.
By now, they had separated, and aside from the bruises on their faces, there were no other signs of a scuffle.
Zhou Xundu’s glasses were askew. He removed them and gave Cheng Shuoning a gentle smile, “Ning Ning, I’m here to pick you up.”
“No need.” Cheng Shuoning glanced at Xu Wangzhi, his gaze lingering on the cut by his lip, “I’ll stay here tonight and go straight to school tomorrow.”
“You can stay at my place,” Zhou Xundu suggested, “You can stay as long as you don’t want to go home.”
His tone indicated he knew about the unpleasantness with Cheng Shuoning’s family.
Cheng Shuoning pressed his lips together, declining again, “Really, there’s no need, Brother Zhou. Thank you for coming all this way so late, but I’m fine here…”
“You’ve been bothering your classmate for so long, is that okay?” Zhou Xundu sighed, putting his glasses back on and relenting, “If you really don’t want to leave, then I’ll head back.”
The word ‘bother’ made Cheng Shuoning ponder, wondering if Xu Wangzhi felt he was a nuisance.
Seeing his expression, Zhou Xundu’s smile deepened, coaxing gently, “Come on, Ning Ning, it’s already late.”
Xu Wangzhi remained silent, half his face hidden in shadow, revealing no emotion.
The questions Cheng Shuoning wanted to ask were stuck in his throat.
“Ning Ning?” Zhou Xundu called again.
The hesitant boy finally made up his mind, responding, “I understand.”
He changed out of Xu Wangzhi’s clothes, putting on his own, which had been washed and dried. Before leaving, he stopped by Xu Wangzhi’s side, whispering, “Thanks for today, see you at school tomorrow.”
He left quickly, the hallway’s voice-activated lights extinguishing with the sound of his footsteps, leaving Xu Wangzhi enveloped in darkness.
He moved to the window, looking at the car parked below, his gaze cold and sharp. He mouthed silently, “See you tomorrow.”
The movement tugged at the cut by his lip, causing a twinge of pain.
That’s where Zhou Xundu had punched him, breaking the skin and drawing blood, but Xu Wangzhi hadn’t let him off easily, returning a heavier punch that wiped the gentle expression from Zhou Xundu’s face.
The car remained for a long time before Xu Wangzhi heard hurried footsteps again. He looked up.
The lights flickered back on, and Cheng Shuoning ran to him, stopping to catch his breath, extending his hand with a blue band-aid in his palm.
Xu Wangzhi was momentarily stunned, looking down at the band-aid, feeling his throat dry.
After a few moments, Cheng Shuoning’s breathing steadied. Seeing Xu Wangzhi hadn’t taken it, he opened the band-aid himself, stepping closer and standing on tiptoe to apply it to Xu Wangzhi’s face.
The boy’s movements were careful, his fair face serious, as if afraid of touching the wound, not daring to relax.
“Goodnight.” After applying it, Cheng Shuoning smiled and turned to leave.
He had run so fast just to bring him a band-aid.
Xu Wangzhi lightly touched the band-aid, feeling a ripple in his heart, his lips curving slightly.
Zhou Xundu waited in the car for five minutes before Cheng Shuoning returned.
“Where did you go?” he asked knowingly.
“To buy something.” Cheng Shuoning replied vaguely, then asked, “Why did you fight with him just now?”
“Oh, that.” Zhou Xundu chuckled, “I said I was worried about your safety and wanted to take you away. Your classmate seemed a bit agitated, not letting me take you, and we ended up fighting. Ning Ning, where’s my band-aid?”
Cheng Shuoning looked at him, “Huh?”
“I’m injured too.” Zhou Xundu pointed to the bruise on his face.
His wound hadn’t bled, so Cheng Shuoning hadn’t bought a band-aid. He explained, “Brother Zhou’s wound doesn’t need a band-aid…”
“But I want one too.” Zhou Xundu interrupted, “Ning Ning can’t give one to your classmate and not me, that’s not fair.”
Cheng Shuoning felt a bit helpless, for the first time finding Zhou Xundu childlike. After a moment’s thought, he offered, “I’ll make it up next time?”
“I want it now.” Zhou Xundu sighed, “Ning Ning doesn’t care about me as much anymore. I’m so badly injured, and Ning Ning didn’t even ask about me, but went to care for your classmate first.”
This made Cheng Shuoning feel a bit embarrassed. He got out of the car, went to a store to buy another band-aid, and handed it to Zhou Xundu after getting back in.
Zhou Xundu didn’t take it, instead leaning his face closer, his eyes shining softly as he stared at Cheng Shuoning.
The meaning was clear, making Cheng Shuoning wonder if Zhou Xundu had followed him when he went to find Xu Wangzhi.
He wanted to say that a band-aid wouldn’t help Zhou Xundu’s wound, but meeting those eyes, he swallowed his words, opened the band-aid, and applied it to a slightly more serious spot.
“There, done.”
“Ning Ning doesn’t trust me anymore, does he?” Zhou Xundu finally seemed satisfied, sitting up straight before suddenly asking.
Cheng Shuoning: “Why do you say that?”
“Ning Ning is much colder to me than before. I know Han Tian and the others have left you with some shadows, but Ning Ning, you can completely trust me. I’m entirely different from them.”
The car was dimly lit, Zhou Xundu’s voice carrying a soft, lulling quality.
Because of Han Tian and Li Shengfei, Cheng Shuoning indeed kept his distance, no longer daring to share everything with Zhou Xundu as before.
He was silent for a moment, looking out the window and speaking softly, “I understand, Brother Zhou.”
Zhou Xundu said nothing more, starting the car.
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped, and Cheng Shuoning returned to his room, closing the door and lying on the bed.
He heard Zhou Xundu knock three times on the door, as if wanting to come in.
Cheng Shuoning was too tired to get up and open the door, turning over and replying softly, “I’m already asleep, Brother Zhou. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
Zhou Xundu replied, “Alright,” trying the door handle, finding it locked from the inside, something that hadn’t happened before.
He withdrew his hand, sat on the living room sofa, and lit a cigarette.
Amidst the swirling smoke, his face, usually gentle to the point of perfection, showed a slightly indifferent smile. Zhou Xundu stubbed out the cigarette and turned off the living room light.
The boy who used to surround him, approach him, and smile at him so warmly and brightly was gradually disappearing.
It felt like something he hadn’t paid much attention to but belonged to him was slipping away, leaving him deeply displeased.
*
The next morning, Cheng Shuoning woke to find his phone had died and shut off automatically. Once it was charged, a slew of messages and missed call notifications flooded in.
Even Father Cheng, who rarely chatted with him, had called, with Li Shengfei topping the list, having called 32 times while his phone was on silent and off.
Not long after he turned it on, Li Shengfei called again.
Cheng Shuoning instinctively declined the call, messaging Father Cheng, “Dad, I’m fine, my phone was off yesterday.”
Li Shengfei, undeterred, called again, and Cheng Shuoning didn’t hesitate to block him.
A few minutes later, a text from an unknown number came through: “Ning Ning, where were you last night? Auntie was worried about you, and so was I. We’ve been looking for you all night. If you’re okay, could you at least send me a message?”
Cheng Shuoning: “…”
On the other end, Li Shengfei was speechless. He’d asked for a message and got one, but it said nothing.
He felt pathetic, calling incessantly, worrying so much he couldn’t sleep, yet the other party didn’t appreciate it.
“Where are you? Are you coming to school today?” This message went unanswered, and Li Shengfei guessed he’d been blocked again, gritting his teeth.
Was he really that ruthless? Completely disregarding their years of friendship.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, tossing his phone aside and rolling on the bed, never considering how he’d never cared about the hurtful things he said to Cheng Shuoning despite knowing each other for years.
In the living room, Zhou Xundu had breakfast ready.
Cheng Shuoning ate an egg and drank a glass of soy milk. As he was getting up, Zhou Xundu stopped him, “Wait.”
Seeing him reach out, Cheng Shuoning reflexively dodged, wiping his mouth with a napkin, “Is there something on my face?”
The avoidance seemed to hurt Zhou Xundu, his hand hovering mid-air, his gaze filled with helplessness and disappointment, “Ning Ning, why are you avoiding me at every turn? Am I that scary?”
“Sorry.” Cheng Shuoning didn’t know what to say, apologizing after a long pause, sidestepping Zhou Xundu’s question, “I’m off to class.”
“I’ll take you.” Zhou Xundu grabbed a coat, draping it over Cheng Shuoning, “It’s cold outside, wear my coat.”
Cheng Shuoning stopped himself from refusing, recalling Zhou Xundu’s earlier expression. Refusing might seem ungrateful, so he put on the coat, smiling, “Thank you, Brother Zhou.”
“No need to thank me.” Zhou Xundu chuckled, driving Cheng Shuoning to school.
The sky was still overcast, dark clouds looming, thunder rumbling faintly, as if warning everyone of an impending rain.
This summer in City J was particularly rainy.
As Cheng Shuoning got out of the car, another car pulled up nearby. A few seconds later, Cheng Meng, wearing a school uniform and looking languid, stepped out.
Their eyes met, and Cheng Meng frowned, looking away with disdain, directing a different look at the man beside him.
Unfortunately, the man didn’t spare him a glance, not even a sidelong look, completely indifferent.
Cheng Meng curled his lips, deliberately provoking Cheng Shuoning, “Didn’t come home all night, I thought you might have died out there.”
Only then did Zhou Xundu look at him, his gaze cold, completely different from the warmth he showed Cheng Shuoning, making one’s heart tremble.
Cheng Shuoning could clearly see the light of expectation in Cheng Meng’s eyes extinguish instantly. He glanced at Zhou Xundu, then coldly retorted to Cheng Meng, “Too bad, I didn’t fulfill your wish.”
Zhou Xundu obviously didn’t want to see Cheng Meng any longer, smiling as he reminded, “Ning Ning, don’t bother with him, hurry into school.”
“I’m going in, Brother Zhou. Thanks for bringing me to school.” Cheng Shuoning waved and headed towards the school gate.
As he passed Cheng Meng, he heard him grinding his teeth, “Cheng Shuoning, don’t get too cocky. I’ll slowly take everything from you.”
Cheng Shuoning didn’t respond, leaving Cheng Meng with a smile devoid of any emotion.
Once he was gone, Cheng Meng’s gaze shamelessly lingered on Zhou Xundu. Seeing the man about to drive away, he couldn’t hold back, stepping forward to block the car, flashing a sweet smile, “Brother Zhou, what happened to your face?”
He’d never seen Zhou Xundu with a mark on his face before.
Zhou Xundu indifferently rolled up the window, blocking Cheng Meng’s fervent gaze, and drove off.
Only when the car was out of sight did Cheng Meng reluctantly look away.
No matter, he thought, he’d slowly replace Cheng Shuoning.
Turning, he saw Li Shengfei yawning with his backpack, and quickly approached, smiling, “Not fully awake? Have you had breakfast? If not, want to eat together?”
Seeing him, Li Shengfei’s eyes lit up, clearly pleased, but his question was unrelated, “Did Ning Ning go home? Where was he last night?”
“…?”
Cheng Meng’s smile froze abruptly.