The registration process was very simple. However, since Bai Huan was a transfer student, he had to make an extra trip to the Academic Affairs Office. The teachers there were indeed very pleased to see him, especially after looking at his transcript. They couldn't stop smiling.
The freshman handbook, campus card, one-inch ID photos with blue backgrounds, and student ID—Bai Huan put everything away carefully.
Just then, someone approached him to ask for directions.
"I've only just transferred to this school myself," Bai Huan said. "You should ask someone else."
"Then how about we exchange contact information? Once I've familiarized myself with the place, I can show you around campus."
Only then did Bai Huan notice the shy, sparkling look in the girl's eyes and the invitation behind her words.
He gave her a once-over. Her otherwise ordinary appearance seemed to shine with her admiration for him. Without that, there would have been nothing worth mentioning about her.
"Sorry, I can explore the campus on my own. Besides, this school is pretty ordina—Mmph!"
To prevent Bai Huan from saying something that would offend everyone around them, Bai Mingzhen covered his mouth and half-dragged, half-carried him away.
After registration, Bai Mingzhen took the other three out for lunch.
Bai Huan didn't like foreign cuisine, but he was particular about his food, so they could only go to a long-established restaurant known for its luxurious atmosphere.
They had eaten there so often that the staff already recognized them.
When the owner heard they had arrived, he personally came out to entertain them and didn't leave until the dishes were served.
Only then did Bai Huan finally get the chance to darken his expression and demand to know why Bai Mingzhen hadn't allowed him to finish speaking at school.
Bai Mingzhen was scalding the tableware for the two elders beside him.
"Some things are better left unsaid."
Bai Huan was so angry his mouth practically twisted sideways.
Wang Caiyi carefully chose her words before speaking.
"Taimi, when school officially starts in a couple of days, you must get along well with your classmates. Things like what you said just now about the school being ordinary—you should keep those thoughts to yourself. Don't say them out loud."
"Got it."
Halfway through the meal, Chen Yuanyuan secretly slipped out, intending to settle the bill without anyone noticing.
But after looking at the total, he returned sheepishly without paying.
Bai Mingzhen saw through him but said nothing.
After taking another couple of bites, he set down his chopsticks and asked Chen Yuanyuan, "Mr. Chen, have you ever considered moving to another organization in the future?"
Chen Yuanyuan adjusted his glasses and replied solemnly, "When I was struggling back then, this company helped me through a difficult time. The print publishing industry has been declining these past couple of years. It wouldn't be right for me to abandon my old colleagues at a time like this."
Bai Mingzhen nodded in agreement, then asked, "I heard you've been writing scripts recently?"
A trace of discomfort appeared on Chen Yuanyuan's thin face.
He replied somewhat reluctantly, "I've had quite a bit of free time lately. It's just something to pass the time."
Bai Mingzhen understood that Chen Yuanyuan still regarded him as an outsider and didn't want his strained financial circumstances laid bare at the dinner table.
After considering it for a moment, he said, "Since you're not particularly busy at work and have experience writing scripts, it just so happens that a friend of mine has a rather troublesome scriptwriting project. He's looking for someone knowledgeable to help review it and catch any errors or omissions. If you can spare the time..."
Before he could finish, Chen Yuanyuan put down his chopsticks and declared that he certainly had time.
He immediately began asking what kind of script it was.
When he heard that it was a mystery, he launched into an enthusiastic discussion, moving from Edogawa Ranpo to Yukito Ayatsuji, then from Conan Doyle to Agatha Christie.
When Bai Mingzhen brought up compensation, Chen Yuanyuan waved it off.
"Oh, no, no. It's hardly any trouble. Just have your friend contact me sometime. I'll take a look for him. It won't take much time."
He handed Bai Mingzhen his business card.
Bai Huan was already accustomed to concentrating entirely on his food during such occasions, occasionally dividing his attention when the situation called for it.
As he ate, he listened to Bai Mingzhen finish talking with Chen Yuanyuan before turning to Wang Caiyi.
With Chen Yuanyuan, he discussed scripts and literature. With Wang Caiyi, he talked about art exhibitions and painting.
After Bai Mingzhen had taken a business card from each of them, Bai Huan understood his brother's intentions perfectly.
His brother was paving the way for the two of them to make a fortune.
After lunch, the three adults were so engrossed in their conversation that they booked a private room where they could continue chatting over tea.
Bai Huan stretched out on the sofa beside the window and took an afternoon nap.
By the time he woke up, the red sun was already sinking toward the horizon.
Only the lingering fragrance of tea remained in the room.
Everyone was gone.
Bai Huan's heart gave such a violent leap that it nearly jumped into his throat.
His face and head grew hot.
He sat up and looked around blankly, feeling as though the entire world had abandoned him.
Creak.
The door opened.
Bai Mingzhen came in.
Seeing that Bai Huan was already awake, he paused in surprise.
"Your dad and mom had something to take care of at work, so they left first. Do you want to sleep some more? If you do, go ahead. I'll wait outside."
Bai Huan shook his head.
"I'm not sleeping anymore."
He craned his neck toward the doorway.
"Is someone outside?"
"Mei Sifan just got back to China. He stopped by for a meal since he was in the area. Since you're awake anyway, come out and say hello."
Rubbing his eyes, Bai Huan followed Bai Mingzhen outside.
The moment Mei Sifan saw Bai Huan, he hurriedly covered his bowl with his hands, afraid the boy would come over and steal his food.
Bai Huan curled his lips.
"Brother Sifan."
Having greeted him, Bai Huan was ready to leave.
But Mei Sifan called him back and held out a shopping bag that had been sitting on an empty chair.
"Here. A present."
Bai Huan went over and immediately opened it.
Inside was a whole stack of Hermès silk scarves.
He flipped through them and muttered, "Are you giving me all the Hermès stuff you had to buy just to qualify for the things you actually wanted? What am I, a trash can?"
Mei Sifan was Bai Mingzhen's good friend and could more or less be considered someone who had watched Bai Huan grow up.
The brat had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
Previously, Mei Sifan had always found Bai Huan rather... But looking at him today, he seemed quite fresh and pleasant. At least he wasn't hard on the eyes.
"Take your time eating. I'll take him home first."
Bai Mingzhen picked up the schoolbag Bai Huan had casually tossed onto a chair.
Bai Huan selected two silk scarves he liked and left the rest behind.
"Bye-bye, Brother Sifan."
"One's yours, and one's mine."
"I don't want it."
"I'll tie it on for you."
Listening to the conversation drifting in from the corridor, Mei Sifan, whose own family background was equally terrible, could only viciously tear into the roasted squab on the table.
Some time later, a waitress knocked and entered, carrying a bowl of soup.
"Sir, your old duck soup with herbs."
Mei Sifan froze.
"Little Sweet Potato? Which one?"
"Young Master Bai..."
"...Hahahaha! All right, just put it down and go."
Mei Sifan laughed so hard his stomach hurt, though a comforting warmth also spread through his chest.
That little brat probably had everyone wrapped around his finger in exactly the same way.
The waitress added, "Young Master Bai also said to put the bill on your account, because life has been very difficult for him lately. He only gets two hundred yuan a week in pocket money."
"..."
Under the evening twilight, the sky changed color with every passing minute.
By the time they drove out of the city, the sky had turned entirely pink, its colors visibly flowing like swaying feather grass.
Bai Huan sat in the passenger seat, shelling the pumpkin seeds the restaurant had given them.
He ate one, then gave Bai Mingzhen one.
They took turns eating.
Crunch, crunch.
The car never fell silent.
Bai Mingzhen hated people eating or drinking in his car more than anything.
But that rule was useless against Bai Huan.
He treated it as though it didn't exist. The fact that he hadn't brought a hotpot into the car was already proof of his excellent self-restraint.
"School officially starts in a couple of days. Study hard. If you can't get along with your classmates, then forget about it. It's only one year anyway," Bai Mingzhen said.
"Oh."
Bai Huan was curled up in his seat.
"I'm definitely not going to get along with them."
"You seem to get along quite well with He Youxiang's son."
Qin Xian had told Bai Mingzhen that whenever Bai Huan and He Chu had free time, they were practically inseparable.
They came and went together, but neither talked much, nor did they go shopping.
Like a couple of idle street wanderers, they would stroll from one end of the street to the other, then from one end of the alley to the other, until darkness fell and they finally headed home.
Bai Huan lowered his head.
"Little Chu's good-looking. He doesn't embarrass me."
"You can't judge whether someone is worth befriending solely by their appearance."
"It's not like you don't know. His dad is mentally disabled, but he hasn't abandoned him. He works part-time while studying and takes care of his dad. His character is just as good as his looks."
After saying this, Bai Huan continued concentrating on shelling pumpkin seeds.
It had been quite a while since he'd fed Bai Mingzhen any.
He shelled a whole handful until his palm was full, then stuffed every last one into his own mouth, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Even as he ate, he couldn't resist continuing to argue with Bai Mingzhen.
"You're not supposed to interfere with me. I know what I'm doing. Besides, you live in the city. Why do you have to meddle so much?"
Bai Mingzhen lowered the car window.
He checked the rearview mirror to make sure there were no cars behind them, slowed down, and pulled over to the side of the road.
Whenever Bai Huan was with his older brother, he didn't think about anything at all.
He didn't even think about his brother.
Instead, he stuck his head forward and spotted a stall selling sweet drinks across the road.
"What a perfect place to stop! How did you know I was thirsty?"
Bai Mingzhen promptly locked the car doors, preventing him from getting out.
Bai Huan turned his head.
His heart began pounding like a drum.
He hurriedly shelled another pumpkin seed and desperately tried to stuff it into Bai Mingzhen's tightly closed mouth.
That way, it wouldn't be a matter of him failing to share his pumpkin seeds with his brother.
The young master considered this with an extremely solemn expression.
Bai Mingzhen removed his glasses and rubbed his fingers together.
He looked at Bai Huan.
"When you tell me not to interfere with you, are you planning to settle down and start a family in Lanshuitang someday?"
"No."
Bai Huan looked completely bewildered.
"I never said anything like that."
"Then why are you telling me not to interfere so much?"
"I meant you shouldn't interfere with who I spend time with."
"Does asking a couple of questions count as interfering?"
After being subjected to one stern question after another, Bai Huan began to grow angry too.
He flicked the pumpkin seeds at Bai Mingzhen's face as though he were shooting marbles.
"..."
And so, pumpkin seeds ended up scattered all over the floor around Bai Mingzhen's feet.