Xu Qiushi and Jiang Yichi didn’t return until after two in the morning. Since both rarely stayed up so late, they headed straight to their respective rooms to wash up as soon as they got home.
The fireworks outside hadn’t stopped; the sounds rose wave after wave. After sharp, high-pitched whistles, fireworks trailing long flaming tails scattered across the sky, ending with a crackling finale.
The night wind occasionally drifted through the slightly ajar window, bringing with it the lingering warmth of the New Year’s Eve celebration from afar.
Xu Qiushi rolled over in bed, staring at the window as it flickered between light and shadow. Usually someone who could fall asleep instantly, he didn’t feel the slightest bit sleepy right now.
Perhaps influenced by the festive atmosphere, his brain seemed exceptionally excited and active tonight.
Counting the time, he had been in Luohai for over four months. In the past, he could never have imagined living in a house like this and earning such a high salary.
Money that used to require backbreaking labor to earn was now easily coming into his pocket, so wonderful that it gave him an unreal feeling, as if he were in a dream.
Thinking of this, Xu Qiushi couldn’t help but pull out his phone, log into his banking app, and check his balance.
On it was his salary for a month and a half as a nanny; he hadn’t been willing to spend a single cent of it.
On the tenth of every month, the previous month’s salary was punctually deposited into this newly opened account. He will soon receive a new paycheck this month. Xu Qiushi counted the string of zeros behind the balance over and over, a sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart.
The contract he signed with Jiang Yichi was for two years. As long as nothing went wrong and he worked the full term—not counting subsidies and year-end bonuses—the base salary alone would net him nearly 200,000 yuan!
When Xu Qiuze helped him calculate the salary and various benefits, Xu Qiushi was truly shocked and kept confirming with his brother that there wasn’t a mistake.
Now, seeing the actual figures displayed on the screen made him feel exceptionally grounded.
Actually, when he first downloaded the mobile banking app, he was always worried the numbers on the software were fake and that the money couldn’t be withdrawn. Jiang Yichi had mocked him for it and took him to an ATM that very day to experience withdrawing money and then depositing it back, which drew quite a few strange looks from bystanders.
Xu Qiushi smiled and tapped on another banking app. This one held the money he had saved from odd jobs and working at the bar; it was his current source for expenses, and it lasted a long time because he hardly had any daily costs.
Room and board cost him almost nothing. Jiang Yichi reimbursed more than half of the costs for learning to make desserts, and occasionally he could earn some errand fees by helping out at the neighborhood security booth.
However, Xu Qiushi didn’t plan to become complacent with the status quo.
Because he took on the job of delivering packages in the community, Xu Qiushi had given two cartons of cigarettes to the security booth and occasionally sent over some snacks he made himself. Now, he got along with the guys there like an unofficial member of the security team.
Wu Ming suggested he take the exam for a security guard certificate. With his physical fitness, he could completely work as a guard in more high-end locations. Even if he didn’t become a guard, having an extra certificate wouldn’t hurt.
Besides the security certificate, he also wanted to learn to drive. He could use the time during the next summer vacation. Jiang Yichi would definitely return to the capital, so he could take Xu Qiuze to learn to drive then. With a driver’s license, there would be even more jobs he could do.
Making desserts was also a potential path. Xun Wenyao told him that there were many “private kitchen” desserts now—making them at home and delivering them to customers’ doors without needing a storefront. As long as the taste and quality were up to par, this model could make a lot of money. If all else failed, he could find a small city later to open a bakery and run a small business.
The more Xu Qiushi thought about these hopeful days, the more energetic he became. He was completely unable to sleep and decided to go downstairs for a cigarette to calm down.
…
At this moment, Jiang Yichi on the second floor wasn’t asleep either.
Since lying down in bed, he had replayed that “Xiao Jiang” Xu Qiushi called him countless times in his mind.
Xu Qiushi’s voice was like his appearance: steady and heavy. Jiang Yichi, who had always been sensitive and picky about voices, felt the voice was extremely recognizable the first time he heard it through Xu Qiuze’s phone.
It sounded very good.
Xiao Jiang.
The two words echoed in his ears again. Jiang Yichi suddenly buried his head in the quilt, holding his breath until his face turned red before popping his head out to take a large gulp of air.
It was just a name, and one he had wished for himself. What on earth was he so happy about?
Jiang Yichi couldn’t calm down, much less sleep. He simply got up and went downstairs, wanting to do something to distract himself.
Halfway down the stairs, he happened to see a dark shadow walking out of the nanny’s room.
Jiang Yichi was startled; he clutched his chest without making a sound. The tall silhouette was clearly Xu Qiushi. The man’s movements were very light as he went to the entryway, opened the door, and walked out.
Where is he going this late at night? It couldn’t be a secret date, could it?
Jiang Yichi was startled by his own thought and followed without thinking.
Only after Xu Qiushi entered the elevator did Jiang Yichi come out from behind the door. He walked to the elevator and watched the numbers on the screen decrease floor by floor until they stopped at the 1st floor.
The “down” button lit up, and the elevator soon returned to the 16th floor. Jiang Yichi stepped in and frantically pressed the “close door” button, his face full of anxiety.
The 1st floor arrived. He quickened his pace and walked out. Fortunately, Xu Qiushi’s speed wasn’t fast, and he could be spotted at a glance.
Inhaling a breath of cold outdoor air, Jiang Yichi suddenly sobered up quite a bit. What am I doing? Not sleeping in the middle of the night, running out to stalk my own nanny. If this got out, wouldn’t people laugh their teeth off?
He knew rationally that his behavior was abnormal, but he couldn’t stop his footsteps.
The young master, who had zero stalking experience, didn’t intentionally hide himself. Before long, he was standing face-to-face with Xu Qiushi, who had suddenly turned around.
Xu Qiushi: “…”
Jiang Yichi: “…”
A gust of cold wind blew past, and Jiang Yichi was the first to shiver. Xu Qiushi stepped forward and touched the boy’s hand, frowning: “Why didn’t you wear more before coming out? Your hands are so cold.”
He didn’t know that Jiang Yichi was nervous, his palms actually sweating.
“You’re the one—not sleeping in the early hours, what did you run out for?” Xu Qiushi’s hands were very warm; just a light touch made Jiang Yichi’s body feel hot.
“I couldn’t sleep and wanted to come out for a smoke. What about you?” Xu Qiushi took off his jacket and draped it over the pajama-clad Jiang Yichi’s shoulders.
“I couldn’t sleep either, just came down for a walk.” He couldn’t exactly say he was stalking him. Jiang Yichi wanted to return the jacket, but he was a bit reluctant; Xu Qiushi’s body heat wrapped around him, making him feel exceptionally secure.
Xu Qiushi touched the cigarette pack in his trouser pocket, momentarily unsure whether he should accompany the Little Master for a walk or continue on to smoke.
“I’ll go with you,” Jiang Yichi offered proactively.
“I thought you didn’t like the smell of smoke?” Xu Qiushi raised an eyebrow.
“I just don’t like it; it’s not like I’ll die if I smell it. Hurry up, it’s freezing,” Jiang Yichi urged.
“You know it’s cold yet you didn’t wear more.” Xu Qiushi’s tone carried a hint of helplessness. He stopped refusing; after all, having someone’s company was better than being alone.
The two walked side by side on the path, the streetlights casting several shadows at their feet.
The lights were on inside the smoking pavilion. Xu Qiushi had Jiang Yichi sit on the bench while he stood a distance away, trying his best not to let the smoke drift toward him.
With a click, the moment the flame lit from the lighter nozzle, the firelight illuminated the man’s jawline with exceptional clarity.
Xu Qiushi took a light puff with the filter in his mouth to ensure the cigarette was lit, released the lighter button, and tucked it back into his pocket.
Smoke drifted slowly from his mouth and nose like a thin veil covering his entire face, making his expression hard to read.
Xu Qiushi held the cigarette between two fingers, squinting slightly, quietly enjoying this moment of leisure.
It was the first time Jiang Yichi had seen Xu Qiushi smoke. There was an indescribable sexiness to it that made his heart rate accelerate.
In the small space, there was only the hum of the ventilation system and Xu Qiushi’s rhythmic breathing.
Jiang Yichi was the first to break the silence: “Why couldn’t you sleep?”
“I don’t know, just wasn’t tired.” A hint of laziness entered Xu Qiushi’s voice.
“Could it be from drinking too much milk tea?” Jiang Yichi remembered that the two cups of milk tea Gu Chengfei bought for them tonight had both ended up in Xu Qiushi’s stomach.
“Does drinking milk tea keep you awake?” It was the first time Xu Qiushi had heard of this.
“Milk tea contains tea, after all. Some people are quite sensitive to caffeine; it’s normal to be unable to sleep.” Jiang Yichi gave him a quick lesson.
Xu Qiushi had always treated milk tea as a beverage similar to bottled Assam milk tea; he hadn’t expected it to have the effect of causing insomnia.
“What about you? Why couldn’t you sleep?”
“If I can’t sleep, I can’t sleep! Why do there have to be so many reasons!” Jiang Yichi looked at the culprit responsible for his own sleeplessness and responded bossily.
Xu Qiushi didn’t ask further. The firelight of the cigarette tip flickered; the cigarette was half-burned.
After a brief silence, Jiang Yichi spoke again: “In the future, if you want to smoke at night, you can go to the balcony. Don’t run outside by yourself; it’s freezing.”
“I thought you didn’t like the smell of smoke?” Xu Qiushi looked up slightly.
“That’s why I told you to go to the balcony.” Jiang Yichi acted as if he were making a huge concession. “When you’re done, let the smell dissipate completely. Don’t let me smell it.”
“The balcony is full of clothes. You’ll be unhappy if I make them smell like smoke.” Xu Qiushi chuckled softly.
“If you know it stinks, then don’t smoke,” Jiang Yichi muttered softly. “Smoking is bad for your health, too.”
“Mm, I’ll try to smoke less.” Xu Qiushi knew smoking was bad; it was just a habit of so many years that it was hard to change overnight.
Jiang Yichi wasn’t the type to nitpick others’ lifestyle habits, but simply because it was Xu Qiushi, he couldn’t help but nag.
“What do you want to eat for breakfast today?” Xu Qiushi asked smoothly.
Jiang Yichi thought for a moment and said, “Lean meat porridge.”
“Okay.”
“With fried tofu and shredded cucumber salad.” Jiang Yichi counted on his fingers. “And a fried egg, sunny-side up.”
“Okay.” Looking at Jiang Yichi seriously ordering dishes, a doting smile appeared in Xu Qiushi’s eyes that even he hadn’t noticed.
“Are you still going to Xun Wenyao’s tomorrow?” Jiang Yichi was ordering food when his tone suddenly shifted.
“Mm, tomorrow is my day off,” Xu Qiushi replied.
Jiang Yichi lowered his head in disappointment.
Xu Qiushi stared at the whorl of hair on the top of his head: “What’s wrong?”
After a short while, Jiang Yichi’s muffled voice came: “It’s the first day of the New Year, I don’t want to be alone.”
Xu Qiushi’s heart softened almost instantly.
But the two of them had just had a fallout recently. He didn’t know if the Little Master was willing to go to Xun Wenyao’s house again, nor did he know if Xun Wenyao would mind the Little Master coming over.
“Forget it, just go. I’m used to it anyway.” Jiang Yichi curled his lip, his toes pressing together, exuding an air of grievance and pitiableness.
“Do you want to come with me?”
“Can I?” Jiang Yichi’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll ask Brother Wanyao tomorrow.” Xu Qiushi didn’t dare make a guarantee.
“What if he doesn’t agree?”
“He probably won’t; Brother Wanyao isn’t that petty.”
What do you mean ‘that petty’? Who are you comparing Xun Wenyao to? Jiang Yichi, knowing the answer in his heart, was very disgruntled.
“Let’s go back. You’ll catch a cold in a bit,” Xu Qiushi said to Jiang Yichi, stubbing out his cigarette.
The two returned home, said goodnight to each other, and went back to their rooms again.
In the morning, Xu Qiushi, who had forgotten to set his alarm, rarely slept in a bit. Fortunately, there were no classes today, and the Little Master was also sleeping in.
Recalling the dishes Jiang Yichi ordered in the early hours—there was no tofu at home, so he had to go out and buy some.
Xu Qiushi returned from his trip out and was just about to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast when he saw the Little Master wobbling down from upstairs, saying to him somewhat dizzily:
“Xu Qiushi, my head is spinning.”