Xin Zhiyao stood to the side, pursed her lips, and called out to Xin Wu, "Dad."
Xin Wu glanced at her, his gaze sweeping around the room, "Where's your brother? Not back yet?"
Just as Xin Zhiyao was about to say she didn't know, she heard Lin Haiying speak, "I just called to ask. He said he was playing basketball with classmates and just finished, on his way back."
Xin Wu scoffed, "All day long, all he knows is basketball. Doesn't study properly. Useless."
"The child is only in his first year of high school. How can you say he's useless? What kind of father talks about his son like that?"
The dishes were served, and the three of them sat at the dining table. No one touched their chopsticks; they wouldn't start eating until Xin Haozhe returned.
Xin Zhiyao was used to this, staring blankly at the rice grains in front of her.
"Why isn't Hao Hao back yet? I hope nothing's happened," Lin Haiying said worriedly.
"He's a grown person, what could happen?" Xin Wu said, but he still couldn't help but add, "Why don't you call and ask?"
Xin Zhiyao suddenly remembered her senior year of high school. Because she ran out of living expenses, she, who was boarding, had to go home on the weekend to get some money. Halfway home that day, it started raining heavily. She hid under an eave for a long time before the rain lessened. When she finally opened the door, soaked through, her parents and younger brother were sitting at the dining table eating. They didn't seem to care that she was drenched, and casually said, "It's raining so hard, we thought you were coming back tomorrow."
She was an hour late coming home that time and ate their leftovers.
But it was different for Xin Haozhe. If he was even ten minutes late, they would call to check, and they would wait for him to eat.
Just as Lin Haiying was about to call Xin Haozhe, the sound of the door opening came from the doorway.
She immediately stood up and walked towards the door, "Hao Hao's back."
A sixteen-year-old boy entered. His face was between youthful and mature, with messy hair falling on his forehead, a rebellious expression, and the zipper of his school uniform unzipped, hanging loosely at his sides.
"You must be hungry. Mom made your favorite pig ears," Lin Haiying said to Xin Haozhe with a smile.
"That was ages ago. I don't like that anymore," Xin Haozhe said impatiently.
"Really? What do you like now? Mom will make it for you next time."
"Whatever," Xin Haozhe's tone was not good.
When he came in and saw Xin Zhiyao, his gaze paused, and he asked, "What is she doing here?"
He didn't even use a proper address.
"It's the weekend, your sister is here for dinner. Hurry and wash your hands to eat, the food will get cold," Lin Haiying pushed him towards the kitchen.
Xin Haozhe sulkily entered the kitchen.
Xin Zhiyao was very quiet throughout the meal. Lin Haiying kept putting food on Xin Haozhe's plate, as if afraid he wouldn't get enough.
Xin Haozhe didn't appreciate it, dodging her attempts while saying impatiently, "I have hands, I can do it myself."
Xin Wu, watching from the side, said, "Alright, can we just eat properly?"
Compared to them, Xin Zhiyao seemed out of place.
Until she absent-mindedly ate a piece of fatty meat. The greasy feeling spread in her mouth, and her stomach churned violently.
"Ugh!"
She couldn't hold it in and vomited, splashing onto the floor.
!!!
The three of them looked at her in unison. Xin Haozhe covered his nose in disgust.
Before Xin Zhiyao could speak, her stomach churned again. She rushed to the bathroom as fast as she could and squatted on the floor, vomiting everything she had eaten tonight.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Lin Haiying followed her into the bathroom, patting her back, "Why are you suddenly vomiting?"
Xin Zhiyao was vomiting so much that tears were about to come out. Her eyes were red as she felt the warmth of Lin Haiying's hand on her back.
She suddenly wondered if her mother had patted her back like this to comfort her before Xin Haozhe was born.
At this moment, her eyes felt sore, and the unease and fear of the past few days surged up.
She wanted to tell her mother she was pregnant and ask what she should do. Was her life over?
"Feeling any better?" Lin Haiying asked, looking at her.
Xin Zhiyao turned her head and nodded at her, wanting to speak but hesitating, "Mom, I..."
Before she could finish speaking, Lin Haiying stood up, frowning as she walked out, "If you're feeling better, clean up this mess. We're eating, and it's all over the floor. Why didn't you hold it in until you got to the bathroom?"
Lin Haiying's words were like a thunderbolt.
Voices could still be heard from outside the bathroom, "Hao Hao, why aren't you eating? Mom will clean this up right away. Eat more."
Xin Haozhe's impatient voice rang out, "I'm not eating anymore. I lost my appetite long ago."
Xin Wu said in a deep voice, "Hurry up and clean it. Are we going to eat or not?"
No one cared about Xin Zhiyao in the bathroom? No one handed her a tissue, no one poured her a glass of water to rinse her mouth.
Squatting in the bathroom, Xin Zhiyao suddenly burst into tears.
She shouldn't have held any illusions about them. She thought she could get some comfort from her family.
But she forgot that the harm she suffered all came from this family. When she made a mistake, they would only blame and resent her. Not a single person ever considered her feelings.
Through her tear-blurred vision, she thought of that man, like a bright moon.
Could he tell her what she should do?
In the quiet of the night, Zhou Ji sat in his study. A laptop was in front of him, its cool light reflecting on his face. His features were clear and cold, and his long, slender fingertips rapidly tapped the keyboard.
"Beep, beep, beep."
The phone beside him suddenly vibrated. Zhou Ji rubbed his temples and picked it up, seeing an unfamiliar number.
"Hello," Zhou Ji's voice was magnetic.
No one spoke on the other end of the phone.
Zhou Ji said again, "Hello."
Still no response. Zhou Ji suspected it was a harassing call and was about to hang up.
Just as his fingertip was about to touch the hang-up button, a hesitant voice came from inside, "Pro-Professor Zhou."
Zhou Ji immediately recognized Xin Zhiyao's voice and put the phone back to his ear.
The girl's voice carried a hint of timidity, "I'm Xin Zhiyao."
"I know."
"I'm sorry to disturb you so late." The girl seemed a little nervous, then seemed to make up her mind, "Are you free tomorrow? Can we meet?"
Zhou Ji didn't ask further questions. Staring at the desk lamp, he said, "Okay."
Zhou Ji set the time and place. As he pushed open the door to the restaurant, he immediately saw Xin Zhiyao. She was wearing the same gray jacket from their first meeting at university. Her small, palm-sized face was slightly lowered, and her fingers on the table were twisting incessantly, revealing her nervous emotions.
Zhou Ji walked towards her.
Xin Zhiyao heard footsteps and looked up. Zhou Ji's face came into view, and she quickly stood up, "Pro-Professor Zhou."
Zhou Ji gestured for her to sit down, then sat down himself.
They sat facing each other, the atmosphere a little quiet.
Zhou Ji spoke first, "What would you like to eat?"
Xin Zhiyao waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no, it's fine."
"We're here to eat," Zhou Ji pushed the menu towards her, "Order something you like."
His tone was firm, and Xin Zhiyao didn't dare to disobey him. She casually pointed to a dish on the menu, "This one."
Zhou Ji glanced at it—Chopped Chili Fish Head.
He said nothing, called a waiter, and ordered three more dishes in addition to the chopped chili fish head.
While waiting for the food, Xin Zhiyao strategically drank water.
Zhou Ji didn't seem in a hurry. Since sitting down, he hadn't asked why she had asked him to meet.
The dishes arrived. Xin Zhiyao's scalp tingled when she saw the chopped chili fish head covered in chili peppers.
She couldn't eat spicy food very well. She had simply pointed without thinking, not knowing what she had ordered.
She had to eat what she ordered, so she took several bites. She was so hot that sweat beaded on her forehead, and her lips turned red.
A hand reached over, and Zhou Ji filled her cup with water, "Lemon water can help with the spiciness. If you can't eat it, don't force yourself."
"I'm sorry," Xin Zhiyao said, a little embarrassed.
"There's no need to apologize," Zhou Ji moved the chopped chili fish head aside, "At least I know now that you can't eat spicy food."
His words touched Xin Zhiyao's heart slightly. She looked up at Zhou Ji.
His tone was always calm. Even when he knew she was his student before, it was only a brief moment of discomposure before he quickly returned to normal.
He must be considerably older than her. This was the maturity time had brought him.
Perhaps seeking him out was the right choice.
Xin Zhiyao suddenly found her courage. She took a deep breath and said, "Professor Zhou, I asked you here today because I have something to tell you."
Finally, they got to the point. Zhou Ji nodded, "Please speak."
Xin Zhiyao opened her bag and handed him the results of her later examination.
Her hands were trembling uncontrollably.
✦✦✦