The next day, Xie Wenliang, who was still studying at university, woke up and opened his phone to find the screen flooded with WeChat messages.
He had been busy with his thesis for the past few days, staying up late for several nights in a row. He had gone to bed early yesterday, never expecting to wake up to a bombardment of texts from his younger brother.
This kind of thing was rare.
Although the brothers had a good relationship, they weren’t particularly close.
Xie Wenxing seemed soft and gentle, but he wasn’t the clingy type.
So one could imagine how pleasantly surprised Xie Wenliang was when he saw so many messages from his brother.
He quickly scanned through the messages in a few lines and immediately replied.
At this moment, in Yancheng No. 1 High School, Class 1, Grade 11.
Xie Wenxing looked at the wrong answers in his workbook, his hair drooping lifelessly as he sat there with no energy at all.
The teaching materials, workbooks, and test papers at Yancheng No. 1 High School were all independently developed by the school over the years, with no standard answers available online.
On a set of practice questions, the few checkmarks scattered here and there looked pitiful.
Beside him, Song Yuan let out a tragic cry when he saw the sorry state of his own workbook.
After yelling, he turned to look over. “Boo hoo, Xingxing, I got so many wrong. What about you?”
These past few days, he had noticed Xie Wenxing was no longer his former self, he had been paying close attention in class.
Xie Wenxing had been looking at his workbook, but as soon as he heard the voice, he snapped it shut like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pressing it firmly with his palm.
He opened his mouth, then quickly closed it again. “It’s… average, I guess.”
Song Yuan hadn’t thought much of it at first, but seeing Xie Wenxing turn his head away made him suspicious. “Really?”
Xie Wenxing averted his eyes. “…Yeah.”
Song Yuan said, “Oh.”
…Then, catching Xie Wenxing off guard, he grabbed the workbook and flipped it open.
Song Yuan’s eyes widened. “How did this happen?”
Then he felt a tangible gaze on him from above. He looked up like an idiot, his neck stiff as a zombie’s, making a cracking sound.
Xie Wenxing was staring at him ominously. He snatched the workbook back and slumped onto the table in frustration.
Even Song Yuan’s timely, whispered apology did nothing to improve Xie Wenxing’s mood.
It wasn’t until class ended and he got his phone back, seeing his brother’s message, that his mood finally lifted a little.
Xie Wenxing: Thank you, bro.
Soon, a reply came.
Xie Wenliang: I’m your brother. It’s only right. No need to thank me.
Xie Wenliang was curious: But why the sudden interest in sneakers? You weren’t into this kind of thing before.
There was really nothing to hide, but whenever Xu Huai’an was involved, things always became complicated.
Xie Wenxing felt a little guilty and hesitated.
Xie Wenxing: …I just, suddenly got interested.
Fortunately, Xie Wenliang didn’t press further or overthink it. After giving him an estimated timeline, he quickly went back to his own matters.
Xie Wenxing was blushing.
Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The summer breeze carried a hint of humidity, blowing gently.
The fair-faced, handsome boy, soft as a cloud, quietly turned his head. His gaze landed on someone else, someone so stunning he seemed to outshine the sun itself.
The sunlight bathed him, as if absorbed entirely into him.
It was as if nothing else existed, yet every strand of his hair seemed to radiate golden light.
Xie Wenxing had no idea how utterly entranced his eyes looked right now, fragments of starlight shimmering in them, glowing with a radiant warmth.
Then Xu Huai’an’s eyelashes fluttered ever so slightly, and Xie Wenxing would immediately look away, turning his head back as he nervously tugged at his flushed ear.
A few days later, Xie Wenxing returned to the dormitory holding a package.
He placed the box on the table with solemn reverence, as if what he held wasn’t a pair of shoes but some kind of treasure.
Song Yuan noticed how careful he was being. “Xingxing, what did you buy?”
Xie Wenxing was in such a good mood that his eyes crinkled into slits as he smiled. “Shoes.”
Song Yuan paused for a moment. “Shoes?”
It was just a pair of shoes, why was he so happy?
Xie Wenxing opened the box, carefully checked the size, and upon confirming it was correct, packed it back up just as neatly.
Then he brought out the wrapping paper and ribbon he had prepared in advance, tying a proper bow on the gift box.
He rested his chin on his hand, lightly fiddling with the bow on the box, a dreamy smile on his face.
Would Xu Huai’an be happy when he received this?
“Ooh,” Song Yuan leaned in, as if discovering a new continent, and reached out. “Xingxing, are you planning to give this to me?”
Xie Wenxing pulled the gift box closer. “Mhm, in your dreams.”
He couldn’t wait to see what expression Xu Huai’an would have when he received it.
The next day, Xu Huai’an arrived in the classroom.
As soon as he sat down, he noticed something was off and pulled a wrapped gift box out of his desk.
A large bow sparkled in the sunlight.
“Hmm?”
Zhou Yuan was momentarily dazzled. “Who’s being so thoughtful, wrapping it so nicely?”
He reached out eagerly, ready to take the gift.
In the past, whenever someone gave Xu Huai’an a gift, Zhou Yuan was the one to receive it. This gift box was so big, it definitely wasn’t ordinary. He was already looking forward to it.
Xie Wenxing, who had his back to them, could barely sit still.
No way, this was his gift for Xu Huai’an! He wasn’t going to let Zhou Yuan take it!!
Xu Huai’an’s eyelids flickered. Just as Zhou Yuan’s hands were about to touch the gift, Xu Huai’an raised his arm, and Zhou Yuan grabbed nothing but air.
Zhou Yuan was full of confusion. “Huh? Brother Huai?”
Xu Huai’an pressed the gift box against his lap and cast a casual glance at him.
Zhou Yuan immediately raised his hands in surrender. “I won’t touch it, I won’t touch it. Brother Huai, don’t look at me like that, you’re scaring me.”
For a moment, he thought their friendship was about to sink.
Xu Huai’an heard the boy in front of him let out a very soft, relieved breath. For a brief moment, the corners of his lips curved slightly upward.