Chapter 6

On the bustling street filled with cars, Zhu Shiyan lazily lay on the back seat of the car. As his gaze swept across the street, it suddenly halted. “Uncle Wu, stop for a moment.”

The driver pulled the car over to the side. “Young master, what’s wrong?”

“Wait for me a moment.”

Zhu Shiyan opened the car door, took a few quick steps, and grabbed the hand of a boy walking with his head down by the roadside. Surprised, he said, “Xi Yan? It’s so late, why aren’t you in the dorm? What are you doing here?”

It was already nine at night. Chu Junyuan had dragged Zhu Shiyan to play basketball for over an hour, then insisted on having hotpot together. Both didn’t live on campus, so after eating, they went their separate ways. But Xi Yan lived in the dorm and should have been there now. How did he end up here?

A flicker of panic flashed in Xi Yan’s eyes as he lowered his head. “I... I came out to buy something.”

Zhu Shiyan narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Buy what?”

“Buy... exercise books.”

Zhu Shiyan’s suspicion deepened. He barely had enough to eat, so why would he buy exercise books?

He squinted. “Did something happen?”

Xi Yan seemed unsure how to answer, nervously clutching the hem of his clothes.

Zhu Shiyan softened his voice. “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. Tell me, what happened?”

Xi Yan pressed his lips together and whispered, “They poured a lot of water on my bed. My bedding is all wet. I have nowhere to sleep...”

Zhu Shiyan frowned deeply. “They? Who?”

Xi Yan glanced at him quietly and murmured, “My roommates.”

“What?” Zhu Shiyan’s voice immediately rose, anger flashing in his eyes. “Are they crazy?!”

Xi Yan hung his head silently, looking pitiful.

Zhu Shiyan took a deep breath to calm himself, then grabbed his wrist. “It’s okay. You can sleep at my place tonight.”

Zhu Shiyan had a small apartment near the school, fully equipped with daily necessities. It would be fine to have Xi Yan stay over one night.

This was the second time Xi Yan’s wrist was held by him. Unlike the first time, when he had resisted, this time he didn’t refuse and obediently followed behind.

Zhu Shiyan first told Wu Zhuo, then brought Xi Yan to a residential complex.

The apartment was only a temporary place for Zhu Shiyan. He rarely came here. The room was small: one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, one bathroom—small but complete.

Zhu Shiyan unlocked the door with his fingerprint, casually lifted the dust cover off the sofa, and invited Xi Yan inside. “Sit anywhere. I’ll get you a glass of water.”

Xi Yan stared at the dust on his shoes and stood still at the door.

Zhu Shiyan took a bottle of mineral water from the cabinet, turned around, saw him still standing there, and smiled.

“Come in directly. I rarely come here myself. I don’t even remember the last time I mopped the floor. No need to change shoes.”

Only then did Xi Yan slowly step inside and quietly close the door behind him.

Once inside, he didn’t dare move around freely. After looking around, he finally sat on a small stool beside the sofa.

Zhu Shiyan rummaged through the refrigerator, which was almost empty except for a bag of frozen dumplings. He picked it up, weighed it in his hand, and without looking up, asked, “Is it okay if we eat dumplings?”

Xi Yan didn’t understand and looked confused. “What?”

Zhu Shiyan straightened up and said, “I mean—” but seeing his dazed expression, he stopped. “Why are you sitting there? Isn’t there a sofa?”

Xi Yan replied, “My clothes are dirty.”

Zhu Shiyan couldn’t help but laugh. He walked over and pressed him down on the sofa. “Don’t be so reserved. Just treat it like your own home.”

Then he started a fire under the pot. “There’s only this bag of dumplings. If you want anything else, there’s none.”

Xi Yan finally caught the meaning and quickly stood up. “I’m not hungry.”

“You’re definitely hungry.” Zhu Shiyan ignored him and dropped the dumplings into the boiling water. “I even heard your stomach growling.”

On the way back, he had heard rumbling sounds behind him. It was obvious that the boy hadn’t eaten dinner.

Xi Yan looked anxious. “Then, then I can cook by myself.”

“Just boiling dumplings. You’re a guest; how could I let you do that?”

As he spoke, Zhu Shiyan saw the dumplings float to the surface. After a few minutes, he scooped them out, placed them in a bowl, sprinkled some chili powder and vinegar, and placed the bowl on the table with a smile. “Besides, aren’t we friends? Why be so distant?”

Xi Yan stared at him blankly. Friends?

Seeing his reaction, Zhu Shiyan’s smile faltered for a moment, then he said casually, “Well, we’re not really friends. At most, we’re classmates who get along well. Dumplings are ready, come—”

“No, we are friends! Friends!” Xi Yan hurriedly interrupted, anxious when he heard Zhu Shiyan about to deny it.

Zhu Shiyan raised an eyebrow and teased, “But your expression just now didn’t look like you wanted to consider me a friend.”

“I—I was just surprised,” Xi Yan hurried to explain. “I never thought you’d see me as a friend.”

Friend...

Such a luxurious word.

In Xi Yan’s sixteen years of life, he’d never had a friend. His world was filled with disgust and abuse. Even the class monitor who had said she pitied him and would sit with him had only been kind words; in reality, she hated him.

Most of the rumors that getting close to him brought bad luck were spread by him—hypocritical to the extreme.

Teachers and classmates disliked him.

Xi Yan knew why.

He had an alcoholic, abusive father and a mother involved in shady businesses. He wore worn-out clothes and shoes, exuding the aura of poverty.

His personality was unlikable, he never smiled, had no talents to show off, nor was he eloquent. Even if he studied desperately, he was still called a dull, expressionless fool.

No one wanted to be near him.

But now, what did the other say?

Friend.

Xi Yan suddenly felt helpless and his heart burned with heat until his eyes reddened.

He had once craved that little warmth and allowed himself to accept all the kindness from others, though deep inside he warned himself it was all an illusion. Soon, like the others, they would despise him, but he couldn’t help wanting to get closer, greedily soaking up that small amount of warmth.

He had long been in an environment of denial, even hating himself deeply. Yet, the other had shown great kindness the moment they met, neither looking down on him nor pretending to pity him, but talking to him like a normal classmate, standing up for the injustices he suffered, even secretly helping him when he learned Zheng Xingyan wanted to beat him up, and now saying they would be friends.

He had friends.

Xi Yan thought.

Even if he would still be hated and abandoned later, at least for this moment, he had friends.

Feeling tears welling up, Xi Yan hurriedly lowered his head to avoid crying embarrassingly.

He gripped his chopsticks and asked as if in a dream, “Are we really friends now?”

Zhu Shiyan softened and handed him the chopsticks, speaking gently, “Of course, if you want to be.”

“I definitely want to!” Xi Yan replied hastily, then blushed and hid his reddened ears as he ate.

A curve appeared on Zhu Shiyan’s lips. He was in a good mood.

After finishing, Xi Yan insisted on washing the dishes. Zhu Shiyan didn’t argue, instead bringing out bedding from the bedroom, spreading it on the sofa, and fetching a set of new pajamas. “The spare clothes are here. I’m going to shower first.”

When he came out, he found Xi Yan sitting with legs and hands neatly together on the sofa. Hearing the noise, Xi Yan looked up at him obediently, like a well-behaved child.

Zhu Shiyan couldn’t help but smile and ruffled his hair twice. “Go shower. It’s late.”

The bathroom still steamed. Xi Yan cautiously stepped inside and tried to turn the faucet, but icy cold water sprayed over him. Shocked, he quickly turned it off.

Zhu Shiyan slumped on the sofa but suddenly sensed something was wrong. He stood and knocked on the bathroom door. “Have you taken your clothes off? If not, open the door a bit.”

Xi Yan opened the door, still wet.

“Forgot to tell you where the shower gel and shampoo are,” Zhu Shiyan entered, towel-drying his hair, and pointed to the toiletries. “The toothbrush and towel are new; you can use them freely.”

He paused and asked, “Why are you soaking wet?”

Xi Yan quietly said, “I didn’t know how to adjust the hot water...”

“Sorry.” Zhu Shiyan didn’t ask why he’d never used these before, instead giving a casual explanation. “My shower head is different from others. This way is hot water; you can adjust it left and right. Remember?”

Xi Yan nodded seriously. “Got it.”

Zhu Shiyan wanted to ruffle his hair again but restrained himself.

Half an hour later, Xi Yan came out, blushing. “I’m done.”

Zhu Shiyan lazily waved at him. “Come here, I’ll blow dry your hair.”

Xi Yan obediently sat in front of him.

Zhu Shiyan gently ran his fingers through his hair. Amid the loud hum of the hairdryer, he said, “You’re too thin. You should eat more.”

When Xi Yan came out earlier, Zhu Shiyan had casually sized him up, noticing he was a few centimeters shorter than him. The pajamas, not exactly loose on Zhu Shiyan, hung baggy on Xi Yan’s frail frame.

No wonder. At this age, if you’re malnourished every day, there’s no way to grow tall.

The hairdryer’s noise muffled his voice, so Xi Yan looked at him puzzled.

“Nothing.”

Zhu Shiyan turned his head back, pondering how to feed him properly, hoping to make up for the nutrients he’d missed all these years.

As he thought, he subtly felt the sensation of caring for a child.

In his original world, he was already a working adult for three years, so in his eyes, Xi Yan was like a child. He didn’t realize that acting this way at the same age might seem odd, and Xi Yan never mentioned it.

He’d never had friends before and knew nothing about how friends should interact.

Yet, he relished every touch from the other.