The next morning.

Xu Xing woke naturally at six but lay in bed until past seven before getting up.

Sitting on the edge of the bed rubbing his face, he heard a hoarse, groggy voice from beside him. “Morning, class rep,” Lu Che mumbled, turning over.

Xu Xing glanced at the clock on the bedside table and replied, “Not really morning. It’s already past seven.”

Lu Che stretched out his arm, wrapping it around Xu Xing’s waist and pulling him close, hand grazing his stomach. He laughed, “You really can’t hold your liquor, huh? Half a glass, and you were out.”

Annoyed, Xu Xing shoved his hand away, got up, and shuffled out of the room in his slippers. But as he passed through the living room, he suddenly spotted a woman sitting elegantly by a round table in the corner, arranging flowers. She was holding a magazine in one hand, a steaming cup of coffee beside her.

“…”

Xu Xing, still groggy from sleep, took a moment to realize that this woman was the one he’d seen in Lu Che’s family photo the day before—Lu Che’s mother.

Caught off guard, Xu Xing quickly ran a hand through his messy hair. Before she looked up, he stood up straight and greeted her politely, “Good morning, ma’am. I’m Lu Che’s classmate from City C. Sorry to intrude…”

Xu Xing’s words came out stiff and formal.

Lu Che’s mother propped her chin on one hand, her slightly narrowed eyes gleaming with amusement. “Hello,” she replied with a smile.

After that, Xu Xing felt the silence grow awkward. He gave a forced smile, then hurried off to the bathroom.

When Lu Che’s mom finished the last page of her magazine, she set it on the table and walked to Lu Che’s bedroom door. Crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe, she smiled slyly, “So, has your germophobia finally been cured?”

Lu Che had always been strict about cleanliness, especially with his bed. Though he’d occasionally invite classmates over, no one had ever spent the night in his bed—not even a nap was allowed, let alone sleeping over.

“Uh-huh,” he muttered, still lying under the covers. “What are you doing back here?”

His mom smiled, “I can leave right now if you’d prefer—or do you need me to stay and entertain your little classmate?”

From under the covers, Lu Che extended a leg and gently kicked, “Go on, go. Quickly.”

His mom chuckled, “Ah, well, seeing as you’re still wearing your pants, I’ll assume all is fine here.”

She turned to leave but was met with Lu Che’s cheeky retort, “I’ll be taking them off eventually, so don’t worry too much.”

—

Xu Xing had brought his own toothbrush and towel, which he’d left in the bathroom last night. After a thorough wash, he mentally prepared himself before stepping out.

But Lu Che’s mom had already left the corner lounge.

Xu Xing returned to the bedroom, watching Lu Che struggle to get up, failing multiple times. Finally, he gave up and lay face-down, creating a small mound under the blanket with his butt, muttering to himself, “I’m getting up… I’m going to get up and take the class rep out for breakfast…”

Xu Xing: “…”

Lu Che’s struggle to wake up lasted over half an hour. When he was finally ready, it was past nine.

Xu Xing, accustomed to a routine of early rising and regular meals, was already feeling hungry. Sitting cross-legged on the bed’s edge while Lu Che styled his hair, Xu Xing finally asked, “Is your mom coming to breakfast?”

“She left already. Busy lady, no time to eat with me.” Then Lu Che paused, chuckled, and added, “But if you’d like to start calling her ‘mom,’ she’d make the time.”

Xu Xing shot him a glare. “Shut up.”

Lu Che fell silent obediently.

By the time they left, it was already ten. They headed to a tea house for a late breakfast that lasted through lunch. Afterward, Lu Che took Xu Xing on a walk nearby. Whenever they turned onto a quieter street, Lu Che would try to hold Xu Xing’s hand, though Xu Xing always forcefully shook him off. Still, Lu Che cheerfully persisted, reaching for his hand over and over.

Finally, Xu Xing snapped, “What’s wrong with you?”

Lu Che only grinned. “Just loving you too much~”

Xu Xing: “Get lost.”

Even after being scolded, Lu Che kept smiling. He grabbed Xu Xing’s hand with a more serious grip, saying, “You’re leaving tonight, and I’ll miss you for two whole days. I was hoping we could watch the moon together for Mid-Autumn.”

Annoyed, Xu Xing replied, “It’s the same moon, no matter where you watch it.”

“Not really,” Lu Che said. “If I’m watching it with you, it means I’ll watch the moon while you’re in front of me.”

Xu Xing: “…”

Impatiently, Xu Xing retorted, “Then you’d better look your fill now.”

“…”

Lu Che chuckled. “Really?”

Xu Xing immediately took it back, “Of course not!”

He left Lu Che standing there and walked ahead.

By three in the afternoon, they took a cab out of town to visit Lu Che’s grandparents.

Xu Xing felt a bit awkward, sitting in the car with one hand resting against his chin, looking out the window. All afternoon, Lu Che had tried to hold his hand but was repeatedly rejected. Now, in the car, Lu Che tried again, and this time, after a slight hesitation, Xu Xing let him hold it, too tired to resist further.

Lu Che smirked, quietly pleased.

Through experience, Lu Che realized that Xu Xing’s rules only applied to location—not to the act itself. As long as the place was private enough, Xu Xing seemed more open to holding hands. Of course, Xu Xing would always pretend to refuse first, ultimately giving in with an air of resigned tolerance. His stubbornness ran deep.

Lu Che sighed theatrically.

The class rep just wasn’t straightforward enough~

—

Lu Che’s grandparents lived in a small house in the countryside, with a garden where they grew flowers and vegetables.

They arrived just before four. Lu Che’s grandma was shelling beans in the yard, while his grandpa was pulling weeds. Seeing Lu Che made them both happy. Although his grandpa remained reserved, his grandma pulled Lu Che aside, asking about his dorm and cafeteria at school, as if she had endless questions.

After greeting them, Xu Xing sat quietly, listening to their conversation, his gaze never straying far from Lu Che.

He pulled over a small stool to help his grandma shell beans, while Lu Che knelt down to help his grandpa weed, recording a video on his phone as he did so. His grandpa waved him off, muttering, and his grandma called out, “Don’t listen to him! Just yesterday he kept asking when you’d visit and fretting that he might miss you if he stepped out!”

Hearing that, Grandpa felt embarrassed and quickly changed the subject, complaining about how slowly Grandma was shelling the beans.

Lu Che recorded their playful banter, and when he turned the camera toward Xu Xing, he made a “shh” gesture to remind him not to say anything.

If Grandpa found out he was recording, he’d certainly frown and insist Lu Che turn it off.

Lu Che scooted over to Xu Xing and, with no other stools available, shamelessly asked, “Class Rep, mind if I sit on your lap for a bit?”

Xu Xing: “…”

Without saying a word, he got up and let Lu Che have the stool.

Ignoring Lu Che, Xu Xing walked toward the front of the garden, admiring the plants and flowers. He asked Grandpa curiously, “Are these two dragon fruit trees?”

Grandpa softened his tone and replied, “Yes. The flowers are done blooming, and they should bear fruit in about a month.”

The two dragon fruit trees had thorny, three-lobed vines that draped around the yard.

Grandma chimed in, “You should come back next month with Lu Che. By then, you can pick dragon fruits.”

Xu Xing turned back to her with a polite nod, but it was more a courtesy than anything.

They didn’t stay much longer. Grandpa wanted to invite them to stay for a meal but struggled to say it directly, instead chiding Grandma, “Your grandson’s here with a friend, and you’re not even keeping them for lunch.”

Lu Che laughed but, mindful of Xu Xing’s need to catch a train that evening, eventually said goodbye to his grandparents.

On the way back to the city.

Lu Che scrolled through his video library and told Xu Xing, “Isn’t my grandpa a character?”

Xu Xing, looking out the window, nodded, “He is.”

Lu Che replied, “You two are really alike.”

Xu Xing: “…”

There was a brief silence.

Then Xu Xing noticed a “memory full” notification pop up on Lu Che’s phone and asked, “Did you fill up your storage with videos?”

Lu Che grinned, “Yep! My storage space is pretty special, you know. Used to be only my grandparents could fill it. Now, it includes you too.”

Xu Xing: “…”

Lu Che put away his phone, took Xu Xing’s hand, and said softly, “In a few decades, when I’m watching these videos and crying my heart out, will you help wipe my tears?”

“…”

Xu Xing turned to see Lu Che’s smiling face and suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

After a pause, he frowned and said, “Your grandparents are healthy. They’ll live long, full lives, so stop with the dramatic thoughts.”

Leaning back with one hand behind his head, Lu Che chuckled, “Exactly. That’s why I’m planning to secretly record for a few more decades.”

Xu Xing: “…”

Turning back to the window, Xu Xing pressed his lips together slightly.

“In a few decades…”

“Will you help wipe my tears?”

Xu Xing dared not answer.