27.  I’ll show you something good.

The mobilization meeting for the senior third-year students of Xuncheng No.2 High School was held in the school auditorium.

The headmaster on the stage gave an impassioned speech, but the students below were still not fully awake from the relaxed atmosphere of the vacation. Half of them were drowsy, and the other half were daydreaming.

Liang Yi and his classmates in the back row exchanged seats and leaned towards Yu Xinqiao, whispering in his ear, “I didn’t expect you to accompany us to the third year. You’re really loyal, Qiao!”

Yu Xinqiao yawned and replied, “Didn’t I tell you on WeChat a few days ago? You didn’t believe me.”

“I thought you were joking,” Liang Yi said. “Didn’t you say you would leave after summer vacation? Besides, you don’t have to wait for the college entrance examination.”

As early as the first semester of the second year of high school, Yu Xinqiao passed the entrance examination for a foreign music college. Originally, he was waiting for the study visa to go abroad, but due to the disclosure of his homosexuality, it was delayed until now.

“Yeah, I don’t mind,” Yu Xinqiao said. “But I heard that the college entrance examination is an important life experience. It would be a pity to miss it. It’s better to have some fun with you guys.”

Hearing this, Liang Yi clenched his fist but refrained from doing anything in public.

He began to convey his own philosophy of life to Yu Xinqiao: “Actually, I don’t want to take the college entrance examination either. My family has been in the business of selling things for three generations. Instead of straining myself for the college entrance examination, I’d rather go back home and inherit the small shop. Making money is much more interesting than studying…”

Yu Xinqiao was somewhat absent-minded, listening while looking in the direction behind them.

Liang Yi followed his gaze and looked back, accurately locating Xu Yanhuan, who was resting his arm on the armrest and dozing off in the crowd. A sudden realization struck him, “Wait, Qiao, you stayed in Xuncheng because of Xu—“

Yu Xinqiao turned his head abruptly, putting his index finger to his lips, signaling for silence.

Liang Yi: ?

Yu Xinqiao looked a bit embarrassed. “Good buddy, don’t let others know.”

Liang Yi tightened his fist even more. “…Look at your lack of ambition.”

During the break, the four of them gathered. Wang Kun was happy that Yu Xinqiao staying meant they had a substitute player for the basketball team, while Shen Da was excited because someone could help him with English tutoring.

“You guys would never guess what my mom gave me as a coming-of-age gift, it’s a tutoring class with a famous teacher,” Shen Da said with a gloomy expression. “The shadow of this birthday will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

Yu Xinqiao sympathized deeply, “But I rely on my sense of language for English. It doesn’t necessarily mean a famous teacher can teach better.”

“Even if the progress is slower, at least I’m fine,” Liang Yi took a bite of his steamed bun and mumbled, “Look at him, he’s been tortured into what he is now.”

After a closer look, Shen Da did seem to have lost some weight. Yu Xinqiao softened his stance and said, “Alright, if it can help rescue one subject, then let’s do it.”

Shen Daye also wanted to rescue his math grades. He looked around the classroom and found only one suitable person.

When that person was mentioned, everyone instinctively lowered their voices. Wang Kun said, “Didn’t Xu Yanhuan rank first in the previous semester? I heard that Mr. Yang received a bonus because of him.”

Yu Xinqiao didn’t understand, “Shouldn’t the bonus go to the one who ranked first?”

“One for studying hard, and one for excellent teaching. Both have their merits,” Shen Daye leaned closer and asked, “Qiao, do you still have contact with Xu Yanhuan after that day?”

Thinking back to the early morning of August 9th, Yu Xinqiao awkwardly turned his face away and pretended to organize his books. “No, why would I contact him?”

Wang Kun started gossiping, “So, that day at the bar, what did you actually say to him?”

Yu Xinqiao replied, “I asked him how much he charges for a night.”

The three of them were puzzled.

Shen Daye said, “Xiao Qiao is bold.”

Wang Kun said, “Is this… a case of love turned into hatred?”

Liang Yi held back for a while, then slammed the unfinished steamed bun on Yu Xinqiao’s desk after the other two left. “I’m telling you, both of you have made a mess of things, and you’re still pursuing him?!”

Yu Xinqiao didn’t care.

What kind of mess had they made? It was just a failed date and a public rejection. It was just jealousy that distorted their faces. What harm was there in asking if he sells himself? Compared to that kiss that night, these were nothing.

Although, after that kiss, their conversation became hurtful to each other.

For at least three minutes after they separated, Yu Xinqiao was completely bewildered.

It wasn’t until the bright overhead lights turned on, as if instantly pulled back to reality, that Yu Xinqiao bit his lip and felt a physical pain.

He asked first, “Will you accept my pursuit?” Without waiting for an answer, in order to not appear too disheveled, he asked again, “Then, how much for a kiss?”

Xu Yanhuan said, “It’s free.”

Yu Xinqiao found it absurd, “A free gift with a home service… Just with this, do you think I won’t dislike you?”

Before this unexpected kiss, he was on the verge of being unable to hold back the tenderness that Xu Yanhuan had shown. And Xu Yanhuan told him, “Then don’t dislike me.”

How arrogant, how unreasonable the request was.

But even more absurd was Yu Xinqiao himself. For this kiss that couldn’t be considered a kiss, he called his parents the next morning and told them he had decided to stay in Xuncheng and finish the senior year.

The reason was simple, for one person.

Echoing in his ears was Yao Qiongying’s stern questioning, asking if he had gone crazy, if he didn’t want his parents anymore, if he didn’t care about his future.

Let’s just say I’ve gone crazy, Yu Xinqiao thought.

After all, only a fraction of life is occupied by a year, and in this long lifetime, what are the chances of encountering Xu Yanhuan?

On the first weekend of entering the senior third year, Yu Xinqiao went to a second-hand piano store in the wholesale market and slept on a table filled with assignments, completely exhausted.

He used the last bit of his summer vacation to polish a yellow crystal for Shen Daye as a birthday gift. Recently, he was polishing one for Liang Yi as well. It was unfortunate that their birthdays were so close together, relying on a machine to polish them all seemed insincere.

Liang Yi initially wanted an amethyst, but upon hearing that there was a trendy color called “gay purple,” he quickly changed it to the same yellow crystal as Shen Daye’s.

He even made a request, “I want it to be exactly the same as his, bro-style.”

Yu Xinqiao agreed verbally but internally criticized – that’s called a couple’s style, okay?

In any case, these past few days, Yu Xinqiao had been working tirelessly, day and night, moving stones. He was so exhausted that he dreamed of holding a basin-sized stone, grinding it with diamond sandpaper, and moaned and cried in his dream.

Xu Yanhuan lifted the black and white curtain of the piano store and saw Yu Xinqiao sleeping on the table, as if having a nightmare, clenching his teeth with closed eyes, his expression fierce.

He came to help Boss Huang move the pianos.

At the moment, Boss Huang had gone somewhere to play again. Xu Yanhuan hesitated for a moment but decided to enter the store and sit on a chair near the entrance.

He took out his phone, opened WeChat, and occasionally chatted with people in the class group, but it was far less active than during the summer vacation. He scrolled up, and Yu Xinqiao’s last message in the group stopped on Friday afternoon, when he assigned homework for the English teacher.

Due to getting a perfect score on the English final exam last semester, Yu Xinqiao became the English class representative this semester.

Even though he was actually an art student.

After the phone was repaired, it didn’t work well. It was either difficult to swipe or would scroll directly to the bottom with a single swipe. Xu Yanhuan’s finger rested on Yu Xinqiao’s profile picture. Originally, he wanted to exit, but after a few presses, the screen didn’t move. By the time the phone responded, he had already entered the chat interface with Yu Xinqiao. The last chat record was from August 9th, a less than 30-second voice call followed by Yu Xinqiao sending four words: “Have you arrived home?”

Xu Yanhuan replied: “Yeah.”

That day, the power didn’t go out for very long. The moment the overhead lights turned on, he was exposed under the daylight. He almost couldn’t hide those despicable thoughts and dirty desires.

Fortunately, Yu Xinqiao wasn’t looking at him at that moment.

Autumn in Xuncheng arrived earlier than usual this year. The cool breeze blew in through the open window, and Xu Yanhuan instinctively turned his head to look at the table where Yu Xinqiao was sleeping.

It seemed like the nightmare had ended. Yu Xinqiao’s face was peaceful, with a slight smile at the corner of his lips, a rare act of obedience.

Feeling cold, he pulled his neck into his coat and crossed his legs under the chair. His thin ankles, exposed to the air, rubbed against each other a few times.

About a minute later, Xu Yanhuan stood up and calmly walked towards Yu Xinqiao, standing behind him.

He shielded him from the wind blowing in from outside.

However, Xu Yanhuan didn’t know how long he could stand there. He was afraid that the fire would ignite behind him, forcing him to leave involuntarily. But he also feared that this seemingly delicate person would gradually grow wings and no longer need protection.

When Boss Huang returned, Yu Xinqiao had just woken up.

He had a high-quality sleep, with the brief nightmare replaced by a long and pleasant dream. The coldness was only temporary, and the wind stopped blowing after a while.

He brought a pile of assignments to pretend, while Boss Huang and the others were busy moving goods. Yu Xinqiao drew little dogs on the drafting paper, while listening attentively to their conversation.

“I heard from my sister that you’re doing well at the bar over there?” Boss Huang asked.

“It’s alright,” Xu Yanhuan said, “The work over there is quite easy.”

“But I think you should take a break too. Didn’t you say you’ve saved enough for tuition?”

“I’m saving up for university tuition now.”

“With your grades, you’ll definitely get a scholarship. Why save up for tuition?”

“It’s always good to be prepared for the future.”

“You, you think too much, your thoughts are too deep. You’re wasting your precious youth on this.”

“Then where should I be wasting it?”

“Well, your little classmate has come to look for you again. Finish work early today, have a meal together, and make some plans…”

Work didn’t end early today. When Xu Yanhuan came out of the store, he saw Yu Xinqiao standing under the electric pole at the entrance, looking up at the small advertisements pasted on it.

Xu Yanhuan walked past him without hesitation, and Yu Xinqiao immediately averted his gaze and followed his footsteps.

At the entrance of the market, Xu Yanhuan suddenly stopped, then turned around. Yu Xinqiao took a step forward and fearlessly met his gaze from a few steps away.

Xu Yanhuan asked with his eyes, “Why are you following me?”

Yu Xinqiao said, “I need to talk to you about something.”

“What is it?”

“Can you help, um… Shen Da, with math tutoring? I’ll pay you.”

“How much and when?”

Yu Xinqiao gave a figure and then said, “Monday to Friday evenings, 90 minutes each day.”

Xu Yanhuan pondered for a moment and said, “Alright, let him come find me during his self-study class tomorrow.”

The deal was settled, and Yu Xinqiao tagged along behind Xu Yanhuan like a little tail.

The wholesale market wasn’t far from Xu Yanhuan’s home. Just as they were about to pass through an alley, Xu Yanhuan turned around again and asked impatiently, “Is there something else?”

Yu Xinqiao had an open expression and said, “I’m just checking if you’re going to work at the bar again. Staying up late affects the quality of your teaching the next day.”

Xu Yanhuan replied, “…What a poor excuse.”

But he couldn’t argue back.

He had to tell him, “I won’t go to the bar after school starts. I don’t want the school to catch me.”

Under a dim streetlight, Xu Yanhuan saw Yu Xinqiao let out a sigh of relief.

He couldn’t help but find it amusing. The scene did resemble a bit of persuading someone to take the right path, escorting the wayward youth, afraid that they would fall into the wrong path again.

Caught by the unusually sharp-eyed Yu Xinqiao, he asked, “Are you laughing?”

Xu Yanhuan immediately composed his expression and replied, “No.”

Yu Xinqiao approached and observed carefully, “I clearly saw the corners of your mouth lift up high.”

“You saw it wrong.”

“…”

Yu Xinqiao regretted not taking a photo with his phone, shoulders slumped, and waved his hand dejectedly. “Well, I’m leaving. Take care on your way.”

He had only taken a few steps when he turned back and jogged towards him.

Today, he was wearing a navy blue hoodie, with the hood covering his head. His hands were tucked inside the large pocket of the hoodie, and his long eyelashes cast two fine shadows on his eyes.

One, two, three.

He blinked only three times, but Yu Yanhuan’s heart jumped six times.

“Come to the playground during the long break tomorrow morning,” Yu Xinqiao said somewhat shyly. “I’ll show you something good.”

In reality, Xu Yanhuan didn’t think he was serious.

After all, who would show such affection to someone who not only stood them up but also refused them, then forcibly kissed them without taking responsibility? Moreover, Yu Xinqiao had said that a single kiss was not enough to make him stop hating him.

On Monday morning, Xu Yanhuan skipped two classes. Bai Wei wasn’t feeling well, so he took her to the hospital.

After completing the examination at the hospital, they learned that since the last time Xu Zhen had beaten him, Bai Wei had been experiencing chest tightness and headaches. She had even vomited twice at work.

The doctor said it was primary hypertension and advised her to take care of her health, and prescribed antihypertensive medication to effectively control it.

After getting the prescription, Xu Yanhuan realized that it wouldn’t be feasible to go to the hospital every day. So he went to a nearby pharmacy to buy a blood pressure monitor.

He chose the cheapest one on the shelf, which was on sale for 158 yuan after a discount. But when he tried to pay with his card, it showed insufficient balance. Xu Yanhuan remembered that he had just paid the electricity bill yesterday. The top floor was hot in the summer, so Bai Wei had borrowed an air cooler from the landlord, resulting in nearly 600 yuan in electricity bills over the past two months.

There was originally 1,000 yuan in his account, which was meant to cover their two months’ food expenses. He had spent over 200 yuan on medication, leaving only 157 yuan now.

For the sake of that one yuan, Xu Yanhuan rushed back home from the hospital, took out the card where he saved his tuition fees, withdrew 100 yuan from an ATM by the roadside, and then returned to the pharmacy to buy the blood pressure monitor.

On the way to school with his backpack on his back, Xu Yanhuan mentally reevaluated the family’s income and expenses. He thought about asking Shen Daye if he wanted additional tutoring during their session that evening, just like a supermarket promotion—buy more, get more.

After all, he had nothing to offer except time.

As he entered the school, he could see a crowd gathered by the side of the playground, seemingly the result of a cultural performance during the summer break.

Xu Yanhuan was not one to join in the crowd, so he planned to bypass them.

But just a second before he shifted his gaze away, he saw someone standing at a high point, waving at him.

It was Yu Xinqiao.

At Xuncheng No. 2 High School, it was mandatory to wear the school uniform on Mondays. However, he had squeezed a sky-blue hoodie inside the open uniform, bluer than the one from last night, resembling the sky.

His big, bright eyes were smiling, and his mouth opened and closed. Xu Yanhuan knew he was saying, “I’m first place. Aren’t I amazing?”

The scene before him seemed to span a lifetime.

Yu Xinqiao was a radiant and dazzling figure, deserving to stand in the center of the crowd, surrounded by applause and cheers, engulfed in a sea of flowers.

Meanwhile, Xu Yanhuan had been running around for a mere one yuan, covered in dust, standing in a desolate corner, feeling pierced by that radiance.

——————–

This section of memories is still bittersweet.

I suggest reading the segment with the first kiss together with the second half of Chapter 22 of the current storyline, as it provides more details. This segment offers a more concise version.

TN: This will be the last chapter for a while as I work on migrating the previous chapters from the other site to this one. I’m doing my best to finish as soon as possible so please bear with me.