When the two returned to the city, it was already close to seven.

Street lamps stood resolute on either side of the road, pedestrians hurried past, and even the setting sun seemed to be adjusting to the city’s fast pace, sinking quicker than usual. Towering skyscrapers dressed in dazzling lights stood tall, flaunting their presence, each vying to increase the rental prices of their billboard spaces.

Lu Che took Xu Xing to a restaurant for dinner. A singer softly hummed a tune, and the restaurant’s dim lighting gave a warm, gentle atmosphere. Each table was lit by a candle, making it, in romantic terms, a candlelit dinner.

Xu Xing ordered a baked rice dish and ate quietly, noticing from the corner of his eye that across from him, Lu Che was resting his chin on one hand, eyes fixed on him since they sat down. Lu Che mechanically spooned his food into his mouth, barely noticing what he was eating.

“…”

Xu Xing felt uncomfortable under the stare and looked up. “What’s up?”

Lu Che met his gaze for once, looking forlorn. “I have to get my fill of looking at you now. We’re about to be apart for two whole days. Why does National Day break have to be four days off? Shouldn’t seniors be studying non-stop all year?”

Xu Xing rolled his eyes and replied, “You’ve got a point. That way, you’d have fewer excuses to freeload at my place.”

“…”

Lu Che immediately changed his tone, saying seriously, “Actually, I think a one-day weekend is still essential. Recharge at home to be ready for better study, right?”

His eyes lingered unconsciously on Xu Xing’s lips. For others, recharging on weekends might mean an extra hour of sleep; for him, it meant two minutes of bedtime kisses.

Ignoring him, Xu Xing finished his meal, then went back to Lu Che’s to pack.

Xu Xing had brought very little—a toothbrush, towel, and some dirty clothes from the night before. Just as he was about to stuff them all into his backpack, Lu Che stopped him with a shy request: “Class rep, leave your clothes here. I’ll wash your pants tonight, the shirt tomorrow, and the day after that, your under—”

Before he could finish, Xu Xing shoved his hand away. “Get lost.”

Xu Xing’s train was at ten that night.

They arrived at the station by nine. After helping Xu Xing get his ticket, Lu Che bought a short-distance ticket for himself, tagging along into the waiting hall. The seats were all taken, and some people sat on the floor or their luggage. Xu Xing stood near the boarding gate with Lu Che clinging to him like glue, swaying side to side and nuzzling his head against Xu Xing’s back.

Xu Xing called his parents, and his father offered to pick him up at the station, but Xu Xing declined, saying he’d take a taxi home.

The crowded hall was filled with people, and several young passersby couldn’t help but glance their way.

Resting his chin on Xu Xing’s shoulder, Lu Che murmured repeatedly, “My dear class rep~ my dear class rep~ my dear~ dear~”

Xu Xing finally lost patience. “Shut up.”

When it was time to board, Xu Xing simply said, “I’m going,” and walked away without looking back.

He found his assigned seat on the train—a window seat. Beside him sat a young woman, but he turned to look out the window.

The girl gave him a frank look and took a row of yogurt drinks from her bag, nudging his arm with a smile. “Want one?”

Xu Xing looked at the row of drinks and declined instinctively. “No, thanks.”

Suddenly, he had a craving for a can of Wangzai milk.

·

When he got home, Xu Xing opened the door and changed his shoes, calling out, “I’m back.”

It was eleven-thirty. His dad, reading in the living room, responded, while his mom, carrying a pot of freshly cooked porridge from the kitchen, smiled and said, “I just made a pot of porridge. We’ll each have a bowl.”

Xu Xing put down his bag and, noticing four bowls on the table, asked, “Why did you make porridge tonight? Did you grab an extra bowl?”

His mom replied that it wasn’t extra, then called out, “Xu Yin, come have some porridge.”

Xu Xing looked surprised. “Wasn’t she not coming back?”

Mom explained, “Your sister couldn’t get a ticket home, but she managed to book her return for the 7th, so she took the long bus ride to come home today.”

Dad added, “She arrived last night at seven.”

Just as Xu Xing sat down, he saw Xu Yin emerge from the room, dressed casually in an oversized shirt and her high school track pants, her long hair messily clipped at the back of her head.

Xu Xing looked at Xu Yin, who gave him a sidelong glance as she pulled out a chair. “So, how was City A?”

“…”

Xu Xing lowered his head, sipping his porridge, and replied a bit sheepishly, “It was just okay.”

There was something loaded in Xu Yin’s tone.

Xu Xing then remembered that Xu Yin still had a deep misunderstanding about his relationship with Lu Che.

After finishing his porridge, Xu Xing grabbed his clothes and went to the bathroom to shower. Xu Yin was inside brushing her teeth. When they crossed paths, she shot him a look, spat out her toothpaste, and asked, “What’s really going on with you?”

Her eyes drifted to an extra toothbrush in the bathroom—Lu Che’s. She’d casually asked their mom yesterday about it, and when she heard Lu Che’s name, she felt a wave of mixed emotions.

Bringing someone home, spending a long holiday together in his city—had these two started dating?

Xu Xing glanced around nervously, touching his neck as he denied, “You’ve got the wrong idea. Lu Che and I are just regular friends.”

Xu Yin: “…”

Not long ago, the mention of Lu Che’s name would have set him off, but now he seemed oddly evasive and bashful.

Xu Yin worried that Xu Xing, if he went down this path, would face endless struggles, and she also feared her single-minded younger brother would get hurt.

Teens are so oblivious, so bold.

They flirt, they share heated kisses, but never mention the future.

Xu Yin looked at Xu Xing with a serious expression. “Keep in mind, he might respond to you now but could also be ready to pull back at any moment. Don’t let yourself end up too hurt.”

“…”

Xu Xing was at a loss for words.

He eventually ended the conversation with “You’re overthinking it,” but that night, lying in bed, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Xu Yin’s words echoed in his mind.

The one who kept pushing the boundaries, only to pull back, wasn’t Lu Che—it was him.

The next morning.

Their mom sighed happily, saying how lively it was to have the kids home. Xu Yin and Xu Xing got into an argument first thing over breakfast, with Xu Yin refusing to drink milk and eat bread, insisting their mom make her sweet boiled eggs. Xu Xing couldn’t stand it and snapped, “Lazy and picky, with a bad attitude.”

Xu Yin shot him a glare.

Neither sibling mentioned their conversation from the night before, keeping the secret to themselves.

Their mom chuckled, saying, “Xu Yin, you should try to be gentler.”

Xu Xing added, “With that attitude, who’s going to marry you?”

Xu Yin retorted, “Plenty of people are lining up to date me. I’m just picky.”

Xu Xing scoffed.

It wasn’t disdain—he genuinely didn’t understand. Xu Yin had always been popular. Since first grade, boys from her class would bring Xu Xing snacks, even offer him rides home, just to get information on her birthday or her favorite snacks.

Back then, he’d naively thought they were just looking to copy homework, cozying up to him for favors.

Looking back, it was all just young hearts awakening, escorting him home to catch another glimpse of her.

On Mid-Autumn Festival night.

Xu Xing’s family didn’t have any special traditions—they just gathered to eat mooncakes and enjoy the moon.

Around ten, Xu Xing went to the living room to get some water and saw Xu Yin coming out of her room, wearing a dress and scented with a sweet perfume.

He looked her over and was surprised to see she had even curled her hair, her lips a deep red.

Noticing this, he frowned and asked, “You’re going out this late?”

Xu Yin replied nonchalantly, “Yeah.”

Xu Xing went to the living room, poured some warm water, and sat at his desk. Feeling restless, he opened his phone and clicked on Lu Che’s chat.

Their conversation had been buried under group holiday messages from classmates, last ending the night he’d arrived home.

Xu Xing’s thumb hovered over the screen, opening and closing the input box. He tossed his phone aside, ruffled his hair, and picked up a test paper.

Half an hour passed.

Then a notification.

“Ding—”

Xu Xing crossed out answers A and B, glancing over at his phone.

LC: Class rep, are you watching the moon?

Xu Xing twisted his pen, pressing the button against his desk.

He picked up his phone and replied, “No.”

LC: I feel like watching the moon~

Xu Xing walked to the balcony and glanced outside. The stars were scattered, and the full moon hung high.

He thought about replying, “Stop talking nonsense and just look up if you want to see it.”

Lu Che sent another message—

LC: I’m downstairs at your building, but too bad, the moon hasn’t shown up yet~

Xu Xing: “…”

After hesitating, he stuffed his phone into his pocket, told his parents, and went downstairs in his slippers.

Xu Xing walked out of the elevator, hands in his pockets.

Beneath the streetlights, Lu Che was crouched by a flowerbed, holding his phone. When he heard footsteps, he looked up at Xu Xing, his previously indifferent eyes lighting up with a warm, tender smile.

Lu Che: “Hey, my moon finally showed up~”

Xu Xing: “…”

He walked up to Lu Che and, noticing he was only holding his phone, asked with a frown, “What are you doing here? You know you’re past curfew.”

Lu Che raised his hand, reaching for Xu Xing’s hand in his pocket.

Xu Xing took a step back, and Lu Che’s tone turned pitiful: “My hand’s a bit cold. Feel it?”

Xu Xing huffed. “So?”

As usual, he was fishing for sympathy.

But tonight, Lu Che tried a softer approach: “I missed you so much. Even though I’ll see you tomorrow, as soon as I got back to City C, you were all I could think about.”

Xu Xing rolled his eyes. “Well, you’ve seen me. Now go back where you came from.”

Lu Che held out his arms, bargaining. “Let me hug you just once, and I’ll go~”

“…”

Xu Xing stood still, and Lu Che stayed put, arms open, waiting for him to initiate.

Xu Xing: “…”

He wasn’t that crazy.

A gentle smile played across Lu Che’s handsome face, and the stars seemed to gather in his deep eyes. He said with a chuckle, “Class rep, if you’re not hugging me, does that mean you don’t want me to leave~”

At that, Xu Xing stepped forward, leaning briefly into Lu Che’s embrace and muttering, “Hurry up and get going.”

Lu Che immediately wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close, his warm chest against Xu Xing’s. His smile grew, triumphant and content.