Chapter 41: “The Most Sensible Child.”

A few minutes later, the Jiang family father and son were knocking on the door outside, asking about the situation.

Duan Zhuxian said, “It’s nothing, just a small scratch.”

Jiang Yao stared at the “small” scratch, which was still bleeding after being cleaned, and his frown deepened. He then grabbed Duan Zhuxian’s wrist, “Maybe we should go get an X-ray.”

“No need, it’s not broken.” Duan Zhuxian held his hand back, rubbing it soothingly, only to have Jiang Yao shake him off.

In the end, Jiang Yao directly applied the medicine to Duan Zhuxian’s wound. When he finished, he rummaged through the first-aid kit for a long time but couldn’t find any gauze.

“Must be Jiang Chen who used my first-aid kit,” Jiang Yao grumbled irritably. “Wait here, I’ll get some gauze.”

He threw out the order harshly and hurriedly left the room.

As the door closed, the room fell silent.

Duan Zhuxian turned around and looked around.

It was his first time in Jiang Yao’s room, and it was just as he had imagined: cluttered, crowded, warm, like a small animal’s nest, with many lights.

The dartboard at the foot of the bed was still there, but his name was no longer stuck to it.

When did Jiang Yao stop throwing darts at his name?

Duan Zhuxian walked over and raised his hand, his fingertips slowly touching the yellowed glue marks mixed with paper fibers on the dartboard.

It was probably the moment he learned that Duan Zhuxian had changed his college preference.

Duan Zhuxian lowered his hand. As the room was too cluttered, he accidentally knocked over a stack of books when he turned around.

Along with the books, a notebook fell out, conveniently opening to the first page. The date indicated it was written when Jiang Yao was around ten years old.

His gaze fell on the notebook, and Duan Zhuxian paused, unable to resist bending down to flip through the childish writing and doodles.

Each entry was very short, some even just one or two lines.

【Moved to a new city, first day, sunny! [smiley face]】

……

【New home renovation, when unloading the boards, Dad only let Jiang Chen help him and didn’t let me help. Jiang Chen said Dad was protecting me, but I also want to do something for him within my ability. [pouting face]】

……

【Made wood carvings for Thanksgiving for Mom and Dad. After receiving the gifts, they told me not to play with dangerous things next time to avoid hurting myself. Did I do something wrong? Okay, to prevent them from worrying about me, I will never touch carving knives again… [crying face]】

……

【Jiang Chen’s school organized a trip to the aquarium and allowed family members to join. I wanted to go too, but Mom and Dad said the aquarium is too dark and asked me to stay home. They promised to take pictures for me. I lied and said I’m not afraid of the dark anymore. [strong man]】

……

【Today’s essay topic was my favorite color. My favorite color is red; red is lively, livelier than I am.】

This entry didn’t have a drawing of a little figure.

Perhaps he forgot, or maybe, as a ten-year-old, he didn’t know how to use a doodle to encapsulate such complex emotions.

Through the handwriting, faded by time, Duan Zhuxian envisioned a small figure lying on a desk, writing and drawing—a child left in a safe zone by his parents, lonely, longing for recognition, and craving attention.

From the first day he met Jiang Yao, Duan Zhuxian felt that Jiang Yao’s name didn’t match his personality. “Yao” means “dim and distant, without a trace or sound.”

But Jiang Yao was bright and intense, like a flame, casually setting Duan Zhuxian’s heart ablaze and leaving it in disarray.

Despite liking Jiang Yao for so many years, he had never truly understood him.

Before Jiang Yao returned, Duan Zhuxian carefully tidied up the notebook and the books, putting them back in their place.

*

After dinner, the Jiang parents invited them to stay the night. Jiang Yao didn’t want to share a bed with Duan Zhuxian but also didn’t want to request separate rooms in front of his parents, so he made up an excuse to leave.

Yuan Li had something to discuss with Jiang Yao privately, so Duan Zhuxian went outside first.

Jiang Chen, holding a pack of cigarettes, pushed open the door to smoke outside and was surprised to see Duan Zhuxian standing in the garden.

“I thought you’d be waiting for him in the car,” Jiang Chen said, shivering. “It’s so cold out here.”

Duan Zhuxian replied, “Two streetlights at the entrance are broken. He’s afraid of the dark.”

Jiang Chen was surprised, “He told you that?”

Duan Zhuxian said, “I figured it out.”

“Didn’t expect you to be so observant.”

Jiang Chen smiled, lit his cigarette, took a few puffs, and suddenly, without any warning, said, “He was kidnapped when he was a child, exactly twenty years ago today.”

Duan Zhuxian’s face darkened. “Kidnapped? What happened?”

Jiang Chen exhaled a long puff of smoke and said, “After school, he was taken directly from the school gate and locked in a pitch-black small factory for two days and nights. The mastermind was our family’s competitor. Back then, the town hadn’t undergone a thorough clean-up, and there were a lot of hooligans around, so it wasn’t that unusual.”

“Luckily, the kidnappers only intended to threaten and didn’t actually harm him, but he developed a fear of the dark. As a child, to overcome this weakness, he often spent the whole night alone on the dark balcony, no matter who tried to persuade him otherwise. He was a pretty stubborn kid.”

“We called you both home today thinking that having the whole family around on this special day might help him relax a bit.”

Duan Zhuxian frowned slightly.

After moving in with Jiang Yao, he had consulted a familiar psychologist about Jiang Yao’s various abnormal behaviors and habits. The psychologist indeed suggested the possibility of “trauma-induced stress.”

Jiang Chen paused for a moment before changing the subject. “You two had a fight, didn’t you?”

Duan Zhuxian’s expression remained unchanged. “Why do you ask?”

Jiang Chen said, “His ability to maintain a facade of peace might work with Mom and Dad, but not with me.”

Duan Zhuxian was silent for a moment before he admitted, “Yes, we had a bit of a disagreement.”

Jiang Chen said, “He’s not like me. When I have a fight with my wife, everyone knows about it. No matter how unhappy he is inside, he always pretends like nothing happened, first and foremost to avoid making the family feel uneasy.”

Duan Zhuxian nodded, “He indeed has a strong sense of the bigger picture.”

“Although it might sound like moral coercion coming from his brother, Jiang Yao is the most sensible kid I’ve ever known.” Jiang Chen paused, patting Duan Zhuxian on the shoulder, “So, be good to him. Don’t bully him too much.”

*

Back at their home, Jiang Yao rushed upstairs as if being chased, shutting the door quickly to distance himself from Duan Zhuxian.

Duan Zhuxian watched Jiang Yao’s figure disappear up the stairs, then glanced down at the neatly wrapped gauze on his hand, tied with a bow, and a faint smile of helplessness appeared on his lips.

Late at night, Duan Zhuxian heard some noise from the next room. After waiting for a while, he opened his door and, as expected, saw that the downstairs lights were on.

But Jiang Yao wasn’t on the first floor.

Thinking of something, Duan Zhuxian quickly crossed the foyer and opened the front door. He was greeted by the cold north wind and darkness.

Most of the dozens of lights in the courtyard had been turned off deliberately.

A few meters away, a figure stood on the stone path in the courtyard, like a thin blade under the night sky, trembling almost imperceptibly in the biting cold wind, emitting a silent hum. Full of fearless determination, it was heartbreaking in its stoic resilience and unyielding spirit.

Duan Zhuxian recalled what Jiang Chen had said earlier that day.

Jiang Yao wasn’t wearing a coat. The hem of his oversized knitted sweater billowed and then fell in the wind, outlining his slender and tough waistline.

On such a bleak winter night, with temperatures in the single digits, he didn’t even think to wear an extra layer. He truly lived up to his stubborn nature.

Duan Zhuxian shook his head and took off his coat.

At that moment, the voltage suddenly fluctuated, causing the remaining few lights in the courtyard to flicker.

The figure ahead trembled, his shoulders visibly tensed, and his fists clenched instantly, his nails digging into his palms, making his entire arm shake.

Duan Zhuxian immediately walked over in large strides. As he draped the coat over Jiang Yao, he noticed the beads of sweat on Jiang Yao’s forehead.

The voltage stabilized, and the lights stopped flickering, but Jiang Yao’s mind was still blank. Feeling movement behind him, his frantic heartbeat skipped a beat.

The first thing that touched his back was warmth that calmed his taut nerves, followed by the sensation of fabric wrapping around his frozen body.

Jiang Yao turned his head abruptly, and unexpectedly met Duan Zhuxian’s blurred face in the night.

He instinctively tried to pull off the extra coat on him but couldn’t. His limbs were a bit weak, unable to muster the strength, and he couldn’t outmatch Duan Zhuxian.

“I was here first.”

Wrapped in the oversized long coat, Jiang Yao, with a tense face and a gaze lowered beneath his eyelids, radiated a “don’t mess with me, I’m very solitary right now” vibe.

Duan Zhuxian said, “Didn’t we agree to a temporary truce at noon?”

Jiang Yao corrected expressionlessly, “We said a temporary truce for today.”

“Today isn’t over yet.” Duan Zhuxian raised his hand to check his watch. “There are fifteen minutes and twenty seconds until midnight.”

Jiang Yao was at a loss for words.

This guy, a successful businessman indeed, excelled at nitpicking.

Since Jiang Yao couldn’t see well in the dark, Duan Zhuxian didn’t hide the gentleness in his eyes. When the wind blew, he adjusted Jiang Yao’s collar. “You have to attend the school anniversary in a few days. Don’t catch a cold.”

The last day of this year marked the hundredth anniversary of their high school. Both he and Duan Zhuxian had received invitations as distinguished alumni.

Jiang Yao had almost forgotten about that.

Tonight’s drop in temperature made it indeed very cold, his fingers were numb, and Duan Zhuxian’s coat arrived just in time.

But Jiang Yao couldn’t bring himself to show gratitude, so he arrogantly raised his chin at Duan Zhuxian and said, “I’ll keep the coat. You can leave now.”

Duan Zhuxian asked, “Aren’t you afraid if I leave?”

Jiang Yao’s expression hardened, and even his slightly weak voice rose a few notches, “What do I, a grown man, have to be afraid of?”

Seeing Jiang Yao’s pale face and his facade of bravery, Duan Zhuxian understood.

In front of him, his rival, Jiang Yao had his pride to maintain.

So, Duan Zhuxian nodded and turned to walk back into the house.

Jiang Yao: “…”

Bastard!

He’s really leaving!

Not a shred of sincerity!

He was caught off guard by Duan Zhuxian’s obedience this time. Jiang Yao glared at his retreating figure disappearing into the warm light of the house, while gritting his teeth.

Standing in the darkness, Jiang Yao’s heart, which had just calmed down, started pounding wildly again.

It seemed it was still impossible.

Twenty years, and he still couldn’t overcome that mental hurdle. Every year on this day, he turned fragile.

So useless…

But for the first time, he didn’t want to put on a brave front. It was as if someone’s presence had disrupted his composure, and he couldn’t muster the willpower anymore.

Following Duan Zhuxian into the house would make it seem like he was truly scared of something.

That guy was so cunning, he might be waiting in the living room to see him make a fool of himself.

When Duan Zhuxian returned with a mug of hot milk, Jiang Yao had already taken off the coat draped over him.

Duan Zhuxian rubbed his forehead, showing a slightly serious expression. He started walking over, intending to scold someone for not taking care of themselves, but suddenly stopped.

He saw Jiang Yao with his back to him, arms crossed, hugging Duan Zhuxian’s coat to his chest. His fingers clutched the fabric so tightly that the knuckles were almost translucent.

But just holding on like that wasn’t enough, not enough to stop the trembling of his shoulder blades.

Jiang Yao lowered his head, burying his nose into the collar, taking a deep breath, and then, with restraint, sniffing the scent little by little, as if afraid that the fragrance on the clothes would run out. Gradually, the heaving of his chest began to slow.

Duan Zhuxian’s eyes flashed with surprise.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Jiang Yao suddenly snapped out of his trance and quickly draped the coat back over his shoulders.

The next second, he was pulled face-to-face into an embrace, along with the coat.

He was stunned, almost losing his breath, his chin brushing past the other’s shoulder as he stretched his neck and shouted, “You… you… let go of me!”

Duan Zhuxian replied, “No.”

Jiang Yao: “?”

Duan Zhuxian held the back of Jiang Yao’s head with one hand. His words, carried by his warm breath, falling hotly into Jiang Yao’s neck, “I gave you my coat. I’m cold.”