In the afternoon, after the third period, Song Xinghe came up to the fifth floor to find Xie Ruan. “Did you not check your phone? I sent you a message.”
“No,” Xie Ruan instinctively reached for his phone, but halfway there, he remembered that he had put it in his backpack. “What’s up?”
Song Xinghe displayed an expression that said, “I knew it.”
Having been friends for such a long time, Song Xinghe’s favorite thing about Xie Ruan was that he never deliberately ignored messages. If he didn’t respond, there was no need to think too much about it; his phone was simply not with him.
Song Xinghe said, “I’m just here to let you know I won’t be eating with you tonight. My mom’s coming over, so we’ll be going out.”
“Alright.” Xie Ruan nodded, then thought for a moment and added, “From now on, don’t message me during the day. I probably won’t see it.”
Song Xinghe looked surprised. “Wait, is the experimental class that strict?”
These days, living without a phone seems impossible, even for high schoolers. Since Shijia High isn’t one of those famous national schools, they don’t strictly enforce phone restrictions. You often see students scrolling through short videos or reading novels during breaks.
“No,” Xie Ruan said, placing an arm around Song Xinghe’s shoulder with a grin and quoted Sun Fuan’s classic line, “Focus on studying, stay away from electronics.”
“Get lost!” Song Xinghe laughed, swatting his hand away. “Alright, I’m heading out.”
Xie Ruan nodded, watched him turn away, then prepared to go back to class.
Just as he stood up, he noticed Bo Jin walking toward him while talking on the phone.
“Brother Yong, yes, I’m at school. What’s up? System bug? Have you checked it on your end? Alright, I’ll handle it—I’ll have the results by six.”
Xie Ruan hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, so he just nodded slightly to acknowledge Bo Jin before continuing on his way.
As they passed each other, suddenly, a hand appeared on top of his head, giving it a good ruffle.
This jerk! Xie Ruan ground his teeth in frustration.
With so many people watching, how could he save face?
Dodging Bo Jin’s hand, he made a slicing gesture across his neck in mock threat.
Bo Jin, seeing the slight widening of his eyes, couldn’t help but smile. Out of habit, he didn’t wait for Xie Ruan to ask and simply pointed downstairs, silently mouthing “dorm.”
Recalling the conversation he’d accidentally overheard, Xie Ruan realized Bo Jin was probably going back to handle that “system bug”—sounded pretty high-tech.
Was this his side job? Was this where his daily spending money came from?
Making a mental note, Xie Ruan nodded to show he understood.
Bo Jin then turned his gaze back, resuming his call as he walked off, snippets of conversation reaching Xie Ruan’s ears: “Mm-hmm? Yes, I’m listening. Go on…”
After re-entering the classroom, Xie Ruan approached Sun Haoxiang. “Where are you guys planning to eat tonight?”
Sun Haoxiang, who was cracking sunflower seeds, offered him a handful. “The cafeteria. It’s been getting colder, so we don’t feel like going out. Why, you want to join us?”
“Yeah,” Xie Ruan replied. “Song Xinghe isn’t around tonight.”
“Alright,” Sun Haoxiang said, hurriedly cleaning up his desk for the next math class with Sun Fuan. “I’ll call you after school.”
“Okay,” Xie Ruan responded.
As expected, Bo Jin didn’t return for the last class. Sun Fuan cast a glance at his empty seat but said nothing. He calmly picked up the chalk and began teaching, clearly used to this sort of thing.
During class, Sun Fuan called on Xie Ruan to answer a question.
The last time he was called on, Xie Ruan had struggled to respond, and Bo Jin had tried to give him hints, only to be caught in the act by Sun Fuan. But after almost a month, Xie Ruan had made significant progress. While he couldn’t quite match his classmates in skill, he could at least follow the teacher’s logic and respond without much hesitation.
Sun Fuan nodded approvingly. His usually stern expression softened, and he made a rare joke in class, “Good. Now our class leader won’t have to worry if he’s away.”
The class burst into laughter.
Sun Haoxiang and He Mingjie laughed especially hard, with a barely concealed hint of teasing.
He could joke back at his classmates, but when the homeroom teacher led the teasing, Xie Ruan had no choice but to endure it.
Sitting back down, he felt his ears grow warm and mentally cursed Sun Haoxiang and He Mingjie for being so relentless. Yet, somehow, he found himself smiling along with them.
Sun Fuan was one of the few sophomore homeroom teachers who didn’t like keeping students past the bell. As the final bell rang, he looked over at the students, who were nearly lifting themselves from their seats, and tossed his chalk into the tray, saying, “Alright, that’s it for today. Class dismissed.”
At that, the class erupted, each student rushing out like arrows from a bow.
Despite his bulk, Sun Haoxiang was surprisingly fast. Xie Ruan thought he was quick, yet Sun Haoxiang kept up without issue.
No wonder he was elected class sports rep—he was a solid contender.
Xie Ruan pushed open the cafeteria door and scanned the crowd, quickly spotting a shorter line to join.
“Hey,” He Mingjie asked Sun Haoxiang as they queued, “who’s getting Brother Bo’s food, you or me?”
“You go. I’ll get Old Pan’s—he’s got a spot in the back.”
“Alright,” He Mingjie replied, craning his neck. “What should I get him? Oil-fried tofu, maybe, or braised fish…?”
“Why even bother thinking about it?” Sun Haoxiang interrupted, annoyed by his indecision. “He’s not picky, just get whatever.” He chuckled. “For a guy with so many quirks, he’s surprisingly easy to feed.”
Before He Mingjie could respond, Xie Ruan cut in, “You guys are packing it up to go for him?”
“No, he’s coming to the cafeteria himself.” Sun Haoxiang turned to Xie Ruan, giving him a sly look. “What, you want to bring it to him? I guess that could work.”
“Get lost!” Xie Ruan kicked him lightly. “What’s it got to do with me?”
Sun Haoxiang shot him a sympathetic glance, thinking to himself, It’s got everything to do with you, buddy.
Xie Ruan, unnerved by the look, was about to ask him what he meant, but then it was his turn in line. With a silent huff, he put aside his curiosity and went to get his meal.
Bo Jin timed it perfectly. Just as Xie Ruan and his friends emerged with their trays, Bo Jin strolled in.
Seeing Xie Ruan, Bo Jin raised an eyebrow and teased, “Well, who do we have here?”
He Mingjie, having just heard about the events of the afternoon from Sun Haoxiang, couldn’t contain his curiosity and boldly teased, “What’s the matter, Brother Bo? Are you regretting not having Little Xie personally get your food?”
“Regret, my foot,” Bo Jin scoffed, taking the tray from him. “How was he supposed to carry two trays at once?”
He Mingjie: “???”
Wait, so Xie Ruan can’t carry them, but he can?
Sun Haoxiang looked at him sympathetically. “Stay away from the likes of him; it’s nothing but trouble.”
He Mingjie: “…”
Pan Yu, as usual, was an expert at securing seats and had snagged the best spot in the cafeteria.
Compared to those classmates who were wandering in circles in the hallway looking for a place, Xie Ruan and his friends were not only in a well-ventilated area but also had a row of visually pleasing landscape trees outside the window. It was simply blissful.
While they ate, Xie Ruan quietly observed Bo Jin.
He Mingjie had picked three dishes for him: chestnut-braised chicken, tomato-braised basa fish, and stir-fried greens.
Bo Jin started with the chestnut chicken. He didn’t alternate between dishes but ate one dish entirely before moving to the next.
Sun Haoxiang said Bo Jin wasn’t picky, but Xie Ruan noticed that he slowed down considerably when he got to the tomato fish.
So, Bo Jin must have a habit of eating his favorite dishes first.
Xie Ruan glanced down at his own tray and realized he had barely touched his chestnut chicken. Unlike Bo Jin, he preferred to save his favorite parts for last.
“Brother Bo, what were you up to last period?” Sun Haoxiang asked while mixing his food with some sauce.
Bo Jin shrugged, giving a vague response. “I had to go back to the dorm.”
Sun Haoxiang’s eyes gleamed with envy. “If I could just skip classes anytime and not get yelled at by the teachers, it’d be amazing.” He started to daydream, “Imagine — I could game when I wanted, sleep whenever I liked. Bliss.”
“Go for it,” Bo Jin encouraged him with a smirk, “Top the next exam, and you can.”
Sun Haoxiang: “…”
If it were bottoming the ranks, that I could manage.
Bo Jin was about to ask Xie Ruan why he was eating with Sun Haoxiang and the others, but just as he started, a male voice called out from nearby.
“Shen Xingyun?”
Bo Jin’s attention snapped up instinctively.
“Yeah, that’s him,” someone at the next table confirmed.
“Oh my god, did his family really buy him a sports car for his seventeenth birthday? He can’t even drive it yet.”
“It doesn’t matter; it won’t go bad just sitting there. Besides, his family has money to burn.”
“Must be nice, the life of the rich.”
…….
Indeed, the Shen family never had to worry about money.
Bo Jin let out a mocking laugh. The conversation about Shen Xingyun was starting to spoil his appetite.
Just then, He Mingjie, ever the gossip, chimed in, “Wow, is Shen Xingyun’s family really that loaded?”
“What do you think?” Sun Haoxiang responded with a mouthful. “My family’s considered wealthy, but compared to his, we’re nothing.”
He Mingjie, intrigued, seemed ready to ditch his meal entirely. “His family—”
Before he could finish, Bo Jin interrupted with a nonchalant tone, “I saw Lin Lu with some guy yesterday. Looked pretty close.”
He Mingjie paused, then sighed. “It’s fine; I already knew.” He shrugged it off with a sigh, but his curiosity about Shen Xingyun’s family remained. “So, what does his family actually do?”
Seeing that he was unlikely to catch up, he thought it would be better to find some fun rather than feeling sad.
“They’re into facial recognition tech now, I think.”
“Wow…”
In his ears, He Mingjie and Sun Haoxiang were still whispering to each other, so close yet seeming so far away.
Bo Jin lowered his gaze, his face devoid of any expression.
The memories that circulated in his mind every night before sleep surged back like a tide, not fading at all after more than a decade.
Scene after scene, so clear it felt as if they had happened just yesterday.
The negative emotions in his heart continued to accumulate, nearly overwhelming him.
Bo Jin closed his eyes, unable to listen any longer. He put down his spoon, ready to stand up and leave when suddenly a spoonful of chestnut chicken was added to his plate.
Bo Jin was taken aback and slowly raised his head.
Xie Ruan had pulled over his plate, transferring all of his chestnut chicken onto Bo Jin’s.
“I don’t like this,” he said. “It’s too wasteful to throw away. You can eat it.”
The cafeteria was noisy, filled with chatter and laughter.
Xie Ruan’s voice was soft, even a bit low. Yet, strangely, Bo Jin could hear every word clearly.
The plate was pushed back, and the previously empty space was once again filled, the aroma of the chestnut chicken beginning to linger in the air.
Bo Jin remained still, saying nothing, just quietly watching him.
“Eat,” Xie Ruan told him.
When he didn’t move, Xie Ruan simply handed him a spoon, not giving him a choice.
Eating something you like always lightens the mood.
Xie Ruan wasn’t particularly attentive by nature and had often been scolded by teachers for carelessness. But just now, he’d been watching Bo Jin closely and had caught every subtle shift in his expression after overhearing the others talking about Shen Xingyun.
Xie Ruan faintly recalled that Bo Jin had reacted similarly when they’d eaten out at a Cantonese place before.
As soon as Shen Xingyun’s name was mentioned, Bo Jin’s mood had shifted dramatically, and he’d ducked into the bathroom for a smoke.
Xie Ruan had asked him why he’d felt so down that time, but Bo Jin had brushed it off.
It was clear that there was some kind of grudge or history between Bo Jin and Shen Xingyun.
But now wasn’t the time to investigate; right now, Xie Ruan just wanted Bo Jin to enjoy his meal—happily and cheerfully.
Sunlight streamed through the canteen’s glass windows, landing on Xie Ruan and making him look bright and radiant. Bo Jin gazed at him without blinking, and after a moment, he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, “You don’t like this?”
“Mm,” Xie Ruan, who wasn’t great at lying, worried Bo Jin might press him for details. He quickly took a bite of his steamed egg and, pretending to be fierce, said, “Enough talk. Are you going to eat or not?”
The endless darkness in Bo Jin’s heart suddenly cracked open, letting light pour in and instantly dispelling the cold that had haunted him for years. His heartbeat quickened, like he’d been given new life.
Bo Jin looked at Xie Ruan’s face, smiled, and said, “I’ll eat.”
After finishing their meal, the group left the canteen. Pan Yu needed to go to the convenience store for some correction fluid, and Sun Haoxiang and He Mingjie tagged along to grab snacks for the afternoon.
With that, the lively group suddenly dwindled to just Xie Ruan and Bo Jin.
As they reached the entrance of the school building, Bo Jin turned to Xie Ruan and asked, “Want to go to the little garden with me for a smoke?”
“Tch,” Xie Ruan smirked, “I’m practically becoming your personal secondhand smoker.” He tilted his chin, then added, “Lead the way.”
Bo Jin chuckled and walked ahead with Xie Ruan following close behind.
Outside, soft piano music played over the lawn’s speakers, creating a soothing and pleasant atmosphere.
Bo Jin took out a cigarette and held it between his lips, but instead of lighting it, he just bit the end absentmindedly, his hands in his pockets as he gazed off into the night.
They stood in silence for a while before Xie Ruan broke the quiet.
He lightly kicked Bo Jin’s shoe. “What’s up with the silence? Got all closed up?”
“Yeah,” Bo Jin removed the cigarette from his mouth and looked at Xie Ruan with a smile. “So, do you want to comfort me?”
Xie Ruan was taken aback that Bo Jin had played along and stammered, “How am I supposed to comfort you?”
“Words won’t cut it,” Bo Jin, in a good mood and teasing, continued, “A hug, at the very least.”
He said this, waiting with a smile for Xie Ruan’s reaction.
But unlike every other time, Xie Ruan didn’t freak out or curse him; he just stood there quietly, without saying a word.
Bo Jin thought he’d gone too far and might have upset him, so he quickly said, “I didn’t mean to…”
Before he could finish, Xie Ruan muttered softly, “Just this once, and don’t push your luck.”
Before Bo Jin could process what he meant, he was enveloped in a hug.
Xie Ruan stretched his arms as far as he could, trying to embrace Bo Jin fully. But he was half a head shorter than Bo Jin and had a smaller frame, making it impossible to pull off the strong, all-encompassing hug he’d imagined.
Xie Ruan’s ears turned red. Determined not to back down, he even stood on his tiptoes, unwilling to look weak in front of Bo Jin.
The slender, resilient figure of Xie Ruan was not soft but warm enough.
Bo Jin took a deep breath, and, turning the tables, hugged Xie Ruan close, pressing him tightly against his chest.
“Hey, you—” Xie Ruan started to protest.
He was supposed to be comforting Bo Jin, but somehow, things had gotten a bit out of hand.
But halfway through his protest, he stopped as Bo Jin spoke.
Bo Jin asked, “How did you know I like chestnut-braised chicken?”
Caught off guard, Xie Ruan felt both embarrassed and annoyed, stubbornly refusing to admit, “How would I know what you like? Don’t flatter yourself.”
After saying that, he strained to break free.
But Bo Jin wasn’t about to let him escape that easily. He restrained Xie Ruan’s movements and asked again, “How did you know I like chestnut chicken?”
Xie Ruan, using all his strength, still couldn’t break free. Out of breath and feeling defeated, he finally surrendered and said, “You eat this dish faster than the others.”
Bo Jin froze for a moment; even he hadn’t noticed this little habit of his.
The person in his arms finally stopped resisting, resting against him to catch his breath. Bo Jin looked down, his gaze settling on Xie Ruan’s flushed ears, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Growing up, everyone envied Bo Jin’s sharp memory, but only he knew how painful it was to remember every detail.
But now—
Bo Jin lowered his eyes, gazing almost greedily at the person in his arms. For the first time, these unforgettable memories began to feel sweet.
