Chapter 24
A few words from the grade dean completely broke Lin Huaixi’s spirit. The moment class meeting ended, he collapsed weakly over his desk like a limp little pancake.
Their seats had been arranged by height. Sun Baiyi had wanted to sit with Lin Huaixi, but since his height would block the students behind him, he could only hurry over from the last row and look at Lin Huaixi with concern.
“Xixi, actually you’re not at all…” Sun Baiyi paused, deciding it was better not to say that word out loud.
Lin Huaixi glanced at him once, then buried his head in his arms like some lazy little lamb, curling himself up and trying to shrink into a ball.
Knowing he was clumsy with words, Sun Baiyi awkwardly scratched at his temple and let out a dry little laugh.
He could feel how low Lin Huaixi’s mood had sunk, yet he had no idea how to comfort him. But…
Sun Baiyi cast a meaningful look toward the empty classroom doorway, feeling especially cheerful inside.
At last, there was no longer that annoying Qi Wang wedged between the two of them!
Pulling over a chair from the side, Sun Baiyi sat down beside Lin Huaixi. He thought hard for half a minute before finally saying, “I’m actually pretty tall. How about I teach you the secret to growing taller?”
“What secret?” Lin Huaixi lifted his fluffy little head, though there was still no light in his eyes.
“Well… eat more, run more, sleep more…” Sun Baiyi really could not squeeze out anything else and could only let out two foolish little laughs. “I don’t know why I grew this tall either.”
Lin Huaixi: “…”
Just when Sun Baiyi was about to kill the conversation completely, Qi Wang finally climbed three floors and ran over to save the situation.
He shot Sun Baiyi a glance, took two breaths, and only then did his breathing steady again. “Xixi, actually, you’re not short at all. You’re a perfectly normal height.”
The little tuft of hair on top of Lin Huaixi’s head wobbled twice, picking up the signal. Looking up at Qi Wang with wide, pleading eyes, he treated those words like a lifeline. “Really?”
Qi Wang lied against his conscience, and secretly stepped on Sun Baiyi’s foot.
They were Sun Baiyi’s new shoes, and he almost exploded on the spot. But after catching Qi Wang’s hint, the motion of springing up stopped halfway, and he slowly sat back down again, smiling brightly at Lin Huaixi. “Of course!”
Lin Huaixi was completely brainwashed by the certainty on both their faces. “Then it looks like I’m—”
Before he could finish, a girl with a high ponytail walked over. “Lin Huaixi, this is for you.”
Looking at the little cake on his desk, Lin Huaixi was delighted. “Thank you.”
Sun Baiyi’s eyes practically went straight with envy. “Xixi, you’re way too popular. This is already the third snack you’ve received.”
Lin Huaixi felt a little embarrassed.
He had only just finished introducing himself, and everyone was still practically strangers. He really did not know why people kept giving him snacks.
Sun Baiyi had been a foodie since childhood. Looking shamelessly at the girl, he asked, “Do you have any more?”
The girl turned to look at him, and both her expression and her voice changed. Pulling another cake from her pocket, she dropped it into his hand with a blank face.
Sun Baiyi looked at the girl, then at Lin Huaixi, and said belatedly, “Why does it feel like you don’t like me very much?”
Girl: “…” Why would I have any reason to like you?
For the sake of everyone being new classmates, she did not say it that directly. Instead, she smiled sweetly at Lin Huaixi. “Xixi is good-looking, and his smile is really sweet. Everyone thinks he’s like a cute little younger brother, so that’s why they’re giving him snacks.”
Sun Baiyi had hit puberty especially early. He was tall and sturdy, a very big one, and it was hard for anyone to associate him with the words little brother.
The girl smiled, turned, and walked away, leaving Lin Huaixi alone in total confusion.
He was like a cute little younger brother…
Cute little younger brother…
Little brother…
Instinctively, his gaze followed the girl’s retreating figure, and only then did he realize that he might not even be taller than she was.
“…”
Lin Huaixi finally accepted reality completely. No matter how Qi Wang tried to coax him afterward, he could not cheer him up.
Qi Wang could not stay by Lin Huaixi’s side every second, and he was very worried about his state of mind. As for Sun Baiyi, he was basically just decoration. It was already enough if he did not create any negative effects.
At last, they somehow dragged things out until dismissal time, and Qi Wang waited so he could walk home with Lin Huaixi.
By then, Lin Huaixi’s bad mood had already disappeared. Back to his usual carefree self, he clung to Qi Wang and chattered nonstop about funny things that had happened in class. Only after seeing the smile on his face did Qi Wang finally relax.
But Lin Huaixi’s height really was an issue.
That very evening, Qi Wang saw that Lin Yunmi was home and quietly brought the matter up with her.
Lin Yunmi had not expected Qi Wang to come to her on his own. A look of surprise crossed her face. “I’ve been thinking about it too. Next month, I’m planning to go out of town for an art exhibition anyway, so I’ll bring Xixi to a hospital in a bigger city for a checkup while I’m at it.”
Over the past few years, Wen Qianshu’s condition had been getting better and better. Her paintings had also been taken to auction houses by Lin Yunmi, the one who had recognized her talent, and unexpectedly they had become very well received. Art exhibitions had even started sending invitations of their own accord.
Thanks to that, Lin Yunmi had also advanced further in her own career, no longer needing to work herself to death running back and forth between places, and she had more time to accompany Lin Huaixi.
After a pause, Lin Yunmi felt that Qi Wang was simply too sensible, so she tried to reassure him. “Your mother is lucid more and more often now, and she earns enough for the two of you to live well. Things will only get better from here.”
Qi Wang knew how much Lin Yunmi had secretly helped them. He thanked her seriously. “Then I’ll trouble Auntie to keep looking after Mom.”
Although he did not say it outright, Lin Yunmi saw many things in Qi Wang’s eyes. She froze for a few seconds before finally coming back to herself. “It’s nothing. We’re helping each other.”
Qi Wang turned to leave, while Lin Yunmi stared blankly after him, only to see him sit down beside Lin Huaixi and hold the fruit plate for him, making it easier for Lin Huaixi to eat while watching television.
And her son… her son was just too adorable. No, that was not right. He was just too carefree.
Lin Yunmi had a filter when it came to her son. At any time, in any place, she could be melted by how cute he was, and she was simply incapable of giving an objective evaluation. All she could do was guiltily look away.
No matter what, as long as Xixi was happy, that was enough.
—
Soon, it was time for the exhibition.
Qi Wang had no reason to ask for leave. No matter how worried he felt, all he could do was watch them off at the airport.
Every night, Lin Huaixi and Qi Wang had long, mushy phone calls, making both mothers click their tongues in wonder.
Finally, after much waiting on Qi Wang’s part, Lin Huaixi came back on the afternoon of the fourth day.
Qi Wang and Grandma waited for him at the doorway. The moment the car appeared at the mouth of the alley, the two of them went up to meet it at once.
Grandma looked calm on the surface, only because she did not want to put pressure on Lin Huaixi, but in truth she cared very much about this matter inside. “What did the doctor say?”
Lin Yunmi and Lin Huaixi exchanged a glance before Lin Yunmi finally answered, “They ran all the tests. The doctor said there isn’t any problem. Lin Huaixi is just developing a bit more slowly than average. He can change some lifestyle habits—exercise more and eat more. That will speed up his metabolism and make it easier for him to grow taller.”
“So Mom and I talked it over, and we decided I’m going to sign up for martial arts classes,” Lin Huaixi cut in.
Grandma paused, her gaze falling on Lin Huaixi, and she felt a little heartache.
She had raised Lin Huaixi bite by bite. He did not look fat, just a little extra soft and plump, fair and tender, wonderfully squishy to pinch. From childhood until now, he had practically never even suffered bumps or bruises. And now he was going to learn martial arts—there was no way he would not end up with a few blue and purple marks on him somewhere.
Qi Wang said nothing, but his expression looked no better than Grandma’s.
The mother and son immediately sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere. After exchanging a look, they wordlessly reached the same conclusion and each went off to comfort someone.
Lin Huaixi tugged Qi Wang back inside the house, and only after closing the door did he say, “It’s just martial arts classes, not me going out to get beaten up. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Qi Wang’s brows stayed tightly knitted. “I can run with you every day. That would already be enough exercise. There’s no need for you to learn martial arts.”
Lin Huaixi was very firm. “I’m the one who wanted to learn. I asked over and over before Mom finally agreed.”
“Why?” Out of everyone, Qi Wang probably spent the most time with Lin Huaixi. He truly could not understand why Lin Huaixi had suddenly come up with this idea.
Lin Huaixi pressed his lips together and did not say the real reason.
Although Sun Baiyi had already changed for the better, the other two scum gongs would not be as easy to deal with as he had been. Lin Huaixi needed to build up his combat power early. Only then would he be able to protect Qi Wang better in the future and teach those two scum gongs what being human really meant—ideally beating them until they cried for their mothers.
As Lin Huaixi brimmed with heroic ambition, imagining that beautiful future scene in his head, he reached out and patted Qi Wang on the shoulder, signaling for him not to worry.
Looking at Lin Huaixi’s expression, Qi Wang’s brows only drew together more tightly. Long ago, he had already felt that Lin Huaixi was hiding something from him. Yet no matter how many times he pressed the matter, Lin Huaixi refused to say it.
After a pause, Qi Wang asked in a roundabout way, “Do you actually like martial arts?”
Lin Huaixi’s eyes went blank for a few seconds, and then he lifted a huge smile onto his face. “I like it.”
Qi Wang still wanted to persuade him, but Lin Huaixi remained extremely firm and even urged Lin Yunmi on his own to sign him up and pay the fees quickly.
Qi Wang watched it all happen, and because he worried that saying more would ruin Lin Huaixi’s good mood, he did not speak another word. He only smiled and saw him out.
Lin Yunmi led Lin Huaixi to the martial arts class.
The training environment there was very good, and the teacher was kind and gentle too, even using a sweet, coaxing voice when speaking to Lin Huaixi. He also did not arrange any intense drills, instead pairing Lin Huaixi up with another child of roughly the same height.
Lin Yunmi sat nearby the whole time, encouraging Lin Huaixi through the glass every now and then. But halfway through class, something urgent came up, so after saying a few words to the teacher, she had to leave first.
The martial arts class lasted a full three hours. Lin Huaixi trained with great seriousness, sweating all over, and by the time he finally stopped, both his little chubby legs were trembling slightly.
The other children in the class were very curious about him, and the moment free activity time came, they all crowded over and fought to chat with him.
When they learned Lin Huaixi’s age, every one of them was stunned.
“Ah, then I can’t call you little brother anymore!”
“But you really don’t look much like an older brother either.”
“I don’t believe you’re already in junior high. What’s the first Chinese text in the first-year junior high textbook, then?”
Lin Huaixi patiently explained himself one by one, and only then did everyone believe him. They also did not mock him for his height.
Lin Huaixi was born likable. No matter where he went, he became popular very quickly. Soon enough, he had blended right in with the children in the class, and by the time school ended, they were all clustered around him, keeping him company while they waited for someone to pick him up.
“Xixi, who’s coming to get you?” asked the child he had been paired up with.
Lin Huaixi stood on tiptoe, looking toward the waiting parents outside. There were so many of them that it looked like a dark mass. “I don’t know. Mom left first, and I haven’t seen… Qi Wang!”
His eyes widened in delight, and he waved to Qi Wang.
The child beside him followed his gaze and innocently asked, “Is that your brother?”
“That’s not my brother,” Lin Huaixi said, then paused and scratched at his chin as he thought. “But Qi Wang really is older than me.”
Qi Wang was tall, and both his looks and his personality were rather mature for his age, making him very misleading. Even students from the second and third year of junior high called him brother.
Qi Wang paused, then turned to look at Lin Huaixi, his expression and tone unchanged. “Xixi, brother’s here to pick you up.”
Lin Huaixi knew Qi Wang far too well. He could sense the hidden meaning behind those words. He gave two little snorts through his nose, slightly unhappy, but still walked over with a smile in his eyes.
“Why are you the one picking me up?”
Qi Wang naturally took his bag for him. “Auntie had something urgent and had to go deal with work. Grandma is still in class, and Grandpa is waiting for her, so only I could come pick you up.”
Grandma was attending senior college, and the whole family supported her. Every single time, Grandpa would go wait for her after class, rain or shine. The love between the two of them was enough to make everyone envious.
Having grown up in that kind of environment, Lin Huaixi felt it was only natural and said with a smile, “Maybe Grandma and I can even get out of school and go home together.”
Qi Wang glanced at the time. “Then walk faster. Maybe you’ll catch her.”
The moment he heard that, Lin Huaixi immediately set off on his short little legs, running as fast as he could.
With his backpack slung over his shoulders, Qi Wang caught up to him without much effort at all.
After three high-intensity hours of training, Lin Huaixi was already exhausted in both body and mind. Once the sun warmed him up for a while, his brain gradually grew blank, and his eyelids drooped lower and lower, until he nearly fell asleep right in the middle of the road.
Seeing Lin Huaixi swaying around like someone who had drunk fake alcohol, Qi Wang lifted a hand and caught hold of his wrist, stopping him from drifting sideways all the way into the road.
This could not go on. Qi Wang let out a helpless sigh in his heart and moved the backpack onto Lin Huaixi’s back.
Half-asleep, Lin Huaixi instinctively hitched the bag up once, wanting to show that he could handle his own things and that he would carry it himself properly.
But the very next second, he saw Qi Wang crouch down in front of him and motion for him to come over.
Lin Huaixi froze for three seconds, surprised enough that his mind became a little clearer. Fighting to lift his heavy eyelids, he asked, “Are you going to carry me?”
“Get on,” Qi Wang said in a tone that sounded like an order.
Lin Huaixi was both sleepy and tired and felt like collapsing onto the spot. There was not the slightest trace of coyness in him. He climbed right on, wrapped his plump little hands around Qi Wang’s shoulders, and even wriggled upward on his own.
Supporting Lin Huaixi’s legs, Qi Wang rose easily to his feet, walking with steady steps.
“Am I heavy?” Lin Huaixi asked.
“Heavy,” Qi Wang answered in a tone stripped of emotion. “You should lose weight.”
Lin Huaixi showed no sign at all of self-reflection. Resting his chin on Qi Wang’s not-very-broad shoulder, he found a comfortable angle and pillowed himself in the hollow of Qi Wang’s neck. “Then walk faster. If you go faster, I won’t be heavy.”
“…”
Seeing that Lin Huaixi was so sleepy he no longer had any logic in his words, Qi Wang’s lips curved slightly, and he did not disturb him anymore.
But after only a few quiet minutes, Lin Huaixi suddenly began laughing foolishly to himself, his shoulders shaking nonstop.
Even Qi Wang could only ask helplessly, “What are you laughing at?”
“Doesn’t this feel familiar? Before, when I thought you got lost, you found me at the intersection and brought me home like this too.” Lin Huaixi spoke very slowly.
Qi Wang remembered that old incident too, and emotions surged in his chest. He had so many things he wanted to say to Lin Huaixi, but feeling how drowsy he was, all he did was support his legs and bounce him upward a little more. “Go to sleep. When you wake up, we’ll be home.”
Lin Huaixi rubbed against the side of Qi Wang’s neck and peacefully drifted into sleep.
At the tip of his nose lingered the very familiar scent of laundry powder, mixed with something else that made him feel very safe—something impossible to describe, yet deeply warm.
That scent belonged only to Qi Wang.
