Chapter 48
After the college entrance exam ended, they were completely freed as well. After discussing it with his mother, Lin Huaixi decided to spend the summer at Grandma’s house.
Qi Wang went back with him too.
They had grown up there and spent a happy childhood there. Now, although they had been away for a full three years, every blade of grass and every tree still felt deeply familiar to them.
Lin Huaixi slept for a while in the car. As if he sensed something in the dark, the moment the car entered the old district, he opened his eyes, leaned his head toward the window, and stared outside without blinking.
He suddenly grew inexplicably excited, pointing at the scenery outside and chattering nonstop to Qi Wang. “Do you still remember this place?”
“I do,” Qi Wang said with a smile. “Back then you said you were going to introduce a good friend to me, and it turned out to be Little Yellow. We drew pictures here together and even left our names behind. Then you insisted on holding Little Yellow’s front paw and stamping a paw print too. In the end, Granny Li saw that the wall had been scribbled on and came to our house to settle accounts. Both you and I got scolded, and even Little Yellow suffered along with us.”
Lin Huaixi laughed awkwardly. “I apologized to Little Yellow afterward and made it up with a sausage.”
Qi Wang asked, “What about me? Why didn’t you make it up to me?”
Lin Huaixi thought back for a while, then said softly, “I stood in front of you and protected you back then.”
Qi Wang raised a brow and didn’t expose him.
He still remembered the actual situation clearly. It had obviously been Lin Huaixi who got so scared his eyes filled with tears, then clung to him and begged for comfort, even wiping his tears and snot all over him.
He had been forced to wear a “Xixi” pendant while being scolded and punished to stand there, and in between, he still had to find time to comfort his little pendant.
Back then, Lin Huaixi had still been chubby and soft, a proper little monkey, always climbing up him as though he were a tree trunk. What left the deepest impression on Qi Wang wasn’t the scolding itself, but the way Lin Huaixi had wrapped his arms around his neck so tightly he had nearly suffocated.
Seeing Qi Wang stare absentmindedly ahead and not respond for a long while, Lin Huaixi waved a hand in front of him. “What are you thinking about?”
Lin Huaixi was acting so righteously that it was obvious he had already forgotten those embarrassing childhood moments. Qi Wang didn’t force him to remember and only smiled. “Nothing. I was just wondering what Grandma will make for us to eat.”
Lin Huaixi’s foodie instincts instantly took over the high ground. Every unrelated thought was wiped clean, and his heart filled at once with Grandma’s sweet-and-sour pork ribs. “Definitely…”
Qi Wang automatically completed it for him. “Bunny cake.”
Even after all these years, it was still Lin Huaixi’s favorite. And now he didn’t have to restrict the amount the way he did when he was little. Every single time, he could finish an entire plate by himself.
Qi Wang was very confused by his appetite. “How do you manage to eat three bowls of rice and still have room for a whole plate of cake at night?”
Lin Huaixi mysteriously held up two fingers. “See, this is where you don’t understand. I actually have two stomachs. Every time I run into bunny cake, the second stomach starts working. No matter how much I eat, I’ll never get full.”
Looking at Lin Huaixi’s smug expression, Qi Wang lightly flicked him on the forehead. “Even so, you should still control yourself a little. Did you forget the time you got so stuffed in the middle of the night that you couldn’t sleep, wandered around the living room, and scared Auntie half to death?”
Lin Huaixi rubbed his forehead. Knowing that he was in the wrong, he still hummed and grumbled, unwilling to admit it.
Qi Wang didn’t keep arguing with him. While they chatted, the car had already turned into the narrow alley. It wasn’t easy to drive any farther.
Qi Wang said to the driver, “Please just stop over there. We can walk the rest of the way ourselves.”
The driver nodded. Qi Wang skillfully picked up the luggage and turned back to wait for Lin Huaixi.
Lin Huaixi hurried after him in little jogging steps, and the two boys walked side by side.
Grandma and Grandpa had long since received the news and were already waiting at the door. The moment they saw their two precious grandsons, they immediately went forward with smiles full of affection, even the wrinkles on their faces carrying warmth.
The two generations of grandparents and grandchildren gathered together noisily and happily, talking all at once. Wherever Lin Huaixi was, the atmosphere was always lively and warm. There was never any need to worry about the conversation falling flat.
Grandpa and Grandma laughed without stop from being amused by him. They paid no attention to themselves, only constantly putting food into Lin Huaixi and Qi Wang’s bowls, both convinced the boys had grown much too thin and needed fattening up again.
Lin Huaixi: “…” Grandma, I’ve already gained five jin this month!
During the past three years away at school, they had only come home once a month, so the grandparents and grandchildren hadn’t been able to spend time together morning and night. Now that they were back for a long stay, Grandpa and Grandma kept chatting with them even after dinner.
But old people had limited energy. After eight o’clock, Grandpa and Grandma were already getting sleepy. Lin Huaixi exchanged a look with Qi Wang, and together they helped them back to the bedroom.
Once Grandpa and Grandma fell asleep, the living room became quiet again. Lin Huaixi turned to Qi Wang and said, “Sleep with me tonight. No one’s cleaned the place next door, so you can’t move in right away.”
They had grown up together and often slept in the same bed. But now Qi Wang was fully aware of his own feelings. He was afraid that if he squeezed onto the same small bed with Lin Huaixi again, he might lose control and do something unnecessary.
“Maybe not,” Qi Wang said hesitantly. “If I go clean it now, I should still make it in time.”
Lin Huaixi let out two little snorts through his nose and mercilessly exposed him. “Do you think I don’t know you? Your cleanliness obsession and compulsive habits are both way too serious. Once you go back to clean, everything will look wrong to you, and you’ll definitely keep at it until dawn. At that rate, you won’t sleep the whole night at all!”
“But…” Qi Wang couldn’t find a good excuse, yet on this matter he was strangely insistent.
Lin Huaixi frowned slightly, unable to understand what he was thinking. “We used to sleep together all the time, so why can’t we now? Is it because you think the bed’s too small? Or because you think I’m kind of dirty? It’s okay, I can sleep on the floor.”
“No, I’ve never disliked you.” Afraid that if Lin Huaixi kept asking, the more he explained the darker it would get, Qi Wang sighed helplessly. “Fine. Then let’s squeeze in together tonight.”
Only then did Lin Huaixi smile and wave at him. “Then I’ll go shower first.”
He took a quick shower and, without even drying his hair completely, rushed back to the bedroom and inserted the game disc he had bought into the television.
The house had only recently gotten a new TV. Grandpa and Grandma couldn’t bear to throw the old one away, but there was nowhere to put it, so it had temporarily been set in Lin Huaixi’s bedroom. This had become very convenient for him. Once he put in the game disc, he could happily play with the controller.
Before the college entrance exam, Lin Huaixi had already been imagining this for ages. He had pictured it over and over in his mind. Now that it had finally become reality, his eyes shone with excitement and even his palms were sweating.
When Qi Wang returned to the room, this was the sight he saw:
Lin Huaixi was staring at the screen with absolute concentration, his body leaning forward slightly. The game character on the screen changed moves rapidly, and Lin Huaixi’s eyes darted back and forth with it. But his hands couldn’t keep up, and his fingers smashed buttons wildly. In the middle of trying to defend, he accidentally put himself into the most vulnerable attacking pose possible and was killed in one strike by the opponent.
KO!
Lin Huaixi had not expected to lose so miserably in the first round. He was completely stunned, his eyes wide and round as he turned blankly toward Qi Wang.
That pitiful expression made Qi Wang laugh out loud. Kneeling beside him on one knee, he gently dried his hair with a towel. “It’s okay. You just don’t have enough experience. If you try a few more times, you’ll definitely clear it.”
Lin Huaixi had always been very bright since he was little. He learned quickly, ranked at the top on exams, and was good at basically everything he tried. Now that he had suddenly run into such a tragic collapse, it stirred up all his competitive spirit. Cracking his knuckles, he glared at the game screen, determined to clear it as quickly as possible and wash away this humiliation!
He threw himself into it completely. His controls grew more and more practiced, and the steady stream of positive feedback gave him a strong sense of achievement.
Lin Huaixi didn’t even notice time passing. By the time he had cleared several rounds in a row and was just cheering out loud, someone patted him on the shoulder.
“Go to bed now.”
Lin Huaixi froze and lifted his head to glance at the clock. His eyes widened in surprise. “It’s already eleven? Has it really been that long?”
Qi Wang nodded and asked softly, “Do you want to sleep inside or outside?”
“Inside.” Lin Huaixi pressed his lips together and edged over toward Qi Wang like a little animal, looking at him with pleading eyes. “You go to sleep first. Can you let me play a little longer?”
Qi Wang’s brows drew together slightly. “But it’s already very late.”
Lin Huaixi raised one finger. His voice turned soft, trembling just a little. “I’m really not sleepy at all right now. Even if I lie down, I won’t be able to sleep. Just let me play a little longer, okay?”
Their birthdays were only a month apart, but Qi Wang had always been mature early and naturally took on the role of the older brother, looking after Lin Huaixi in everyday life. Lin Huaixi had grown used to depending on him and had also grown used to being managed by him.
Looking into Lin Huaixi’s eyes, Qi Wang’s expression gradually softened. “Fine. But don’t stay up too late.”
Lin Huaixi instantly brightened, jumped off the bed, and picked up the game controller.
High school life had been dull and suffocating. Now that he was finally free, there was no harm in relaxing for a little while.
Qi Wang lay down on the bed and left only one small lamp on for him. Noticing this, Lin Huaixi spared a second to turn his head and ask very quickly, “Am I making too much noise? Will I disturb you?”
“No,” Qi Wang said.
“Then go to sleep early,” Lin Huaixi said with a smile, still operating the controls as he spoke.
“Good night.”
…
The night was silent and undisturbed. No one came to bother him. Lin Huaixi became even more absorbed in playing. The game images on the television changed rapidly, and the light fell across his bright, alert face, which showed not the slightest trace of sleepiness.
Lin Huaixi was no longer a student preparing for the college entrance exam. If he wanted to play, then he played. No one was going to stop him. But habits built over so many years had already sunk into his bones. He still felt as though what he was doing was wrong, as if he would get scolded if discovered. Feeling guilty, he kept paying nervous attention to every sound around him.
Grandma had a habit of getting up in the middle of the night. Right when Lin Huaixi had reached a crucial moment in the game, he suddenly heard the faint scraping sound of a door brushing against the floor, followed by the light in the bathroom being switched on.
In the silence of the night, this was especially obvious. Alarm bells instantly rang in Lin Huaixi’s mind, and his fragile nerves tightened. His body reacted before his thoughts did. In complete panic, he threw the game controller aside, switched off the television, flung back the blanket, jumped onto the bed, and pretended to be fast asleep.
He felt terribly guilty and instinctively curled himself into a little ball, wanting to hide. Qi Wang happened to be right beside him, so Lin Huaixi edged closer and buried himself against Qi Wang’s chest, using him to shield his face.
The moment he finished doing all this in one smooth, efficient burst, he suddenly realized one fatal problem.
In his panic, he had forgotten to turn off the little bedside lamp. Its warm light was still shining on the window, especially obvious in the middle of the night.
And the bathroom happened to be on the same side as his bedroom. When Grandma came out, she noticed the light and, thinking maybe her old eyes were playing tricks on her, narrowed them and walked over.
Hearing the footsteps growing closer and closer, Lin Huaixi’s whole body tensed. His heart nearly jumped out of his throat.
He didn’t dare move too much. Stretching out one arm, he tried to turn off the lamp by the bedside, but his fingers kept falling just short and could only wave helplessly in the air.
And Grandma’s footsteps were now right at the door.
It’s over, I’m going to get caught!
Lin Huaixi’s mind filled at once with the embarrassing scene of facing Grandma, and perhaps even getting a lecture in the middle of the night. He was already on the verge of tears when, from the corner of his vision, there appeared a long-fingered hand. Firm but gentle, it held his shoulder and pressed him back down onto the bed.
Lin Huaixi’s body couldn’t move, only his gaze darting back and forth after that hand.
Qi Wang had been woken by his commotion and had noticed what he was trying to do. He didn’t show even the slightest irritation from being awakened and simply lifted a hand to help him.
The two of them were lying on a one-point-two-meter bed. When they were in primary school, it had still felt spacious. But now they were already full-grown teenagers, and had to cling close to each other to avoid falling off.
Lin Huaixi lay on the pillow. By the warm yellow light of the bedside lamp, he could clearly see Qi Wang lying beside him.
Qi Wang was wearing a loose white T-shirt. The fabric, unusually, had been pressed into wrinkles. Supporting himself slightly, his collar slipped down with the movement and revealed the defined, bony lines of his collarbone, along with a small patch of pale chest.
Lin Huaixi’s view was partially blocked by the fabric, so his gaze slowly moved upward, passing over Qi Wang’s prominent Adam’s apple and finally landing on his face.
Qi Wang carried the laziness and looseness of someone not fully awake yet. Sensing Lin Huaixi’s gaze, he lowered his eyes slightly. His pupils were dark and deep, without a trace of reflected light. They were so close, yet Lin Huaixi still could not see his own image mirrored there.
They stared at each other for several seconds. Qi Wang’s eyes casually swept across his face. Compared to his calm and mature daytime self, he now seemed almost too casual, nearly frivolous. It looked as though he smiled a little, but the curve at the corner of his lips was too small, and Lin Huaixi could only tell from the soft hum through Qi Wang’s nose that he had laughed.
The small lamp was on Lin Huaixi’s side of the bed. Qi Wang turned slightly, his body naturally leaning closer. Lin Huaixi could smell the body wash on him.
The scent was faint, mixed with Qi Wang’s own special smell and the warmth of his body. It was hard to describe. Lin Huaixi always associated it with a quilt dried in the sun—carrying a soft, subtle warmth that made one’s limbs go weak and only want to bury one’s face in it and rub lightly against it.
He was very familiar with Qi Wang’s scent, but this time it felt different from before. It was warm, vividly present, and carried a faintly invasive edge, as though deliberately encroaching into his safe space.
Lin Huaixi had grown up with Qi Wang since childhood. They had once bathed naked together, and once squeezed into even smaller beds. He knew Qi Wang’s body very well, and usually when they had physical contact, he never thought much of it. But now Qi Wang’s chest was only a finger’s width from the tip of his nose. The loose collar brushed lightly against the corner of his mouth, carrying Qi Wang’s body heat. The touch felt almost like a kiss.
Qi Wang’s cold pale skin also took on a warmer tone under the yellow light. The glow was hazy, and the side of his neck seemed to have a soft, velvety texture. For some reason, Lin Huaixi suddenly felt a little dry in the mouth. He licked his lips, and his breathing grew heavier. It brushed, feather-light, across Qi Wang’s Adam’s apple. Qi Wang seemed to feel ticklish, because his Adam’s apple rolled once.
That single motion replayed in slow motion before Lin Huaixi’s eyes. He suddenly noticed that when an Adam’s apple moved, the line of the jaw would tighten slightly, the previously smooth contour would become angular, and afterward the breath that came out would grow heavier…
Just as his mind filled up with all kinds of wild thoughts, the warm yellow light suddenly vanished. Everything was pressed to a halt.
His eyes couldn’t adjust to the rapid shift in brightness, and he could only make out blurred outlines. But because of this, his hearing sharpened instead. Lin Huaixi heard the soft rustle of fabric brushing together. Qi Wang lay back down, and the bed beneath them shifted faintly as well.
Outside the room, Grandma saw that the light had gone out, so she didn’t disturb them and returned to her own bedroom.
Lin Huaixi kept his eyes open in the darkness. He didn’t know how much time had passed when, all at once, he felt a wave of dizziness. Only then, like someone rising from drowning water, did he let out a long breath.
He had actually forgotten to blink and breathe just now.
His lashes fluttered rapidly. Lin Huaixi opened his mouth wide, swallowed twice, and let the cool air flood back into him, taking away the stifling heat. Only then did he feel as though he had regained control of his body and his mind had begun to calm down. But the scenes from just now rose in his head one after another, beyond his control.
The Qi Wang just now had felt like a completely different person, giving him a strange sensation he had never experienced before.
But no matter what, that was still Qi Wang. They had grown up together since childhood. He knew every side of Qi Wang. So how could he possibly react to Qi Wang like this?
It was too strange.
What exactly was happening to him?
