Agreed to Just Once - Chapter 19: Liking Him
Chapter 19: Liking Him
He Wenshuo stood before his front door, slowly entering the passcode. The heat on his cheek remained persistently high.
Warm, soft, ticklish.
So this was how it felt to be kissed, but he hadn’t dared to tell Jiang Yinian the truth earlier.
Because in that very moment—he’d had an involuntary, subtle reaction.
He Wenshuo guiltily glanced down, grateful he was wearing loose sweatpants today.
Once inside, he headed straight to the bathroom, splashing cool water on his face repeatedly. Yet the flush on his cheeks showed no signs of fading.
He Wenshuo helplessly covered his eyes with his hand, inevitably recalling the scene downstairs at the apartment building again.
It was just a simple touch to the cheek, yet the reaction it provoked was impossible to ignore.
After a long while, he could only step into the shower.
The sound of running water continued for a long time in the shower, the unusually low temperature leaving the surroundings chilled.
Wrapped in a towel, He Wenshuo returned to his room and sprawled on the bed, staring straight at the ceiling. The cold shower had left his mind exceptionally clear.
Was this normal?
It didn’t seem very normal.
After a moment, he fumbled for his phone, hesitated, then opened the browser’s search bar, typing out each word carefully.
Is it normal to have a physical reaction to a close friend you spend every day with?
There seemed to be many others with the same question, as numerous answers immediately popped up related to this query.
The browser’s smart AI response appeared at the top: Generally speaking, this is normal. For young people in puberty, physical reactions are quite common and can be triggered by various factors such as words, scents, touch, etc. Most of the time, it’s just a manifestation of bodily functions—however, please note that one possibility cannot be ruled out: subconsciously, you may have developed feelings for your friend that go beyond friendship. You might not have realized it yet, but your body’s reaction has already discovered it first……
.Feelings beyond friendship? He Wenshuo muttered to himself as he continued scrolling.
Below the AI response was a highly upvoted human answer: Normal my ass, you like him!
Like him?
He Wenshuo dismissed the AI’s lengthy analysis and read this short, sharp answer again, then spent less than a minute accepting this conclusion.
Yes, that’s right.
He liked Jiang Yinian. He had always liked Jiang Yinian.
Maybe he had started liking him a long time ago.
Because he only wanted to spend time with Jiang Yinian. Wherever Jiang Yinian was, it was never boring. Even sitting quietly felt comfortable. He loved watching Jiang Yinian’s satisfied eyes when he ate something delicious, his happy smile. He didn’t want Jiang Yinian to have other close friends—he only wanted to be his one and only best friend. Sometimes he even wanted to hide him away where no one else could see him…
Like a revolving lantern, scenes from their past flickered through He Wenshuo’s mind, until he easily reached one conclusion.
He really, truly liked Jiang Yinian.
No, perhaps it’s more than just liking—he truly loved Jiang Yinian, desperately wanting to be with him every moment.
But.
He Wenshuo placed his phone screen-down on the bedsheet, folded his hands behind his head, and stared blankly at the ceiling lamp.
Would Jiang Yinian ever like him back?
Earlier that day, he’d only kissed Jiang Yinian’s cheek, yet Jiang Yinian had been angry the entire way home, refusing to speak to him.
And just now, when Jiang Yinian suddenly kissed him and asked how it felt, he’d stormed upstairs afterward, forbidding He Wenshuo from following.
He Wenshuo buried his face completely in the pillow, all thoughts condensing into a single desperate question—what could he do to make Jiang Yinian feel the same way about him?
Early morning, just before the alarm was set to vibrate, Jiang Yinian opened his eyes.
A new day had begun.
He sat up in bed and gathered his thoughts, recalling last night’s test.
He Wenshuo’s reaction didn’t seem like someone who had romantic feelings for him.
Good that it wasn’t.
That put his mind at ease.
Perhaps he’d been overthinking things earlier, making a big deal out of nothing.
They were just friends, good friends—what relationship could be stronger than that? Certainly nothing.
Jiang Yinian shook his head, physically dismissing the thought from his mind.
When he left his room, the living room was silent, and so was the kitchen. The quiet, cold atmosphere clearly indicated He Wenshuo hadn’t come over that morning.
Jiang Yinian washed up first, but still saw no sign of anyone when he finished.
It was unusually quiet this morning, and it felt strangely unfamiliar.
Could he have been wrong after all…
His phone rang abruptly.
Jiang Yinian set down his milk glass and went back to his room to find his phone. Unsurprisingly, He Wenshuo’s name flashed on the screen, and he felt an inexplicable relief.
Niannian.
He Wenshuo’s voice through the phone was slightly hoarse and heavily nasal. Niannian, are you up? I think I’ve caught a cold, or maybe I have a fever. I’m a bit dizzy.
Jiang Yinian: You’re sick? That was rare.
He Wenshuo: Probably. I won’t come over this morning. Remember to eat breakfast before class.
Jiang Yinian wasn’t heartless. Are you at home? Wait a bit, I’ll bring you some medicine on my way.
He Wenshuo perked up: Really?
Of course it’s true.
What kind of question was that? Jiang Yinian hung up, took the usual cold medicine, thermometer, and fever reducers from the household medical kit, and before leaving, filled a thermos with hot water.
Though they lived in opposite buildings, it was usually He Wenshuo who followed him home. Jiang Yinian only occasionally visited He Wenshuo’s place.
He took the elevator down, crossed to the opposite building, and rode the elevator up.
At He Wenshuo’s door, Jiang Yinian entered the passcode—easy to remember because it was the same as his own front door code.
Back when He Wenshuo had first told him the code, Jiang Yinian had said he might not remember it, and even if he did, he’d probably forget it over time from lack of use.
He Wenshuo thought his reasoning made sense, so he later came up with a good solution to avoid this problem: he changed the door passcode to match the one at his own home.
When Jiang Yinian pushed the door open, he saw He Wenshuo listlessly curled up on the sofa.
He Wenshuo’s eyes were fixed intently on the door, his voice as hoarse as it had been on the phone.
Niannian.
How did you catch a cold? It didn’t seem that cold yesterday, did it?
Jiang Yinian set down the things he had brought on the coffee table, shook the thermometer, and handed it to He Wenshuo. Although the temperature had dropped slightly yesterday, they had dressed warmly anticipating a late return—how could he have gotten chilled enough to catch a cold?
He Wenshuo blinked weakly, obediently tucking the thermometer under his arm. It hadn’t been cold yesterday, but after returning home, he had taken a long cold shower. On top of that, he had tossed and turned with restless thoughts for most of the night, barely sleeping. By morning, he had fallen ill.
The thermometer read 37.8°C—clearly, he was running a fever.
Jiang Yinian pushed the medicine and thermos on the table toward He Wenshuo. Take some medicine. If you’re not feeling well, take the morning off and get some sleep. You only have one class anyway.
Mm.
He Wenshuo gazed drowsily at the thermos in his hand, feeling a wave of emotion.
Jiang Yinian was truly too good to him—coming over with water and medicine as soon as he knew he was sick, even remembering his class schedule.
He really couldn’t help but like Jiang Yinian.
Jiang Yinian watched He Wenshuo, usually so full of energy, now looking utterly drained, and found it strangely unsettling. I ordered some takeout for you. Eat something in a bit.
Okay.
He Wenshuo nodded immediately, warmth flooding his heart once again.
Jiang Yinian hadn’t even sorted out his own meals yet, but here he was, making sure He Wenshuo was fed.
Perhaps being sick really did lower one’s self-control.
His mind, uncooperative, kept circling one thought uncontrollably.
Since Jiang Yinian cared about him this much, could it be that he liked him a little too?
He Wenshuo couldn’t stop himself from searching Jiang Yinian’s eyes for an answer.
Meeting He Wenshuo’s intense gaze, Jiang Wenshuo frowned slightly. The fever wasn’t dangerously high, so why did he seem almost delirious?
He suggested, Maybe you should go to the hospital.
No need. He Wenshuo closed his eyes and shook his heavy head. I’ll be fine after resting a bit. I’ll sit with you for a while, then go to sleep. Don’t you have to head to school soon?
Mm, I have first period.
Jiang Yinian checked his phone. I’ll leave once the food arrives. Eat something before you sleep.
Okay.
Although he had said he would leave when the food came, Jiang Yinian actually waited until He Wenshuo had finished half a bowl of congee. Before leaving, he reminded him, Send me a message when you wake up.
He Wenshuo looked so out of it—what if he passed out at home with no one knowing? It was worrying.
He Wenshuo agreed, Mm, I’ll message you when I’m up.
Only then did Jiang Yinian leave.
After the door closed again, He Wenshuo dragged his heavy steps back to his room, burrowing under the covers as his feverish mind wandered.
Jiang Yinian must care about him at least a little.
But… yesterday, Jiang Yinian had seemed genuinely angry.
What if Jiang Yinian didn’t like him at all?
He might as well just die from this illness.
He Wenshuo, after all, was young and had a strong constitution. Even with a severe cold and fever, he recovered significantly within just a day.
The next morning, he was bouncing around as usual, preparing breakfast.
Niannian, are you awake? I bought your favorite soup dumplings today.
He Wenshuo stood outside Jiang Yinian’s room, gently knocking on the door.
Jiang Yinian was awake, sitting on the bed rubbing his eyes, gazing bewildered at the door, even wondering if he was still dreaming.
This was unbelievable.
The sun must be rising from the west.
He Wenshuo had actually learned to knock before entering his room within his lifetime.
Niannian?
I heard you.
Jiang Yinian opened the door and quietly looked at He Wenshuo’s beaming face: …How did you have time to buy dumplings?
The lines were always so long—you’d have to go early in the morning to get them.
I woke up early.
He Wenshuo instinctively wanted to grab Jiang Yinian’s hand and lead him to the table, but at the last moment, he clenched his fist and withdrew his hand.
He needed to restrain himself now. It would be terrible if he got disliked for being too forward.
Probably because I slept a lot during the day yesterday, so I woke up early this morning. I saw there was enough time and went to get them. Come, eat more while they’re hot.
He Wenshuo restrained himself from feeding the dumpling directly to Jiang Yinian as he usually would, instead using chopsticks to place it on the plate in front of him.
Jiang Yinian looked down at the plump, white dumpling on his plate, then lifted his gaze to meet He Wenshuo’s expectant eyes.
Great, He Wenshuo had finally stopped rudely stuffing dumplings into his mouth.
It seemed that being sick had cleared He Wenshuo’s mind, making him understand how normal friends should interact.
Before exams arrived, there were always endless key points to review, but when exam week finally came, it became impossible to focus on anything.
Once exam week began, the tests flew by as fast as turning pages.
With the crisp ring of the bell, Jiang Yinian’s final exam of the semester came to a perfect conclusion.
He had just left the exam hall when his phone rang—it was He Wenshuo calling.
Niannian, are you done?
Just finished. I was about to head home.
Jiang Yinian slipped his pencil case into his pocket and followed the crowd toward the school gate.
Don’t go home. He Wenshuo suggested over the phone, Let’s go eat seafood today. I made a reservation.
Jiang Yinian had no objection to good food, but he was curious: Do you have time today?
He seemed to recall that He Wenshuo’s final exams were starting exactly today.
No exam this afternoon, so it’s perfect timing. He Wenshuo felt a wave of relief—thankfully the afternoon was free, or they’d have no suitable time for a meal. Come on, Niannian, let’s go. If we don’t go now, we won’t even have a chance to eat together before you leave.
With recent finals and busy review schedules, they’d only been able to meet briefly in the mornings and evenings, hardly seeing each other during the day. Even their phone chats had dwindled.
He desperately wanted a chance to be alone together to reconnect.
Alright, let’s go.
Jiang Yinian agreed. Summer vacation was approaching, and his mother had specifically called last night to say she’d booked his flight ticket.
This trip would last one or two months, and before leaving, it was customary to have a proper meal with He Wenshuo.
He Wenshuo’s tone brightened: Alright, wait for me, I’ll come pick you up.
Jiang Yinian: Mm.
The seafood restaurant was one with a good reputation in the city. They didn’t go often because reservations had to be made at least three days in advance, and even after securing a table, they had to consider whether they had time to go.
The restaurant’s seating for two consisted of a row of booth-style sofas facing each other against the wall.
He Wenshuo flipped through the menu, expertly reciting the dishes to the server: Steamed fish, poached shrimp, scallops with vermicelli, stir-fried crab, seafood soup…
That should be enough.
Jiang Yinian set down the menu. He Wenshuo had already ordered everything he wanted to eat, so there was no need for him to look further. You’ve ordered too much. We can’t finish all this between the two of us. Let’s not waste it.
It won’t go to waste.
The thought of not seeing Jiang Yinian for many days made He Wenshuo’s heart sink with an involuntary sense of loss—a feeling that couldn’t be eased no matter how many extra dishes he ordered. Once you’re gone, you won’t get to taste this for days. Eat more today. If there’s any left, I’ll pack it up. Don’t worry, it won’t be wasted.
Even so, this is plenty. Jiang Yinian added gently, It’s not like I’m never coming back.
He was only going abroad for the summer break—at the very latest, he’d be back a few days before the semester started, sometimes even earlier.
He Wenshuo couldn’t help feeling down: But I won’t get to see you.
He could already imagine how long each day would feel without Jiang Yinian around.
What’s more, he had no way of knowing whether Jiang Yinian would miss him as much as he would miss Jiang Yinian during the summer break.
At that thought, He Wenshuo couldn’t resist looking intently at Jiang Yinian and urging him repeatedly, You have to remember to reply to my messages. Since you’ll be abroad, don’t wander off—what if you get lost?
With such a great distance between them, he wouldn’t be able to show up right away to find Jiang Yinian if he got lost.
I won’t.
Jiang Yinian couldn’t recall how many times he had already reminded He Wenshuo. Have you forgotten what my major is?
He Wenshuo fell silent: …
Yes, he kept forgetting—Jiang Yinian was an English major. Going to a place like London was practically a perfect match for his field of study, so there was little need to worry about language barriers.
He Wenshuo felt even more wistful: I’m really afraid you’ll go and not come back.
Jiang Yinian replied calmly, What’s there to be afraid of?
He Wenshuo immediately emphasized, You’re my only close friend this good.
I will come back.
Jiang Yinian lowered his gaze. It was true—He Wenshuo was his best friend, and he was He Wenshuo’s best friend. It was only natural for friends to care about each other.
As they chatted, the server began bringing out the dishes. One after another, exquisitely plated but modestly portioned dishes filled the table, creating a lavish spread.
He Wenshuo started peeling the shrimp. He was quite skilled at this. After peeling one, he instinctively dipped it in sauce and brought it toward Jiang Yinian’s mouth: Here…
But the next moment, he caught himself.
He redirected the shrimp he had almost fed to Jiang Ynian and placed it on Jiang Yinian’s plate instead: You eat.
Jiang Yinian had witnessed He Wenshuo’s entire motion. He glanced down at the shrimp on his plate and couldn’t help sighing inwardly once more.
He Wenshuo had truly become much more self-aware lately. He had restrained all actions that might be misunderstood, clearly showing his genuine intention to remain lifelong good friends.
He Wenshuo urged, Try it. Didn’t you say their prawns are the best? You won’t get to eat them once we leave.
Their prawns were indeed the best.
But one shouldn’t always treat good friends like manual laborers.
Jiang Yinian set his phone aside, wiped his hands, and joined in peeling the prawns.
Actually, he wasn’t that bad at peeling prawns. When it came to delicious food, he always had patience. Handling tasty food with his own hands was a pleasure in itself.
However, he couldn’t quite remember when it started – whenever they ate together, He Wenshuo would silently take on all the tasks of peeling prawns and crabs.
This had gone on for so long that everyone had grown somewhat accustomed to it.
Seeing Jiang Yinian get his hands dirty, He Wenshuo advised, You should eat first. I can handle this.
It’s been a while since I last peeled prawns. I want to give it a try.
Jiang Yinian slowly extracted the prawn meat from the shells, placing it on a clean plate beside him. Though not perfectly intact, the sense of accomplishment was fully satisfying.
He Wenshuo’s gaze lingered on Jiang Yinian’s fair, delicate fingers stained with sauce: Then don’t bother with it. You should eat first.
Jiang Yinian: My hands are already dirty. It’s fine.
The plate of prawns looked exquisite but actually didn’t contain many. With both of them working together, they finished peeling them all in no time, the prize being a plate of clean prawn meat.
He Wenshuo pulled out a wet wipe, quickly cleaning the residual sauce from his hands, then took another clean one. Out of habit, he reached to wipe Jiang Yinian’s hands, only realizing what he was doing when the wipe was already pressed against Jiang Yinian’s hand.
Right, he couldn’t do that.
He couldn’t act like before anymore. Now he needed to be more careful, not risk angering Jiang Yinian over these small matters.
He needed to control himself before their relationship progressed further.
So he simply placed the wet wipe on those fair hands and said thoughtfully, Quick, wipe your hands.
Jiang Yinian looked down at the cool wet wipe on his hand.
Once again, he marveled inwardly at He Wenshuo’s heightened self-awareness.
He remembered last time, about two months ago.
They were also eating at this seafood restaurant. When he accidentally got sauce on his hands, He Wenshuo had held his hand and carefully wiped it clean with a tissue.
It had even attracted sidelong glances from people at nearby tables, who probably suspected they were a couple showing affection in public.
He Wenshuo watched Jiang Yinian’s pale hands longingly, wanting to reach out but not daring to. Seeing Jiang Yinian remain motionless, he finally said, Nian Nian?
Hmm.
Jiang Yinian snapped out of his thoughts, wiped his fingers clean, and threw the used wet wipe into the trash.
Picking up his chopsticks, he tasted the prawn meat he had peeled himself – equally delicious.
After eating a few, he looked up at He Wenshuo and said slowly, My mom bought my plane ticket. It’s for the morning of the day after tomorrow.He Wenshuo had already anticipated this, but hearing it still made him feel disappointed: ‘So soon?
His final exams would be completely over the day after tomorrow, and Jiang Yinian would be leaving exactly then. Another long summer vacation was about to begin.
But he still hadn’t figured out what to do during this summer break.
The morning exam began at 8 a.m. Unlike regular morning classes where arriving late could be brushed off with an awkward apology to the teacher, being late for an exam meant being barred from entering under the school’s strict regulations.
By 7:30, a group of boys who preferred arriving early over failing due to tardiness were already waiting outside the locked exam venue.
They weren’t just standing around idly, of course. Conversation was inevitable, though exam-related topics were naturally avoided beforehand. This led to discussions shifting to other subjects, with gossip and romantic topics being particularly popular.
Tao Hao had recently replaced He Wenshuo as the center of attention at school, because he was pursuing a senior—the campus belle in her fourth year, the most beautiful one featured in the recruitment brochures.
Tao Hao was currently in a state of complete infatuation: The senior is the gentlest girl I’ve ever met in my life, and also the kindest, cutest, smartest, most…
Guo Jian slung an arm over Tao Hao’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow, tactlessly asking, Is it really that exaggerated? There was a long line of people chasing after the senior, and honestly, he thought Tao Hao didn’t stand a chance.
Tao Hao: Where’s the exaggeration? The senior is just amazing, okay? I’m determined to win her over. I’ll start next semester—no, next semester is too late. I’ll start today!
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
A group of boys laughed heartlessly, saying Tao Hao had set himself quite the ambitious goal.
In contrast, He Wenshuo, standing at the very edge, showed some interest and asked further, How do you plan to pursue her?
Tao Hao: I need to make a plan. Chasing someone requires a strategy. Blindly going for it won’t work.
He Wenshuo pressed, What kind of plan?
Guo Jian, who had been watching the fun, immediately sensed something different and said to He Wenshuo, Don’t you already have a girlfriend? Why are you so curious about how others chase girls? Seems like you have ulterior motives.
He Wenshuo replied expressionlessly, Not anymore.
Or rather, there never really was one. Jiang Yinian had been right before—fake things can’t become real. Now, he was going to let go of that illusion and go find the real person.
Hey, hey, hey, seriously?
Buddy, you need to move on.
Since He Wenshuo was heartbroken, Guo Jian didn’t feel right continuing to joke and discourage him. Assuming He Wenshuo was still hung up on his ex, he stepped forward and patted He Wenshuo’s shoulder solemnly, saying, Just pursue her however you want. If it really doesn’t work out, it’s okay to accept it and move on.
He Wenshuo: I can’t accept it.
Why bother? There are plenty of fish in the sea, the others chimed in. Do your best and leave the rest to fate. If she really doesn’t like you, why cling to one tree?
He Wenshuo leaned on the railing, his gaze firm. I’m going to cling to this one tree.
He had known Jiang Yinian for so many years, liked Jiang Yinian for so many years—he was set on this one tree.
The others exchanged glances, simultaneously shrugging and shaking their heads: … This guy is beyond saving. Love-struck brains are truly terrifying.
The night before leaving.
Jiang Yinian needed to pack his luggage for the trip, but there was clearly someone in the room even busier than him.
He Wenshuo had long since familiarized himself with Jiang Yinian’s room better than his own, pulling out various essentials from the drawers.
Clothes, headphones, speakers, power bank… and some snacks. Do you want to bring any?
No need for snacks.
Jiang Yinian figured it was about enough. Who knew if many snacks would even be allowed? It’d be a shame if they got confiscated during security checks.
Besides, it was just the trip to the airport to catch a flight.
He had grown accustomed to going abroad to stay with his parents every summer vacation since childhood.
His parents were used to it too. For him, it wasn’t just a temporary vacation spot—it was genuinely another home.
There was his room, his clothes, his daily necessities. All he needed to do was show up.
He Wenshuo found it difficult to feel happy. He wished he could pack up both this house and himself to take away with Jiang Yinian.
But that wasn’t realistic.
Though he hadn’t accomplished much, time kept ticking away minute by minute.
Outside the window, the sky had turned completely dark, while the streetlights in the residential complex shone particularly bright.
It was time to go home and sleep again.
He Wenshuo closed the cabinet drawer while sitting on the chair and glanced at Jiang Yinian. With their separation approaching, every meeting felt more precious, every look more fleeting – yet he didn’t dare stare too obviously.
He didn’t want to go back today.
Niannian, can I sleep here tonight?
Sleep here?
Jiang Yinian looked up. Normally, He Wenshuo would occasionally stay over, but he’d never asked for permission so formally.
He nodded: Alright.
Getting the approval, He Wenshuo immediately promised: Niannian, don’t worry, I won’t disturb your sleep.
He conscientiously found a quilt from the room cabinet and brought it to the living room sofa.
Jiang Yinian watched his movements and fell silent: …
No particular meaning intended, but his sofa really wasn’t that big. For a guy of He Wenshuo’s height to curl up on it – without exaggeration, he wouldn’t even be able to stretch his legs straight.
Why don’t you sleep on the floor in my room like before? The mattress is in the cabinet.
He Wenshuo’s eyes lit up. Of course he was willing, of course he had no objections, but when he glanced at Jiang Yinian’s bed, he forcibly suppressed the idea himself.
Sharing a room would be wonderful.
Being able to see Jiang Yinian the moment he opened his eyes would be wonderful.
But he was afraid – what if he did something in his half-asleep state that shouldn’t be done yet? That would be the end.
Jiang Yinian might get angry with him, cut ties with him, or even worse, never speak to him again.
Until he was more certain, he couldn’t take that risk.
Regretfully suppressing the thought, He Wenshuo curled back onto the sofa: I’m afraid I might disturb your sleep. To be safe, I’ll just sleep on the sofa. Remember to close your door properly when you sleep – I might sleepwalk and wander around, wouldn’t want to scare you.
Jiang Yinian: … That’s unlikely. He’d never shown such symptoms before.
Recently, He Wenshuo had shown surprisingly heightened awareness in their interactions.
Early the next morning, the two had a simple breakfast to fill their stomachs before parting at the residential complex entrance.
Jiang Yinian needed to take a taxi to the airport, while He Wenshuo had to rush to school for an exam.
Unfortunately enough.
Because the flight time coincided exactly with the exam schedule, He Wenshuo couldn’t see Jiang Yinian off at the airport as he usually did in previous years.
He Wenshuo trailed beside Jiang Yinian, murmuring: Remember to message me when you arrive safe, you must reply when I text you, don’t wander around in unfamiliar places, and if anyone bothers you, definitely don’t engage with them.
Then he paused, struggled with himself, but ultimately couldn’t resist giving Jiang Yinian a tight hug: I’ll miss you every day, you have to miss me too.
Jiang Yinian was nearly breathless from being squeezed by those strong arms.
Miss, miss… It’s normal for good friends to miss each other.
Okay, okay.
The taxi booked online arrived.
He Wenshuo helped put Jiang Yinian’s backpack in the back seat, watching as the car drove into the distance.
The long separation had begun at this very moment.
The plane landed in the afternoon.
Jiang Yinian received a big hug from his mother as soon as he stepped out of the airport.
Sweetheart, you must be tired.
Not really.
Jiang Yinian smiled. Perhaps because they hadn’t lived together for a long time, even though he was now a young man in his twenties, his parents still treated him with what could be called doting affection. But he liked this indulgence—he couldn’t resist such unreserved love from family.
On the way home.
Jiang’s father drove while Jiang’s mother sat in the back seat with Jiang Yinian.
She pinched his arm to check him over: Not bad, you feel a bit stronger than last time.
Jiang Yinian caught the subtlety in her words: It’s fine, I won’t get upset even if you say I’ve gained weight.
After all, he really hadn’t been eating lightly—meals, snacks, and drinks were all part of his routine.
Jiang’s mother laughed: You’re more solid, not fat. Let me see—half a year apart and my son has grown even more handsome.
Jiang Yinian chuckled along: Not really.
Since childhood, although they had lived apart, the harmonious family atmosphere had never changed.
Jiang’s mother: Sweetheart, Grandma knew you were coming today and specially went to the supermarket. She’s prepared lots of delicious food for you at home.
Jiang Yinian was hungry and couldn’t help feeling excited at the thought. Airplane meals were nowhere comparable to home-cooked food with that familiar warmth. Although He Wenshuo often took him out to restaurants, even those couldn’t match Grandma’s cooking.
Jiang’s father chimed in when he could: Son, your mother and I both took a week off work specifically to spend time with you at home.
Jiang Yinian was used to this: Great.
Every time this happened, his parents would pour months’ worth of compressed affection all over him at once.
But the time was short—only a week—so each day’s schedule was packed.
They went shopping for clothes, tried local specialty foods, and visited scenic spots that the family of three rarely had opportunities to explore together.
Each day was filled to the brim, leaving Jiang Yinian with just enough personal time to exchange messages with He Wenshuo. Despite the time difference, He Wenshuo’s replies remained prompt.
After the busy week passed, Jiang’s father and mother returned to work, and Jiang Yinian suddenly found himself with nothing to do, slipping into a state of idleness.
Grandma had taken the dog from the yard for a walk early in the morning, planning to chat and play cards with the local elderly women she knew. She probably wouldn’t be back until late.
Jiang Yinian lounged alone on the second-floor terrace, soaking up the sun and killing time by chatting with He Wenshuo.
He Wenshuo: You’ve been replying so slowly lately. Did you make new friends?
Jiang Yinian: No, I’ve been out with my parents.
He Wenshuo: Having fun?
Jiang Yinian: Yeah, bought a lot of new clothes and saw some beautiful scenery. I used photos as backgrounds to customize some postcards.
He Wenshuo: Any gifts for me?
Jiang Yinian: Yes.
Naturally, he couldn’t leave He Wenshuo out when bringing gifts. Anyway, He Wenshuo had low standards—anything would do as long as he got something.
He Wenshuo: Just so you know, I’m planning to spend this summer break at my grandma’s place.
Jiang Yinian: What are you planning to do there?
He Wenshuo: I’ll tell you when I get back
Playing mysterious, huh?
Jiang Yinian looked at his phone screen with a slight smile. Based on his past experiences with He Wenshuo, it wouldn’t be long before the guy couldn’t resist spilling the beans himself.
Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a voice calling from the neighboring balcony.
Hello.
Swinging gently on the porch swing, Jiang Yinian turned his head and saw a boy wearing striped pajamas on the adjacent balcony.
It was the neighbor’s child, also from China, named Li Yi.
Since they were close in age, their families often had them play together when they were younger.
But Jiang Yinian only visited twice a year, and they shared no common interests, so their friendship never progressed beyond knowing each other’s names.
Leaning against the balcony railing, Li Yi called out in somewhat awkward Mandarin: Jiang Yinian, are you on break again? Want to come over? I’ve invited many friends for a gathering today.
No, I need to rest. Jiang Yinian disliked Li Yi’s friends. Once, when he delivered something for his mother, he had seen their gatherings—those unfamiliar young people would stare at him with bold, lingering glances that made him uncomfortable.
Wouldn’t resting tomorrow be the same? Li Yi persisted, gazing at Jiang Yinian’s delicate profile. After you graduate, aren’t you planning to develop your career here? It’s a good chance to make more connections now.
Jiang Yinian remained unmoved: It’s not the same. I probably don’t need to.
His parents had indeed mentioned this possibility, but he had never considered it seriously—the food here wasn’t as good as back home, and no one had much time to accompany him for meals.
Okay.
Li Yi stretched lazily and went back inside with a hint of regret.
The neighboring balcony fell quiet again.
Jiang Yinian continued nestling in the large porch swing, swaying leisurely. Without realizing it, his thoughts drifted back to his recent chat with He Wenshuo.
What was He Wenshuo doing at his grandmother’s house? And why all the secrecy? Though He Wenshuo’s grandparents were truly skilled at cooking delicious food.
When He Wenshuo visited, he would definitely get to enjoy a table full of delicious dishes.
How enviable.
The swing was so comfortable that Jiang Yinian ended up spending most of the day curled up in it, feeling completely relaxed both physically and mentally.
Jiang’s mother returned home early from work and found Jiang Yinian quietly lost in thought in the swing.
She approached and ruffled his hair: Sweetie, what are you thinking about?
Jiang Yinian answered without hesitation: About He Wenshuo.
Jiang’s mother: Hmm?
Jiang Yinian: I was wondering what kind of delicious food he’s about to eat.