FLME Ch95

Chapter 095 – Childhood Friends IF Route: (5)

That day, Xie Heyu’s rare honesty was interrupted by the sudden return of Uncle Xie Jialin. Uncle had shaved his head and was wearing a shiny bald head as he entered the door, and the unusual feeling in Yu Wen’s heart was immediately wiped out by the blinding light from his head.

“Xiao Yu?!” Uncle Xie was pleasantly surprised to see him and enthusiastically came up to hug him. Yu Wen kept his eyes on the bald head the whole time, doubting that, given Uncle’s outrageous behavior, he’d probably end up with several more scars on his forehead after some time.

Compared to him, Xie Heyu was much more direct: “Are you planning to become a monk?”

Xie Jialin clicked his tongue and said, “What are you talking about? It’s just summer, so I shaved it off to stay cool.”

Uncle Xie suddenly came back, grabbed a few things, and hurriedly left again. Before he left, he handed some money to Xie Heyu and told him to take Yu Wen out and have some fun since it was rare for him to come home.

After Uncle Xie left, Yu Wen and Xie Heyu exchanged glances.

Yu Wen licked his ice cream spoon and asked, “Where are we going to play?”

Xie Heyu took some fruit from the fridge to wash and said indifferently, “We’ll play at home.”

Yu Wen replied, “But Uncle told you to take me out.”

Xie Heyu asked, “Do you want to go?”

Yu Wen blinked.

In this weather, if he had to choose, he’d rather take a long nap at home.

“You really get me,” Yu Wen sighed with relief, holding the ice cream box and collapsing onto the sofa like a boneless lazy cat, completely relaxed.

After Xie Heyu washed the fruit, he told Yu Wen to sit up and not lie down while eating.

Yu Wen struggled for a moment between the ice cream and the sofa, then handed the ice cream box to him, saying, “Here.”

Xie Heyu calmly took the ice cream and finished the remaining half for him.

The air conditioning system ran silently, the temperature just right. Outside the window, the sun was dazzling, and the sound of cicadas was noisy. The TV was playing a popular drama. Yu Wen, with his head resting on Xie Heyu’s lap, suddenly felt that this afternoon was perfect for wasting time.

He felt an urge to do something aimless, something without any purpose—preferably with Xie Heyu.

“Are you under a lot of study pressure recently?” he suddenly asked, looking up.

Xie Heyu had changed out of his sweat-soaked school uniform, just finished taking a shower, and smelled faintly of body wash. He stretched out his long legs, offering them as a pillow for Yu Wen, and seeing him fidgeting restlessly, lowered his eyes and said, “What are you trying to do?”

He wasn’t sure.

But he just wanted to do something.

Yu Wen asked, “How long did you ask for leave from your teacher?”

“One day.” Xie Heyu pulled him closer to his chest to keep him from rolling off the sofa. “I’ll go to morning self-study tomorrow.”

Yu Wen asked, “Won’t that delay your studies?”

Xie Heyu replied, “If one day is enough to affect my studies, how bad do you think I am?”

Normally, when Xie Heyu said such things, Yu Wen would tease him, but this time he didn’t counter him, only responding with a thoughtful “Hmm.”

“Xie Heyu,” After some time passed, the cicada sounds outside grew faint, and the drama on TV was coming to an end, Yu Wen said, “Since we still have half a day off, let’s go to S city for a short trip. Just half a day, we’ll go and come back quickly.”

S city was where Yu Wen studied.

Xie Heyu paused, his hand frozen in mid-air above the trash can, holding the empty ice cream box. His slender wrist trembled slightly.

After a long while, he silently relaxed his grip, and the ice cream box fell lightly into the trash can.

“Mm.”

*

Nancheng was about a three-hour drive from S city. If they left now, they would still make it back in time for the morning self-study the next day.

Yu Wen held Xie Heyu’s wrist, looking around for a seat. Xie Heyu took a step back, calm and unhurried.

They were only carrying a single shoulder bag, with some personal items and toiletries, ready to rest on the car.

Yu Wen was excited, looking out the window during the ride, whispering some whimsical thoughts to Xie Heyu. He didn’t feel that anything was wrong with rushing back in the morning and then heading out again in the afternoon.

Xie Heyu lowered his head to edit the text message, refining the language into a form that both sets of parents would find acceptable, reporting everything in detail. Yu Wen leaned against his shoulder and waited for him to send the message before continuing, “This was supposed to be an adventure. With you being so meticulous, it just turned into an ordinary trip.”

Xie Heyu didn’t argue. After sending the message, he looked out the window and said, “This is still an adventure.”

It was a long time before Yu Wen understood the meaning behind those words.

S City was Yu Wen’s world. In this city, what he wanted to show Xie Heyu was something that Xie Heyu had no idea about.

It could either be a bright future, or it could be the end of the road.

He leaned back in his chair, looking at the fleeting scenery outside the window, his expression unreadable.

Maybe, as he had said, this was an unknown adventure, and he was waiting for his own destiny.

They first went to a few places that Xie Heyu had shown strong interest in during their conversations.

The pancake stall in the back street was a place Yu Wen often visited. The owner recognized him, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile. “Xiao Yu? Not back home yet? Is this your friend?”

Yu Wen responded with a smile, ordering his usual flavor.

He liked introducing Xie Heyu as his younger brother to outsiders. In the past, Xie Heyu had protested, but later, realizing he couldn’t persuade him, he had stopped arguing.

But now…

Yu Wen glanced at Xie Heyu’s tall, slender figure and his cold, deep face.

If he said he was his younger brother, who would believe it?

“This is my childhood friend,” Yu Wen told the pancake owner.

“Oh, childhood friend, grew up together, must have a good relationship. Rare to come here, uncle will add some crab sticks for you.”

Yu Wen smiled, showing his teeth, “Thank you, Uncle.”

After receiving the pancakes, Yu Wen led Xie Heyu to the taro ball shop near the back gate, urging him to try it as they walked. He enthusiastically guided, “No, no, don’t bite like that. You need to take a big bite, taste the lettuce and the sauce inside…”

Xie Heyu obediently took a large bite, crumbs of the thin crust sticking to the corner of his lips.

Yu Wen: “Is it good? I added sausage for you.”

Xie Heyu nodded.

Yu Wen: “There’s something on your lips.”

Xie Heyu’s cheeks were full, chewing slowly. Yu Wen figured he couldn’t spare a hand to wipe it, so he reached out and wiped it off for him.

His fingertip brushed across Xie Heyu’s lips, and the feeling was strange.

The sky had already darkened, and the streetlights along the small road lit up. Xie Heyu’s ears were reddened by the heat, his eyelashes hanging low, quietly eating the pancake.

Yu Wen felt that Xie Heyu was especially obedient today, and wondered if it was because they were in an unfamiliar place.

When they arrived at the taro ball shop, Xie Heyu had already finished the pancake. With familiarity came comfort. Yu Wen raised his hand and quickly wiped the corner of his lips, teasing, “How old are you, eating with your mouth full.”

The shop owner, a strong middle-aged woman with crescent-shaped eyes when she smiled, greeted them with an accent, “Yo, Xiao Yu is here, still not on vacation?”

Yu Wen smiled and exchanged pleasantries before ordering his usual set.

When the taro balls were served, Yu Wen started promoting them. “Hurry up and try; you asked me about the flavor in the message before. Now I brought you here, try a bite yourself…”

Since school was already on break, the shop was mostly empty. The owner, after finishing the taro balls, sat by the counter, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan, smiling as she watched them.

Hearing Yu Wen’s enthusiasm, she teased, “Are you recruiting for the school? So many good words.”

Only then did Yu Wen realize he had exaggerated a bit. He was really eager to get Xie Heyu’s approval, though he couldn’t explain why.

Noticing his slightly awkward expression, Xie Heyu said, “It’s good.”

To avoid affecting Xie Heyu’s taste, Yu Wen chatted intermittently with the owner. He learned that the two of them had impulsively run away from home, and Xie Heyu was still wearing a fake. The owner was surprised, “Yo, eloping?”

She lightly tapped Yu Wen’s forehead with the fan and joked, “You tricked a sophomore boy out, you better send him back soon.”

The word “tricked” sounded quite apt.

Even though Yu Wen felt that neither he nor Xie Heyu had anything to do with elopement, the shop owner’s words made it seem like it had some truth to it.

He suddenly felt guilty. He took Xie Heyu around the school’s vicinity, avoiding distant spots. When it was about time, he asked Xie Heyu if he wanted to go back.

Xie Heyu lowered his gaze and stared at him for a moment, then slowly said, “…Is that it?”

Yu Wen: “Hmm? Do you still want to play somewhere?”

He looked down at his watch, but Xie Heyu covered the screen with his hand and softly said, “No, I’m very happy.”

Yu Wen: “Really?”

Xie Heyu paused for a moment, then pursed his lips, “…You didn’t talk about anyone else, I’m very happy.”

Yu Wen was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood the implication.

He had a wide circle of friends, but he wouldn’t just hang out with one or two people. The places he had just taken Xie Heyu to, there was no mention of another “friend” who had a strong presence.

— This was the reason Xie Heyu was happy.

Yu Wen understood, but the strange feeling immediately clung to him like a disease, wrapping around his heart.

Such strong possessiveness.

Could this guy really have a psychological disorder…?

“…I’m not sick.” As if he could see through Yu Wen’s thoughts, Xie Heyu defended himself.

Yu Wen glanced at him, noncommittal.

Xie Heyu: “…”

Xie Heyu gave up arguing with him.

They took a taxi to the train station, standing by the roadside. Suddenly, Xie Heyu said, “I’m trying for direct admission, next year, we’ll meet in S City.”

Yu Wen was still thinking about how to advise him when he heard this, and he was momentarily distracted. “Huh? Direct admission? You really want to study here?”

Xie Heyu’s expression was calm, his brows and eyes softened and warm under the streetlights.

“Mm.” He said, “Yu Wen, you’re moving too fast. From school to friendships, to academic plans… you’re always ahead of me. I’ve been walking in your footsteps all my life. I’m two years younger, it’s like I’ve always been one step behind…”

Yu Wen struggled to keep up with his train of thought, but the more he listened, the stranger it sounded.

Suddenly, Xie Heyu grabbed his wrist. It wasn’t an offensive move; they had held hands and embraced before, rolling around together without feeling awkward.

But this simple touch on the wrist made Yu Wen’s heart skip a beat.

At this moment, in this scene, this hand-holding… was probably not the same as before.

Xie Heyu: “Yu Wen, wait for me.”

Wait for him?

How should he wait?

Yu Wen’s mind short-circuited. “Should I go back and repeat senior year?”

“…No.” In the cool night air, Xie Heyu spoke. “Don’t fall in love. Wait for me.”