For an entire week, Chu Zhou’s spirits had been low. He looked like a plant drained of all vitality, even his leaves curling up.
He sat on the balcony, hugging a pillow and basking in the sun. It was Qu Yanning who had forcibly sent him out there, saying that sunlight could kill germs, and that if he stayed cooped up in his room any longer, he’d start growing mold.
Chu Zhou squinted, gazing into the distance at the stream of cars. Even the warm sunlight couldn’t dispel the damp, musty scent that clung to him.
This scent had followed him for ten years. Later, when he left the village, wandering from place to place and struggling to grow up, he’d finally shaken off that uncomfortable aura.
Now, it had returned to haunt him once more.
He let out a sigh. Suddenly, a woman’s pale face flashed through his mind. Back then, he’d been pushed out of the wooden tub, panicking and desperate to return.
The woman just stood on the riverbank, covering her mouth as silent tears streamed down her face…
He’d screamed himself hoarse, calling for his mother, begging her to come with him, begging her not to abandon him. But she only stood silently on the shore, sending him alone into the outside world.
“Mom…”
The sunlight was a bit harsh. Chu Zhou raised his hand to shield his eyes. Fifteen years… Later, he’d tried to return a few times, but could never find the village.
Eventually, he gave up and decided to live a good life. Yet somehow, it had found its way back to him.
Chu Zhou curled his lips into a faint smile, lowering his hand from his eyes. His palm was a little damp. In the end, he thought, he would have to go back.
“Zhou Zhou, come eat.” Qu Yanning’s voice drifted from inside the house. Chu Zhou sniffed hard, patted his cheeks, and went back inside.
Qu Yanning came out carrying the dishes. Seeing Chu Zhou’s reddened eyes, he paused for a moment but said nothing, simply smiling and calling him over to eat.
Chu Zhou forced a smile and sat down, slowly picking at his food. His appetite hadn’t been great these days.
Qu Yanning had made all sorts of appetizing dishes, but Chu Zhou’s mind was elsewhere. In the end, he didn’t even finish a bowl of rice before putting down his chopsticks.
Qu Yanning hesitated, but in the end couldn’t hold back. “Zhou Zhou, if something’s bothering you, you can tell me.”
Chu Zhou was slightly startled. Seeing the worry in Qu Yanning’s eyes, he realized his so-called disguise had long since been seen through.
He reached out to ruffle Qu Yanning’s hair and said softly, “Something’s come up at home. I’m planning to go back for a bit.”
Qu Yanning hesitated, looking at him. That man didn’t seem like a good person, and he had an unpleasant aura about him.
Instinctively, Qu Yanning didn’t want Chu Zhou to take any risks. “Are you going back with that man?” @All the best stories are at Jinjiang Literature City
Chu Zhou shook his head and said he was going back alone.
Qu Yanning didn’t agree. He asked where Chu Zhou’s home was, saying he could go with him.
Chu Zhou thought for a while before saying he couldn’t quite remember. It had been over ten years; all he remembered was that it was a remote mountain village somewhere in Jiaoshi, Yisheng Province. As for exactly where, he’d have to rely on his memory once they got there.
“You don’t even know the place, how can you go back?” Qu Yanning thought he must be out of his mind and objected. “It’s too dangerous. I can’t agree to this.”
Chu Zhou pinched Qu Yanning’s cheek and said that if he couldn’t find it, he’d just treat it as a trip to clear his mind.
But Qu Yanning still felt he was being too careless, and there was a vague sense of unease in his heart. There was no way he could let Chu Zhou go off on his own like that.
In the end, neither of them could persuade the other.
Chu Zhou’s condition continued to deteriorate. Qu Yanning, unable to rest easy, dragged him to the hospital for a checkup, but nothing was found. The results showed everything was normal.
All Qu Yanning could do was try different ways to cook delicious food, hoping Chu Zhou would eat a bit more.
Xie Qi watched from the side, clearly displeased. But Chu Zhou’s problem was something he could only treat the symptoms of, not the root cause.
Every day, watching Qu Yanning rack his brains to coax Chu Zhou into eating, Xie Qi was about to explode, thoroughly unhappy.
Qu Yanning was run ragged, trying to keep both of them happy.
Watching him fuss over the cat, Chu Zhou’s lips twitched in a faint smile. He had already made up his mind.
He packed a few clothes, grabbed his wallet, and traveled light. Taking advantage of the middle of the night, he quietly opened the door, preparing to sneak out—
“Zhou Zhou, where are you going?”
Qu Yanning, who’d gotten up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, saw the sneaky figure, turned on the living room light, and saw Chu Zhou in sportswear, backpack slung over his shoulders, looking ready to head out on a trip.
Chu Zhou: “…”
He turned around, forced a smile, and said he just couldn’t sleep and was going for a walk.
Qu Yanning looked at his dark circles and sallow face, dragged him in front of the full-length mirror, and pointed at his reflection, saying, “Look at yourself. I’m not trying to control you, but how can anyone be at ease letting you go out looking like this?”
The reflection in the mirror was haggard, like a plant drained of all nutrients, sickness emanating from every inch.
Chu Zhou had been so unsettled lately he hadn’t noticed how worn out he looked. Suddenly seeing himself in the mirror, even he was startled.
Qu Yanning, unhappy, said, “Either wait until you’re better before you go, or I’ll go with you. Pick one.”
Chu Zhou was a little helpless toward Ning, but in the end could only surrender. “Fine, fine, we’ll go together.”
Only then was Qu Yanning satisfied, pushing him back into the room to rest.
……
The next morning, Qu Yanning got up early. He’d already found a map of Yisheng Province online and looked up plenty of guides on hiking in the mountains, carefully noting all the precautions.
It was already October, and the temperatures in the north had dropped. There was a lot they needed to prepare. After getting all the gear together, Qu Yanning finally hung a “Closed” sign on the shop door.
Only one last thing remained before they could leave.
“Guaibao, be good,” Qu Yanning coaxed the sulking cat, who’d been throwing a tantrum ever since he found out, hiding all over the house.
“When I get back, I’ll come pick you up right away,” Qu Yanning squatted down, coaxing the angry cat in a gentle voice, “It’s only a few days.”
Xie Qi squatted in the wardrobe for a while, seeing that Qu Yanning really wasn’t going to take him along.
He shot a look at Chu Zhou nearby, his heart bubbling with jealousy, but in the end, he obediently jumped into Qu Yanning’s arms, rubbing against him. If the cat couldn’t go, then he’d just go himself.
Carrying the finally pacified cat, Qu Yanning went to find Zhang Ren.
Zhang Ren wasn’t surprised to receive the cat. Xie Qi, with a sullen cat face, jumped to the floor and darted into the house without even looking at Qu Yanning.
“He’s sulking,” Qu Yanning said helplessly, explaining the situation to Zhang Ren. “I’m going on a trip with Chu Zhou for a while.”
Zhang Ren instinctively wanted to ask where, but stopped himself. Since Qu Yanning didn’t say, he clearly didn’t want to.
It wouldn’t be right to press him. “Second Master Xie is here, come in and have some tea before you go.”
Qu Yanning hadn’t had a chance to decline when Xie Qi came out of the house, face cold, sweeping a chilly gaze over Qu Yanning. “Come in.”
Qu Yanning’s heart thudded heavily, and, as if under a spell, he walked in.
Xie Qi sat across from him, expression cold, even his gaze icy. “You’re going to Yisheng Province?”
“…Yes.” Qu Yanning was a bit surprised. “How did you know?”
Xie Qi sneered, tapping his fingers on the solid wood tea table. “This trip is extremely inauspicious. That friend of yours is facing a bloody disaster.”
Qu Yanning nervously asked, “Then what should I do?”
He said, a bit dejected, “I can’t persuade him, so I can only go with him. At least two people can look out for each other.”
Xie Qi’s face grew even colder. He said, “Zhang Ren will go with you. His family’s in Yisheng Province.”
Zhang Ren: “…Yes.”
Qu Yanning hesitated, saying it was too much trouble.
Xie Qi replied, “It’s no trouble at all. Treat it as training. Besides, I can teach you a few things on this trip.”
Qu Yanning: “…?”
He asked tentatively, “Are you coming too?”
Xie Qi lowered his eyes. “It’s on my way.”
Qu Yanning: “Oh.”
And so, things were settled in such a strange way. Xie Qi said to send the cat home for a while, and told Qu Yanning to refund the train tickets. The four of them would fly there instead.
The plane was a private jet from Zhang Ren’s family. The staff were extremely respectful toward Zhang Ren, addressing him as Young Master.
Zhang Ren himself was cool and aloof, exuding a sense of detachment far removed from how he acted in private.
If Qu Yanning hadn’t seen Zhang Ren rolling up his sleeves to play drinking games before, he wouldn’t have believed this was the same person.