Zhang Xianyu messaged Luo Danqing again, asking why he hadn’t come to school, but there was still no reply.
After the meeting ended, she went with Zheng Pang to find the Counselor to inquire about Luo Danqing’s situation.
The Counselor said that his family had asked for leave on his behalf, explaining that he had been in an accident and injured his leg.
Zhang Xianyu asked who had requested the leave and when the accident happened.
The Counselor replied that it was his uncle who helped request the leave, saying that Luo Danqing had been in a rear-end collision while driving just a couple of days before the semester started and needed to rest at home.
However, Luo Danqing had never mentioned having a close uncle.
He had said that his parents were no longer around and that he was alone at home.
Also, he hadn’t contacted either Zhang Xianyu or Zheng Pang since New Year’s Eve.
The two exchanged a worried glance; something must have happened to Luo Danqing.
“Counselor, do you know Luo Danqing’s home address? Since his parents aren’t around, we want to visit and see if we can help.”
The Counselor hesitated briefly but, since Zhang Xianyu was the type of student teachers liked and they often went in and out of the dorm together, he decided to take them to his office and found Luo Danqing’s registered address.
“This is the address he gave during the enrollment survey. Not sure if he’s changed it.”
After Zhang Xianyu thanked him repeatedly, she left with Zheng Pang.
“Should we go find Danqing?”
Zheng Pang asked.
“Let me try calling him again.”
Zhang Xianyu dialed Luo Danqing’s number.
The call rang for a long time before being answered.
The line was full of static, and Luo Danqing’s voice sounded faint and distant.
“Hello?”
Zhang Xianyu asked, “The Counselor said you hurt your leg and took sick leave?”
“Mm,” Luo Danqing responded.
“When did you get injured? Is there anyone at home taking care of you? Should Zheng Pang and I come see you?”
Luo Danqing said, “It was just a car accident a few days ago. It’s not serious. I’ll be back at school after a week. No need to trouble you.”
Since he insisted, Zhang Xianyu didn’t push to visit.
She only said if he needed help, they were just a call away.
After hanging up, Zheng Pang asked, “Is he okay?”
“He said it’s not serious and he’ll be back in a week.”
Zheng Pang relaxed but muttered cautiously, “He hasn’t replied on WeChat either. I wonder what’s going on.”
Life went on as usual.
After school that afternoon, Zhang Xianyu went home to feed Xiaonanhai first, then started making dinner.
Lin Wushui usually arrived earlier and left the groceries in the kitchen for her.
Maybe because of the pet, Zhang Xianyu felt the place had become more like a home.
Before, he’d thought of it as just a temporary place, better than the dorm but still lacking the security of a real home.
But ever since returning from Xiangjiang City, Zhang Xianyu felt something was quietly changing.
He even found himself thinking about what to add to the house while browsing Taobao, or what Xiaonanhai and Lin Wushui might still need.
If it were when he had just moved in, he would never have dared to bring in or change anything in this temporary residence.
But now, little things he bought were everywhere—the soft cushions on the sofa, the vase on the coffee table, the plush carpet in the room…
Initially unnoticeable, he now realized the once empty house had been gradually filled up.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Zhang Xianyu rubbed Xiaonanhai’s round face and sighed, feeling how comfort was slowly spoiling him.
“What’s spoiling you?”
Lin Wushui came out with coffee and heard him muttering to Xiaonanhai.
Zhang Xianyu said, “It’s just that living here with you is too comfortable. If I move out someday, I wonder if I’ll be able to get used to it…”
He spoke casually, but Lin Wushui caught the meaning behind it.
His deep gaze fixed gently on the young man.
He almost couldn’t resist pouring out his feelings but held back, saying vaguely, “If you feel comfortable, then just stay here. Why move out?”
Zhang Xianyu was stunned and blurted, “I can’t live here forever.”
He wanted to say Lin Wushui would get married and start a family eventually, so he’d have to move out.
But the words stuck in his throat, and his heart felt heavy, so he swallowed them and stopped talking.
Lin Wushui smiled faintly, “Why can’t you live here forever? Stay as long as you want. Anyway, there won’t be anyone else.”
He spoke plainly, his deep eyes fixed on Zhang Xianyu as he took his cup back to the Shuxiangshi.
Zhang Xianyu mulled over those strange words, his pale cheeks flushing.
“Stay as long as you want. Anyway, there won’t be anyone else…”
He tugged at Xiaonanhai’s ears and murmured, “What does that mean…”
That night, Zhang Xianyu had his first ever bout of insomnia, turning over Lin Wushui’s words in his mind.
Though slow with feelings, he wasn’t stupid.
Such straightforward words made him somewhat aware of something.
But was Lin Wushui’s meaning the same as what he imagined?
He wanted to ask but feared misunderstanding and awkwardness.
So he tossed and turned like a pancake in bed.
Eventually, he fell asleep but had chaotic dreams.
In the dream, a man in red smiled at him wickedly, saying, “If you like it here, then stay. Stay as long as you want. No one else will know anyway.”
Then the man’s face changed to one sickly and weak, seemingly near death, saying, “I like you. I’m willing to do all this for you, not out of obligation.”
Waking from a night of confusing dreams, Zhang Xianyu’s head throbbed.
The red-clothed man’s face overlapped with Lin Wushui’s in his mind.
He sighed softly, thinking maybe Lin Wushui just said those words casually, and why did he read so much into it?
But then he felt it wasn’t so casual after all.
He had overlooked it before, but now, looking back, Lin Wushui’s words hid something deeper.
Even his gaze carried a different feeling.
Sighing again, Zhang Xianyu got up to wash his face and brush his teeth, then took his books to school.
He wanted to ask directly, not keep worrying alone, but he also feared the answer might not be what he hoped for and felt a bit reluctant.
He was usually straightforward and carefree, but this was the first time he felt timid about something.
Better to finish classes first…
Zhang Xianyu thought as he entered the classroom.
Zheng Pang had arrived early and already taken a seat.
Seeing him, he waved him over.
Zhang Xianyu glanced over and saw Zheng Pang sitting with Luo Danqing in the second-to-last row.
“Your leg’s healed?”
Zhang Xianyu sat beside Luo Danqing and asked.
“Yeah,” Luo Danqing replied softly.
“I brought some local specialties. I’ll share them with you guys when we get back to the dorm.”
Zhang Xianyu nodded, relieved to see him well.
The worry from before eased. Just then, the bell rang, and they focused on the lesson without speaking further.
At noon during the break, the three ate lunch and went back to the dorm.
Luo Danqing indeed brought many local treats, including homemade snacks, which he shared with Zhang Xianyu and Zheng Pang.
“These are made by my aunt. Try them,” he said.
“Aunt?”
Zheng Pang took a bite, puzzled.
“Is she close to you? You never mentioned her before.”
Luo Danqing smiled.
“She’s my third uncle’s wife. After my parents passed, I was taken in by my third uncle’s family. My aunt takes care of me.”
Zheng Pang said “Oh” casually and went back to eating, not probing further.
But Zhang Xianyu felt something was off, an indescribable unease.
He pondered but couldn’t pinpoint what felt wrong.
Still bothered by Lin Wushui’s words, he lay down and slept.
After school that afternoon, before Zhang Xianyu got home, he received a message from Lin Wushui saying he had to work overtime and couldn’t buy groceries.
Zhang Xianyu naturally replied that he would buy the groceries and asked what time Lin Wushui would be home.
After sending the message, he turned back to prepare for the supermarket.
But after a few steps, he stopped suddenly, staring at their WeChat conversation, feeling dazed.
When he hadn’t thought much about it, it didn’t seem strange.
Now, looking back, the dialogue felt like an old married couple’s banter…
His cheeks flushed again.
In recent days, he had blushed more times than ever before.
His mind was in turmoil.
Should he ask?
What if he did, what would he say?
What answer did he want?
Standing outside the supermarket, Zhang Xianyu thought for a long time.
He realized maybe he hoped Lin Wushui liked him.
His heart thumped painfully.
He blinked hard and for the first time clearly realized: perhaps he did like Lin Wushui.
But when did that happen?
He thought and thought but couldn’t find the answer.
It felt like it all started with Lin Wushui’s blunt, almost explicit words yesterday.
Suddenly, he understood Lin Wushui’s feelings and, at the same time, his own.
Everything happened so suddenly yet felt natural.
Zhang Xianyu wondered if it really began yesterday, or if it had been much longer but he just hadn’t realized.
That night, when Lin Wushui came home from overtime, he found the house pitch black—not even the lights on—but there was a familiar scent in the living room.
He fumbled for the switch and narrowed his eyes at Zhang Xianyu, who was holding Xiaonanhai, looking dazed.
“What’s wrong?”
Lin Wushui furrowed his brow, took off his shoes in the entryway, and approached him.
Zhang Xianyu absentmindedly pinched Xiaonanhai’s ears, opened his mouth a couple of times, and finally asked, “What did you mean by what you said yesterday?”