ATM is the kind of human who’s very good at giving emotional value. The scarf clearly wasn’t expensive, and objectively speaking, the style was quite plain and ordinary—something you could see anywhere in daily life. But the ATM acted as if he had received a priceless treasure.
[ATM]: I reaaaally, really, really love it!
[ATM]: It suits me so well!
[ATM]: For the first time, I wish winter would last a bit longer—so I’d have a valid excuse to wear this scarf every day.
[ATM]: Who’s the happiest person in the world?
[ATM]: It’s me! It’s definitely me!
ATM’s messages always made Xu Miao feel happy—or more precisely, ATM always gave Xu Miao a fleeting sense of accomplishment. As if he had this quiet ability to make someone else feel joy without spending much money—just a bit of care would do.
[XM]: I’m not really a fan of winter.
[ATM]: Why not?
Because winter doesn’t suit those living on a tight budget. It’s too cold. Lightweight yet warm clothes don’t come cheap. Poverty makes people look bulky and wrinkled in winter.
[XM]: My eyesight isn’t great. When it snows and everything’s just white, I can’t see well.
[ATM]: Then I’ll walk with you.
[ATM]: I could carry you too.
[ATM]: Hug you also, if needed.
Suddenly, the wind picked up—it got even colder.
[XM]: Got something to do, I’ll reply later.
Xu Miao turned off his screen and shoved his phone into his coat pocket. He brought his palm up and blew warm breath into it, picking up his pace toward school.
By the time Xu Miao returned to the dorm, it had been half an hour. Liang Dong was playing a game, and the other two hadn’t come back yet.
The dorm’s heating was on full blast, so Xu Miao took off his coat as soon as he stepped in.
His bed was next to Liang Dong’s. Just as he was draping his coat over the chair, Liang Dong said, “Xu Miao, there’s a scarf on the desk—see if you like it. My mom came to visit today and insisted on bringing gifts for you guys. I wondered what she’d bring… Anyway, it’s not expensive. Just take it.”
Xu Miao glanced back and saw that both Cheng Ye and Lin Yucheng’s desks also had boxes just like the one on his desk.
Xu Miao said, “Then thank Auntie for me—I really like it.”
Just as he finished speaking, Liang Dong turned himself and his chair toward Xu Miao, crossed his arms and said with some dissatisfaction, “You haven’t even opened it and you’re already saying you like it? My mom told me I had to take a picture of each of you wearing it and send it to her. Those two aren’t back yet, so I’ll start with you.”
Xu Miao had a good relationship with Liang Dong to begin with, and since it was a request from an elder, of course he wouldn’t refuse. It’s just that Liang Dong couldn’t stand how slowly Xu Miao was moving. He reached out, grabbed the box, quickly opened it, and wrapped the scarf around Xu Miao’s neck in a few swift motions.
It was a black-and-white checkered scarf—a safe, classic choice. Liang Dong looked it over from left to right, feeling quite proud of his work. He raised his phone and snapped several photos of Xu Miao in quick succession.
Once Liang Dong finished taking the pictures, Xu Miao took off the scarf. While folding it up, he said to Liang Dong, “Send me one of the pictures too.”
Liang Dong grunted in agreement. Xu Miao saved the photo and cropped out his face and most of his body.
[ATM]: Are you mad?
[ATM]: Don’t be mad, okay?
[ATM]: I was just joking.
[ATM]: It’s been thirty-five minutes. Are you really busy, or just ignoring me?
[ATM]: I’m gonna hold my breath until you reply.
[ATM]: Murderer.
[ATM]: [holding_breath.jpg]
When Xu Miao opened the chat window, this long string of messages greeted him. He chuckled softly and sent over the photo he’d just edited.
[XM]: [image]
[ATM]: !!!
[ATM]: What did I just see!!!
[XM]: You saw my scarf.
[ATM]: You’re unbelievable.
[ATM]: You think I don’t know it’s a scarf?
[ATM]: You’re always like this—first ignoring me, then suddenly being all warm and sweet, and I still can’t bring myself to be mad.
[XM]: When did I ignore you?
[ATM]: Just now! I said I wanted to hug you and you said you were busy. I didn’t even get to hug you—not even a pretend one over text!
[XM]: I was on my way back just now. It was freezing. My fingers almost froze while I was replying to you.
[ATM]: Oh, I see…
[ATM]: I can’t help it, I’m just the type to overthink.
[ATM]: I already told you I’m made of glass—it’s not a lie.
[ATM]: But it’s okay. I’ll piece myself back together soon.
[XM]: So strong.
[ATM]: You’re making fun of me again.
[XM]: I’m not. I’m complimenting you.
[ATM]: Compliments aren’t enough—you have to give me a reward too.
[XM]: Want a call?
Xu Miao put his coat back on and stepped out onto the balcony. Before the ATM could reply, he was already dialing the call.
–
A sudden voice call popped up on Xie Ge’s phone, startling him while he was furiously typing. He nearly rolled off the sofa.
Even though it wasn’t the first time he’d had a voice call with Xu Miao, he was still so nervous his hands trembled. He wanted to take a deep breath and calm down before answering, but he was afraid Xu Miao would hang up if he took too long, so he hurriedly accepted the call in a panic.
His emotions were too turbulent to settle. Xie Ge opened his mouth several times but couldn’t get any words out. Xu Miao didn’t speak either—the earpiece was so quiet that, if not for the occasional sound of breathing, Xie Ge would’ve thought Xu Miao had already hung up.
“I’m so nervous,” Xie Ge said. “What do I do? I don’t know what to say. I clearly prepared so many interesting things to talk to you about, but now I can’t remember a single word. Help.”
Xu Miao chuckled softly. “It’s okay. Honestly, I don’t really know what to say either. I just suddenly really wanted to hear your voice. Just say whatever comes to mind.”
“I like you. I really, really like you,” Xie Ge said.
He lifted his hand to rub at his slightly flushed earlobes and mumbled shyly, “That’s all I can think of. I don’t even know why I like you so much. I just… really like you.”
“Sometimes I think it’s strange too. We’ve never even met in person, and I don’t fully understand you. But I still like you so much. Maybe it’s because you treat me so, so well,” Xie Ge added.
Xu Miao was silent for a moment before replying, “What if I’m just lying to you? What if I’m only being nice so I can get better things from you?”
Xie Ge didn’t mind. “Then you can keep lying to me. I’m not afraid of being tricked by you. Whatever you want—if I have it, I’ll give it to you.”
Xu Miao felt like a little deer had leapt into his chest, his heart thudding wildly. The sound of it echoed like thunder, nearly deafening him. Whether it was real or not, at that moment, he wanted to believe it was genuine.
Xu Miao forgot—that the moment you start trusting someone is the moment you begin being completely deceived. Every one of his past partners had been fooled by him in exactly the same way.
Now he had forgotten… so he, too, began to be deceived.
