This chapter is 5x longer than usual. Enjoy ~
Extra 27: Childhood Sweetheart If Line 7
Xie Yunzhao had originally planned to take Xie Chaoyan to play abroad for at least half a month.
Unexpectedly, after only a week, Xie Chaoyan became distracted, restless, and preoccupied.
Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought he was forced to come along.
After Xie Yunzhao noticed, she asked him if something was on his mind.
He hesitated for a long while, finally made up his mind, and asked, “Mom, can I go back home early?”
When asked why, he mumbled and couldn’t explain clearly.
Xie Yunzhao had brought him along so he could have fun, and seeing him unhappy, she reluctantly agreed despite her helplessness.
The plane landed at Jiangcheng International Airport.
As soon as they got home, Xie Chaoyan rushed to his bedroom and rummaged through everything.
This was the first time Xie Yunzhao had seen her usually composed son act so unsteadily. She couldn’t help but walk to the bedroom doorway, lean against the door, and curiously ask, “What are you looking for?”
Xie Chaoyan found the new clothes he had recently bought and several pairs of shoes. After comparing them, he realized their soles were all about the same thickness.
They wouldn’t add much to his height.
So, he looked up with a rare childlike expression on his face and pleaded with Xie Yunzhao, “Mom, can you buy me height-increasing shoes?”
Nannan had told him that the new older brother was taller than him.
Xie Yunzhao was surprised and said, “Why do you suddenly want height-increasing shoes? Children’s bones aren’t fully developed yet; wearing height-increasing shoes isn’t good and will affect your development.”
Then she added, amused but comforting, “Besides, you’re not short. You’re taller than kids your age, and you’re still growing.”
As soon as Xie Chaoyan heard it would affect his growth, he immediately abandoned the idea of “cheating” and had to find other ways to compensate.
The next day, after breakfast, Xie Chaoyan had the family driver take him to the hospital.
He was dressed exceptionally formally today and checked himself in the mirror several times, feeling quite good about his appearance. His mother, however, covered her mouth to stifle a laugh when she saw him, secretly calling Aunt Lin to say he looked like a “strutting peacock” today.
Xie Chaoyan had seen peacocks at the zoo and didn’t think he resembled that kind of green bird, though… peacocks were indeed quite beautiful.
Arriving at the hospital, he stepped out of the car with a serious expression, wearing his small leather shoes.
Just as he reached the floor where Ye Rongxu’s ward was, he saw the ward door open and a young man, about sixteen or seventeen, walk out.
As the door opened, Xie Chaoyan quickly glanced into the ward and saw no one else besides Ye Rongxu and the caregiver.
It seemed the new older brother wasn’t there.
He let out a sigh of relief, then frowned slightly. After thinking for a moment, he asked the teenager who had just walked out, “Hello, do you know Ji Qingyu? Is he not in the ward today?”
The young man had a slender figure and was wearing a school uniform that had been washed until it turned white. He was taken aback by the words and looked at the cold and cool child in front of him, hesitating, “I am Ji Qingyu. Do you know me?”
Xie Chaoyan froze. The new older brother… was this old? He looked up slightly and estimated that the boy was indeed taller than him, much taller—a difference that couldn’t be made up with height-increasing shoes. But it didn’t matter; his mother said he was still growing. He secretly encouraged himself and asked, “You, excuse me, what grade are you in?”
Ji Qingyu found this child very strange, but since he was on this floor and knew his name, he must have known Aunt Lin Xue. Thinking this, he smiled and gently looked at the other party, saying, “First year of high school.”
First year of high school? Xie Chaoyan froze again. He was… eight years ahead of him in school? No wonder he knew more. He lost again. The kind of loss that was hard to overcome.
At least from the perspective of an eight-year-old, the gap between second grade and the first year of high school was enormous, like a chasm, impossible to cross.
Xie Chaoyan’s face became heavy, and he was uncharacteristically dejected, pushing open the ward door weakly. Ji Qingyu next to him found it a bit strange; he felt like… he had somehow unintentionally hurt this little boy’s feelings.
Ye Rongxu was very happy to see Xie Chaoyan, chattering incessantly and eagerly introducing his new older brother to him.
In his heart, he wanted to share all good things and playmates with his brother.
Xie Chaoyan then learned that Ji Qingyu was a student sponsored by Aunt Lin Xue. Because his father was seriously ill and his family was struggling, Ji Qingyu almost couldn’t go to school. Aunt Lin simply brought his father to Jiangcheng for treatment and helped him transfer to a school in Jiangcheng.
Since school hadn’t started yet, Ji Qingyu had been staying at the hospital every day to take care of his father. To thank Lin Xue for her help, he often visited Ye Rongxu’s ward to tutor him and help him with his homework.
After listening to his story, Xie Chaoyan admired him greatly, but hearing Ye Rongxu constantly praise him made him feel a bit uncomfortable for no apparent reason.
In reality, Ye Rongxu couldn’t possibly say things like “poor but ambitious, resilient, and unyielding.” It was simply that Lin Xue and Ye Boxuan admired Ji Qingyu and had praised him in front of Ye Rongxu, and he was merely imitating them. But Xie Chaoyan didn’t know this; he heard Ye Rongxu’s praises for the new older brother, and he was unhappy all afternoon, like a defeated peacock.
When they stayed overnight together, he couldn’t help but hug the soft little sticky riceball in his arms tightly and murmured, “Nannan, I actually… was also poor and resilient.”
Ye Rongxu: “Huh?”
His tone was a bit confused. Why suddenly say that?
“That was when I was little.” Xie Chaoyan added.
Upon hearing this, Ye Rongxu remembered the hardships his brother experienced when he was little. He quickly acted like a little adult, stroked his forehead, and softly said, “Brother, don’t be afraid. You won’t suffer anymore in the future.” All those bitter milks were drunk by him.
Xie Chaoyan felt a little warmth in his heart and continued, “Nannan, I’ll still grow taller.”
Ye Rongxu: “Hmm?”
Why suddenly talk about growing taller?
Xie Chaoyan: “I’ll also study hard and try to know more than Brother Qingyu.”
Ye Rongxu’s eyes became even more bewildered.
“So, will you still let me be the only brother in your heart?” Xie Chaoyan said in the darkness.
Ye Rongxu was puzzled and said, “You already are the only brother in my heart.”
Xie Chaoyan suddenly opened his eyes wide, which seemed to glow in the darkness, and asked for another confirmation, “Really?”
Ye Rongxu “mm-hm’d” and nodded vigorously.
Xie Chaoyan immediately hugged him tightly, his small chest filled with joy. But after a while, he felt something was wrong and said dejectedly, “You call Brother Qingyu ‘Brother’ too, so isn’t he also your brother?” He even seemed to be surpassing him, the original brother.
Ye Rongxu “uh’d” and realized that was true.
But after thinking for a moment, he earnestly explained, “I call him Brother Qingyu, but I call you ‘Brother,’ so Brother Qingyu is Brother Qingyu, and Brother is Brother, and Brother is the only Brother…”
He tried hard to explain, but the more he spoke, the more it sounded like a tongue twister.
Xie Chaoyan felt he was talking nonsense, yet also felt his little brother was good at saying sweet things. Regardless, he was happy inside because his brother specifically explained to him, at least meaning he was still the most important brother.
Ye Rongxu explained earnestly for a long time, eventually confusing himself and falling asleep first. He wouldn’t have known that this incident would prompt Xie Chaoyan to start studying diligently, pushing his already good grades even higher, making him an “overachiever” who started to work incredibly hard from elementary school onwards.
Not only that, but Xie Chaoyan also started drinking milk, insisting on a bottle every day, and even got Ye Rongxu to drink it with him.
Ye Rongxu was required by Lin Xue to drink a bottle at home every day, and then at school, his brother would give him another bottle, making his little eyes look mournful.
Xie Chaoyan would rub his head and comfort him. “Drink more, you’ll grow taller.”
Ye Rongxu was confused and asked in a milky voice, “Really?”
Later, Ye Rongxu didn’t know if drinking milk was useful; he felt he grew at a normal pace. But Xie Chaoyan, in his fifth and sixth grade years, indeed grew rapidly like bamboo shoots, shooting up in height.
Before he knew it, when Ye Rongxu walked side by side with him after school and turned to talk to him, he found he actually had to tilt his neck slightly to see his face.
He wasn’t happy because he also drank milk every day.
But thinking that such a tall Xie Chaoyan was his brother, he felt very happy again.
Ye Rongxu curled his lips and pulled Xie Chaoyan’s hand, saying, “Brother, let’s stay at my house today. Dad bought me a new game.” Xie Chaoyan carried his schoolbag, “Mm-hm’d,” and nodded coolly.
During the transition from primary to junior high, some things happened in the Xie family, and Xie Chaoyan was fostered at the Ye family by Xie Yunzhao during that time. Ye Rongxu wasn’t clear about what exactly happened, but he was very happy to be with his brother every day, eating, living, and studying together.
After the entrance exam, Xie Chaoyan was picked up by Xie Yunzhao, but they didn’t return to their previous residence; instead, they went back to the Xie family’s old ancestral home.
Ye Rongxu later vaguely heard his parents say that Xie Chaoyan’s maternal uncle—Aunt Zhao’s brother, Xie Yunming—was forcibly sent abroad by the two elders of the Xie family for treatment during that period.
No one knew what illness he had, but now the heavy burden of the Xie family company fell on Aunt Zhao. Aunt Zhao was previously just a vice president of the group, and her work wasn’t particularly busy, but in the future, she will become busy and may not have time to frequently pick up and drop off Xie Chaoyan from school.
However, Ye Rongxu’s mother, Lin Xue, worked in jewelry design and was already a well-known designer with flexible working hours, so she could pick up and drop off both of them daily. If Ye Boxuan left work early, he could also pick them up.
Actually, when they reached junior high age, they could have simply been picked up by the family driver. But Lin Xue was concerned about Ye Rongxu’s health and insisted on picking them up herself. Since she was picking up Ye Rongxu, there was no reason not to pick up Xie Chaoyan, and after entering junior high, they remained in the same class and sat at the same desk.
This situation continued until high school. In the second semester of the first year of high school, classes were divided: Xie Chaoyan chose science, and Ye Rongxu chose art. Towards the end of the second semester of the second year of high school, Ye Rongxu took a two-month leave of absence to go to M country for surgery.
Since they met as children, they hadn’t been separated for so long.
Xie Chaoyan went to the airport to see Ye Rongxu off, his eyes slightly red. Ye Rongxu’s voice also choked up as he reminded his brother Xiao Yan to definitely visit him in M country if he had time.
Seeing them like a young couple being forcibly separated, Lin Xue and Xie Yunzhao shook their heads helplessly. They both remembered when the two were children and had to “separate” because Xie Chaoyan was going to kindergarten. While touched, they also shook their heads in amusement.
“So many years have passed, and they really haven’t changed at all, still like little kids,” Xie Yunzhao sighed.
“Indeed,” Lin Xue said, looking at her friend through her sunglasses and teasing, “Vice President Xie has become the decisive President Xie.”
Xie Yunzhao turned her head and gave her friend a reproachful look.
Lin Xue quickly waved her hand, indicating she wouldn’t joke anymore, and then asked, “I heard that Uncle Xie wants Xiao Yan to intern at the group?”
Seeing Xie Yunzhao actually nod, she couldn’t help but be surprised: “So early? He’s only in his third year of high school next semester, right?”
“My dad wants him to come to the company during the winter break,” Xie Yunzhao sighed. “He doesn’t have to do anything, just follow me around, observe, and learn. I asked him, and he’s willing.”
Lin Xue was still surprised. “Is there a need to rush? Xiao Yan is still a student.”
Xie Yunzhao looked helpless. “My dad heard a while ago that the Qin family elders were thinking of having Xiao Yan inherit their side, and he got really anxious, afraid that someone would snatch his grandson.”
“Ah, I see.” Lin Xue nodded in understanding, “Then he has a reason to be anxious.”
However, after thinking for a moment, she asked, “No tutoring during the summer break?”
Xie Yunzhao shook her head. “Recently, they’ve reduced the burden, so no tutoring. If we do, it’ll be reported to the Education Bureau.”
“Doesn’t Xiao Yan have his own study plan for the holidays?” Lin Xue asked again.
Her Nannan, oh no, Xuxu, even when Xuxu had to undergo surgery, he still had a study plan.
Speaking of which, this kid hasn’t let them call him by his nickname since he started junior high. That’s really not cute.
Xie Yunzhao hesitated, “I haven’t heard Xiao Yan mention it. He specially hired a tutor to finish the high school curriculum, planning to review it next semester. He probably doesn’t have a study plan for the holidays. It seems he has some other important matter during the summer.”
As for what important matter, she hadn’t heard Xie Chaoyan mention it.
Lin Xue couldn’t help but exclaim, “Your son is truly an ‘overachiever.’ Even a top student like Qingyu admires him.”
The two mothers sat in the waiting area, chatting for a while. They looked up at their sons not far away, then calmly continued their conversation.
It was almost half an hour later when the two good friends, reluctant to part, finally said their goodbyes and separated.
Lin Xue put on her sunglasses and sighed, “Yun Zhao, is our friendship of so many years too fake? We’ve never had such a dramatic parting.”
Xie Yunzhao smiled and didn’t respond.
Lin Xue shook her head, took Ye Boxuan’s hand beside her, and walked over with him to accompany their son through security.
—
A month after Ye Rongxu left, Jiangcheng No. 1 High School officially started its holiday.
Xie Yunzhao finally understood what Xie Chaoyan’s “important matter” was.
After the holiday, as soon as he had free time, he flew to M country to see Ye Rongxu. Wasn’t that an important matter?
—
Four months later.
The wings flew across the long sky, and Jiangcheng International Airport was bustling with pedestrians shuttling back and forth.
Jiangcheng No. 1 High School, half a city away, was equally lively and busy in its newly built gymnasium.
On the basketball court, agile figures exuded youthful vigor, and enthusiastic cheers erupted constantly throughout the venue.
To allow students a breather from their heavy studies and to relax a little, the school recently organized a basketball game, with senior classes participating.
The most enthusiastic cheers at this moment were for the game between Senior Class (3) and Senior Class (17). Xie Chaoyan, wearing a white jersey, stared intently at the player blocking him. Suddenly, he swiftly dodged, dribbled, ran, and jumped.
His well-defined muscles were covered in a layer of sweat, taut but not overly exaggerated. Instead, his long limbs made him appear lean and powerful, exuding a sense of strength.
As the basketball arced gracefully through the air and accurately fell into the hoop, another round of enthusiastic shouts erupted from the stands.
A slender figure entered the stadium at some point. He wore a white T-shirt and black trousers, a mask covering his face, revealing a pair of clear, dark eyes. He stared at the figure on the basketball court, the focus of everyone’s attention. After watching for a while, a faint smile seemed to appear in his eyes.
For a moment, he walked through the crowd and found a rare empty spot in the front row. After sitting down and looking for a while, he suddenly took out his tablet and stylus, writing and drawing on the screen, and occasionally looked up at the person playing basketball.
The excited voices of a few students watching the game next to him intermittently drifted over:
“Xie Chaoyan is so handsome! Ahhh! Too bad his teammates aren’t strong enough. And this game is against Class 17 again, so the score gap is still widening.”
“No choice, Class 17 has a lot of sports students; they’re strong. If Class 3 was willing to borrow players from other classes, they might have a chance to overtake in the second half.”
“Is that so? I don’t really understand, but Xie Chaoyan and Xie Yu are both so handsome! They even look a bit alike. Are they family?”
“I heard they’re cousins.”
Ye Rongxu sat on the plastic seat in the stadium, sketching Xie Chaoyan’s figure on his tablet with just a few strokes.
Hearing the conversation, he looked up at the court again, searching carefully for a moment before realizing Xie Yu was also on the court.
Strange, the other person had bright golden hair, which should be very noticeable. But when he came in just now, why hadn’t he noticed him, and instead, his eyes had immediately gone to Xie Chaoyan?
Ye Rongxu stopped sketching. He rested the stylus against his chin through his mask and pondered for a moment, concluding that it must be because Xie Chaoyan’s aura was too strong.
No choice, Brother Xiao Yan is just that dazzling.
He secretly shook his head and continued sketching on the tablet.
The student next to him, seeing that he wasn’t really watching the game but rather looking down at his tablet, couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times.
Upon closer inspection, he realized that the classmate who had just sat down was completely bundled up: long pants, T-shirt, mask, and baseball cap. If it weren’t for the hot weather, he suspected the person might not even show their arms.
However, the person’s skin was very fair; the exposed parts were like jade, and their wrist bones were slender and beautiful, fingers fair and long, like works of art.
In such a lively venue, he was like a cool, jade-carved statue, radiating a sense of coolness. This coolness wasn’t aloofness but rather a refreshing and clean aura.
The student next to him secretly stole a few more glances. Perhaps because his arms were too slender and fair, coupled with the baseball cap and mask obscuring his face and his backpack blocking his front, the person next to him momentarily couldn’t tell if he was a boy or a girl.
His companion quickly noticed his distraction and suddenly hooked his arm around his neck, laughing, “Hey, what are you looking at? Any pretty girls? You’re not even watching the game.”
The boy whose neck was hooked suddenly blushed, stammering.
His companion noticed and followed his gaze, also freezing for a moment. Soon after, the two huddled together, whispering.
“Might be from the art class… haven’t seen him before, probably from Class 9? I heard Class 9 has the most handsome guys and pretty girls, and a new art student came today who’s especially good-looking. A Class 9 classmate I know said so in the group chat.”
“Class 9? Isn’t their game not over here?”
“What does that matter? Look at how many spectators we have here compared to other courts? It’s not just people from our class watching; many younger students came to witness the ‘God Xie’s’ aura.”
Saying this, he couldn’t help but praise him excitedly, like a fanboy: “Xie Chaoyan is truly amazing. He’s great at studying, good at basketball, and I heard his family is super rich.”
“It’s just that he’s rather aloof and not easy to approach.”
“Ah, yes, but that’s not a disadvantage; it seems that everyone actually prefers it. So, which window did God close for him?” The companion wailed. Upon hearing this, Ye Rongxu’s lips slightly curled up under his mask.
Seeing that it was almost halftime, he suddenly stood up, took a bottle of water from his bag, and walked towards Xie Chaoyan’s rest area.
There was water in the rest area, enough for all the players, but it didn’t stop some enthusiastic fans from bringing more.
On Class 3’s side, Xie Chaoyan probably received the most water. But as the two classmates just said, he was very aloof and never accepted any.
Seeing Ye Rongxu suddenly stand up and walk over with water, the two guessed he was also going to give water to Xie Chaoyan and quickly called out, “Hey, classmate, wait!”
Ye Rongxu turned half-sideways. At this moment, he didn’t have his backpack in front of him; his tall and slender figure was revealed.
The boy who called out to him froze, then suddenly stammered, coughing after a long pause, “N-nothing, I mistook you for someone else.”
He mumbled a random excuse, feeling extremely embarrassed inside.
So it was a boy. Good thing he hadn’t spoken up; that would have been too humiliating.
His companion then hooked his neck again and asked, “Hey, what are you thinking?”
“N-nothing.” He quickly shook his head, his gaze returning to see the slender figure already nearing Class 3’s rest area.
—
When the halftime whistle blew, Xie Yu abruptly lifted his jersey and vigorously wiped the sweat from his face. Then, he put his hand on Xie Chaoyan’s shoulder, panting, “Damn, this game is so frustrating. Those few sports students on the other side are too strong.”
Xie Chaoyan disdainfully slapped his hand away and walked to the rest area to grab a towel and wipe his sweat.
Xie Yu “tsk”-ed, saying, “Playing basketball, you have to lift your jersey to wipe sweat; it’s more satisfying. You’re too particular, too reserved.”
Xie Chaoyan gave him a faint glance, not speaking. Even though his face was covered in sweat, flushed from the intense exercise, he still gave off a cold aura.
Xie Yu continued to shake his head. Suddenly, thinking of something, he leaned closer to him, grinning suggestively, “Could it be that you don’t want to lift your jersey and show your abs? Why are you so virtuous, only letting your Xuxu see?”
Ye Rongxu might have inherited Lin Xue’s talent; he loved drawing since childhood. In elementary school, Lin Xue even hired a professional art teacher for him.
Xie Yu knew that when Ye Rongxu learned figure drawing, Xie Chaoyan had modeled for him, so he deliberately teased him about it.
But just after teasing, he received a cold glare from Xie Chaoyan and quickly changed the subject: “Oh, right, I heard a new student joined our senior art class, and they’re really good-looking.”
Xie Chaoyan withdrew his gaze, his tone flat: “You know a lot.”
Xie Yu said guiltily, “Haha, well… I have a wide circle of friends, and I’m familiar with every class in our grade. Speaking of which, Xuxu also studies art, and I heard he’s coming back soon. Aunt Lin plans for him to go straight to senior year when he returns. Do you think that new student could be him?”
After speaking, he subconsciously looked around, as if searching for someone.
“No,” Xie Chaoyan didn’t pay attention to him, calmly denying it.
He had just been to the US last week. If Ye Rongxu were to return, he would definitely tell him.
Xie Yu coughed lightly, “You never know.”
Xie Chaoyan couldn’t be bothered with him. Ignoring the enthusiastic students in the stands offering water, he walked towards the water station in the rest area.
Just as he bent down, before he could even pick up a bottle from the stack of mineral water, a bottle of visibly more expensive water was handed to him.
Xie Chaoyan seemed not to notice, continuing to bend down and politely refusing, “Thanks, no need.”
He had always been unsmiling. When Ye Rongxu was still in school, the two of them would go together wherever they went, which was more normal. After Ye Rongxu went to seek medical treatment, he was alone and did not make new friends. His personality was even more solitary, appearing cold and distant from others.
Such a person, from afar, seems aloof and cool. But when approached, he can make people a little afraid of him.
So when he refused water from others, they were usually deterred by his coldness.
However, this time was an exception. The bottle of water remained in front of him, even moving down a few inches as he bent.
Xie Chaoyan’s eyes were calm. Just as he was about to refuse again, he suddenly saw the hand holding the mineral water—long and beautiful, with clearly defined knuckles, and… exceptionally familiar.
His heartbeat suddenly lost its rhythm, and an unbelievable thought surfaced in his mind.
He abruptly looked up, his gaze meeting a pair of clear eyes filled with a mischievous smile. His usually calm face finally couldn’t hide his astonishment.
Ye Rongxu held the water, watching him for a long time. Seeing that he still hadn’t taken it, he gradually felt guilty.
Could he be angry? He hadn’t told him he was back in the country, but… wasn’t he trying to give him a surprise?
He saw the shock on Xie Chaoyan’s face fade, replaced by a tense expression, as if he was gritting his teeth.
He finally couldn’t hide his guilt, pulled down his mask, and lightly coughed, “What’s wrong? You’re not happy to see me?”
Then he whispered, pretending to complain, “I’ve been holding the water bottle for a long time; my arm’s getting sore.”
Xie Chaoyan glanced at him, quickly took the water, twisted open the cap, but before drinking, he suddenly twisted it back on, placed the water aside, and first pulled Ye Rongxu’s arm. He pressed and kneaded his fingers on the slightly cool skin, asking, “Really sore?”
His expression also shifted from tense to helpless.
Seeing this, Ye Rongxu knew he wasn’t angry anymore and immediately smiled broadly, “Not very sore. Hurry and drink your water; resting time is almost over.”
Xie Chaoyan had just played basketball, and his body was radiating heat, as were his palms and fingers. But the skin under his pressing fingers was cool and smooth, like fine jade.
Just holding it like this, he didn’t know if he was massaging Ye Rongxu or just didn’t want to let go.
After Ye Rongxu finished speaking, he withdrew his arm and helped him take back the water.
The coolness on his fingertips slipped away, quickly replaced by the equally cool mineral water.
Xie Chaoyan’s fingers caressed the bottle, feeling… the touch was far inferior.
“Don’t leave yet. Wait until after the game, and we’ll go eat together. Actually, will it be too stuffy in the stadium? Or maybe you should wait outside first.” He carefully instructed Ye Rongxu, just like when they were kids.
Ye Rongxu shook his head, “I’m not as afraid of stuffiness now. Am I not wearing a mask?”
Then he urged him, “Drink quickly; you’re about to go on the court.”
Xie Chaoyan finally shifted his gaze from him, but as he drank, his peripheral vision unconsciously fell on him again, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the action of swallowing water.
The second half of the basketball game began. Class 3, which had previously fallen behind, suddenly turned the tide and launched a fierce offense.
Class 3’s students couldn’t help but cheer excitedly, with several voices mixed in—
“Holy crap! Holy crap! Xie Chaoyan is too fierce! Is he on drugs? Why is he suddenly playing so hard?”
“Of course, he played really well in the first half too, but in the second half, he’s just playing like his life depends on it!”
“He seems to be constantly looking towards the rest area. Is he looking at someone?”
“Damn! Could it be his girlfriend is here, and he has to perform well?” someone joked.
“Does God Xie have a girlfriend?”
“I don’t know, I was just saying, haha. But with this intensity of playing, if it’s not a girlfriend, then he must be injected with chicken blood.”
The boy who was previously sitting next to Ye Rongxu also glanced at the rest area and thought to himself: It’s unclear if God Xie has a girlfriend, but… there was a boy who gave God Xie water.
The key is, God Xie even took it, took it!
Although that boy… was incredibly beautiful.
Perhaps influenced by Xie Chaoyan, in the second half, every student from Class 3 seemed to be injected with chicken blood as well. When the final whistle blew, they actually won by a narrow margin.
A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted on the court. Ye Rongxu put down his phone, which had been recording, and looked up at the court.
As if by telepathy, Xie Chaoyan also looked up in his direction. Their gazes met for a moment, and Ye Rongxu chuckled, waving at him.
Xie Chaoyan couldn’t help but curve his lips, also breaking into a smile.
His teammates instantly looked like they’d discovered a new continent:
“Wow, I’m not seeing things, am I? God Xie actually smiled, and he’s smiling at me?”
Xie Chaoyan reined in his smile and looked at the teammate blocking him, his thin lips parting to utter two words: “Get lost.”
His teammates: “Holy crap, God Xie has descended to earth.”
“God Xie can actually joke?”
“God Xie has become a living person.”
“I thought that ever since your little childhood sweetheart went abroad, you’d become a monk, devoid of desires, haha.”
Even though Xie Chaoyan was usually aloof, a few classmates who had known him since junior high weren’t afraid of him and even dared to joke with him.
Xie Chaoyan gave a fleeting glance to the person who said “little childhood sweetheart.” The other person quickly corrected himself: “Hey, hey, my bad, it’s little childhood friend, childhood friend.”
“Speaking of which, when is Ye Rongxu finally coming back to China?” Someone familiar with the two of them asked curiously, “He’s been abroad for four months, hasn’t he?”
Xie Yu, hearing them talk about these things, had long since slipped away to the side and didn’t dare to participate.
The reason was simple: Ye Rongxu had informed him in advance about his early return to the country.
However, this wasn’t because he was more important to Ye Rongxu than Xie Chaoyan. Rather, Ye Rongxu wanted to surprise Xie Chaoyan and needed his help to act as a spy, telling him Xie Chaoyan’s whereabouts.
Originally, he was doing a good deed, but given Xie Chaoyan’s petty nature when it came to anything involving Ye Rongxu, he’d probably get a lot of icy glares once he found out.
Maybe the other party had already guessed; after all, his acting wasn’t that great.
The more Xie Yu thought about this, the more guilty he felt, and he quickly moved further to the side.
Sure enough, Xie Chaoyan suddenly turned and glanced at him.
Xie Yu immediately turned and slipped away, not even daring to eat dinner with them—originally, Ye Rongxu had said everyone would have dinner together tonight.
Fortunately, he was sensible. On Ye Rongxu’s first night back in the country, Xie Chaoyan indeed only wanted to eat with Ye Rongxu, not wanting anyone else to disturb them.
However, besides Xie Yu, Ye Rongxu had also invited his cousin. His aunt divorced last year, and his cousin didn’t want to keep the surname of her cheating biological father, so she had changed it to her aunt’s surname and is now named Lin Jiaojiao.
Cao Yuxuan had been studying in another city for the past two years due to his parents’ work transfer. So, only the four of them could make it to the dinner.
Just as Ye Rongxu arrived at the private room, he received a message from Xie Yu, who said he’d run into Lin Jiaojiao spraining her ankle on the way and couldn’t make it for now. He was taking her to the infirmary and told Ye Rongxu and Xie Chaoyan to eat first.
Ye Rongxu was about to reply “okay” and ask about his cousin’s condition when he saw Lin Jiaojiao also message him, saying she’d run into Xie Yu spraining his ankle playing basketball on the way. She was being kind and taking him to the infirmary and couldn’t make it for now, telling them to eat first.
Ye Rongxu’s face darkened. He directly `@` both of them in the group chat, asking: “Whose ankle is sprained, exactly?”
Lin Jiaojiao: “Xie Yu!”
Xie Yu: “Lin Jiaojiao!”
Ye Rongxu: “…”
Inside the private room, Xie Chaoyan also picked up his phone, frowned after reading the messages, and replied in the group: “Since both of you sprained your ankles, then get some good rest.”
If possible, he would have loved to bold and underline the word “both.”
Couldn’t they have coordinated their stories beforehand?
Xie Chaoyan was speechless. After replying, he looked up, his gaze directly meeting Ye Rongxu’s inquisitive eyes.
Xie Chaoyan: “…”
He was uncharacteristically awkward, gave a light cough, and explained, “It seems both of their ankles are sprained.”
Ye Rongxu: “…” Did Brother Xiao Yan think he was as easy to fool as when he was little?
However, Xie Chaoyan also had his own little trick. Seeing him feign unhappiness, he suddenly lowered his voice, “Xuxu is estranged from me now.”
Ye Rongxu: “Uh.” He suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Xie Chaoyan continued despondently, “Xuxu came back to the country this time, told Xie Yu, but didn’t tell me. Am I not as important as Xie Yu? Are you closer to Xie Yu now…”
Ye Rongxu: Help! Why does he sound like such a fake green tea?
Ye Rongxu quickly comforted his Brother Xiao Yan, “No, no, I really wanted to surprise you. If Xie Yu wasn’t in the same class as you and could constantly help me confirm where you were, I definitely wouldn’t have told him first.”
Xie Chaoyan’s mood seemed to improve, his lips curving slightly. “So Xuxu misses me so much and always wants to know where I am.”
The little sticky riceball had grown up, but he was still easy to coax.
Ye Rongxu: “…Uh.”
“Let’s eat first,” Xie Chaoyan said, his voice unusually gentle.
He helped Ye Rongxu with his chopsticks and diligently served him dishes, completely devoid of the aloofness he showed in front of his classmates.
After the basketball game, the lively atmosphere faded, and the campus gradually returned to its usual calm. Students also plunged into their busy studies.
Xie Chaoyan was in his final year of high school this year, so Xie Yunzhao bought him a three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment near the school for his morning and evening self-study sessions.
Although Ye Rongxu had been away for four months, two of those months were holidays. Plus, he had tutors helping him catch up on weekends so he could keep up after returning to senior year.
However, his body hadn’t fully recovered from the surgery and wasn’t suitable for dormitory living. Furthermore, the Ye family villa wasn’t close to the school. At Xie Yunzhao’s suggestion, he simply moved into the off-campus apartment with Xie Chaoyan.
Thus, as soon as Ye Rongxu returned to the country, the two of them reverted to their primary and junior high school days: classes, meals, going home… They did everything together, like conjoined twins.
Xie Chaoyan had always regretted that Ye Rongxu was no longer in the same class or at the same desk as him.
Growing up, his biggest worry was not being able to be with Xuxu all the time anymore.
Not just now, but also in college… hmm, he seemed to have forgotten to ask Xuxu what university he wanted to attend.
Thinking this, Xie Chaoyan emerged from the bathroom, dressed in gray cotton pajamas. Tall and lean, he carried a pillow with a cool demeanor… and knocked on the door of the room next door.
Ye Rongxu quickly opened the door, also wearing gray cotton pajamas that seemed to be the same style as Xie Chaoyan’s.
Ye Rongxu wasn’t quite sure; he had just moved in, and many of his things hadn’t arrived yet, so the pajamas were all prepared by Xie Chaoyan.
He had also just showered; his hair was still wet and dripping, his cheeks were flushed from the steam, and his eyes looked as if they had been washed, clear and slightly bright.
“Brother Yan, is something wrong?” he asked curiously.
“Call me ‘Brother (gege)’,” Xie Chaoyan immediately corrected, thinking to himself: Aunt Lin was right, the little sticky riceball isn’t as cute as he was when he was little.
Of course, most of the time, Xie Chaoyan still found him very cute, but occasionally… it would be even better if he didn’t call him “Brother Yan (Yan ge)” but instead called him “Brother (gege)” or “Brother Xiao Yan (Xiao Yan gege)” like he used to.
Ye Rongxu absolutely did not want to use such embarrassing terms. “Brother” was fine, but “Brother Xiao Yan” was just… too dramatic!
While he was lost in thought, Xie Chaoyan had already entered the bedroom, placed the pillow he was carrying on the bed, and quickly went to grab a towel. He soon returned and placed the towel on Ye Rongxu’s head, gently rubbing it.
“You should wipe and dry your hair promptly after showering, or you might catch a cold or get a headache,” he lectured meticulously, yet his movements were exceptionally gentle.
After drying, he pulled the person who was still standing at the door to the sofa in the bedroom, picked up the hair dryer, plugged it in, and patiently helped him blow-dry his hair.
Ye Rongxu, warmed by the gentle breeze and with Xie Chaoyan’s strong fingers running through his hair, massaging his scalp, narrowed his eyes comfortably, like a well-petted kitten.
After his hair was dry, Xie Chaoyan put away the hairdryer and, with practiced ease, scooped him onto the bed. After all, he had often taken care of Ye Rongxu like this when they were little, so he was already used to it.
Ye Rongxu was almost asleep. After being picked up, he suddenly opened his eyes, watched him for a while, then yawned and asked, “Brother Yan, are you sleeping here tonight?”
“Yes,” Xie Chaoyan said matter-of-factly. “Didn’t we often sleep together before?”
When they were little, they either ate and lived together in the hospital or at the Ye family’s house. This continued until junior high, so they were indeed long accustomed to it.
Ye Rongxu didn’t feel anything was wrong. After being placed on the bed, he instinctively leaned towards the other person, seeking a source of warmth, just like when he was little.
Having flown for most of the day, he was already tired. As soon as his head touched the pillow, he closed his eyes.
Xie Chaoyan, however, wasn’t sleepy. After turning off the lights, he looked at the dark room, pondered for a long time, and finally couldn’t resist saying, “Xuxu, which university do you want to attend?” There was no answer.
“…Xuxu?” Xie Chaoyan’s voice was hesitant.
The person next to him was softly snoring.
Xie Chaoyan’s face darkened.
Ye Rongxu usually slept very quietly; he was probably too tired today.
Xie Chaoyan sighed helplessly and also closed his eyes.
—
The next day, as soon as Ye Rongxu woke up, before he even had breakfast, Xie Chaoyan quickly asked him, “Xuxu, which university are you going to?”
Last night’s experience told him: if you want to ask, ask. If you want to say, say it. Don’t procrastinate. Otherwise, if you miss the opportunity, you’ll just be staring blankly in the dark.
Ye Rongxu had just finished brushing his teeth. Hearing this, he hummed and said, “I haven’t thought about it yet. What about you?”
Xie Chaoyan: “I haven’t thought about it either, but I want to go to the same one as you.”
“Then let’s go to the same one,” Ye Rongxu said without hesitation, thinking this was a good idea.
However, Brother Xiao Yan had always had good grades since he was little and was a “study king.” To attend the same university as him, he would have to work hard now.
After breakfast, with about ten minutes left until morning self-study, Ye Rongxu took out his tablet, opened his software, and planned to finish up a few unfinished drawings. After that, he would focus on his studies.
Xie Chaoyan tilted his head to look and happened to see the drawing he had sketched at the basketball court. He couldn’t help but smile slightly and ask, “Is this drawing for me?”
Ye Rongxu: “I just sketched it casually.”
Xie Chaoyan: “Then give it to me.”
Ye Rongxu nodded, agreeing somewhat helplessly.
After he started painting, whenever he drew Xie Chaoyan and the other person found out, the drawing would always be taken, even if it was just a sketch or even a discarded draft.
Sigh, his drawings weren’t even that good. He wondered why Brother Xiao Yan collected them.
Ye Rongxu had privately mentioned this to Lin Jiaojiao and Xie Yu.
Xie Yu took a deep breath, almost bursting into tears on the spot, and said, “You just found out?”
Then he couldn’t help but complain, “I’m not saying this to be mean, but Brother has too much possessiveness over you. I know you two grew up together and are as close as brothers, but you’re older now. Yet he’s still like when he was little. When we’re just playing with you and accidentally put an arm around your shoulder or back, the way he looks at us is chilling.”
“Really?” Ye Rongxu hadn’t noticed at all. After thinking for a moment, he even defended Xie Chaoyan: “He didn’t have a good childhood and didn’t have friends. I was his first friend, so it’s understandable that he cares more.”
Xie Yu rolled his eyes helplessly and said, “Just keep spoiling him then.”
Lin Jiaojiao, who had been listening for a while, seemed thoughtful. Finally, she spoke: “You said Brother Yan collects all your drawings, even sketches and discarded drafts. Does he have a collecting fetish?”
Ye Rongxu: “Uh, not all; he just likes to collect the ones where I draw him.”
Lin Jiaojiao nodded, her tone serious: “Collecting your things… sounds a bit hentai[mfn]It was written like this in raw[/mfn].”
“Huh?” Ye Rongxu and Xie Yu were simultaneously shocked.
Ye Rongxu immediately denied, “Impossible, he’s perfectly normal.”
Xie Yu also said, “You’re overthinking it. It’s just collecting some drawings. Besides, they grew up together. Aside from Xuxu’s medicine, what haven’t they shared? Even if he takes some of Xuxu’s belongings, it doesn’t mean anything.”
Ye Rongxu’s face darkened: Underwear hasn’t been shared, thank you.
However, hearing them say this, Lin Jiaojiao smiled mysteriously.
The little girl, usually boisterous, now began to act profound, shaking her head and saying, “Buddha says, ‘It cannot be spoken.'”
Ye Rongxu couldn’t be bothered with the two of them. He picked up his backpack and said, “I’m leaving first.”
Xie Chaoyan was still waiting for him to go back and study together, to help him with his homework.
—
Although Ye Rongxu had previously said he hadn’t decided which university to attend and would go wherever Xie Chaoyan went, in reality, he was an art student. At the end of the first semester of senior year, he had to participate in specialized entrance exams for some art academies.
So, deciding which university to attend wasn’t up to Xie Chaoyan; it was up to him.
Xie Chaoyan had already helped him screen and research. Most good art academies were art schools, and their non-art majors weren’t particularly strong. Conversely, many well-known non-art schools didn’t have strong art programs.
After finding the intersection, there really weren’t many universities suitable for both of them to attend together.
After much deliberation, both of them felt that Jing University in Jing City was the optimal choice. Not only was its art major excellent, but its other majors were even stronger, making it a comprehensive university ranked in the top 3.
But they couldn’t just apply to this one. Ye Rongxu went home to consult Lin Xue and selected several more schools, but these were all art-focused and not suitable for Xie Chaoyan.
Therefore, Ye Rongxu’s greatest hope was still Jing University.
Once decided, Ye Rongxu began to attend exams, carrying his drawing board, according to the admission schedules of these schools.
Xie Chaoyan specially took leave and accompanied him to the exams with Lin Xue and Ye Boxuan, helping him carry his drawing board, comforting him not to be nervous, and saying all the things Ye Boxuan and Lin Xue wanted to say.
Lin Xue and Ye Boxuan exchanged glances, helpless and amused, feeling like they, as parents, had come for nothing.
After the specialized exams and the independent enrollment exams for various universities, Ye Rongxu could finally relax a bit, but not completely, because he had to take the college entrance examination for cultural courses in June.
So, after only a week of relaxation, he plunged back into intense review.
Xie Chaoyan also dedicated a lot of energy to tutoring him.
Seeing them both study so diligently, parents on both sides felt distressed. They changed their food remedies daily, urging them to rest on time.
Lin Xue saw that Ye Rongxu’s chin had become somewhat thin and even wanted to persuade him not to push himself so hard. With their family background, they could hire any famous teacher they wanted, and it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t get into his dream university.
But remembering that her son had said he wanted to attend the same university as Xie Chaoyan, she held back.
Fortunately, their efforts paid off. During the summer vacation after the college entrance examination, Ye Rongxu and Xie Chaoyan received their admission letters from Jing University almost on the same day.
Lin Xue, Ye Boxuan, and Xie Yunzhao were all happy for them, not just because they scored well, but also because their dreams had come true.
The graduation banquet must be held, and it should be a grand one.
Lin Xue and Xie Yunzhao discussed and decided to host it together.
At the banquet, Ye Rongxu and Xie Chaoyan appeared simultaneously in crisp suits. One was as fair as jade, exquisitely noble in his suit, and the other was tall, cool, and handsome.
The suits were custom-made by a designer contacted by Lin Xue and Xie Yunzhao. Since they were from the same designer and custom-made together, with the same materials and similar styles, at first glance, they looked almost like a couple’s outfits.
Guests attending the banquet brightened at the sight of them and couldn’t help but lavish praise on their parents.
Lin Jiaojiao, Xie Yu, and Cao Yuxuan were seated at the children’s table, happily sipping juice.
“Hey, don’t you think their suits look like a couple’s outfits?” Lin Jiaojiao asked the other two at the table after taking a few photos of Ye Rongxu and Xie Chaoyan standing together.
Xie Yu turned to look and said, “What couple’s outfits? Don’t all suits look the same?”
Lin Jiaojiao: “Tsk, you just don’t get it.”
Cao Yuxuan looked closely for a moment, then nodded and said, “They are indeed the same style, and the decorations on the suits are a pair, so they should be…”
Just as he was about to say “brother suits,” Lin Jiaojiao interjected, “Right? The designer my aunt and Aunt Zhao found definitely designed these two suits as a couple’s outfits. When they walk out together in these, tsk tsk, don’t you think this graduation banquet has turned into an engagement party?”
“Pfft–”
“Cough cough–”
Xie Yu and Cao Yuxuan nearly choked on their juice.
Lin Jiaojiao quickly dodged, letting out a disdainful “Eww.”
The two were embarrassed and quickly grabbed tissues to wipe themselves clean.
“What kind of party? I don’t know.” Xie Yu changed the subject, “I just want to know, why are we seated at the kids’ table?”
Lin Jiaojiao thought for a moment and said, “They probably don’t want you to drink.”
“Then how come they can drink?” Xie Yu pointed at Xie Chaoyan and Ye Rongxu, who were holding wine glasses among the guests. “Because their grades are good, they scored well,” Lin Jiaojiao said without thinking.
Xie Yu felt a pang in his chest. After a moment’s thought, he decided to retaliate and sent a message to Ye Rongxu to complain: Lin Jiaojiao said your suits look like a couple’s outfits, and the graduation banquet looks like an engagement party.
Ye Rongxu’s phone was on silent, so he didn’t notice the message.
He held a wine glass, standing next to Xie Chaoyan. Although there were many guests around, it wasn’t crowded, so he could breathe relatively easily.
The glass contained juice; because of his poor health, Lin Xue didn’t allow him to drink alcohol.
But he was curious. When no one was paying attention, he poked Xie Chaoyan’s lower back.
Xie Chaoyan’s body visibly stiffened. He turned around to see Ye Rongxu extending a slender, pale finger, his expression innocent. Xie Chaoyan couldn’t help but feel helpless.
Quietly swapping the almost-empty glass of wine with him, Xie Chaoyan whispered, “You can only taste it; don’t drink too much.”
Ye Rongxu nodded repeatedly, took a small sip of the red liquid in the glass, and immediately frowned, making a bitter face. He thought it didn’t taste good at all. The next second, he saw Lin Xue walking over.
He was so startled that he quickly hid the wine glass behind his back. After a pause, he felt guilty, like a thief, and pretended to place the glass on a nearby waiter’s tray.
Fortunately, Lin Xue didn’t overthink it. Plus, she might have been a bit tipsy. She walked over, affectionately put her arm around her son’s shoulder, and asked caringly, “Nannan, are you tired? Do you feel stuffy? Maybe you should rest.”
Ye Rongxu was indeed a bit tired from standing. He nodded and also told Xie Chaoyan.
But before leaving, he didn’t forget to correct Lin Xue, “Mom, don’t call me Nannan.”
Lin Xue chuckled softly, tapped his forehead, and said lazily, “Little brat, you’re not cute anymore when you grow up.”
Then Ye Boxuan promptly held her by the waist.
“I’ll take your mom to rest first; you should go rest too,” Ye Boxuan instructed him.
Ye Rongxu nodded and left with them.
He had drunk some alcohol, not a lot, but enough to feel a bit tipsy. After returning to his room and showering, his mind felt blank. He staggered to the bed and pulled out his phone, wanting to message Xie Chaoyan.
Before he could even light up the screen, he heard a knock on the door.
He instinctively walked over and opened it.
Standing outside the door was Xie Chaoyan, in a crisp suit, with a smiling face.
He seemed a little drunk too. He reached out and pressed Ye Rongxu’s cheek, rubbing it lightly, and whispered, “How can you open the door without asking who it is? You have no sense of caution at all.”
He was actually lecturing him now.
Ye Rongxu gave a light hum, “I thought it was you, so I opened it.”
Xie Chaoyan paused for a moment, then suddenly tilted his head and looked at him intently.
Ye Rongxu found it strange. Just as he was about to ask, “What are you looking at?”, he was suddenly embraced the next moment.
Xie Chaoyan whispered in his ear, his voice laced with intoxication, “Little brother is so good.”
The other person hadn’t called him ‘little brother’ in a long time, not since starting senior high school.
Ye Rongxu was pushed back two steps, his slender back against the wall. He raised his hand to push him away and asked, “Are you drunk? This isn’t your room.”
Xie Chaoyan gave a soft “hmm” and instead hugged him tighter, his voice very light, “Let’s sleep together tonight. We haven’t slept together in a long time.”
Ye Rongxu felt helpless. He vaguely felt that the words sounded off, but they had slept together since childhood and often shared a bed even after growing up. On second thought, it seemed fine.
So he urged, “Then go take a shower.”
Xie Chaoyan finally straightened up and looked at him intently. For some reason, his gaze towards Ye Rongxu today was always very serious, and it is the same now.
Not until Ye Rongxu felt strange and was about to speak again did he preemptively say, “Okay.”
Then he turned to go to the bathroom. After two steps, he suddenly turned back, “Xuxu, your… outfit looks great.”
Ye Rongxu: “?” Isn’t yours the same?
They were wearing the same style.
Ye Rongxu always felt that Xie Chaoyan was a little strange today, but he was too sleepy to think deeply. After getting into bed, he fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
Perhaps he was used to sleeping in the same bed with Xie Chaoyan since childhood. When he felt someone lie down next to him, he instinctively rolled towards the other person, snuggling into their embrace, and then… subtly frowned in his dream.
He remembered that Brother Xiao Yan’s body was always warm, and it was very comfortable to hold. Because of his prolonged illness, his constitution was cold, and his hands and feet were often cold, so when he slept as a child, he loved to hug the other person.
But the person he was holding now had a cool dampness about him.
Hmm… why is he even cooler than him?
He subconsciously let go, wanting to push away, but the next moment, he was hugged tightly by the other person.
Ye Rongxu wanted to struggle again, but the slightly cool embrace quickly warmed up. He was too lazy to move again and obediently remained in the other person’s arms.
He had a deep, sweet sleep. When he woke up the next day, Ye Rongxu felt refreshed.
He opened his eyes and found himself rolled into Xie Chaoyan’s embrace again.
This wasn’t surprising. He calmly closed his eyes, stretched his legs under the covers, and then…
He suddenly froze, opened his eyes again, closed them, then opened them again.
Xie Chaoyan also opened his eyes at this moment, his still-hazy gaze meeting his. His dark eyes seemed unfocused.
Ye Rongxu’s mind froze, and he subconsciously stuttered, “Brother Xiao Yan, something seems to be pressing against…” me.
In an instant, the dark eyes close at hand stiffened, and his pupils seemed to tremble slightly.
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