Hearing this, Tao Zhi stared blankly at Fu Si Heng for a good while. He opened his mouth, his eyes growing complicated as he murmured, “You had someone as your little sidekick too, taking care of your meals and daily life…”
Fu Si Heng: “?”
Fu Si Heng: “…”
“No.”
What the hell was that?
Fu Si Heng blanked for a second before snapping back and denying it immediately: “No.”
“Ah…” Tao Zhi didn’t seem convinced.
His pretty eyes fixed on Fu Si Heng, then he pouted.
“Really, no.” Fu Si Heng emphasized.
“Oh.” Tao Zhi turned his face away and kept walking.
People really couldn’t be judged by appearances. Like father, like son.
No wonder.
Did that mean Fu Si Heng had liked his little sidekick back then too?
“Tao Zhi, really, no.” Tao Zhi’s expression was so transparent; Fu Si Heng laughed in exasperation. He grabbed Tao Zhi’s wrist, then tilted his chin to turn his face back, reiterating seriously: “I never had anyone take care of me.”
His rough fingertips pressed against Tao Zhi’s face—cheeks soft like clouds, denting under each poke. The reiteration turned into playful prodding, and soon both hands cupped Tao Zhi’s face.
Fu Si Heng leaned down.
His handsome features suddenly loomed large in Tao Zhi’s vision, inches away.
Tao Zhi’s heart skipped a beat.
“Okay, okay.” He hurriedly pushed Fu Si Heng’s hands away, eyes darting. “I get it.”
“You don’t.” Fu Si Heng wouldn’t let Tao Zhi misunderstand something like this.
His earlier smug reminiscing vanished. Fu Si Heng said gravely, “Come on, let’s talk about it properly.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
–
After much coaxing, Fu Si Heng finally dispelled Tao Zhi’s suspicions.
Over 2 km, a bowl of noodles, and another 1.5 km.
Fu Si Heng dropped Tao Zhi off at the hospital entrance.
As Tao Zhi left, he asked, “So what are you planning to do today?”
“Wander around nearby,” Fu Si Heng said. “Check out your school. Don’t worry about me—go ahead.”
“…Oh.” Tao Zhi nodded.
It was nearly 8:30. Tao Zhi was in a rush to leave and didn’t pry too much, hurrying inside halfway.
But after a few hundred meters, his steps halted. He glanced back.
Fu Si Heng was still standing there, watching his back.
Their eyes met suddenly. Fu Si Heng paused, then smiled.
Tao Zhi: “…”
A bit awkward—he bolted.
Tao Zhi vanished in a puff of smoke.
In Mother Tao’s ward, he told his dad to go rest. He stayed to care for her, first helping her finish breakfast, then assisting with teeth brushing and washing up while waiting for rounds.
After the doctor checked, Tao Tao arrived.
She was a bit late today. When she entered, Tao Zhi was on the inpatient rooftop hanging laundry. Returning and seeing her, he asked, “Didn’t I tell you not to come?”
“I finished my homework. Nothing to do at auntie’s, so I came,” Tao Peach said, then turned to chat with Mother Tao.
Tao Zhi put the clean laundry away in the cabinet.
Mother Tao was in a three-bed ward, not full. The neighbor was an old lady.
Tao Zhi peeled an apple, then one for the old lady too, before tidying up seldom-used items.
Mom was getting discharged the day after tomorrow. Better organize now to avoid chaos later.
“Little Zhi, stop bustling,” Mother Tao said from her bedhead, watching him. “Sit and rest.”
Tao Peach added, “Bro, let me help. What are you doing?”
Tao Zhi: “It’s fine. You two chat.”
Dad had handled most of Mom’s hospital stay.
Dad wasn’t that meticulous—a middle-aged man’s flaws, he had them all, especially tossing things everywhere. Tao Zhi had just found the social security card and ID in different drawers…
He sorted it all, and time neared eleven.
“Mom, Bro, what do you want for lunch? I’ll go buy groceries soon.”
Mother Tao: “Anything’s fine. Ask your bro.”
“Me too.” Pausing, Tao Zhi added, “Don’t bring lunch for me today—I’m eating out.”
Tao Peach: “Huh? Eating out?”
Such a rare choice.
Tao Peach asked curiously, “With old classmates?”
“No, a friend,” Tao Zhi said.
Tao Peach: “Oh, a friend.”
What friend—
Before she could ask, Tao Zhi changed the subject: “You going for groceries—got money?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Tao Peach nodded.
She was frugal, didn’t splurge. Tao Zhi gave pocket money every month or two, when it ran low.
It hadn’t even been a month since last time, so she should have some left. But with Mom hospitalized and staying at auntie’s, she didn’t want free rides. Weekends, she’d offer to shop, picking pricey stuff like beef or perch—probably spent it.
Tao Zhi realized this. Though he asked, he didn’t wait for her answer. Pulling out his phone, “I’ll transfer some.”
Tao Peach: “No need, Bro. I have over a hundred…”
Over a hundred wouldn’t cover lunch for six or seven after groceries.
Tao Zhi transferred fifteen hundred.
Tao Peach’s mouth gaped: “So much!”
Tao Zhi hummed: “Don’t skimp too much.”
Money sent, he didn’t look up—Fu Si Heng had messaged during the transfer, and he was replying.
Bro ignoring her, Tao Peach blinked, tilting her head.
From the corner of her eye, she spotted a note by his foot.
Pretty one—a middle schooler like her recognized the stationery brand’s memo pad.
A bit crumpled.
Probably fell from his pocket when he took out his phone.
Tao Peach crouched to pick it up: “Bro, you dropped something.”
Tao Zhi: “Hm?”
Days had passed; Tao Zhi blanked momentarily. They locked eyes, both puzzled. Tao Peach thought, then unfolded it.
Her pupils shook.
“Bro! Bro! It’s your love letter!” Tao Peach shrieked.
Tao Zhi: “?”
Love letter?
No love letter. Fu Si Heng never wrote him one.
Wait—why Fu Si Heng?
Tao Zhi froze.
Tao Peach shrieked twice, then clapped a hand over her mouth.
Too shocked, she’d forgotten the ward. She bowed apology to the old lady.
Even Mother Tao was stunned, sitting up: “Little Zhi’s love letter?”
