Ning Shuang’s interest was piqued. He tiptoed over to the tea table and reached out to scoop the little bird into his palm. But before he could, it flapped its wings and flew right into his hands of its own accord.
“Ji Huaizhi, look at this,” Ning Shuang said in delight. He cradled the bird with utmost care and slowly made his way over to Ji Huaizhi.
Ji Huaizhi glanced at Xuan Que before his gaze settled on Ning Shuang’s focused, earnest face. Ning Shuang bent his head to gaze at the little bird in his hands, his long lashes like feathered fans casting a subtle shadow across his eyes. A smile played at the corners of his lips, revealing a pair of charming dimples on his cheeks. He looked utterly captivating.
“It might be some wild bird from outside. Probably not clean,” Ji Huaizhi said impassively, his tone laced with disdain for Xuan Que.
“Gugu.” The little bird fluttered its wings.
Ning Shuang looked skeptical. “Is it?”
He leaned down and sniffed the little bird. A fresh, clean fragrance wafted from its feathers. “It smells nice, and its feathers are so glossy. It’s quite plump too… It looks like a well-kept pet bird no matter how you slice it.”
Ji Huaizhi’s brow furrowed as he watched Ning Shuang nuzzle the bird affectionately with the tip of his nose. He raised a hand to his mouth and coughed a few times, successfully drawing Ning Shuang’s attention. Ning Shuang immediately grew concerned. “What’s wrong? Do you have a cold?”
“It’s nothing. Probably just the wind from the open window…” Ji Huaizhi shook his head. His complexion did look rather pallid.
Ning Shuang let out an “ah” and hurried to the window. He released the bird back outside, then shut the window tight and drew the curtains. “Don’t leave the window open when it’s cold out. Winters in Huai’an City can get pretty chilly.”
“Got it,” Ji Huaizhi replied. He took the initiative to tidy up the bandages and wound salve scattered across the table.
Ning Shuang returned to Ji Huaizhi’s side but found himself surveying the room.
It suited Ji Huaizhi perfectly—simple and coolly minimalist. A faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. Most of the furnishings were original to the space, barely changed from when he’d first moved in. The biggest difference was the desk.
New books filled the shelves inside. Ning Shuang tilted his head, squinting to make out the titles. Ji Huaizhi’s interests spanned a wide range—from programming and code to linguistics.
“Do you read all this stuff at the library every day?” Ning Shuang asked curiously.
Ji Huaizhi replied, “What’s wrong with that?”
Ning Shuang shook his head. “Nothing, nothing. I just assumed you were studying your major, prepping for the CET-4/6 or grad school entrance exams.”
Ji Huaizhi said, “Those aren’t urgent.”
“True enough. You’re only a freshman, after all.” Ning Shuang nodded in agreement.
“Oh, and here’s a book on my major.” Ning Shuang pulled down a volume on biomedical engineering and flipped through it casually. It was filled with dense, meticulous notes.
In that moment, Ning Shuang gained a new appreciation for Ji Huaizhi.
A genius.
A natural-born scholar, through and through.
“I just skimmed it. Most of it went over my head,” Ji Huaizhi said.
Ning Shuang shoved the book back into place and declared with full confidence, “Don’t worry. I might not be great at everything, but my major? I’ve got you covered. Come to me anytime with questions!”
“Alright. I will,” Ji Huaizhi said. The hand clenched at his side slowly relaxed.
Ning Shuang picked up the medicine kit. “Well, I’ll head out then. If your wound starts bothering you, let me know. I’m right next door, so don’t hesitate. It’d be a shame to scar that handsome face of yours.”
“Mm. Thanks,” Ji Huaizhi said. He walked Ning Shuang to the door and watched as the other man went downstairs to return the kit to the entryway cabinet.
Back in his room, Ji Huaizhi shut the door firmly.
A new scent now lingered in the air—Ning Shuang’s fresh fragrance. It wasn’t body wash; it was purely Ning Shuang’s own scent. Ji Huaizhi would never mistake it.
He returned to the desk and picked up the book Ning Shuang had flipped through. He turned to the last couple of pages, where a photo was tucked into the seam. Ji Huaizhi pulled it out.
It was Ning Shuang.
The picture looked like it had been taken during his freshman military training—camouflage uniform and all, grinning wildly and without restraint. Moments later, he fished another photo from his pocket: his own passport photo from military training.
He carefully laid the two side by side.
A tender warmth flickered in his eyes.
But then his brows knit together. He reached up to touch the bandage at his temple. The scar beneath it…
Would it leave a mark? If it did, Ning Shuang wouldn’t like him anymore, would he? Right now, he had nothing but this face that caught Ning Shuang’s interest…
Even as he went to bed, Ji Huaizhi dwelled on the thought, completely forgetting the white bird locked out on the windowsill.
~~~
The next morning, Ning Shuang got up for his usual jog. When he returned, Ji Huaizhi had breakfast ready again.
Ji Huaizhi was an injured patient, yet here he was cooking for a perfectly able-bodied guy like Ning Shuang. Ning Shuang felt a twinge of guilt.
“No military training for you today—why not sleep in?” Ning Shuang ambled over to Ji Huaizhi’s side. The aroma of tomato-egg noodles filled the air from the pot.
“I couldn’t sleep much,” Ji Huaizhi admitted honestly.
Ning Shuang frowned and tilted his head to eye the bandage on Ji Huaizhi’s temple. “Does it hurt? Should we get it checked at the hospital again?”
“Just a little. It’s not a problem,” Ji Huaizhi said, lightly brushing the bandage. In truth, it didn’t hurt at all. He simply enjoyed seeing Ning Shuang worry about him.
“If it still hurts tomorrow, I’ll go with you to the hospital.”
“Alright. Thanks.”
“No need to thank me.” Ning Shuang waved a hand to waft the rising steam toward his nose. The rich tomato scent filled his nostrils. “Is the noodles ready?”
“Yeah, good to eat.” Ji Huaizhi turned off the stove.
Ning Shuang raised his hand. “I’ll grab the bowls and chopsticks.”
After breakfast, Ning Shuang had to head to school. Propped against the shoe cabinet as he changed his shoes, he called out to Ji Huaizhi, “I’ll probably eat lunch in the cafeteria and nap there too, so no need to make a portion for me. I’ll text you before coming home tonight. Message me if anything feels off.”
“Got it.”
Once Ning Shuang had his shoes on, Ji Huaizhi took the initiative to unhook Ning Shuang’s messenger bag from the rack and hand it over.
“See you tonight.” Ning Shuang opened the door, then turned back to wave at Ji Huaizhi.
He stepped down from the stoop and into the morning light. Golden rays bathed the leaves in the courtyard, dew drops sparkling brilliantly.
Ji Huaizhi leaned against the doorframe, gaze fixed on Ning Shuang’s retreating figure. Once it vanished from sight, a white bird perched on the branches of the courtyard tree flapped its wings and gave chase.
Ning Shuang ate lunch in the cafeteria and crashed in Zhao Wei Liang’s dorm for a nap, squeezing in beside him.
The afternoon flew by.
Ning Shuang stuck with the freshmen until they were dismissed, then shouldered his bag to leave.
“Senior Ning Shuang.” A stammering male voice called from behind.
Ning Shuang turned to see Chen Lu. He lit up with pleasant surprise. “Hey, it’s you. What’s up?”
Chen Lu cleared his throat awkwardly and thrust out the milk tea he’d hidden behind his back. “Senior, have some milk tea.”
The young man’s ears and cheeks burned an unnatural red.
Ning Shuang blinked in surprise. “What’s this all of a sudden?”
Chen Lu said, “You visited me when I was sick before and talked to me a lot. I really appreciate it.”
Ning Shuang had almost forgotten, but the reminder jogged his memory. He accepted the milk tea. “Oh, right. In that case, thanks. I love it.”
“N-No, don’t mention it.” Chen Lu pulled back his hand and clutched at his shirt hem.
Ning Shuang sniffed. A heavy perfume clung to the other boy. “Did you put on cologne?”
“I-Is it that obvious?!” Chen Lu hurriedly sniffed his own arm.
Ning Shuang laughed. “Nah, it’s fine. Smells nice.”
Chen Lu exhaled in relief, then mumbled haltingly with his head down, “Senior, are you free tonight? Want to grab dinner together?”
Ning Shuang was puzzled. From Chen Lu’s perspective, he hadn’t done anything major to warrant milk tea and now dinner invites.
“Sorry, I’ve got to head home. Someone’s cooking dinner there,” Ning Shuang declined.
Chen Lu clenched his fists, paused, then said, “Okay, no problem. Take care on your way home, Senior.”
“Will do.” Ning Shuang slung on his bag, milk tea in hand, and turned to leave.
At the school gate, Ning Shuang texted Ji Huaizhi that he was waiting for the bus and heading home. Ji Huaizhi replied with a photo—of himself stir-frying vegetables.
In the picture, Ji Huaizhi’s hand gripping the spatula was strikingly attractive: long fingers, defined knuckles, pale skin veined with subtle blue lines. It looked like a hand brimming with quiet strength.
【Ji Huaizhi: Be safe】
Ning Shuang boarded the bus. He zoomed in and out on that photo several times before sending a message to Ji Huaizhi: 【Ji Huaizhi, I just noticed your hands are pretty nice-looking】.
After sending the message, Ning Shuang waited a long time without a reply.
It wasn’t until the bus reached his stop that he squeezed through the crowd and got off. Only then did his phone buzz twice.
Buzz buzz.
Two messages popped up.
One was from Ji Huaizhi: 【Not bad. Have you arrived?】
The other came from an anonymous account: 【Bring cash tonight and pick it up at this spot [picture]】.
Ning Shuang replied to Ji Huaizhi first: 【Just got off. Heading home now】.
Only then did he respond to the anonymous account. The photo showed a hidden corner under the night market’s arched bridge. Earlier that day, Ning Shuang had asked Ming Qingning about the WeChat contact for the medicine seller at the night market. He’d disguised himself as a buyer and negotiated with the seller all morning.
They’d agreed that after the night market opened, he’d pick up the medicine in the culvert beneath the bridge.
Ning Shuang replied coldly with a single period.
He had just reached the courtyard gate when the aroma of stir-fried dishes wafting from home instantly chased away the exhaustion of his entire day. He bounded up the steps in three strides. As he fumbled for his key to unlock the door, it swung open from the inside.
Ji Huaizhi stood right there behind the door. His expression was cool, but his gaze held a trace of gentleness. Ning Dundun darted out and circled excitedly at Ning Shuang’s feet. “Hey, are you heading out?”
Ning Shuang bent down and grabbed Ning Dundun’s collar to keep it from bounding away.
Ji Huaizhi explained, “No. Ning Dundun heard you coming back, so I came to open the door for you.”
“Oh, got it.” Ning Shuang nodded and patted Ning Dundun’s head. “Let’s head inside then. Were you cooking? Is there anything I can help with?”
“No need. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat.”
“Sure thing!” Ning Shuang slung his bag off his shoulder and hung it on the coat rack.
He walked over to the dining table and set down his milk tea.
Ji Huaizhi brought out the final soup dish. Ning Shuang quickly scooped rice for both of them.
The table held four stir-fried dishes and one soup. Ji Huaizhi’s cooking skills were no worse than Ning Shuang’s own. Thanks to him, Ning Shuang no longer had to cook for himself after classes.
Ning Shuang had been busy all afternoon. His lunch had long since digested, leaving him ravenous. He shoveled down several big mouthfuls of rice before he finally felt alive again.
“This is so good.” Ning Shuang’s face lit up with happiness as he spoke.
Ji Huaizhi nudged the dish nearest him closer to Ning Shuang’s side. “I was worried it might not suit your taste.”
“It’s delicious.”
“That’s good to hear.”
They chatted idly as they ate, this and that. Ji Huaizhi hadn’t gone to military training that day, so Ning Shuang recounted everything that had happened during the day.
Ji Huaizhi listened patiently, his mood inexplicably brightening.
After the meal, Ning Shuang finished washing the dishes and came out to find Ji Huaizhi teasing Ning Dundun by the sofa. Smiling, he went to the entryway cabinet and pulled out the medicine kit. He walked over to Ji Huaizhi’s side. “Let me change your dressing first.”
Ji Huaizhi withdrew his hand and rested it on his knee. He tilted his head up to look at Ning Shuang. “Thanks.”
Ning Shuang bent down and took out fresh gauze and replacement medicine. “No problem.”
He leaned in closer with the supplies in hand. Ji Huaizhi’s breath hitched. He had caught a scent that didn’t belong to Ning Shuang.
Ning Shuang often brought home all sorts of smells from outside, but they were always faint. Today was different, though. There was a strong whiff of perfume on him—far more intense than anything he’d carried home before. It was the kind of scent that only clung so heavily when someone got very close.
Who?
Who had Ning Shuang been in contact with?
Ji Huaizhi lifted his gaze. His long, dense lashes brushed against Ning Shuang’s wrist. Ning Shuang took half a step back, but the sharp perfume scent lingered inescapably.
Xuan Que wouldn’t be home until evening to tell him about Ning Shuang’s day.
Which meant Ji Huaizhi had no idea who Ning Shuang had encountered today.
Was it someone good? Someone dangerous? A friend? Someone he liked? A pursuer? He had no way of knowing.
The more he thought about it, the quicker his breathing grew erratic without him even realizing. Ning Shuang had no idea what was running through his mind. Seeing his clenched fist, he immediately placed a hand on the back of Ji Huaizhi’s, asking gently, “Did I hurt you?”
The warmth from that hand dispelled the gloom between Ji Huaizhi’s brows. His eyes flickered as his heartbeat and breathing steadied together.
