Chapter 22

Chen Annan kept growing up well all along. The long river of time surged endlessly, ripening everything. The ivy on the wall of the small building quietly cloaked itself in a fresh layer of green, then turned a vivid, dripping emerald under the scorching summer sun.

This city had two seasons that were desperately long. Winters were overcast, cold, and damp, as if seeping into the very marrow of one’s bones. Yet as soon as it turned hot, the air became stifling like a steam room. The sun blazed down brightly on bodies, as if trying to peel off a layer of skin.

Chen Annan settled safely into second grade. Although his grades were still a disaster, like trying to thread tofu with a horsetail hair, he had finally discovered a talent. Lu Wenyuan signed him up for weekend vocal music classes and took him to lessons every week.

Because Lu Qingyuan had to transition from primary to secondary school, starting from sixth grade, he was exceptionally busy. The cross-district middle school they were aiming for placed great importance on students’ grades and character. So now, he frequently represented his school in various competitions and was often kept after school a bit longer by his teachers.

Because of this, Chen Annan had to wait an extra half hour every day. Sometimes he squatted by the flowerbeds, sometimes he stood under the bicycle shed. When summer came, he would sit in the pavilion shaded by large trees and intertwining vines, folding a little paper fan to fan himself.

Xie Xi treated him to Little Puddings or Snow White Princess ice creams. The two kids sat together in the cool, shaded spots, eating their cold treats while waiting for their brothers.

Oh, right. Xie Xi now had a brother coming to pick him up too. His brother was much older than both of them, working at a TV station after returning to China. His name was Xie Huai.

Actually, Xie Huai didn’t originally have the time to pick up his younger brother. But he couldn’t resist his brother’s pestering and pleading. Only when he occasionally had free time would he come get Xie Xi. Every time he came, he would also bring small gifts for Chen Annan, which made Chen Annan like this big brother very much as well.

Unfortunately, this big brother had no idea he was about to become one of the victims.

A bunch of second graders huddled in a circle, chirping and arguing noisily. Recently, a strange trend of comparing older brothers had mysteriously spread through the class—comparing whose brother was the most awesome, whose brother bought the most presents, whose brother was the most handsome.

Right now, Chen Annan and Xie Xi were standing together on the sports field, their heads swelling under the sun’s baking heat.

Xie Xi was still craning his neck, arguing stubbornly: “My brother is the absolute best under the heavens! He bought me the God of War Robot! Do you have that?!”

“Then my brother is the most bestest!” another kid said. “My brother not only bought me the God of War Robot! He also gave me a full set of All-Terrain Vehicles! Have you ever even seen one?”

“You’re bluffing!” Xie Xi yelled. “Your broken car can’t even outrun mine! Whatever I say, you copy! You’re copying me! Well, my brother is one meter eighty! Is your brother one meter eighty?”

“Bluffing, bluffing.” The kid next to him stuck out his tongue. “What’s the use of being tall? My brother is more handsome! He’s the officially recognized School Heartthrob!”

Seeing himself losing ground, Xie Xi got so anxious he was drenched in sweat. He shook Chen Annan. “Annan, say something!”

Chen Annan was being shaken back and forth. He just felt the sun was too scorching. Little beads of sweat hung on the tip of his nose, and some seeped out on his lips too. He reached up and wiped them away, chiming in like a loyal lackey: “That’s right, that’s right! Xie Xi’s brother is both tall and handsome! I’ve seen him! He’s taller than a tree, even better looking than flowers! He even gives me toys! He has a hundred of those All-Terrain Vehicles! Last time I wanted to eat ten Snow White Princesses, and he bought them all for me!”

He rattled on and on in support, completely oblivious to the person who had approached from behind.

Lu Qingyuan stood behind him, having listened to him sing another person’s brother’s praises for a full three minutes. His little mouth had been going non-stop, gesturing wildly with his hands as he talked, looking unusually excited.

Maybe he really does like Xie Xi’s brother a lot. Can’t stand to hear a single bad word about him. Lu Qingyuan thought this as he watched Chen Annan, still chattering while pulling Xie Xi aside, finally giving a summarizing statement: “I bear witness! Xie Xi’s brother is the best brother in the world! Right, right?”

“That’s right, that’s right,” a voice suddenly spoke from behind him. “You must regret not being surnamed Xie. Why aren’t your surname Xie?”

An unexpected voice drifted down from overhead, startling Chen Annan so much he shivered. His eyes flew wide open, sucking in a breath of fright.

Actually, it wasn’t just the sudden voice that scared him. It was who the voice belonged to that made him jump. Chen Annan instantly felt like the sky was collapsing. He stood rooted to the spot like he was being punished, as if caught red-handed, completely mortified.

Lu Qingyuan just looked at him. On his emotionless face, the shifting shadows of light cast a hint of coldness.

Chen Annan didn’t know where to put his hands. He touched his nose, then picked at the edge of his clothes.

Lu Qingyuan said nothing. After looking at him for a few seconds, he walked straight past the group of children. Chen Annan hurriedly chased after him. Today, Lu Wenyuan wasn’t picking them up; they had to go home by themselves.

Outside the school gate, the chaotic sound of footsteps rushed in with the crowd. The small alley was lined with strings of parents picking up their kids. Car horns honked endlessly.

Chen Annan was afraid of getting separated from his brother in the crowd, but dared not press too close. So he lightly, tentatively, held onto the hem of Lu Qingyuan’s clothes—not daring to hold tightly. After a while, he reached out and touched his brother’s hand, carefully once, then again.

Lu Qingyuan grabbed the hand he had stealthily extended, held it firmly, and led him through the crowd.

Chen Annan’s suspended heart finally settled a little. Finding it not secure enough, he hugged his brother’s arm from the front, and said softly, “Actually, I still like you a bit more.”

He was entirely too good at acting sweet. Lu Qingyuan wasn’t buying it. He couldn’t even distinguish why he was angry, he just was.

This kid was too, too heartless. It seemed like whoever was a little nice to him, he’d run off with them. Did that mean in Chen Annan’s heart, he was no different from all those random Tom, Dick, and Harry types? Was his heart made of grass on a walltop, swaying whichever way the wind blew?

Seeing his brother ignoring him, Chen Annan started talking to himself again. “I like you the very very most! You’re the best brother in the whole world.”

Lu Qingyuan still didn’t respond. He walked in front, and Chen Annan hugged his arm from behind, swaying and rocking. His voice came out muffled and nasal.

Lu Qingyuan rarely got genuinely angry with Chen Annan. His emotional control was usually very steady. But when he was really angry, he was a stubborn mule through and through—neither soft tactics nor hard tactics worked. Even if the Heavenly Emperor himself showed up, he’d still see this sour face.

His sour face stayed on for days. During those days, Chen Annan was utterly dejected because his brother completely ignored him. No matter what he said, his brother ignored him, only doing his own things.

This was a very hard thing to bear.

Chen Annan especially couldn’t accept it.

During dinner one evening, he watched Lu Qingyuan, wearing that icy-cold face, pick the food he didn’t like out of his bowl, then still, with that same cold face, add dishes he did like to his bowl.

Chen Annan called out lowly, “Brother.” Lu Qingyuan still paid him no mind. He still, with a cold face, helped Chen Annan bathe. Still with a cold face, he washed his underwear. Then, without a word, he pushed back the little blanket Chen Annan had stealthily shifted over, making him sleep further away.

He didn’t even face Chen Annan to sleep anymore. He slept with his back turned. If Chen Annan draped a leg over him, he would ruthlessly push it off.

Brother was truly a very hard person to soothe.

So much so that every morning when Chen Annan opened his eyes, he was met with Lu Qingyuan’s cold, icy face.

“Stop being mad, okay?” The child sat obediently on the bed, his hair sticking up in a messy tangle. He didn’t know it himself. Lu Qingyuan picked up his school uniform and pulled it over his head.

“Don’t ignore me anymore, okay? Can we make up?” Chen Annan pouted, taking the initiative to show goodwill. But Lu Qingyuan only smoothed down his hair, fished out his shoes and put them on him, fastening the straps.

“What are you doing…” A trembling sob was already audible in Chen Annan’s voice. He wiped his eyes. “I hate you…”

He had been saying nice things for a whole week, worrying himself so much that two fever blisters had broken out on his lips. But Lu Qingyuan still ignored him. It was too cold. His brother’s heart was colder than stone.

This tangled ball of feelings stirred up new wrinkles in Chen Annan’s heart, twisting and knotting inside. Lu Qingyuan reached to wipe his face, but he didn’t want that anymore. He shouldered his own schoolbag, leaving his brother with the sight of a round hair whorl.

Lu Qingyuan’s anger hadn’t faded, and Chen Annan had become huffy all over again.

In the morning, it was still Lu Wenyuan who drove them to school. Along the way, he repeatedly told them to be sure to pay attention to safety coming home from school. The elementary school wasn’t far from home—just two streets away. But with cars coming and going, parents always worried.

Lu Wenyuan talked for a long time, but the two children each faced away from the other. Neither paid him any attention. They didn’t even sit together.

Lu Wenyuan’s smile was tinged with a sigh. Helplessly, he said, “When do you two plan on reconciling this time? Remember to tell me when you do. Otherwise, I can’t even get a word in edgewise. With my emotions bottled up like this, it’s too pitiful. Have some pity on me.”

Neither of them paid him any mind. Both were busy sulking.

“Fine, fine, fine. You little ancestors. Both of you treating me like air,” Lu Wenyuan ruffled both their heads affectionately, his eyes still full of mirth. “Alright, today after school, wait for me to pick you up.”

Lu Qingyuan knew his dad had business tonight. If he came to pick them up, he’d have to push his work aside. He didn’t want his father to worry because of him, so he had to say, “No need. I’ll take good care of him. Dad, you just focus on your own matters.”

Even while feeling so awkward internally, Chen Annan would still align with Lu Wenyuan on matters of importance. He chimed in understandingly, “I’ll be very obedient.”

“You’re at odds like this, and you’re still worried about my affairs?” Lu Wenyuan laughed heartily, finding the two little cubs truly interesting and unbelievably cute. “Besides you two, everything else is a small matter. Fight, fight, it’s fine. Not walking together is fine too. After school, wait for me to pick you up. Just remember to notify me when your cold war is over.”

The father, far from minding, chucked the little cubs into the school, then happily went on his way.

He didn’t take it seriously. Chen Annan, on the other hand, really suffered.

Chen Annan returned to his class, listlessly collapsing onto his desk. Xie Xi brought him plum cakes today. The plums, coated in powder on the outside, were sour, while the filling inside was very sweet.

Chen Annan felt empty inside. A few classes passed, and he still couldn’t muster any energy. The sun was still blazing fiercely. Xie Xi went to fill his water for him. After a while, he came back, pushed his little water bottle onto the desk, and said, “Drink more water. It helps relieve heat.”

These words didn’t sound like something Xie Xi would say. Chen Annan unscrewed the cap and took a few sips. A sweet taste welled up, instantly diluting the oppressive summer heat.

What was inside the bottle wasn’t plain cold water—it was actually mung bean soup.

Chen Annan abruptly sat up straight and asked his deskmate, “Where did you get mung bean soup from?”

Xie Xi paused, then stammered, “Oh… um… wasn’t that classmate of ours from kindergarten in Class One? He gave it to me. Is it good?”

Chen Annan nodded. In his mouth, he slowly chewed the mung beans into mush, then drank two more mouthfuls of the sweet soup. A wave of coolness washed over him. He couldn’t even describe how refreshing it was.

He smiled, squinting his eyes, and leaned onto Xie Xi. “Thank you. You guys are so nice.”

Xie Xi scratched his head, a little embarrassed. It was all Annan’s brother’s fault for being so fierce, making him afraid to tell the truth.

Lu Qingyuan didn’t know someone was talking behind his back. Right now in his classroom, he sneezed and rubbed his nose.

In truth, over all this time, he’d only ever been truly angry twice. If he’d known that just this single bout of sulking would cause such a big trouble for Chen Annan, he’d rather die than care about his pride.