They walked one after the other, about two meters apart. Jiang Chu didn’t even realize until he got to the car and popped the trunk that Qin Zui only had one beat-up duffel bag on him—no suitcase in sight.
“You got all your stuff?” he asked, turning back. “No bag?”
Qin Zui had been silently sizing him up the whole time from behind. When he heard Jiang Chu’s question, he just grunted another “Mm,” then moved forward to toss his giant bag into the trunk.
Jiang Chu slammed the trunk shut, grabbed the bag from him, and chucked it straight into the backseat instead.
“Get in.” He circled around to the driver’s side and shoved the passenger door open from the inside.
Qin Zui hesitated outside for a second—whether he was worried about his bag or about Jiang Chu, who could say—before finally ducking inside.
You couldn’t smell it outside, but now, stuck together in the sealed-off cabin, Jiang Chu caught a wave of stale sweat wafting off Qin Zui.
And it wasn’t just sweat. It was that indescribable sour, musty stench of someone who’d spent a whole night crammed on a train. He cranked up the AC a notch and pulled out of the underground garage.
His phone rang. Jiang Liantian. Asking if he’d picked up the kid yet; they’d already ordered the food.
“Ten minutes.” Jiang Chu put him on speaker, so Qin Zui could hear too.
Jiang Liantian rambled some useless crap about “drive safe,” and Jiang Chu shot a sidelong glance at Qin Zui. No reaction. The kid didn’t even lift an eyelash.
Before coming, Jiang Chu had braced himself. He’d figured it’d be a real headache if this new stepbrother of his, fresh off his dad dying, showed up all pissed off at the son of his mom’s new husband, or started crying his eyes out.
Looked like he’d worried for nothing. The moment Qin Zui got in the car, he locked his gaze on the window. Who knew if he was watching the scenery or deep in thought? He didn’t say a single word the whole drive.
It made things easier, sure. But they were technically supposed to be “brothers” now, right? They couldn’t just sit in dead silence forever.
“Came by sleeper car?” Jiang Chu kept his eyes on the road, asking in a deliberately casual tone.
Qin Zui was still staring out the window, face completely blank. After a moment, he finally opened his mouth to say the first words since they’d met: “Standing ticket.”
Jiang Chu glanced at him. “That must’ve been rough.”
Qin Zui went quiet again.
When they parked at the restaurant, Qin Zui got out and immediately reached for his giant bag.
“That bag of yours…” Jiang Chu started to say, We’re just going up for a meal, no need to lug that around, just leave it in the car.
But as the words left his mouth, it hit him: Qin Zui was going straight from here to live with Jiang Liantian. If he left the bag in the car, he’d have to wait for them to finish eating and come back down together to get it.
Qin Zui just looked at him. Jiang Chu shamelessly changed his tune. “You can bring it if you want.”
Qin Zui hadn’t been planning to take his opinion anyway. Before Jiang Chu even finished his sentence, the kid already had the bag strap slung back over his shoulder.
As they walked in, the lobby manager gave them both a long, curious look and came over to offer storing Qin Zui’s bag at the front desk. Qin Zui didn’t cooperate at all. He just brushed past Jiang Chu and headed straight for the elevator.
“It’s fine,” Jiang Chu said to the manager with a faint smile, not knowing what else to say. He reached up and pressed the button for their floor.
At the private room door, Jiang Liantian came out to meet them.
“Son, you’re here. Good work.” Jiang Liantian clapped Jiang Chu on the shoulder. He was a bit surprised by Qin Zui’s whole look too, but he didn’t miss a beat, acting even warmer than he did with his own kid. He pulled Qin Zui into a one-armed hug. “Come on, come on, get inside and cool off.”
It was obvious Qin Zui wasn’t happy about being handled by some stranger—well, strange dad—but he couldn’t really react either. Jiang Chu watched from behind as the kid stiffly let himself be steered inside by Jiang Liantian, and suddenly he felt a little like laughing.
“Little Chu’s here!” Qin Shuman stood up from her chair and called to him with a smile.
“Yeah.” Jiang Chu gave a short nod, vaguely surprised she’d address him before her own kid. He unconsciously glanced over at Qin Zui.
Qin Zui had been staring at his mom since he walked in. His lips twitched slightly, but no sound came out.
He saw his mom and didn’t even say hi?
Qin Shuman finally turned to look at Qin Zui, looking him up and down. But the first thing out of her mouth was: “Why’d you have to come looking like this?”
She was a fairly elegant woman, a completely different type from Jiang Chu’s own mother. Every smile and frown was gentle. Even though her tone wasn’t harsh when she said this to Qin Zui, it didn’t sound like the familiar, affectionate scolding between a mother and her son.
If anything, it was a little distant.
Jiang Chu remembered Jiang Liantian saying on the phone that she wasn’t ready yet. Looking at this attitude now, it wasn’t just that she wasn’t ready. She almost seemed unwelcoming.
Qin Zui just looked at her without a word. Jiang Liantian quickly jumped in. “He just got here, hasn’t rested at all from the trip. Let’s eat first. Jiang Chu, have a seat. There are dishes you like.”
Jiang Chu had originally planned to just drop the kid off and leave, but now he was kind of curious about this weird dynamic between Qin Zui and his mom. Besides, he hadn’t eaten since this morning and he was starving.
He pulled out a chair and sat down. On the other side, Jiang Liantian pulled out a chair for Qin Zui and tried to help him take his bag off.
Qin Zui didn’t let him touch it. He twisted away, avoiding Jiang Liantian’s hands. He didn’t sit next to his mom, either. He went to the seat beside Jiang Chu and sat down, his bag at his feet.
Jiang Chu was rinsing the dishes with hot water. One eyebrow lifted slightly, but he didn’t say anything. He just reached over, pulled Qin Zui’s bowl and chopsticks in front of him, and unhurriedly cleaned those too.
Jiang Liantian and Qin Shuman exchanged a look. It was a little awkward.
Qin Shuman smoothed her hair and gave a helpless little smile. “Jiang Liantian, you come sit over here. He can eat on his own.”
Jiang Liantian called for the server to bring the hot dishes, trying to show Qin Zui some more concern. But Qin Zui was still the same. Seeing his biological mother again hadn’t changed him one bit.
Jiang Chu didn’t feel like talking either. The two of them sat together, heads down, just eating.
As they ate, Jiang Chu noticed a detail—Qin Zui had been following his lead on what to grab.
Jiang Chu’s chopsticks went for some sesame-sauce green beans. A second later, Qin Zui would eat sesame-sauce green beans.
Jiang Chu snagged a piece of sweet-and-sour ribs. A moment later, Qin Zui ate sweet-and-sour ribs too.
The sea cucumber and prawns that Jiang Liantian was enthusiastically recommending with the serving chopsticks from across the table? Qin Zui didn’t touch a single one.
People in design had to have at least a basic ability for empathy. Watching Qin Zui, Jiang Chu was reminded of reading Dream of the Red Chamber back in school, the part where Lin Daiyu first arrives at the Jia mansion.
An unfamiliar environment. Not distinguishing who’s real and who’s fake. Desperate to not make a single wrong move or say a single wrong word and embarrass herself. So she watches what others do and copies them.
If he really tried to put himself in the kid’s shoes… His mom had remarried years ago and never even brought him here to live with her. Now his biological dad was dead. He’d sat on a train all by himself all night to get here, and the welcome he got wasn’t exactly warm.
A sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy, at the age when saving face matters most. Qin Zui’s standoffish attitude was probably a form of self-protection.
He was still young, at the end of the day.
Jiang Chu finished this numb train of thought, and when he moved his chopsticks again, he made a point of grabbing more of the expensive dishes.
Jiang Liantian was paying anyway. Whether you looked at it from Jiang Chu’s side or Qin Zui’s, the guy was a dad. Might as well eat his food.
Near the end of this completely cheerless meal, Jiang Liantian put down his chopsticks and poured himself a cup of tea, asking Qin Shuman, “So, Qin Zui’s coming here—school’s all arranged?”
“Mm.” Qin Shuman dabbed her mouth with a tissue. “His… father… had already taken care of everything at the school back there. I’ve also talked with the 27th High School. Once the paperwork transfers over, he’ll just start the second half of sophomore year when school starts at the end of the month.”
Jiang Chu was pouring vinegar onto an oyster—a trick he’d learned from Da Ben—when he looked up and saw both of them staring at him. He threw in casually, “27th High School is pretty good. A key school.”
“Right.” Qin Shuman nodded.
“See?” Jiang Liantian rubbed his hands together with a smile, leaning forward over the table. He looked at Jiang Chu warmly. “It’s close to your place too. Easy commute.”
Qin Zui was chewing on a piece of beef. At that sentence, his jaw muscles paused. He lifted his eyelids and stared at Qin Shuman.
Jiang Chu choked on the vinegar, coughed, and tossed the oyster onto his plate. “Too much vinegar.”
Then he pulled out a tissue, wiped his hands, and looked back at Jiang Liantian as he did, asking with complete sincerity, “What did you say?”
Qin Shuman gave an awkward little laugh. Jiang Liantian just waved at him to come outside. “Come on, son. Come have a smoke with your dad. Your Aunt Qin wants to talk to Qin Zui for a bit anyway.”
Couldn’t exactly say anything in front of Qin Shuman and Qin Zui. Jiang Chu crumpled the tissue into a ball, tossed it on his plate, stood up, and followed Jiang Liantian out.
They went into the smoking room. They stood on either side of a potted monstera, lit their cigarettes. Only then did Jiang Liantian let out a deep sigh along with the smoke.
Jiang Chu didn’t ask. He just leaned against the windowsill and watched him, waiting to hear what brilliant idea the old man had cooked up.
He didn’t even make it through the explanation before he flicked his cigarette butt away and turned to walk out.
“Son! Jiang Chu!” Jiang Liantian grabbed his arm immediately. “What the hell is this shitty temper of yours? You learned that from your mother… Okay, okay, just let your dad finish…”
“Can’t listen.” Jiang Chu shoved his hand off. “Don’t you think that sounds ridiculous even saying it yourself? You want him to stay at my place? Do I owe him, or owe his mom? Don’t grab me. Let go. I’m not running.”
“It’s not permanent, just for a while,” Jiang Liantian explained carefully. “Until your Aunt Qin is ready. Then we’ll see how to arrange things.”
“What exactly does she need to prepare for?” Jiang Chu was genuinely baffled. “Isn’t he her own kid?”
“You wouldn’t understand. Can’t explain it to you right now.” Jiang Liantian took a long drag on his cigarette, waving his hand to drop the subject for now. “Just think of it as doing your dad a favor. You don’t have to pay for his living expenses. It’s all taken care of. It’s basically like you’re renting out a room. You can even make a bit of money. How great is that?”
“If he’s so rich, why doesn’t he buy the kid his own apartment?” Jiang Chu actually laughed. It felt unreasonable and irritating.
“He can live on his own after he gets used to life here first. He’s just a kid, a minor. Doesn’t know the place or anyone here.” Jiang Liantian slid closer, lowering his voice. “Look at the way he dresses, that quiet, sullen energy. Eyes wild as a wolf cub. Leave him on his own, he’ll end up in juvie in a few days.”
“Not my problem.” Jiang Chu turned to leave again.
“I’ll give you ten thousand a month.” Jiang Liantian said.
Jiang Chu stopped and turned to look at him.
“Fifteen thousand.” Jiang Liantian upped the ante immediately.
“Twenty,” Jiang Chu countered.
“Sixteen thousand. That’s enough to feed you both. Your dad’s money doesn’t grow on trees.” Jiang Liantian put his hands on his hips and blew a stream of smoke out of his nose. “He’s not even my biological kid. This is plenty generous.”
That last confession actually made Jiang Chu crack a real smile.
After another cigarette, Jiang Chu thought it over carefully. Taking Qin Zui in for a short while wasn’t really out of the question. Mainly, judging by his demeanor, he didn’t seem like the type to cause much trouble. Stick him in the house, give him food and drink, and he’d probably just sit there all day without making a peep.
“How long is he staying?” he asked Jiang Liantian.
“Depends on him,” Jiang Liantian said, looking pretty put-upon being this generous step-dad. “At least look after him for one semester. If he gets on your nerves later, you can tell him to board at the school.”
They went back to the private room. Qin Shuman and Qin Zui were sitting in the exact same spots as before they’d left. No sign of having talked. Not a single trace of warmth between them.
The only difference was Qin Zui now had a bank card in his hand, flipping it end over end against the table between his fingers.
When he heard the door, he turned his head and looked at Jiang Chu.
Jiang Chu was full and didn’t want to stick around any longer. He couldn’t be bothered with formalities either. He met Qin Zui’s gaze and just jerked his chin. “Come on. You’re coming home with me.”
Qin Zui stopped fidgeting with the card. For a second, Jiang Chu thought maybe the kid’s feelings would be so hurt he’d just buy another train ticket and go back.
But Qin Zui didn’t react much. He glanced at Qin Shuman one more time, pocketed the card, slung his giant bag over his shoulder, and came over to follow Jiang Chu downstairs without looking back.
Guess he carried that bag for nothing after all.
Jiang Chu couldn’t help thinking.
In this heat, sent out to pick up some kid, went through all that trouble, and ended up bringing him to his own house.
Qin Zui still didn’t say a word the whole way. Jiang Chu’s mind was wandering, thinking this and that. Part of him thought Qin Zui was easy to deal with. Part of him regretted it.
—Even bringing home a stray cat or dog takes some effort. This was a whole other living, breathing person. They’d never even met before. You can know a person’s face but not their heart. Let your guard down too much and you just invite a thief into the house.
His life really was dramatic enough.
“Anything you want to say?” One more turn and they’d be home. Jiang Chu glanced out the window and asked.
Qin Zui’s hand, resting on his thigh, unconsciously clenched. He didn’t say anything.
Jiang Chu screeched the car to a stop on the side of the road with a “squeal,” and unclicked his seatbelt with a snick.
“Get out.” He met Qin Zui’s gaze.
