Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Hao Tu held his phone and pretended to browse Weibo while covertly observing the other person.

What exactly was this guy's relationship with Hui Jiang?

Showing up uninvited—what kind of nonsense was that?

The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.

Seeing that Hao Tu wasn't speaking, Time Zeqing was happy to enjoy the peace and directly sat down on Hui Jiang's bed.

The gray-colored bedding suited boys their age perfectly.

Bored, Time Zeqing casually touched the quilt cover beneath him, feeling its texture under his palm.

A faint scent lingered on the bedding, the unique body fragrance of its owner.

When Hao Tu saw this scene, his mood immediately worsened by several degrees.

"Time Zeqing, right?"

"Hm? Do you need something?" Time Zeqing looked up with a smile.

Hao Tu lifted his teacup and took a sip.

"You're Hui Jiang's good friend? About when did you two meet?"

What a strange question.

Time Zeqing narrowed his eyes.

"No, Hui Jiang and I are brothers. As for when we met... probably since kindergarten. You could say we were childhood sweethearts."

The corners of his lips curled upward into a beautiful smile.

"'Childhood sweethearts' refers to a boy and a girl. You two are both men."

Hao Tu reminded him with a cold laugh.

"Ah, you're right. My tongue slipped."

Seeing him smiling so cheerfully, Hao Tu found him even more annoying.

"Then your relationship must be very good. Why didn't you attend the same university?"

Although Time Zeqing was smiling on the surface, he knew perfectly well that Hao Tu had no good intentions.

After a little thought, he guessed that Hao Tu was Hui Jiang's teammate.

Naturally, he immediately developed a dislike for him.

Moreover, his original plan had been to travel with Hui Jiang during this holiday.

Then this guy appeared, and all of his plans went down the drain.

"No matter how close brothers are, they can't stick together every day."

Time Zeqing smiled with curved lips.

"It's just that Hui Jiang always liked hanging around me since childhood. Not getting into the same university made him sad for a long time... so I applied to your university for a one-year exchange program. You could say I'm fulfilling his wish."

Hao Tu frowned.

"Is that so..."

Why had Hui Jiang never told him?

Suddenly, Hao Tu felt a suffocating heaviness in his chest, yet he couldn't understand why.

Forget it.

Leaving aside the fact that Hui Jiang couldn't possibly like Time Zeqing, even if he did have feelings for his childhood friend, what did that have to do with him?

After all, he couldn't possibly like Hui Jiang...

"Click."

At that moment, the bedroom door opened.

Hui Jiang entered carrying some juice and immediately sensed that something was off about the atmosphere.

He glanced at Time Zeqing a couple of times, silently asking what had happened.

Time Zeqing blinked at him, took the chilled juice, and started drinking.

"Tastes good."

Hao Tu's expression darkened several degrees more.

His messy bangs slid down, covering his brows and casting a shadow over his eyes.

Hui Jiang sat down while holding onto the computer chair.

"You're the only one who likes drinking this stuff. So tell me, why did you come over?"

"For no reason. The moment you got home, Hui Heng messaged me on WeChat. I thought it had been almost a month since we last met, so I came upstairs."

Time Zeqing lived downstairs from Hui Jiang.

Their homes were separated by only two floors.

"A month? That's a bit exaggerated."

Hui Jiang laughed helplessly.

"By the way, what have you been busy with this month? I couldn't even reach you on WeChat."

"Studying."

"Holy crap. At least reply to my messages."

"Every time I thought I had replied. I really wasn't doing it on purpose."

"Tch. As if I'd believe that."

The two chatted happily, as though there was no room for a third person.

Hao Tu held his teacup and stared at the droplets of water clinging to its surface.

What was wrong with him?

This feeling was awful.

Painful.

He didn't want anyone else to steal Hui Jiang's attention.

He wanted Hui Jiang to look only at him forever.

"Hui Jiang."

The moment he heard Hao Tu's voice, Hui Jiang immediately turned around.

"What is it?"

"I'm a little hungry."

His tone was calm.

Only then did Hui Jiang notice that it was already almost six o'clock.

He hadn't realized he had been chatting with Time Zeqing for so long.

"Want some cookies? If we wait a little longer, dinner should be ready."

Seeing Hui Jiang rummaging through the drawer for cookies, Hao Tu shook his head.

"No need. I'll just wait for dinner."

Time Zeqing watched their interaction and slightly raised an eyebrow.

Everyone possesses some degree of possessiveness.

His was especially strong.

Ever since childhood, he had disliked seeing Hui Jiang play with other people.

When he was younger, he would even sulk whenever he saw it.

Because he stubbornly believed one thing—

Hui Jiang's best friend could only be him.

And must always be him.

His possessiveness had almost reached a pathological level.

Even Time Zeqing felt exhausted by it.

But whenever he imagined Hui Jiang attending another university, making new friends, and gradually forgetting about him...

He couldn't accept it.

Absolutely not.

Time Zeqing suddenly recalled his second year of middle school.

"Hui Jiang! Hui Jiang!"

The boy pounded on the heavy security door.

Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, yet his face was filled with incomparable joy.

"Open up!"

Not long afterward, the door opened.

Middle-school-aged Hui Jiang was a few centimeters taller than him.

"Come on, let's go play games."

"Mhm!"

He followed his best friend into the room.

Although they attended different middle schools, their relationship remained excellent.

So good that they were practically brothers.

At least, that was what Time Zeqing believed back then.

"Huh? My middle school?"

Hui Jiang focused intently on controlling the mouse.

"It was pretty good. I didn't have as much homework as you... Oh right, I met a really interesting person at school. He's my deskmate. His grades are average, but he's genuinely a great person."

"Your deskmate?"

The baby-faced boy froze.

His cat-like eyes contracted slightly.

"Is he really that great?"

"Absolutely. I guarantee that if you two met, you'd definitely become good friends."

Young Hui Jiang never noticed anything strange about his friend.

"He was my deskmate all through seventh grade. Whenever I was at school, I was always with him."

Time Zeqing's eyes dimmed slightly.

"I see... Then you must know him very well."

"Of course. The two of us practically have no secrets."

What about me?

A layer of mist clouded his cat-like eyes.

Time Zeqing could no longer smile.

"Is that so..."

"And I even think he's my best friend."

Buzz.

Those words struck the cat-eyed boy with terrifying force.

The light completely faded from his eyes.

"No, no, you're my best friend too. Both you and him are my best friends."

Even though Hui Jiang hurriedly added that sentence afterward, Time Zeqing couldn't hear it anymore.

"..."

Hui Jiang, don't you understand?

There can only ever be one "best."

"Hui Jiang, you're my best friend too. Even when we grow up, we have to stay together."

Young Hui Jiang seemed to realize there was something strange about those words, but he still nodded.

"Of course. But you're so good at studying. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with you..."

"It doesn't matter. Even if Hui Jiang can't do anything, I'm willing to earn money and support you."

Back then, young Time Zeqing already believed this was the most beautiful promise possible.

That was why he often repeated those words, half-jokingly, whenever he had the chance.

“What does that have to do with decency?” Hui Jiang frowned in confusion. “Besides, I’m a guy. There’s no need to be that careful, right?”

“Hah,” Hao Tu laughed coldly. “A guy? A guy should be even more careful.”

“Why?” Hui Jiang was completely baffled.

“Because guys are even dirtier,” Hao Tu said expressionlessly. “Especially people like Shi Zeqing who run around everywhere. Who knows what he touched before sitting on your bed.”

“What kind of logic is that?” Hui Jiang felt speechless. “Besides, Zeqing isn't that kind of person.”

“Oh, you know him very well?”

“Of course I do. We've known each other since kindergarten.”

Hao Tu's expression darkened again.

Since kindergarten.

Childhood friends.

Brothers.

The more he thought about those words, the more irritating they became.

“What about me?” Hao Tu suddenly asked.

“Huh?”

Hui Jiang stared at him blankly.

“What about you?”

Hao Tu immediately realized he had misspoken.

His fingers tightened around the teacup.

Nothing.

He just wanted to know what kind of place he occupied in Hui Jiang's heart.

But that question was too strange.

So strange that even he himself couldn't understand why he cared so much.

“Nothing,” Hao Tu lowered his eyes. “Forget it.”

“You're really weird today,” Hui Jiang muttered.

Just then, footsteps came from outside.

A middle-aged woman's voice sounded from the living room.

“Jiang Jiang, are your classmates awake? Dinner's ready.”

“Coming!”

Hui Jiang immediately stood up.

“My mom's calling us.”

“Mm.”

The two left the room one after another.

The dining table wasn't particularly large.

Six dishes and one soup.

Braised pork ribs.

Steamed fish.

Stir-fried beef.

Scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

Garlic lettuce.

And winter melon soup.

Very ordinary home cooking.

Yet the moment Hao Tu sat down, he was surrounded by a warmth he had never experienced before.

“Classmate Hao, don't be shy,” Mother Hui smiled warmly. “Just eat whatever you want.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“Your uncle and I were worried Jiang Jiang wouldn't have any friends at university. We didn't expect him to bring such a handsome classmate home.”

“Mom!”

Hui Jiang nearly choked.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“What nonsense?” Mother Hui rolled her eyes. “Look at yourself, then look at Hao Tu.”

Father Hui also nodded seriously.

“Indeed.”

Hui Jiang was furious.

“Dad, whose side are you on?”

Father Hui replied calmly, “The side of truth.”

The entire table burst into laughter.

Even Hao Tu couldn't help curling the corners of his lips.

Mother Hui noticed his smile and secretly sighed.

Handsome.

Too handsome.

No wonder her son was willing to bring him home.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

“Classmate Hao,” Mother Hui suddenly asked, “do you have a girlfriend?”

“Cough!”

Hui Jiang sprayed water out instantly.

Hao Tu paused as well.

“No.”

“Then that's perfect,” Mother Hui's eyes lit up. “Our Jiang Jiang doesn't have one either.”

“Mom!”

“What's wrong with that? I'm just chatting.”

Hui Jiang wanted to die.

Why was she bringing up this topic again?

“Actually, Auntie,” Hao Tu suddenly spoke.

Everyone looked toward him.

“I don't plan on dating for now.”

“Ah?” Mother Hui was surprised. “Why?”

“Studying is more important.”

A standard model student's answer.

Father Hui nodded approvingly.

“Good mindset.”

Mother Hui immediately turned her head and glared at her own son.

“Look at him.”

Hui Jiang felt wronged.

“I study too, okay?”

“Really?”

“...Forget it.”

The family atmosphere was lively.

Most of the time, Hui Jiang and his parents were talking.

Hao Tu quietly listened from the side.

Occasionally answering a few questions.

For the first time, he discovered that eating dinner could be this lively.

No servants.

No oversized dining table.

No cold, empty house.

Yet strangely enough, it felt warmer than anything.

When dinner ended, it was already after seven.

Hui Jiang volunteered to wash the dishes.

Mother Hui didn't stop him.

Instead, she secretly pulled Hao Tu aside.

“Classmate Hao.”

“Auntie?”

Mother Hui lowered her voice.

“Our Jiang Jiang is a bit silly.”

“Mm?”

“He's careless, doesn't notice details, and sometimes says stupid things.”

Hao Tu listened quietly.

“But he's a good kid.”

Mother Hui smiled.

“If he ever does something that makes you angry, don't take it to heart.”

Hao Tu was slightly stunned.

After a long moment, he nodded.

“Okay.”

For some reason, hearing those words made his heart soften unexpectedly.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen.

Hui Jiang sneezed hard.

“Ah-choo!”

Who was talking about him behind his back?