Chapter 9

Xie Qingyan followed without any hesitation.

Jiang Ci didn't stop walking, going straight through the neon-lit commercial street and turning into a relatively quiet alley. Xie Qingyan quietly followed half a step behind him, not asking where they were going, but simply following trustingly.

At the end of the alley, a fast-paced internet cafe with a modern storefront and a dimly lit interior came into view. Jiang Ci seemed to know the place well. As he pushed open the door, the young man at the front desk, who was playing games with headphones on, glanced up and saw him. He gave a practiced nod of his chin as a greeting, and his gaze lingered curiously on Xie Qingyan for a moment.

"The usual place?" the young man asked.

"Okay." Jiang Ci responded, handed over his ID, and led Xie Qingyan through the hall filled with the faint smell of smoke and the sound of keyboards being typed, toward a quiet private room at the far end.

The private room wasn't large, containing two high-backed gaming chairs side by side and two top-of-the-line computer screens that glowed softly. This was completely different from the study or teahouse Xie Qingyan was used to; it was filled with a modern technological feel that he couldn't yet fully comprehend.

Jiang Ci offered no explanation, simply sitting down at one of the computers. He turned it on, the blue fluorescent light illuminating his cold, handsome profile. His fingers touched the keyboard, his gaze instantly becoming extremely focused, even taking on a cold, sharp quality, like a warrior entering his battlefield.

Xie Qingyan sat down in the chair next to him, not looking at the screen, but taking out his physics textbook from his bag. He didn't ask us why we were there, nor did he show any discomfort with the surrounding environment. He just silently opened the book and, in the dim light of the private room, immersed himself in the formulas that gave him a headache but which he had to conquer.

For a moment, only two distinct sounds remained in the private room: the crisp, rapid clicking of Jiang Ci's fingertips on the mechanical keyboard; and the soft rustling of Xie Qingyan occasionally turning the pages of a book.

On Jiang Ci's screen, strings of complex code scrolled rapidly, the green characters contrasting against a black background, like a data galaxy flowing in the dark night. He frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the constantly changing instructions and feedback.

He was tracking, analyzing, and using technical means to find the source of the video upload and the vulnerabilities in each transmission node. His movements were skilled and precise; this was clearly not the first time he had done something similar. Perhaps in the past, during those sleepless nights, this dimly lit private room and this cold machine were his bastions for escaping reality and fighting against external harm.

Time slips away quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Ci pressed the last Enter key. The scrolling on the screen stopped, and a simple success message popped up. His tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and he leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, silent sigh.

Only then did he seem to detach himself from that world of code and instructions and rediscover his surroundings. He turned his head slightly to the side.

What comes into view is Xie Qingyan's quiet profile.

Xie Qingyan lowered his head slightly, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath his eyes, intently studying a circuit diagram. His fingertips unconsciously traced lines on the table, as if trying to understand the flow of electricity. The dim light from the screen reflected on his focused face, giving him a strange, tranquil, scholarly air that seemed out of place in the noisy environment.

He was completely undisturbed by the sound of the keyboard, nor did he show the slightest curiosity or concern about what Jiang Ci was doing, which might be operating in a gray area. He was simply there, beside him, doing what he was supposed to do.

An unprecedented feeling enveloped Jiang Ci. It wasn't loneliness, vigilance, or the frustration of facing trouble. Rather, it was a calm, warm sense of security. It was as if no matter what he was doing, no matter how unbearable his past was, or how thorny the trouble he was facing, there would always be someone unconditionally sitting beside him, giving him an undisturbed, quiet corner.

Jiang Ci didn't disturb Xie Qingyan. He just quietly watched Xie Qingyan turn another page of the book, watched Xie Qingyan's brows relax slightly as he solved an auxiliary line problem, watched Xie Qingyan occasionally bite his lower lip gently when he encountered a difficult problem...

Xie Qingyan's stomach began to rumble softly again, its sound particularly clear in the quiet private room. Startled from her book, she clutched her abdomen somewhat embarrassedly and looked up at Jiang Ci, only to find that he had finished his task and was now quietly watching her.

"Um..." Xie Qingyan began, wanting to ask about the video, but then felt he shouldn't.

"The video issue is resolved," Jiang Ci said succinctly, turning off the computer screen. The dim blue light disappeared, plunging the private room into even deeper darkness, with only a sliver of light filtering in from the corridor outside. "It shouldn't spread any further for the time being."

He didn't explain in detail what he had done, and Xie Qingyan tacitly refrained from pressing him. He simply nodded, closed the book, and said softly, "What are your plans for tonight?"

"You go back first, I'll stay here tonight."

That home is no longer a place to belong.

Xie Qingyan's heart clenched as if something had grabbed it. "You haven't had dinner yet, have you? Aren't you hungry?"

"Just grab something to eat later. Aren't you already hungry? Go back now."

Remembering her homeroom teacher's hesitant expression, Xie Qingyan mustered her courage and said, "You haven't eaten dinner and have nowhere to go, why don't you come to my house..."

Jiang Ci was stunned.

"...I still have many questions I don't understand! I'd like to ask you more questions after I've eaten." Xie Qingyan's voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible. He was mentally prepared to be rejected by Jiang Ci again.

Jiang Ci remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Um."

To everyone's surprise, Jiang Ci agreed! A gentle smile immediately spread across Xie Qingyan's face, like the first thaw of spring ice. He deftly helped Jiang Ci pack up his books, and the two left the internet cafe together.

As dusk settled and the city lights began to twinkle, Xie Qingyan led Jiang Ci through the gradually bustling streets and alleys, finally turning into an old town area full of life, and stopping in front of a two-story self-built house with warm lights shining through.

"Mom and Dad, I'm back! I brought my classmate with me." Xie Qingyan pushed open the half-closed door, her voice light and warm.

The aroma of food wafted over instantly; it was the warmth of home.

Wearing an apron, Xie's mother peeked out from the kitchen. Seeing her son and the tall, handsome but somewhat pale boy behind him, her face immediately lit up with a warm smile: "Oh, it's my classmate! Come in, come in! The food is just ready, but there's not much to eat. Please don't be shy!"

The living room was small and simply furnished, but it was kept spotless and bright.

When Jiang Ci stood in the Xie family's simple living room, he finally understood where Xie Qingyan's clarity of mind came from.

Father Xie also came out of the inner room with a smile to greet him. This unguarded and simple warmth left Jiang Ci, who was standing at the door, momentarily at a loss. He was used to indifference, scrutiny, and disgust, but he didn't know how to deal with such kindness.

He looked at the steaming plates of home-cooked dishes on the table, watched Xie Qingyan naturally pull out a chair for him, and heard Xie's mother ask with concern, "Child, are you feeling unwell? Why is your face so pale?" A strong wave of bitterness suddenly rushed into his nose, and he hurriedly lowered his head.

Upon learning that Jiang Ci had come to tutor her son, Xie's parents hurriedly prepared a hot meal and dishes.

"It's my classmate's first time here, so there's not much to offer." Xie's mother served Jiang Ci a full bowl of rice.

Looking at the steaming scrambled eggs with tomatoes and shredded pork with green peppers on the table, Jiang Ci suddenly remembered that many years ago, his mother had also made these two dishes for him. He hadn't tasted his mother's home-cooked meals for a very long time. He quickly lowered his head to hide his reddened eyes.

The atmosphere at dinner was warm and simple. Mother Xie kept putting food on her two children's plates, saying, "Eat more, studying takes a lot of brainpower," while Father Xie smiled憨厚ly and asked about everyday things at school. Jiang Ci had been somewhat reserved, but the hot, home-cooked food and the genuine care from Father and Mother Xie eased his tension, allowing him to eat his meal quietly and attentively.

Halfway through the meal, Xie Qingyan suddenly put down his chopsticks and sat up straight. His action attracted the attention of his parents, and even Jiang Ci, who was eating quietly beside him, looked up.

“Mom and Dad,” Xie Qingyan’s voice was clear and steady, with a seriousness that seemed a little too serious for his age, “I have a favor to ask of you.”

"What is it? Tell me," Xie's mother said readily.

Xie Qingyan turned his gaze to Jiang Ci, then back to his parents, his tone earnest: "Jiang Ci's family has been having some inconveniences these past two days. Could he stay at our house for a while?" He paused, then added, "Besides, the mock exam is just around the corner, and I still have many questions I need to ask him. If he stays at our house, it will be convenient for us to discuss and learn together."

There was a moment of silence at the dinner table after these words were spoken.

Mr. and Mrs. Xie were clearly surprised by their son's request. Mrs. Xie instinctively looked at Jiang Ci, her eyes filled with genuine concern: "Xiao Ci, is something wrong at home? Do your parents know? You should at least tell your family about this."

This was the most logical question, yet also the most embarrassing for Jiang Ci. His fingers tightened slightly around the chopsticks, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. That "home" and "family" were the shadows he least wanted to mention at this moment. How should he answer? Should he say that his father didn't care where he went? Or should he say that he didn't want to go back to that so-called home?

Just as Jiang Ci's throat tightened, unsure how to weave a suitable lie, Xie Qingyan's clear voice rang out again, carrying a reassuring and resolute certainty:

"Mom, don't worry. I've already spoken with Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang on the phone about this, and they readily agreed. Uncle Jiang even said he's very relieved that Jiang Ci can come to our house to study with me."

Xie Qingyan spoke so naturally and fluently, his eyes open and honest, as if he were simply stating a perfectly ordinary fact. Even when mentioning the telephone, a modern device he wasn't actually very familiar with, he didn't stumble at all.

Jiang Ci suddenly turned his head to look at Xie Qingyan. In the dim light, the profile of his deskmate was clear, and his expression was calm and unwavering. Only his eyes, looking at him from an angle where his parents couldn't see them under the table, flashed a hint of reassurance and certainty.

Hearing her son's words and seeing Jiang Ci's silent expression, Xie's mother's doubts vanished, and a smile returned to her face: "Oh dear, you child, you asked all along and didn't say so earlier! There's nothing wrong with it! It's just that our family's conditions are average, Xiao Ci, don't mind! I'll go and tidy things up for you right now and take out that new quilt from the closet, you two can squeeze in together tonight!"

Father Xie nodded with a smile, "It's only right for classmates to help each other! Xiao Yan, you should learn from Jiang Ci!"

Xie Qingyan's parents had long since accepted his grades as they were. But seeing their son willing to study on his own initiative, and even having classmates willing to tutor him, was like a windfall. They couldn't bear to refuse; in fact, they wished Jiang Ci would stay a few more days.

Jiang Ci lowered his head, looking at the food Xie's mother had just put in his bowl. That familiar sour feeling welled up in his nose again, but this time, it seemed to be mixed with something else, something scalding hot. He hadn't expected that his usually gentle, polite, and even somewhat old-fashioned classmate would be able to weave such a thorough lie so decisively in order to protect him.

He didn't expose it. Nor could he. He simply touched Xie Qingyan's hand lightly with his fingertips under the table, then quickly withdrew his hand.

This is a silent, clumsy, yet incredibly weighty expression of gratitude.

Xie Qingyan felt the fleeting touch, her eyebrows curved slightly, and she continued to casually put a piece of food on Jiang Ci's plate: "Jiang Ci, try this, my mother's braised eggplant is absolutely amazing."

---

After dinner, Xie's mother brought out fluffy pillowcases and comforters, and neatly put on a clean, sun-scented plain-colored duvet cover in the living room. As she worked, she listened to the whispers coming from her son's room.

The door was ajar, letting in warm yellow light. Xie Qingyan and Jiang Ci sat side by side at the desk, their heads almost touching, staring at the open math test paper. Xie Qingyan pointed to one of the questions, her brow furrowing slightly: "Why is this auxiliary line drawn here? What's the basis for it?"

Jiang Ci's voice was deep and clear as he lightly touched the drawing with his pen: "Here, do you see? These two corners are hidden complementary. Without drawing this line, the conditions will fall apart."

Mother Xie peeked in and saw the two boys' focused silhouettes looking exceptionally quiet and beautiful under the lamplight. A relieved smile appeared on her face as she gently knocked on the door frame: "Don't study too late, you two. Go wash up and get some rest. The water heater is ready. Xiao Yan, there are new towels in the cabinet for your classmate."

"Understood." Xie Qingyan looked up and replied, then her gaze returned to the exam paper.

Time slipped away silently with the scratching of pen on paper. The night outside the window grew darker, and the occasional bark of a dog in the distance only accentuated the quiet inside. Before I knew it, the hour hand of the wall clock had quietly slid to 12.

After explaining the variation of the last problem, Jiang Ci put down his pen and rubbed his temples. A sudden wave of intense fatigue washed over him, causing him to yawn involuntarily. This fatigue wasn't just from the day's mental exertion, but also a natural reaction to being completely relaxed at this moment.

Hearing the yawn, Xie Qingyan was startled awake from her sea of ​​questions. Turning her head, she saw the faint dark circles under Jiang Ci's eyes and the undisguised weariness, and a sense of guilt immediately welled up in her heart.

"I'm sorry, I took too long." He quickly closed his book, his tone filled with genuine unease. "Let's go wash up. You go to the bathroom on the first floor, and I'll go to the second floor."