Yang Xiaoyu booked a plane ticket to fly abroad that same day.

Before leaving, Yang Xiaoyu kissed Wan Qiu's forehead.

Only recently has Wan Qiu gradually come to understand the meaning of kissing.

This is an expression of affection and fondness.

So Wanqiu also kissed his mother.

Yang Xiaoyu stood there, looking at him blankly, not as enthusiastic as usual.

Wan Qiu, however, saw Yang Xiaoyu's joyful sparks, which flickered and crackled among her long hair, which was being blown about by the breeze.

After watching Yang Xiaoyu leave, Wan Qiu leaned against the door alone, unconsciously touching his lips.

The lips are truly a very unique organ; they can easily bring joy to people.

Eating makes you happy, smiling makes you happy, kissing makes you happy, talking makes you happy, and even painting with beautiful colors makes you happy.

Did he kiss his mother, which is why she was so happy?

Wanqiu returned to his room.

Dad said he's given free time today and can do whatever he wants.

Wanqiu had no plans to do.

He used to pick up trash every day because their refrigerator was always empty.

He needs money to get food.

But things are different now. They have a great chef whose refrigerator is always full, and he cooks delicious food.

He didn't need to clean the room, because everything he saw seemed to be untouched by dirt and incredibly clean.

But Wanqiu still had to do something.

Because his father asked him to do what he wanted to do.

If there's nothing you want to do, then do what you can do.

Wanqiu got dressed and went downstairs.

He can ride his tricycle to remember this very, very big home and go find what he can do.

Wanqiu really likes tricycles.

On the road, there are all sorts of gleaming vehicles, but only tricycles can bring in money.

The carts selling fruit, fried rice, and barbecue are all tricycles.

What attracted Wanqiu the most was the tricycle that sold scrap metal.

It can park anywhere it wants, and it can hold lots and lots of cardboard boxes and bottles. Every scrap collector owns a tricycle.

But this is home, and there won't be much trash here.

Wan Qiu rode his tricycle, taking detours through the villa area.

It's such a big place. Wanqiu always thought that maybe her parents were the village chiefs of the whole village, so they could have such a big place to live.

Wanqiu wasn't actually very familiar with the roads here. There were so many roads, even more complicated than the streets in the largest residential area that Wanqiu had bypassed.

Wan Qiu once spent a year exploring a suitable route for collecting trash.

But now he should spend less time exploring this place, because there are hardly any people and very few trash cans.

Wanqiu doesn't need to think about when to 'go home', because where he is now is home.

Wanqiu stopped by the roadside and sat in the back of the tricycle, where the dense foliage cast a shadow on the tricycle.

A gentle breeze carries a faint fruity scent, Wanqiu's favorite aroma.

Lying in the back of the tricycle, Wan Qiu looked up at the clear blue sky.

A quiet breeze, swaying leaves, crisp birdsong, and flowing air.

Wanqiu had never observed these creatures, who flaunt their joy in nature every day, so carefully before.

Things that I see every day seem to have re-entered Wanqiu's memory at this moment.

Wanqiu opened his arms and grasped the wind.

And the wind carried Wanqiu into the sky.

Looking down at the white buildings from the sky, they seemed like smiling mouths at him.

——

When Wanqiu woke up, the sky was already dyed red by the setting sun.

Wan Qiu suddenly sat up; it was time to go home.

However, the tricycle beneath him wobbled, and Wan Qiu seemed to only then realize that he was at home.

only……

Wanqiu had an extra thin blanket over his abdomen.

The spot where he was originally standing had no shade anymore, but now he was still under the shade of the trees, even after the tricycle had moved.

Wanqiu saw the unfamiliar shadow that had appeared on the ground and turned around.

Sitting in the tricycle, someone heard him and turned around to look at him.

The man was tall and had a somewhat unapproachable face; he was Yang Ze.

"Isn't it uncomfortable to sleep here?" Yang asked.

Wan Qiu shook his head.

Yang got out of the car and reached out to remove the leaves from Wan Qiu's head: "Aren't you uncomfortable with these hard leaves?"

Wan Qiu said, "It doesn't hurt."

"Really? Did you sleep well? Did you have any sweet dreams?" Yang Ze asked gently, her voice tinged with the soft, warm sunlight of the setting sun.

Did you have a good dream?

Wan Qiu nodded.

However, he couldn't remember what he dreamed about. Everything in the dream was very long, but he felt light and didn't feel uncomfortable. This must mean he had a good dream.

Wan Qiu looked up at Yang Ze, wondering why his second brother was here.

Yang was not unaware of Wan Qiu's puzzled look, but he couldn't explain it either.

Even though Chu Yigui knew Wanqiu very well, he said that Wanqiu should be given some time to adapt to this unfamiliar environment, but Yang Ze still came back.

This was the first time he had asked for leave from work.

I thought I would feel a little awkward when I saw Wan Qiu, but I didn't expect that after finding her, I would sit next to the sleeping Wan Qiu for an entire afternoon.

He did nothing; he didn't even turn on his phone to work.

Yang Ze hadn't felt like this in a long time. The world seemed to have been emptied, free from all the messy trifles and chaotic thoughts; his mind was completely blank.

It was as if they were realizing for the first time how beautiful their suburban villa was. The boy slept peacefully in the quiet environment, his breathing muffled by the breeze, which seemed to soften the sweltering summer heat.

"Are you thirsty?" Yang asked. After sleeping soundly until the afternoon in the summer, one should need to replenish fluids.

Wan Qiu pursed her lips; they were indeed a little dry.

It's time to go back inside and get some water.

Wan Qiu looked up at Yang Ze.

Yang Ze also turned to look at him.

The two, who weren't very good at talking, looked at each other in silence.

Wanqiu got off the tricycle's cargo bed, walked around it, and went to the tricycle's seat.

Yang sat on the edge of the truck bed and watched Wan Qiu get on the tricycle.

Wan Qiu waited, glanced back at Yang Ze, and then at the tricycle.

Yang tentatively sat on the truck bed. Wan Qiu seemed satisfied, turned around, and used all his strength to try to step on the pedal.

If the vehicle were empty, it would be fine, but Yang Ze's height and weight obviously put a lot of pressure on the tricycle, making it very difficult for Wan Qiu to start.

Yang stepped on the ground to help the tricycle get off to a better start, and the tricycle gradually moved smoothly.

Yang sat with his legs curled up on the tricycle, his expression indescribably complex.

I never imagined he'd have a day where he'd ride in a pedicab.

From the back of the tricycle, Yang watched Wan Qiu's slender figure struggling to pedal. He sat in the evening breeze brought by the tricycle's movement, gazing at the tuft of hair bent under the weight of Wan Qiu's head amidst the receding scenery.

Although it was difficult for both of them to speak, Yang Ze felt that he might be even less composed than Wan Qiu.

Wan Qiu is probably like that, quiet and silent. If you don't pay attention to him, it's as if he's fading into thin air.

Yang wanted to get closer to Wanqiu, but didn't know how.

Unlike Chu Yigui, he couldn't easily find topics to talk about with Wan Qiu.

Even without saying anything, Yang Ze didn't feel oppressed by Wan Qiu's side.

As dusk fell, the streetlights came on right on time, vying with the afterglow of the sun to shine.

Looking at the series of lights, Yang suddenly spoke: "Wanqiu."

The tricycle slowed down, and Yang saw that Wan Qiu had turned his head slightly from his seat to listen to him.

"Have you ever gone out at night?" Yang asked.

Wan Qiu nodded, then shook his head.

Yang, however, did not understand what this meant.

Wan Qiu thought for a moment and said, "Dad needs to buy something... He's going out tonight."

Does it mean running errands? Yang wondered.

"Would you like to go out and have a look tonight?" Yang asked.

Wanqiu pondered, wondering why he had to go out at night, but perhaps going out at night was a good thing.

Otherwise, Mom and Dad wouldn't always stay out all night.

Wan Qiu stopped his tricycle at the entrance and turned to look at Yang Ze.

"Um."

Wan Qiuming clearly felt that Yang Ze probably wanted him to agree.

But why didn't Yang Ze become happy after responding?

"Really? Wanqiu?" Instead of calling him his third brother, Wanqiu called him by his name. He sensed that Yang Ze's mood seemed to have changed, but not with happiness.

Wan Qiu hesitated, wondering if Yang Ze didn't want to go out with him: "Then...then we won't go?"

However, as soon as Wan Qiu finished speaking, Yang Ze seemed even more depressed than before.

Wanqiu was at a loss.

"Don't go back on your word once you've agreed." Yang got up from the tricycle and ruffled Wanqiu's hair. "Go find something you want to take with you. Your second brother will take you out tonight."

Wanqiu nodded blankly, then received a push on the back.

Yang Ze entered the room and saw Chu Yigui coming downstairs. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Fourth brother, I'm taking third brother out tonight. Do you want to come along?"

Chu Yigui stood on the stairs, tilting her head to seriously consider Yang Ze's invitation.

"It's Friday today, right? It should be quite lively tonight. Should we go to the fountain park, or just go see the night view of the paid scenic area?" Chu Yigui asked. "I actually recommend taking a boat trip on the lake. It's quite interesting to see the lights on the shore from the lake at night."

Yang raised an eyebrow: "Why not a restaurant?"

“My brother is shy, so he might prefer being in a crowd. The more people there are, the less likely he is to be noticed,” Chu Yigui said.

Yang understood that Chu Yigui was suggesting something to him, and said, "What about you? Wanqiu hasn't been anywhere yet, so you can go and see more places. Why don't you choose a place you like?"

"The homework the teacher assigned today was a bit difficult, so I plan to spend the evening studying." Chu Yigui spread his hands and shrugged. "Study hard and make progress every day."

"Your grades are already so good, yet you still study so hard. How are the others supposed to survive?" Yang couldn't help but tease.

"Second brother has no right to say that to me," Chu Yigui responded to Yang Ze's teasing. "When we go out to play, we can have some snacks. My brother doesn't eat much, so if we want him to have a more substantial meal, we have to buy smaller portions at a time."

Yang asked, "Won't eating too many complicated foods be bad for your stomach?"

"Brother's stomach is very good." Chu Yigui even exaggeratedly gave a thumbs up.

Wan Qiu stood at the entrance of the building, watching his brothers chatting familiarly below.

Although Wan Qiu couldn't see Chu Yigui's expression, he could clearly sense that Yang Ze's smile was full of joy.

Although he couldn't hear what was being said, Wan Qiu didn't sense any awkwardness in the communication between the brothers.

Wanqiu unconsciously gripped the stair railing.

He had never seen how other children interacted with their parents at home, so he had no way to compare.

But if they are brothers, why can't the second brother be just as happy in front of him as he is in front of his younger brother?

Wan Qiu sat in the passenger seat and secretly looked up at Yang Ze's profile.

Yang kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, driving with focused concentration.

The car was quiet; there was no music playing.

In Wan Qiu's view, Yang Ze seemed to be constantly caught in a strange cycle of 'happy' and 'unhappy'.

Yang was the person Wan Qiu had ever met who had the fastest emotional fluctuations.

I don't understand why this is happening.

It was completely dark outside, but bright lights could be seen from the window. This was a night unlike any Wanqiu had ever seen.

They've always been located in mixed residential areas of old buildings and urban villages. At night, only restaurants and eateries are usually open, and the most attractive signs are those of hotels. Even the small parks nearby only have some colored spotlights.

But here...

This was completely beyond Wanqiu's comprehension.

This is……

A dragon?

From a distance on the overpass, one can see a brightly lit strip of lights, with countless tiny lights clustered together like the scales of a dragon, forming a long, radiant body that burns brilliantly in the night.

As they drew closer to the bright spot, the beautiful lights reflected in Wanqiu's eyes became increasingly colorful.

After finding a parking space, Yang said to Wan Qiu in the passenger seat, "Sit tight."

Wan Qiu watched Yang Ze get out of the car with bated breath, and for a moment the thought popped into her mind, 'Is my second brother going to leave me in the car?'

However, Yang simply walked around the front of the car, went to Wan Qiu's side, and opened the passenger door.

The tall man bent down, unbuckled his seatbelt, and pulled him out of the car.

Yang looked down and checked Wan Qiu's bracelet, then squeezed Wan Qiu's small black waist bag to make sure the phone was safely inside.

"Don't let go of my hand." Yang Ze's thick hand gripped Wan Qiu's, and Wan Qiu looked up at Yang Ze in confusion.

Yang then pulled him along, leading him gradually into the bright light.

Wan Qiu never saw Yang Ze staring at him, but from Yang Ze's occasional glances back and his clenched hands, Wan Qiu vaguely sensed something.

Wan Qiu didn't care about passing by people, but he was very concerned about being watched.

He has no outstanding qualities that can attract attention, so those who are watching him must be looking at his shortcomings.

Flaws are things that people don't like. If people notice your flaws, Wanqiu will also feel nervous.

And now...

Wan Qiu felt that Yang Ze would grip his hand even tighter when faced with unfamiliar gazes, appearing even more sensitive and nervous than Wan Qiu herself.

It was as if he would lose it if he let go.

They were very close, so close that Wan Qiu seemed to be right next to Yang Ze.

For some reason, Wanqiu seemed unable to feel herself when she was with her mother, and strongly resisted the gaze of others.

It was as if Wan Qiu's tension was being transmitted to Yang Ze through their clasped hands, and Yang Ze, with his nerves taut, was experiencing the tension in place of Wan Qiu.

Wan Qiu blinked, looking at the man's thick hand, which was tense and the veins were slightly bulging, even though he wanted to hold it tightly. Wan Qiu also gripped Yang Ze's hand in return.

Yang Ze stopped in his tracks and looked down at Wan Qiu.

Wan Qiu was also watching Yang Ze.

Wan Qiu's eyes widened slightly, and the 'unhappiness' that always popped up from time to time seemed to have suddenly disappeared.

Happiness bubbled up like bubbles, bursting in the air and releasing a faint, pleasant fragrance.

When Wan Qiu saw Yang Ze reach out his other hand and ruffle his hair, he saw Yang Ze reach out his other hand and ruffle his hair.

Wan Qiu followed behind Yang Ze, boldly looking around at everything. They were walking step by step into the long dragon of light.

This was the first time Wanqiu had realized that the night could be so lively.

Groups of well-dressed men and women, each with a confident smile on their face, were enjoying the fun of the nightlife together, even though they didn't interact with each other much.

It was as bright as day, with open shops everywhere, and the air was filled with the aromas of all kinds of food that Wan Qiu had never smelled before. He couldn't help but sniff.

Soon after, Wanqiu had some freshly bought pastries in her hands. The sweet aroma spread directly from her mouth to her brain. The happiness brought by the sweetness made Wanqiu purse her lips, reluctant to let the sweet smell escape.

It was nighttime, yet it was noisy and disruptive; it seemed that there was no need to worry about disturbing the peace here.

Along the roadside, there were stalls selling glittering ornaments, and Wanqiu had a little sparkling star pinned to his head.

Wan Qiu realized that the little stars on his head were glowing.

I inexplicably felt that I must be shining and looking very beautiful right now, and even walking felt a little awkward.

Wan Qiu never knew that such a place existed in the world. Even though it wasn't bathed in sunlight, the lights seemed to give the world a different kind of color.

It is the color that humanity has added to its own darkness, a gathering place for joy and development.

Wanqiu bit into a grilled sausage, his mouth dripping with oil.

Yang Ze basically didn't say anything to Wan Qiu; he just held Wan Qiu's hand.

Yang himself thought that his dull personality wouldn't appeal to children; at least, most of the children he had met were afraid to look him in the eye, and he seemed to naturally provoke their dislike.

He probably understood this feeling. Children don't like serious people. In addition, he inherited his father's appearance and his mother's features made him look somewhat fierce.

If Yang tries to speak gently and deliberately in a flattering manner, it is more likely to frighten the child into tears.

However, it seems that Wanqiu does not judge a person's character based on their appearance.

Yang was also curious about how Wan Qiu viewed the world from his perspective.

Yang Ze has been here many times, mostly for work. Yang Xiaoyu has businesses here, but although Yang Ze took his mother's surname, he is more inclined to his father's company.

Yang Ze looked at Wan Qiu's bright eyes under the lamplight.

Although there was no smile or conversation, he looked intently at everything around him, appreciating every carefully designed scene for people to enjoy. Yang Ze even became somewhat sentimental.

My mother and older brother have always been working hard for this cause, and they must feel very proud when they see the smiles on others' faces.

Yang felt a subtle shift and loosening in his own thoughts, as if he were being influenced by Wan Qiu's softness and gentleness.

Even though he had once been so reluctant to look at Yang Xiaoyu seriously.

Wanqiu took a bite of the last piece of the grilled sausage, savoring the flavor. His stomach was already quite full.

Chu Yigui told him to eat less at dinner, but he didn't understand and did as she said, and now he's stuffed again.

Wan Qiu couldn't help but look at the people passing by. They were always carrying bottles in their hands, more or less. Wan Qiu looked at the bottles, but Yang wouldn't let go of his hand, and neither would he.

Wan Qiu noticed his hand being tugged, looked up at Yang Ze, and Yang Ze was also looking at Wan Qiu. The two stared at each other.

"It's nothing," Yang Ze said, but Wan Qiu could still see a hint of displeasure flashing across Yang Ze's face.

Wan Qiu followed Yang Ze's gaze and saw the man kneeling on the ground, holding a strange cardboard sign with something written on it, which was not very clear under the light.

The man had a deformed back, atrophied legs, an aged face that belied his age, and messy, dirty hair. He sat in a dimly lit corner, seemingly far away from the world.

The man was far away from them, across the length of the street, in such an inconspicuous corner that he was almost unnoticed by anyone.

Wan Qiu noticed that Yang Ze was looking at him, and his gaze seemed to be scrutinizing something.

Suddenly, Wan Qiu saw Yang Ze's somewhat helpless smile.

Yang pulled Wanqiu to the man's side and placed all the loose change in his pocket in front of the man.

Wan Qiu watched as the man thanked him with joy. His voice was hoarse, yet he was filled with unspeakable excitement. His dark pupils, which had been immersed in darkness, seemed to reflect a glimmer of light.

Wan Qiu followed Yang Ze away, but turned back to look at the man. The man's gaze lingered in their direction for a long time, just as Wan Qiu had been staring at him for a long time.

Wanqiu thought of the past.

The scrap collector also asked him why he didn't just go begging. He could simply sit on the ground, put down a bowl, and be in a crowded place.

Wanqiu was unwilling.

He didn't want to be the center of attention, nor did he want to simply sit there and receive money.

My parents work very hard to earn money.

He has to collect so many bottles to earn a little money.

Others must also work very hard to earn money.

That man must have thought the same thing, if he had a healthy body...

Wan Qiu suddenly felt a stinging pain in the hand that Yang Ze was holding. He subconsciously looked up at Yang Ze, who seemed to realize that his grip was a bit too strong and immediately relaxed.

Under the bright lights, Yang stood there like a speck of asphalt, untouched by any light.

He was a sturdy, tall, and somewhat serious man, yet he seemed capable of melting away at any moment.

"Wanqiu." Wanqiu heard Yang Ze's voice, which was very clear in the crowded throng. "I'm really glad you're back."

At that moment, Wanqiu's intuition told him that his second brother must be telling the truth.

He has never been so certain about anything before.