Lin Xiyan

It was early September, and the heat hadn't completely dissipated, clinging to us with a sticky warmth. On the first day of school, the school was bustling with activity, like a pot that had just exploded.

Jiang Yibai took a shortcut, going around the back wall of the school. He wasn't one for crowds, so that side was quiet and less crowded. In the corner, a few stray cats often squatted. They were thin, but their fur was relatively clean. They were probably fed regularly by some kind-hearted student.

There was indeed someone in the corner today. A boy, wearing a washed-out school uniform, crouched there with his back to him. His thin back was slightly hunched, making him look frail. He was looking down, holding a handful of cat food in his hand, patiently placing it on the ground bit by bit. Several cats rubbed against his trouser legs, meowing.

Jiang Yibai didn't stop, his eyes swept over without any emotion. Feeding cats, quite common.

He was about to walk over when the boy, seemingly aware of someone behind him, tilted his head slightly. The movement was subtle, a subtle wariness, like a disturbed animal. He didn't turn completely, revealing only a small section of his face, his jawline sharp and his skin pale. Then, he turned back immediately, his attention back to the cat, as if the passing wind was just a gust of wind.

But at that moment, Jiang Yibai recognized her. The one whose name had always been below his on the list—Lin Xiyan. Second in the grade.

He was a little surprised. He hadn't expected it to be like this. Quiet and huddled there like a cat.

Jiang Yibai had no intention of stopping. A stranger, nothing had anything to do with him. He habitually kept a blank expression on his face and planned to just walk by.

But just as he was about to pass the corner, Lin Xiyan moved. He stretched out his slender white fingers and gently touched the head of one of the little orange cats. The cat narrowed its eyes in comfort and rubbed his palm. Lin Xiyan looked at the cat and whispered something, his voice almost inaudible, but the corner of his mouth curled up ever so slightly.

That smile was so shallow, it disappeared in the blink of an eye, as if it had never appeared. But there was something else, something inexplicable, that made the air quiet.

Jiang Yibai paused. He didn't even realize why. Perhaps it was simply because the moment was so quiet, unlike the usual clamor around him.

He stopped, his eyes fixed on Lin Xiyan's back. The man was completely oblivious, still concentrating on feeding the cat, pinching the cat food with his fingertips, carefully avoiding the cat's teeth.

Jiang Yibai didn't say anything, just watched. He was usually a man of few words, let alone taking the initiative to talk to strangers. But he didn't leave either.

After a while, Lin Xiyan probably finished feeding the cat the last bit of food in his hand, clapped his hands, and stood up. He turned around and almost bumped into Jiang Yibai who was standing behind him. He was obviously startled, his shoulders suddenly shrank, and his eyes widened slightly.

Jiang Yibai finally saw his face clearly. It was clean, a little dull, with eyes of a unique color, like light amber. At that moment, there was a hint of obvious panic and confusion in them, and his gaze was erratic, not daring to look him in the face.

The two of them were a little close. Lin Xiyan subconsciously took a half step back, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her school uniform.

The air was a little tense.

Jiang Yibai looked at his frightened expression, and the strange feeling in his heart surfaced again. His face was still cold, and he was the first to break the silence, his voice flat and without any ups and downs: "Are you done feeding?"

Lin Xiyan seemed to have not expected him to speak. After two seconds of silence, he nodded very slightly, his voice as soft as a mosquito: "...Yeah."

"Are they always here?" Jiang Yibai asked again, his eyes sweeping over the cats rubbing against Lin Xiyan's feet.

"...Yeah." Lin Xiyan nodded again, still with one word. He lowered his head and looked at the tip of his shoe.

He really doesn't talk much, Jiang Yibai thought. Even less than him.

He noticed that Lin Xiyan's collarbone was exposed under the collar of her school uniform. She was very thin. Her wrists were also thin, as if they would break if bent lightly.

"Your name is Lin Xiyan," Jiang Yibai stated. He had seen the name on the red list many times.

Lin Xiyan suddenly raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his amber eyes, as if he was wondering why this person knew his name. He looked at Jiang Yibai, opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Finally, he lowered his head and said softly, "Hmm."

The reaction was a bit slow. Jiang Yibai came to a preliminary conclusion.

"Jiang Yibai." He gave his name concisely.

Lin Xiyan raised his head again upon hearing this, this time with a look that had something else in it, a realization. Perhaps he had finally matched his name to the number one on the red list, which had been placed above him. His lips moved, as if he were about to say something, like "Hello" or "I know you," but in the end, nothing came out, and his fingers only tightened around his school uniform.

Jiang Yibai didn't mind his silence. He glanced at the cats that were still meowing, then looked at Lin Xiyan's empty hand.

"Have you brought enough cat food?" he asked.

Lin Xiyan followed his gaze and looked at her hands, then nodded: "...I've brought enough. This is all I bring every day."

Every day. So I feed them every day.

Jiang Yibai didn't ask any more questions. He wasn't a particularly curious person to begin with. He'd already gone too far today.

The bell for class preparation suddenly rang, and the shrill sound broke the eerie silence in the corner.

Lin Xiyan seemed to be awakened by the ringing of a bell. His body trembled slightly and he immediately looked a little anxious. He quickly glanced in the direction of the teaching building, then at Jiang Yibai, as if he didn't know how to end this sudden conversation, his eyes were flustered.

"The bell rang." Jiang Yibai reminded him, his tone still calm.

"...Yeah. We're gonna be late," Lin Xiyan whispered, as if he'd been granted amnesty and wanted to leave immediately. He walked around Jiang Yibai in a hurry, not even glancing at the cats.

When he passed by, he brought a small breeze with him, which had a faint scent of soapberry and a hint of the smell of sunshine.

Jiang Yibai stood there, watching the somewhat panicked figure quickly disappear around the corner.

He looked down at the cats at his feet that were still rubbing against him because they were not full.

"He has no food." Jiang Yibai said to the cat without any expression, as if the cat could understand.

Of course the cat didn't understand and continued to meow.

Jiang Yibai fished his phone out of his pocket and glanced down at the time. The bell had already rung, so if he went there now, he'd definitely be late. But it didn't matter; no one would say anything to him.

He stood there for a few seconds before slowly walking towards the teaching building.

Inexplicably, the slightly widened amber eyes and the almost invisible smile flashed through my mind.

It's quite different from the expressionless ID photo on the red list.