The vehicle was moving quietly.
Yang Xiaoyu held Wan Qiu's hand tightly and never let go.
Wanqiu's hands were not delicate; they were covered in scratches. There were always sharp objects hidden in the trash, which could easily cut her skin.
Yang Xiaoyu rubbed the marks with her thumb, intentionally or unintentionally, as if she could wipe them away.
The car was cool inside despite the sweltering summer heat.
Soothing, unfamiliar music was playing inside the car.
The atmosphere was tranquil and peaceful, so comfortable that it seemed perfect for a lazy nap. Surrounded by the aroma of fruit, one might even have a sweet dream filled with fruit.
Wan Qiu sat quietly in the middle of the back seat. He could see the scenery passing by outside the car window, but he quickly lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembling.
The scenery outside the car changed from fewer and fewer buildings to a gentle, green forest.
Are they going back to the countryside?
Are there such beautiful places in the countryside? Every plant has its own unique and beautiful way of growing, as if it is nurturing a deity that will show beauty to the world.
The trees in the countryside should be messy, scattered, and without any rules, and the weeds of varying heights always compete to grow strong and domineeringly occupy more land.
Wan Qiu sat in the car, heading towards a completely unfamiliar place, just like when he was on a dilapidated bus that smelled of cigarettes, gasoline, and rotten vegetables, heading to Ning Qiaozhen's house.
Even though Wanqiu didn't care where he went, as long as he could be by his mother's side.
Because his mother was holding his hand, and her warmth was being transmitted through their close shoulders, Wan Qiu didn't feel too much unease about the unknown.
This was also the period when Wanqiu was closest to his family in his memory.
It's getting more and more remote.
Wan Qiu caught a glimpse of the narrowing, quiet road out of the corner of his eye; there were hardly any vehicles passing by them anymore.
These trees and the trees at Grandma's house are like friends of Ninghai and friends of Chu Jianshu—vastly different.
Should we farm in a place like this?
If he wants to farm, can he still go to school?
“We’re home, baby.” Yang Xiaoyu lifted Wan Qiu’s chin, pulling him out of his chaotic thoughts and directing his gaze forward. “Look, this is where our home begins.”
The black iron gate that was opening automatically came into Wanqiu's view.
The fence, stretching far into the unknown, is filled with lush, orderly trees, and the smooth road seems to stretch on forever. Colorful flowers bloom here and there, scattered like stars, full of vitality.
As the vehicle moved forward, Wanqiu saw several low-rise buildings, brand new and brightly colored, surrounded by charming gardens and sunlight. The bright glass was hidden in the shadows, yet it made the shadows bright as well.
There are so many windows. Are there many people living in these buildings?
Is this a village?
With so many buildings, will they have many neighbors?
Do Mom and Dad get along well with their neighbors?
Will the neighbors dislike him? Will he embarrass his parents?
The car stopped downstairs in front of a tall, wide door with exquisite carvings.
Wanqiu got out of the car and was attracted by the fragrance of flowers in the air. Without the car roof blocking his view, he was suddenly taken in by the vast blue sky that was not obstructed by buildings.
Wanqiu stood suspended in the sky, as insignificant as a speck of dust, yet embraced by the oppressive blue sky.
Wan Qiu carefully held the notebook and pen in one hand, and held Yang Xiaoyu's hand in the other.
Yang Xiaoyu kissed Wan Qiu on the cheek: "Baby, we're home. Isn't the house beautiful?"
Wan Qiu turned her head to look at Yang Xiaoyu, her beautiful eyes capturing Yang Xiaoyu's expression, and said, "Beautiful."
The door opened, and Wanqiu looked up in response. A stranger walked out of the door.
The man seemed to be blinded by the glaring sunlight, raising his hand to shield himself from the scorching sun. He had short hair, wore a gray shirt and trousers, and stood upright, revealing his strong forearms beneath his rolled-up sleeves.
"Is he a neighbor?" Wan Qiu wondered.
Once the man's eyes adjusted to the sunlight, he lowered his hand and met Wan Qiu's gaze. Wan Qiu unconsciously moved closer to Yang Xiaoyu, but the man did not look away like the passersby.
In Wanqiu's view, he came down the stairs at a considerable speed, yet Wanqiu could clearly hear the sound of his footsteps on the ground.
That person was approaching him.
Wan Qiu saw his face clearly; he was young and serious. When those dark pupils looked at Wan Qiu, Wan Qiu felt as if she were seeing the night.
Wan Qiu gazed at the black-clad figure, discerning the complex emotions intertwined within, a mixture of 'happiness' and 'unhappiness'.
"Aze, come say hello to our baby? Baby, this is Yang Ze, your second brother."
Yang Xiaoyu pulled Wan Qiu's hand, making Wan Qiu move slightly away from Yang Xiaoyu and stand in front of Yang Ze.
Yang Xiaoyu released Wan Qiu's hand, but Wan Qiu was holding the notebook with both hands, which looked more like she was hugging her own arms.
Second brother, elder brother.
Wan Qiu had been warned by Chu Yigui beforehand, and suddenly realized that this tall man was his brother.
Those familiar eyes reminded Wan Qiu of someone.
Wan Qiu stood still, raising her head, but even knowing she had an older brother, she couldn't reconcile the image of Yang Ze in front of her.
He didn't look like an older brother, but rather like an adult, like a father.
"Third brother, welcome home." Yang Ze lowered his head. He was taller than Chu Jianshu, and there was a two-step distance between him and Wan Qiu. Wan Qiu could only raise his head as much as possible to see his second brother.
A strange, serious man can put immense pressure on any young child.
Wan Qiu said, "Thank you."
Wan Qiu's gaze unconsciously searched for Yang Xiaoyu.
"It's so hot, let's go inside." Yang Xiaoyu suddenly stepped forward and put her arm around Wan Qiu's shoulder.
After getting off the bus and standing in the sun for such a short time, the scorching sun had already taken away the last bit of coolness. Yang Xiaoyu's hot palms were placed on Wan Qiu's shoulder, as if instantly infusing him with courage and peace.
As Wan Qiu walked past Yang Ze while following Yang Xiaoyu, he suddenly felt his arm being brushed.
It wasn't very heavy; the sensation was as gentle as if a falling bird feather had lightly brushed against it.
Wan Qiu turned around and saw Yang Ze staring at him with dark pupils. As Yang Ze turned around, his normally straight back bent slightly, as if he was deliberately bending down to stop him.
Yang Xiaoyu closed the door, blocking Wan Qiu and Yang Ze's view.
"Aze, you can try to act a little happier," Chu Jianshu said to Yang Ze.
Yang opened his mouth, but sighed and smiled with distress: "I was just a little nervous and didn't greet them properly. It's my fault."
Chu Jianshu smiled faintly: "I didn't let you see Wan Qiu before because I was afraid that Wan Qiu would be confused. Now that he's back, you can get closer to him."
“I will, Dad,” Yang replied.
"Don't be too serious, try to comfort him."
"Okay." Yang Ze's smile was somewhat forced. "I'll adjust."
Chu Jianshu nodded and went into the room.
Yang unconsciously curled his fingers a few times, as if the sensation of touching Wan Qiu's arm still lingered between his fingers.
It was so thin and soft, as if it could not be held in one's hand, like fine sand that would slip away if released. As it passed through one's fingertips, it rubbed against the skin, causing a slight, imperceptible pain.
Yang sighed again.
"Ah Ze, you're too nervous. Don't you know how scary it is when you're nervous and your face is tense?" Song Wenqiu stood next to the open driver's side door, supporting the car and teasing Yang Ze.
Yang glanced away, clearly embarrassed: "Uncle Wenqiu, don't laugh at me."
Chu Yigui was about to leave when Song Wenqiu suddenly called him back.
"Yi Gui, can I ask you something?" Chu Yi Gui stopped and turned around. Song Wen Qiu continued, "How were you able to tell that Wan Qiu liked cartoons and not balloons?"
Chu Yigui looked away, seemingly deep in thought, before turning to Song Wenqiu and saying, "Brother wouldn't say something he's never seen before. I haven't seen anything related to balloons at your house."
“That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an animated film,” Song Wenqiu still said.
“Every day when my brother and mother are together, I’m always nearby, walking the paths my brother has walked.” Chu Yigui tapped the corner of her eye. “I’ve seen helium balloons selling cartoon characters many times. I didn’t specifically remember what the characters were, I only remembered the colors, so I made a bold guess.”
"Luck?" Song Wenqiu was somewhat surprised. Was it really that simple?
"Yes, it was luck," Chu Yigui replied with a lazy smile. "Of all the balloons my brother has seen, that's the only one I can think of. If you guessed wrong, there's nothing I can do."
Song Wenqiu then realized that it was indeed luck.
"Alright, I'm leaving now. I still have work to do at the company." Song Wenqiu joked with a smile, "Your annoying father has dumped all his work on me just to play with his son."
Yang smiled faintly: "Dad should be going back to work tomorrow."
Song Wenqiu drove away, but perhaps because of this interruption, Yang Ze regained some of his senses.
The image of those clear, blank eyes gazing at me flashed into my mind, innocent and pure like a child's, small enough to be easily held in a mother's arms.
Yang let out a long sigh and looked up at the sky.
When I actually saw it, my feelings were more complicated than I had imagined.
"Should I go buy a helium balloon?" Yang murmured after hearing the conversation.
"Does Second Brother want to go?" Chu Yigui tilted her head. "I think instead of using a helium balloon, you could take your brother to see a cartoon."
"What animated film is it?" Yang Ze also knew that Yang Xiaoyu had someone buy the animated film.
"Fruit New World, or maybe give my brother some fruit, he really likes fruit." Chu Yigui proactively revealed some information to Yang Ze.
"Thank you, Fourth Brother," Yang said sincerely. "You've worked hard these past few days."
Chu Yigui smiled faintly, "Second brother, don't keep that long face. It scares me, let alone my brother."
Yang rubbed his face, somewhat at a loss.
——
Isn't this a residential building?
Wan Qiu followed Yang Xiaoyu and was stunned by the huge corridor and the extremely high ceiling as soon as they entered the main gate. The entire space was exceptionally spacious and bright.
Wanqiu could see some unfamiliar neighbors around him, probably because the villagers were quite familiar with each other, and he received a lot of curious glances.
But this curiosity... seems a bit too intense.
Wan Qiu had never been so noticed before. He unconsciously grasped Yang Xiaoyu's hand, lowered his eyes, and could not hide his nervousness. However, contrary to his nervousness, he did not hide behind Yang Xiaoyu, but occasionally looked up to observe the expressions of these people.
Are you neighbors?
Why smile at him?
What kind of response do they want?
Wan Qiu stared blankly, a strange emotion surging in his chest; he had a peculiar feeling.
Everything he saw was something he didn't understand.
The house is enormous, with exquisite carvings and decorations everywhere, huge paintings, long corridors, and beautiful gardens visible from every window.
Wanqiu was unable to properly express his doubts and anxieties, nor could he receive a proper response.
"Baby, are you tired after all the checkups today? Do you want to rest?" Yang Xiaoyu poked Wanqiu's cheek with her finger. "How about Mommy takes you to take a bath first? Our baby smells like hospital disinfectant."
Chu Jianshu was somewhat helpless about Yang Xiaoyu's suggestion: "Xiaoyu, Wanqiu is already a teenager."
"So what if he's a kid? What part of his body hasn't his mother seen?"
However, Yang Xiaoyu's voice was somewhat deep. Her gaze was on Wan Qiu's collar, and she could still remember the marks on Wan Qiu's body that were not the marks a child of that age should have when he underwent a physical examination.
"Mom wants to see her baby more."
She wanted to personally apply medicine to Wanqiu's still-healing wounds and to apply scar-removing medication to the remaining scars.
I want to do something myself to erase, little by little, the painful memories this child has experienced with my own hands.
“Even at fourteen, you still need to be aware of gender,” Chu Jianshu tried to dissuade him.
"Let me take my third brother to take a bath, Mom." Yang Ze had just entered the room when he overheard the conversation about taking Wan Qiu to take a bath.
Chu Jianshu and Yang Xiaoyu exchanged a glance, knowing that Yang Ze wanted to have some time alone with Wan Qiu.
As a mother, Yang Xiaoyu also hoped that her children would get along well with each other, so she took the initiative to ask Wanqiu's opinion: "Wanqiu, are you willing?"
Wan Qiu gazed at Yang Xiaoyu, who smiled.
Wan Qiu looked at Yang Ze again, her beautiful eyes seemingly replicating every subtle emotion of Yang Ze.
"If Wanqiu is unwilling, your second brother will not force you." Yang Ze was more cautious towards Wanqiu than Yang Xiaoyu.
Finally, Wan Qiu blinked and said, "Okay."
Yang Zeyi's stiff and gloomy expression finally relaxed a little, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to the side and gestured for Wan Qiu to stay by his side.
Unfortunately, Wanqiu couldn't understand and stood there looking up at him.
Wan Qiu didn't know what Yang Ze wanted to do, while Yang Ze was worried that Wan Qiu might have changed his mind and was unwilling to go with him.
The two brothers were inexplicably locked in a stalemate, one tall and one short, like pillars of different sizes stuck to the ground.
Yang Xiaoyu smiled without giving him any face: "Aze, hold your little brother's hand."
Yang looked down at Wan Qiu, and Wan Qiu was looking at him.
The tips of Yang Ze's ears gradually turned a light red.
Wanqiu's eyes were clear and beautiful, like the most skillful craftsman in the world painstakingly carving colored glass, making Yang Ze's black reflection appear bright.
When Yang stretched out his hand, he felt his fingertips trembling, and his knuckles stiffened so much that he felt uncomfortable when he exerted force.
It was as if the invitation wasn't to her own younger brother, but to a timid, fragile cat that might run away at any moment. She wondered whether the cat's paw or its paw pad would arrive first.
However, Wan Qiu calmly grasped Yang Ze's hand.
Those eyes were fixed on Yang Ze, observing him carefully.
When Wanqiu's hand touched his fingers, Yang Ze felt an intense joy, as if a timid cat had entrusted him with its trust, which made his feelings extremely complicated.
He shook hands with Wanqiu in return.
The tiny, slender fingers, seemingly weightless and cold, made Yang Ze's heart tighten.
Yang Ze's smile was tinged with self-reproach and bitterness, which he himself was unaware of.
But in Wan Qiu's eyes, the serious Yang Ze seemed to be so happy that small sparks were ignited all over his body.
"Wanqiu, let's go."
As Yang Ze started walking, Wan Qiu followed him.
Without any doubt, I followed quietly.
His footsteps were so light they seemed almost imperceptible, making Yang wonder if Wan Qiu was floating on the ground.
"Mom," Chu Yigui, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, "Can I go back to my room?"
"Of course, take a rest, Yi Gui. Thank you for taking care of Wan Qiu." Yang Xiaoyu knew that Wan Qiu and Chu Yi Gui got along very well and had been cooperating with them in running around the hospital.
"What's the trouble? It's what I should do anyway. I'm leaving now, Mom and Dad." Chu Yigui said and turned around.
Yang Xiaoyu reminded everyone, "A welcome dinner will be prepared tonight."
"I'll be out on time," Chu Yigui replied, then left after saying goodbye.
However, Chu Jianshu and Yang Xiaoyu exchanged a glance, but neither of them could see complete trust in Chu Yigui in each other's eyes.
Chu Yigui is an impeccable, perfect child, as if she was born to grow up according to the template of a good child.
Chu Yigui is entitled to express herself, and they are willing to accept Chu Yigui's emotions, but they don't even know whether Chu Yigui has any emotions at all.
It's like an extremely precious doll that was born to hang in a shop window. People can only admire its rare beauty through the glass, but they can't touch it or see whether there are any unknown cracks beneath the doll's gorgeous and complicated clothes.
Yang Xiaoyu always felt helpless at times like this.
She may really not be suited to be a mother.
Wanqiu was being led by the hand.
Walking down a long corridor.
Wan Qiu was very short, but the people around him were tall, yet they walked very slowly, so Wan Qiu didn't have to exert much effort to keep up.
Looking up, Wan Qiu secretly observed Yang Ze, his older brother, his second older brother.
Wan Qiu could clearly sense Yang Ze's joy, but it seemed that there was also some unhappiness mixed in with that joy.
Yang didn't know how to talk to Wan Qiu, and Wan Qiu wouldn't take the initiative to speak.
Wan Qiu observed his surroundings. This place was very large, yet there were doors spaced far apart.
I've walked for so long, but I haven't seen many of my neighbors.
Looking out the window at the garden, I couldn't find any trash cans.
Wan Qiu was observing, but he was also somewhat worried.
Suddenly, Yang Ze, who had been leading him forward, stopped, and Wan Qiu also stopped.
Yang Ze lowered his head and looked at Wan Qiu, while Wan Qiu raised his head and looked at Yang Ze.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Yang Ze was the first to look away, open the door, and lead Wan Qiu inside.
"I don't know what you like, so I just did a simple setup. If there's a style you like, we can add more later."
Wan Qiu followed Yang Ze into the room, and suddenly a dazzling array of colors filled Wan Qiu's eyes.
In Wanqiu's memory, he lived in three different houses.
The first house was narrow, crowded, smelly, and dark.
The second house had a thatched roof, dark and narrow windows, dim lighting, uneven ground, and smelled of poultry, mold, and dirt.
The third house has clean floors and bright windows, and sunlight shines into different windows every day.
The house that now appeared before him made Wan Qiu feel as if the entire room was bathed in sunlight.
The curtains were spotless white, the floor-to-ceiling windows were so bright they seemed nonexistent, and there was a huge, soft bed... Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting its light evenly on every piece of furniture.
The unfamiliar, soft, delicate, and stunning furniture surpassed Wanqiu's understanding of furniture.
There were many things here that Wanqiu couldn't understand, but he clearly realized that these things were truly beautiful.
Yang lowered his head, watching Wan Qiu carefully examine each decoration.
Those eyes, so much like Yang Xiaoyu's, seemed to be gradually adorned with sparkling starlight by the things he had prepared, and filled with soft cotton.
You must like it, right?
I hope he likes it.
Yang saw Wan Qiu raise his head and look at him.
"Second Brother." The soft, androgynous voice of the young man made Yang Ze a little nervous, but Wan Qiu just looked at him, glanced around, and asked, "Do I have my own room?"
"?" Yang looked at Wan Qiu, not understanding. Wasn't this Wan Qiu's room?
"Isn't there a room for me?" Wan Qiu looked at the other small rooms in the room, and then glanced reluctantly at the huge, bright floor-to-ceiling window.
"This is your room," Yang Ze said. Had he not explained it clearly to Wan Qiu?
here?
Wan Qiu blinked: "Where am I supposed to sleep?"
“On that bed,” Yang said, pointing to the only large, soft double bed in the room.
However, Wan Qiu's eyes widened: "Then where do Dad and Mom sleep?"
“Sleep in their room.”
Yang Ze and Wan Qiu looked at each other, and Yang Ze saw a very obvious look of confusion on Wan Qiu's face.
Yang seemed to understand why Wan Qiu had asked that question.
The room Wanqiu refers to should be a small room within a house, rather than the entire house itself.
“Everything here is yours. Starting from this door, everything inside is yours,” Yang explained.
Wan Qiu's eyes widened, and he looked at the room, then at Yang Ze.
Wanqiu's repeated glances were enough to prove his current confusion.
“This bed is yours,” Yang said, pointing to the double bed.
"This rocking chair is yours."
"This sofa and coffee table are yours too."
This bathroom is yours...
This balcony is yours too...
Wan Qiu's eyes were wide open. Even though he didn't say a word, his eyes were enough to tell Yang Ze that he was completely bewildered by what was happening before his eyes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
