Accompany you
The early morning chill was like fine needles, piercing exposed skin. Jiang Yibai walked quickly along the nearly deserted street, his breath quickly dissipating into the cold air. He clutched his phone tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the strain.
The scenes in the room just now were still replaying in his mind - Lin Xiyan's pale face, the desperate eyes, the glaring red mark on his wrist, and the way he curled up and hugged his coat and shivered... Every scene was like a blunt knife, cutting back and forth in his heart.
This couldn't go on any longer. Not even a second could that person be left alone in that cold, shabby little house filled with despair.
This idea was clearer and firmer than ever before.
He took a deep breath of cold air, suppressed the fear and heartache surging in his chest, and dialed a number without hesitation.
The phone was picked up after two rings. A gentle but lazy female voice, like someone just waking up, came from the other end: "Xiao Bai? Why are you calling so early? What happened?" It was his mother, Xu Panting.
Jiang Yibai didn't stop. His voice was a little tense due to the cold and the urgency, but it was very clear: "Mom, I want to discuss something with you."
"Hmm? Go ahead." Xu Panting's voice immediately became clearer and concerned.
"I want to bring someone home to live with me." Jiang Yibai spoke quickly, but left no room for doubt. "Right now. For a long time."
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds, as if they were digesting the news. "...Who? Is it... Xiyan's kid?" Xu Panting's voice contained no surprise, only understanding and a subtle sigh. As a mother, she saw the changes in her son most clearly.
"Yeah." Jiang Yibai responded, his throat a little dry. "He lives over there alone... I'm worried." He paused, his voice lowered, with suppressed emotions, "It's not good."
Xu Panting sighed softly on the other end, but her tone didn't contain any objection. Instead, it was full of support and tenderness. "I've been wanting to say this for a long time... That child is so heartbreaking to look at. There are so many empty rooms at home, we should have brought him here a long time ago. Do you need Mom to go over and help now?"
"No need." Jiang Yibai felt warm in his heart, and his tone softened. "I'll handle it myself. Can you help me clean up the guest room first? The one next to mine, the one with better sunlight. Use the new goose down quilt, he's afraid of the cold."
"Okay, got it. I'll go right away." Xu Panting agreed straightforwardly, "Talk to them properly and don't scare the child."
"Yeah. Thanks, Mom." Jiang Yibai hung up the phone, feeling relieved. He had known his mother would support him, but hearing it in person still made him feel relieved.
He didn't stop, and walked towards the familiar breakfast shop while quickly dialing his class teacher's number.
"Teacher, I'm Jiang Yibai... Um, sorry to bother you so early. Lin Xiyan and I are taking a day off today... Yes, the whole day... He's not feeling well and needs to rest... I'll explain the reason to you later... Okay, thank you, teacher."
After concisely asking for leave, he put away his phone and walked to the breakfast shop he often visited. The steam mixed with the aroma of food hit him in the face.
"Auntie, a bowl of millet and pumpkin porridge, the hottest kind. A basket of shrimp dumplings, a basket of steamed buns, and two red bean paste buns, less sugar. Takeaway, thank you." He said quickly, his eyes scanning the various breakfast items in the glass cabinet, and added, "And a cup of hot soy milk, more sugar."
He remembered that Lin Xiyan seemed to like sweet things.
Carrying a bag full of steaming breakfast, the warmth of the food penetrated the plastic bag and reached his palms, but it did nothing to dispel the anxiety in his heart. He almost ran back.
Standing in front of the door he had kicked in, Jiang Yibai took a deep breath, adjusted his breathing, and then gently pushed the door open.
In the room, Lin Xiyan was still in the same position he had left her in, lying on her side, the quilt covering her chin, leaving only her eyes exposed as she stared into space, wondering what she was thinking. Hearing the noise, his eyelashes fluttered, and he turned his gaze. Seeing it was Jiang Yibai, a tiny, reassuring glint flashed in his eyes, though it was quickly replaced by unease.
"I bought some food. Eat it while it's hot." Jiang Yibai put the breakfast on the bedside table, trying to make his tone relaxed and natural. He walked to the bedside, naturally reached out and touched Lin Xiyan's forehead, tested the temperature, "It's good that you don't have a fever."
The skin felt slightly cool to the touch of my fingers.
Lin Xiyan looked at the big bag of breakfast, then looked at Jiang Yibai, and moved her lips as if she wanted to say something.
Jiang Yibai didn't give him a chance to refuse. He bent down, his hands on either side of Lin Xiyan's body, and looked him straight in the eye. His tone was serious yet soft, not allowing for negotiation: "Xiyan, I want to discuss something with you."
Lin Xiyan looked at his serious face so close to her and subconsciously held her breath.
"I've already helped you quit your part-time job." Jiang Yibai acted first and then asked Lin Xiyan's questions. Seeing Lin Xiyan's eyes suddenly widen, he immediately added, "Don't worry about the money. I have it. You can just focus on studying and eating well from now on."
"Then," he paused, observing Lin Xiyan's reaction, his voice softer, but with a firm determination, "This place is too cold, and the environment isn't good, which isn't conducive to your recuperation. My mom just called and said the guest rooms are ready, and the quilts are warm in the sun."
He reached out and gently grasped Lin Xiyan's uninjured hand, which was exposed outside the quilt. His fingertips rubbed the slightly cool back of his hand, his eyes almost pleading: "Come home with me and live, okay? Just live next door to me so I can take care of you. Otherwise, I'll be worried all day and won't be able to attend class well."
Go home? Go home with him? Live in his house?
Lin Xiyan was completely stunned, his eyes slightly widened in shock, and a faint blush of helplessness even appeared on his pale face. This... This was too sudden, and too... How could he...
"I..." He opened his mouth, his throat dry, "No... no need... it's too much trouble..."
"It's not a trouble!" Jiang Yibai interrupted him immediately, his tone anxious and aggrieved, "How can it be a trouble? My mother likes you very much, and she can't wait for you to go earlier. The house is empty anyway. It's a trouble for me when you are here alone. I worry all day about whether you have enough to eat, whether you are warmly dressed, and whether you have..." He braked in time and didn't say the word, but the fear and heartache in his eyes said it all.
He shook Lin Xiyan's hand and started to act spoiled and coquettish: "Go ahead... Just think of it as you having pity on me? Otherwise, I will definitely skip classes every day to come and watch over you. When your grades drop and the teacher calls my parents, I will say it's your fault..."
What the hell is going on? Lin Xiyan was left in a state of confusion by his unreasonable talk. The resistance and uneasiness in her heart were completely shattered by his straightforward and shameless approach.
He looked at Jiang Yibai's purple eyes that were filled with the words "I will never give up until you agree to my decision", and felt the unwavering warmth and strength coming from his palm. All the words of rejection were stuck in his throat.
He…seemed like he could never truly refuse this person.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Jiang Yibai took it as his consent. His eyes lit up instantly, and a big smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He didn't give Lin Xiyan any chance to regret and took action directly.
"Come, drink the porridge first to warm your stomach." He let go of his hand, turned around to pick up the bowl of millet porridge that was still hot, stirred it carefully, scooped up a spoonful, blew it carefully, and handed it to Lin Xiyan's mouth, "Ah——"
Lin Xiyan's cheeks flushed, and she wanted to take the spoon awkwardly: "I... can do it myself..."
"No, your hands are not convenient." Jiang Yibai had a good reason, dodging his hand, stubbornly handed the spoon forward again, looking at him expectantly, "Hurry up, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Lin Xiyan looked at him like this, and finally, resignedly, she opened her mouth extremely slowly. The warm porridge, with the sweetness of pumpkin and the aroma of rice, slid down her throat, and the warmth instantly spread to her cold stomach.
Jiang Yibai patiently fed him spoonful by spoonful, occasionally asking if it was hot and if he wanted something else. He looked so focused and serious, as if he was completing something extremely important.
After barely eating half a bowl of porridge and two shrimp dumplings, Lin Xiyan shook his head, indicating that he couldn't eat anymore.
Jiang Yibai didn't force him. He put down the bowl, took a tissue and wiped the corner of his mouth naturally.
Then he stood up, looked around the small, cold room, and his gaze finally fell back on Lin Xiyan.
"You don't need to bring anything. We have new ones at home." As he said that, he bent down and without saying anything, he picked up the person and the quilt together and carried them horizontally steadily.
"!" Lin Xiyan gasped in shock, her hands subconsciously grabbing the clothes on his chest, "...I can walk by myself."
"The ground is cold, and you're not wearing socks." Jiang Yibai had a good reason and carried him out, carefully avoiding his injured wrist. "Close your eyes, we'll be there in a moment."
He held him in his arms, walked down the dark stairs, out of the dilapidated residential building, and into the cold morning light.
The entire way, Lin Xiyan buried her face in his chest, not daring to look up at the possible gazes from those around her. Jiang Yibai's embrace was warm and secure, and the sound of his heartbeat was deep and strong, clearly transmitted through the fabric of his sweater.
The cold wind blowing on my face didn't seem so biting anymore.
Jiang Yibai's home wasn't far from the school; it was a small, warm and elegant Western-style building. Xu Panting had heard the noise and had opened the door to wait. Seeing her son return with someone in his arms, there wasn't a trace of surprise on her face, only a gentle smile and concern.
"Good morning, Auntie." Jiang Yibai greeted her without stopping, "Mom, we'll go upstairs first."
"Come up quickly, the room is ready." Xu Panting responded softly, her eyes gently sweeping over the boy in Jiang Yibai's arms, who only had a little black hair showing and was obviously very shy, and considerately did not ask any more questions.
Jiang Yibai held Lin Xiyan in his arms, walked upstairs familiarly, and pushed open a door.
The room was spacious and bright, covered in soft carpet. Sunlight streamed in through the clean windows, bringing a warm warmth. The air was filled with the fragrance of sunshine and the faint scent of laundry detergent. A large bed was covered with a goose down quilt that looked incredibly soft and comfortable, as fluffy as a cloud.
Jiang Yibai walked to the bedside and placed Lin Xiyan gently into the soft and warm place with great care, as if placing some priceless treasure.
The quilt sank instantly, wrapping up his cold body.
"You'll sleep here from now on." Jiang Yibai pulled the quilt for him, his lips curved, his eyes sparkling, with a sense of satisfaction and relief that "I finally brought you back home." "My room is right next door, call me anytime if you need anything. I'm on call 24 hours a day."
Lin Xiyan was sunk in the incredibly soft bedding, surrounded by warmth and pleasant scent. Looking at Jiang Yibai who was standing beside the bed with a bright smile on his face, and this bright and warm room, which was completely different from his shabby rental house, he felt a little dazed for a moment.
It felt like an unreal, warm dream.
Jiang Yibai bent down and tidied up his hair. His voice was so gentle that it could drip water: "Sleep a little longer. I'll be here with you."
The sunlight fell on the boy's smiling eyes and eyebrows, giving them a warm golden edge.
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