Stream Energy
The streetlights lit up one after another, casting halos of warm yellow light in the deepening twilight. The two held hands, their shadows stretching long behind them, occasionally overlapping as their steps intersected.
Jiang Yibai was in such a good mood he felt like he was about to fly. His lips were perpetually raised, and his steps were like the wind. As he walked, he chattered about the competition, which questions were tricky, which opponent had a funny expression, and the invigilator looked like a door god... His speech was fast and light, like a joyful stream.
Lin Xiyan listened quietly, mostly nodding or uttering a faint "hmm." But unlike the dead, isolated silence of the afternoon, this silence was soft, her attention focused on the voice of the person next to her. Her fingertips were firmly held in a warm palm, and that warmth continued to flow through her, like some kind of silent comfort and declaration.
When they reached the familiar small building, warm and bright light shone through the windows. Jiang Yibai didn't stop and directly pulled the person through the door and walked in.
The aroma of food immediately hit them, mixed with the warmth of home. Xu Panting was just coming out of the kitchen carrying some soup. Seeing them, a gentle smile appeared on her face. "You're back just in time. Wash your hands and have dinner."
The table was indeed filled with delicious dishes, steaming hot.
"Mom, I'm starving!" Jiang Yibai shouted exaggeratedly, letting go of Lin Xiyan's hand. He naturally threw their schoolbags onto the sofa, then pushed Lin Xiyan's shoulders and walked towards the bathroom, "Wash your hands!"
After washing his hands and sitting down, Jiang Yibai's chopsticks never stopped moving. While he was wolfing down his own food, he kept putting food into Lin Xiyan's bowl.
"This sparerib is stewed till tender. Try it."
"Eat more of this green vegetable, it's rich in vitamins."
"Mom, give him another bowl of soup. He's too thin and needs more nutrition."
He was busy as if he were taking care of a helpless child, with a well-founded reason and skilled movements. Lin Xiyan looked at the pile of food that had suddenly piled up in the bowl, feeling somewhat bewildered. He whispered, "...That's enough."
"What's enough? Look at your pale face." Jiang Yibai frowned, picked up another piece of fish, carefully removed the bones, and put it in his bowl, "You must watch me finish eating tonight, otherwise I won't sleep."
Xu Panting watched from the side, just smiling, with a gentle look in his eyes, and occasionally reminded: "Xiaobai, you should eat well too, let Xiyan help herself."
After dinner, Jiang Yibai volunteered to cut the fruit. The fruit platter he brought out was arranged like a flower, with the biggest, reddest strawberries and the sweetest honeydew melon chunks piled in front of Lin Xiyan.
Lin Xiyan nibbled at the sweet fruit while listening to Jiang Yibai and his mother chat about family matters. His awkwardness melted away bit by bit in this warm, everyday atmosphere. Although he still rarely spoke, his body was no longer as stiff, and he would occasionally purse his lips slightly in response to Jiang Yibai's exaggerated complaints.
Back in the upstairs room, Jiang Yibai naturally followed in. Baiyan popped out from nowhere, meowing, rubbing against Lin Xiyan's trouser legs, then jumped onto the bed and skillfully curled up in his exclusive pillow position.
"Look, it's even more active than me." Jiang Yibai smiled, picked up the kitten, and took the other side of the bed. He leaned against the headboard and took out his phone, "Come here, let me show you something."
Lin Xiyan hesitated for a moment, but still walked over and sat down beside the bed.
Jiang Yibai brought his phone screen closer. It showed the final question of today's competition. "This question is quite interesting. The solution is quite tricky. I used two methods to solve it. Take a look..."
He began to explain seriously, his fingers stroking the formulas on the screen, his eyes focused, and his tone was as clear and sharp as when he usually discussed the questions.
Lin Xiyan's attention was drawn to it. He indeed had a natural sensitivity and interest in mathematics, and he quickly immersed himself in it, occasionally raising a question or two.
Time passed quietly during the discussion.
After the topic was thoroughly explained, Jiang Yibai put down his phone and yawned, his eyes watering. He stretched naturally, then his body tilted, as if his bones had been pulled out, and he fell down, his head resting precisely on Lin Xiyan's legs.
Lin Xiyan's body suddenly stiffened. The weight and warmth on his thigh made him feel overwhelmed. His fingers curled up unconsciously.
"Hmm... I'm so tired..." Jiang Yibai seemed to be completely unaware of anything wrong. He let out a satisfied sigh and even rubbed his legs. He found a more comfortable position, closed his eyes, and said in a slurred voice, "My brain cells are all dead... I need to replenish Xiyan's energy..."
He started using that sticky, coquettish tone again, as if the person who had just explained the difficult problem calmly and sharply was a different person.
Lin Xiyan sat frozen, not daring to move. His breathing was even lighter. He could clearly feel the weight of Jiang Yibai's head, the soft touch of his hair, his warm breath ironing his skin through the thin fabric of his slacks. And then there was the hand that had rested on his waist at some point, its presence surprisingly strong.
Bai Yan seemed dissatisfied with this sudden "invasion". He meowed, walked over, and scratched Jiang Yibai's hair with his claws.
Jiang Yibai closed his eyes and waved his hands randomly: "Stop making trouble... Bai Yan, Daddy is tired..."
Dad? Lin Xiyan felt a surge of heat at this sudden address.
The room fell silent, with only the breathing of the two people and the cat as the only sound. The warm light from the desk lamp enveloped them, casting their intimate shadows on the ground.
Lin Xiyan lowered her eyes, looking at the person resting his head on her lap. Jiang Yibai's eyes were closed, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow under his eyes. He looked defenseless, even a little childish and well-behaved. It was completely different from the arrogant and bright appearance during the day, or the serious presentation he had just given.
A strange feeling spread across his chest. Not the hollow pain he'd felt that afternoon, nor the panic of being overwhelmed. Instead, it felt... soft, full, and made his throat tighten slightly.
He took a very light breath and hesitated for a long time. The hand that had been hanging there with nowhere to put finally fell down very slowly and carefully, and his fingertips gently touched Jiang Yibai's soft black hair.
The movement was as light as a feather.
The person on his legs seemed unaware and was breathing evenly.
He became a little bolder, and with his fingers slightly opened, he inserted them into the soft hair very lightly and awkwardly, imitating the other person's usual movements to comfort him, combing it one by one.
The movements were still stiff, but with a complete and cautious tenderness.
Jiang Yibai's body relaxed almost imperceptibly, and a very subtle purring sound came from his throat, like a kitten being petted, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved upwards in a tiny arc.
Lin Xiyan watched him, completely dependent and enjoying himself, and the softest part of her heart felt completely filled. The touch and warmth from her fingertips, the heavy weight on her legs, all told her with unwavering sincerity that he was needed. In this intimate, unguarded way.
The anxiety and panic about "how to repay" and "whether I deserve it" seem to become distant and vague in this quiet and warm moment.
Maybe... Jiang Yibai is right.
Perhaps love is not really a problem to be solved, nor a debt to be settled.
It could be… just this moment, the soft hair beneath his fingertips, the warm weight on his legs, and the unprecedented, calm and full warmth in his heart.
He lowered his head very lightly, his forehead almost touching the top of Jiang Yibai's head, and sniffed the clean and pleasant smell very lightly.
Then, he slowly closed his eyes.
The moonlight outside the window quietly filled the room, gently enveloping the two people snuggling on the bed, and the kitten sleeping on its back, curled up beside the pillow.
The night is still long.
And some answers may have already quietly emerged in the silent companionship and warm body temperature exchange.
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