camouflage
After that day they parted, Qi Shuo and Tan Huaiyu rarely saw each other. Time seemed to have been fast-forwarded, and September arrived in the blink of an eye. Qin Zhou and Song Yungui both successfully passed the entrance exams for universities in Beicheng, and could even come home for dinner on weekends.
The relationship between Xiao Jue and Lin Ye became subtle and complicated. Every time they met, Xiao Jue would look like he wanted to say something but hesitated, while Lin Ye remained gentle and polite, but there was something in his eyes that Qi Shuo couldn't understand.
Tan Huaiyu was now a senior in high school, with a heavy academic workload. Qi Shuo would occasionally see him in the library, still in the same window seat, but the two of them tacitly kept their distance, no longer silently staring at each other across the bookshelves like before.
That afternoon, Qi Shuo got off work a little earlier than usual. Qin Zhou was with Qing Ran at the hospital, so he was able to go home early, which was a rare treat for him.
As he passed the No. 1 Middle School, dusk was approaching, and the setting sun painted the school walls orange-red. He slowed down, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the students walking out of the school gate in twos and threes.
Then, he saw Tan Huaiyu.
Tan Huaiyu, wearing her school uniform and carrying a schoolbag, stood under a sycamore tree not far from the school gate.
A few boys, who looked like students from the same school, stood opposite him, surrounding him with malicious smiles. The distance was too great for Qi Shuo to hear what they were saying, but he could see Tan Huaiyu's expression—calm, indifferent, his amber eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he were looking at a group of insignificant ants.
Qi Shuo frowned and subconsciously stopped the car. He rolled down the window, trying to hear what they were saying.
"...Tan Huaiyu, who do you think you are? Still acting all high and mighty?" One of the boys shoved Tan Huaiyu, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I heard you got kicked out of the Tan family? Now you're a penniless nobody? What, weren't you pretty cocky before?"
Tan Huaiyu was pushed back a step, but quickly regained his balance: "So? What do you want?"
"What?" the boy sneered. "Of course, I'll let you know what happens when you offend us!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand to grab Tan Huaiyu's collar.
Qi Shuo's heart tightened suddenly. Just as he was about to get out of the car, he saw Tan Huaiyu suddenly move.
His movements were astonishingly fast, like a cheetah that had been poised for a long time. The instant the boy's hand reached out, Tan Huaiyu dodged to the side, simultaneously grabbing the boy's wrist and twisting it forcefully—
"Ah—!" The boy let out a scream as Tan Huaiyu pressed him against the tree trunk, his face pressed against the rough bark, wincing in pain.
"Let go! You fucking let go!" the boy shouted as he struggled.
Seeing this, the other boys immediately surrounded him, wanting to help. Tan Huaiyu sneered, released the boy, and turned to face the others.
His movements were clean and swift, each move striking a vital point. After several rounds, he had knocked the boys to the ground, groaning in pain.
Qi Shuo sat in the car, quietly watching this scene.
He had never seen Tan Huaiyu like this before—calm, ruthless, and merciless in his attacks.
Is this... the real Tan Huaiyu?
The obedient and cautious boy in front of him, it turns out he has this side to him?
Tan Huaiyu clapped his hands, looked down at the boys on the ground, and said in a voice as cold as ice: "If you cause me trouble again, it won't be so simple. Get lost."
The boys helped each other to their feet and slunk away. Tan Huaiyu watched their figures disappear around the corner before turning away and preparing to leave.
Then, his movements froze.
He saw Qi Shuo sitting in the car not far away, quietly watching him.
Tan Huaiyu's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
He panicked.
Qi Shuo saw it? He saw what he looked like just now? He saw his fierce, violent side, not as docile as he appeared on the surface?
He instinctively wanted to explain, to tell Qi Shuo that he wasn't like that, that he was different from Tan Zhong, that he wouldn't hurt others casually... But the words caught in his throat, and he swallowed them back.
What do you mean by "explain"? How do you explain it?
That's just who he is. Cold, ruthless, and vindictive. He just... pretended to be someone else in front of Qi Shuo.
Tan Huaiyu stood rooted to the spot, his fingers gripping the backpack strap tightly until his knuckles turned white. He dared not look into Qi Shuo's eyes, afraid to see disappointment, disgust, or...fear within them.
Qi Shuo felt a mix of emotions as he looked at Tan Huaiyu.
He never imagined that after leaving the Tan family, Tan Huaiyu would live such a life—a simple house, irregular meals, and being bullied at school.
All of this had nothing to do with him; he could have easily ignored it and walked away. But…
He can't do it.
Qi Shuo waved to him, and as he approached, he spoke slowly and calmly: "Are you hungry?"
Tan Huaiyu suddenly raised his head, his amber eyes filled with disbelief. He stared blankly at Qi Shuo, unable to react for a moment.
"Are you hungry?" Qi Shuo repeated.
Tan Huaiyu nodded blankly.
"Get in the car, let's go eat first."
Tan Huaiyu stood rooted to the spot, motionless. He couldn't believe his ears. Qi Shuo...not angry? Not disgusted? Not thinking he was a two-faced liar?
"What are you standing there for?" Qi Shuo turned to look at him. "Get in the car."
Tan Huaiyu then seemed to wake up from a dream, quickly followed, and obediently sat in the passenger seat.
The car drove away from the school and merged into the evening rush hour traffic. The car was quiet, with only the occasional mechanical female voice from the navigation system. Qi Shuo focused on driving, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Tan Huaiyu sat in the passenger seat, her hands on her knees, her fingers unconsciously twisting together. She would steal glances at Qi Shuo's profile from time to time, then quickly look away.
Neither of them spoke. Qi Shuo didn't know what to say, because he shouldn't have gotten involved in these matters in the first place.
Tan Huaiyu didn't know what to say, because he was afraid that Qi Shuo would see him and Tan Zhong as the same kind of people—dirty, hypocritical, and vicious.
The car stopped in front of a small restaurant. Qi Shuo turned off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt: "We're here."
Tan Huaiyu followed him out of the car and into the restaurant. The restaurant wasn't big, but it was very clean, and the owner warmly invited them to sit down. Qi Shuo ordered a few dishes and two bowls of rice.
The food was served quickly, its aroma filling the air. Qi Shuo picked up his chopsticks and gestured to Tan Huaiyu, "Eat."
Tan Huaiyu picked up his chopsticks and lowered his head to eat. He moved slowly, chewing each bite carefully, as if he were savoring the food, or perhaps he was prolonging the meal, not wanting it to end too quickly.
Qi Shuo also lowered his head to eat, and the two remained silent. The only sounds were the occasional soft clinking of chopsticks against the rim of the bowl and the sizzling of stir-frying coming from the kitchen in the distance.
After an unknown amount of time, Tan Huaiyu finally couldn't hold back any longer. She put down her chopsticks, looked up, her eyes filled with trepidation and unease: "Brother Qi Shuo... I..."
"No need to say more," Qi Shuo interrupted him, his voice still calm.
Tan Huaiyu's heart sank instantly.
As expected... Qi Shuo was still angry, still disgusted with him. He lowered his head, his fingers gripping the chopsticks tightly, his knuckles turning white.
“You did the right thing.” Qi Shuo continued, his voice soft but firm. “If you just let them bully you, then I will look down on you.”
Tan Huaiyu suddenly raised his head and looked at Qi Shuo in disbelief.
Qi Shuo looked at him, his eyes calm and composed: "Take care of yourself."
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just nodded slightly: "Mm."
Qi Shuo got up to pay the bill, and when he came back, he saw Tan Huaiyu still sitting there, head down, seemingly lost in thought.
"Alright, finish your breakfast and go home," Qi Shuo said. "I'm leaving now."
Tan Huaiyu looked up at him, his amber eyes filled with complex emotions. He moved his lips, but in the end, he only said softly, "Brother Qi Shuo... be careful on the road."
Qi Shuo nodded and turned to leave.
Stepping out of the restaurant, a night breeze blew in, carrying the chill of early autumn. Qi Shuo took a deep breath and slowly walked forward along the street.
His mind was a mess, filled with the scene he had just witnessed—Tan Huaiyu's calm and ruthless demeanor, a stark contrast to his usual obedient and docile manner in front of him.
He had always known that Tan Huaiyu was not a well-behaved or obedient child.
Tan Huaiyu is a very difficult person to understand. He has too many thoughts and is too deep. He has never been a good person.
He was just... pretending to be someone else in front of me.
But so what?
Was Tan Huaiyu wrong? He was just trying to protect himself; he didn't want others to see his unsavory side.
Just like himself, in front of Qing Ran, he always pretended to be that gentle and patient "big brother", instead of Qi Shuo who was burdened with heavy sins and whose heart was full of holes.
Qi Shuo sighed.
Let him be.
Everyone has their own mask and their own secrets. As long as Tan Huaiyu doesn't do anything immoral, as long as he... is still that boy who shows his soft side in front of me, that's enough.
As for the rest...
Let him be.
Tan Huaiyu stood at his front door, the key in the lock, but it wouldn't turn.
The words Qi Shuo said before leaving still echoed in his mind—"You did the right thing."
I don't dislike Qi Shuo.
This realization made his heart pound violently, as if it were about to burst out of his chest.
He thought that Qi Shuo would be disappointed, disgusted, and would completely distance himself from him if he saw him like that.
But... Qi Shuo didn't. Qi Shuo even said that he would only look down on someone if they let him be bullied.
Tan Huaiyu took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and went inside. The room was pitch black, with only the faint light from the streetlamp outside filtering through the curtains. He closed the door, leaned against it, and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.
The schoolbag slipped off his shoulder with a soft thud. Tan Huaiyu looked down at his hands—the same hands that had just been twisting someone's wrist and pressing down someone's head without any mercy.
What's the difference between these hands and Tan Zhong's hands?
He clenched his fist tightly, his nails digging deep into his palm, causing a sharp pain.
However, this pain is nothing compared to the dull ache in my heart.
He's not a good person. Never has been.
From a very young age, he learned to disguise himself, to read people's expressions, and to use the most harmless appearance to achieve his goals.
At the Tan family, he pretended to be an obedient and well-behaved son, just to avoid being beaten by that devilish father; at school, he pretended to be a cold and aloof top student, just to prevent others from seeing through his inner vulnerability; in front of Qi Shuo, he pretended to be a gentle and harmless boy, just to... get a little closer to him.
But Qi Shuo saw it. He saw his true self—cold, ruthless, and vindictive.
Tan Huaiyu buried his head in his knees, his shoulders trembling slightly. He wasn't afraid of others seeing his true self, but he was terrified of Qi Shuo seeing him.
Because... because Qi Shuo is the only person he cares about, the only person he wants to get close to.
If even Qi Shuo despises him, then he... will truly have nothing left.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Tan Huaiyu looked up and took his phone out of his pocket. The screen displayed an unfamiliar number. He hesitated for a moment, then answered, "Hello?"
"Tan Huaiyu?" A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with weariness and helplessness.
Tan Huaiyu was taken aback: "Brother Xiao Jue?"
"Hmm." Xiao Jue's voice was a little hoarse, as if he had just woken up. "Qi Shuo called me and said you ran into trouble at school today?"
Tan Huaiyu's heart skipped a beat. Qi Shuo... called Xiao Jue?
"I...I'm fine," he said in a low voice. "It was just a few classmates causing trouble, I've already taken care of it."
"Okay." Xiao Jue responded, paused for a moment, and then continued, "If you need anything in the future, you can come to us directly, and we will help you solve it."
Tan Huaiyu's breath hitched.
“He said…” Xiao Jue’s voice carried a hint of helpless laughter, “He knows you’re not a good kid, but he doesn’t mind. As long as you don’t do anything immoral, he… he won’t hate you.”
Tan Huaiyu felt as if something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't make a sound.
"Tan Huaiyu?" Xiao Jue waited for a while but didn't hear a response, so he was a little puzzled.
"Mm." Tan Huaiyu finally found his voice, which was a little hoarse. "I understand. Thank you, Brother Xiao Jue."
"You're welcome," Xiao Jue said. "By the way, how have you been lately?"
"It's alright," Tan Huaiyu replied softly.
"Alright, you should get some rest," Xiao Jue said. "You're in your final year of high school, so study hard."
"Okay." Tan Huaiyu responded, "Brother Xiao Jue too, take care of yourself."
The call ended. Tan Huaiyu sat in the darkness, phone in hand, motionless for a long time. The streetlights outside were still on, their dim light filtering through the gaps in the curtains and casting a thin strip of light on the floor.
He looked up at the light, and a faint, yet genuine smile slowly spread across his lips.
I don't dislike Qi Shuo.
That's enough.
On the other side, at Qi Shuo's house.
Qi Shuo sat on the balcony, a can of beer in his hand, gazing at the distant night view. His phone was to his ear, and Xiao Jue's voice came through the receiver: "I've already spoken to Tan Huaiyu."
"Hmm," Qi Shuo responded. "What did he say?"
"He said he knows." Xiao Jue's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Qi Shuo, when did you become so concerned about him?"
Qi Shuo remained silent for a while before speaking softly, "I just... don't want to see him go down the wrong path."
"Really?" Xiao Jue's tone was clearly unconvinced. "Then why don't you tell him yourself?"
"I..." Qi Shuo was speechless, then became somewhat embarrassed and angry, "I'm too lazy to say it."
"Alright, alright, you're too lazy to talk about it." Xiao Jue replied with a smile, "By the way, that kid Lin Ye came to see me again today."
Qi Shuo raised an eyebrow: "And then?"
"Then……"
Xiao Jue's voice lowered, carrying a hint of helplessness and...doting?
"I said yes."
Qi Shuo: "..."
"Hello? Qi Shuo? Are you listening? Give me some response."
"I'm here." Qi Shuo finally found his voice, his tone complex, "Xiao Jue, are you... serious?"
"Yes." Xiao Jue's voice was soft, but firm. "I want to try. Although... I still can't quite believe it, but... I don't want to miss out on him."
Qi Shuo remained silent for a long time, and finally just sighed: "Fine. Think it through yourself."
"And you?" Xiao Jue suddenly asked, "What are you and Tan Huaiyu planning to do?"
"What do you mean, what should we do?" Qi Shuo frowned. "There's nothing between him and me."
"Is that so?" Xiao Jue chuckled. "Qi Shuo, you can fool others, but you can't fool me."
Qi Shuo remained silent.
"Think about it carefully yourself," Xiao Jue said. "Don't get too stuck in the past."
Qi Shuo was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "I understand."
The call ended. Qi Shuo tilted his head back and took a sip of beer; the cold liquid slid down his throat, bringing a bitter taste.
He gazed at the distant lights, his thoughts drifting away.
Tan Huaiyu...
The boy who was obedient and docile in front of him, but calm and ruthless behind his back.
That boy who lived in a simple house and was bullied at school.
That boy... who always wanted to get close to him.
What should he do?
Qi Shuo sighed, crushed the empty beer can, and threw it into the trash can.
Let him be.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com