Home
Life flows on like a mountain stream, calm and light. Spring is growing stronger, and the streets and alleys of the northern city are covered with new greenery, with a warm and cozy atmosphere in the air.
For Qi Shuo, life seemed to have entered an unprecedented and reassuring rhythm.
Work, going home, and... increasingly frequent meetings with Ning Wan. This quietly became a bright and warm color in his life.
Sometimes, the two would meet at the library. In that quiet corner, they would sit facing each other, each absorbed in the world of their books. Occasionally, they would pass notes, exchanging unspoken messages, yet sharing an unspoken understanding.
Ning Wan reads a wide variety of books. Besides those related to her major, she also reads light essays and travelogues. When she comes across an interesting sentence, she can't help but gently push it over to share with Qi Shuo, her eyes sparkling like a child who has discovered a treasure.
Most of the time, Qi Shuo would just watch, a faint smile playing on his lips. Occasionally, when she frowned over an obscure philosophical sentence, he would write down a few lines of his own understanding.
More often than not, on days when Ning Wan didn't have classes, she would carry that canvas backpack that always looked heavy and stroll to the "Encounter" restaurant with practiced ease.
She pushes open the door, the wind chimes tinkling. She first peeks in, smiles at Qi Shuo behind the bar, and then walks confidently to the window seat that has been tacitly designated as her "exclusive" spot.
This spot was Manager Chen's "masterpiece." One day, seeing Ning Wan arrive again, and noticing that Qi Shuo, though still silent and busy, had a noticeably softer aura, he waved his hand and had a comfortable cushioned chair placed next to the table, along with a small potted plant. He ostensibly said, "To add a touch of scholarly atmosphere and... well, youthful energy to our restaurant!"
After saying that, she winked at Qi Shuo, making Ning Wan blush. Qi Shuo could only shake his head and laugh helplessly.
The other colleagues in the restaurant had long understood the situation. Every time Ning Wan came, they would smile kindly at her or quietly offer her a free glass of lemonade or a small portion of the new dessert.
This feeling of being accepted and surrounded by kindness quickly dispelled Ning Wan's initial restraint, and she gradually came to regard this place as a "base" where she could study in peace.
Jin Jie and Qin Zhou had bumped into each other several times when they came to the restaurant for "surprise inspections" or when they were waiting for Qi Shuo to get off work.
Qin Zhou would always exaggerate, clutching his chest and wailing in a breathy voice to Sister Jin, "Sister Jin, look at Brother Shuo, he's all smiles like a lovesick fool. Oh no, I've fallen out of favor!"
Jin Jie would give him a light tap, then watch from afar as Qi Shuo, during a break from his work, inadvertently glances at the figure by the window, and a fleeting tenderness flashes in his eyes. She herself can't help but smile.
She could feel that the heavy shackles on Qi Shuo's body were being melted away little by little by this gentle, constant companionship.
The smile on his face was no longer a fleeting, forced one, but a genuine, warm smile that emanated from his eyes.
That afternoon, near the end of the workday, Xiao Jue happened to be running errands nearby. Sister Jin thought that Qi Shuo would be getting off work soon, so she strolled over to find him to have dinner together.
He pushed open the glass door of the restaurant. The wind chimes tinkled softly. Arlene, the waitress who was wiping glasses, saw him and smiled, gesturing towards the inside.
Xiao Jue looked in that direction, his gaze passing over several empty dining tables and landing on that familiar window seat.
Then, he froze.
Outside the window, the sun was gradually setting in the west, and the golden afterglow shone through the glass, gently filling that corner.
Ning Wan lay on the table covered with a checkered tablecloth, her head resting on her arm, seemingly asleep. An open book lay beside her, her long eyelashes casting a quiet shadow under her eyelids. Her breathing was even, and her sleeping face was as serene as a butterfly with its wings folded.
Qi Shuo had changed out of his waiter's uniform and was now wearing a simple gray shirt and casual pants, sitting quietly in the chair opposite her.
He didn't look at his phone or do anything else; he simply tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Ning Wan's sleeping face.
That gaze was one that Xiao Jue had never seen in Qi Shuo's eyes before—it had shed all its coldness and defensiveness, like melting spring water, so gentle it could almost drown a person.
Then, Xiao Jue saw Qi Shuo very gently, almost holding his breath, take off his thin coat and carefully cover Ning Wan's thin shoulders as if he were handling a rare treasure.
After doing all this, he remained in that position, quietly watching her, as if everything around him had disappeared, and his world consisted only of the girl sleeping peacefully before him.
The golden light of the setting sun outlined the sharp contours of his face, yet strangely softened all his angular features.
Xiao Jue stood there, watching this scene. He was first surprised, then a huge, indescribable sense of relief and joy washed over him, and he couldn't help but smile warmly and with relief.
Qi Shuo... has he finally found someone he wants to protect with utmost care?
That's great. That's wonderful.
Qi Shuo seemed to sense the gaze and turned his head slightly, seeing Xiao Jue standing not far away. A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, like a child caught stealing candy by an adult. His ears turned slightly red, but he did not look away. Instead, he gave Xiao Jue a faint smile that was both a little embarrassed and incredibly genuine.
Xiao Jue understood and, without saying a word, tiptoed to a nearby table and sat down, mouthing silently, "No rush, take your time."
Time flowed quietly. After about ten minutes, Ning Wan's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly woke up. She groggily raised her head, rubbed her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Qi Shuo's gentle gaze across from her, as well as his coat still carrying his body heat and the faint scent of soap on his shoulder.
She paused for a moment, then a sweet smile bloomed on her face, a smile that was both innocent and dependent on her just woken up. Her voice was still soft and sleepy: "Brother Qi Shuo... you're off work?"
"Mmm." Qi Shuo's voice was deep and gentle as he reached out to gently tidy her bangs, which had stick up a little from sleeping. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mmm, you're sleeping so soundly!" Ning Wan nodded vigorously, then noticed the coat on her shoulder. Feeling a warmth in her heart, she carefully took it off, folded it neatly, and handed it to Qi Shuo. "Thank you for the coat."
Only then did she finally notice Xiao Jue sitting beside them, smiling at them. She immediately became a little embarrassed and asked in a low voice, "This...who is this...?"
Qi Shuo took the coat and introduced, "This is Xiao Jue, my childhood friend." Then he said to Xiao Jue, "This is Ning Wan."
Ning Wan quickly stood up and obediently bowed halfway to Xiao Jue: "Hello, Brother Xiao Jue! I'm sorry, I was asleep and didn't see you..."
Xiao Jue also stood up with a smile and waved his hand: "It's nothing, it's just that I came at an inopportune time. It seems like I'm going to interrupt your 'date'?" His tone was teasing in a good-natured way.
Ning Wan blushed even more, and shyly lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
Qi Shuo coughed lightly, his ears burning slightly, and changed the subject, asking, "Why did you come here?"
Xiao Jue laughed, "Sister Jin just called, saying she bought super fresh beef slices and tripe, and she's having hot pot at home tonight. She told me I absolutely have to 'escort' you back. Looks like..."
His gaze shifted between Qi Shuo and Ning Wan, and he said jokingly, "Am I going to be an unwelcome third wheel and 'bring' another little guest along? Sister Jin specifically instructed that if we run into Ning Wan, we should definitely invite her home as well."
Ning Wan looked up in surprise at Qi Shuo, her eyes filled with questioning and a hint of expectation.
Qi Shuo hadn't expected Sister Jin to pull this stunt, and he felt both helpless and touched. He looked at Ning Wan, seeking her opinion with his eyes.
Although Ning Wan was shy, she looked at Qi Shuo and nodded gently, saying softly, "...Okay, thank you for disturbing Aunt Jin."
Xiao Jue chuckled: "When we get home, you can't call her Aunt Jin anymore, just call her Sister Jin, otherwise Sister Jin will give you a hard time."
So the three of them left the restaurant and, with Xiao Jue driving, went back to their home in the old town.
Before even entering, a rich and enticing aroma of hot pot broth, mixed with the mellowness of beef tallow and the spiciness of chili, wafted out from under the door, directly into one's nose.
As they pushed open the door, a warm current, mingled with the aroma of food and the sounds of laughter, instantly enveloped the three of them.
"You're back!" Sister Jin, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen carrying a large plate of washed vegetables. Her eyes lit up when she saw them, especially when she saw Ning Wan, who was hiding half a step behind Qi Shuo and looking a little shy. Her smile became even brighter.
"Sister Jin! I'm starving! Can I have a bite first?" Qin Zhou was clinging to Sister Jin like a large dog, whining and acting spoiled, his eyes fixed on the hot pot in the center of the table, which was already bubbling with red oil.
Song Yungui slumped on the living room sofa, watching Qin Zhou's antics with an indulgent smile. Lin Ye sat quietly at the other end of the sofa, a vocabulary book in his hand, but his gaze, also filled with a smile, was fixed on the bustling kitchen.
Seeing Xiao Jue enter, Lin Ye looked up. Xiao Jue walked over naturally, ruffled his soft hair, and asked in a low voice, "How's the review going?"
As soon as Qi Shuo entered, he skillfully took the backpack from Ning Wan's shoulder and gently placed it on the cabinet by the door. Then he walked to the sofa, smiled, and gently pulled Song Yungui's hoodie hood up, pulling him up from his "slumped" state: "Sit up properly, what kind of behavior is this?"
He then said gently to Ning Wan, who was standing somewhat reservedly at the door, "Please sit down, don't be shy." After settling Ning Wan in, he naturally rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen to help Sister Jin prepare the remaining ingredients.
Only then did Sister Jin have time to take a closer look at Ning Wan. She didn't even have time to take off her apron before she brought her hands, still wet with water droplets, closer. Her face showed undisguised fondness and curiosity: "Oh my, this must be Ning Wan? I've always heard Xiao Shuo mention you. Seeing you today, you really are so pretty and well-behaved, even prettier than in the photos."
Photos? Qi Shuo was taken aback. When had he shown Jin Jie photos? Jin Jie was really lying without thinking.
Ning Wan became even more embarrassed by Sister Jin's enthusiasm, her cheeks flushed, and she greeted her politely, "Hello, Sister Jin, I'm sorry to bother you!"
"No, no! Oh, this child is so adorable!" Sister Jin smiled from ear to ear, and was about to say something more when Qi Shuo, who came out of the kitchen, helplessly pulled her back.
"Sister Jin, you're still holding cilantro in your hand, don't let it get on people." Qi Shuo said, gently taking the poor cilantro from Sister Jin's hand, his eyes filled with helpless indulgence. "And don't crowd around looking at it, you'll scare people."
Qin Zhou hopped over and introduced himself with a grin: "Hello, Sister Ning Wan! I'm Qin Zhou! Shuo Ge's most handsome and adorable younger brother!" Then he pointed to the people on the sofa, "That handsome older brother lounging on the sofa is Song Yun Gui, one of my people? And that cool guy looking at words is Lin Ye, from Xiao Jue Ge's family!"
Song Yungui sat up straight and smiled politely at Ning Wan. Lin Ye also closed his vocabulary book and nodded to her.
Ning Wan was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and vibrancy of the people in the room, but she felt a warm and unprecedented sense of gratitude.
This lively, warm, and humane family atmosphere was something she had never experienced growing up in her own spacious, cold home, where she was often only accompanied by a nanny.
She looked at Qi Shuo bustling between the kitchen and the dining room, at Qin Zhou joking around, at Song Yungui with a gentle smile, at Xiao Jue and Lin Ye interacting in tacit understanding, and then at Sister Jin holding her hand and asking her questions like "How old are you?", "What's your major?", and "Where are you from?"... A bittersweet yet incredibly warm feeling welled up in her heart, making her eyes a little hot.
Is this...home?
The hot pot bubbled and boiled in the center of the table, the red oil bubbling and the mushroom broth fragrant. Everyone sat around the table, clinking bowls and chopsticks, laughing and chatting.
Sister Jin kept putting food on Ning Wan's plate, Qin Zhou and Song Yungui were fighting over the last piece of tripe, Xiao Jue was cooking meat while whispering to Lin Ye about the key points of the exam, and Qi Shuo, although not very talkative, would quietly put the cooked dishes that Ning Wan might like into her bowl.
Ning Wan sat there, listening, watching, and feeling, and the last trace of restraint in her heart dissipated. She took small bites of the shrimp paste that Qi Shuo had put on her plate, and when she looked up, she met Qi Shuo's gaze.
His eyes held a question, as if asking if she was used to it. Ning Wan gave him an incredibly bright, reassuring, and blissfully happy smile.
Qi Shuo was slightly taken aback, and then a clear and warm smile appeared in his eyes.
As night deepened outside the window, the lights inside were warm and inviting. The steam from the hot pot wafted through the glass windows, blurring the smiling faces on the windows.
At this moment, there is noise, warmth, and a sense of groundedness, brimming with vibrant life.
For Ning Wan, this was the first time she had truly touched the shape of "home".
For Qi Shuo, this "home" he had once lost and then painstakingly found again seems to have become more complete and warmer with the addition of a new member.
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