Zhang Xuan
On the way to the police station, Xu Zhiyi sat in the passenger seat, and she was actually a little nervous.
But Xu Wangping didn't say a word.
The streets outside the car window were deserted, a characteristic of the Spring Festival. Most of the shops were closed, and few people were walking around. Occasionally, you could hear sporadic firecrackers coming from afar.
Today is New Year's Eve, and there are only staff on duty at the police station.
Xu Zhiyi followed Xu Wangping. She saw the police take them into a room next door. A little boy was sitting inside with a dark face. He was holding a cup of hot water in his hand and was in a daze.
Xu Wangping glanced at the boy, then went to the side with the police to handle the formalities. Xu Zhiyi sat in the empty seat next to him without saying a word.
Soon, Xu Wangping signed and walked over.
"Let's go."
Xu Zhiyi was a little surprised that it was so fast.
The boy stood up without saying a word and looked at Xu Wangping, "Teacher Xu, where are you going?"
This was the first time Xu Zhiyi heard him speak. His voice was a little hoarse and trembling.
Xu Wangping said calmly, "Go home with the teacher."
The boy was thin and his outer clothes seemed a little big for him.
"I'm not going."
"So where are you going?"
The boy said nothing, his face looking a little stubborn.
"Then you don't have to go home with me. Don't call me teacher anymore, don't look for me, and don't even think about calling me."
Xu Wangping's sharp words made the boy's eyes red. Xu Zhiyi noticed that his brows were furrowed and his palms curled up unconsciously.
"Are you coming back?"
Xu Wangping asked again.
Tears seemed to fall from the boy's eyes. He quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand and then nodded.
Xu Zhiyi went to the door and opened it. The boy got in and huddled aside.
Xu Zhiyi sat with him and fastened his seat belt for him.
No one spoke in the car, only the hissing sound of the heater could be heard.
"What's your name?"
Xu Zhiyi spoke first, breaking the silence.
"Zhang Xuan."
"My name is Xu Zhiyi, hello."
Xu Zhiyi quietly stretched out his hand to show his attitude.
Zhang Xuan didn't reach out his hand, but instead looked at her warily.
This made Xu Zhiyi feel a little embarrassed.
She withdrew her hand from the air, then took out a cup of hot water in a thermos bag from behind the front seat.
"Give."
Zhang Xuan turned his gaze back from the window and looked down at the water cup in Xu Zhiyi's hand.
Xu Zhiyi handed it to him directly without saying anything.
When the three people came in, Xie Mushuang seemed to be used to it. She didn't say anything and just led Zhang Xuan to the bathroom.
Xu Zhiyi was standing at the door changing shoes when she heard Xu Wangping's voice.
"Give it to me after the New Year."
She looked up with a confused look on her face and saw her cell phone on the shoe cabinet.
At this moment, her heart beat faster and she tried hard to control her excitement.
"Dad..." Xu Zhiyi took the phone, turned around and followed Xu Wangping, "I can't use the phone for the time being."
Xu Wangping said in a low voice, "Zhang Xuan has been staying at our house recently. You can take it with you so that you can contact us."
Xu Zhiyi pretended not to care and nodded obediently. "Oh~"
When Zhang Xuan came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, Xu Zhiyi was sitting on the sofa. She saw that he was wearing gray puppy pajamas and pink slippers, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.
It looks quite cute.
Zhang Xuan was obviously at a loss, even a little shy, his fingers tightly clenched on the corner of his clothes.
"Eat quickly."
Xie Mushuang led him in from the bathroom door and asked him to sit on a stool. The food on the table was reheated by Xu Zhiyi just now.
Zhang Xuan lowered his head and said nothing, tears instantly falling again.
Xu Zhiyi stood up silently and helped him push the tissue box over.
"Xiaoyi!"
Xie Mushuang called Xu Zhiyi from the study next door. She quickly responded and walked over.
At this moment, Xie Mushuang was moving a table to make room in the room and unfolding the folding bed. This bed was usually used as a sofa when not in use.
"Xiaoyi, let's give the new set of sheets and pillowcases I bought for you to that child first, okay? Mommy will buy you new ones next time."
"Sure." Xu Zhiyi didn't have any objection to this. After all, the one she was using was newly bought not long ago.
Xu Zhiyi took the bed sheet and looked at the pink cat pattern on it, and couldn't help laughing.
"Mom, this is too pink."
From beginning to end, it's all pink, and the style is incompatible with this room.
"As long as I can sleep."
Xie Mushuang made the bed and instructed Xu Zhiyi, "Teach Zhang Xuan how to turn on and off the lights later. I'll go find some toiletries for him."
"I know, Mom. Go get busy."
Xie Mushuang nodded, went over and touched her head, "Be obedient."
The Spring Festival Gala was still playing in the living room, and Xu Zhiyi stood at the bathroom door and began to explain the placement of toiletries.
"Just put the toothbrush and cup on the second row of the shelf. The towel belongs to the rabbit. Just hang it on the hanger after use."
After finishing everything, Xu Zhiyi asked him, "Do you understand everything I said?"
Zhang Xuan still said nothing, just nodded in agreement.
It was almost ten o'clock when Xu Zhiyi charged his mobile phone and suddenly noticed the night light on his desk.
She thought about it, then walked out of the bedroom holding the night light.
The door of the study was ajar. She stood at the door and didn't go in. Instead, she knocked on the door gently.
Zhang Xuan sat blankly at the head of the bed and turned to look at her.
Xu Zhiyi then opened the door and walked in, placing the night light on his bedside table.
"The light in this room is at the door. It's inconvenient to not have a switch elsewhere. If you get up at night, just press this. It's more convenient."
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhang Xuan's eyes. Xu Zhiyi didn't say much, but quickly left the room.
But she soon returned, holding tangerines and two plates of melon seeds.
"Eat whatever you want. If you need anything, tell me and I'll get it for you. Oh, and I'll take you clothes shopping tomorrow."
Zhang Xuan's gaze shifted from Orange to Xu Zhiyi's face. He unconsciously twisted the hem of his pajamas, lowered his eyes, and said softly.
"Thanks."
Xu Zhiyi didn't stay long and left after closing the door.
When closing the door, she caught a glimpse of Zhang Xuan reaching out to touch the night light, his fingertips cautiously, afraid of breaking it.
Lying on the bed, Xu Zhiyi couldn't wait to open his mobile phone and quickly log into his account.
In an instant, 99+ messages popped up, and there were dozens of advertisements alone.
She clicked on the pinned post, and sure enough, the dog-headed avatar had turned gray, and the last two messages were from two months ago.
[Just Want to Drive a Tank]: Why haven’t you replied to my messages?
【Want to drive a tank】:?
Xu Zhiyi's finger stayed on the screen for a long time, but he didn't know how to reply.
In the end, she exited the chat interface and browsed other information first.
Most of the group messages were New Year's greetings from classmates, as well as some of Zhang Ningxia's original complaints.
She got up, opened the door, and went out to pour a glass of water.
When she passed the study, she noticed that there was no light coming from under the crack of the door, so Zhang Xuan must have been asleep.
After returning to the bedroom, she picked up her phone again. This time she clicked on the grayed-out avatar and started typing.
[Not Valley]: Sorry, my phone was confiscated and I haven’t replied to your message.
She read all the messages one by one, but a few minutes later, new messages popped up.
[I'm going to drive a tank]: I thought you were missing
From the tone, Xu Zhiyi seemed to be able to imagine the other person's expression.
[Not a Valley]: Today is New Year's Eve, aren't you staying up all night?
【I Want to Drive a Tank】: I'm currently guarding the place. My parents are watching the Spring Festival Gala. I'm a bit bored.
It was obviously a simple conversation, but Xu Zhiyi felt very relaxed.
But she soon lost interest, and instead went to the group to look for Song Chengrui's account. Song Chengrui did not speak in the group, and his chat level was not even high.
Just then, she heard a slight noise coming from the next room.
She pricked up her ears and listened quietly again, and the room next door became quiet again.
Xu Zhiyi gently pushed open the door and walked towards the study.
The door of the study was ajar, and a faint light came from the crack. She pushed the door open and found Zhang Xuan squatting in the corner, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Xu Zhiyi knocked on the door. "Zhang Xuan?"
Zhang Xuan suddenly looked up and wiped his eyes with his sleeve in panic, "I'm not crying!"
Xu Zhiyi walked in and squatted down beside the floor. "Oh, I know. I just came to ask you, do you want to watch TV?"
Silence spread between the two of them, and the sound of Spring Festival Gala songs could be faintly heard from the bedroom next door.
"Mom said we should stay up all night to celebrate the New Year," Zhang Xuan suddenly said, "She said the longer we stay up, the longer the elders will live."
Xu Zhiyi's heart tightened.
Zhang Xuan fiddled with the night light, with faint traces of tears on his face.
"I kept watch, but my mother is gone..."
"Wait a minute."
After saying that, Xu Zhiyi dragged the carpet over from his room, moved a folding table, and took out some New Year's goods from the cabinet, including nuts and candies. The two of them sat on the floor, turned on the night light and chatted with each other.
"Come, try this, it's my favorite." Xu Zhiyi handed him the nuts.
Zhang Xuan picked up one and bit it open with his teeth.
Xu Zhiyi quickly stopped him and demonstrated with a tool, "Just twist it like this and it will open. This way it will hurt your teeth."
"Oh." Zhang Xuan nodded obediently, seeming not as sad as before.
The two were chatting and laughing when suddenly the sound of firecrackers rang out outside the window. Xu Zhiyi then opened his phone and looked at the time. It was just midnight.
"Wow, it's New Year, Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year." This time, Zhang Xuan's voice was much more powerful than before.
At this moment, the door of the room was pushed open, and Xie Mushuang stood at the door, holding something with a surprised look.
"Hey, why don't you turn on the light?"
Xu Zhiyi smiled and pointed at the room, "Mom, don't you think it has a unique atmosphere?"
Xie Mushuang nodded, "Okay, you young people still know how to have fun. I heard some noise from you guys, so I came to take a look. It's nothing serious, you guys continue to guard, you can have more fun today."
She reminded him, "But be quiet, your dad is asleep."
Xu Zhiyi made an OK gesture with her fingers, and Xie Mushuang gently closed the door for them.
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