Part 2
“I have you here. You are my only connection here.” Qin Yao stared at Bai He with curved, smiling eyes, then fluttered his eyelashes and let out an ‘ah’. “Wrong. Xiao Bao doesn’t belong here. You are mine.”
Hearing these contradictory words, Bai He almost laughed out loud. Suddenly, Qin Yao licked the palm of his hand. Bai He jerked back, glaring at Qin Yao in embarrassment and anger. “Sometimes you really are like a bad cat.”
“All my goodness is given to you.” Qin Yao rested his head on Bai He’s shoulder. “So, what do you think?”
Bai He didn’t speak.
Thinking about this matter made his mind a mess. Did he hate his parents? Not enough to hate; it was more disappointment. Did he want revenge? Not really. He just wanted to seek justice for his younger self.
Qin Yao reached out to pinch Bai He’s nose, then let go, laughing softly. “Tell me when you’ve thought it through.”
“…” Bai He touched the tip of his nose and slowly followed Qin Yao. The other gave him time, holding his hand and leading him forward.
“Qin Yao,” Bai He called him.
“What is it?”
“Do you know which way to go?”
“No.”
Bai He: “……”
He sighed, then suddenly laughed. It came from the heart, spilling out from his chest, seemingly warm. “Then you still lead me forward?”
Hearing Bai He laugh, Qin Yao felt his heart tickled. He leaned his body against Bai He. “Anyway, as long as I’m with you, it doesn’t matter where we go.”
Bai He looked away. “Don’t say cheesy things.”
“Okay~” Qin Yao squinted.
…
“Next stop, Muting Street. Passengers getting off, please get ready…”
There weren’t many people on the bus. In the back row, Bai He leaned against the window, Qin Yao sitting beside him. The setting sun, about to exit the stage, swept across their faces alternately. Bai He, looking out the window, turned back and patted the top of Qin Yao’s head. “We’re almost there.”
Qin Yao hadn’t slept at all; he just wanted to stick to Bai He every moment. He sat up straight, walked in front, went to the rear door of the bus to stand, and reached out to pull Bai He over.
Bai He wasn’t short, but standing next to Qin Yao, he appeared somewhat small.
Qin Yao was truly tall, standing out like a crane among chickens. Among the people getting off, no one failed to notice him. It was impossible to keep a low profile; this alpha was an eye-catching spotlight just standing there.
Especially with a face that was overly handsome.
There were only a few passengers getting off. Bai He and Qin Yao stood near the door, not noticing the girl standing behind them.
The girl had short, ear-length hair, cool makeup, and a black slip dress, radiating coolness all over. She stood behind them, observing Bai He and Qin Yao for a long time. When the bus stopped and stabilized, she followed them off before calling out the name from her memory.
“Are you Bai He?”
Bai He was walking in front of Qin Yao. Hearing this, he stopped and looked back to see a girl with a cool temperament.
He blinked slowly, trying to search his memory for a matching face.
Seeing his blank expression, the girl smiled lightly and crossed her arms. “Zhu Ye. Class 3-2, Sports Committee Member.”
Bai He’s dazed expression became more apparent. He remembered. His eyelashes fluttered a few times. “Sorry, it’s been too long…”
“I don’t blame you. I didn’t remember you immediately just now either.” Zhu Ye lifted her chin at Bai He. “You’ve changed a lot. You used to be such an inconspicuous quiet kid. You’re quite handsome now.”
Bai He forced a smile. He really didn’t know what to chat about with such a distant old classmate. Then he saw Zhu Ye looking at Qin Yao standing beside him.
“Is this your boyfriend?” Zhu Ye asked.
Bai He nodded. “Mm, he’s Qin Yao.”
“Hello.” Qin Yao nodded to Zhu Ye, though he never let go of Bai He’s hand.
“Amazing.” Zhu Ye laughed. “I thought you would be the type to get married and start a career as soon as you grew up. After all, you used to be such a well-behaved kid, always listening to your parents.”
She tilted her head as she spoke. “By the way, hasn’t your crappy dad gone in yet?”
Bai He’s face darkened slightly. He didn’t remember everything that happened in middle school, but there was one thing he would remember for a lifetime.
It was the year of graduating from middle school. His grades were good enough for a good high school, but his father thought the fees were expensive and wouldn’t let him go, even making a scene in front of Bai He’s homeroom teacher.
Bai He had compromised many times. That time, he hadn’t intended to compromise. Who would have guessed his father would run to the school to argue?
Who doesn’t care about face at that age? Enduring the gaze of the entire class, Bai He lost to his father once again.
“He hasn’t gone in.” Bai He’s breathing was extremely light. “But soon.”
Zhu Ye was stunned for a moment, then laughed. “That’s good news.”
She hugged her arms and looked elsewhere. “My little sister is in the same elementary school as your brother. I went to a parent-teacher conference before and met your mom.”
Bai He listened quietly.
“She dresses quite nicely. My sister said Bai Ning, your brother, often shows off at school, saying his parents don’t work and his older brother at home is rich and sends them money.”
Zhu Ye looked Bai He up and down as she spoke. “Bai He, why don’t you treat yourself better? Isn’t it tiring raising a bunch of leeches?”
It took Bai He a long time to pull out a smile that was almost non-existent. “Thank you for telling me.”
“I just mentioned it in passing. Who let your brother, that brat, bully my sister?” Zhu Ye shrugged, then frowned. “But speaking of which, your brother says you make money, yet you wear such cheap stuff?”
Bai He looked at the clothes on his body. “Not cheap. This T-shirt was eighty.”
“Eighty, huh.” Zhu Ye covered her mouth and laughed. “Okay, okay, eighty isn’t cheap. You really are thrifty. Your boyfriend too.”
“…” Bai He looked at the smiling Qin Yao beside him. Qin Yao was wearing his clothes, the largest set. Although it wasn’t tight, it was still small, held up entirely by Qin Yao’s face.
Bai He’s lips opened and closed, then opened again. “He just arrived and didn’t bring enough clothes, so he’s wearing mine.”
Zhu Ye immediately raised her eyebrows. “Oh~ I get it, I get it.”
She took her phone out of her bag and tapped the screen a few times. “Let’s add each other. I didn’t add you before.”
Bai He hesitated. “I don’t use chat apps much.”
“I don’t use them much either.” Zhu Ye weighed her phone in her hand. “Just as a memento for old classmates. I probably won’t chat with you even if we add each other.”
Bai He had to take out his phone and add her. Zhu Ye’s profile picture was a leaf.
“Alright, I have things to do, so I won’t chat.” She turned to leave, but after a few steps, she looked back and gave Bai He a sunny smile. “Oh right, you might have forgotten. Once in middle school, you were so sad, hiding in a corner talking to yourself, and I heard you.”
Bai He suddenly looked up.
“Saying things like why did they give birth to you if they weren’t going to be responsible, and that you would never recklessly have children in the future. Speaking of which, your voice sounded so aggrieved back then.” Zhu Ye laughed. “That might have been angry talk back then. Looking at it now, you really don’t plan to get married and have children. That’s good. Not everyone likes children, and not everyone has the ability to raise children well. Being free and unfettered on your own is pretty good too.”
“Gotta go, bye~”
These words left Bai He with complicated feelings.
While he was in a daze, Qin Yao watched him the whole time. After a long while, the two walked slowly along the road. Their held hands never loosened. Bai He was lost in thought. Soon they turned a corner into an empty alleyway. Flowers from both sides grew over the walls, and the road was covered in petals.
Qin Yao stopped, stood in front of Bai He, and gazed into those eyes. His voice was very soft. “So Xiao Bao suffered so many grievances.”
Bai He looked up, saying nothing.
“Here’s a shoulder to lean on,” Qin Yao leaned down. “Crying it out will make you feel much better.”
Bai He didn’t want to cry, but he still hugged Qin Yao, burying his face in Qin Yao’s shoulder. After a long time, he spoke in a muffled voice, tugging at Qin Yao’s sleeve with his hand.
“I’ve decided. Let’s go back after dealing with this. You have to help me.”
“Okay.” Qin Yao kissed the side of Bai He’s face. “Happy to be of service.”
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