HTC 9

Like it.

Xie Huai thought to himself.

He composed his emotions and sent a message to Jiang Xu.

Xie Huai: Jiang Xu?

Jiang Xu: The gift, do you still like it?

Xie Huai’s nose tingled slightly as he typed slowly, “I like it.”

Then he asked, “How did you know?”

Jiang Xu: You said it yourself.

Xie Huai was at a loss for a moment: When, why can’t I remember?

Jiang Xu: On the first day of junior high school, on your class’s wish wall.

After sending this message, Jiang Xu raised his head and looked calmly out the window. Below was the seemingly calm but fast-flowing Yangtze River, and above was the cloudless blue sky, creating a true blend of water and sky.

His thoughts quietly drifted back to four years ago.

Jiang Xu didn’t like to talk much since he was a child. Except for a few children of his own age from his relatives, he didn’t have any friends at all, let alone love.

Until the summer vacation when he was in the first year of junior high school, he met Xie Huai.

To be precise, they met in the hospital, in the same ward.

Both of them had high fevers at the time. Jiang Xu was particularly sensitive to the smell of hospital disinfectant, making him nauseous. Therefore, he wore a mask even in the ward and ate his meals on the small balcony outside.

During the three days in the hospital, Jiang Xu never removed his mask, and Xie Huai hadn’t seen his face.

The first time Jiang Xu saw Xie Huai, he thought he was good-looking. However, he only glanced once and then averted his gaze.

Back then, both of them had just graduated from elementary school and didn’t have many concerns. Xie Huai initially thought Jiang Xu couldn’t speak and felt sorry for him.

Xie Huai was a lively and talkative person himself. He talked non-stop to Jiang Xu for more than an hour, sharing all the happy things he could think of. But Jiang Xu never smiled.

One day passed, then another. For three days, Xie Huai talked incessantly, but Jiang Xu remained unresponsive, which puzzled him.

So, Xie Huai changed his strategy. He decided to share his snacks, stuffing them all into Jiang Xu’s lap. This finally made the thirteen-year-old boy raise his head.

Although he could only see his eyes, the coldness in Jiang Xu’s expression created some distance between them.

Even though only his eyes were visible, Xie Huai still sensed Jiang Xu’s impatience.

When twelve-year-old Xie Huai received this cold look, he suddenly felt defeated. His parents and teachers always praised his friendly and outgoing personality, which helped him make so many friends. However, this was the first time he encountered someone like Jiang Xu.

A bit angrily, Xie Huai turned away from Jiang Xu, pulled the blanket over himself, and turned his back to him. He grabbed the blanket and covered his entire body.

The air conditioning was on in the ward, but it still felt a bit warm under the blanket.

Nevertheless, Xie Huai stubbornly remained inside.

It was also the first time for Jiang Xu to meet someone who talked so much like Xie Huai. After listening to him talk for so long, he didn’t feel impatient at all, but wanted to hear him continue.

Watching Xie Huai stuff the snacks he liked into his lap, Jiang Xu thought about saying, “Thanks, you don’t have to do this.” However, his habit of appearing cold to people made him lift his head with an unintentional cold look.

Jiang Xu silently watched Xie Huai who was wrapped in a blanket like a dumpling

Jiang Xu gently poked Xie Huai’s blanket with his finger, trying to make his tone sound less cold. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

The next moment, Jiang Xu felt movement from beneath the blanket.

Xie Huai turned over inside and slowly pulled the blanket down, revealing only his bright and clear eyes.

Xie Huai looked at the person standing in front of him, and finally whispered: “So you are not mute?”

Jiang Xu’s face darkened a little: “…”

Jiang Xu asked, “What’s your name?”

Xie Huai sat up from the bed and smiled at Jiang Xu: “Xie Huai.”

Jiang Xu suddenly felt his heart beating rapidly. “Jiang…”

Before he could say his full name, it was drowned out by a sudden creaking sound.

The hospital room’s door suddenly opened, and Xie Huai’s mother, Zhao Li, walked in.

“Huaihuai, I’m here to take you home. The doctor said you can go home now,” Zhao Li said gently, looking at Xie Huai.

Zhao Li looked at Jiang Xu and said to Xie Huai, “Say goodbye to this brother.”

Although Jiang Xu was only thirteen, he was already one meter seventy tall. He was wearing a mask, making it hard to determine his actual age, but Zhao Li instinctively thought he was already fifteen or sixteen.

In reality, he was indeed a bit older than Xie Huai, and calling him “brother” was not entirely wrong.

Xie Huai, who was already quite conscious about his image at the age of twelve, knew that Jiang Xu was just like him, starting junior high school in the next semester. He didn’t really want to address him as “brother,” but under Zhao Li’s watchful gaze, he reluctantly spoke up.

“Goodbye, brother.”

Zhao Li smiled at Jiang Xu and then left with Xie Huai. The hospital room gradually quieted down.

Jiang Xu thought that this might be the only interaction he would have with Xie Huai. However, when school started in the next semester, he saw Xie Huai again.

One day, Xie Huai accidentally tripped at the school gate, his face turning red instantly. He quickly got up, dusted off his pants, and without stopping for a moment, he ran away in front of a crowd of people.

Jiang Xu watched Xie Huai’s receding figure, and he thought about the way Xie Huai had smiled at him in the hospital room. It was then that he realized that this was what it felt like to have a crush.

However, he and Xie Huai weren’t in the same class; he was in Class One, while Xie Huai was in Class Two.

During the first monthly exam, Jiang Xu was assigned to Class Two. His seat was near the wall, and on the wall, there was a display board. Apart from some artworks, there was a small section dedicated to a “Wish Wall.”

Jiang Xu immediately saw Xie Huai’s name.

“I want to go to an amusement park once.” — Xie Huai.

—

Xie Huai looked at the message.

The wish wall from the first year…

Xie Huai remembered it. Their class had organized an activity to write down wishes, and he had indeed written that he wanted to go to an amusement park.

Why did Jiang Xu remember this?

He had almost forgotten about it himself.

Xie Huai didn’t know how to describe his current feelings. He didn’t understand why Jiang Xu was being so good to him.

Xie Huai: Jiang Xu, why are you being so kind to me?

“Huaihuai, it’s time for us to go.” Zhao Li said suddenly.

“Oh, okay,” Xie Huai replied.

He glanced at his phone; Jiang Xu hadn’t replied yet. After a pause, he retracted the message he had sent earlier, “I’m leaving now,” and then sent a new one. He switched off the phone and put it in his pocket.

Jiang Xu emerged from the restroom with little Huaihuai. They had almost had a close call where little Huaihuai almost urinated next to his bed, but luckily, Jiang Xu was quick.

Jiang Xu took out his phone and replied to Xie Huai: “Okay, have a great time.”

Only then did he notice that Xie Huai had retracted a message earlier.

Jiang Xu touched Xiao Huaihuai’s head, and quickly pressed the phone screen with the other hand.

Jiang Xu: What did you retract?

Xie Huai didn’t reply; he was probably in the car. Jiang Xu put down his phone, handed Xiao Huaihuai to his mom, asking her to take care of him.

Jiang Xu himself went into the kitchen to wash the fruit with his father.

Not long after, Jiang Xu’s cell phone rang.

He took it out and saw that it was indeed Xie Huai.

Xie Huai: I made a typo.

Of course Jiang Xu wouldn’t believe it, but he didn’t say it.

Jiang Xu: Got it.

By the time Xie Huai got home, it was already nine o’clock. He had just napped for an hour in the car, and now every part of his body ached.

His parents advised him to rest early, and he agreed.

He went to his room, grabbed his pajamas, and went into the bathroom. After coming out, he lay down on the bed. He decided not to pick up Xiao Huai huai today; he’d do that tomorrow.

Before falling asleep, Jiang Xu sent him a WeChat message.

Xie Huai opened it.

Jiang Xu: Xiao Huaihuai is asleep, you rest first today, and I will bring it to you tomorrow.

Xie Huai: Don’t bother, I’ll come to your house tomorrow.

Jiang Xu: No trouble.

Xie Huai: Good night then! QVQ!

Jiang Xu: Good night.

Jiang Xu brought Xiao Huaihuai back before eight o’clock the next morning.

When Xie Huai saw his son, he rushed over to pick him up, but surprisingly, little Huai Huai resisted and kept leaping towards Jiang Xu.

Xie Huai: “…”

“Xiao Huaihuai, you rebelled in less than a day, huh?” Xie Huai teasingly snatched the dog from Jiang Xu’s arms, “Tell me, did Dad Jiang feed you a love potion?”

Jiang Xu couldn’t help laughing: “Why do you call me that?”

“Well, we found it together, so you’re like half his son,” Xie Huai replied casually, though inwardly, he felt somewhat self-conscious. He had a hidden agenda, hoping this would lead to a different kind of relationship with Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu agreed nonchalantly. “Alright, I’ll go along with that.”

Xie Huai’s face turned slightly red, and he cleared his throat. “Uh, I need to do my homework. Please feel free to sit.”

“Any problems with the questions?” Jiang Xu asked.

Xie Huai admitted there were a few he didn’t understand. “Yes, some of them.”

Jiang Xu took out his mobile phone and sent his mother a message, saying that he would not go home yet.

Then raised his head and said to Xie Huai, “I’ll teach you.”

Throughout the entire morning, Jiang Xu patiently helped Xie Huai with his assignments. Some questions he already knew how to solve, but having not paid much attention in class for so long, there were others he struggled with, and each time, Jiang Xu patiently explained.

By the time Jiang Xu cooked two bowls of noodles for lunch, Xie Huai had completed all his homework, and it was already 5 PM.

Xie Huai breathed a sigh of relief, he hadn’t written homework so seriously for a long time.

He felt a bit nostalgic.

He felt grateful to Jiang Xu for helping him for so long. But now, he needed to do something to return the favor.

“How about I treat you to a meal?” Xie Huai suggested.

Jiang Xu didn’t refuse. “Sure.”

So he went to have a Chinese meal with Jiang Xu.

So, they went to have a Chinese meal together. The restaurant served delicious food, and Xie Huai liked coming here. The owner and waitstaff were familiar with him.

While eating, neither of them spoke much. It was eerily quiet compared to other lively tables around them.

Xie Huai didn’t mind the silence. He was used to “silence while eating,” and it would feel even stranger to talk now.

It wasn’t until they had both finished eating and walked out of the restaurant leisurely that Xie Huai finally broke the silence.

He asked Jiang Xu, “Was it good?”

Jiang Xu took a sip of lemonade and replied, “Yes.”

Xie Huai smiled with satisfaction.

Unknowingly, they had walked back to the entrance of the residential area.

“Thanks for today. See you tomorrow,” Xie Huai waved to Jiang Xu with a smile and headed in a different direction.

Watching Xie Huai’s departing figure, Jiang Xu’s lips slightly curved upward as he softly said, “See you tomorrow.”