Chapter 2: No One Else Will See

“Boyfriend?”

Wei Qingxuan’s expression recovered quickly.

The tail of his tone lifted, but there was no real fluctuation, making it impossible to tell how he felt about it.

But he knew very well that, more likely than not, Wen Qi was messing with him.

In the years he hadn’t seen Wen Qi, her lazy, arrogant voice would occasionally resurface in his mind.

“Wei Qingxuan, I’ve noticed that repressed-but-expectant look of yours, it’s really tempting, kind of makes people want to touch you.”

Touch what, exactly?

She never gave him an answer.

Yet that sentence had lingered in his heart ever since.

Every time he saw Wen Qi talking to other guys, especially just now, that line would echo in his head again.

But would Wen Qi be drawn to someone else?

Like that small-nosed guy earlier, or that man who had been constantly handing her drinks…

He forced himself to suppress the surging emotions, but once they met, his restrained possessiveness would likely turn into boiling magma, charging toward her without restraint.

Just the thought alone made him swallow hard.

But not now.

That would burn her.

Wen Qi didn’t say anything.

She picked up the jacket from the sofa and casually tossed it to Wei Qingxuan, as naturally as if she’d done it countless times before.

“I’m leaving.”

She turned back and said this to Wei Shi and the others.

He was holding Wen Qi’s jacket.

She had left.

Naturally, he followed.

Wen Qi didn’t explain what had just happened, and Wei Qingxuan didn’t ask.

The summer night breeze was stifling.

Wei Qingxuan followed half a meter behind Wen Qi, their shadows overlapping and separating as they walked quietly side by side.

When they reached the old tube-style apartment building, Wen Qi opened the door to her place, but Wei Qingxuan stopped at the entrance.

“Not coming in? My place isn’t some kind of demon lair.”

“It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

He extended his hand to return the jacket to her.

At least for now, he was still a clear-moon-and-gentle-breeze kind of “friend.”

Wen Qi didn’t take it.

“We grew up together. You’re not so timid that you won’t even step through my door, right? What, don’t tell me you have improper thoughts about me?”

Wei Qingxuan’s fingers tightened around the jacket.

He lifted his gaze, his eyes slowly locking onto Wen Qi’s back as she went to turn on the light.

When Wen Qi turned around again, his expression had returned to normal.

He even frowned slightly, as if dissatisfied with her teasing.

“So you can’t even joke about it now? When did you become so petty?”

Wen Qi said.

“I actually have something to discuss with you.”

Hearing that, Wei Qingxuan finally stepped inside.

Wen Qi was probably at ease with this version of him.

Sure enough, Wen Qi snorted with laughter.

Was it really necessary?

Guarding against her like that, was he afraid she might actually do something?

After living here for a year, this was the first time Wen Qi had brought someone into her tiny apartment.

She set her things down and told Wei Qingxuan to sit wherever.

She rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find an unused cup, poured a glass of juice, and placed it in front of him.

Wei Qingxuan’s gaze swept across the cramped room.

Stacks of delivery boxes.

A hoodie casually draped over the back of a chair…

Wen Qi felt a rare flicker of embarrassment.

“Ahem, I’m about to move anyway, so it’s a bit messy. My lease is almost up,” Wen Qi continued.

“But I have too much stuff, I can’t move it all by myself, so I wanted to ask if you could help.”

“Where are you moving to?”

He asked, pretending to be casual.

“Uh…”

Every year, Wen Zhi Shen sent a sum of money to Li Yu as Wen Qi’s child support.

Li Yu then transferred Wen Qi her living expenses each month.

But something went wrong with this month’s payment.

Li Yu hadn’t sent it yet, and rent was even more out of the question.

Wen Qi grinned broadly.

“I haven’t found a place yet. I don’t really care where I live, but my babies can’t wander around with me. So if I don’t find a place, could you help me keep them for a while?”

Wei Qingxuan looked at the things in Wen Qi’s arms.

A bunch of stands, a microphone, headphones…

He didn’t understand how these qualified as “babies.”

“Sure.”

Wen Qi snapped her fingers.

“Loyal.”

She squatted down and carefully wiped the stands, reminding Wei Qingxuan again and again to be careful when moving them.

“You really have nowhere to go?”

Wei Qingxuan lowered his gaze, his calculating thoughts rapidly circling the entire room.

Wen Qi could stay at his place.

She could even live with him.

One room?

Preferably one bed.

The first person he saw when he opened his eyes every day could be her.

Her things would probably take a few hours to move.

He could contact a moving company right away and arrange the room tonight.

“What do you mean ‘nowhere to go’? My living expenses just haven’t come in yet. Once they do, am I really going to have trouble finding a place to rent?”

Wei Qingxuan asked again.

“When will your living expenses come in?”

Wen Qi’s throat tightened.

“I don’t know.”

Whether she’d even get them at all was a question.

That fight with Li Yu had left her furious.

And with Li Yu busy preparing to go to the UK, she had no time to deal with Wen Qi.

“You can come stay at my place.”

Wei Qingxuan rubbed the rim of his cup, his heart inexplicably beating faster.

He had to keep those thoughts hidden.

“Wouldn’t living with you be even more inappropriate?”

Wen Qi squatted on the floor and tossed his words from the doorway back at him.

“It’s not just me. My grandmother lives there too. And you wouldn’t be living with me anyway. We have a courtyard, and each room is separate.”

Wen Qi froze.

She only knew that Wei Qingxuan had moved to the west side of the city.

She didn’t know he’d moved in with his grandmother.

But if she really went there, that would mean moving to the west side too.

“Forget it. I’m fine here.”

****

The next day, Wen Qi was woken by a ringing phone.

It was from her mother, Li Yu.

Half-asleep, Wen Qi answered.

“What is it?”

Hearing Wen Qi’s groggy voice, Li Yu’s tone sank.

“Why are you still not up?”

“Mom, the college entrance exam is over. Can’t I sleep in for once?”

She checked the time.

Alright.

She’d slept straight into the afternoon.

“Come over to Mom’s place for dinner.”

Her tone softened a bit.

“I’m not going.”

“Qiqi, don’t be so unwilling. Mom’s going to the UK tomorrow. I just want to have one meal with you today.”

Wen Qi took a deep breath.

“It’s not like you’re never coming back. I won’t go see you off.”

Li Yu paused, thought for a moment, then said,

“Come eat. Mom will give you the living expenses for the past few months.”

So it wasn’t that she’d forgotten.

She really had been holding onto it.

Wen Qi sat up straight and threw off the covers.

She defined this meal as a “living-expense rescue mission.”

Thinking of it that way made it much easier.

By evening, she arrived at the doorstep.

As soon as she entered, Li Yu came forward and placed a pair of slippers by her feet.

“You’re here. Hurry and change your shoes. Uncle Zhang is cooking.”

“…Thanks.”

The slippers were nice.

The style was pretty.

They just didn’t fit.

At the entryway stood a family photo of three.

Wen Qi remembered that three years ago, when she left for high school, there had been a photo of just her and Li Yu there.

The table was soon filled with dishes.

Li Yu served her food, and Uncle Zhang smiled beside them.

“How did you do on the exam this year, Qiqi? What universities are you planning to apply to?”

Li Yu smiled.

“With Qiqi’s grades, she’ll definitely get into a good university.”

Everything felt warm and harmonious, if one ignored the so-called little brother crying beside them, asking who Wen Qi was and why she had come to his house.

Li Yu slapped Zhang Yangming.

“How can you talk like that? That’s your older sister. She just… doesn’t come back often.”

Zhang Yangming cried even louder.

“She’s not my sister! Dad said she’s not my sister!”

Li Yu was stunned.

Zhang Yi hurriedly covered Zhang Yangming’s mouth and laughed awkwardly.

“Kids talk nonsense. Qiqi, don’t take it to heart.”

Wen Qi almost laughed at that.

But she stayed silent, letting the three of them descend into chaos while she focused on gnawing the chicken leg in her bowl.

It tasted pretty good.

Would’ve been even better if it’d been cooked a bit longer.

This chicken leg could be taken back for Big Yellow at the tube building.

She could watch him wag his tail.

When Wen Qi didn’t speak, Li Yu and Zhang Yi didn’t know what to say either.

The dinner table fell into silence, broken only by Zhang Yangming’s crying.

Only after she’d eaten her fill did Wen Qi speak again.

“Thanks for today. I’ve eaten enough. I wish you… a smooth journey tomorrow.”

“Qiqi, why are you so distant with Mom?”

Wen Qi couldn’t be bothered to explain.

She went to the entryway, changed her shoes, and left.

Only when she could no longer hear Zhang Yangming’s cries did she let out a long breath.

So damn noisy.

She weighed the chicken leg in her hand.

Big Yellow was still cuter.

“Qiqi.”

Li Yu chased after her, not even changing her shoes.

She stuffed an envelope into Wen Qi’s hand.

“This is your living expenses for the past few months. Qiqi, take good care of yourself. Mom has a family now. I might not have that much energy. You have to understand me.”

Wen Qi clenched the envelope.

She’d almost forgotten the most important thing.

“Thank you, Mom.”

Wen Qi kept staring at the envelope, then opened it to check inside, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

To Li Yu, it looked heartless, and anger flared instantly.

“Qiqi, I’m talking to you. Do you only care about money?”

“Then will you give me love?”

“Give me a bit of the love you give Zhang Yangming. Mom.”

“I…”

Li Yu wanted to say she had always loved Wen Qi.

But thinking of what she’d done over the past three years, of Wen Qi’s estrangement, guilt welled up, and the words wouldn’t come out.

Wen Qi sighed and put the envelope away.

“Alright, don’t be so sentimental. You did love me before. I know.”

She lowered her gaze to Li Yu’s legs.

“If your leg isn’t good, don’t run so fast. It rains a lot in the UK. You should be careful.”

She turned around.

Li Yu was saying something loudly behind her.

But Wen Qi no longer wanted to listen.

Back at the tube building, Big Yellow was still lying at the entrance.

The moment he saw her, he started barking loudly.

Wen Qi quickly handed him the chicken leg, telling him not to bark, or he’d get scolded by the residents again.

Big Yellow circled her several times before finally settling down to eat.

Wen Qi thought that she should’ve brought the other chicken leg too.

If Zhang Yangming hadn’t gotten any, he’d probably have cried even louder.

She snorted with laughter.

She reached out and patted Big Yellow’s head.

“Big Yellow, I have to move. In the future, when you see those punks on the fourth floor, stay far away. Otherwise there’ll be no one left to help you fight them.”

Big Yellow showed no trace of sadness, happily gnawing on the chicken leg.

Wen Qi pressed her lips together.

She probably… wasn’t sad either.

She just couldn’t quite understand.

Why call her over for dinner?

Why make her feel so out of place?

Why promise things she couldn’t deliver?

She’d been looking forward to it for so long.

So annoying.

Being alone was best.

Keeping herself company was best.

A drop of warmth fell onto Big Yellow’s head.

He lifted his head, tilting it in confusion.

“Hey, isn’t that Wen Qi?”

Someone passed by.

“Pretty relaxed, huh, feeding a dog.”

Another person said,

“No, why does it look like Wen Qi is crying?”

“Holy shit, really?”

Hearing the idle chatter, Wen Qi turned her head and tried to stand up, but Big Yellow pawed at her, and there was even a hint of concern in his eyes.

Good intentions gone wrong, she couldn’t get up right away because of him.

“Wen Qi?”

One of them walked over.

Wen Qi hated it the most when people saw her choking up, especially those punks from the fourth floor.

But she couldn’t push Big Yellow away, and irritation flared in her chest.

Suddenly, a cap was placed over her head.

Long fingers pressed the brim down slightly, completely blocking her tearful eyes from view.

Wei Qingxuan gently pulled Big Yellow aside and lifted Wen Qi up.

He hesitated with the tissue in his hand for a moment, then finally handed it to her.

“Who’s that?”

One of them asked.

“Wen Qi’s boyfriend?”

“No idea.”

“Who dares to ask?”

“You?”

“No way.”

“Last time she kicked me once, I still remember it.”

“Damn ruthless.”

“Someone actually dares to chase a girl like that?”

Wei Qingxuan clearly heard that.

His gaze turned cold in an instant.

Hearing Wen Qi sniffle, he changed his expression again.

He didn’t lift her cap, only bent down to look at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hey, hey, are they kissing?”

“…”

“Keep it down!”

“The little couple’s being intimate.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

“Otherwise Wen Qi’s going to beat us again.”

Where was the intimacy?!

Wen Qi fumed inwardly.

He’d just pulled her up.

His hand just hadn’t let go yet.

“Why are you still holding my hand?”

Wei Qingxuan quickly released it.

His lowered fingers twitched, empty, a few times.

“Didn’t you go back to the west side?”

“You promised to help me move.”

Wen Qi broke into a smile through her tears.

After a couple of seconds, she said,

“I must’ve looked awful just now. I’ve been cool in this tube building for a whole year, and it had to be this time that they saw me.”

After a while, there was a faint rustling above her head.

The brim of the cap was gently lifted.

She stumbled straight into a pair of eyes.

Those eyes were steeped in night, yet fine shards of light glimmered at their corners.

“Not ugly. Very beautiful.”

Wen Qi came back to herself.

“I meant… when I was crying just now.”

“Were you crying? I didn’t see it.”

Wei Qingxuan said evenly.

“And no one else will either.”

Wen Qi froze for a moment.