Chapter 28 Part 1: The Roommate Retrieval Plan

Xie Yan had nothing to say about his sister’s thought process.

He sighed softly.

“Can you put something else in your head?”

Lin Chuji was equally stunned by her shocking statement.

What was that all about?

If it weren’t for the fact that Xie Yan was already an adult, he would have wanted to convince Zhan Wanqiu to adopt both siblings—it would be great for everyone to have more brothers and sisters.

“Wanwan, you really are a bit obsessed with those novels,” Shen Yinan said a fair word.

“Putting aside these weird possibilities, you should seriously consider it.”

Xie Yan wasn’t sure what she really thought.

He asked again in a low voice, “Do you want to?

Are you willing?”

Xie Wan observed his expression and didn’t answer immediately.

Of course she wanted to.

Being able to stay by her brother’s side, with someone else covering her living expenses, would make things much easier for him.

Why wouldn’t she be willing?

But at that moment, she suddenly understood why Xie Yan seemed unwilling.

If her household registration was moved away, then on paper, he would truly be all alone.

That was very pitiful, and very heartbreaking.

Xie Wan suppressed her own thoughts and changed her tone.

“I don’t know.”

Lin Chuji said softly, “You don’t have to decide right away.

The offer is always open.

If you change your mind, just tell me.”

Xie Wan nodded and said a sincere thank you.

For a while after that, the car was very quiet.

No one spoke.

After seeing her off at the security checkpoint and returning to the dorm, Xie Yan remained silent.

He was completely unlike his usual restless self.

Lin Chuji didn’t know what he was thinking.

It was a rare silence.

Shen Yinan sensed something off in the atmosphere and tried to lighten the mood.

“Boss Xie is still sick.

You’ll have to take care of him again tonight, Xiao Lin.”

“Want us to buy something and bring it over?”

Shen Yibei quickly chimed in.

Xie Yan shook his head and said flatly, “No need.

Go back.

My head hurts.

I’ll sleep some more.”

He was still running a fever, and going out had exposed him to more wind.

He really wasn’t feeling well.

Shen Yinan nodded.

“Okay.

Message us if you need anything.”

Xie Yan casually waved his hand as a goodbye.

Lin Chuji followed him slowly back to the dorm.

He watched as Xie Yan unselfconsciously took off his T-shirt by the bed, revealing his broad, solid back, then put on his pajamas and bent down to untie the drawstring of his sweatpants.

“Are you… unhappy about me overstepping?”

Lin Chuji asked quietly.

Xie Yan turned to look at him.

His thoughts were a mess, and he was very annoyed.

He didn’t want to hide it from the other, so he nodded slightly and said honestly, “A little.

But it’s not your fault.

It’s my own emotions that aren’t sorted out.

Just let me be alone for a while.”

Lin Chuji thought, I knew it.

He walked over, sat down in front of him, looked up at the other, and asked, “I don’t understand.

Isn’t this a good thing?

Why are you so resistant?”

Xie Yan looked down coldly, his face expressionless.

He looked at Lin Chuji’s fair cheeks, innocent eyes, hands that had never done any chores, soft and delicate—a young master who was luxurious to the extreme from head to toe.

He suddenly laughed.

“Lin Chuji, do you know what it feels like to have the whole school donate money to you?”

Lin Chuji looked at him blankly, trying to read his expression, but couldn’t.

“You don’t know,” Xie Yan said, his tone very calm.

“My parents died when I was in eighth grade.

A group of crazy people made homemade bombs and happened to pick our school.

They took several students as hostages.

I was lucky.

I wasn’t one of them.”

Lin Chuji couldn’t make a sound.

He could only listen as Xie Yan recounted it as if describing someone else’s business.

“But I was influenced by them from a young age.

I have a strong sense of justice.

To be honest, my childhood wish was to become a police officer like them.

That day wasn’t even their work shift, but I still called them and explained the situation.

So my parents and their colleagues came rushing over.”

Lin Chuji’s eyelashes trembled.

“Don’t say any more…”

Xie Yan’s tone remained calm.

“They traded themselves for the students, but the snipers couldn’t control the situation.

In the end, those madmen detonated the bombs.

My parents used their bodies to shield the explosives.

They lost too much blood, rescue efforts failed, and they died within a few hours.”

“Xie Yan, don’t say any more.”

Lin Chuji stopped him in panic.

He remembered how Xie Yan had looked during his nightmare the other night—his dreams were probably filled with that day’s scene, which was why he was trapped inside and couldn’t get out.

But Xie Yan was unusually stubborn today, as if he had to say it.

“Everyone from the school administration to the students mourned them.

They thought they were heroes who saved the safety of the entire school.

They felt sorry for my sister and me for becoming orphans and wanted to donate money to us.

The TV stations came, wanted to take photos, make videos, to show how much everyone cared for the heroes’ children.

They donated a lot of money.

I didn’t take it.

Not a single cent.”

Xie Yan continued on his own.

“I don’t need that kind of sympathy, that kind of pity.

Every penny of that money, even just one cent, reminds me that I was the one who killed them.

Do you understand?”

What he wanted to express was that Lin Chuji’s parents wanting to adopt Xie Wan was the same.

This money, this favor—he couldn’t repay it.

“This isn’t your fault,” Lin Chuji said, his emotions infected by Xie Yan’s, his eyes becoming terribly moist.

He had never spoken so openly with anyone before.

His voice trembled as he spoke.

“Saving people was their duty and their belief.

The moment they made that decision had nothing to do with you.

Besides, why punish yourself for the criminals’ mistakes?”

Xie Yan looked away, suppressing the bitterness in his eyes.

He didn’t want to continue this discussion.

“I’ve said all this just to explain why I’m unwilling.

I’m afraid you’ll overthink it and feel your good intentions and your family’s kindness have been slighted.

I’m sorry.

I want to rest.”

As he spoke, he lowered his head and continued untying the drawstring of his sweatpants.

“Xie Yan.”

Lin Chuji called his name.

“I’m very sad about what happened to your parents.

But what about Wanwan?

How will you take care of her from so far away?

She’s only thirteen.

How can a young girl live alone in such a distant place without any family by her side?”

Xie Yan turned his head and looked at him deeply.

He curled his lip slightly, as if laughing at his naivety.

“Lin Chuji, we’ve only known each other for a short time, and you’re already telling me how to handle my family affairs.

I can take care of her.

If I have to bring her here to study, I can save up money.

Without a local registration, she can go to a private school.

I can support her.”

Lin Chuji couldn’t read the complex emotions in Xie Yan’s eyes.

He felt he probably wasn’t wrong.

He had finally made a friend and wanted to do everything he could to help him.

Why had it turned out like this?

“Do you… do you have to torture yourself to the point of exhaustion before you’ll let yourself off?”

Lin Chuji pleaded earnestly.

“You’re studying medicine.

The coursework is so heavy.

Even if you’re smart and have the ability and channels, how much time do you have to earn money?

My family is well-off and can help.

My mom likes having a daughter anyway.

It’s a win-win for everyone.

Why are you so stubborn?”

Xie Yan nodded, acknowledging it.

“Yes, I’m the kind of person who likes to rely on myself.

I’m used to roughing it and can’t live too delicately.

I raised her just fine for the past five years without making her suffer.

Thank you for your kindness.

I appreciate the thought.”

But you don’t see what those years were like for you.

Lin Chuji was so angered by this distant, polite response that he couldn’t speak.

He had never been good with words, and in this situation, his mind was a complete mess.

He just felt wronged.

He lowered his head, gathered the thermos containers from the table, and said quietly, “Fine.

I meddled.

I didn’t think it through.

I was too naive, too arrogant.

I’m sorry.

Get some rest.

I’m going home today.”

“You…”

Xie Yan watched as he haphazardly shoved the containers into a bag, grabbed it, and left.

He stood there in the empty room and rubbed his face helplessly.

Forget it.

We can talk it through properly when we’ve both calmed down.

Xie Yan’s head was spinning.

***

Zhan Wanqiu was very surprised by Lin Chuji’s return.

“Why are you back again?”

Lin Chuji put the thermos on the table indignantly and recounted, “Xie Yan doesn’t want to.

Fine, whatever.

I’ve never seen anyone so stubborn.”

“You’re angry?”

Zhan Wanqiu looked at his tense face and found it rather interesting.

She stared at him.

“You have such a good temper—can you actually get angry?”

Lin Chuji felt creeped out by her stare.

He said uncomfortably, “Can’t I be angry?

He treated my good intentions like dirt.

Not only did he not appreciate it, he was sarcastic.”

Zhan Wanqiu leaned back in her chair and said slowly, “Because I think you’ve been too well-behaved since you were little.

You always listened to whatever we said, never talked back, and never showed negative emotions.

Even before, when I rejected Cambridge for you, which you’d always wanted, you didn’t get angry at me at all.”

Lin Chuji opened his mouth, speechless.

“So you knew…”

He had been raised like he was in a delicate display box, always being manipulated.

He probably had his emotional nerves removed.

The one and only time he had rebelled was when he secretly bought a ticket and went on that trip.

It was kind of ridiculous when he thought about it.

Zhan Wanqiu nodded thoughtfully.

“Xie Yan refusing is within my expectations.

He’s too much like his parents.”

Lin Chuji caught the keyword and looked confused.

“His parents?

You know them?”

Zhan Wanqiu realized she had slipped and tried to cover it up.

“No.

I just think a police officer’s child would be like their parents, not easily accepting favors from ordinary people.”

Lin Chuji looked at her suspiciously, as if he had gotten a new mother.

“Why have you become so socialist and patriotic lately?

Did you join the Communist Party?”

Zhan Wanqiu: “…….”

This child used to be so socially anxious he couldn’t be bothered to say more than a word to anyone.

Now he’s even talking back.

Impressive.

His phone vibrated.

Lin Chuji looked down and saw a message from Xie Yan.

[Crab Boss]: I’m really sorry.

Lin Chuji didn’t reply.

He just threw his phone aside.

After returning home this time, he ended up staying for several days.

During the day, he would go to school for military training.

He asked the dorm manager for a week off.

After training, he would go straight home.

Even when he saw Xie Yan from afar, he wouldn’t say hello or exchange a single unnecessary word.

It was as if he had reverted to his original socially anxious self who wouldn’t say more than a word and would hide from people.

The Shen brothers, however, came to find Xie Yan every day, crossing half the campus.

But they also subtly noticed something was off.

Very off.

“Where’s Lin Chuji?

Why hasn’t he been eating with us lately?”

Shen Yinan sat in the cafeteria, full of confusion.

“I made him angry.

He probably doesn’t want to see me,” Xie Yan said calmly while drinking soup.

Shen Yibei’s eyes widened.

He didn’t even have time to eat his chicken leg.

“Huh?

When did that happen?

No wonder it’s felt so gloomy lately.

When things are abnormal, there must be a reason.”

Xie Yan sighed.

Truth be told, he didn’t think he had done anything wrong, and of course, Lin Chuji hadn’t either.

So the problem was stuck here.

Their positions were different, and no matter how they talked, they couldn’t see eye to eye.

Shen Yinan saw that he wasn’t speaking and grew anxious.

“What exactly happened?

I mean, you’re not the type to hold a grudge overnight.

You made someone angry and you’ve been able to hold out for days?

That’s really weird.”

Xie Yan looked up at him.

“It’s about his mother wanting to adopt Xie Wan.”

With just that sentence, the two across from him instantly understood.

Shen Yinan ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

“Xiao Lin definitely meant well.

Honestly, that young master from a wealthy family was willing to inexplicably take on a sister he’d only met twice, maybe even share his inheritance with her.

He didn’t even think twice about it.

That’s really generous.

We’re always joking about you two, but seriously, he must really consider you a true friend.

He only discussed it with his family because of you.”

Xie Yan’s throat bobbed.

“Of course I know that.

So this kindness is too heavy for me.

I can’t get past it in my heart.

Besides…”

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