Chapter 29: An Evening of Warmth

On Sunday at noon, Jiang Yu’s phone buzzed.

He had just returned from the supermarket with Jiang Qing, shopping bags in hand.

He took out his phone. On the screen was a message from Li Xiao:

[“I’ll pick you up at six in the evening. What do you want to eat?”]

Jiang Yu placed the shopping bags on the small kitchen counter. His fingers paused over the screen for a few seconds before typing:

[“We can eat, but it’s my treat.”]

Li Xiao replied almost instantly:

[“Why?”]

Jiang Yu:

[“You’ve helped me so much, and I haven’t even bought you a meal.”]

This time, Li Xiao paused for a moment before the message came:

[“Alright, it’s your treat.”]

Jiang Yu stared at those two words, almost able to imagine Li Xiao raising an eyebrow on the other end, then readily compromising just to be able to take him out.

Sure enough, the next message followed immediately:

[“Bring Jiang Qing along. I also want to know what your sister likes to eat.”]

Jiang Yu looked at this message and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

‘Still jealous of Zhou Mingxuan. This guy really…’

He sighed and typed:

[“I can bring her. But don’t say anything inappropriate.”]

Li Xiao:

[“I promise.”]

Jiang Yu:

[“Six o’clock, at the entrance of the neighborhood.”]

Li Xiao:

[“Okay.”]

After putting down the phone, Jiang Yu turned around and found Jiang Qing leaning against the kitchen doorframe, watching him. She was munching on an apple, her eyes curious.

“Bro, what are you smiling about?”

“Nothing.”

Jiang Yu pretended to be nonchalant and forcibly changed the subject: “We’re going out to eat tonight.”

“With my friend.”

Jiang Yu looked down to organize the shopping bags, taking out the eggs one by one and putting them into the fridge.

“Which friend?” Jiang Qing took a bite of the apple, her voice muffled but clear. “Do I know them?”

Jiang Yu paused in his movements. How should he introduce Li Xiao?

“It’s… the one we met downstairs last time.” He tried to sound natural. “Li Xiao. He helped me out.”

Jiang Qing blinked. “Oh, that tall uncle who wears expensive clothes?”

Uncle… Jiang Yu almost choked on his own saliva. “He’s… not that old.” He said dryly, “Just call him big brother. He’s only one year older than me.”

“But he looks much more mature than you, bro.” Jiang Qing tilted her head. “But he’s pretty handsome.”

Jiang Yu slammed the fridge door shut. “Kids shouldn’t judge people casually. Wear warm clothes tonight—it’s cold outside.”

“I know.” Jiang Qing laughed and turned to go back to her room. At the doorway, she looked back. “Bro…”

“Hmm?”

“Your ears are red.”

“…”

Jiang Yu expressionlessly picked up a rag and began wiping the counter. Jiang Qing ran back to her room, laughing.

****

On the other side, after receiving Jiang Yu’s reply of ‘I can bring her,’ Li Xiao immediately jumped up from the sofa, grabbed his car keys, and headed out.

He had to go prepare a gift. For Jiang Qing.

He drove to the city’s most upscale shopping mall and headed straight for the electronics section.

He remembered that Jiang Qing wanted to study computer science—she was a senior in high school and had been practicing problems lately.

When the sales assistant saw him come in, her eyes lit up and she immediately approached: “Sir, what do you need?”

“The latest study tablet.” Li Xiao was concise. “The highest specs, suitable for programming and drawing.”

“This way, please!”

Ten minutes later, Li Xiao came out carrying an exquisite shopping bag. Inside was a top-tier tablet, a matching stylus, keyboard, and a three-year full warranty.

Leaving the electronics section, he passed by a high-end men’s clothing store.

In the window, a mannequin was wearing a light gray cashmere coat with a sharp cut and crisp silhouette.

Li Xiao stopped in his tracks.

He imagined Jiang Yu wearing this coat—he was thinner than the mannequin, but tall enough, and his shoulders should be able to fill it out.

The light gray would complement his skin tone, and the cashmere texture would be soft and warm…

“Sir, would you like to come in and take a look?” The shop assistant warmly greeted.

Li Xiao walked in.

Half an hour later, he had three large paper bags in his hands.

A cashmere coat, a long down jacket, and two turtleneck cashmere sweaters—one light gray, one cream white.

While paying at the store, Li Xiao’s mind uncontrollably started to imagine again.

The cashmere coat would make Jiang Yu’s figure appear more upright, and the down jacket would wrap him up snugly.

The sweaters… His Adam’s apple bobbed.

The sweaters should be very soft—they would feel great to hold.

“Sir, your card and receipt. Do you need help taking them to your car?”

“No need.” Li Xiao took the bags, a smile on his lips. “I’ll carry them myself.”

At ten to six in the evening, Li Xiao’s car was already parked at the entrance of Jiang Yu’s neighborhood.

Today, he had driven a relatively low-key black SUV, not a sports car.

The car’s heater was on full blast. On the back seat lay the gifts he had just bought.

At exactly six o’clock, Jiang Yu first emerged from the neighborhood, wearing a thin-looking black cotton-padded jacket.

Jiang Qing followed behind him, wrapped in a pink down jacket and a scarf.

Li Xiao got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. “Cold?”

“I’m okay,” Jiang Yu said, his eyes sweeping over Li Xiao.

Today, Li Xiao was wearing a dark brown coat over a black turtleneck sweater. He looked composed and… handsome.

“Jiang Qing, do you still remember me?” Li Xiao turned to Jiang Qing with a warm and proper smile.

Jiang Qing nodded. “I remember. Hello, Brother Li.”

“Get in the car. It’s cold outside.” Li Xiao opened the rear door for Jiang Qing to get in first, then naturally walked to the passenger side and opened the door for Jiang Yu as well.

Jiang Yu glanced at him, his ears warming slightly, and bent down to get in.

The car was very warm, with a faint woody scent.

“What do you want to eat?” Li Xiao fastened his seatbelt and glanced at Jiang Qing in the rearview mirror. “Little sister, you tell me first.”

Jiang Qing looked at Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu looked at Jiang Qing. “What do you want to eat?”

Jiang Qing couldn’t think of anything for a moment.

Li Xiao smiled. “How about we go eat hotpot with lamb? It’s warm in winter, and I know a place with great meat and a fresh clear broth.”

Jiang Qing’s eyes lit up—she really did like hotpot.

Jiang Yu nodded. “Sure.”

The car smoothly merged into the traffic.

On the way, Li Xiao chatted naturally with Jiang Qing.

“I heard from your brother that you’re a senior this year? Studies stressful?”

“It’s okay. I’m used to it.”

“Want to apply to Jingda University’s Computer Science department?”

Jiang Qing was a little surprised. “My brother even told you that?”

Li Xiao smiled at her in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, he said you’re very impressive.”

Jiang Yu: “…” When did he say that?

Jiang Qing glanced at her brother’s profile in the front seat, then at Li Xiao driving. The curiosity in her eyes deepened, but she didn’t say much, just replied, “Yeah, I want to get in. But the score requirement is high, so I need to work harder.”

“If you need any help, you can tell me,” Li Xiao said casually. “I know a few professors at Jingda. If you need to know about the major or get review materials, I can ask.”

“Thank you, Brother Li,” Jiang Qing said obediently.

Jiang Yu turned to look out the window, his fingers lightly curling on his knees.

Li Xiao’s thoughtfulness and ease gave Jiang Yu an indescribable feeling.

Like being cherished, like being gently enveloped.

When they arrived at the hotpot restaurant, they got a private room.

When ordering, Li Xiao first handed the menu to Jiang Qing. “Little sister, see what you want to eat.”

Jiang Qing took it, wisely ordered a few regular dishes, then handed the menu to Jiang Yu. “Bro, you order.”

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