Chapter 31: Warmth in the Winter Night

Li Xiao sent a photo.

It was a picture of the cashmere sweater on a mannequin.

Caption: [“I want to see you in it. Good night.”]

Jiang Yu stared at the photo for a long time.

Then, he typed: [“The sweater… fits well.”]

Sent.

Almost immediately, Li Xiao’s phone call came through.

Jiang Yu was startled, hesitated two seconds, and picked up.

“Hello?”

“You actually wore it?”

Li Xiao’s voice came through the receiver, carrying a low laugh.

“What color?”

“…Cream white.”

“I like that one.”

Li Xiao said, his voice even lower: “I imagine you in that sweater, held by me… it must be soft and warm.”

Jiang Yu’s cheeks flushed instantly: “You… don’t talk nonsense.”

“I’m not.”

Li Xiao laughed: “Jiang Yu, I’m really happy today.”

Jiang Yu was silent.

“Especially seeing you and Jiang Qing sitting across from me, eating a steaming hot meal.”

Li Xiao continued, his tone gentle: “It felt… like having a home.”

Jiang Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

“I’m hanging up,” he said stiffly.

Li Xiao didn’t press: “Good night.”

“Good night.”

The call ended.

Jiang Yu tossed his phone aside and pulled the covers over his head.

But under the covers, the corner of his mouth uncontrollably lifted into a slight smile.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

****

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Li Xiao took out his phone and sent a message to his subordinate: [“Check the admission scores and department info for Jida’s Computer Science department over the past three years. Also contact some renowned professors in the department and set up an appointment. I have some matters to consult about.”]

Putting down his phone, Li Xiao looked out the window.

The winter night was cold, but inside him, a warm fire seemed to burn.

****

At that moment, on his sofa, Jiang Yu turned over, fished out his phone, and tapped on Li Xiao’s WeChat avatar.

It was a simple black background, nothing special.

He stared at it for a few seconds, then tapped the note, deleted the two characters “Li Xiao.”

Hesitating, he typed again: [“Creditor.”]

After typing, it felt wrong, so he deleted it.

After thinking for a long time, he finally saved it as just [“L.”]

Then he stuffed the phone under his pillow and closed his eyes.

…

The next morning, Jiang Yu was woken by his phone alarm.

Groggily, he fished out his phone, turned off the alarm, and the screen was still on the WeChat interface.

The top message was from “L” sent at 3 a.m.

Only two words: [“Missing you.”]

Jiang Yu stared at those two words for a full minute.

Then he turned off the screen and stuffed it back under the pillow.

But the curve of his mouth couldn’t be suppressed.

He got up, washed up, and prepared breakfast.

Jiang Qing came out of the room rubbing her eyes, saw her brother frying eggs in the kitchen, humming a tuneless song.

“Bro, you’re in a good mood today?”

Jiang Yu paused: “Am I?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Qing came over, grinning: “Your ears are red again.”

Jiang Yu: “…”

He shoveled the egg onto a plate, expressionless: “Go wash up, eat, then school.”

“Got it~”

Jiang Qing bounced off to the bathroom.

Jiang Yu stood in the kitchen, looking at the second egg crackling in the pan, suddenly remembering last night at the hotpot restaurant—Li Xiao looking down as he cooked meat.

So focused, so serious.

He shook his head, trying to shake the images out.

But somewhere in his heart, a soft spot quietly softened.

He had to go to the bar for work tonight.

But today, he didn’t seem to resist the coming of night as much.

In fact… he was vaguely looking forward to it.

His phone vibrated again.

Jiang Yu wiped his hands and picked it up.

Still “L.”

[“See you tonight. Wear that sweater, I want to see it.”]

Jiang Yu’s finger paused on the screen for a few seconds, then replied: [“I have to wear my uniform for work.”]

Almost immediately, Li Xiao’s message popped up: [“Then wear it during the day. I’ll come find you later.”]

Jiang Yu frowned: [“Don’t come.”]

This time Li Xiao didn’t reply.

Jiang Yu put his phone aside and continued making breakfast.

The eggs were cooked, and Jiang Qing came out after washing up.

The two sat at the small dining table eating breakfast.

Jiang Qing bit into her bread and glanced at her brother’s old home clothes: “Bro, why don’t you wear the sweater Brother Li gave you?”

“Why would I wear such nice clothes at home?”

Jiang Yu lowered his head to drink his porridge.

Jiang Qing blinked: “But it looks really good on you.”

“Eat.”

Jiang Yu cut her off.

Jiang Qing stuck out her tongue and said no more.

After eating, Jiang Qing packed her schoolbag to leave.

Before leaving, she suddenly turned back: “Bro, Brother Li is a pretty good person.”

Jiang Yu paused: “What does a kid know?”

“I’m eighteen, not a kid anymore.”

Jiang Qing said earnestly: “I can tell, he really is good to you.”

“Go to school, you’ll be late.”

Jiang Yu handed her a scarf.

Jiang Qing wrapped the scarf and pushed the door open.

The room quieted down.

Jiang Yu cleaned up, looked at the time—9 a.m.

He threw yesterday’s clothes into a plastic basin, filled it with water, and prepared to hand-wash them.

The washing machine used too much water and electricity; he was used to hand-washing.

Just as he was squatting in the bathroom scrubbing clothes, there was a sudden knock.

Jiang Yu paused, dried his hands, and stood up.

He walked to the door and looked through the peephole.

Li Xiao’s handsome face appeared in view, a smile on his lips.

Jiang Yu took a deep breath and opened the door.

“You actually came?” he looked at Li Xiao outside.

Today the man wore a black long down jacket, carrying two bags, hair slightly mussed by the wind, but his eyes were bright.

“Just to see some clothes?” Jiang Yu leaned against the doorframe, not letting him in.

Li Xiao looked at him and laughed: “It’s to come see you.”

As he spoke, he naturally sidestepped and squeezed past Jiang Yu into the house.

Jiang Yu tried to block him, but Li Xiao was too fast; he was already inside.

Then Li Xiao’s steps halted.

He stood in the center of the cramped living room, looking around, his expression shifting from relaxed to obvious shock.

The room was too small.

One bedroom, one living room—the living room was about ten square meters, with an old sofa, a folding dining table, two chairs, some clutter in the corner, but it was neatly arranged.

On the sofa were folded quilts and pillows, obviously where Jiang Yu slept.

The bedroom door was open, revealing a single bed and a desk piled with textbooks and exercise books—that was Jiang Qing’s room.

The entire place was probably smaller than Li Xiao’s villa bathroom.

But it was very clean.

The floor gleamed, the window glass clear, even the cover on the old sofa was washed white but tidy.

Li Xiao turned to look at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu stood at the door, hand still on the doorknob, expression calm but fingers slightly curled.

“Seen enough?”

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