Chapter 18 Part 2 — He’s probably——crazy.
The next day was Saturday. Nan Xu’s mind kept drifting toward the upcoming music festival.
But with monthly exams looming, she could only practice sporadically—sneaking out into the courtyard at midnight to play in secret.
At last weekend’s rehearsal with the band, she hadn’t been satisfied. The performance hadn’t reached the standard she wanted.
Cheng Jia had noticed her frustration and tried to comfort her, saying there was still plenty of time, two whole months.
But Nan Xu’s standards for herself were higher. She had already started figuring out how to carve out more hours for practice.
The monthly exams had just ended, so Nan Xu finally had a little more free time. She took her guitar out of its case, carefully wiped it down with a towel, and brushed her fingers across the strings. A crisp note rang out—startled, she quickly pressed her hand down on the strings.
The sound cut off instantly. Nan Xu sat in silence for a few seconds.
She’d moved fast—Xie Hejing probably hadn’t heard, right?
Picking up her phone, Nan Xu thought about setting an alarm to remind herself to practice. But then it occurred to her—maybe she could just ask Xie Hejing what time he usually went to bed. That way, she wouldn’t have to sneak around worrying about whether he was still awake.
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [Brother, I’ll still go to bed at 11:30 tonight.]
She held her phone tightly, waiting for his reply, trying to figure out how to bring it up.
As usual, it took around seven or eight minutes before his message popped up.
Big Demon King: [Left it by your door.]
She didn’t need him to spell it out—she already knew what it was. But instead of rushing to get the milk, she quickly typed back:
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [Brother, what time are you planning to sleep? Don’t stay up too late, okay?]
Big Demon King: [Mm.]
Just “Mm”? Why wasn’t he answering her question?
Nan Xu pressed her lips together, too embarrassed to ask again.
After a while with no reply, she sighed, suspecting he’d deliberately skipped her question, and went to pick up the milk.
To her surprise, not far from the milk sat a large bag filled neatly with sanitary pads—her usual brand, and all types: day use, night use, even sleep shorts.
Nan Xu froze. He hadn’t mentioned that in his messages.
The last person who had quietly taken care of these things for her was her father. At home, whether it was for Wen Qiu or Nan Xu, it had always been Nan Xiaochen who stocked up on supplies for the two of them.
Her lips curved softly as her lashes lowered, shadows trembling beneath her eyes. Her chest swelled with warmth, and the thought slipped unbidden into her mind—
She wanted to go to his door and thank him face-to-face.
But… he didn’t seem to like it when she showed up at his door.
Nan Xu pushed the thought back down.
The milk was still warm, but the cup had been replaced with a large glass one, and it felt like there was half again as much as yesterday.
After drinking half, she sent a message:
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [Brother, did you heat up too much milk today?]
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [It feels like way more than yesterday!]
Big Demon King: [My hand slipped. Poured too much.]
She really did enjoy the milk, but she hated troubling him all the time.
Biting the rim of her glass, she typed:
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [Brother, do you drink this a lot yourself? Next time you want some, just tell me—I can heat it up for you. My hands are steady, I definitely won’t pour too much.]
Big Demon King: [I’m not used to drinking milk someone else heats.]
Nan Xu: …
Xie Hejing really was so particular!
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [Brother, I saw what you left at the door.]
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [Thank you!!!]
Sitting at his desk, Xie Hejing looked at her message. The corners of his mouth curved up unconsciously—just a faint lift, but the warmth in his smile was obvious.
Jiaojiao Nanfeng: [It’s getting late now. Brother, what time are you going to sleep?]
Xie Hejing glanced at the physics paper on his desk. His thoughts were flowing smoothly, and he’d just about finished it. Setting down his pen, he stood up, ready to wash up.
Big Demon King: [Now.]
Perfect!
Nan Xu set the guitar on the desk, turned to gather her things, and planned to head out in half an hour.
Once she had everything ready, she opened the door and carefully leaned out, glancing around.
The usual quiet.
Her flashlight beam swept ahead, but she kept glancing back nervously, afraid that Xie Hejing might suddenly appear behind her. If that happened, she might actually fall down the stairs in fright.
Luckily, she made it safely to the yard.
Xie Hejing’s house was a detached villa with a small yard. A few flowers grew there, though they didn’t seem well tended. There was even a swing—sit on it, and it swayed back and forth.
On weekends, when she was bored, Nan Xu often sat on that swing, zoning out without thinking about anything at all.
She’d loved it since her very first day here. Even the first few times she’d secretly played her guitar, she had sat there strumming.
But tonight, whether from her period or the chilly weather, her arms quickly caught the cold after just a short while of playing.
A gust of wind sent a shiver through her. She rubbed her arms briskly with her palms to warm them, but the wind came again and again.
The past few nights had been mild enough that she didn’t need a jacket. She hadn’t thought much of it tonight either, and came down in just her nightdress. Now, the cold air wrapped around her completely.
If she went back for a jacket, she might wake Xie Hejing—he was a light sleeper.
At least the yard was big enough that her playing wouldn’t wake him.
She turned up the brightness on her phone’s sheet music, propped it up in front of her, and decided against fetching a coat. Better to make the most of this time and play a few more rounds before heading in.
But the one who had told her he was already asleep—Xie Hejing—was lying wide awake in bed.
His eyes were closed, but his mind was clear, unable to drift off.
At some point, faint notes of guitar music reached him—so weak and uneven they faded in and out. If he’d been asleep, he might not have heard a thing.
But now, fully awake, he couldn’t miss it.
He sat up, listened more carefully, and when the sound came again, he yanked the window open. Instantly, the music became much clearer.
His brows drew together, irritation sparking in his expression.
Leaning out, he meant to see who on earth was playing guitar so late near his house.
But the moment his gaze landed on the swing, his eyes sharpened.
The yard lights cast a warm golden glow over Nan Xu. She wore only a thin nightdress, her hair spilling over her shoulders, lifting and falling with the breeze. Her fingers flew over the strings, though every so often she stopped, chilled, rubbing her arms to keep warm.
Out here in just a nightdress, when it was barely seventeen or eighteen degrees—she really had some nerve.
The irritation between his brows shifted into sheer displeasure.
Grabbing a jacket, he headed downstairs.
Creak—
The sharp sound of the door opening cut straight through the flow of music, snapping Nan Xu out of her focus.
She turned her head.
Xie Hejing stood in the doorway, arms crossed, lids half-lifted, expression unreadable. Without a word, he walked straight toward her.
Caught!
Nan Xu’s heart leapt. She scrambled to her feet, lips parting, but no words came out. Before she could say anything, he was already right in front of her, advancing step by step, forcing her back until she sat down hard on the swing again.
The swing rocked—until two firm hands stopped it in place.
Xie Hejing leaned in, bracing his palms on either side of the wooden swing. He bent down, gaze lowered, and suddenly a wave of heat pressed in on Nan Xu.
Startled, Nan Xu lifted her eyes—only to quickly drop them again the moment she met Xie Hejing’s deep gaze.
His presence filled the air around her, so overwhelming it felt suffocating. Her lashes fluttered, and she swallowed hard.
“11:30, right?” Xie Hejing tapped the chat record she’d sent him, then tilted his chin slightly. His voice was quiet, but it carried a dangerous edge. “Planning to sleep out here?”
His stare was almost tangible, wrapping tightly around her, closing in bit by bit, leaving her mind a tangle of confusion.
Her nose stung, but the chill in her body was worse. She sniffled once, coughed twice.
With a sharp breath, Xie Hejing shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over her shoulders.
At once, the cedar scent that clung to him enveloped her senses, making her draw in quick, shallow breaths.
“I…”
Nan Xu didn’t even know what to explain first—why she wasn’t asleep, or why she was playing guitar in the middle of the night.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she finally muttered, her eyes flickering nervously.
“Couldn’t sleep?” His lips pressed into a hard line. “So you come down here in nothing but a dress?”
“You didn’t know it’d be cold? Or do you want to catch a cold?”
“I… I knew,” she admitted.
Time was short, and she had just wanted to squeeze in a little more practice before heading back upstairs. The piece was difficult, and she didn’t want to drag everyone down later.
But she didn’t dare say that out loud.
Biting her lip, she whispered, “I was going to head back soon anyway. I didn’t expect you to come down first. Did I wake you up?”
Xie Hejing turned his head, his eyes landing on her guitar. The memory of the bar flickered back—the girl signing at him, clearly trying not to be recognized.
Dark currents stirred in his gaze.
Nan Xu gripped the hem of his jacket nervously, bracing for the inevitable interrogation: why she was playing, or whether she was that girl from the bar. She tried to prepare excuses in her head.
But no questions came.
Instead, a low chuckle brushed past her ear. Nan Xu snapped back to herself and glanced up at him. His face was back to its usual cold pride, sharp and distant.
“Go inside.”
She quickly packed up and followed.
At the kitchen island, he filled a kettle, flicked on the switch, then leaned against the counter with arms crossed and eyes shut, his posture radiating “keep away.”
Nan Xu figured he must be annoyed—she had woken him up, after all, and he didn’t sleep easily.
“Sorry… for disturbing you.”
Before she even finished speaking, he placed a steaming mug of hot water in front of her.
Thump.
His voice was icy. “Drink.”
Nan Xu cradled the cup, the warmth chasing away the last of the cold. She sipped cautiously, stealing glances at him over the rim.
Since they’d come inside, he had barely spoken, just sat on the sofa, absently rubbing at his brow.
Maybe he’d already guessed she was the girl from the bar, but hadn’t said it aloud. But if he told Aunt Zhang… Aunt Zhang might tell her mother…
Nan Xu shivered. If her mom ever found out, she’d never be allowed to touch a guitar again.
“Brother…” Nan Xu inhaled softly, then let the breath out slowly, testing the waters. “Did you… already know?”
“Know what?” he countered smoothly.
Nan Xu’s voice stuck in her throat. Of course she couldn’t just say it herself.
She quickly shook her head, indicating that it was nothing.
With a cup of hot water in her, the chill was finally gone from Nan Xu’s body. She slipped off the jacket and held it out to return to Xie Hejing.
Her hand stopped halfway. “Or… should I wash it before giving it back?”
At that, his eyes flicked toward the jacket. At last, he moved—only to take it from her in one motion. Immediately, he felt the lingering warmth she had left behind. Not only that, but her faint fragrance seemed to cling to the fabric, slowly rising toward his nose. His grip on the jacket tightened.
But his expression remained calm, his gaze deliberately avoiding hers as he stood and headed for the stairs.
Nan Xu hadn’t yet asked what she wanted to, so she hurried after him. “Brother!”
Without turning his head, his cool voice drifted back: “I don’t know anything, and I don’t care to. There’s a practice room—second floor, left turn. Next time, don’t wake me.”
In an instant, Nan Xu understood. He was willing to cover for her, and she no longer had to sneak around to practice.
So this is what it felt like to have an older brother—it wasn’t bad at all.
Her lips curled into a bright smile. She ran ahead, caught his hand in hers—warm to the touch—and beamed without realizing it.
“I promise I won’t disturb you. Thank you, Brother. Love you!”
Still brimming with happiness, she opened her room door and politely wished him good night before slipping inside.
Xie Hejing froze in place. The hand she’d touched clenched, relaxed, clenched again—over and over.
That touch lingered in his chest, refusing to fade.
Crazy. He was going crazy.
Why had she touched his hand?
Talking was one thing, but why say those words?
Gratitude was enough—why add that?
Did she really believe he wouldn’t think too much of it?
No—that wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be thinking anything of it at all.
But who just blurts out I love you for no reason?
And worse—he hadn’t even pushed her hand away. He could have, easily. Instead, he let it happen.
What the hell are you doing, Xie Hejing?!
His mind was a rare mess.
He stared at his own palm, restless. Standing outside Nan Xu’s door, a strange, indescribable emotion welled up inside him, making him even more agitated.
He turned abruptly and went downstairs. Passing through the kitchen, he absentmindedly heated a cup of milk.
By the time he found himself standing outside her door again, cup in hand, ready to knock—he suddenly realized what he was doing.
He cursed under his breath, lifted the glass, and downed it all in one go out of sheer defiance.
Back in his room, he sank into his chair. The dim yellow light cast heavy shadows, wrapping the space in low, oppressive silence.
His thoughts circled and circled until they inevitably returned to the way he’d been treating Nan Xu lately. The more he thought, the tighter his lips pressed.
He unlocked his phone and opened her Moments feed. A few selfies, two or three at most—mostly landscapes.
So well-behaved she seemed easy to bully. Someone he had once written off as nothing but trouble.
And trouble was the thing he hated most. That’s what he reminded himself as he scrolled.
Three seconds later, he tapped on one of her selfies.
She had a cute and charming smile!
That was the thought that rose in him.
Damn.
He was horrified.
This wasn’t what he’d meant to find. He’d been looking for the disgust he used to feel.
But it seemed like that feeling had already faded.
No, it hadn’t.
Xie Hejing immediately corrected his own thoughts.
He stared at Nan Xu’s photo for half an hour, finally landing on the only explanation that made sense.
He must be—
—crazy.
Nan Xu was in her room, carefully polishing her guitar.
Then she suddenly remembered they still hadn’t talked about when she could use the practice room. She’d messaged him, but he hadn’t replied.
So, for once, she gathered her courage and gave him a call.
The moment the line connected, Nan Xu’s brows curved in a smile. Her finger accidentally brushed against the strings, letting out a sound, and she quickly pressed down to silence it.
Her voice was light and cheerful as she called out: “Brother.”
The sound hit him like a jolt of electricity. His ragged breathing abruptly stopped.
Nan Xu immediately noticed something was off in his voice and asked, “Brother, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”
On the other end, Xie Hejing’s voice came out unusually low, as if he were holding something back.
Several seconds passed in silence.
Nan Xu glanced at the phone. The call hadn’t dropped. Just as she was about to speak again—
Xie Hejing’s voice cut through.
“Nan Xu, call me Brother.”
His voice was husky, tinged with a lingering, unsteady drawl.
His fingertips tapped against the desk, each thud heavy, as if his emotions were being consumed in flames.
Nan Xu was puzzled, but since she was in such a good mood, she sweetly called,
“Brother.”
Somewhere in a dark and damp corner, a hard shell was slowly being torn apart.
Xie Hejing’s eyes darkened, his gaze fixed intently on Nan Xu’s photo. A low laugh slipped past his lips.
“Sister—”
Taw’s Note: Hahaha, Xie Hejing just kept denying 🤣