Chapter 3 — Those beautiful eyes of yours… don’t want them anymore?
“Jiaojiao, did you remember what I just told you?”
Nan Xu snapped back to attention. “What?”
Wen Qiu sighed. Her daughter was always so clueless when it came to people and situations. Thankfully, she was going to Zhang Huiwan’s house—if it were anyone else’s, Wen Qiu wouldn’t feel at ease letting Nan Xu stay there alone.
“When you’re at Aunt Zhang’s, you must behave. If something comes up, you have to speak up. If you feel too embarrassed, just message me and I’ll talk to Aunt Zhang for you.”
Nan Xu pressed her lips together. She had no intention of troubling her mother.
“And when you’re at home, get along with your brother Hejing, alright?” Wen Qiu added.
“Mom, he’s not that much older than me. Do I really have to call him ‘brother’?” Nan Xu tugged at her backpack strap and looked at her mother with a hint of defiance.
“Of course you do. When you were little, you were always following him around, calling him ‘Brother’ this and ‘Brother’ that.”
Back when they were children, their families had been neighbors and got along well. The kids even attended the same kindergarten and elementary school.
Xie Hejing was aloof and quiet, acting like a little adult, while Nan Xu was gentle-natured and often got bullied.
But there was one good thing about her—she never bottled it up. Whenever someone picked on her, she would run straight to Xie Hejing, tug on his arm and whine sweetly, “Brother, he bullied me. Help me beat him up.”
Xie Hejing couldn’t really say if he liked or disliked this “little sister,” but since the adults often asked him to look after her, he agreed.
Despite being young, he was bold. No matter how much bigger the other kid was, he never backed down. If Nan Xu was bullied, he usually dragged her along to settle the score long before any adult even found out.
By the time the other kid’s parents came knocking, they’d storm straight up to Zhang Huiwan: “Huiwan, your Xie Hejing beat up my son again!”
“That was all when you were children…”
And besides, it had been years since they’d last seen each other.
No—actually, they had seen each other. Last night.
Remembering that, a wave of nervousness rose in Nan Xu’s chest. Last night she hadn’t said a word, and her face had been completely hidden. Plus, it had been so long since they’d met.
Surely… Xie Hejing hadn’t recognized her, right?
“Jiaojiao, we must be polite. Calling him ‘Brother’ isn’t a big deal,” Wen Qiu reminded gently.
“…I know.”
“Oh, and I’ve already arranged your new school. If you don’t understand something in class, just ask Hejing.”
“In class—?” Nan Xu froze, whipping her head around. “We’re in the same class?”
“Mhm. He took some time off before, so now, just like you, he’s in his final year of high school.”
Oh god. How could things be this coincidental? Nan Xu frowned.
Seeing her fall silent, Wen Qiu assumed she was simply feeling down about the family’s troubles—her father’s illness requiring treatment overseas, the bankruptcy, and the fact that Wen Qiu herself would be leaving to take care of him.
Wen Qiu comforted her gently. “Jiaojiao, I’ll be there to handle everything at home. Your father’s condition is stable right now, so don’t worry. Just focus on your studies. Work hard at your new school, alright? Jiaojiao?”
Nan Xu immediately nodded. “I know, don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take good care of myself. You need to take care of yourself too—don’t overwork.”
Before long, the car pulled up in front of a villa. At the entrance stood a refined woman. Every movement carried elegance, though there was a sharpness hidden between her brows.
Yet to Nan Xu, she felt as gentle as her mother.
Seeing the two step out of the car, Zhang Huiwan quickly came over. “You must be tired from the trip.”
Wen Qiu replied, “Not at all. Jiaojiao, go on, greet her.”
“Hello, Aunt Zhang.” Nan Xu curved her lips into a smile, her round eyes narrowing into crescents. Her smile bloomed like peach blossoms, bright and lively—a face elders naturally adored.
Zhang Huiwan was delighted. She had always longed for a daughter, but her health had been damaged when she gave birth to Xie Hejing, and she hadn’t been able to have another child.
Knowing that Wen Qiu was overwhelmed these days, it was Huiwan who had suggested Nan Xu stay with her. Not only did it help her old friend, it also fulfilled her dream of having a daughter, even if just a little.
“Come inside!” she said warmly.
Once inside, Zhang Huiwan explained with a touch of apology, “It’s a bit inconvenient—Hejing’s in the shower, and his father was sent on a work assignment just a few days ago.”
Wen Qiu laughed. “That’s nothing. Look at you, we’ve known each other for so many years. You’re willing to take care of Jiaojiao for me during this time—I can’t thank you enough.”
Zhang Huiwan smiled. “Have you eaten yet? I can—”
“We’ve eaten already, don’t trouble yourself.”
The two women sat together, and since it had been so long, they had plenty to talk about. Nan Xu sat quietly off to the side, keeping herself occupied and not interrupting.
Suddenly, Zhang Huiwan paused, glanced toward the kitchen, and said with meaning, “Wen Qiu, I’ve started cooking again these past few days. Come, help me taste it and see if it’s still the same as before.”
Nan Xu started to stand and follow, but Zhang Huiwan stopped her with a smile. “Jiaojiao, just stay here. Auntie will let you try later.”
Clearly, she didn’t want Nan Xu to come along, so the girl sat back down.
Only once she’d led Wen Qiu into the kitchen did Zhang Huiwan reveal her true intent. “I know you don’t want to talk about Jiaojiao’s father in front of her. You’re afraid it’ll worry her.”
From her bag, she took out a business card and handed it to Wen Qiu. “But about his illness… I know you’re already overwhelmed. This specialist is very well-known. I managed to get in touch with him two days ago. Since you’ll be abroad, you can consult him about your husband’s condition.”
“Huiwan—”
Wen Qiu lifted her hand to wipe away tears. In front of her child she had to stay strong, but in front of an old friend, she couldn’t help but let her guard down.
“Without you, I really don’t know what I would’ve done.”
Though Zhang Huiwan looked gentle and graceful, she was a strong-willed woman at heart. Not long after giving birth to Xie Hejing, she had returned to work, later even starting her own company. She was decisive and capable, and ever since learning of Wen Qiu’s family troubles, she had offered advice and support that spared mother and daughter from an even harsher blow.
“…Those people came to your house again, didn’t they?”
Wen Qiu nodded. “Yes. A few days ago, when I wasn’t home, they showed up again. They gave Jiaojiao quite a scare. Luckily, I got back in time.”
Zhang Huiwan patted her back reassuringly. “Don’t worry. Everything will get better. Go abroad with peace of mind. Jiaojiao will be perfectly safe staying here. If anything comes up, as long as you ask, I’ll help however I can.”
Then she pulled a card from her bag and slipped it into Wen Qiu’s purse before the other woman could refuse. “Don’t say thank you. You know me—I hate it when you say thank you.”
Wen Qiu gripped the card tightly, overcome with gratitude, unable to find the words.
Meanwhile, Nan Xu sat on the sofa, glancing toward the kitchen. The door was closed, and not a sound came from inside.
She blinked.
Tasting food shouldn’t take this long, should it? It had already been more than ten minutes. Just what were Aunt Zhang and her mother doing in there?
As she wondered, a sound came from upstairs—the creak of a door opening, then closing, followed by footsteps that stopped right at the landing.
Nan Xu instinctively turned her head toward the noise.
Xie Hejing was standing there, looking down at her from the second floor.
His friends had invited him to play ball earlier that day, and after working up a sweat, he had gone straight into the shower, completely forgetting that Nan Xu was coming over. Usually, at this hour, he was the only one at home. So, without thinking, he stepped out of his room with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist—only to run straight into Nan Xu.
He frowned deeply.
Nan Xu’s first instinct was to look away, afraid he might recognize her from last night. But then she realized—she had hidden herself so well, hadn’t spoken a word, and covered her face completely. If she avoided his gaze too quickly now, wouldn’t that just make her look guilty?
So she forced herself to hold his gaze, even as her breath caught in her chest.
And in doing so, she inevitably saw the droplets of water sliding down his still-damp hair, dripping onto his collarbone, merging with the beads of water on his skin, and tracing their way downward.
Oh my!
She hadn’t meant to stare—but it was the first time she’d seen something like this, and she froze on the spot.
Xie Hejing didn’t cover himself. Instead, he raised his brows slightly. Catching the dazed look on her face, his eyes grew darker.
Seconds passed. When Nan Xu still hadn’t looked away, the chill in his gaze sharpened. His lips curled into a smile, his eyes narrowing in warning.
“Those beautiful eyes of yours… don’t want them anymore?”