When they reached home on the electric scooter, Zhou Wan parked it in a space nearby, and locked it up again, costing four yuan.

“Thank you for taking me out today.”

Zhou Wan stood before Lu Xixiao, looking down at the hoodie she wore, “I’ll wash this and return it to you.”

“Mm.”

Lu Xixiao responded casually, then noticed the gloves she was wearing and slightly furrowed his brows, “Never mind.”

“What?”

“Don’t wash it,” he said flatly, “I don’t want it back.”

Zhou Wan froze for a moment, and pressed her lips together, thinking this was reasonable since she had stained his clothes with her tears earlier: “…Then let me buy you a new one.”

“No need.” Lu Xixiao yawned, appearing disinterested, and raised his hand, saying offhandedly, “Trade it for this instead.”

On his wrist was her hair tie that he had removed earlier.

Zhou Wan paused: “Huh?”

The price difference was too great…

But Lu Xixiao had that look like he couldn’t be bothered to discuss it further.

He wasn’t short of money for clothes, and pressing the issue would probably just annoy him.

He raised an eyebrow: “Aren’t you going in?”

“I am.”

Zhou Wan turned and ran into the apartment building, escaping the damp cold air outside.

She suddenly remembered something and stopped, looking back.

Lu Xixiao was still standing there, the yellow streetlight casting mottled circles of light on him and the ground, his expression blank, distant, and aloof.

He had two completely contrasting qualities about him – one side carefree and unrestrained, the other detached and remote.

Zhou Wan stood still and waved to him again, saying “goodbye.”

Though her voice was soft, he probably couldn’t hear it.

Lu Xixiao watched her, hands in his pockets, looking casual and lazy.

Zhou Wan thought he probably wouldn’t wave back to her.

But after two seconds, Lu Xixiao took out his hand, waved once, and put it back, his expression unchanged throughout.

*

When she got home, Grandmother was already asleep. Zhou Wan didn’t plan to tell her about today’s events – it would only add to her worries.

Although Lu Xixiao said he didn’t want the hoodie back, Zhou Wan still washed it and hung it on the balcony.

Her skin was delicate – turning red at the touch of cold water, developing red spots when exposed to cold wind, and breaking out in a rash from contact with laundry detergent.

Zhou Wan looked at the rash on the back of her hands and put the gloves back on.

Sitting at her bedside, her mind began to circle back to what Dr. Chen had said today.

That feeling of both familiarity and strangeness swept over her again, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, coiling around her entire body until she was completely submerged, sinking into darkness.

Zhou Wan closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She could not forgive Guo Xiangling.

She had never hated someone so much before.

Even if she had to fall into the abyss, she would drag Guo Xiangling down with her.

Dad would go to heaven, but Guo Xiangling couldn’t.

As for Lu Xixiao―

Zhou Wan remembered how he looked that time she visited his home.

Dejected and lonely, exploding at any mention of his mother.

Like someone’s trauma response after being hurt.

At his core, he was probably starved for love.

Although many girls liked him, he didn’t need any of that.

So what did he need?

Zhou Wan recalled various past events and the mixed evaluations others had of him.

She thought that Lu Xixiao probably didn’t enjoy solitude – even with his naturally cold demeanor, loneliness would make him dwell on past pain, so he could tolerate the noise and chaos, and didn’t reject romance.

Not because he particularly liked it, but because he was seeking a temporary shelter to escape and blind himself to the painful memories of being alone.

So she would stay with him.

Without making a fuss, just being there when he needed someone, not letting him feel lonely.

Try to be as good to him as possible.

To at least somewhat make up for her guilt about using him.

Zhou Wan thought that given Lu Xixiao’s personality, if they got together and she achieved her revenge against Guo Xiangling, it wouldn’t be long before Lu Xixiao grew tired of her. So at least before that timeline, she could be good to him.

Having secretly made up her mind, she lowered her eyelashes and opened her phone to see Lu Xixiao’s black profile picture in the Moments feed – he rarely posted anything.

Zhou Wan froze for a moment, then opened it.

Suddenly, her eyes widened slightly.

He had posted a photo of her.

In the photo, she was wearing a yellow helmet with an antenna on top.

Around her was an empty street, with the red light counting down.

After staring for a while, Zhou Wan liked the post.

*

When Lu Xixiao woke up, the room was pitch black.

He looked at the clock – eleven in the morning.

The curtains were drawn, and it was raining outside, gloomy and dark.

As he sat up, his head felt heavy, his nose was stuffed, and his throat was dry. He frowned as he reached for water by the bed and took a drink, but it didn’t help.

Probably caught a cold last night.

He coughed with a congested throat and went to the bathroom to shower and wash his face.

Coming out with just a towel around his waist, his upper body bare, showing clear muscle definition, sharp hip lines, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist – the standard of a good physique, a natural clothes hanger.

Lu Xixiao, letting water droplets remain unwiped on his body, bent down to pick up his phone.

He hadn’t looked at that Moments post since posting it yesterday.

He didn’t know why he posted it, just thought it was interesting, so he did.

Now there were many comments and likes.

The content was mostly shock and teasing – he had never posted about any girl before.

Lu Xixiao scanned roughly, his gaze stopping on one name in the likes – Zhou Wan.

She liked it too.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth and clicked on her name to send a message: What are you doing?

Zhou Wan didn’t reply immediately, so Lu Xixiao tossed his phone aside and went back to sleep.

*

During the noon self-study, Zhou Wan finished the homework from all four-morning classes. With fifteen minutes left, everyone in the classroom was sleeping face-down, exceptionally quiet except for the sound of rain hitting the windowsill.

Zhou Wan took out her phone and only then saw Lu Xixiao’s message from an hour and a half ago.

[6: What are you doing?]

Her fingers paused, then replied: [Doing homework.]

A moment later, she sent another message.

[Zhou Wan: You didn’t come to school today?]

Five minutes later, Lu Xixiao replied.

[6: Sick.]

[Zhou Wan: What’s wrong?]

[6: Cold, probably.]

Zhou Wan thought of the hoodie.

Yesterday her mood had been so bad, that she hadn’t considered whether Lu Xixiao might catch a cold after giving her his clothes.

[Zhou Wan: Have you taken medicine?]

[6: No.]

[Zhou Wan: Do you have any at home?]

[6: Don’t know.]

Zhou Wan typed: Then order some cold medicine through delivery.

She paused, deleted it, and typed again.

[Zhou Wan: Then I’ll help you order medicine, and have it delivered to your home.]

[6: Don’t.]

[6: Too lazy to get up and open the door.]

“…”

He was just like a stubborn child who didn’t want to take medicine and wouldn’t cooperate.

Zhou Wan didn’t know what to do.

[6: You come over.]

[Zhou Wan: I’ll come after school.]

[6: Now.]

[Zhou Wan: I have a competition training class this afternoon, can’t leave.]

He didn’t reply anymore.

The lunch break end bell rang, and classmates gradually woke up.

Zhou Wan had her workbook open in front of her, but her mind was on Lu Xixiao’s messages.

Yesterday she had just secretly decided to be as good to him as possible from now on.

Moreover, he caught a cold because of her.

Zhou Wan felt guilty about it and finally went to the office. She made an excuse about going to the hospital, and the homeroom teacher, knowing her family situation, quickly approved her leave request.

…

Zhou Wan left school, first went to the pharmacy to buy 999 Cold Medicine, then took the bus to Lu Xixiao’s home.

She stood at his door and rang the doorbell.

On the third ring, Lu Xixiao opened the door.

He was wearing loose, clean loungewear, looking down at her with raised eyebrows.

Zhou Wan held up the bag: “Still feeling unwell?”

“Thought you said you’d come after school.”

Zhou Wan looked into his eyes and asked: “Are you angry?”

“Did you come now because you were afraid I’d be angry?” His voice was a bit hoarse.

“Mm.”

Sort of.

Wanted to make him happy.

“Oh.” He took off his slippers and kicked them towards her, turning to go inside, “Then let’s say I am angry.”

Zhou Wan froze for a moment, stepped into the slippers, closed the door, and followed him in.

Lu Xixiao lazily leaned back on the sofa, hugging a cushion to his chest, head down playing with his phone.

Zhou Wan took a glass cup from the coffee table, washed it clean, poured warm water, added the cold medicine, stirred it well, and handed it to Lu Xixiao.

Lu Xixiao glanced at her, took it, and drank it all in one go.

Zhou Wan stood in front of him: “Go back to your room and sleep for a while, stay under the covers to sweat it out, you’ll feel better. Try not to smoke or drink these few days.”

Lu Xixiao looked up.

Zhou Wan cleaned up the medicine packaging from the table: “I’ll head back now.”

“Stay,” Lu Xixiao spoke.

Zhou Wan’s steps halted, and she turned back.

Lu Xixiao jerked his chin toward the side.

Zhou Wan followed his gesture and sat in the single chair nearby.

“Leaving already?” He raised an eyebrow, his tone unpleasant, “No conscience, whose fault is it that I caught a cold?”

Zhou Wan pressed her lips together: “Then I’ll stay with you for a while.”

Lu Xixiao ignored her after that, leaning back on the sofa and playing with his phone, then after a while, tossed the phone aside and closed his eyes.

Zhou Wan found a blanket nearby and went to cover him with it.

His eyelashes moved but he didn’t open his eyes or say anything.

Zhou Wan sat nearby, somewhat regretting not bringing a book.

The room was completely quiet. With nothing else to do, Zhou Wan took out her phone to look at some past national competition papers, but the small phone screen made her eyes tired.

At three o’clock, she finished looking at last year’s test questions and rubbed her tired eyes. Just then, Jiang Yan sent her a message.

The vibration had been turned on at some point, making a buzzing sound.

Zhou Wan quickly turned off the vibration put it on silent looked back at Lu Xixiao – fortunately, he was still asleep and hadn’t been woken up.

After this day, Zhou Wan’s impression of him changed a bit again. She had thought he hated unreasonable girls the most, but now it seemed like he was the unreasonable one himself.

If he had been woken up, he probably would have complained about her again.

[Jiang Yan: Competition class is about to start, aren’t you coming back?]

[Zhou Wan: I have something to do right now, probably won’t make it back in time.]

[Jiang Yan: Try to come if you can, heard today’s content is quite difficult, it’s important.]

Zhou Wan silently sighed, thinking that if she left without a word, Lu Xixiao would be angry when he woke up.

[Zhou Wan: I probably won’t make it, you go to class.]

[Jiang Yan: Alright, then I’ll give you my notes tomorrow.]

[Zhou Wan: Okay, thanks.]

[Jiang Yan: By the way, there’s a question I’m not quite sure about. My solution works but it’s very roundabout. You’re better at this part than me, when you have time can you take a look?]

Then, Jiang Yan sent a screenshot of a physics problem.

Zhou Wan hadn’t even typed out “okay” when suddenly a hand reached from behind, bringing with it the scent of tobacco, and took her phone, tossing it onto the sofa nearby.

The phone bounced a few times on the sofa.

“You say you’re keeping me company, but you seem quite busy,” Lu Xixiao said flatly.

“…” Knowing the complicated relationship between Jiang Yan and him, Zhou Wan inexplicably felt like she’d been caught doing something wrong at that moment.

“I…” she began but stopped.

Lu Xixiao pressed his advantage: “You what?”

“…”

He was so self-righteous that Zhou Wan momentarily felt like she had done something wrong, lowering her head, not knowing what to say.

“Caught a cold because of you, and you can’t even keep me company properly,” he said.

Zhou Wan asked: “What would be proper company?”

“Share in both joy and sorrow.”

Zhou Wan didn’t understand, looking at him with clear eyes, waiting for further explanation.

Lu Xixiao looked at those eyes for three seconds, then moved his gaze away.

After a few more seconds, he suddenly straightened up and leaned closer to her.

The distance between them instantly shortened, Zhou Wan’s nose filled with his scent, tobacco mixed with shower gel, sketching out a sharp youth’s features.

Zhou Wan held her breath.

Lu Xixiao blew a breath at her, gripped Zhou Wan’s chin, and lifted it, pulling her neck into a beautiful arc like an offering.

He looked down at her, his lips curling playfully.

His thumb pressed against her lower lip, brushing lightly back and forth.

He wore a casual smile, completely at ease and composed with all of this. After a moment, he raised his eyebrows and said lazily:

“Sharing in sorrow means I should give you my cold too.”