During the latter half of the return journey, Cen Jin didn’t speak to Li Wu again, driving in silence with focused attention.

The highway stretched endlessly ahead, the future obscured, headlights only illuminating a small circle ahead.

Li Wu sat just as silently, never glancing around, like a stone statue, until they entered Yi City’s boundaries, where the city’s brilliance finally drew the young man’s involuntary gaze.

This place was completely different from his hometown—towering buildings, interwoven overpasses, lights like luminous liquid seeping into every corner of the city.

The traffic flow was like schools of fish, moving through endlessly, perpetually in motion.

Li Wu stared unblinkingly out the window, his throat gradually tightening.

Suddenly, he noticed his reflection in the glass, like a terrestrial insect in a drift bottle, small and insignificant, completely unremarkable. He had stumbled into this place, suffocating in this deep sea where he had no sense of belonging.

The young man immediately withdrew his gaze, his heart pounding wildly. He clasped his hands together, unsure how to compose himself.

Fortunately, the woman beside him spoke: “We’ll be there in half an hour.”

He responded quickly, like grasping at seaweed: “Mm.”

Cen Jin glanced at him sideways, noticing his somewhat wavering gaze: “Tired of sitting?”

Li Wu shook his head, then remembered she was driving and couldn’t see him, so he spoke: “No.”

Cen Jin asked: “Is it okay if I take you to my place first?”

Li Wu said: “Okay.”

“The house isn’t very big, but it has two rooms. You can stay in the guest room for now.”

“Mm.”

…

They continued their question-and-answer exchange, not noticing the passage of time or the distance of their journey.

—

Cen Jin’s residential complex had excellent landscaping, like a vast ecological garden. Unlike the wild growth of mountain forests, every piece of grass, wood, flower, and stone here was artfully arranged. Cream-colored European-style buildings stood among them, like castles from fairy tales.

Cen Jin’s apartment was on the third floor of one of these “castles.”

This was her twentieth birthday gift from her parents, with her choosing the location and having complete freedom over the interior design.

During university, whenever she felt uncomfortable in the dormitory, she would come back here to stay for a while. Later, after dating and marrying Wu Fu, she would also escape here to calm down whenever they had intense arguments.

Cen Jin had always treated this apartment as her private ivory tower. Besides her husband and close friends, she had never brought anyone here—even her parents’ visits could be counted on one hand.

Li Wu was an exception.

So there weren’t any extra men’s slippers, and when changing shoes, she directly gave Li Wu the pair that Wu Fu used to wear.

Li Wu accepted them, his face showing obvious discomfort.

But Cen Jin was very tired now, too exhausted to manage the situation, and didn’t know how to help him accept and adapt to the new environment quickly. She simply said: “Sit anywhere after you change your shoes.”

Then she turned and went to the bathroom.

Li Wu changed his shoes but didn’t take another step forward.

He had never seen such a beautiful house before, like a carefully curated exhibition hall where every piece of furniture and object was a work of art.

In contrast, he was so out of place, a crude, uninvited guest.

This disparity made the young man’s embarrassment surge, even worse than when he first saw Cen Jin’s car. He felt awkward, even somewhat inclined to retreat.

When Cen Jin came out of the bathroom, she saw Li Wu still standing stupidly and asked, puzzled: “Why are you still standing at the door? Sit down.”

She had washed her face, her bangs wet and sticking to her temples casually brushed to one side.

This detail gave her a more relaxed, domestic air, perfectly harmonizing with the environment.

She naturally belonged here, while he did not. Li Wu understood this clearly, but he had to move forward.

Li Wu stopped in front of the brown leather sofa. Cen Jin glanced at the things in his hands and said: “Put your luggage on the floor first.”

Li Wu took off his backpack, stacked it with his duffel bag, and sat down accordingly.

Cen Jin leaned forward and poured a glass of water: “It was boiled this morning, hope you don’t mind.”

Li Wu shook his head, accepting the frosted glass ceramic cup with both hands. The cup felt completely different from what he had imagined—the glazed surface was smooth, comparable to polished jade.

He paused slightly, taking a sip.

Cen Jin also poured herself a glass, drank it in one go, and began discussing plans with him.

“Li Wu,” she began with his name to show seriousness: “I don’t have many vacation days left, so we need to handle your matters quickly. It would be best to take you to Yi Zhong tomorrow to process the paperwork, so you can start school sooner.”

Li Wu responded without hesitation: “Okay.”

Cen Jin’s eyes curved slightly: “You’re in your second year of high school now, classes have been divided, right?”

Li Wu nodded.

“Arts or Science track?”

“Science.”

“The curriculum should be the same between the county high school and Yi Zhong,” Cen Jin thought for a moment: “After all, they take the same provincial exam.”

Li Wu said: “The textbooks are the same.”

Cen Jin nodded: “Then you’ll continue with the second semester of the second year, joining a class directly.”

She considered herself, fully entering the “parent” role, eager to provide the best resources for her child: “Tomorrow we’ll see if we can get you into an experimental class, the learning atmosphere would be better…”

Then, thinking she had overlooked Li Wu’s personal feelings, she quickly added: “Of course, this is just my suggestion, don’t feel pressured. Your own choice is most important, and Yi Zhong’s regular classes are also very good.”

Li Wu had no objections, let alone any desire to pick and choose or evaluate. He was already immensely grateful just to be able to continue his studies.

Yi Zhong was an educational sanctuary he hadn’t dared to dream of. He had only seen it in textbooks before, a legend in the county high school teachers’ mouths, a widely known beacon of academic excellence.

Now it was just one step away from him.

Li Wu held his cup: “Being able to go to school is already very good.”

“School isn’t just about attending,” Cen Jin spoke from experience: “You need to consider how to study, what to study, why you study. It’s like eating—when we can eat every meal, we stop worrying about having food itself and start thinking about choosing good rice and using good pots to cook better rice.”

Li Wu was stunned. He had never considered these things. For the past decade and more, he hadn’t had the privilege to consider such things.

“Li Wu, you need to set high standards for yourself, and set a goal,” Cen Jin looked at him: “I didn’t bring you here for nothing. I have a condition—you must at least get into a 211 university. Can you do that?”

Li Wu didn’t answer immediately. After a moment, he nodded slightly.

Cen Jin’s lips curved in satisfaction.

After discussing these matters, Cen Jin remembered something else that had been weighing on her mind throughout the journey. She couldn’t carry this burden overnight, so she spoke directly: “About that phone call on the way back, I said some harsh things.”

Her tone was as gentle as the living room lights: “But they were thoughtless words spoken in anger, not my true feelings. I’m sorry, please don’t take them to heart, okay?”

Li Wu became uneasy; he didn’t want her to bring this up.

Even though some words had stung his heart at that moment, it was only momentary, like a pinprick, light as duckweed. His emotions toward her were primarily filled with heavy gratitude.

“Okay, I won’t,” Li Wu said in a deep voice, not knowing what else to add.

“Li Wu,” Cen Jin suddenly called him: “You’re 17, right?”

Li Wu: “Mm.”

“From now on, call me sister.”

“Okay.” Then silence again.

After staring at each other for a moment, Cen Jin childishly scratched her temple and tentatively asked: “Won’t you try calling me that now?”

As an only child, she had never experienced having siblings.

Now having someone to experience this with, she was possessed by the spirit of all aunts and relatives, needing to hear the term of address from the younger generation to feel satisfied.

Li Wu’s ears grew hot. He pressed his lips together, then opened his mouth to call: “Jie.”

Cen Jin broke into a smile, her whole face brightening.

This single word was like a seal on a contract, filling her with a sense of accomplishment.

It was extremely late, so Cen Jin didn’t chat further. She got up to show Li Wu to the second bedroom, telling him how to arrange his clothes, books, and daily necessities.

When he was nearly done organizing and came out of the room, Cen Jin took him to the bathroom, showing him how to use the water.

Li Wu learned for the first time that water faucets could be so complex, and shower heads came in many types.

After explaining everything, considering the inconvenience of different genders sharing a space, Cen Jin pointed behind her: “My bedroom has its bathroom, so you can use this one outside. Don’t feel awkward about it—once the paperwork is done and you’re boarding at school, it won’t be an issue.”

Li Wu responded with an “Okay.”

Cen Jin dropped her hands to her sides: “Want to shower first?”

“Mm.”

Cen Jin sat back on the sofa, waiting until she heard the bathroom door close before collapsing.

She was exhausted. She pulled out her phone from her pocket to check the time.

It was past three—she hadn’t slept for over forty-eight hours!

Cen Jin secretly admired herself, opened WeChat, and saw a new message at the top from her father.

Cen Jin opened it:

Dad:

Jinjin, are you home? Mom told me you went to Shengzhou to pick up the child you’re supporting, and hope Dad can help. Mom is very angry about this, but Dad isn’t surprised at all, because our Jinjin has always been a kind and warm-hearted girl. If you need anything from Dad, tell me after you wake up tomorrow. Rest first. Dad will always stand behind you, and Mom and I will always love you.

11:28 AM

Cen Jin’s nose instantly stung, her eyes glistening. She held her nose, responding with just a kissing emoji and “Thank you, Dad.”

After waiting a while with no response, Cen Jin figured the old man must have fallen asleep, so she put her phone aside and zoned out in her original position.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and Cen Jin couldn’t help but picture the young man’s face.

The phrase “every smile and frown” could never describe such a face, because it was always so silent, proper, cautious.

What was it like to lose both parents at such a young age? Would it make someone like this? No one left to embrace them forced to forge themselves into a shield, facing wind and snow directly, otherwise, their home would completely collapse.

What was his childhood like?

Cen Jin didn’t dare think too deeply, an indescribable ache rising in her heart. She picked up her phone again, and just as she finished placing an order, the bathroom door suddenly opened, and someone approached hurriedly.

Cen Jin sat up straight, and the next moment, Li Wu stopped in front of her, separated only by the coffee table.

The young man’s short hair was dripping wet, his clothes half-soaked, the outline of his upper body visible. He was thin but not frail, his lines surprisingly clear, probably due to walking mountain paths and doing farm work.

He was completely at a loss, flushing from face to neck, his eyes and brows appearing even darker from the water.

Cen Jin was infected by this emotion and also became nervous: “What’s wrong?”

Li Wu frowned, his expression becoming animated with embarrassment: “I’m sorry… I didn’t do it right, forgot how to switch that faucet.”

Cen Jin couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

She thought for a moment, bundled up the thin blanket from the sofa, and tossed it to him.

Li Wu caught it with both hands, his big eyes looking back, not understanding.

Cen Jin said: “Wrap yourself in it for now.”

Li Wu held the blanket without moving: “I’m wet.”

“It’s fine, it’s for you to dry off with, we can wash it later,” Cen Jin gave him a faint smile, lifting her phone: “Let me treat you to KFC first.”