“Where are we going?” Xu You’s face still had tear stains. Her hand was grabbed, and in a panic, she ran along with Xie Ci.

“To find your grandmother.” He didn’t look back.

The two of them ran wildly through the campus, causing passersby to turn and look.

Running so fast, her heart ached as if it would jump out of her throat.

That heavy crying session had really exhausted her energy. Xu You’s whole body was weak and powerless.

“Xie Ci, Xie Ci.”

She gasped for breath, looking up and saying, “Stop first.”

“My ID card is still in the classroom.”

Xie Ci asked for the specific location and took out his phone to call Fu Xueli.

The other end picked up quickly. “Hello?”

Xie Ci: “Xu You’s ID card is in her backpack. Bring it down for her.”

Fu Xueli: …….

“Did you hear me?”

Fu Xueli asked, “Why do you need her ID card?”

“It’s definitely not for getting married.”

“Marriage requires a household registration book, idiot.”

“Tsk.”

Xie Ci frowned. “Damn, hurry up, it’s urgent.”

The two stopped at the school milk tea shop entrance. Xu You’s heart was pounding. She covered her chest, feeling like even breathing wasn’t smooth.

“Isn’t this a bit inappropriate…”

The wind blew on Xu You, making her mind slightly calmer.

Just rushing back like this, neither school nor parents would know. If she didn’t come home at night and wasn’t at school during the day, something would definitely happen.

No matter which situation occurred, everything would become a mess…

Xie Ci lifted his eyelids to look at her. “The plane tickets are already booked.”

After a moment of silence, Xu You asked, “How did you book them?”

“Paid money to book them.”

“I mean,” she looked into his eyes, “how do you know my ID card number?”

“…….”

Xie Ci coughed to cover up and looked away.

Xu You wanted to ask more.

A male student came out of the milk tea shop, standing at the entrance gossiping with raised eyebrows. “Well well, if it isn’t our Brother Ci. What are you doing standing here?”

The two turned to look.

Li Jieyi held a cup of milk tea, leaning against the doorframe. “What were you just doing? Look at you both covered in sweat in the middle of winter.”

As soon as he appeared, Xu You realized there were quite a few people gathered in the milk tea shop.

All students from No. 1 High School.

Those guys and girls inside obviously all knew Xie Ci. Two or three people were shouting, “Brother Ci, come in and hang out!”

Xu You kept her head down, standing still to the side.

Noticing Li Jieyi’s scrutiny, she took a small step back.

Li Jieyi didn’t mind, smiled slightly, and turned to ask Xie Ci, “Are you two going out on a date?”

He thought Xie Ci and Xu You had already established a relationship.

Or rather, he thought Xie Ci had already successfully pursued Xu You.

Li Jieyi felt a little bit of envy, jealousy, and resentment in his heart.

Why did all the good cabbages have to be claimed by Xie Ci…

“Date your stinking ass.”

Xie Ci was impatient. He wanted to pull out a cigarette to smoke, but halfway through, he seemed to remember something and gave up.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes glancing to the side, then casually pulled up the hood of Xu You’s down jacket over her head with a clang.

She was already small, and her face was even smaller. The white fur on the hood was thick and abundant. After putting it on, she looked like a little hamster that had been submerged.

Well-behaved and obedient, quite cute.

But too short.

He involuntarily placed his hand on top of Xu You’s head. Her vision was blocked and she couldn’t see. She waved her hands around, trying to swat his hand away.

He played for a while.

Xie Ci amused himself with laughter. Turning his eyes back, he found Li Jieyi still watching this side.

He immediately became displeased. “Had enough looking?”

“I wasn’t looking at you.”

Just then, a familiar voice sounded from not far away.

Fu Xueli jogged over, still holding the ID card in her hand.

She handed the item to Xu You and asked, “You You, what happened? What are you going to do?”

“It’s nothing, you don’t need to worry about it.” Xie Ci said.

“Shut up, don’t talk first.” Fu Xueli rolled her eyes, placing both hands on Xu You’s shoulders. “What’s wrong? Is there something urgent you can tell me about?”

Xu You lowered her eyes, hesitated for a moment. “Something happened. My grandma—my maternal grandmother—had an accident. I need to go back to see her.”

She didn’t say much, briefly explaining the general situation.

Fu Xueli understood. She looked at Xu You with a complex expression. “Alright then, I’ll help you ask the teacher for leave. Your grades are so good, she won’t suspect anything.”

As for Xie Ci…

Even if he didn’t come to school for three days, no teacher would care.

—-

The flight was at six-thirty in the afternoon.

Before the plane took off, Xu You borrowed Xie Ci’s phone.

She called her parents.

The sound on Chen Xiuyun’s end was very noisy. Her voice was still hoarse as she asked, “Hello, may I ask who this is?”

“It’s me, Mom.”

Xu You sat on the inside. She covered the receiver, asking in a low voice, “I borrowed a classmate’s phone. Is Grandma okay?”

Chen Xiuyun sighed and said, “No longer in life-threatening danger, still under observation.”

Upon hearing this.

Xu You first felt relieved, tears almost falling again. The emotions that had been pressing on her chest finally got some release.

After a long silence.

“That’s good… Oh, Mom.” Xu You involuntarily bit her finger. “I’m not coming home tonight. I’m staying at school.”

“Why? Isn’t your dad still at home?” Chen Xiuyun had a moment of doubt.

Xu You hurriedly said, “I thought you wouldn’t be coming back, so I made arrangements with a classmate in advance.”

She was really too well-behaved. From childhood to adulthood, she had never caused any trouble. Obedient and good, rarely lying. So Chen Xiuyun didn’t really doubt it and believed her, casually giving a few instructions before hanging up.

When Xu You returned the phone to Xie Ci, she happened to meet his teasing gaze.

Her face reddened.

Xie Ci curved up one corner of his mouth in a smile. “I couldn’t tell.”

“What?” Having just cried, Xu You still had a very heavy nasal tone.

“I thought you only knew how to act cute, not how to lie. Turns out you’re good at both.”

Xu You originally wanted to refute, but felt a bit embarrassed. She looked around.

“Do you still want your phone back?” she asked.

Xie Ci spread open his palm.

Xu You suddenly thought of a serious question. “By the way, you still haven’t told me—how do you know my ID card number?”

“I’m saying, you’re quite persistent, aren’t you?”

Xie Ci’s head leaned against the chair back, looking at her listlessly. “At the back of the classroom, the physical examination report posted next to my seat, you know it?”

Xu You nodded.

“It’s on there.”

Xie Ci’s eyes were pitch black, his voice quite low. “I took a photo of it long ago. It’s on my phone.”

As for why he took the photo.

Xu You didn’t ask further.

The broadcast began reminding each passenger to turn off their phones.

After a while, the plane began to taxi.

The seat was by the wing. When rushing up into the sky, Xu You felt a huge roaring sound in her eardrums.

Flying from the neighboring city to Xi Town would take two hours. The plane had the heat on full blast.

Wearing her down jacket, Xu You felt stifled.

Anyway, the plane had turned off the lights, and everything was dim and unclear everywhere. She carefully unbuckled her seatbelt and took off her coat.

Xie Ci suddenly asked coldly, “Tsk tsk, are you really hot?”

Xu You was startled. She pressed her index finger to her lips and made a “shh” sound.

The middle-aged man sitting in their row by the aisle already had his eyes closed, resting.

Afraid of disturbing others, she deliberately lowered her voice. “Keep your voice down.”

Xie Ci leaned close, blowing a breath by her ear, deliberately saying, “Is this okay?”

Xu You ignored him, lowering her head to rebuckle her seatbelt, the coat draped across her knees.

Because the plane was delayed, they probably wouldn’t arrive at their destination until around nine at night.

Fortunately, dinner was served on the plane. Soft yellow lights lit up one by one. Flight attendants pushed carts past, distributing mineral water and airplane meals to each row.

The quiet cabin gradually became noisy.

When they asked Xu You and their row, Xie Ci said, “Just one portion.”

He received the hot little meal box and put down the tray table in front of Xu You, placing it on top.

Xu You watched his actions, stunned. “Aren’t you eating?”

Xie Ci shook his head.

This person… is really too picky…

Xu You picked up chopsticks and tore open the meal box lid.

Inside was curry beef with potatoes, steaming hot and giving off a fragrant aroma.

She tried eating two bites and was pleasantly surprised to find the taste was actually quite good.

Xie Ci’s gaze lowered, watching Xu You holding the meal box, eating quietly and peacefully, taking small bites, especially slowly, like a feeding little white rabbit, her cheeks puffing in and out.

The pale goose-yellow lamplight fell on her. A few strands of hair naturally hung down, covering a small half of her profile.

Xu You had a very small appetite. After eating some, she was full.

She stuck out the tip of her tongue to lick the residue at the corner of her lips. Looking up, her gaze met Xie Ci’s beside her.

Xu You immediately felt a bit embarrassed. Her tender red cherry lips parted slightly. “Are you hungry?”

Xie Ci’s throat was dry. He shook his head, silent for a long time.

She held a packet of cookies in her hand, studying it repeatedly.

“What is this?” Xu You asked curiously.

Xie Ci glanced at it. “Cookies.”

“Oh, oh.”

Xu You smiled embarrassedly. “This is my first time on a plane…”

“First time?”

“Mm…”

“Oh right.” Speaking of this, she remembered something else. “We need to buy return tickets.”

“I’ll go to the hospital later, sneak a look at Grandma, and then we can take the early morning flight back to the neighboring city tonight. That way we can still make it back for morning self-study tomorrow.”

Xie Ci casually picked up the half bottle of water she’d just drunk from and took a sip, saying lightly, “That’s fine. After we get off the plane, I’ll buy them.”

“Mm-hm.”

After a while, Xu You said softly, “I still need to give you money—for the plane tickets. I really want to thank you this time.”

Thank you…

It seemed like this phrase… just recently, she’d said it to Xie Ci many times.

Xu You was momentarily stunned.

Although most of the time he joked around and couldn’t find the right note, every time she was most upset, he was by her side.

The person beside her didn’t respond.

She was about to say it again when Xie Ci asked casually, “Where would you get the money?”

“I have money. I’ve saved it.”

Xu You pressed her forehead against the seat in front, thought about it, and told him, “Scholarship money from school since childhood, plus prize money from competitions.”

That little look of hers was quite serious and earnest.

Xie Ci made an acknowledging sound, feigning surprise. “Yo, I couldn’t tell you were so rich.”

Xu You was caught off guard, then heard him say, “That’s great then. From now on, you’ll be the boss. I’ll follow you around.”

—-

Xi Town wasn’t very big. There was only one central hospital.

As soon as the plane landed, Xu You took Xie Ci and randomly hailed a taxi, heading straight to their destination.

The time was a bit late. There weren’t many people coming and going in the hospital lobby. Under the daylight-bright lights, a few scattered people were at the counter handling procedures.

Xu You ran quickly to the front desk to inquire, “Did your hospital admit an emergency patient from a car accident today?”

The young woman wearing nurse’s uniform frowned and flipped through the record book placed beside her. “What are you talking about—morning or afternoon?”

“Morning.” Xu You answered hurriedly.

After flipping for a while, the young nurse asked, “You’re a family member of Wu Yun, then?”

Wu Yun was her grandmother’s name.

Xu You nodded. “Yes, that’s her.”

Xie Ci sat in the hospital corridor, his elbow propped on the chair back, looking at Xu You bathed in fluorescent light.

She stood helplessly in the center of the lobby, her porcelain-white face without a trace of color.

The smell of disinfectant gradually permeated the air.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Ci saw her pacing by the elevator for a long time. He stood up and walked over to ask about the situation.

Xu You’s emotions had risen and fallen dramatically this whole day.

She looked up, her expression showing fatigue after relaxation. “My grandma doesn’t have anything too serious. She’s already been transferred to a regular ward.”

“That’s pretty good then. Go see her now.” He raised his hand and pressed the elevator button.

“What floor?”

The elevator doors opened before them, and a couple walked out.

“Third floor.”

She stepped aside, afraid of blocking others’ path.

“Then let’s go.”

Xie Ci stepped into the elevator first, pulling the still-dazed Xu You inside.

She struggled slightly, saying, “But… I’m afraid of running into my mom.”

“What’s there to be afraid of?”

Xie Ci said, “I’ll keep watch for you. You go in and say a few words to your grandmother, then leave.”

“My mom or my aunt will definitely be watching. I won’t be able to get in…”

In the end, Xie Ci came up with a lousy idea. He took off his coat and gave it to Xu You.

The pure black coat was very large, completely covering Xu You’s entire person.

With a swoosh.

The zipper was pulled straight up past her chin, close to the bridge of her nose, leaving only her eyes exposed. Xie Ci stepped back two paces to look her over a few times, then stepped forward again and pulled the hood over her head with a clang.

This coat was several times bigger than Xu You. The sleeves hung at her sides, completely covering her hands, like a bulky penguin.

“Alright, now even your own father couldn’t recognize you. Just go to the doorway to see your grandmother. I’ll wait for you at the hospital entrance. When you’re done, come down and find me.”

He bent down, taking out the cigarettes, lighter, and phone from the pocket to hold in his hand.

Xu You’s mouth opened slightly. Just as she was about to say something, Xie Ci turned and entered the elevator.

The instant the elevator doors closed, he smiled ever so slightly.

—-

In the end, Xu You still went to her grandmother’s ward.

Chen Xiuyun wasn’t there. Grandmother was sleeping soundly on the hospital bed.

Xu You stood quietly by the bedside watching for a while. Not daring to stay long, she tucked the blanket around her grandmother and quietly left.

The night seemed even colder.

She went out through the hospital’s main entrance. The wind scraped painfully against her cheeks. Xu You circled around several times, finally finding Xie Ci at a sheltered spot in the parking lot to the side.

Only a little bit of light fell on him.

He stood with his side against a pillar, head lowered looking at his phone, a cigarette between his lips.

She walked out from the shadows, stopping two or three steps away from him.

Xie Ci didn’t notice.

Xu You raised her hand to remove the cigarette from his mouth, saying softly, “Stop smoking.”

“Oh?”

He raised his eyebrows, lifted his fingers to hook under Xu You’s chin, laughing with a hoarse voice, “Are you trying to control me now?”

But Xu You frowned, lowering her head and grasping his hand in return. “Your hand is so cold.”

Really very cold, like ice.

Her heart clenched. Only then did she realize his coat was on her body.

Xu You hurriedly unzipped it, took off the coat, and handed it to Xie Ci.

“Put it on quickly. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

“Finally showing some conscience.”

Xie Ci lingered by her lips for a moment, coughed twice, and took his clothes.

Long silence.

Xu You threw the cigarette in her hand into the nearby trash can. Her eyelashes trembled lightly. In the quiet night, she said softly, “Are you hungry? I’ll take you to eat something.”