The climate in this city was like an unstable experiment. The lingering summer heat would vanish abruptly one day, all it took was a single night of cold wind.

Yue Zhishi, who woke up early, heard the wind howling outside. Groggy, he thought it was just the low morning temperature and rushed off to school without much thought. Who knew that after two classes, the wind grew stronger, and he couldn't withstand the force of the cold snap, sneezing repeatedly. During the break for exercises, the entire class trooped outside. Yue Zhishi was so cold he hugged his arms.

“Your constitution is too weak, bro.” Jiang Yufan touched his arm. “You're so cold. You should go back and put on more clothes at noon.”

Yue Zhishi nodded, but then suddenly thought of something and shook his head. “It's Friday today, and the senior has something on. This time, I'm temporarily partnered with another newcomer. I have to go to the Broadcasting Station at noon to go over the script.”

“That's too bad for you. How about I bring you a piece of my clothing this afternoon?”

Yue Zhishi sneezed and rubbed his nose. “Forget it, it's fine as long as I don't go out. Anyway, it's a holiday tomorrow. I can get through one day, no problem.”

Speaking of which, Jiang Yufan remembered something. “Oh right, Zhang Yameng just said she's celebrating her birthday tomorrow and invited our whole class to KTV. You're going, right?”

Zhang Yameng was the most popular girl in their class. Her father was in the food business. Although her personality was a bit spoiled and willful, she was warm-hearted, so she was always the center of the group. Yue Zhishi stood out in the class, and many classmates liked to joke about the two of them. Zhang Yameng seemed to enjoy it. Once or twice was fine, but after it happened too many times, Yue Zhishi started to subconsciously avoid her.

“I...” Yue Zhishi sneezed again, unable to finish his sentence.

Coincidentally, Zhang Yameng came over just then, skipping to Yue Zhishi's side. “Yue Zhishi! You have to come tomorrow, I've booked a really delicious restaurant.” With her hands behind her back and a sweet smile, she said, “They've all agreed. Not a single person from our class can be missing.”

Before Yue Zhishi could say anything, Zhang Yameng rattled off the entire Saturday itinerary in one breath, packed so full that it left no room for interruption. In the end, half-coaxing and half-demanding, she urged him to be there.

Rejecting her directly to her face would be too embarrassing for her, especially since she had invited the entire class. Yue Zhishi didn't want to go, so he didn't agree. Listening to the PE monitor's instructions, he slipped to the back of the boys' line.

'I'll just use the excuse that I'm gravely ill tomorrow and send a text to bail.'

The music started, and all the students began their morning exercises.

The Senior High Division lines were in front of the Junior High Division. His gaze crossed the entire class line, unconsciously drifting to his front-left. Seeing Song Yu also standing at the end of his class line, Yue Zhishi suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. Good, at least his brother was wearing the autumn school uniform.

However, he wasn't wearing the suit-style uniform, but rather that black and white tracksuit that was always being complained about. It was loose and baggy, making him appear even taller and slimmer.

Peiya School's uniforms had always been the envy of other schools. There were a full four sets: a summer uniform with a shirt and tie, an autumn/spring uniform with an added knit vest and suit jacket, a tracksuit, and a thick winter uniform. The two divisions even had different colors. But precisely because of this, the Peiya School campus often presented a chaotic scene of different people in different seasonal attire.

But even the baggy tracksuit, when worn by the tall and slender Song Yu, made him stand out far more than the other students.

After the last movement was completed, the large group dispersed. Yue Zhishi remembered that he hadn't yet reported the change of partners for the evening to Station Head Qin Yan, so he headed towards the Senior High Division, planning to quickly notify him and then go back.

From a distance, Qin Yan saw Yue Zhishi running over. He stood waiting for him, and also held Song Yu back.

Ever since he had substituted for the class, the rumors of them not getting along had been dispelled. However, the story of Yue Zhishi being caught eating self-heating rice during evening self-study had spread like wildfire. In everyone's minds, for someone as difficult to get along with as Song Yu to actually cover for such an absurd incident during a substitute class, it was considered a brotherly bond that could move heaven and earth.

Afraid of wasting their time, Yue Zhishi explained the matter in the briefest possible terms. The cold wind howled, messing up his slightly curly hair, making it look fluffy. He huddled up, looking like a frail little mouse.

“Alright. I got it.” Qin Yan had sharp eyes. Spotting a colorful snack bag peeking out of his pants pocket, he reached out to pull it. “What's this?”

“Rainbow candy, I bought it at the small supermarket.” Yue Zhishi said, “Do you want some, Brother Qin Yan? You can have them. It's just right for the yogurt last time... Achoo—”

Qin Yan's attention was on the rainbow candy. “Oh, how nice. I'll just try a couple...” Before he could tear it open, the bag was snatched from his hand by Song Yu. In a clean arc through the air, Yue Zhishi subconsciously reached out and caught it in a daze.

“Try what? It's time for class.” Song Yu dragged Qin Yan away.

“Song Yu! You just can't stand seeing others be nice to me!” The dragged-away Qin Yan was very indignant, but then he suddenly thought of something. “Hey, wait, what did he say about yogurt just now...”

“You're so noisy.” Song Yu frowned.

Unable to give the candy away, Yue Zhishi could only put it back into his pants pocket, rubbing his tingling nose.

“Yue Zhishi.”

Hearing Song Yu's voice, he looked up and saw the other boy zip down his jacket and take it off. Before Yue Zhishi could react, the tracksuit had been thrown over, covering him like a rat-catching net.

“Put it on.”

Yue Zhishi quickly pulled the garment off, but all that was left in his sight was Song Yu's back. He looked down at the tracksuit in his hands, held it further away to look at it again, and finally put it on, zipping it all the way to the top.

The sleeves were so long.

Only half of his palms were visible.

He ran all the way back to the classroom, swinging his sleeves like a little chick flapping its wings. The black and white of the Senior High Division uniform was too eye-catching amidst a sea of blue. The moment he returned to class, Yue Zhishi was met with round after round of teasing, with everyone saying things like “I'm so jealous.”

But for some reason, he enjoyed it.

The fierce wind outside continued to howl, seeping through the cracks of the aluminum alloy window frames and making a strange whistling sound. Yue Zhishi cupped his face with his hands, which were covered by the long sleeves, and listened silently. He unexpectedly found the sound rather cute, like the cry of a little monster.

In order to go over the script, he made do with a bowl of plain rice noodle soup with nothing added in the cafeteria at noon. After discussing with his partner, he returned to the classroom for a nap. Lying down on his desk, Yue Zhishi buried his head in his arms, his whole body enveloped in the faint scent of laundry detergent from Song Yu's clothes.

They clearly used the same laundry detergent, but it always seemed somehow different.

Song Yu was different from everyone else.

He was out of sorts the whole day, and nearly sneezed into the microphone during the broadcast, but he managed to endure until school was over. The moment class ended, Zhang Yameng held him back under the pretext of asking a question. After she was done, she suggested they leave together. “Are you feeling unwell? You'll definitely get sick if you ride your bike in the wind all the way home. My family's driver is waiting for me outside, why don't I give you a ride back?”

Yue Zhishi shook his head, pulling away. “It's not on the way. My house is very close, it's just a short ride.”

Zhang Yameng persisted, even grabbing his arm. “Don't be so polite with me. If it's close, it'll be even faster by car.”

After coughing twice, Yue Zhishi promptly pulled his hand away.

“I heard it's going to rain this weekend, and I don't want to leave my bike at school to get rained on for two days. Maybe next time.” After saying that, he walked away quickly.

Riding a bike in the cold weather was indeed unpleasant. The wind puffed up the tracksuit on his body, and the cold air, mixed with the scent of osmanthus, coursed through him. When he got home, Yue Zhishi's head was spinning, and he made quite a bit of noise while changing his shoes. Father Song was sitting at the kitchen island working. Hearing the sound, he turned his head. “Lele?”

“Uncle.” Yue Zhishi's voice was muffled.

Song Jin immediately heard that something was wrong. “Caught a cold?”

Seeing the little fellow come in wearing his son's school uniform, Song Jin smiled, turned back to his laptop, and muttered to himself, “Song Yu really acts like a big brother.”

“Come over and have some sweet soup. Your Auntie Rong simmered this orange peel red bean soup all night.”

Yue Zhishi took an unfinished hot-blooded youth manga from the shelf and sat down next to Song Jin. The red bean soup was cooked until it was soft and fine, with just the right amount of rock sugar. It was warm, and a single sip warmed his entire body. The glutinous rice cakes were baked until slightly fluffy, with a bit of a toasted crust. Soaked in the sweet red bean soup, a bite could pull out a long, chewy and sticky strand. Eating while reading manga, he was bursting with happiness.

Seeing Father Song busy, Yue Zhishi didn't make a sound, just quietly eating by his side. After finishing one bowl, he filled another. On the counter was a baking tray with neatly arranged spicy pork jerky, seemingly fresh from the oven. Yue Zhishi snagged two pieces and returned to the island, holding his bowl.

Song Jin finished the work at hand and closed his laptop. “What are you planning to do this weekend? Want to go fishing at Liangzi Lake with me? Your Auntie Rong is going too.”

Yue Zhishi licked the red bean soup from his lips. “Is brother going?”

“He doesn't have time. He's going to a campaign speech for the City-level Three-Good Student award tomorrow.” Lin Rong came down from upstairs.

City-level Three-Good Student... Song Yu was indeed getting it again. Yue Zhishi chewed on the pork jerky, his heart filled with adoration. Song Jin didn't even know about this. “Is the selection process for the City-level Three-Good Student award so complicated now?”

“Yeah, I found it strange at first too. Later, I heard from a friend that it seems to be because a kid who won last year got it through connections, taking up a spot.” Lin Rong sat down opposite them with a bowl. “The kid from their school who wasn't selected had better grades, so the parents were not convinced and went to make a scene at the Education Bureau. That's why the material review has become stricter this year, and they've added a campaign component, probably just as a precaution.”

After hearing this, Yue Zhishi's first words were, “Brother Song Yu will definitely have no problem.”

“Of course.” Lin Rong smiled and patted his head. “But it doesn't matter whether he gets it or not. If you care too much about gains and losses, the pressure will be immense.”

“Then I won't go fishing tomorrow.” Song Jin closed his laptop.

Lin Rong pressed on Song Jin's shoulder. “Don't. Your son has instructed that we are not to follow him. Let's not meddle too much.” Then she looked at Yue Zhishi. “What is Lele doing tomorrow?”

Hearing this, Yue Zhishi, holding the small porcelain bowl, let out a long 'hmmm' and then sighed. “I don't know.”

“The young man seems to have a busy schedule.” Song Jin teased.

Lin Rong was curious. “What could possibly be worrying our little man so much?”

Just as they were speaking, they heard the sound of the door opening, followed by the familiar sound of keys being set down. The three of them looked over.

“Xiao Yu, come have some sweet soup.” Lin Rong called out, then continued with the previous topic. “Where were we? Tomorrow's date?”

“It's not a date,” Yue Zhishi decisively denied. “A classmate invited our entire class to her birthday party.”

Song Yu threw his schoolbag on the sofa, silently walked to the kitchen to wash his hands, poured himself a glass of water, and then leaned against the counter of the open-plan kitchen, quietly drinking while looking at the three people at the island.

Lin Rong was gossipy in a way that wasn't very motherly. “A boy or a girl? Is it just a meal?”

“A girl, Zhang Yameng.” Yue Zhishi's answer was absent-minded, his mind on other things. He knew Song Yu didn't like sweets, so he reached out and pointed at the pork jerky on the counter. Song Yu glanced back, and when he turned his head again, he saw Yue Zhishi knitting his brows, desperately trying to hold back a sneeze.

“...Uncle should know her.” he added belatedly.

“Ah, Zhang Pengyuan's daughter. I just saw him at the Chamber of Commerce meeting a while ago.” Song Jin took a sip of tea, his tone relaxed. “Go on, you should relax on the weekend.”

Song Yu unhurriedly ate a thin slice of pork jerky, his head lowered. His gaze would occasionally lift and meet Yue Zhishi's.

Whenever Song Yu was present, Yue Zhishi's gaze would almost completely revolve around him, like an orbiting planet. His light-colored pupils were always filled with fervent emotions—adoration, longing... all the feelings of a younger boy for his older brother.

Lin Rong was still teasing. “Is Zhang Pengyuan's daughter pretty?”

“She's a very pretty little girl.” Song Jin said.

“Is that so?” Lin Rong nudged Yue Zhishi's arm with her elbow, completely lacking the serious attitude of other parents who are strict about puppy love. “Is she interested in our Lele?”

“Of course not.” Yue Zhishi frowned, got up from the high stool, placed his empty bowl in the sink, and said quietly to Song Yu, who was leaning nearby, “Brother Song Yu, your clothes...”

“Just throw it in the washing machine.” Song Yu finished the slice in his hand, walked out through the gap between Yue Zhishi and the island, said a quick farewell, and went upstairs.

Song Jin also started joking, “Lele, don't be like your brother. He's such a silent gourd, doesn't say a word. He'll be at a huge disadvantage when he meets someone he likes in the future. You should learn from me when it comes to chasing girls...”

“Oh, come on.” Lin Rong also stood up. “Don't you dare listen to him brag.”

“How is this bragging? I was so devoted when I pursued you back then.”

Yue Zhishi laughed and said he didn't want any more of their public displays of affection. He turned around and saw that his brother hadn't even taken his schoolbag upstairs. A small light immediately lit up in his heart. He ran to pick up the schoolbag, pattered up the stairs, and knocked on Song Yu's door as if presenting a treasure.

If his mood could be materialized into something, a small, wagging tail would probably have appeared behind Yue Zhishi.

He raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door twice. There was no response, so he knocked twice more. Still, no one opened the door.

Through the door, Yue Zhishi could faintly hear the sound of water, which then seemed to stop. Pressing his ear against the door, he leaned his whole body against it, trying to listen carefully for any movement inside. Who knew that the door would suddenly open in that instant. Losing his balance, Yue Zhishi tumbled forward.

And fell into someone's arms.

Song Yu had just finished showering and was only wearing a bath towel. His hair was also wet, and a droplet of water teetering at the tip of a strand fell onto Yue Zhishi's forehead, as if to snap him awake. He sprang away from Song Yu.

“Brother Xiao Yu, your schoolbag...”

He looked calm enough, but his form of address had reflexively changed to the “Brother Xiao Yu” he used as a child, instead of the full name he used now that he was older.

Song Yu took it and thanked him in a low voice. Yue Zhishi's mind went blank. He forgot everything he had planned to say before coming and just wanted to flee. He didn't know why, they had clearly bathed together when they were little.

Though that had been a very, very long time ago.

“Good night, I'm going back to my room.” Just as he lifted his foot to turn, Yue Zhishi was grabbed by the collar at the back of his neck by Song Yu, just like picking up a little chick.

“Wait a moment.”

Yue Zhishi obeyed, standing at attention before him.

Song Yu lifted his chin. “My clothes.”

Hearing his words, Yue Zhishi subconsciously raised a hand to find the zipper of the uniform jacket, but then paused. “Didn't you tell me to throw it in the washing machine?”

“You're already at the door, just take it off.” His tone was calm.

Yue Zhishi said “oh,” took off the uniform jacket, unfolded it, and draped it over Song Yu, tugging at the shoulders to hang it properly and cover his upper body.

Song Yu frowned. “...What are you doing?”

“I'm afraid you'll catch a cold.” Yue Zhishi sneezed, and then fled.