Chen Chao spent a few days in the cotton fields. When he went back to school after National Day ended, both of his hands were covered in small cuts from the cotton bracts and leaves. The young master's pair of hands, which were always clean, now looked extremely battered.

Ding Wentao leaned over and glanced at them. “Been working in the fields?”

Chen Chao turned his head and saw Ding Wentao with a lollipop in his mouth, leaning over with his head tilted to talk to him.

“Yeah,” Chen Chao turned back, then picked up a pen and twirled it between his fingers. “Stay away from me.”

“If I stay any further away, I'm afraid you won't hear me,” Ding Wentao grinned. “Your ears don't seem to work so well.”

“My ears work fine,” Chen Chao said. “I just don't feel like talking to you.”

Ding Wentao wasn't angry either. He plunked back down in his chair and shook his leg.

Junior high students were pretty funny, or rather, Ding Wentao was a funny guy. He had been put in his place by Chen Chao and got dealt with in the classroom, but afterward, not only did Ding Wentao not seek revenge, he even took the initiative to talk to Chen Chao and smooth things over.

Junior high boys seemed to yearn for strength; the one who could fight was the big brother. Ding Wentao had essentially been beaten into submission by Chen Chao. Once the initial awkwardness passed, he started calling him "Brother Chao" and cozying up to him every day, taking the initiative to get close to him.

Chen Chao sat in the classroom every day without saying much. Ding Wentao sat behind him and was always grinning cheekily when he talked to Chen Chao.

One time, Chen Chao was on the phone with his dad and mentioned Ding Wentao. Chen Guangda asked, “Isn't his dad Ding Wei? He used to be my underling back in the day.”

Chen Chao never asked Ding Wentao if his dad was Ding Wei; he heard it and forgot. But some time later, Ding Wentao came into the classroom happily one day and said to Chen Chao, “Brother Chao, my dad knows your dad!”

The town was just that small; this family and that family more or less all knew each other. Coming from Ding Wentao's mouth, it became, “Chen Chao and I are from families with long-standing ties.”

Chen Chao couldn't form a close friendship with the local school tyrant. He had been here for over a year, but Chen Chao still hadn't managed to integrate well into this environment. It wasn't that Chen Chao looked down on anyone; he just couldn't hang out with Ding Wentao. The things they liked were just too different.

Ding Wentao liked to show off and get into fights, loved to flirt with girls, and liked to hang out at pool halls and internet cafes—all things Chen Chao disliked.

He just liked to go home as soon as school let out; he wasn't interested in any of the places here.

Miao Jiayan came back on the school bus and would get home twenty minutes earlier than Chen Chao every day. Just as Chen Chao reached his front door, Miao Jiayan happened to be pushing his own door open to come out.

“You're back,” Miao Jiayan said in greeting.

Chen Chao asked him where he was going.

“To buy vinegar,” Miao Jiayan said, taking a bright red begonia fruit from his pocket and placing it in Chen Chao's hand. “It’s washed.”

“You washed it and then stuck it in your pocket?” Chen Chao looked at Miao Jiayan, completely baffled. “Then what was the point of washing it?”

Miao Jiayan had already guessed Chen Chao would say that. He was used to Chen Chao's particularities, and he laughed as soon as Chen Chao finished speaking. “Then give it back to me.”

Chen Chao gave it back to him. Miao Jiayan took a crisp bite right away and went off to buy vinegar while eating.

That evening, Miao Jiayan carried a small white plastic bag containing four begonia fruits and brought them over to Chen Chao.

He had also brought his homework along. He moved a stool to sit next to Chen Chao and did his homework beside him.

Miao Jiayan's hands weren't covered in small cuts like Chen Chao's; he only had a few minor wounds on some of his fingertips, while the rest were fine and uninjured. During the days they were picking cotton, Miao Jiayan had been wearing long sleeves, long pants, and a wide-brimmed hat, so he hadn't gotten tanned either.

The two of them sat side-by-side, their arms touching. Chen Chao was several shades darker than him.

“You're distracted,” Miao Jiayan said, tapping Chen Chao's hand with the back of his pen. “You're not looking at your book.”

Chen Chao was irritated by the stinging from the numerous small cuts on his hand. It wasn't that they hurt a lot, but they were a constant, nagging presence. Chen Chao simply tossed his pen aside and rested his empty hand by his side.

Miao Jiayan was stunned for a moment, then asked cautiously, “What’s wrong?”

He glanced up at Chen Chao, put down his own pen, and gently took Chen Chao's wrist, turning it over to look at both sides. “They’ll be better in a day or two,” he said.

Chen Chao said, “Just do your work.”

Miao Jiayan asked, “Then why did you stop writing?”

“I'm done.” Chen Chao closed his book, folded his worksheets, stuffed them inside, and tossed it all into his schoolbag. “Hurry up and write,” he said.

Miao Jiayan was very obedient to Chen Chao, basically doing whatever he was told. Every time Chen Chao called him, he would answer with a smiling “Ai,” and his calls of “brother” were always sincere.

So, for the umpteenth time, when Miao Jiayan saw Chen Chao at the school gate and lowered his head, pretending not to know him, Chen Chao grabbed ahold of his clothes.

Miao Jiayan was pulled back slightly. With a tug from Chen Chao, Miao Jiayan tilted his head up, and their eyes met.

Miao Jiayan's lips parted slightly, forming the shape of the word "Ge," but he closed his mouth again without making a sound.

“Didn't see me?” Chen Chao asked, raising an eyebrow.

Miao Jiayan didn't make a sound and wouldn't meet Chen Chao's gaze, as if he was very unaccustomed to speaking with Chen Chao at school.

It wasn't that Chen Chao actually needed him to say hello; he was just close by and within reach, so Chen Chao pulled him over to tease him a bit.

It was during the lunch break when students were gradually returning, and a few people nearby glanced over. Afraid that Chen Chao would get angry, Miao Jiayan didn't dare to just walk away and stood in front of him with his head lowered.

His hair was still tied in the same messy ponytail as before. Chen Chao flicked his head and said, “Go on.”

Miao Jiayan glanced up at him, and only then did he turn and leave.

Because of this incident, Miao Jiayan didn't come looking for Chen Chao that night. His small curtain was drawn early, and he didn't come for the next two days either.

Chen Chao didn't notice at first, since it wasn't like he came over every single day. By the time Chen Chao realized it, he thought back and understood it had been several days since he'd seen him.

'Is he angry?' Chen Chao wondered.

The window was open. Chen Chao stood up and called out, “Miao Jiayan.”

The curtain on the opposite window immediately lifted at the corner, and Miao Jiayan opened his window to answer, “Huh?”

Chen Chao didn't say anything else. After a moment, Miao Jiayan called out, “Did you call me?”

Hearing no reply from Chen Chao, Miao Jiayan hesitantly closed the window.

Five minutes later, the door to Chen Chao's room was pushed open gently. Miao Jiayan peeked his head in and asked tentatively, “Brother?”

Chen Chao turned to look at him.

“Did you call me just now?” Miao Jiayan was still peeking through the crack of the door, a lock of his hair hanging down, its ends swaying gently.

“Come here,” Chen Chao said.

Miao Jiayan immediately walked over. He was wearing a new set of pajamas, which were still blue.

“Are you angry with me?” Chen Chao asked, pulling out the chair next to him and motioning for him to sit.

Miao Jiayan was startled and didn't dare to sit. He stood beside Chen Chao, shaking his head and saying, “No.”

“Why are you being so awkward,” Chen Chao said in a normal tone. “If you're angry, just say so.”

“No, no,” Miao Jiayan said, his eyes widening in surprise. “I was afraid you were angry with me.”

“Why would I be angry?” For some reason, Chen Chao was exceptionally patient today, engaging in this back-and-forth with Miao Jiayan while skimming through his vocabulary words.

Miao Jiayan seemed a little afraid to say it. “I don't talk to you at school.”

“So don't talk, then. Is that really something to be angry about?” Chen Chao said nonchalantly.

After hearing this, Miao Jiayan peeked at him, opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed his words.

Chen Chao had only wanted to ask if Miao Jiayan was angry. Now that he had asked, there was nothing else.

Miao Jiayan sat on the chair beside him and didn't leave, staying for a while longer.

When Chen Chao saw him yawn, he said, “Go back and get some sleep.”

Miao Jiayan stood up, ready to go back to sleep. But after standing, he didn't leave right away and called out to Chen Chao again.

Chen Chao: “Hm?”

Miao Jiayan said, “At school... please don't talk to me.”