Chen Chao looked up, puzzled. "Why?"

Miao Jiayan didn't really want to say and didn't look at him.

"Your teacher won't allow it?" Chen Chao asked.

Some homeroom teachers didn't let their students mix with students from other classes or upperclassmen, and they were quite strict about it. That was the only thing Chen Chao could think of.

At first, Miao Jiayan didn't answer. Only after Chen Chao asked again did he nod and say, "Yes."

"Got it," Chen Chao didn't think much of it and said, "Go to sleep."

Miao Jiayan's grades weren't great, but they weren't bad either—above average. He wasn't very fond of studying; every day after coming home and finishing his homework, he wouldn't study anymore.

Chen Chao was a better student than him. His academic foundation was different from the students here, which made him stand out as exceptionally bright in this middle school. But this didn't mean much. In Jiang Li's words, it actually made one feel more unsettled.

Chen Chao, however, didn't feel unsettled. He had always been in a state of detachment, like a visiting student who didn't truly belong here.

Jiang Li was very disappointed in this father-son pair. She had come to see Chen Chao a few times, and each time, she had an attitude of being exasperated by his wasted potential.

Chen Guangda was carefree; he thought nothing was a big deal. He dumped his child in his hometown, ran off himself, and washed his hands of the matter. A perfectly good spot in an affiliated middle school was given up to attend a school in a small country town. As the mother, she was about to explode with anger, but she couldn't control either of them. Chen Chao insisted on not going back, willing to stay at his grandma's house for school. Jiang Li actually knew what he was thinking.

This father and son were unreliable to a fault, treating academics like a joke.

In some ways, Chen Chao was still like his dad, always persisting in directions he shouldn't.

Chen Guangda would come back once every few months, bringing many things for the elderly family members and Chen Chao each time. As a father, he still remembered the things Chen Chao was used to wearing and using.

"Are you keeping up with your studies?" Chen Guangda asked Chen Chao.

It was a wonder how he could even ask such a question. Chen Chao couldn't even be bothered to answer.

"My grandson is a hundred times better than you," Grandpa Chen said from behind. "Not a bit like you."

"Of course, he's much better than me." Chen Guangda had just gone upstairs to take a shower and was now so tired his eyelids were drooping. He sat next to Chen Chao, yawning constantly.

Chen Chao said, "You should get some sleep."

So Chen Guangda leaned over, resting his head on Chen Chao's shoulder. Chen Chao sat up straight to let him lean. Chen Guangda said, "Your shoulders have gotten broader."

Chen Chao didn't make a sound, nor did he find his dad's head heavy.

Chen Guangda let out a yawn and mumbled, "Son."

Chen Chao: "Hm?"

"Dad's so tired." Chen Guangda let out a long sigh, and with his head still on Chen Chao's shoulder and his eyes closed, he said, "Dad hasn't stopped thinking about you."

Chen Chao turned his head to look at him, but could only see the top of his dad's head. Their family's genes were quite good; his grandfather's hair was still thick even now, and the hair on top of Chen Guangda's head was also full and dense.

"You don't need to think about me," Chen Chao said, raising his other hand and giving his dad's head a casual ruffle. "Keep it up."

A child growing up is a process that is both long and short; often, it feels like they've grown so big in the blink of an eye.

Every time Chen Guangda came back, he felt his son had grown again.

Middle school was the stage of fastest growth, after all. Every few months, he would look different from the last time they met.

Chen Chao was growing up, and so was Miao Jiayan next door.

In his parents' eyes, he also looked much bigger each time, growing taller and taller, and that childlike innocence was diminishing bit by bit.

Therefore, his hair, his preferences, became more and more glaring each time.

On New Year's Day, Miao Jian came back by himself; Miao Jiayan's mother did not. During these few days, Miao Jian didn't say a single word to Miao Jiayan, and hardly even looked at him.

Miao Jiayan didn't dare to face him either. Every time they ran into each other, he would lower his head and quietly call out, "Dad." His dad would ignore him, and Miao Jiayan would slip away silently along the edge of the room.

It was cold inside with the windows open in winter, so calling someone wasn't as convenient as in the summer.

Chen Chao opened his window, picked up a small pebble, and tossed it over, hitting Miao Jiayan's window frame.

Miao Jiayan quickly opened his window and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

Chen Chao asked, "Did your dad hit you?"

Miao Jiayan poked his head out to look towards the front yard. He couldn't see, didn't know if his dad was there, and didn't dare to speak. He just waved his hands and mouthed the words "he didn't."

"If he hits you, you shout," Chen Chao told him.

Miao Jiayan smiled and shook his head.

"I'm not kidding," Chen Chao said. "You have to make sure I can hear you."

Miao Jiayan still shook his head, his eyes curving into bright, shining crescents as he looked at Chen Chao.

Every time Miao Jian came back, Miao Jiayan would try his best to minimize his presence, wishing no one would notice him. After school and during holidays, he didn't dare to leave the house, staying only in his own room. Only when his dad left could he regain his freedom.

As soon as his dad left, even Miao Jiayan's steps became lighter as he strolled around leisurely.

He wandered over to the Chen Family's house and called out, "Brother." Chen Chao looked down from his window and asked him, "What is it?"

Miao Jiayan looked up, smiled, and said, "My dad's gone."

"Ah." Chen Chao grunted in acknowledgment.

So Miao Jiayan turned around and wandered back home.

Middle school-aged kids are the most annoying. Standing at the starting line of puberty, everything is new to them, and they are beginning to be enlightened on many things.

Middle school boys also started to have a lot more private whispers among themselves; there were always some fantasies and feelings that needed to be shared.

Ding Wentao was desperate to have someone listen to him share. He looked down on the other kids at school, so he could only latch onto Chen Chao and talk endlessly.

But Chen Chao refused to listen to him. Ding Wentao, with a belly full of words and no one to say them to, was miserably frustrated.

In order to talk to Chen Chao, Ding Wentao stopped riding his bike and started walking home with Chen Chao every day after school.

"Brother Chao, don't you have that kind of feeling?" Ding Wentao nudged Chen Chao with his elbow, leaning in to ask him.

Chen Chao said, "Talk from a distance."

"I'm afraid someone will hear." Ding Wentao glanced at a few other students walking nearby and said in a low voice, "They'll start spreading rumors about me."

'What kind of celebrity are you for people to spread rumors about you?' Chen Chao thought.