On the desk in Miao Jiayan's room was an old table lamp with a small alarm clock attached. It was made of green plastic, and its second hand ticked away with a "kada kada" sound every second.

At eight in the evening, the alarm clock rang with a "didi-di" sound.

Miao Jiayan snapped his book shut and went downstairs in a tank top and shorts. Grandma Miao and Grandpa Miao were watching TV in their room. Hearing him come down, they asked, "Going to the Chen Family's house?"

"Ah, you two go to sleep, Grandma. I'll let myself in later!" Miao Jiayan changed his shoes at the door and gently closed it.

The weather had been too hot lately, and leaving his hair down on his shoulders made him sweat. For the past few days, Miao Jiayan had been tying his hair up when he bathed at night. He first went to the kitchen to find a small basin, then took it to the well.

In the well were the strawberries and small tomatoes that Miao Jiayan had washed and bagged in the evening, a small bag filled to the brim. There was also a slice of watermelon, also cooling in a bag.

Every evening, Miao Jiayan would chill fruit for Chen Chao like this. The coolness of the well water was much more natural than a refrigerator's. Besides, Chen Chao was too picky and complained that the refrigerator had a smell, so he wouldn't eat fruit taken out of it.

In any case, if someone was picky, someone else would cater to them. Miao Jiayan didn't find it troublesome and would often prepare a bag of fruit in the well like this before dinner after coming home from school.

As Chen Chao walked into the alley, schoolbag in hand, Miao Jiayan happened to be coming out with the fruit. Seeing Chen Chao from a distance, he called out softly, "Brother Chao."

The small light by the courtyard gate was still on, which Grandpa Chen specially left on for Chen Chao every day, afraid it would be too dark for him when he came back at night. A few scattered mosquitoes and small flying insects were gathered around the light. Chen Chao walked over, took Miao Jiayan by the elbow, and guided him inside. "Don't stand here feeding the mosquitoes."

"I don't attract mosquitoes that much," Miao Jiayan said. "They usually don't bite me if someone else is around."

"And that someone else is me," Chen Chao said expressionlessly.

"Haha," Miao Jiayan chuckled, saying as he followed along, "On my way back this afternoon, I went to pick strawberries for you. They're really sweet, just especially small. I don't know why."

The strawberries grown at home tasted different from store-bought ones. They had a particularly firm texture and a very natural sweetness. Miao Jiayan had already picked the biggest ones, but even the largest wasn't as big as a watch face.

Miao Jiayan really liked summer, even though it was especially hot. But summer was beautiful; the fruits and vegetables in the garden would ripen one after another, and he could also wear skirts.

While Chen Chao studied, Miao Jiayan sat on the edge of the bed with his chin in his hands, watching him write. He suddenly pointed at the hand Chen Chao was holding the pen with and said, "This knuckle of yours sticks up so high when you write."

Chen Chao's hand didn't stop doing his problems; he just replied nonchalantly, "Doesn't everyone write like that?"

"Other people's aren't this high," Miao Jiayan said, lightly tapping the knuckle below Chen Chao's middle finger with his index finger, then tapping the veins on the back of his hand. "Yours is different from others."

Chen Chao glanced at his hand. Miao Jiayan's hands were fair; although they would get a bit darker in the summer than in the winter, the contrast with his own tanned-to-oblivion hand was still stark. Miao Jiayan's finger looked so white next to his hand that it seemed to glow.

Chen Chao said, "Take it away. It's making me look even darker."

Miao Jiayan laughed and pulled his hand back, saying, "I've already gotten a tan."

Chen Chao circled the answer he had just worked out on his scratch paper, then went back to check the question. "Showing off," he said.

You could tell Miao Jiayan was in a good mood. He was actually a kid who loved to laugh; as long as no one deliberately provoked him, he would usually be cheerful and didn't get angry easily.

So whenever he stopped talking and started spacing out, it meant he was in a bad mood—either someone had said something very hurtful, or he had something weighing on his mind.

It was a few days later that Chen Chao noticed something was off with Miao Jiayan.

He spoke less and didn't laugh even when teased a little.

At first, Chen Chao thought he was just dwelling on some random, nonsensical things again. He asked a couple of questions, but Miao Jiayan didn't answer, so Chen Chao didn't press him. Miao Jiayan wasn't the type of kid to get stuck on things; he could usually sort himself out. Since he didn't want to talk, Chen Chao didn't probe further.

In the morning, Miao Jiayan was waiting for him at the door. When Chen Chao opened the door, he saw Miao Jiayan squatting at the base of the wall, dazed. Chen Chao patted him on the head and said, "Let's go."

Only then did Miao Jiayan snap out of it and stand up.

"Still not awake?" Chen Chao asked.

Miao Jiayan's reply was half-hearted. He just hummed an "En."

Chen Chao glanced at him, but Miao Jiayan didn't notice. Since he didn't want to talk, Chen Chao didn't try to chat with him either. The two of them walked to school in their own silence.

Miao Jiayan's absent-minded state continued for several days. He even stopped coming over to Chen Chao's place at night.

Chen Chao ran into him during gym class one day. The two nearly bumped into each other face-to-face, yet Miao Jiayan somehow didn't recognize him. Ding Wentao, who was holding a basketball next to Chen Chao, saw Miao Jiayan and said, "Your little wifey."

"Miao Jiayan," Chen Chao called out.

Miao Jiayan looked up, somewhat bewildered. Seeing Chen Chao, he quickly called out, "Brother Chao."

"What's wrong with you?" Chen Chao asked.

Miao Jiayan shook his head and said in a low voice, "I didn't see you."

"Wait for me tonight," Chen Chao said.

Miao Jiayan asked, "Wait where?"

"Where else could it be?" Chen Chao looked at him, puzzled. "What on earth is wrong with you?"

Miao Jiayan looked a bit helpless. He didn't speak, just nodded.

Chen Chao had meant for Miao Jiayan to wait for him at home as usual. However, when his evening self-study session ended, Chen Chao saw Miao Jiayan at the school's main gate.

He was sitting alone on the lowest tier of the planter by the school gate. From a distance, it looked like he was squatting there, like a lonely little kid, or like a small puppy.

Waiting from the end of the school day until now—it was just too absurd.

What was going through his head? Chen Chao was a little angry, but also didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Ding Wentao was also surprised to see Miao Jiayan and said to Chen Chao, "Why's he waiting for you here?"

Hearing that the third-year middle school students were dismissed, Miao Jiayan turned his head to look toward the academic building and happened to see Chen Chao coming out. Their eyes met.

Chen Chao glared at him fiercely. Miao Jiayan felt a little guilty, but also relieved.

"Did I tell you to wait for me here?" Chen Chao asked.

Miao Jiayan had already stood up. His gaze was cast downward, his eyelashes shadowing his eyes in the lamplight.

"How did your brain suddenly get so dense," Chen Chao said with a frown. "Let's go."

Miao Jiayan didn't explain anything and walked closely beside Chen Chao the whole way. Chen Chao was so crowded by him that he had to shift aside from time to time, but Miao Jiayan still stuck very close.

When someone passed by them, Miao Jiayan suddenly darted to Chen Chao's other side, moving into the space between Chen Chao and Ding Wentao.

When the three of them walked together, Chen Chao was always in the middle, with Ding Wentao and Miao Jiayan on either side, not touching. When Miao Jiayan suddenly squeezed in, Ding Wentao was rather puzzled and glanced down at him several times.

"Why are you getting so close to me?" Ding Wentao asked. "What're you doing?"

Miao Jiayan didn't reply, just kept pressing against Chen Chao's arm. Chen Chao wasn't stupid; he was very smart. As soon as Miao Jiayan's unusual behavior registered in his mind, he had a guess.

The three of them were very close, walking in a tight bunch. Chen Chao took a couple of steps outward to make space, and Miao Jiayan immediately followed, his arm stuck to Chen Chao's.

"Are you scared?" Chen Chao asked suddenly.

There was an imperceptible pause in Miao Jiayan's movements. He couldn't lie. He always answered whatever he was asked; if he didn't want to say something, he'd just stay silent, but he wouldn't lie.

Chen Chao knew what was going on. He asked him, "Is someone giving you trouble?"

Miao Jiayan looked up at him, his eyes clearly showing vulnerability, but he didn't want to speak.

Chen Chao was about to say something more, but in the end, he didn't. He let Miao Jiayan walk between him and Ding Wentao as they passed through the country road flanked by cotton fields.

Ding Wentao's home came up before theirs. After an intersection, Ding Wentao turned off, and now it was just the two of them.

With no one on his other side anymore, Miao Jiayan unconsciously moved even closer to Chen Chao.

"Miao'er," Chen Chao said.

Miao Jiayan seemed a bit nervous; Chen Chao's sudden voice made him jump. "...Sigh."

"Tell me if something's wrong." Chen Chao put his hand on Miao Jiayan's shoulder, draping his arm around him as they walked. "Who's been giving you trouble?"

Miao Jiayan was silent for a few seconds before saying softly, "I don't know them."

"You don't know them?" Chen Chao asked again. "Are they from school?"

Miao Jiayan thought for a moment and said, "I don't think so..."

"What did they do to you?" Chen Chao asked.

But Miao Jiayan didn't answer this question, refusing to say no matter what.

Miao Jiayan had deliberately waited for Chen Chao at school today. He had even gone to a phone booth after school to call his grandmother, telling her he was going home with Chen Chao so she wouldn't worry.

For the next week, he waited at school every day for Chen Chao's evening self-study to end so they could go back together.

When Ding Wentao saw Miao Jiayan again after school that evening, he asked Chen Chao in a low voice, "What's up with him?"

Chen Chao just said, "He thinks it's boring to go home."

"This..." Ding Wentao was momentarily speechless. "He's being pretty clingy."

Chen Chao made a sound. Miao Jiayan looked up and walked over in silence.

"Let's go," Chen Chao said.

With the three of them walking together, the road home from school didn't seem so long.

"I'm dead tired. I even took a nap during self-study just now," Ding Wentao said with a yawn.

His yawn made Chen Chao want to yawn too. "You snored for half an hour," he said.

A motorcycle was parked on the side of the road ahead; many villagers used them for transportation. Someone was sitting next to the motorcycle. If not for the red glow of a cigarette tip flaring and dimming, you wouldn't have noticed them at all.

Miao Jiayan suddenly pressed tightly against Chen Chao, his sweaty palm gripping Chen Chao's wrist.

Chen Chao was halfway through a yawn when Miao Jiayan's movement interrupted him. Miao Jiayan was too tense. Chen Chao squinted his eyes and looked toward the motorcycle.

Miao Jiayan was gripping Chen Chao's wrist so tightly it hurt a little. Beside them, Ding Wentao was saying something or other, when Chen Chao suddenly said, "Who'd park a motorcycle here this late?"

Ding Wentao glanced at him, not understanding why he'd brought that up, and said blankly, "Huh, I don't know."

"Startled me," Chen Chao said.

As he spoke, Miao Jiayan was gripping him tightly. Chen Chao reassuringly wiggled his wrist and said, "What's wrong with them, squatting here pretending to be a ghost."

Ding Wentao was truly baffled. He asked him, "What's wrong...?"

The person by the motorcycle didn't make a sound or move, just lit another cigarette.

Miao Jiayan's hair brushed against Chen Chao's arm. Chen Chao casually used his free left hand to smooth his hair back. Miao Jiayan's entire body was unnaturally stiff.

Chen Chao put an arm around his shoulders, lowered his head, and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, said nonchalantly as they walked, "It's okay, don't be scared."