Chen Chao was gone for a year and a half.

Miao Jiayan hadn't asked Grandma Chen about Chen Chao many times; he knew Chen Chao wouldn't be back.

Chen Chao was always a precious little guest here. He came in the summer and left in the summer, leaving behind a dream tinged with the scent of summer.

The previous Spring Festival, Grandpa and Grandma Chen were picked up by the Chen family's youngest uncle, and the whole family celebrated the New Year at the uncle's place. That Spring Festival, Miao Jian and his wife returned. On the twenty-ninth of the last lunar month, Miao Jiayan was held down by his dad, who wanted to cut his hair. Miao Jiayan scratched his neck while struggling and finally pushed his dad away.

That summer, Miao Jiayan graduated from junior high. Before the high school entrance exams, he was taken back to their home in the city by his dad. For four days, father and son coexisted peacefully; Miao Jian didn't say anything to him. The day the exams ended, Miao Jiayan said he was tired as soon as he got home and went to bed without even eating. The next day, after his parents had both gone to work, Miao Jiayan didn't delay for a single day, taking a taxi straight to the long-distance bus station and returning to his grandma's house.

Also that summer, Miao Jiayan got into the town's high school without having to pay any extra fees, and his score was several dozen points above the cutoff. In the autumn, Miao Jiayan became a high school student, and he was in the best class.

In the high school, there were some students who had failed to get into their chosen schools in the county or city and couldn't afford the city schools' selection fees, so they were randomly assigned to the surrounding township middle schools. Perhaps it was because of them, or perhaps it was because the students from before had all grown up. For some unknown reason, after starting high school, the environment around him suddenly seemed to become less harsh. Occasionally, girls would take the initiative to talk to Miao Jiayan, and during regular activities like handing out homework or being on duty, classmates would interact with him normally.

There were even a few girls who had chatted with Miao Jiayan. Although their tone carried obvious curiosity, you could tell they had no ill intentions.

But Miao Jiayan still wasn't used to making friends. In an environment where he couldn't feel safe, his guardedness was almost an instinct.

He wasn't very talkative, nor did he like to express himself. For him, the most comfortable thing was to sit in his room, at his small desk, and stare blankly outside.

“Miao'er?” Grandpa Miao came in carrying a lunchbox, but he didn't see Miao Jiayan.

“Hey! Over here.” Miao Jiayan stood up from behind a pile of clutter, still holding a plastic flowerpot.

“I thought you'd gone somewhere.” Grandpa Miao placed the lunchbox on a foam box and walked over to look.

Miao Jiayan had been staying in the flower shed for the past two days, having nearly finished all the upcoming work. Grandpa Miao said, “Hey now, so diligent.”

“It's boring being idle anyway,” Miao Jiayan said with a smile. “I broke one, snapped the root.”

“It's fine,” Grandpa Miao urged him. “Put it down, eat first.”

To avoid his dad, Miao Jiayan planned to stay in the flower shed for the next few days. According to his original plan, Miao Jiayan would stay in the shed until dark, preferably until everyone was getting ready for bed. Today, however, he didn't want to stay that late.

“Come back a little earlier. Sneak upstairs when they're not in the living room.” Grandpa Miao sat across from Miao Jiayan, watching him eat. “Grandpa will hold your dad back for you.”

Miao Jiayan was gnawing on a piece of corn and was amused by his grandpa. He played along, saying, “Okay, I'll make some noise at the door then. When you hear it, help me by calling them over, and I'll hurry upstairs.”

“Got it, got it,” Grandpa Miao made an “OK” sign. “You just watch your grandpa.”

Grandpa Miao agreed readily, but when it came to actually doing it, he dropped the ball and completely forgot about the whole thing.

When Miao Jiayan returned, he peeked through the crack in the door. The rooms were dark; only the living room light was on, so they were clearly all in there. Miao Jiayan picked up a small stone and tossed it at the door, making a soft noise. Grandpa Miao was leaning back in his chair, drinking tea, and didn't react at all.

Miao Jiayan tried three times. Grandpa Miao sat there as solid as a rock, refilling his cup after finishing his tea. Miao Jiayan stood at the door with his hands in his pockets and glanced at the building next door. A light was on in a second-floor room.

Not giving up, he tried with the small stone again, this time making a slightly louder noise.

Miao Jian looked towards the door. Eldest Aunt mumbled, “Who's doing that?”

Grandpa Miao still didn't remember. He blew on the hot steam and took a slurp of tea. “Who knows, some kid is being naughty.”

Miao Jiayan waited in vain for his grandpa to come out and open the door. He thought to himself, 'Old Miao will never have my trust again.'

Just seconds before Miao Jiayan was about to just push the door open and go in, the neighbor's door suddenly opened.

Miao Jiayan took half a step back, as if startled.

“What are you doing?” Chen Chao asked, looking at him.

Because he had already spoken with Chen Chao that morning, Miao Jiayan seemed less reserved. He answered in a low voice, “I'm calling my grandpa.”

“Calling your grandpa for what? You don't dare to go in?” Chen Chao asked.

“I don't want my dad to see me...” Miao Jiayan replied. “I'm afraid he'll get angry.”

Chen Chao looked at him, then turned and went inside. Miao Jiayan stood where he was, looking at the Chen Family's front door.

“Are you coming in or not?” Chen Chao asked impatiently from inside. “Come in and close the door.”

If it were in the past, Miao Jiayan would have already slipped in after him, but this time he didn't move. He said, “I... I don't think I should. I'll wait a bit.”

“Fine,” Chen Chao said with a slight frown.

“Is Xiao Xu still running a fever?” Chen Guangda reached out to touch his nephew's forehead. “Did he take the fever medicine?”

“If we waited for you to ask, he'd have been burned stupid,” Chen Chao heard and retorted.

“I just got a moment to ask,” Chen Guangda chuckled. “He looks pretty energetic to me.”

Chen Chao asked his little brother, “Do you still have a fever?”

“It's gone, bro,” his little brother replied.

“You're nothing like your older brother. His constitution is stronger than yours; he rarely got fevers or colds growing up.” Chen Guangda patted his son on the lower back, the motion like patting livestock. “Your mom raised you too delicately. Look how tough your brother is.”

“Stop it, Eldest Uncle,” even with a fever, his little brother couldn't accept this kind of comparison. “My brother is the most particular one in our family. His toughness doesn't come from you guys raising him roughly.”

“His particularness is just him being fussy. Your weak immune system is from being coddled. You two...” Chen Guangda looked at the kid who was hesitantly stepping inside and asked Chen Chao, “Here for you?”

Chen Chao turned to look. Miao Jiayan was looking at him and called out, “Brother Chao.”

Chen Chao gestured for him to come in. Chen Guangda stood up to give him his seat. “Come, sit. You guys have fun, I'll go somewhere else.” Before leaving, he finished his sentence to his nephew, “You two are troublesome in different ways, but both just as annoying.”

The little brother greeted Miao Jiayan; he had come over to play before and still remembered him.

Miao Jiayan sat there, listening to Chen Chao and his little brother talk. Later, the little brother was called away to take his medicine, and for a moment, only the two of them were left in the living room.

Neither of them said anything. Chen Chao looked at his phone, and Miao Jiayan sat quietly.

After a while, Miao Jiayan called out, “Brother Chao.”

“Not calling me Chen Chao anymore?” Chen Chao didn't look up, only raising an eyebrow.

Miao Jiayan said, “I said it wrong...”

Chen Chao didn't say anything, clearly still not very happy.

Miao Jiayan said again, “You've gotten taller, Brother Chao.”

“Have you?” Chen Chao turned his head to look at him. “A little, but not much.”

Their eyes met. Miao Jiayan pressed his lips together and gave him a small smile. Chen Chao asked him, “You didn't use the phone?”

“I barely turned it on,” Miao Jiayan said truthfully. “I always forgot to charge it when the battery died.”

Miao Jiayan had only turned on that phone during the very beginning. After that, he never turned it on again.

He couldn't possibly take the initiative to call Chen Chao; there was no reason to.

As time went on, the phone became useless to him. It didn't matter if it was on or off.

Having not seen each other for a year and a half, even the closest of relationships were bound to become distant.

Both of them were a little lost for words. Miao Jiayan stared at a spot on the floor, watching it endlessly. For some reason, Chen Chao also sat there without a sound. The two of them just sat separately, not talking.

Grandma Chen came out of the kitchen and, seeing Miao Jiayan, said with a smile, “Miao'er is here? You two haven't even talked since your Brother Chao came back. I was wondering why you hadn't come over yet.”

Miao Jiayan responded, calling out, “Grandma Chen.”

“You two go upstairs and play, it's so cold downstairs.” Grandma Chen shooed them upstairs. “It's warmer upstairs. Go play in the room.”

However, after she finished speaking, neither of them moved, and no one stood up.

Miao Jiayan said, “I'll be heading back in a bit, Grandma Chen.”

“Play here, what are you going back for?” Grandma Chen continued to try and make him stay. “Just stay here with your Brother Chao, so your dad won't lecture you again. Don't go back.”

“N-no, I can't,” Miao Jiayan said, standing up. “I'm heading back now.”

Grandma Chen said with a smile, “You've grown distant. You two used to be so close.”

“We haven't,” Miao Jiayan accidentally met Chen Chao's gaze and hurriedly looked away. “I'm leaving, Brother Chao.”

Chen Chao said, “Wait a while, until your dad's asleep.”

“He should be asleep,” Miao Jiayan waved his hand. “I'll go check.”