Chen Guangda: "Hello?"

Chen Chao: "It's alright."

"Then just stay at Grandma's for now. I can't get back for a while." As Chen Guangda said this, his relaxed tone faded a bit. He paused for two seconds and asked, "Do you miss your mom? If you've had enough of staying at Grandma's, how about going to your mom's place for a few days?"

Chen Chao didn't even consider it, saying, "No need. I'm not going."

Chen Guangda then laughed a little and asked him, "Are you pretty upset with Dad?"

"No. Hanging up. You take care of yourself." After saying this, Chen Chao really stopped talking. He waited for Chen Guangda to say, "Alright, that's all for now then," said "Mm," and hung up the phone.

Chen Chao was someone who really hated sappy stuff. He couldn't say and didn't like to hear sappy words; it was torture for him.

Chen Guangda would occasionally text him to ask, "Do you miss Dad?", which annoyed Chen Chao to death every time. He'd toss his phone aside, unwilling to look at it again.

After this call, Chen Guangda could go a week without contacting his son, and Chen Chao could also have a week of peace.

The light rain continued for several days, so Chen Chao’s mood had been quite good lately. He exuded a peaceful aura, and even his features looked gentle.

Sometimes when Miao Jiayan passed by and saw him, he would give him a few extra, curious glances, feeling that he was more pleasant to look at than before for some reason.

Compared to Chen Chao and his daily scowl, Miao Jiayan was a carefree, happy country kid. He was handy with all the chores at home and in the fields. When he had free time, he would chill some fruit in the well and share it with the neighbors. Every few days, wearing that white skirt of his, he would herd the family's ducklings and goslings to the meadow to graze, and then come back with a small pouch of wild duck eggs. When the weather was hot, he would wear a wide-brimmed straw hat or tie up his hair.

Chen Chao often saw Miao Jiayan tying his hair. With a hair tie looped around two fingers, he would casually gather his hair with his hands and tie it into a messy, spiky little tail at the back of his head. Back at his old school, the long-haired girls either wore braids or neat ponytails; there was really no one who tied their hair so haphazardly.

Sometimes Chen Chao felt that Miao Jiayan was too wild, with that rough, unrestrained air of someone who grew up freely in the village—tying his hair messily, keeping no distance from boys. But after seeing it so often, he actually came to accept it and felt that there was nothing wrong with it.

But the happy kid wasn't always happy. The first time Chen Chao saw Miao Jiayan's parents return, a chaotic argument broke out next door that same evening. Chen Chao was already in bed, about to sleep, when he heard Grandma Miao lose her temper for the first time. Miao Jiayan's dad sounded very angry too, and his yelling was fierce.

The next morning, Grandma Chen told Chen Chao, “Go get Xiao Miao'er this morning. Don't let him stay at home, in case his dad gets angry and hits him again.”

Chen Chao asked, “Why hit her?”

Chen Chao had never been hit; no one in his family was prone to violence. Even he, a son, was never hit. For a little girl like Miao Jiayan to be beaten was something Chen Chao couldn't quite understand.

“Sigh,” Grandma Chen sighed and said. “It’s because his dad doesn't like him keeping his hair long.”

Chen Chao raised his eyebrows, feeling like he hadn't heard correctly. “What?”

“Xiao Miao'er is really stubborn; no matter what anyone says, he won't cut his hair. His dad gets furious about it every time he comes back.” Grandma Chen added, “Go bring him out to play in a little while.”

Chen Chao was completely baffled. “Hitting him just for not cutting his hair?”

Grandma Chen sighed again and said nothing.

This was the first time Chen Chao had heard of someone getting beaten for not cutting their hair. He didn't know if he was the crazy one or if someone else was, but someone was definitely crazy.

Grandpa Chen occasionally went out to sea. He used to be a fisherman; when he was a child, his family lived by the sea and had only moved here later. Now, he no longer relied on the sea for a living, but Grandpa Chen still couldn't let it go and often went out on boats to cast nets.

Yesterday, Grandpa Chen had brought back some dried fish snacks for Chen Chao, saying that all kids love them. Chen Chao was the exception; he didn't like them, finding the smell too fishy.

In the morning, Chen Chao took the fish snacks and went next door. Grandma Chen had told him to use it as an excuse to bring Xiao Miao'er out.

Chen Chao had been here for a while now and had gotten familiar with Grandpa and Grandma Miao. When Grandma Miao saw him, she quickly asked, “Looking for Xiao Yan? Xiao Yan is upstairs, go on up!”

Chen Chao didn't want to go. What business did he have going into someone else’s room?

“I won’t go up. I’ll head back then. This is for her to eat.” Chen Chao put the things down and was about to leave.

“It’s fine, go on up and play!” Grandma Miao was very enthusiastic and didn’t let Chen Chao leave. She moved closer and whispered to him, “His dad hit him, and I couldn't stop it. Help Grandma go up and check on him, make sure he doesn't work himself up into a state.”

Hearing this, Chen Chao couldn't very well leave, so he had no choice but to go upstairs.

He had only been inside the Miao Family's house a few times. Most of the time, he only stayed in the yard outside; this was his first time going upstairs.

He and Miao Jiayan only interacted a lot because they lived so close. In truth, they weren't that familiar with each other; Chen Chao just wasn't the type to get chummy with a little girl. Chen Chao felt awkward as he walked upstairs, planning to just call out for Miao Jiayan and then leave.

The layout of the Miao Family's house was similar to the Chen Family's. The small buildings had been built one after the other back then, with the two families helping each other build one house and then the other. Both houses were large. The upstairs had two bedrooms and a living room, plus a small bathroom. A solar water heater was installed on the roof, so one could shower in the small bathroom.

Chen Chao cleared his throat and called out, “Miao Jiayan?”

Miao Jiayan's room door was closed. There was no sound.

Chen Chao walked to his room door. Just as he was about to knock, the door next to it clicked open. Chen Chao instinctively turned his head, and his face instantly flushed beet red. He immediately spun around, saying, “Sorry, sorry…”

Miao Jiayan was stunned too, standing there with his hair still dripping, completely naked.

“Why are you here…” Miao Jiayan didn't have any clothes to change into; they were all in his bedroom. Standing there like this was pretty awkward, so he came over, his slippers making pattering sounds.

Chen Chao was about to go crazy; his face and head felt like they were going to explode. Miao Jiayan's behavior shattered the very limits of his comprehension.

“Looking for me?” Miao Jiayan asked again.

Chen Chao was in a hopeless position. If he wanted to leave, he'd see Miao Jiayan the moment he turned around, but if he didn't leave, Miao Jiayan was already coming over. Just as Chen Chao, giving up all hope, was about to close his eyes and bypass Miao Jiayan to go straight downstairs, Miao Jiayan had already quickly pushed open the door beside him and entered his room.

He went inside but didn't close the door, only saying, “Wait for me a moment,” as he started to look for clothes to wear.

At this moment, however, Chen Chao was already stunned.

In that instant when Miao Jiayan had passed by, Chen Chao had unguardedly glanced at him. The first moment Miao Jiayan came out of the bathroom, Chen Chao hadn't actually seen anything; he'd turned around as soon as he realized what was happening.

But in that last glance just now, Chen Chao had indeed seemed to see something.

“You…” Chen Chao didn't know if this was an appropriate question to ask. He was completely bewildered now.

Miao Jiayan had already put on his underpants and was pulling on his shorts. Hearing this, he leaned back to look out and asked, “What about me?”

He was far too nonchalant about getting dressed, putting on his clothes piece by piece with the door open, right in front of Chen Chao.

Chen Chao still found it hard to believe. Looking at Miao Jiayan, he asked, “Are you a boy or a girl?”

Miao Jiayan blinked, not expecting Chen Chao to ask such a thing. He was clearly bewildered too.

The two of them stared at each other, speechless. After a long moment, Miao Jiayan finally stammered, “I’m a b-boy…”