translator: Eve

editor: kara

On the way back after lunch, Xiao Yuanmu got a phone call.

Song Xuanhe hadn’t thought much of it at first, but when he had noticed the other’s sinking gaze upon receiving it, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Yuanmu came closer and grabbed hold of Song Xuanhe’s hand. Song Xuanhe raised a brow but didn’t throw him off.

The silence continued until they had reached the elevator of Xiao Yuanmu’s apartment. There, Xiao Yuanmu said in a heavy tone: “Something’s happened to Xiao Lin.”

Song Xuanhe mulled over this for a few seconds before he was able to associate the name, Xiao Lin, with the person. “Your father? What happened to him?”

He didn’t know why, but he didn’t have any favourable opinions of the Xiao Family. He was only inquiring out of politeness.

“He fell after being knocked over. Seems like he hit his head.” There was no concern in Xiao Yuanmu’s voice either. “He’s at the hospital right now.”

“You should go over then,” Song Xuanhe said, “I’ll take care of Xiao Huang.”

“No, it’s fine.”

The elevator door opened, and Xiao Yuanmu gave Song Xuanhe a profound look. “It’s not safe for you to stay here in Y City right now. I’ll buy you a plane ticket. You should go back to China as soon as possible.”

“Why?”

Song Xuanhe retorted back instinctively like a rebellious teen upon hearing what had sounded like a command. But when he saw the concern in Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes, he paused. “I was planning on heading back soon anyway. I can buy my own ticket.”

Xiao Yuanmu quietly said, “Alright.”

The two of them walked out of the elevator together. Song Xuanhe glanced at the unopened suitcase sitting by the entrance and clicked his tongue. “Well, I won’t need to pack up.”

Xiao Huang came running over after hearing them, barking happily. His tail wagged, and he circled around their feet, hopping every now and then. He was evidently free of any worries.

Xiao Yuanmu hadn’t expected that the slight deviations he had made would cause Xiao Lin’s accident to occur earlier than it had had in his previous life. Although he didn’t regret the things he had done, when he thought about how difficult it had been to reunite and spend time with Song Xuanhe, his eyes still dimmed.

Xiao Yuanmu quietly said, “I’ll take you there.”

Song Xuanhe paused while buying his ticket. He looked up, his gaze meeting Xiao Yuanmu’s.

“It’s okay. I’ve already bought the ticket. My flight’s in three hours.” Song Xuanhe looked away. “You should hurry to the hospital. Regardless, he is your….”

“I want to take you.” Xiao Yuanmu grabbed Song Xuanhe’s suitcase and turned his back to the other. “Let’s go.”

Song Xuanhe looked down at Xiao Huang, who was still looking at them jubilantly. He squatted down and rubbed the dog’s head. “Eat less.”

When Xiao Huang had excitedly laid down for him to rub his stomach, Song Xuanhe walked over to the elevator instead.

Xiao Huang didn’t understand what they were saying. Nevertheless, he knew that his owner was going to be leaving him alone whenever he entered that elevator. So, when he saw that the two of them were going to leave him after having just come back, he couldn’t help but shamelessly dash into the elevator. He flopped onto Xiao Yuanmu’s leg and whined.

“What should we do about him?” Song Xuanhe looked at the dog, hanging onto Xiao Yuanmu’s leg. “He’s heavy, isn’t he?”

Xiao Yuanmu bent down to carry Xiao Huang in his arms. “We’ll take him with us. I probably won’t be able to come back home tonight. After sending you off, I’ll have Louis take him for a few days.”

Song Xuanhe nodded and pressed the “close” button.

The two of them went to the car with Xiao Huang. Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu sat in the front. Xiao Huang’s snout poked through the space between their seats. Occasionally, he would turn his head to look at both of them and bark. He seemed very excited.

Song Xuanhe’s worry was completely swept away by Xiao Huang. He relaxed. “Will Mr. Xiao’s accident affect you?”

“Depends how serious it is.” Xiao Yuanmu rubbed Xiao Huang’s head. He then dropped his hand. Song Xuanhe didn’t know if it had been on purpose or not, but the other’s hand landed on his own.

Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze was focused in front of them. In a mild voice, Song Xuanhe said, “I hope he’s fine.”

Song Xuanhe didn’t think that things were as simple as Xiao Yuanmu made them seem. If this matter could be so easily resolved, Xiao Yuanmu would not be making him leave America.

He frowned. “What will happen if it’s serious?”

“The Xiao Family will fall into anarchy.”

Xiao Yuanmu’s tone was very mild. Song Xuanhe didn’t know if he was imagining things, but it had sounded like there was a sliver of ridicule in his voice.

“The Xiao Family shouldn’t fall into chaos just because something has happened to Xiao Lin,” Song Xuanhe said, “In any case, the Xiao Family is a huge family that has withstood the test of time. Aside from Mr. Xiao, there are many others in control. I don’t think those people will let the Xiao Family get messy.”

Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze grew heavy. The corner of his lips rose when he heard what Song Xuanhe had said, derision on the curve of his lips. “If I hadn’t come back, those people would not let the Xiao Family fall into chaos. But with me here, in their minds, the more chaotic the situation gets, the better.”

Song Xuanhe pursed his lips. When he felt Xiao Yuanmu’s hand start to leave his, he flipped his own hand over and locked their fingers together.

Xiao Yuanmu turned to look at Song Xuanhe in astonishment, but Song Xuanhe’s eyes were to the window. His lips were drawn into a straight line.

“Don’t worry.”

A smile bloomed on Xiao Yuanmu’s face. “Mn. I won’t worry.”

The two of them held hands silently, but the atmosphere in the car wasn’t awkward due to Xiao Huang’s occasional barks. Rather, it felt warm and comforting.

Xiao Yuanmu’s body heat transferred over to him through the palms of their hands. Song Xuanhe watched the passing scenery, his mind a mess.

Many things flashed through his mind, but at the same time, it felt like he was thinking of nothing at all. It wasn’t until he saw a pedestrian rushing down the street with a hand on his stomach that a coherent thought suddenly popped into his mind.

“Your stomach…” Song Xuanhe turned to ask, “What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s been like this for a really long time,” Xiao Yuanmu said plainly, “I don’t remember what exactly caused it anymore.”

Song Xuanhe frowned. His intuition told him that Xiao Yuanmu was lying. While he wasn’t the type to pry, for the first time, he really wanted to know the answer.

“When was the first time your stomach hurt? Did you see a doctor? What did the doctor say?”

Xiao Yuanmu said, “I don’t remember.”

“Did you not see a doctor?”

“No.”

Xiao Yuanmu held Song Xuanhe’s hand tightly and then let go, placing it back onto the steering wheel. His eyes were looking forward as he said, “I had been too busy. I hadn’t had the time.”

“Was it in high school?” Song Xuanhe guessed. He then thought that wasn’t right. “How old were you then?”

“It was a long, long time ago.”

The car came to a steady stop as he said this. Xiao Yuanmu looked at Song Xuanhe and said, “I don’t remember why it started. It was too long ago. It’s not really important either.”

Song Xuanhe gazed deeply into Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes. His lips twitched, but in the end, he didn’t ask anything else. He simply opened the car’s door.

Aside from Xiao Yuanmu himself, Song Xuanhe knew best just how excellent Xiao Yuanmu’s memory was. Even if he were to inadvertently catch sight of an unfamiliar face, he would be able to remember that person. There was no way he would forget the cause of something this important. It was something that had affected his life all this time, after all.

But, Song Xuanhe wouldn’t ask about it if Xiao Yuanmu didn’t want to talk about it.

There were some things that were not appropriate to bring up. If Xiao Yuanmu wanted to avoid talking about it, it must be like a heavy wound to him. Song Xuanhe didn’t want to reopen that wound.

But, it did baffle him. He knew how perseverant and strong Xiao Yuanmu was. There were very few people in this world who could affect him. If one really had to count, Song Xuanhe reckoned that only the director of the orphanage would be able to hurt Xiao Yuanmu. But, he didn’t think the Director would ever do that. That was why he was curious. He wanted to know if there was someone else, who had appeared before the plot had started, who was as important to Xiao Yuanmu as the Director.

Only someone that important would be able to hurt Xiao Yuanmu. But if such a person were to exist, why didn’t Xiao Yuanmu ever mention that person?

“Let’s go.”

Xiao Yuanmu pulled Song Xuanhe’s luggage over and came to stand in front of him. He interrupted Song Xuanhe’s thoughts.

Song Xuanhe looked at Xiao Yuanmu’s face. He couldn’t read his emotions. His lips pulled into a straight line, and he looked away towards Xiao Huang, who was plastered on the car window. “Are you going to leave him here alone?”

“I’ve already asked someone to watch him for me,” Xiao Yuanmu said coolly, “He can’t go into the airport. You should say goodbye here.”

Song Xuanhe raised a brow. “Goodbyes should be done face-to-face. Speaking to him through the window won’t feel like saying goodbye.”

“What would it feel like?”

“Like I’m visiting a prisoner.”

Xiao Yuanmu was taken aback. He then grinned. His slender fingers knocked on the window Xiao Huang was lying on. “They wouldn’t leave a crack in the window at a prison.”

When Song Xuanhe saw the gloom dissipate from Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes, Song Xuanhe also smiled. He stuck his hand through the crack in the window and touched Xiao Huang’s paw. “I had never liked pets. But, meeting you has made me change my mind. See ya, kiddo.”

Xiao Huang barked at Song Xuanhe twice.

Song Xuanhe pulled his hand back before he went to take his luggage from Xiao Yuanmu. “You can give me my suitcase. I can head in myself. You should stay with him. Being left alone in an unfamiliar place will scare him.”

“Being left alone in an unfamiliar place is scary?” Xiao Yuanmu asked.

Song Xuanhe didn’t think much of this question. He took his luggage and said, “Of course. That’s why you should stay with him. I’ll be going now.”

Xiao Yuanmu grabbed Song Xuanhe’s hand. Song Xuanhe turned to give him a confused look. Xiao Yuanmu’s grip tightened slightly before he let go. “Give me a call once you reach the boarding area.”

Song Xuanhe laughed. “I’ll reach there in like ten minutes. Why would I call you?”

“I’m afraid you’ll be scared.”

Song Xuanhe was taken aback. He subconsciously asked, “What would I be afraid of?”

“Didn’t you just say that being left alone in an unfamiliar place is scary?”

Song Xuanhe blinked. He reacted a few seconds later. “I was talking about Xiao Huang, not me. He’ll be afraid, because he’s still young and because he’s…an animal. A mature man like me won’t be afraid.”

“It’s possible.”

When Song Xuanhe had heard how certain Xiao Yuanmu had sounded, he nearly spat out a retort. But after meeting Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze, he swallowed his words back down.

But, it seemed like Xiao Yuanmu had only been casually saying this. He didn’t continue to discuss this topic. He simply reminded Song Xuanhe: “Remember to give me a call.”

Song Xuanhe didn’t know why, but he actually agreed to call the other in ten minutes. When he had arrived at the boarding area, he called Xiao Yuanmu right away.

“I’m here.”

“Okay.”

“….”

Song Xuanhe once again thought that this was ridiculous. After letting the silence continue for a few seconds, he said, “Then, I’ll be hanging up.”

“Okay.”

And just like that, he hung up. Song Xuanhe dropped the hand that was holding his phone. After about ten minutes, he suddenly felt sad.

Eve: Aw, this chapter was so cute. And it seems like XYM keeping SXH close was because of other reasons (although his motive was likely still partially selfish). Looks like SXH knows how to miss Mumu now too.

Kara: I love that they can have such cute banter now!! That last line is so cute too; I love imagining a little pouty SXH looking at his phone in the airport. Their relationship’s growth makes me so soft. ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ) Ugh, not looking forward to the family drama that is being foreshadowed though.