On Saturday morning, Lin Wanyue’s school was holding a collective handicraft-making activity, and Lin Hui accompanied her. After they had breakfast at home, Lin Hui took Lin Wanyue to the entrance of the community and asked Lin Shiyu, who was beside them, “Aren’t you coming with us?”

Lin Shiyu replied, “I have some things to do with my classmates.”

“Going out to have fun?” Lin Hui smiled gently. “Have a great time, and don’t lose your temper with your classmates.”

The streets were bustling with noise; vegetable vendors were shouting their prices by the roadside, and steam rose in front of breakfast shops. The sound of a bicycle wheel stopping against the ground echoed, and Lin Shiyu turned to look.

Zhong Qi was wearing a white oversized sweatshirt today, light-colored work pants, sneakers, and he carried a guitar on his back. As he passed by them, he stopped, planted his foot on the ground, and his gaze shifted from Lin Shiyu’s face to the small face of Lin Wanyue, showing a slight pause.

A unique face that was different from the ordinary. Zhong Qi realized something and withdrew his gaze.

Lin Shiyu didn’t expect Zhong Qi to arrive so early. He instinctively tensed up but didn’t make any move to block Lin Wanyue after hesitating for a moment.

“You’re here early.” Lin Shiyu said.

Zhong Qi replied, “I came out for breakfast.” Then he greeted Lin Hui. “Hello Auntie.”

“Are you the classmate who came to see Xiaoyu that day? I thought that day you looked very handsome.” Lin Hui remembered Zhong Qi, nodded with a smile, and asked, “Are you going out to play together?”

Lin Shiyu looked somewhat nervously at Zhong Qi. Fortunately, Zhong Qi had no intention of causing any trouble and nodded, saying, “Yes.”

Lin Hui patted Lin Wanyue’s head. “Xiaoyue, this is also your big brother.”

Lin Wanyue lowered her head, staying silent and hiding behind Lin Hui.

With a touch of apology in her tone, Lin Hui said to Zhong Qi, “Sorry, this child…”

“No problem.” Zhong Qi stepped back a few steps, putting some distance between himself and the little girl.

“Well, you two have a good time.” Lin Hui waved to Zhong Qi and Lin Shiyu and then slowly walked away with the girl.

Zhong Qi found a random beef noodle restaurant by the roadside to have a meal, placing his guitar bag to the side. Lin Shiyu sat next to him, drinking soy milk.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Lin Shiyu hadn’t expected Zhong Qi to see his sister, and Zhong Qi had just come out for an early breakfast without anticipating meeting Lin Shiyu’s family.

Zhong Qi took the initiative to speak. “Is that your sister?”

“Yes.”

“It seems like she doesn’t like me,” Zhong Qi said. “Did you say something bad about me in front of her?”

Lin Shiyu asked, “Do I look bored enough to badmouth you?”

Zhong Qi didn’t confirm or deny, simply bowed his head and continued eating his noodles. Lin Shiyu drank soy milk in silence. Finally, he spoke up to explain. “She doesn’t like being near males; it has nothing to do with you.”

Zhong Qi nodded. The conversation on this topic ended there. He didn’t even ask for his sister’s name, nor did he inquire why the little girl looked a bit strange or why she had a wandering gaze when she spoke, avoiding eye contact. This made Lin Shiyu feel a little more at ease in his heart.

After finishing breakfast, Zhong Qi slung his guitar on his back, mounted his bicycle, and said to Lin Shiyu, “Sit behind.”

Lin Shiyu tried to sit down, but he was blocked by Zhong Qi’s bulky guitar bag, so he had to stand on the side. He said, “Your guitar is in the way.”

Zhong Qi took the bag off and handed it to Lin Shiyu naturally.

With no other option, Lin Shiyu reluctantly accepted the guitar and sat on the back seat.

“Are you sitting comfortably?” Zhong Qi asked.

“Yeah.”

Just as he finished speaking, the bicycle suddenly accelerated. Lin Shiyu’s center of gravity was instantly pulled backward by the guitar, so he quickly reached out to grab Zhong Qi’s waist. The oversized sweatshirt billowed in the wind, revealing a faint outline of his strong waistline.

“Watch out for your balance!” Lin Shiyu was almost thrown off the back seat and exclaimed in annoyance.

“Oh,” Zhong Qi’s voice came from the front and sounded somewhat muffled due to the wind. However, the bike speed finally stabilized, and Lin Shiyu let go of his waist, holding onto the rear seat instead.

Zhong Qi had a slightly higher body temperature, and with the hot weather, even through their clothes, Lin Shiyu could feel his skin becoming sweaty, making his palm moist.

It’s so hot, Lin Shiyu thought somewhat annoyed.

The bustling traffic on the main road produced a continuous roar, while the pedestrian sidewalk was lined with endless tree shadows. The bicycle carrying the two young men zipped through them, leaving behind a whirlwind of wind.

Zhong Qi was riding the bicycle very steadily, so steady that it made Lin Shiyu feel like their initial departure had been a mindless prank. The two of them didn’t speak, and their ears were filled with the noise of passing cars and the occasional chirping of birds in the sky.

The bicycle, moving quickly, suddenly came to a halt.

Lin Shiyu was daydreaming and was caught off guard. He crashed directly into Zhong Qi’s back, hitting his nose against his bone.

“Ouch!” Lin Shiyu covered his nose, and his eyes teared up from the pain. “What are you doing?”

“Waiting for the traffic light,” Zhong Qi replied calmly as if he had no sense of Lin Shiyu behind him.

“Why couldn’t you slow down gradually?” Lin Shiyu complained. “You did that on purpose.”

“I’ve been slowing down all along.”

“But there’s someone sitting behind you!”

“Is that so?” Zhong Qi’s tone made Lin Shiyu want to punch him. “I didn’t hear any movement, so I forgot.”

“You…”

A light laughter came from nearby. Lin Shiyu looked over and saw a pair of students who were also waiting for the traffic light. The boy was riding a bicycle with the girl sitting sideways on the back seat, her arms wrapped around the boy’s waist. She smiled friendly at the two of them.

Lin Shiyu could only endure his frustration.

Lin Shiyu handed Zhong Qi’s guitar to him when they arrived at the photo studio’s entrance. Zhong Qi took the bag and slung it over his shoulder, then looked up at the studio’s name. Lowering his gaze, he saw someone standing at the entrance.

Zhao Bin was waiting at the photo studio’s entrance as promised. When he saw Lin Shiyu, he immediately walked over. “I was wondering if you’d come. Luckily… is this your friend?”

Lin Shiyu replied with a hint of annoyance, “Classmate.”

Zhong Qi didn’t bother about this minor disagreement. He placed his hand on the bike’s handlebars, his foot on the ground, and calmly observed Zhao Bin.

Under the scorching early autumn sun, when Zhao Bin was met with those pitch-black eyes, he inexplicably felt a chill, even though the other person was just a high school student.

“I’m leaving,” Lin Shiyu rubbed his still-sore nose and said to Zhong Qi, “You should hurry to school for rehearsals.”

Lin Shiyu and Zhao Bin turned and started walking towards the photography studio. Just as they reached the entrance, they suddenly heard Zhong Qi’s voice from behind. “Lin Shiyu.”

Both of them turned back.

Zhong Qi looked at Zhao Bin but directed his question to Lin Shiyu, “Do you want me to pick you up for lunch?”

“No need,” Lin Shiyu responded with a puzzled expression, not understanding why he was asking that. “I’ll go back on my own.”

Zhong Qi didn’t say anything more, he stepped on the pedals and rode away.

Leading Lin Shiyu into the photography studio, Zhao Bin commented, “Your classmate is really cool.”

Cool my foot, he’s so immature, Lin Shiyu thought.

The photography studio wasn’t large, but it was beautifully decorated, although a bit dimly lit. Zhao Bin led Lin Shiyu to a door at the side of the main hall and said, “This is our studio.”

Lin Shiyu stood at the door without moving and held out his hand, saying, “200 yuan.”

Zhao Bin looked puzzled for a moment, then chuckled helplessly. “Hey, I’ve photographed so many models, but I’ve never seen a kid like you.”

Lin Shiyu kept it brief. “Give it to me, or I’m leaving.”

 

Edited by: Jaisland

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