The book had pinyin, and Jiang Yuxu asked about very few characters. He was good at drawing inferences; after asking about a pinyin, he could roughly understand other characters. Bo Xin's throat was dry from explaining, so she took a sip of water. She had some doubts. "Mr. He only gave you books to read. How did you learn pinyin?" "I learned it by eavesdropping when Li Qiang'an was reading before he came." Among the various chores, Jiang Yuxu liked tending the fire the most because the charcoal burning made him excited, as if he were holding a pen. Simple pinyin and Li Qiang'an's homework sheets—he could figure them out with a little study. Bo Xin was gratified. "Smart child." Jiang Yuxu sensed something in those words. "What? Can't that child do it?" Far from it. Bo Xin thought back to when that child was in first grade and she was already at her wit's end. She didn't need to say it; Jiang Yuxu could tell from her expression. His eyes lowered. "Then how come you didn't notice earlier that the child doesn't resemble you at all?" That was a good question. Bo Xin thought carefully and concluded that she could only explain it with one phrase: "Like uncle, like nephew." In her life, she had only raised two children: she had raised Bo Xiao when he was little, and then she raised Ji Yanyi. Their growth trajectories were too similar, practically cut from the same mold. With that explanation, who would suspect that their own child wasn't biologically theirs? The car fell silent. Bo Xiao inexplicably felt a chill down his back. He looked in the rearview mirror but found nothing unusual. A map lay beside him, and he slowly drove into familiar territory. He didn't live here, but he often visited. Every time he came, he brought gifts for Yanyi. He truly worried about that child's studies, and now he also worried about his home life. Yanyi would definitely be no match for Jiang Yuxu in any aspect. Bo Xiao closed his eyes in pain, a clear realization in his heart. "Sister, we're home." Bo Xin patted the back of Jiang Yuxu's hand with her palm and repeated softly, "Welcome home." She got out of the car first, taking her small suitcase with her—it was the most important thing she had brought on this trip. They lived on the fourth floor of a building in a single-unit, single-household setup, which was much better than He Yewan's place. Some said the number 'four' was unlucky, but when things were bad, people also said being close to her was unlucky. Now, both her brother and her husband were doing well. So it was just nonsense. She stood still for a moment, then bent down to look. "What? Scared?" "Not at all." Jiang Yuxu tugged at his clothes. He had already mentally prepared himself on the road. It was said they hadn't informed many people of their return. So what did he have to fear from that biological father? Or from the child his age? He lifted his chin and took Bo Xin's hand when he got out of the car. This was probably the first time Jiang Yuxu had taken the initiative to hold hands. He rarely acted this clingy, so Bo Xin was a bit surprised. Jiang Yuxu raised his head stubbornly. "What? Can't I hold it?" Bo Xin looked at him teasingly. "No, it's fine." She deliberately held tighter. His thin little hand clearly showed the knuckles, and even the fleshiest part of his palm gave little sensation. She moved casually, and Jiang Yuxu didn't resist. She inexplicably felt like she was playing with something. Watching Jiang Yuxu's ears turn redder, the smile on Bo Xin's face grew wider. It was hard to open the door with one hand, but Bo Xiao hadn't left yet. He had to help carry all the luggage. A white cloth was draped over the sofa from when they left, and everything else was untouched. They had originally thought it would be a long trip, but they ended up coming back quickly, so they hadn't changed anything. Back in the room, Bo Xin rummaged through the drawer with one hand. She remembered that Ji Xingzhi used to keep his military injury medicine here—it was the most effective for treating wounds. Jiang Yuxu's injuries had only been treated simply, and only he could endure the pain for so long on the road. In that small town, her hands were tied; she couldn't even get the right medicine. Jiang Yuxu sat on the edge of the gray-quilted bed. In theory, this should be his father's bed, but there was no wedding photo at the head, and there were very few traces of a woman. Had they stopped sleeping together long ago? The village elders said this was a sign of a broken relationship. Jiang Yuxu had little fondness for this biological father who hadn't even noticed his existence, so he didn't feel much. He instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but Bo Xin held it down, and he quickly found an excuse. "...It hurts a bit." Bo Xin was pleased by the child's clinginess. "Then I'll blow on it for you." The cool breeze touched his red and swollen arm, and miraculously, it did feel much better. Jiang Yuxu's eyes darted around, and he stated flatly, "So there's never anyone at home." She had teased him on the way, what a wicked sense of humor. Bo Xin felt no guilt at the implied accusation. "Mm, I couldn't leave an eight-year-old child alone at home for so many days." Jiang Yuxu remembered that when Li Qiang'an's whole family was busy, they would ask relatives or neighbors to take care of him. "Where is he now?" Bo Xin didn't hide it. Recalling that she had sent Ji Yanyi off before leaving, she said, "Tutoring class." The term 'tutoring class' was very unfamiliar. Even in the village, a family as well-off as Li Qiang'an's couldn't afford such a thing. That indirectly showed how much she had invested in raising that child. He was in a bad mood, and there was always a shadow of gloom between his brows. Bo Xin reached up and touched the spot, finding not a wound but a slight indentation. Jiang Yuxu didn't like this gesture, as if she could see what was on his mind—those childish, anxious, and unwanted thoughts. After a long silence, he asked, "How much does it cost?" "About a hundred yuan a week." That price was reasonable for a tutoring class. When Bo Xin went out, the place even provided full-day care; it was responsible. But the main purpose of the tutoring class was to improve the child's grades, and the results were... Bo Xin smiled without saying anything. She stood up from the bed and put the medicine back in the original drawer. There was a reason she had brought Jiang Yuxu to this room. The house originally had three bedrooms and two living rooms. Since the man didn't come home, it was a good room for the child to stay in. She had been about fifty-fifty on whether to bring the child back, so the room hadn't been decorated with anything a child would like. But that was fine; Jiang Yuxu could decorate it himself. "You must be tired from the ride. Do you want to sleep for a while?" "Okay." She drew the curtains and turned off the light, unable to see the child's expression. Bo Xin stroked his head. In the intimate atmosphere, she remembered something. "Do you want to see it? A photo of your father." "No, thanks." His wish for solitude was so strong that Bo Xin didn't insist. She planted a light goodnight kiss between his brows. "Good night, sweet dreams." — She had eaten a little on the road, so Bo Xin wasn't hungry in the evening. After a light three-hour sleep, she woke up. She wanted to cook herself some noodles, but the house wasn't stocked with ingredients. After being away for a week, the house was completely empty. Should she start from making flour? But if she made noodles, the child could also have some for breakfast. Bo Xin touched her stomach, knowing her stomach was weak, and it would be too sinful to eat so late. But this time was a bit special. Hand-pulled noodles were what her grandmother used to make for her whenever she came back from a trip, and it was the most comforting food. Kneading the dough, rolling it out, cutting it into strips—Bo Xin was skilled at it. The phone suddenly rang, and she held it to her ear. "Who is this? What's the matter?" "Is this Ji Yanyi's parent? Could you come to the tutoring class?"
Author's note:
None.