In the dead of night, someone barged into the room, and she was being so unreasonable. Ji Xingzhi felt wronged but couldn't speak out. "Normally, coming into someone else's room late at night means you're up to something."
Bo Xin couldn't remember how long Ji Xingzhi had been back—probably about a month. He had a strong sense of belonging, already claiming the room as his territory?
Bo Xin needed to remind him, "This has always been my room." If she wanted, she could take it back anytime and make him sleep on the sofa. "Besides, what could I possibly be after from you?"
He hadn't returned for a month, and the decorations were still the same, the items in the drawers unchanged. She had only taken the clothes and accessories she used frequently. Opening the drawers that held the rarely used items, she saw they were still in their original places.
If it were his money, he gave the family a monthly allowance. If it were his life, she had plenty of chances to stab him while he was lying down—no need for such trouble.
Ji Xingzhi pointed at his face. "Actually, I'm not bad-looking."
Bo Xin paused for a long time.
After him? Sneaking into his room in the middle of the night to go after him? The expression on his face showed no shame at all. His hobby was really strange.
Bo Xin confessed, "I came to look for a book."
Ji Xingzhi bent his leg and searched through the lower shelves casually. "What's the title?"
Bo Xin thought for a long time. "I don't remember."
Ji Xingzhi frowned, finding it odd. She wanted to find a book whose title she couldn't recall? "Is there some plot in it that suddenly interests you?"
Bo Xin explained, "No, there's a piece of paper tucked inside."
Ji Xingzhi's fingers paused. He remembered that kind of paper was usually used for important matters. She was so open about it, making his earlier refusal to let her see seem petty.
Bo Xin obviously didn't notice. She had already found a nameless book. Without a title, it made one curious about its contents.
But compared to the book's content, the piece of paper inside intrigued Ji Xingzhi more.
Bo Xin glanced over, and he forcibly looked away.
But pretending not to see the content was too hard. Ji Xingzhi couldn't help asking, "Who is Sui Dongsheng?"
Bo Xin muttered, "Ah, that... hard to explain."
She simply didn't want to say.
Ji Xingzhi's temple twitched, but giving in too easily didn't suit their competitive personalities. "That name sounds familiar to me, but it must be a coincidence."
Bo Xin closed the book. What a coincidence—could the kids being targeted have to do with Ji Xingzhi? "How do you know him?"
Ji Xingzhi recognized the name because that kid was also a military dependent. After his father died, his mother remarried. To force his stepfather to divorce, he set fire to his house. People said he couldn't accept his father's death, but it was really because his stepfather had another son, and the kid couldn't stand not being the center of attention anymore. Ji Xingzhi had seen that kid—he was like a vengeful ghost.
Bo Xin: "What? Did you spend your money to support a kid like that?"
Ji Xingzhi shook his head. "How could I? My money doesn't grow on trees, you know."
But he hadn't spent nothing. He had hired someone to help his mother move and sent the kid to an orphanage. When the kid played the victim, everyone sympathized with him, and his mother was called 'the mother of the kid who burned down the house.'
Ji Xingzhi remembered the kid approaching him ingratiatingly because he knew Ji Xingzhi was bringing money. He smiled and rubbed the kid's chin, and the kid smiled back patiently—until Ji Xingzhi finished his business. He still remembered the look in the kid's eyes at the orphanage.
Bo Xin recalled that there was once a trend of such unscrupulous male leads, ruthless and disregarding rules. The people around him all had miserable childhoods, and he used similar experiences to resonate with them instantly. He was really good at using his wretched background.
She crossed her arms, as if understanding why the Ji family was targeted by the male lead's schemes. But strangely, Bo Xin felt no resentment toward Ji Xingzhi, even a bit of satisfaction.
Bo Xin: "So, do you know how that kid is doing now?"
Ji Xingzhi shook his head. "I'm not interested in keeping track. His mother has changed her contact info; she found a job and got her life on track. My office occasionally receives anonymous thank-you letters." He wasn't sure if they were from that mother.
Bo Xin's attitude shifted dramatically. "Oh, I see."
Ji Xingzhi didn't understand why Bo Xin sounded so disappointed, a stark contrast to before. He picked up a thin book, rolled it up, and tapped it comfortably on his shoulder. "So what's the deal with that name?"
Bo Xin said 'oh' casually, glancing at the paper from both sides. "You know, artistic creation?"
Ji Xingzhi hesitated. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I had a story outline before. That name—Sui Dongsheng—was a male protagonist I made up."
Ji Xingzhi: "..."
The paper had names and heights, really looking like a story outline. But after all he had shared, he got only vague information. So when did she become a writer? It seemed pretty serious.
After she left the room, Ji Xingzhi grabbed the doorframe. "So are you taking that paper away to start writing again?"
Bo Xin said 'ah,' not really. "I'm going to burn it. I think the story is terrible."
Ji Xingzhi twitched his eyelid, wanting to warn her not to light a fire indoors. "If you think the story is bad, think of a new one, but don't use that kid's name."
Bo Xin could tell Ji Xingzhi really despised Sui Dongsheng.
But no matter how detestable, having some recognition and fans on the novel platform meant even that story had some merit. "What do you think that kid's strengths are?"
Ji Xingzhi pinched his chin, thinking hard. "Maybe he's good at coaxing people." That was his earlier impression. Now, he'd say the kid was good for nothing because "he definitely can't coax people as well as you."
Ji Xingzhi had never seen anyone better at coaxing kids than Bo Xin. Compared to her, Sui Dongsheng's superficial act was pathetic.
Bo Xin raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for the compliment."
Ji Xingzhi thought anyone who said he had no shame clearly hadn't met Bo Xin. His eyes fell on her lips. "You seem much happier?"
Bo Xin touched her lips. Was she happier? But if Ji Xingzhi said so, it was somewhat credible.
She thought about the reason, pointing back and forth between them. "Because I think we're both pretty amazing, aren't we?"
Ji Xingzhi scratched his forehead with his thumb. What kind of reason was that? But strangely, it made him feel good. He wanted to hide it but couldn't, so his face showed a strange emotion.
Bo Xin wasn't interested in his meltdown. She took a half-step forward, then turned back. "This weekend, to reward the kids, I'm taking them to the zoo." After all, midterms were over.
Ji Xingzhi stopped holding the doorframe and came out to lean against the door. "How rare—you actually told me in advance, not like last time when you announced it at the last minute and left me home alone."
Bo Xin wanted to say 'this is your reward,' but that would sound weird, and he'd ask why. Then her wild explanation would be useless.
So she just said, "Well... you are the kids' father."
Bo Xin left without caring about Ji Xingzhi's reaction. She slept in the room next to Bo Yuxu. She couldn't touch his little face or pull his blanket because he was a light sleeper.
Sitting at the desk, she didn't burn the paper or put it in a drawer. She simply tore it up and threw it in the trash.
Thinking carefully, didn't that novel's male lead rely on her own brothers? Otherwise, an orphanage kid—what skills could he have? Begging for pity in the village got him sympathy from everyone; being a military dependent in the orphanage got him an extra bowl of rice at meals.
He was thirteen now. Orphanages back then didn't have strict adult supervision. They might let people go once they were self-sufficient, and thirteen-year-olds working in big cities were common. Not knowing his whereabouts now was a pity, but looking into it might reveal some clues.
Bo Xin yawned.
Bo Yuxu spoke up at that moment. "Mom, why aren't you in bed yet?"
Bo Xin tucked him in. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
Bo Yuxu shook his head. "Actually, I woke up when you two were talking outside." Plus, he hadn't been sleeping deeply—he had just been trying hard to sleep. He asked about something on his mind. "Are we going to see the pandas tomorrow?"
Bo Xin nodded. "Yes. Last time at the amusement park, you said you wanted to go to the zoo. Remember I said next time? This is me keeping my promise."
Bo Yuxu froze; he had almost forgotten. But even though he forgot, his mother remembered.
He sat up straight. "Can I feed them bamboo?"
Bo Xin, no matter how capable, couldn't fulfill this request. "Pandas are national treasures, scarce in number, with many visitors. For their health, only keepers are allowed to feed them."
She thought hard about other interesting things. "You can feed hippos—they don't chew, and a whole watermelon will be crushed into juice. Also, giraffes—if you want to feed them grass, you need a three-meter-long pole to reach their mouths. But even then, they might not eat."
Bo Yuxu's voice sounded sleepy, as if it were a bedtime story. He had never seen these animals, so he grumbled childishly, "Giraffes are so hard to please."