41

The next morning, Zhai Xingchen hadn't even gotten up yet when he heard someone knocking on his door.

He lifted his head, groggy. 'Who is it?'

'It's me.'

It was Yan Zhi's voice.

'Come in.'

And he watched Yan Zhi walk in.

The room was dim. He reached for the light, but Yan Zhi said quietly, 'Don't turn it on.'

So Zhai Xingchen lay back down, wrapped in his blanket, looking at Yan Zhi.

The light was low. Yan Zhi crouched by his bedside. 'I've got a flight to catch. I have to go. Wanted to let you know.'

Zhai Xingchen hummed.

He thought Yan Zhi was really polite—telling everyone before he left.

Maybe it was because he just woke up, but his heart felt soft, with a little ache of parting.

Yan Zhi watched him in the hazy morning light, still crouched at his bedside. 'See you in a few days.'

'Mm, bye.' Zhai Xingchen figured since he knew now, and dawn was breaking, he should get up and see Yan Zhi off.

He threw off the blanket and sat up.

Yan Zhi blinked. 'You don't have to get up.'

'I should be up anyway.' Zhai Xingchen said. 'I still have to make breakfast later.'

Once the blanket came off, his scent drifted up to Yan Zhi's nose—warm, with a faint fragrance.

It was a smell Yan Zhi had started to recognize. Addicting, almost.

Yan Zhi stepped back and watched Zhai Xingchen get out of bed.

Zhai Xingchen was still in his pajamas. He grabbed a jacket, threw it on, and walked out of the room with Yan Zhi.

Passing the bathroom, he noticed Pei Xu was up too—must have just woken up, still squeezing toothpaste onto his brush.

Pei Xu saw the two of them and froze for a second, then his eyes locked on Yan Zhi's face. 'You're leaving?'

Yan Zhi hummed.

Two big suitcases sat in the living room. Zhai Xingchen reached for one, but Yan Zhi said, 'Don't. It's heavy. I'll carry it.'

'Don't underestimate me.' Zhai Xingchen's voice was still a little hoarse, soft and sweet, and it made Yan Zhi's chest ache with the sadness of parting.

He found himself reluctant to let go.

Such a short goodbye.

So he didn't insist. He watched Zhai Xingchen carry one of his suitcases out the door.

'Safe travels,' Zhai Xingchen said.

Yan Zhi closed the trunk, and his cameraman came running over from the neighboring courtyard.

The morning light was brightening. A thin mist hung in the air. Zhai Xingchen automatically stepped back a few paces, onto the side of the road.

Yan Zhi got in and started the car.

The car rounded the bend and passed Zhai Xingchen. Yan Zhi rolled down the window and looked at him. 'I'm off.'

Zhai Xingchen yawned and nodded.

So sleepy. So lazy.

Zhai Xingchen was seeing him off as a good friend. He didn't love Yan Zhi.

Yan Zhi suddenly leaned onto the window frame.

Just like the first time he'd picked Zhai Xingchen up at Zhongwu Academy.

Zhai Xingchen raised an eyebrow. His tired eyes looked worn but cute.

Yan Zhi crooked a finger, beckoning him over.

Zhai Xingchen bent down and leaned his head toward the window.

Yan Zhi pulled a small glass bottle from the car, held between pale, pretty fingers. 'For you.'

'What is it?'

'Perfume I blended myself.'

Zhai Xingchen looked surprised.

'You made it yourself?'

That's so romantic.

'Had nothing to do, went to a friend's company to mix it. You might like it—it's yours. Thanks for getting up to see me off.'

Zhai Xingchen smiled. On his sleepy face, the smile was gentle. He reached out and took the bottle.

Hibiscus Attacker, what other surprises are you hiding from me?

'This time I'm really going,' Yan Zhi said.

He watched Yan Zhi drive off, then looked at the perfume bottle in his hand.

He sprayed a little on his wrist and sniffed.

It was a faint floral scent, slightly bitter—the kind of smell any flower has, very light, like Baby's Breath, those flowers with barely-there fragrance. An ordinary scent.

He liked it. He didn't like anything too strong, didn't usually wear perfume. This plain scent suited a plain guy like him.

Like being wrapped in flowers.

He pocketed the perfume and walked back.

At the door, he ran into Pei Xu.

Pei Xu was back to his usual look—black hoodie, baseball cap. 'He's gone?'

'Gone.' Zhai Xingchen asked, 'You going for a run?'

Pei Xu said, 'Not today. You making breakfast?'

Zhai Xingchen hummed.

'Go wash up first,' Pei Xu said.

Zhai Xingchen went to wash up. When he came out, Pei Xu was already standing in the kitchen, phone propped on the table, eyes glued to the screen as he poured oil into a pan.

Zhai Xingchen was fully awake now. 'When did you start cooking?'

'Helping you out,' Pei Xu said.

Zhai Xingchen walked over and saw Pei Xu watching a video on how to fry an egg.

He was doing a decent job of it.

'What time are you leaving today?' Pei Xu asked.

Zhai Xingchen cooked as he talked. 'Not sure. After you guys all leave, I guess.'

'I'm not leaving early either. If you need, I can drive you home,' Pei Xu said.

He'd barely finished when he heard footsteps.

Both of them looked up and saw Huo Cheng coming out of the bedroom.

Huo Cheng spotted them in the kitchen and visibly froze.

'Morning.'

'Morning.'

Huo Cheng walked over to the opposite side of Pei Xu and looked at the egg in the pan. 'Not bad.'

Pei Xu said, 'Learned from Zhai-ge.'

Huo Cheng said, 'A great teacher makes a great student.'

Hu Ying and Wen Nu and the others started getting up too.

'Said you'd start helping Xing-ge cook, and you actually did it.' Hu Ying glanced at Zhai Xingchen as she spoke.

Zhai Xingchen looked up and smiled at her, apron on, looking very domestic.

Hu Ying dodged his gaze.

By breakfast time, only Duan Yihua hadn't gotten up.

'I just checked. Duan-ge says he'll get up in a bit,' Wen Nu said.

Zhai Xingchen said to Hu Ying, 'You got work this morning?'

Hu Ying said, 'No.'

'Then let's hit the supermarket together later. I'll cook a big lunch, the three of us eat, then go.'

Hu Ying hesitated, then said, 'Sure.'

Huo Cheng looked at Pei Xu. 'You got anything this morning?'

He wasn't about to let Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying be alone together.

Pei Xu said, 'No.'

'Then you all go together.' Huo Cheng looked at Zhai Xingchen. 'Don't leave Pei Xu by himself.'

Zhai Xingchen glanced at Pei Xu.

Hu Ying said, 'Great, let's all go. More people, more fun.'

Going together was good.

She had no idea how to be alone with Zhai Xingchen right now.

She'd dreamed about Zhai Xingchen last night—can you believe it?

In the dream, the two of them had a 0.5 dynamic.

Like two foxes tangled together.

Ahhhhhh.

After breakfast, Wen Nu left first. They all saw him off together.

Lin Qingning left after that.

'Yan Zhi already gone?' Hu Ying asked.

'You just noticed?' Zhai Xingchen said. 'He left before dawn to catch his flight. You didn't even get up to see him off.'

Hu Ying asked, 'Did anyone see him off? He left alone? Isn't that a little sad?'

'I did,' Zhai Xingchen said. 'Don't worry. With me here, none of you will leave alone. I'll see all of you off before I go.'

Hu Ying and Huo Cheng both glanced at Zhai Xingchen when they heard that.

Right. With Zhai Xingchen around, they didn't need to worry.

Zhai Xingchen's personality was even more charming than his looks.

Clearly the youngest, but better at taking care of people than anyone.

'When you're the last one dragging your suitcase out of the Red and Blue Signal house, won't you feel sad?' Hu Ying asked.

Her tone sounded teasing, but she really did care.

She understood the loneliness of being the last to leave.

'I'm leaving with him.' Pei Xu, standing nearby, said.

Hu Ying turned to look at Pei Xu. Pei Xu stood there with his hands in his pockets, the sunlight making his skin almost as fair as Zhai Xingchen's.

After seeing off Lin Qingning, Hu Ying went upstairs to get dressed.

She always knew how to dress, but today she agonized for a long time.

Not knowing what to wear, she tried on everything and nothing felt right.

Everything was too flashy. She suddenly wanted something plain—something college-student style, like Zhai Xingchen's vibe.

Since they were about to leave, Zhai Xingchen cleaned the entire Red and Blue Signal house.

Huo Cheng and Pei Xu helped him tidy up.

'Huo-ge, shouldn't you be going? Isn't your flight at ten?'

Zhai Xingchen checked the time as he spoke.

'The airport's close,' Huo Cheng said.

But he really did have to go. Any longer and he'd miss it.

He'd left home as a teenager. In high school, he only went back every two months. Later, starting his business, even rare visits home were rushed.

He was used to goodbyes.

But today, he was reluctant.

He wasn't acting like himself.

Too sentimental.

He washed his hands. 'I'm heading out then. See you in North City in a few days.'

Zhai Xingchen pulled off his gloves. 'I'll walk you out.'

Pei Xu glanced at Huo Cheng. 'Bye, Huo-ge.'

Huo Cheng looked at him. He hoped Pei Xu wouldn't come out to see him off—wanted a few words alone with Zhai Xingchen.

'You got all your luggage?' Zhai Xingchen asked.

'Already in the car,' Huo Cheng said.

Zhai Xingchen went to see him off, glanced back at Pei Xu. Pei Xu said nothing, just gave him a small nod—go ahead, send Huo Cheng off yourself.

Pei Xu watched Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen go out, then lowered his head and kept wiping the table.

He knew why Huo Cheng was dragging his feet. Huo Cheng was bold and brash, sometimes rough around the edges, but he wasn't the high-EQ type like Yan Zhi—didn't have that social grace.

In the vase on the table, the Baby's Breath and Everlasting Memory were already starting to wilt.

Zhai Xingchen walked Huo Cheng to the car.

Unlike when he'd seen Yan Zhi off, the sunlight now was clear and bright—almost like their first day moving in.

Huo Cheng stopped and looked back at their Red and Blue Signal house.

'Feeling a little reluctant too?' Zhai Xingchen asked, smiling.

Huo Cheng said, 'When I came, I really didn't expect it to be like this.'

He'd joined the show not for romance—purely for his career.

He looked at Zhai Xingchen as he spoke. Some words almost came out. His Adam's apple bobbed. A man who'd been through a lot suddenly felt his chest go tight. He held out his arm.

His heart was pounding.

Zhai Xingchen blinked, then walked over with a smile.

He hugged Huo Cheng. 'See you in North City.'

Huo Cheng hummed, then suddenly lifted him up. Zhai Xingchen startled.

Huo Cheng bounced him up hard, then set him down.

'I'm out.' Huo Cheng opened the door and got in.

Zhai Xingchen stood there stunned. By the time he came back to himself, Huo Cheng had already driven off.