TSIBAMS Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Although I’ve lived with my parents since I was little, it feels like my life only revolved around my mom,” Ye Xing said, taking a swig of his drink. “My dad, his life is all about work. We rarely see each other, and even when we do, we don’t chat. Basically, if you asked him about my age, birthday, or what grade I’m in, he wouldn’t be able to answer anything.”

Qi Guang remained silent, listening intently.

Ye Xing continued, “My mom sending me here is probably to hide from the people chasing after debts. I don’t even know how much money they owe… When I saw those messages today, I suddenly felt like I didn’t know who I was. I felt like a deserter, running away from my own home, because I was so afraid that my mom would tell me that all of it was true… Qi Guang, do you think I should ask?”

“What did your aunt say before?”

“She just kept telling me to study hard and be independent.”

“That’s right, you can’t help much. If you ask, it’ll only add to her burden. Just do what she says, and let her have some peace of mind for now.”

“Qi Guang, why do you always give off this elder vibe? You’re only a year older than me!”

“Because—I’m an adult. We’re adults and a minor, there’s a huge gap between us, get it?”

“What gap?” Ye Xing reached up to wipe his tears.

Qi Guang handed him a tissue for the nth time.

“Use this to wipe your tears, little girl.”

Ye Xing couldn’t tolerate that nickname any longer, “I’ll say it again, don’t call me little girl! A little girl’s cry needs a shoulder and a hug, that’s why my cry is so unrestrained!”

“Then do you need it?” Qi Guang was quick to respond.

So quick that Ye Xing didn’t immediately register what Qi Guang had said.

By the time he did, he didn’t know how to answer.

He did need it, he needed it very much.

At least it would ease the feeling of “the world doesn’t need me” a little bit.

And temporarily support his soul that was about to collapse.

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask for a hug.

…

“Ye Xing, come on, big brother will give you a hug,” Qi Guang said, not waiting for his answer before pulling Ye Xing into his arms.

Ye Xing raised his hands and gently hugged him back.

Qi Guang patted Ye Xing’s back, saying, “I’m not very good at comforting people, but if you need it, I’ll be here.”

“Why?” Ye Xing slowly pulled away.

Qi Guang sat back down on the sofa, close to Ye Xing, “You can think of it as, because I’m free.”

Ye Xing didn’t know how to interpret his words. Was it a disguised form of comfort, to make him feel less guilty for taking up his time?

This way of speaking was definitely Qi Guang’s style.

Ye Xing didn’t know how to respond.

After a while, Qi Guang spoke again, “Ye Xing, I envy you, I envy that you’ve had a smooth life for seventeen years, and that you’re so innocent, with a clean heart.”

It was the first time someone had used “innocent” to describe him, and Ye Xing didn’t appreciate it at all, “Cut it out, don’t make yourself sound so old and jaded.”

“I’m serious, even after you told me all this today, even if you told me your life had crumbled, I still only feel envy towards you.” Qi Guang pulled a cigarette from the pack, lit it, took a drag, and continued, “I envy that you feel your life crumbling because your dad is in prison, I envy that everyone in your family is still alive and well.”

At this point, Qi Guang laughed, with a complex expression.

Ye Xing stared at Qi Guang’s laughter in shock, suddenly thinking of those rumors about Qi Guang’s family, unsure if they were true or not.

“Then your dad is now…” Ye Xing asked hesitantly.

He was interrupted by Qi Guang before he finished.

“Dead.”

Qi Guang said the word without any emotion.

No sadness, no anger. Not even a hint of self-pity when he took another drag of his cigarette.

It was as if he was talking about someone else’s story.

Ye Xing didn’t know what to say.

Had he lent his emotional intelligence to Zhou Tian? He had clearly said “I’m the only one left in my family” last time, and today he had stupidly asked about his dad??

Qi Guang, although he seemed no different from others, except for being a bit handsome and a bit sharp-tongued, but sometimes, when you stepped into his world, whether his real or mental world, you would find him too surprising, his world was like a maze, you could not navigate it using normal people’s thinking.

For example, at this moment, Qi Guang was actually smiling.

He said, “Do you feel like you came to the right person? There’s a saying, isn’t there? When you’re sad, if someone is more miserable than you, you won’t feel so bad anymore.”

“You motherfucker, shut up.” Ye Xing was a little angry, how could someone be so crazy that they would even slash at themselves?

“Just kidding.” Qi Guang quickly comforted him, seeing that Ye Xing was about to jump up again.

“Joking is not okay either.” Ye Xing said seriously, “Qi Guang, I don’t feel that way. I didn’t come to you because you’re more miserable than me.”

Although he knew Qi Guang was more miserable, he didn’t need comfort from him.

It was just, in this city where he had no family, he could consider them to be friends, just barely.

A friend he could…trust.

Qi Guang kicked Ye Xing’s leg, “Got it, don’t be so serious, are we in class? Teacher Ye?”

Ye Xing kicked him back, “And to be honest, you’re always so carefree, you seem to be living it up, I can’t see you being miserable at all.”

“Then, should you learn from Brother Qi?” Qi Guang moved the ashtray in front of himself and tapped off the ash.

“Learn what? Being last in class?” Ye Xing rolled his eyes, maybe because his eyes had been washed by tears, he rolled his eyes smoothly.

Qi Guang turned his head and squinted at Ye Xing.

“Hey! I was only last in the class in my previous class. For the last in the key class to come to you losers, it’s a gift, you know?”

“Being last is still honorable.” Ye Xing picked up his drink and took a sip.

Qi Guang leaned back on the sofa, slowly saying, “It’s definitely because no one told you, I entered high school as the top student in the entire school.”

Ye Xing almost choked on his beer.

“Stop bragging!!”

Ye Xing’s reaction was within Qi Guang’s expectation. No one would believe that the student who was despised by almost all teachers was once the top student in the entire school.

“Don’t believe it? The midterm exams are coming soon, Brother Qi will prove it to you.” Qi Guang said confidently.

“You better prove it, don’t forget the bragging you did.” Ye Xing mocked Qi Guang, while also subconsciously patting Qi Guang’s thigh. Qi Guang didn’t avoid it. Ye Xing reacted a bit embarrassed and quickly continued to speak, “Wait, um… if you don’t do better than me, should there be a punishment.”

“What kind of punishment?” Qi Guang put out his cigarette in the ashtray.

“You decide.” Ye Xing raised his chin.

“Then, I’ll treat you to a week of skewers.” Qi Guang said, “Then if… I do better than you and surpass you by a mile?”

“Impossible!” Ye Xing immediately retorted.

Ha, you know nothing of power.

Qi Guang laughed.

“Don’t say impossible, if I do it, you’ll have to call me ‘Brother Qi’ from now on, you hear?”

Ye Xing didn’t take this bet seriously, and agreed readily, “Tch, you’re celebrating early, no problem!”

Qi Guang picked up his own drink and forcefully clinked glasses with Ye Xing, “Cherish the days you can sit at the same level as me now, little Ye.”

“You better save up to treat me to a week of skewers, Class Rep Qi.” Ye Xing refused to lose, deliberately emphasizing the words “Class Rep.”

Qi Guang was still laughing, without retorting back.

“No, I have to record it, to prevent you from going back on your word when you lose…” Ye Xing said, taking out his phone, “Crap, it’s dead.”

“Ye Xing, you should change your phone, it always dies at critical moments.” Qi Guang remembered the awkward situation when Ye Xing’s phone was dead and he couldn’t pay the taxi fare, and couldn’t help but mock him.

“Do you have a charger?” Ye Xing asked.

Qi Guang rummaged through his bag and replied, “No, I left it at home.”

“What about a power bank?” Ye Xing continued to ask.

“I don’t have that thing.” Qi Guang found a comfortable position and lay down on the sofa.

Ye Xing just wanted to hit him.

“I fking…” Ye Xing said half a sentence, swallowing back the swear words, “What era are you from?”

Qi Guang put his hands behind his head and casually replied, “I basically don’t use my phone, I’m not addicted to the internet, and I don’t chat idly with people.”

Ye Xing shook his head and sighed.

“You really did travel from the past.”

Qi Guang sat up, looked at Ye Xing with a smile, and said, “Don’t believe it? Little sissy!”

Ye Xing pretended to hit him.

Qi Guang also pretended to dodge.

Ye Xing stood up and shook his clothes, “I’m going back, I’m suddenly a little sleepy.”

“Yeah, you’ve been crying for so long, all your energy’s gone, you should go to sleep.” Qi Guang said.

Ye Xing gave him the middle finger.

Then he reached into his pockets.

Damn it! He was too rushed when he left, he didn’t even take his keys.

He went through all of his pockets before he realized he didn’t just not take his keys, his money and ID were also not on him, he only took his phone with him.

If his phone wasn’t in his hand before he left, he probably wouldn’t have taken his phone with him either.

Impulsiveness is the devil!

Qi Guang watched Ye Xing’s anxious face, he remembered the first time he met him, he was looking for money in the same way. He was always so clumsy, he was really like a child.

“You didn’t take your keys, did you?” Qi Guang said leisurely.

“Yeah.” Ye Xing felt a little embarrassed and unconsciously swallowed.

“You have three choices, sleep at a hotel, sleep here, or sleep at my place.” Qi Guang said, gesturing the numbers with his fingers.

“I didn’t take my wallet either.” Ye Xing wanted to give himself a slap.

Qi Guang nodded, “Then you’re left with two choices. Here, or my place?”

Ye Xing remembered the night he first arrived in Chen Town, because he didn’t buy any bedding, he slept on the sofa, the feeling of being unable to move was still uncomfortable to remember.

He sighed and surrendered.

“Your place.”