Silence, a long silence. After realizing what he had just said, Yu Shulin silently covered his face and spoke dryly, "No, it's nothing. I'm just in a bad mood, came out to clear my head. You don't need to worr—"
"Why are you in a bad mood?"
Interrupted, his nerves, overly relaxed tonight, couldn't snap back. He opened his mouth, sighed, and told the truth: "My exam results were bad, Yu Xiu is annoying..."
"So the 'stinking ditch' refers to your uncle?"
"...Yeah."
"...And the exam results?"
"Terrible."
"..."
Another silence. Yu Shulin squatted down, rubbed his face, and gave himself a pep talk—bad grades are nothing. Having lived two lifetimes, grades, that kind of thing, aren't important, not important at all!
The night grew deeper, the bustling city quieted down, leaving only the sound of passing cars in his ears.
Liang Zhou obviously heard it too, his voice lowering a few degrees: "Where are you?"
Yu Shulin looked up at the streetlight, blinking. "Outside."
"Why aren't you back yet?"
"..."
"Lost?"
Yu Shulin wanted to bash his head against the lamppost and be reborn again.
"Take a taxi back."
"I have no money..." He lowered his head, sat down on the curb, trying hard to keep his voice sounding calm.
"What?" The sound of a passing car was too loud; Liang Zhou hadn't caught what he said.
"I said I have no money!" Yu Shulin was embarrassed into anger, feeling a bit indignant. Why do you have to ask so clearly? Don't you know teenagers have rebellious phases? You keep asking and asking, well today I'll be rebellious for you to see, piss you off!
Liang Zhou was clearly also lacking experience in dealing with teenage kids. After a pause, he returned to the original question: "Where are you?"
Yu Shulin felt very defeated: "I'm at the bus stop sign... I'm not a child, I can find my own way back." So stop asking so much. Even though being cared for felt incredibly good, making him somewhat addicted, this was just too embarrassing.
"I mean the specific address."
"...A hundred meters to the right of Huading Hotel, at the Ronghua Station bus stop on Jianshe Road."
"Stay right where you are. Wait."
Liang Zhou hung up after saying that. Yu Shulin stared blankly at his phone, roughly grabbed his hair, feeling very unaccustomed to his own loss of composure just now.
How did he end up being led by the nose, answering whatever was asked? He was annoyed. So what should he do now? Obediently stay put, or just walk away? Would this cheap older brother think he was stupid and troublesome?
After agonizing for a long time, and glancing at his empty wallet, he hung his head, suppressed the rebellious thoughts faintly emerging, and honestly hugged his backpack, sitting down on the spot, staring blankly at the streetlight.
Fine, I'm a minor anyway, so what if I seem a bit weak now... I just have to toughen up later!
Ten minutes later, He Long hurried over and took him to the hotel where he was staying.
"Don't run around at night; the boss will worry." He Long hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up for his boss. God knows how lively his heart had been, startled by his boss's strangely-toned phone call.
"Sorry for troubling you." Yu Shulin bowed his head, honestly admitting his fault—it was the middle of the night, he really had inconvenienced them too much.
Ah, so well-behaved, did I scare him... He Long felt conflicted, struggling for a moment before saying dryly, "It's fine."
It was too late; the hotel had no vacant rooms. He Long took him to his own room, efficiently pulled out a set of clean clothes, and handed them to him apologetically. "You'll have to make do sharing a room with me tonight. These clothes are new. In the middle of summer, it's fine to sleep in them. Go take a shower."
"No, this is already great. I'm the one causing you trouble." Yu Shulin thanked him again, took the clothes, and went into the bathroom.
When he came out after showering, He Long was standing by the window talking on the phone. Hearing the noise, he glanced back at him, lowered his voice to say a few more words into the phone, then hung up and walked over. "The hairdryer is in the nightstand. Remember to dry your hair. You sleep first. I have something to discuss with Lawyer Ling; I'll be back soon."
Yu Shulin nodded to show he understood, obediently watching He Long leave the room.
After hastily drying his hair, he buried himself under the covers. Sleepiness instantly surged, engulfing him... Need to avoid Yu Xiu, need to get along well with the new guardian... It seems I can't stay in W City anymore. If I'm leaving, then the house Mom left behind...
As a model youth with very regular living habits, Ling Chun expressed deep malice towards He Long's late-night visit. Sleepy-eyed, he ruffled his messy hair, eyelids drooping, showing the whites of his eyes at him, impatiently saying, "Spit it out if you have something to say, then get lost."
He Long choked for a second, shook the phone in his hand, and said expressionlessly, "The boss said, have you find a way to check Yu Xiu's accounts."
"That's it?" Ling Chun looked at him with a deadpan face.
He Long nodded honestly. "That's it... The boss said it's best to wrap things up here as soon as possible."
Ling Chun, holding the doorknob, nodded, impatient. "Finished?"
He Long nodded. The next second, the door was slammed shut with a "bang," almost hitting his nose.
...What a terrible temper.
During breakfast the next day, Yu Shulin mentioned his intention to sell the house.
"Decided?" Ling Chun stirred the porridge in his bowl, smiling as he asked, "Won't you miss it?"
"There's nothing to miss." He shook his head. "A house is just a lifeless thing in the end. Holding onto it won't bring my mom back to life."
He Long strongly approved of this decision and directly took on the task. "I'll handle this for you. You rest well for a few days. Once it's settled, we'll go back to B City. The boss's house is very big; you'll like it."
"Nobody loves the nouveau riche." Ling Chun rolled his eyes, finished his breakfast, stood up, and waved at the two. "That Lawyer Zhou isn't being very cooperative. Probably Yu Xiu still hasn't given up. You two have fun; I'm going to go deal with that old baldy."
"Then I'll go handle the house matter. Let's go, I'll accompany you to pack your things. Before going to B City, you'll stay with us at the hotel, easier to look after you." He Long decisively arranged the itinerary, looking at the silent Yu Shulin. "Is this arrangement okay?"
Yu Shulin blinked and nodded. "Okay, sorry for the trouble." The feeling of being taken care of like a child, not having to worry about anything... was actually pretty nice.
There really wasn't much to pack. A few photo albums, some scattered mementos his mother left behind, some textbooks, a few changes of clothes—all these together couldn't even fill a small suitcase.
He Long lifted the suitcase, which felt too light to him, and asked puzzledly, "Only this much?"
Taking one last look back at the house that held all his happy memories, Yu Shulin turned around, hugged the small box in his arms tightly, and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
Everything in this house was arranged and decorated by Mother, piece by piece. Since it's impossible to take it all away, it's better to simply leave it all here, preserved in his memory.
