Always Home

From returning to school until bedtime, Jing Qichi had been occupied with the same task.

It was the inspiration from taking shelter from the rain with Huan'er at the supermarket—two screens at the checkout counter meant that unless someone deliberately hid in a blind spot, the entire indoor situation was visible at a glance. No one felt at ease leaving Aunt Hao alone at home, so wouldn’t installing a camera be a good solution?

After briefly researching a few models back at school, Jing Qichi first called Song Ba. The moment he shared his idea, the other end immediately agreed, "Good, good, good! I never thought we could install cameras at home now. I’ve been really worried about the two moms suddenly being called away and leaving someone alone."

"Should we discuss it with Aunt Hao?"

"Discuss what? I’ll make the decision on this!" Song Ba declared with an air of authority. "Qi Chi, you know about these things. Hurry up and look into it—the sooner, the better."

Though he said that, before Jing Qichi could even finish comparing the cost-effectiveness of a few products, Song Ba called again. "Your Aunt Hao agreed and asked me to thank you. She said she couldn’t possibly object to this."

Jing Qichi chuckled. "Weren’t you the one making the decision? Why ask her?"

"I was just showing respect, casually mentioning it."

Jing Qichi then informed his mother. Director Lin, upon hearing it, gave rare praise, "You little rascal, you’ve grown up, knowing how to help others with their worries. Huan'er’s mom has an emergency surgery scheduled tomorrow, and I’m going to an out-of-town meeting—who knows when I’ll be back. We were just fretting over this. Is that thing easy to buy? Hard to install?"

"Easy to buy," Jing Qichi replied. "Are you guys home today? You and Aunt Lin need to be there to place it high up."

"We are, barring any emergencies."

He laughed—that line was something he’d heard since childhood.

"Easy to buy" turned out to be premature. None of the local online stores could deliver the same day. Then again, it was already 5:30 p.m.

Fortunately, Chen Ma happened to get off work on time and rushed straight to the mall from the hospital. Unfortunately, the chosen model was out of stock. After exchanging voice messages and video calls, they settled on a slightly more expensive alternative.

Chen Ma made a secret pact with him, "If Uncle Song asks, just quote double the price. Think he can skip out on our hard-earned fee?"

"Ah," Jing Qichi feigned regret, "I was thinking of tripling it, adding my mom’s share, per head."

"Her share’s on me," Chen Ma laughed. "With you two not home, she’s been coming over to mooch meals off me—eating here and taking some to go."

"I knew she’d gained weight, but she kept denying it."

"You, don’t worry a bit. Your mom’s thriving."

Compared to his mother’s colleagues or the neighborly aunties, Huan'er’s mom was more like a big friend. She was easygoing and open-minded yet attentive and thoughtful, effortlessly cracking jokes while offering comfort as gentle as a spring rain. Jing Qichi loved talking to her, sometimes even feeling like he could share anything with her—including his unspoken feelings for Huan'er.

He hadn’t brought it up because it felt too soon. What right did a brash young man have to talk about forever?

Next came guiding them through the installation. With the video call on, Jing’s Mother relayed instructions, Chen Ma handled the hands-on work, and Song Ma chimed in with suggestions. None of the mothers were particularly tech-savvy, and with the three of them chatting and laughing on the other end—one phone handed off to another—the whole process dragged on until late at night.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to think about other things—Jing Qichi simply hadn’t had the chance yet.

In those few hours, Chen Huan'er had gained a boyfriend.How long they had known each other, under what circumstances they met, what they had been through, why Huan'er chose him and what she liked about him—Jing Qichi knew none of the backstory of this relationship. He and Chen Huan'er attended the same school, with only three kilometers separating their dorms, yet their lives had somehow diverged sharply without either of them realizing it.

How absurd.

Jing Qichi could only think of it as absurd.

The next afternoon after class, Huan'er came straight to the computer science building. Jing Qichi was working on a database optimization case with Qiu Yang at the time, each stationed at their own computers, having agreed earlier that whoever solved it last would treat the other. The moment he hung up the phone, he dashed downstairs, completely forgetting the algorithm formulas that had been swirling in his mind just seconds before.

Huan'er had come alone, wearing a knee-length floral dress paired with a fluffy white cardigan, her long hair pinned up and light makeup on her face. She smiled at him first, then asked, "Are you busy?"

"Not really," Jing Qichi replied, looking at her—she seemed unfamiliar yet captivating, his gaze lingering.

Chen Huan'er was no longer the silly girl who would rush out the door with an unwashed face just to make it to school with them. Standing before him now, graceful and delicate, she had become a sight that made passing boys turn their heads. For the first time, Jing Qichi acutely realized she was changing.

"Want to grab dinner together?" Huan'er tilted her head. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."

For the first time, he felt jealousy stirring within him.

Jing Qichi admitted he had once felt something for Qi Qi—wanting her to notice him, to talk to her more, to make her happy—but that was merely a passing fondness. He wouldn’t feel anger seeing her with other guys, nor had he ever imagined any kind of future between them.

Huan'er said, "Qiu Li’s been pestering me to treat them, and since Lu'er is around today too, I thought we could all go together—if you're free. Saves you from meeting my new friend one by one."

She referred to that person as a "new friend."

"I heard from Huang Lu," Jing Qichi said, trying to sound like an "old friend." "Last night, right?"

"Ah." Huan'er nodded shyly but sweetly.

His heart ached with bitterness, but what could he do?

Tell her that guy wasn’t right for her? Tell Chen Huan'er to look at him instead? Suggest they give it a try?

He had no right to judge this "new friend," nor any standing to shatter her budding romantic fantasies by pushing her into confusion.

All Jing Qichi could do now was push that jealousy aside and then… he didn’t know what came after.

"Are you coming?" Huan'er rose on her tiptoes before settling back, smiling at him.

Qiu Yang’s call saved him. Even without putting it on speaker, the excited voice on the other end was unmistakable—"Jing Qichi, you’re treating! Listen, it’s the Cartesian product trap, that ON condition—"

"My treat," Jing Qichi said into the phone. "Be right up."

"Then you should go," Huan'er said, blinking at the sound, a hint of regret in her tone. "We’ll do it another time."

Jing Qichi pocketed his phone, feeling like he should say something more. So he repeated questions he already knew the answers to: "A senior?"

"Yeah."

"From the medical school?"

"Yep." Huan'er laughed brightly. "I was just telling him today—don’t go back to our hometown for internship, especially not to Third Hospital. That’s basically asking for trouble."

She was already thinking about the future.

"Stop talking nonsense," Jing Qichi forced a bitter smile. "Who goes out of their way to discourage someone like that?""You go on up." Huan'er checked the time. "I have to go now. If I'm late, my new friend might get shy."

"Go ahead." Jing Qichi stayed where he was.

Huan'er waved and said, "Bye," but just as she turned around, she stepped back with a serious expression. "Qi Chi, have you been troubled by something lately?"

Jing Qichi was taken aback. "No."

"You look... not very happy." Huan'er stared at him. "If there's anything, just say it."

"I know." Jing Qichi raised his hand, initially intending to ruffle her hair but instead pinched her cheek. "Learn some makeup from Huang Lu. You look terrible."

"None of your business." Huan'er swatted his hand away. "It's not like I'm dressing up for you."

She turned and left without looking back at him again.

Huang Lu had all sorts of theories, like how love was a blissful labor that lowered one's morals and intellect while enhancing physical beauty. During her time with Tian Chi, Chen Huan'er personally validated the truth of this statement. While the "labor" part hadn't been tested yet, she had started paying more attention to her appearance and wearing makeup, leading to significant improvements in her looks. Chen Huan'er became the pretty senior that the younger students in the small pharmacy school admired. There were plenty of instances where she prioritized romance over friendship, earning her the disdain of her dorm sisters when it came to moral conduct. As for intellect, she didn’t feel it had declined, but her scholarship dropped from second to third class in the first semester after she started dating.

Even so, she just grinned foolishly at her report card—after all, a loss might turn out to be a gain.

Skipping class to catch a movie premiere, daydreaming about where to eat after study sessions, in the vast library her eyes were glued to him with no third one left for textbooks. His hands were beautiful, his teeth were beautiful, his eyelashes were beautiful—even the way he glared fiercely was beautiful. In the eyes of a lover, not only does a Xi Shi appear, but also a Wu Yan Zu, a Takeshi Kaneshiro, a Tom Cruise.

She’d laugh for no reason during phone calls, tear up unconsciously when receiving gifts, and forget everything in the heat of a kiss, wishing it would last forever. Chen Huan'er loved openly and sincerely, with tears of emotion.

She didn’t know what a boyfriend was supposed to be like, but she believed Tian Chi was the best boyfriend in the world. She appeared in all his social media posts, was introduced to every one of his friends. He remembered her birthday, shoe size, food preferences, even her menstrual cycle. They hardly ever fought because Tian Chi would yield before any argument even started, always prioritizing her feelings.

During the summer break, they gathered in Tianhe. Huan'er brought Tian Chi to the group’s biannual meetup. Du Man was away on a trip with her mother and complained loudly over the phone, "You totally picked a time when I’m not around on purpose! And here I was, all prepared with three thousand questions!"

Huan'er teased her, "What profound wisdom could a lifelong single like you possibly offer?"

"I’d ask about his blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart rate, and family medical history," Du Man retorted. "As a medical professional, you think I can’t spot abnormalities?"

"Manman, you sound just like my mom."

"Chen Huan'er!" Du Man exclaimed. "Tell me the truth—are you afraid I’d find out his sperm motility is low?"

"It’s not like you’d be using it!" Huan'er flushed bright red. This med student really had no filter.

"Yeah, yeah, not for me to use." Du Man laughed until she was out of breath, then calmly reassured her, "Even if it’s low, it’s no big deal. As long as there’s some output, modern medicine has plenty of solutions. Besides, cases like yours aren’t exactly rare—"

"Get lost." Before hanging up, Huan'er reiterated, "He’s perfectly healthy!"On the day of the gathering, Song Cong and Qi Qi arrived together, while Liao Xinyan brought her professional athlete boyfriend. Only Jing Qichi came alone. Huan'er introduced Tian Chi to everyone, and after exchanging basic information like names, schools, and majors, they began ordering. No one chattered with childish questions like "Are you holding hands yet?" "Have you kissed?" or "How did you confess?" They had all grown up—having a relationship was no longer earth-shattering news, and being a couple had become a natural progression.

During the meal, Huan'er mentioned Du Man and told Tian Chi with slight regret, "If she were here, everyone would be present." Qi Qi chimed in, "I only realized how close you two were the last time we had dinner together. I didn’t even know her at Tianzhong High."

"They weren’t that close during school either," Jing Qichi added between bites. "Du Man lived in the same neighborhood as us."

"Her family’s moving," Song Cong casually remarked. Seeing Huan'er's surprise, he smiled gently. "Just wait—she’ll tell you after her trip."

Huan'er instinctively glanced at Jing Qichi, who happened to look back at the same time. Both turned toward Song Cong and asked in unison, "How do you know?"

Song Cong wasn’t fazed. "Du Man wants to apply for grad school at our university. She mentioned it when we were chatting."

Huan'er and Jing Qichi exchanged another glance. She smiled; he pursed his lips. Neither pressed further.

It was a tacit understanding nurtured by time—Du Man had actually discussed such things with Song Cong? But Qi Qi was right there. Better drop it, better drop it.

"Alright, you three, enough," Liao Xinyan protested, slapping the table. "Forming your little clique again? Treating us like we’re invisible?"

"Come on, you know those three are thicker than thieves," Qi Qi mediated, not wanting Tian Chi—a first-timer at their gatherings—to feel left out. She turned to him. "Senior, I heard you also graduated from Tianzhong?"

"Yeah," Tian Chi nodded. "A year ahead of you."

"I thought you looked familiar, like I’d seen you somewhere before." Qi Qi glanced at Huan'er. "Doesn’t senior look like…"

Huan'er quickly changed the subject. "Qi, are you planning to take the grad school entrance exam?"

Truthfully, she was afraid Qi Qi would recall that year’s knowledge Competition—because that would inevitably bring up the fact that Tian Chi had a girlfriend back then. Though Tian Chi had later admitted they’d "dated briefly," bringing it up now would only embarrass him. Old stories were best left in the past. Guarding secrets wasn’t an obligation, but it was a form of respect.

"I’m not thinking about it," Qi Qi said, tilting her head onto Song Cong’s shoulder. "One academic overachiever in the family is enough."

The group erupted into teasing laughter.

Qi Qi grabbed a bottle cap and threw it at Jing Qichi. "What are you laughing at? Can’t you step up and bring someone home for once?"

The target of her jab shot back, "As if yours was 'brought home.'"

He had grown increasingly carefree, living without concern or attachment to much of anything.

Huan'er tugged at Tian Chi’s sleeve and suggested, "How about we introduce Lu'er to him?"She had no idea how many people Jing Qichi had dated, or even if any of those relationships had been real. Over the past year, they'd rarely met, and the occasional messages they exchanged were always about necessary matters—like whether he'd bought his train ticket home, whether he was attending the hometown alumni gathering, or what birthday wishes he had this year. They were both growing up, or perhaps they'd never been at that age of sharing everything when they first met. They were simply bound together by shared experiences, spending a stretch of time in each other's company.

Jing Qichi made a stopping gesture. "Export turning domestic? Give me a break."

They talked about their majors, job prospects, the rapidly rising housing prices, and the commercial development finally breaking ground in front of the Family Compound. Topics they'd once been dragged along to by their parents, unable to contribute, now flowed effortlessly across the dinner table—without warning yet without awkwardness, just as there was no clear moment when they'd become adults. Once they realized it, they accepted the fact with calm resignation.

That was a year before graduation.

Had it not been for something Huang Lu happened to say, life might have continued just like that.