On the latter half of the return journey, Cen Jin no longer spoke to Li Wu, driving in silent concentration.
The highway stretched endlessly ahead, shrouded in obscurity, with the headlights illuminating only a narrow circle.
Li Wu sat quietly as well, never glancing around, like a stone statue, until they entered the city limits of Yishi. The dazzling city lights made the young man involuntarily turn to look.
This place was completely different from his hometown—towering buildings, intertwined overpasses, and lights like glowing liquid permeating every corner of the city.
The stream of cars was like schools of fish, weaving through it all, endlessly vibrant.
Li Wu stared unblinkingly out the window, his throat gradually tightening.
Suddenly, he noticed his own reflection in the glass, like a terrestrial insect trapped in a drifting bottle—small, insignificant, and inconspicuous. He had mistakenly wandered into this place, suffocating in a deep sea of alienation.
The young man immediately averted his gaze, his heart pounding wildly. He clenched his hands, unsure of how to compose himself.
Fortunately, the woman beside him spoke to him: "We'll be there in half an hour."
He responded quickly, as if grasping a strand of seaweed: "Mm."
Cen Jin glanced at him sideways, noticing his somewhat unsteady gaze: "Tired from sitting?"
Li Wu shook his head, then remembered she was still driving and likely hadn't seen him, so he said aloud: "No."
Cen Jin asked: "Is it alright if I take you to my place first?"
Li Wu said: "Okay."
"The house isn't very big, but it has two rooms. You can stay in the guest room for now."
"Mm."
…
They conversed back and forth, unaware of the passage of time and the long road ahead.
—
The residential complex where Cen Jin lived had excellent landscaping, resembling a vast ecological garden. Unlike the wild growth of mountain forests, every plant, flower, and stone here was exquisitely arranged. Cream-white European-style houses stood among them, like castles from a fairy tale.
Cen Jin’s home was on the third floor of one such "castle."
It was a gift from her parents for her twentieth birthday—she had chosen the location, and the interior design was entirely her own.
During her university years, whenever she felt uncomfortable in the dormitory, she would come back here to stay for a while. Later, when she was dating and married to Wu Fu, every time they had irreconcilable arguments, she would escape here to calm herself.
Cen Jin had always regarded this house as her personal ivory tower. Aside from her husband and close friends, she had never brought anyone here—her parents had visited only a handful of times.
Li Wu was an exception.
So, there were no extra men’s slippers at home. When it was time to change shoes, she directly handed him the pair Wu Fu used.
Li Wu took them, his face visibly uneasy.
But Cen Jin was exhausted at the moment, too tired to manage the situation, and unsure how to make him quickly adapt to the new environment. She simply said casually: "Change your shoes and make yourself at home."
With that, she turned and went to the bathroom.
After changing his shoes, Li Wu did not take another step inside.
It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful house—like a carefully arranged exhibition hall, where every piece of furniture and object was a work of art.
In contrast, he felt utterly out of place, a crude and unwelcome intruder.
This stark difference overwhelmed the young man with embarrassment, even more intense than when he first saw Cen Jin’s car. He felt awkward, even somewhat hesitant to proceed.
When Cen Jin came out of the washroom and saw Li Wu still standing foolishly by the door, she asked, puzzled: "Why are you still standing there? Sit down."
She had washed her face, and her bangs were damp, clinging to her temples, which she casually brushed aside.This detail made her appear more at ease and casual, exuding a homely vibe that blended perfectly with the surroundings.
She belonged here by nature, while he did not. Li Wu was well aware of this, but he had to walk over.
Li Wu stopped in front of the brown leather sofa. Cen Jin glanced at what he was holding and said, "Put your luggage on the floor for now."
Li Wu took off his backpack, stacking it together with his duffel bag, and sat down himself.
Cen Jin leaned forward to pour a glass of water: "It was boiled during the day. I hope you don’t mind."
Li Wu shook his head and took the porcelain cup with its frosted glass-like floral pattern in both hands. The texture of the cup was entirely different from what he had imagined—the glaze was smooth, comparable to polished jade.
He paused slightly and took a small sip.
Cen Jin poured herself a cup as well, downed it in one go, and began discussing future plans with him.
"Li Wu," she started with his name to emphasize the seriousness of the matter, "I only have a few days of leave left, so we need to get your affairs sorted out as soon as possible. Ideally, I’ll take you to Yi High School tomorrow to complete the procedures so you can start school earlier."
Without hesitation, Li Wu replied, "Okay."
Cen Jin’s eyes curved into a smile. "You’re in your second year of high school now, right? Have classes been divided into streams?"
Li Wu nodded.
"Arts or sciences?"
"Sciences."
"The curriculum at your county high school and Yi High School should be the same," Cen Jin thought for a moment. "After all, they both follow the same provincial exams."
Li Wu said, "The textbooks are the same."
Cen Jin nodded. "Then you’ll continue directly into the second semester of your second year."
She was already fully immersed in her role as a "parent," eager to secure the best resources for her child. "Tomorrow, let’s see if we can get you placed in the honors class. The learning environment there is bound to be better..."
But then, realizing she might be overlooking Li Wu’s personal feelings, she quickly added, "Of course, this is just my suggestion. Don’t feel pressured—your own choice matters most. The regular classes at Yi High School are also excellent."
Li Wu had no objections, let alone the inclination to pick and choose or evaluate. He was already immensely grateful just to be able to continue his studies.
Yi High School was an educational institution he had never dared to dream of attending. In the past, he had only seen it mentioned in textbooks—it was a legend spoken of by teachers at his county high school, a well-known benchmark for academic excellence.
Now, it was just a step away from him.
Li Wu held the cup tightly. "Being able to attend school is already more than enough."
"School isn’t just about attending," Cen Jin said, speaking from experience. "You also need to consider how to study, what to study, and why you’re studying. It’s like eating—when we have food for every meal, we stop worrying about the act of eating itself. Instead, we focus on choosing good rice and using the right pot to cook a better meal."
Li Wu was taken aback. He had never considered such things before. Over the past decade or so, he hadn’t even had the privilege to think about them.
"Li Wu, you need to set high standards for yourself and establish a goal," Cen Jin looked at him. "I didn’t bring you here for nothing. I have a condition—you must at least get into a 211 university. Can you do that?"
Li Wu didn’t answer immediately. After a moment, he nodded.
Cen Jin smiled with satisfaction.
After discussing this, Cen Jin remembered another matter that had been weighing on her mind throughout the journey. She couldn’t carry this burden overnight, so she spoke candidly: "On the way back, during that phone call, I said some harsh things."
Her tone was as gentle as the light in the living room. "But they were thoughtless words spoken in the heat of an argument, not what I truly meant. I’m sorry. I hope you won’t take them to heart, okay?"
Li Wu grew uneasy. He hadn’t wanted her to bring this up.Even if certain words had pricked his heart in that moment, it was only for an instant—like a needle prick, as fleeting as duckweed. His feelings toward her were largely overwhelmed by a profound sense of gratitude.
"Alright, I won't," Li Wu said in a low voice, unsure what else he could add.
"Cen Jin," Li Wu suddenly called out, "you're 17, right?"
Li Wu: "Mm."
"From now on, just call me 'sister'."
"Okay." Silence lingered once more.
After a moment of staring at each other, Cen Jin childishly scratched her temple and tentatively asked, "Won't you call me that now?"
As an only child, she had never experienced the feeling of having siblings.
Now that she had someone to fulfill that role, she felt as if she were possessed by meddling aunts and grandmothers, insisting on hearing the term of address from the younger generation to feel satisfied.
Li Wu's ears gradually grew warm. He pressed his lips together, opened his mouth, and called out, "Sister."
Cen Jin's face broke into a smile, brightening instantly.
That single word felt like sealing a pact, filling her with a sense of accomplishment and energy.
It was far too late, so Cen Jin didn't prolong the conversation. She stood up and led Li Wu to the spare bedroom, explaining how to organize his clothes, books, and daily necessities.
Once he had mostly settled in and stepped out of the room, Cen Jin took him to the bathroom and showed him how to use the water.
It was Li Wu's first time realizing that faucet controls could be so complicated and that there were so many types of showerheads.
After explaining everything, and considering the inconvenience of sharing a space with someone of the opposite sex, Cen Jin pointed behind her: "My bedroom has its own bathroom. You can use this one from now on. Don't feel awkward. Once the paperwork is sorted out and you move into the dorm, it won't be an issue anymore."
Li Wu responded with an "Okay."
Cen Jin let her hands drop to her sides. "Do you want to take a shower first?"
"Mm."
Cen Jin returned to the sofa and only slumped down after hearing the bathroom door click shut.
Exhausted, she pulled her phone from her pocket and checked the time.
Past three in the morning—she had gone over 48 hours without sleep!
Cen Jin marveled at her own endurance, then opened WeChat. At the top was a new message from her father.
She tapped on it:
Dad:
Jinjin, are you home? Mom told me you went to Shengzhou today to personally pick up the child we're sponsoring and that you hoped I could help. Mom was very upset about this, but I'm not surprised at all because our Jinjin has always been a kind and warm-hearted girl. If there's anything you need from me, let me know after you've rested tomorrow. Get some sleep first. Dad will always have your back, and Mom and I will always love you.
Sent at 02:28 AM
Cen Jin's nose instantly stung, and her eyes glistened. She pinched the bridge of her nose and typed back a kissing emoji with "Thanks, Dad."
After waiting a moment without a reply, she assumed the old man had already fallen back asleep. Setting her phone aside, she remained in the same position, lost in thought.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and Cen Jin couldn't help but picture the young man's face in her mind.
The phrase "every smile and frown" might never describe such a face, for it was always so silent, rigid, and cautious.
Is this what it feels like to lose both parents from a young age? With no one to hold you close, you have no choice but to forge yourself into a shield, braving the storms alone—otherwise, your world would collapse entirely.
What was his childhood like?
Cen Jin didn't dare dwell on it, her heart aching with an indescribable sorrow. She picked up her phone again, but just as she finished placing an order, the bathroom door suddenly swung open, and hurried footsteps approached.Cen Jin sat bolt upright, and the next moment, Li Wu stopped before her, separated only by a coffee table.
The boy's short hair was dripping wet, his clothes soaked through, revealing the contours of his upper body clearly. He was thin but not frail, with surprisingly defined lines, likely from walking mountain paths and doing farm work.
He was utterly flustered, flushed from face to neck, his brows and eyes appearing even darker under the wetness.
Infected by his distress, Cen Jin grew tense as well: "What's wrong?"
Li Wu frowned, his expression vivid with embarrassment: "I'm sorry... I messed up. I forgot how to switch the faucet."
Cen Jin couldn't hold back a chuckle.
After a moment's thought, she gathered the thin blanket from the sofa and tossed it to him.
Li Wu caught it with both hands, his large eyes looking at her in confusion.
Cen Jin said, "Wrap it around yourself for now."
Li Wu held the blanket without moving: "I'm all wet."
"It's fine, it's for you to dry off with. We can wash it later," Cen Jin gave him a faint smile, then lifted her phone slightly: "Let me treat you to KFC first."
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