CH 9

Back home, Xie Wenyu picked out a few photos he had with classmates he had good relationships with and sent them to Moments together with the graduation group photo.

Not long after sending it out, he received several identical comments: 99

Xie Wenyu was very confused and didn’t understand what this group of people meant. Soon, a friend asked him privately if he was with An Ran, and Xie Wenyu was even more confused, asking how did you come to this conclusion?

Friend: “Didn’t you put your photo together in the middle?”

Xie Wenyu posted in a three-by-three grid today, and the fifth photo in the middle is the photo with An Ran. The young boy and girl stood side by side on the sunny boulevard, with smiles on their faces. They looked like a particularly good match.

Xie Wenyu swears to God, before sending them out, he didn’t realize there was anything wrong with the format. They were chosen at random, but everyone misunderstood it and started to use 99 uniformly.

There was a senior whom he knew from playing basketball before, who was in the same class as his brother. He also joined in the fun and left these two numbers.

For a moment, Xie Wenyu had the idea of asking the senior to delete the comment.

Because his brother and this senior are also WeChat friends, his brother must be able to see this comment.

Xie Wenyu had a guilty conscience. He was afraid that his brother would think that he was early dating. Before he had time to act, he was overwhelmed by more “99”. Those who were familiar and unfamiliar with him all agreed that Xie Wenyu and An Ran were together, even some people who don’t know An Ran are following suit and commenting.

For the first time, Xie Wenyu experienced the feeling of being unable to argue.

After struggling for a while, he clicked on An Ran’s chat box and asked An Ran if she minded being misunderstood by so many people.

An Ran: “I should be the one asking you this question.”

Xie Wenyu was taken aback: “Why?”

An Ran joked: “Why would I mind? This is my goal. Although it hasn’t been achieved yet, I’ll treat it as everyone cheering me on.”

Hearing what An Ran said, Xie Wenyu became embarrassed instead: “I’m sorry An Ran, give me some more time.”

An Ran: “There’s nothing to be sorry. I like you. It’s my own business. You don’t have to respond. If you like me too, we’ll be boyfriend and girlfriend, if you don’t like me, we’ll be friends.”

Xie Wenyu: “Friends?”

An Ran: “Of course, what I say always counts. I’m in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After arriving in the United States, you can come and play with me anytime.”

This is a girl who can afford it and let it go. With An Ran’s words, Xie Wenyu immediately relaxed a lot. He now needs to focus on going abroad, he should wait until he is in college to talk about emotional matters.

Time flies, Shanghai said goodbye to spring and welcomed summer.

Not long after summer started, Xie Wenkai returned to China.

College in the UK only lasts for three years, and Xie Wenkai is already in his last year of study, so he chose to return to China in early June.

Xie Wenyu was a little surprised by this, because his brother only came back in July last year, yet this year he came back a whole month earlier than last year. Xie Wenyu thought that his brother had something important to do; as a result, Xie Wenkai looked at him, pondered for a while, and only said that he would go to their father’s company for an internship to familiarize himself with the business in advance.

Xie Wenyu was shocked by his brother’s fighting spirit. He glanced at their parents, lowered his voice, and said to his brother, “Did you come back in a hurry after you had a girlfriend in China?”

Xie Wenkai looked at him like he was mentally handicapped.

“I’m just asking casually.” Xie Wenyu laughed.

Xie Wenyu has two tiger teeth, which are faintly visible every time he smiles, adding a touch of childishness to his smile.

A few years ago, Xie Wenyu didn’t like these two tiger teeth. He thought they were too sharp and unsightly. He always wanted to wear braces for correction. Later, he heard that wearing braces is very painful, and if he wants to have his teeth pulled out, he would have to avoid eating certain foods, so Xie Wenyu was persuaded and chose to reconcile with his tiger teeth.

But he was still a little depressed. For a while, he didn’t dare to laugh or show his teeth. Mother Xie saw through the small thoughts of the adolescent boy at a glance, so she comforted her son and said that these two teeth are so cute, they are your personal characteristics, and others don’t have them.

Xie Wenkai was also at home at that time and said: “They’re not ugly, there is no need to correct them.”

After that, Xie Wenyu regained the courage to show his tiger teeth.

“I should be the one to ask,” Xie Wenkai’s tone was flat, “Have a girlfriend yet?”

Xie Wenyu: “How is it possible, I haven’t gone to college yet.”

After he finished speaking, he laughed again, with a sly smile in his voice: “Ge, in such an open environment abroad, you haven’t met any girls you’re attracted to?”

Xie Wenkai: “No.”

Xie Wenyu: “Really?”

Xie Wenkai stared at his curved eyebrows and pointy tiger teeth, and then said after a few seconds : “Really.”

It seems that Xie Wenkai really came back for an internship. He stayed at their father’s golf course for two months and got familiar with every department.

Two months later, Xie Wenkai finished his work and was preparing to return to the UK to continue his study, while Xie Wenyu was about to fly to the United States to start his college life.

On the day of Xie Wenyu’s departure, the whole family went to the airport to see him off. Before entering the security gate, Father and Mother Xie reluctantly held their son’s hand and told him to take good care of himself while abroad.

Xie Wenyu nodded and said “OK”, and hugged his parents respectively.

Xie Wenkai watched from the side and reminded: “Get a phone card and bank card first when you land, prepare cash, and don’t lose your passport.”

Xie Wenyu turned around and gave his brother a hug: “Got it.”

Xie Wenyu is a big boy, it takes only a little stepping to rest his head on his brother’s shoulder, and he did so subconsciously within a few seconds of hugging.

The warm breath was on his neck, Xie Wenkai paused, and then raised one hand, put it on Xie Wenyu’s back, and gently rubbed Xie Wenyu’s hair with the other hand.

In just a second, he quickly let go of Xie Wenyu and watched him walk towards the security gate.

Time is a wonderful thing. In the blink of an eye, a naughty child becomes a mature and independent boy. Eighteen-year-old Xie Wenyu has lost his childishness and stepped out of the protection of his family. He will fly alone to the other side of the ocean, to a wider and freer world.

Seeing off his younger brother, Xie Wenkai walked out of the airport with his parents. One plane after another passed overhead, piercing through the clouds, drawing a straight line in the sky.

Amidst the sounds of roaring, Xie Wenkai stopped.

At that moment, he felt more restless than ever.

——A very important thing, out of his sight, feels about to be out of control.