CH 18

"Come in."

Lu Qi'an was frank and decisive, but Fu Jia froze in place.

He couldn't believe how simple it was.

Lu Qi'an looked at him: "Not coming in?"

Fu Jia shook his head and stepped inside.

His apartment was still the same, without any sign of life. In the shoe cabinet, three pairs of brand-new slippers were neatly arranged, just like in a store.

Fu Jia randomly took a pair and noticed that even the corners of the shoe cabinet were spotless.

Because Lu Qi'an loved cleanliness, he changed the slippers that others had used, not because he hated him, right?

Fu Jia didn't ask.

Lu Qi'an went to the living room with Fu Jia following behind him.

Lu Qi'an sat down on the sofa. It was a beige, fabric sofa and had no creases except where he was sitting. Fu Jia looked at the spotless sofa and hesitated to sit down.

He asked: "Aren't you going to the study?"

Lu Qi'an picked up the jug in front of him and poured water into a glass beside it. He didn't drink it and left it on the table: "No, here's fine."

Fu Jia looked left and right, instead of sitting next to Lu Qi'an, he sat on a smaller sofa on the side. He held the schoolbag on his lap and searched for an exercise book.

After taking out the exercise book, Fu Jia flipped to the page where he made a notation before and handed it over, and said: "I marked every question, there's not many, only around ten."

Lu Qi'an took it and looked: "These questions are difficult for you. On average, each question takes ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?" Fu Jia was a little surprised. He was here to pester him, but it was late and he wasn't shameless enough to ask him to explain something in great detail for a hundred minutes. In fear that Lu Qi'an may misunderstand his intentions, he waved and said: "Then one is enough, just one."

Lu Qi'an turned to look at him: "One?"

Fu Jia didn't dare to hesitate and nodded vigorously: "Just one."

Lu Qi'an stopped asking and started to discuss the question. His estimation was accurate: Although he only needed three or four minutes to explain once, Fu Jia couldn't understand. He had to slow down and explain again. In the end, it really took ten minutes.

During this time, Fu Jia properly sat on the sofa motionless. He had memorised the questions, so it didn't matter if he couldn't see it.

One meant one, and Fu Jia nodded after Lu Qi'an finished and said 'I understand." Lu Qi'an closed the exercise book and gave it back.

Fu Jia stretched out his hands to take it, and thanked, "Thank you."

Lu Qi'an replied lightly: "No worries."

Fu Jia sighed and acted as nonchalantly as possible: "Then, I'm going."

Lu Qi'an glanced at his watch: "The school is closed now."

Fu Jia shrugged and joked: "I'll see if I can go to Mrs Liu, or stay in a hotel or sleep in the park." He cheered himself up and smiled.

Of course, Lu Qi'an didn't smile.

He didn't find it funny, he was certain Fu Jia would sleep in the park if he left.

Fu Jia wouldn't go to Mrs Liu, he didn't even dare sit on his sofa, where would he get the courage to find a teacher who wasn't close to him? Fu Jia wouldn't go to a hotel, he wasn't even willing to buy a meat dish, how could he be willing to spend money on accommodation?

He probably thought that since he was able to enter this apartment today and stay for more than ten minutes, it was alright to sleep in the park overnight as compensation.

Lu Qi'an pushed the glass to him, saying: "Drink, ok."

Fu Jia eyes widened in surprised and shook his head: "I'm not thirsty."

Lu Qi'an looked at his dry, chapped lips and replied: "You look thirsty."

Fu Jia subconsciously rubbed his lips with the back of his hand: "Maybe. But you can drink it, I'll pour myself one." After he finished, he quickly declined, "No, I'm going now, I'll buy some water later."

He was lying again.

He wasn't willing to buy water, and would probably wait until morning to go to the cafeteria and drink the free water.

Lu Qi'an knew that Fu Ja couldn't have saved so much. If he didn't move out of the Lin Family's villa, Aunt Chen would be responsible for all of his clothing, food, shelter and transportation. The school expenses would also be deducted from the card Aunt Chen took. Even if he moved out, as long as he didn't transfer to No.6 High, didn't study hard all day and could work part-time, he didn't have to be so frugal. Lu Qi'an knew it all.

Because he knew it, he said: "Drink, it's getting late. You can stay with me tonight."

Lu Qi'an's tone rarely fluctuates, even in heated discussions. It was precisely because of this that people couldn't figure out his true thoughts. There's no telling if his words were sincere or superficial.

Fu Jia has a scale in his heart. He knew what could be taken seriously and what couldn't. He would accept a meal with complacency, but Lu Qi'an words now couldn't be accepted.

He shook his head and said: "No if I stay here…it would be inconvenient for you."

The glass full of water was placed between them, no one moved towards it. Lu Qi'an responded: "I know you won't go back to school, how could I drive you out? It's only for one night, there's no need to mention inconvenience."

Fu Jia throat was dry and he felt a little dazed.

Should he take this seriously?

He thought for a while and explained: "Don't worry, I won't go to Mrs Liu. I only said that because I was scared you wouldn't let me in. I'll go back to the school's dorm and plead them. I won't go to a hotel and the park was a joke."

Lu Qi'an clenched his hands, lightly pressing his knuckles as if he was deep in thought. His expression didn't change, he was very calm. But, Fu Jia keenly felt that he wasn't feeling good.

To put it bluntly, he was angry.

If someone paid attention to another for a decade, he would develop a deep understanding of their actions and behaviours.

"Are you scared I would feel burdened?" Lu Qi'an asked.

Fu Jia nodded stiffly: "Yeah."

Lu Qi'an pursed his lips, then said coldly: "Then you go."

Fu Jia was stunned.

He carefully recalled their conversation, realised what happened and anxiously explained: "When I changed my shoes, I saw that all the slippers were replaced with new ones, but I only wore them once or twice before. I thought you didn't like me, so I……"

Lu Qi'an frowned and interrupted: "I never asked you this."

He accentuated the word, 'this'.

Fu Jia took a deep breath, hid his trembling hands behind him and replied: "Yes, you never asked for me, it was always me that looked for you. So, every time you said something I would change and learn from it."

After talking about his deepest thoughts, Fu Jia felt much better: His hands stopped shaking and the pressure on his chest lightened. He continued: "I'm just…scared of making you unhappy. That time when you came to find me at No.16 High, I made you angry and you scolded me."

Fu Jia was an adult, a year older than Lu Qi'an, but now his words and tone were like a child's.

He lowered his head and didn't notice that Lu Qi'an grip was getting tighter and tighter, to the point where his knuckles became white.

He also didn't notice that Lu Qi'an stared him from the beginning to end, not even shifting away his eyes once.

"What are you scared of? That time I only asked you to calm down and didn't say anything else."

"You not only told me to calm down, but you also called me crazy." Fu Jia remembered this crucial point.

Lu Qi'an retorted: "You suddenly rushed up and hugged me, pulling my neck here and there. Haven't you thought about asking for my consent before doing that, shouldn't I scold you for it?"

Fu Jia recalled the good scent he smelled on Lu Qi'an then.

He felt embarrassed: "You came to see me suddenly and helped me apply medicine. I thought you…would agree."

The two fell silent.

On that afternoon, the abrupt hug felt as hot as fire.

It was a long time before Lu Qi'an said: "Ask for my consent next time."

Fu Jia was taken aback.

This kind of thing... could happen again?

Before he could comprehend, Lu Qi'an stood up and said: "It's late, I'll take you to the guest room. You can relax, I won't be angry."

"I won't be angry'-- This promise was enough to be called precious.

Fu Jia opened his mouth, no words came out, then closed it and followed him obediently.

Lu Qi'an's guest room was small, only a single bed could be placed inside and there's no private bathroom. Despite this, the windows were large, and the location was good, making the room look transparent and bigger.

Lu Qi'an stood by the door to let Fu Jia in: "You know where the bathroom is. I'll use the one in my room, so you can use it as you please."

Fu Jia rummaged through the cabinet to find the items he needed for washing. He seemed a little absent-minded. He didn't look back but responded with a view of his back.

Lu Qi'an didn't say more, he reached out to close the door.

"Wait, wait." As soon as he pulled the door, Fu Jia stopped him.

Fu Jia hesitated and said, "Do you still remember, I told you before that I want to get to know you?"

This was what he said to Lu Qi'an at the gates of No.6 High. That day was also the first time he entered the school. He used a foolish way to disgust Lu Qi'an, ultimately trying to get his attention.

"I haven't told you why. Actually, I pestered you like that because I felt that you were different from others and those in the villa. Many years ago, I received a band-aid from you, do you remember? After that, I thought you might be willing to play with me…"

He opened up his desired for Lu Qi'an layer by layer, and found the root cause, hoping to impress him.

He told him his heart and soul, without realising that he was no longer at the age suitable to say the three words, "play with me."

Lu Qi'an was startled by his childishness. In a daze, it seemed that cicadas crepitated in his ears and his eyes passed through the Lin Family's courtyard to see Fu Jia squatting next to the weeds. He was just a child, hiding so pitifully and blowing on his fingers.

Underneath the overcast sky, the weeds were wet, the child was sweating and his clothes were also wet. His entire being appeared so awkward.

Lu Qi'an claimed to be a person who treated everything equally, but that time he failed: He came to catch dragonflies but was attracted by a strange child.

He deliberately swooped the dragonfly to the child's side, but the child only stared at him blankly. He had to use some techniques before the stupid boy knew how to catch the dragonfly with his hand.

He asked him: "Can you give me the dragonfly?"

The child kept staring at him as if he didn't hear it.

He wasn't angry, just found him funny.

Lu Qi'an keep the pose of closing the door, putting his hand on the doorknob lightly and didn't speak.

Fu Jia continued, with the seriousness of wanting to cut his heart open for Lu Qi'an to see and said: "Lu Qi'an, you are very good to me."

The door was half-opened, and the shadow blocked half of Lu Qi'an's face. He was silent for a while and asked softly: "Really?"

He didn't know if he was asking Fu Jia or himself.

"Good night." As he spoke, he closed the door.