When He Juan and Mu Yuze were done with their business, the sun had fully sunk into slumber, splashing the sky with a dark blue and purple hue.

Mu Yuze had completed all types of medical check-up except the blood and urine test because he needed to fast first. Thus Jia Molei asked him to return again tomorrow morning together with He Juan who would receive the x-ray results for his ribs.

As expected, the most important problem they had to address was Mu Yuze’s malnourishment. It had severely affected his growth, making him look more like a child when he was supposed to be a teenager on puberty. For that, Jia Molei had prescribed a few food supplements, daily vitamins and a strict healthy diet that the boy needed to adhere to for the next few months.

He Juan wholeheartedly pledged that he would be there to supervise Mu Yuze’s food intake, earning him an eye roll from the boy. How rude. Even though he was truly sincere in wishing for the boy’s well-being...

He Juan walked out of the clinic to the crisp and cooling air of autumn night. He took a deep inhale, only to grimace when his ribs protested yet again. He quickly smoothed out the furrow on his brows and stole a glance at Mu Yuze who was walking beside him. The boy had been quiet since he received Jia Molei’s diagnosis, leaving He Juan to wonder what kind of thoughts were running in his mind again. Not to mention, he still had not addressed the fact that Mu Yuze had dared to tease him for having a sweet tooth! The sheer audacity!

As they waited for Chen Youzhi to drive the car out of the garage, He Juan asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Mu Yuze peered up at him through his long lashes, then shook his head. "Nothing."

"Hmm?" He Juan tilted his head in question. What did it mean?

"I’m just... thinking of nothing," Mu Yuze elaborated as he stared at his intertwined fingers, so small yet rough, covered in small cuts and faint calluses reminiscent of the time when he had to forage through scraps for food and any small trinkets he could sell for extra cash. "Sometimes, everything feels surreal like... like I’m floating in a dream. I feel like..." he suddenly trailed off, shook his head and let out a wry huff. "Forget it. I don’t really understand it either."

Oh but He Juan did. He understood what Mu Yuze was feeling very well, much to his own surprise. "You feel like floating..." he withdrew his gaze and stared at the dark sky that was faintly dotted with glimmering stars. "Your whole body is light as if you can leave all of your worries behind. But at the same time, you’re also afraid that you will fall if you let your guard down. You find yourself thinking, ’ah... if this is really a dream, then I don’t want to wake up.’" He tilted his head toward Mu Yuze with a grin. "Is that what you mean, Xiao Ze?"

"You..." Mu Yuze gawked at him, shocked yet perplexed at the same time. "How..."

"But this is not a dream." He Juan reached out to card his fingers through the boy’s hair that had gotten messy after being blown by the wind, his movement was gentler than usual. He let his fingers sink into the soft and fluffy sensation and smiled at how good it felt. He almost did not want to stop. "It’s okay to leave all your worries behind from now on. Do you hear me?" He stared right into the boy’s eyes and stated with all earnesty, "Gege will not let you fall. I promise."

Mu Yuze’s eyes stretched even wider, if it was possible. His lips parted to speak, but in the end, no words came out.

Just in time, Chen Youzhi halted the car in front of them and pressed the horn twice.

He Juan finally removed his hand from Mu Yuze’s hair and willed himself to ignore the rush of coldness that chased away the lingering warmth. He put the usual smile on his face and opened the door of the passenger seat to Mu Yuze, gesturing with a tilt of his head, "After you."

Mu Yuze stared at him for one long moment, his gaze incomprehensible, before climbing into the car clumsily.

They did not talk again after that.

***

He Juan refused Chen Youzhi’s offer to help him bring his stuff upstairs. "It’s not like I can’t use both of my hands, Chen’er!" He Juan argued, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Moreover, I only need to cross the lobby and enter the elevator. As simple as that!"

When he put it like that, Chen Youzhi could only comply, albeit reluctantly.

But while He Juan could stop Chen Youzhi in his act, he could do nothing against Mu Yuze, this little menace who was surely going to drive him to his early grave. The boy told him with all earnesty, "You can only use your left hand, but you have two bags. I will help you carry one."

This time, it was He Juan’s turn to be speechless. But he soon handed the bag of snacks – the lighter of the two – to Mu Yuze upon realizing that he would not be able to persuade the boy otherwise.

Judging from the look Mu Yuze gave him, it seemed like he had caught on to He Juan’s wicked scheme.

They stayed silent during the elevator ride, and it was not until they entered the house that Mu Yuze broke the silence, "Where should I put this?" He lifted the bag in his hands.

"Ah..." He Juan toed off his shoes and carelessly kicked it into the cabinet. "Feel free to put it anywhere. It’s yours."

"...Huh?"

"For you." He Juan elaborated with a chuckle. "They are supposed to be local snacks, recommended personally by a good friend of mine. If you get hungry in the middle of the night, just rummage through the bag and see if you will find something you like, okay? You heard Doctor Jia, keep your tummy moderately full at all times and don’t let yourself starve again."

Mu Yuze hurried to protest. "But—"

"No buts." He Juan’s tone was final and brooked no argument. Then he pretended to groan and kneaded the back of his neck. "Oh God, I’ve been sitting on the plane for so many hours. I feel so tired like my bones are going to break apart..." he let out a huge fake yawn and brushed past Mu Yuze, heading straight to his room. "Good night, Xiao Ze. See you tomorrow!"

When he turned into a corner, he snuck a glance behind and saw that Mu Yuze was still standing where He Juan had left him, staring at the bag of snacks in his hand with utter confusion and bafflement. He Juan had to resist his chuckle when he saw this. Mu Yuze had to learn to accept gifts from now on, because He Juan was going to shower him with lots, lots of them...

Instead of going to the bedroom, He Juan entered the study and flicked on the light, throwing his backpack haphazardly on the floor. He walked toward the swivel chair and sat down, then turned on the computer.

He had specifically requested A-Mu to send him the results tonight, even emphasizing on the urgency of the matter, and if the young man intended to fulfill his part of the agreement, he should have sent an email to He Juan’s inbox by now.

Sure enough, when the computer was turned on, there were two consecutive ’ding!’s in the air.

He Juan had received two new emails tonight, sent within the past hour. One of them was from A-Mu, while the other one was...