Changing Ages

Ever since high school, Huo Baichuan had noticed that Tao Yan's way of thinking was somewhat different from that of normal people. Everyone around them thought he and Tao Yan were like fire and water. In truth, Huo Baichuan simply couldn't stand many of Tao Yan's ideas and always wanted to argue them through. Unfortunately, Tao Yan never rose to the bait.

That had been fine in the past. Huo Baichuan had other childhood friends and close companions around him anyway. Even if he disliked some of Tao Yan's behavior, there was no need to force Tao Yan into a debate if he truly didn't want one. After all, everyone had their own way of living their life.

But now was different. The two of them were living under the same roof, and presumably would have to weather storms and support each other for the next thirty years. Huo Baichuan felt that if there was something he couldn't stand, he had to say it.

"I think the standard for judging someone should be what they actually did, not why they did it."

"Is that so?" Tao Yan countered. "But during sentencing, criminal motive is also an important factor in conviction and punishment."

"Ordinary people's work and lives generally don't involve criminal offenses. If I remember correctly, President Tao, all the financial projects you've overseen have always complied with the law."

Tao Yan shook free of Huo Baichuan's hand and took a step back. "Let's go downstairs to eat."

Huo Baichuan lowered his head to study Tao Yan, then suddenly said, "I once overheard you talking with your parents on the phone."

Tao Yan looked up at Huo Baichuan. His cold, dark eyes were like a pool of deep water, but Huo Baichuan saw his own reflection in them.

Huo Baichuan said, "At the end of your first semester as a freshman, you ranked first in every subject. When you called home overseas, your parents asked why several of your scores hadn't been perfect."

Yet at that same time, Huo Baichuan, whose grades in every subject had barely passed and who had narrowly avoided failing, was being praised and celebrated by his entire family. With "My son is amazing" and "We'll buy you that limited-edition supercar" ringing in his ears, Huo Baichuan returned to the dorm to hear Tao Yan's parents sternly questioning him over the phone about why he hadn't gotten perfect scores.

In the empty dorm room, Huo Baichuan clearly saw a trace of loneliness on Tao Yan's usually expressionless face. But the instant Tao Yan saw Huo Baichuan, he hung up. That faint loneliness and grievance seemed as though they had never existed.

"The phone you switched to later had pretty good soundproofing." Huo Baichuan praised him with complete composure. "At least I never heard it again."

"So what?" Tao Yan raised a brow, unable to understand why Huo Baichuan had suddenly brought this up after so long.

"I'm saying there's no need for you to hold yourself to a saint's standards." With lightning speed, Huo Baichuan flicked Tao Yan on the forehead.

"There are no saints in this world. It's already pretty good if ordinary people can achieve win-win cooperation. Where are all these selfless acts of devotion supposed to come from?" Huo Baichuan said dismissively. "If anyone dares force you to be a saint, you should slap them across the face. Put their picture on the wall directly. Your parents are the exception, of course."

After saying that, Huo Baichuan patted Tao Yan's shoulder before he could respond. "All right! I can't be bothered to keep babbling at you. I'm starving. Let's go downstairs for breakfast."

With that, he turned and strode away without waiting for Tao Yan.

Tao Yan looked at Huo Baichuan's bare-backed figure and, after thinking about it, reminded him, "Aren't you going to put on clothes?"

Huo Baichuan halted, turned around stiffly, and walked back with the same arm and leg moving together. He silently brushed past Tao Yan, returned to the room to put on his beloved floral shirt, then went downstairs without a word.

Tao Yan followed behind him and, after thinking about it, reminded him again, "You haven't washed your face or brushed your teeth yet!"

Changing Ages

Breakfast consisted of potato pancakes, potato porridge, and shredded potatoes tossed in hot oil, with a boiled egg for every child.

Just looking at the menu, Tao Yan knew the volunteer aunties hadn't managed to sell all one hundred pounds of potatoes last night.

Huo Baichuan carried his tray over and sat opposite Tao Yan, muttering softly, "When will this potato feast ever end?"

"If you don't like it, we can go out for something else at noon and tonight," Tao Yan said.

Huo Baichuan nodded repeatedly. He never wanted to eat potatoes again for the rest of his life.

In contrast, the orphanage children ate with great relish. Before Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan arrived, they had eaten potatoes often—either stir-fried or stewed, with even fewer variations than there were now.

"Big brothers, are you going out again today?" Big Treasure approached Huo Baichuan, clutching an egg. "You can have this."

Huo Baichuan looked at the egg on his tray and narrowed his eyes. "No favors without a reason. Do you want something from me?"

Big Treasure's little face reddened, and he tugged awkwardly at his clothes. "Auntie said you went out to make money. Can you take me with you? I want to make money too. I won't cause you any trouble."

"Oh?" Huo Baichuan looked Big Treasure up and down. "What do you want to make money for?"

"I want to save up and find my dad." Big Treasure blinked. "The director auntie said I have a father. It's just that I'm still too little to go find him. When I grow up, I can go find him."

Big Treasure looked at Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan and gathered his courage. "I'm very well-behaved, and I can work hard. I can paste a hundred envelopes and fifty matchboxes every day. I can sweep floors too. I can carry things as well. Don't be fooled by how short I am—I'm actually really strong. When school started and our class had to move books, I could carry a whole box by myself! The others needed two people for one box."

Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan exchanged a glance. Huo Baichuan smiled. "Stay home and be good. Your brothers will help you find your dad. Just wait for our news."

"But—" Big Treasure tried to say something more, but a volunteer auntie who had walked over grabbed his little arm and led him away. "Don't interfere with your brothers' important business. Go back and eat. Have you finished your summer homework?"

Huo Baichuan watched Big Treasure's retreating figure with a grin. By chance, though, he noticed that all the children in the cafeteria were secretly watching him.

When Huo Baichuan looked back at them in confusion, the children swiftly turned away like frightened little squirrels.