Jiang Xun's life became very regular.
Every morning, he got up on time, finished the breakfast the chef made, got in the car, and went to school.
Every night at ten sharp, he shut himself in his bedroom.
Once, Duan Qizhao pressed himself against the door to eavesdrop and heard Jiang Xun chattering away inside, interspersed with a few very quiet laughs, soft and languid, their rising ends like a cat's paw scratching at the tip of one's heart.
But the calls didn't go through every day.
Occasionally, Jiang Xun stayed in his room until very late and came out with slightly reddened eyes.
When Duan Qizhao asked, he said he'd lost a game. Duan Qizhao didn't expose the lie and only silently pushed the late-night snack toward him.
The seemingly peaceful days passed one after another.
During class meeting that afternoon, Jiang Xun sat in the classroom staring into space as usual, while Duan Qizhao slouched beside him, secretly playing on his phone.
The principal suddenly pushed the door open and called the homeroom teacher outside for a few words.
The homeroom teacher looked troubled when he returned. Standing at the lectern, he cleared his throat. "Students, the school has been notified that outsiders have been loitering around the campus today. The police have already been contacted. Don't go anywhere alone after school. Try to go home together."
The classroom buzzed with discussion. Duan Qizhao's back instantly straightened, and he turned to look at Jiang Xun. Jiang Xun was staring out the window, his expression a little too calm.
"Xun'er," Duan Qizhao called quietly.
Jiang Xun didn't answer. Looking out the window, he saw a black Santana parked beside the road outside the school gates, its windows tightly shut and several leaves scattered over its roof.
The car