Xie Ji hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say.
In fact, who Lu Xunji talks to and what he says should be his own privacy, and even as a good friend, I shouldn't ask.
"It's not that I particularly want to know," Xie Ji said. "I'm just a little curious. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine too. Goodnight, I'm going back to sleep."
Lu Xunji was silent for two seconds, staring at Xie Ji's back for a while, before suddenly speaking, "He's a professor at the Star Science Academy, and he wants me to join the Star Science Academy."
Xie Ji paused, turned around, and said, "You said it yourself, I didn't force you to. I've already said I'm not the kind of person who likes to pry into other people's privacy."
"Yes, it was my own idea." Lu Xunji's expression remained unchanged. "Besides you, I haven't invited anyone to sleep with me."
"..." Xie Ji walked back and explained very sincerely, "I'm not against you finding a partner, I was just asking casually out of curiosity. Besides, as your best brother, I have an obligation to help you choose, right? Look at that skinny guy, he's even thinner than me, he's not in good health, you should look for someone else."
Lu Xunji glanced at him. "Yeah, thank you."
Xie Ji: "..."
Why does that sound so sarcastic and unsettling?
"When are you going to stop being so angry?" Xie Ji pursed his lips. "Didn't I already apologize to you... I'm actually not used to you acting like this."
Lu Xunji looked at him. "Why do you think I'm angry?"
"You won't even let me into the room, aren't you angry?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xunji stepped aside and whispered, "Come in."
Xie Ji paused for a moment, then went into Lu Xunji's room.
The room was filled with the strong scent of Goose Pear Bedchamber Incense, and the bed was very clean, as if no one had slept there. A jacket was draped over the beanbag chair next to the bed.
Several books were piled on the desk, one of which was being opened. The soft light from the desk lamp illuminated the pages. The whole room was neat and tidy, cold as if no one had ever lived there.
Xie Ji didn't know what to say, so he sat down on the beanbag chair.
Lu Xunji sat back down at his desk, tidied up the books, and took the initiative to speak, "There are still more than ten days until the program ends. What are your plans after that?"
Xie Ji was stunned for a moment before realizing that Lu Xunji was asking him about his future life plans.
Lu Xunji rarely appeared this serious and composed in front of him. Even his white pajamas seemed somewhat formal at this moment. He leaned casually against the chair, his gaze lowered, serious yet sarcastic.
Xie Ji suddenly felt that Lu Xunji at this moment was like a father asking his child how he did on the monthly exam.
Startled, Xie Ji immediately sat up straight, instinctively putting his legs down, before saying, "I haven't decided yet, let's take it one step at a time."
Lu Xunji pulled a book from the desk. "You can continue your studies. Here's a list I've compiled for you. Although you missed the unified entrance exam, thanks to Xie Household parents' connections, these schools are still available for you to choose from."
As he spoke, he handed over a folder containing several sheets of paper.
"Before you report to the military academy, I will make it clear to them that you can still stay in the Xie Household. If you need, I will publish an announcement in the newspaper that I am not the Xie Household's biological son." Lu Xunji tapped his fingertips on the table. "From now on, I will never return to the Xie Household."
"No." Xie Ji was stunned. "Why is that?"
Lu Xunji remained expressionless. "You need the Xie Household's protection more than I do, so I'm leaving this identity to you."
"And what about you?" Xie Ji found it a bit strange. "What are you going to do? And you haven't even asked how they feel, have you?"
Lu Xunji leaned back in his chair, his eyes and brows appearing cool and serene under the dim light, as if imbued with a mysterious Zen-like quality. "My departure or stay is not something you need to worry about, Xie Ji. I hope you can live well. I've said it before, in this world, apart from you, no one else's feelings are within my consideration. If you're unhappy, I won't force you. Perhaps I'll come back in a few years, and at that time I can try to treat you as a friend."
"Perhaps? So you mean you're leaving all of this to me, and you might never come back?" Xie Ji looked at him, completely unable to understand what Nantong was thinking.
"Maybe," Lu Xunji said, "I'm not entirely sure."
After all, he's had this illness for so many years, and there's no sign of it getting better.
Xie Ji pursed his lips and glanced at the list of universities again.
It's clear that Lu Xunji put in a lot of effort to find these universities; they couldn't be too bad, at least presentable, but they weren't too high either, requiring some special exams for admission.
In short, for Xie Ji, it was absolutely the "best" choice in his life.
He believed without a doubt that if he followed the path Lu Xunji had laid out for him, his life would be incredibly smooth, peaceful, and filled with wealth and honor.
"I'm not going." Xie Ji like a rebellious child, "I asked Li Jixing, and the Imperial Military Academy has a special entrance exam. As long as I pass the special entrance exam, I can get into the Imperial Military Academy."
Lu Xunji's lifeless eyes twitched slightly as he turned his head. "Why do you want to apply to the Imperial Military Academy? Its special admissions exam has a mortality rate of over ten percent every year. Do you know what that means?"
"I know, but you're at the Imperial Military Academy, so of course I have to go." Xie Ji pushed the list back. "I said I'd help you get treatment, and I'll stay by your side until you recover."
Lu Xunji remained silent and did not speak.
"Don't be too touched. I'll definitely pass that special exam. Don't worry, I won't fail it." Xie Ji leaned forward, patted Lu Xunji's thigh, and said with a heroic air, "I told you we're best brothers!"
Lu Xunji scoffed, "Didn't your 'best brother' just leave today?"
Xie Ji: "..."
He was silent for two minutes, then suddenly leaned in with a cheeky grin. " Lu Xunji, you're actually quite curious about what I said to Li Jixing, aren't you?"
Lu Xunji: "Not interested."
"Pretending to be dead." Xie Ji hummed happily for a few more moments. "I took Li Jixing to the farm, saw my cattle, sheep, chickens, and ducks, oh, and the little flower you gave me, the multi-headed rose called Rooftop Garden. We went to the river to catch fish, and even ran around in the wheat field... and then that was it."
Lu Xunji: "It's so boring."
Xie Ji went up and touched Lu Xunji's shoulder. "I know you're jealous, but don't worry, we're still the best of friends, Li Jixing and I are the second best."
Lu Xunji didn't continue the topic. He reorganized the folder and placed it in Xie Ji's hands. "Besides the school, the major selection on the second page can also be used as a reference. It's good that you and Li Jixing are close. He's not very smart, just like you... well, not very cunning. He's a good friend. If you're wronged at the Xie Household, he'll help you. If even he can't solve it, you can try to come to me."
He stood up, rubbed Xie Ji's eye with his fingertip, and whispered, "Of course, I'd prefer you to be able to protect yourself, so you don't cause me too much trouble. Xie Ji, let's get everything back on track."