Yan Heqing glanced at him, "What?"
This time, Lin Fengyi didn't avoid his gaze. "Play a game with me, name your price."
Yan Heqing turned to leave, and Lin Fengyi's face gradually darkened. He lowered his head and clenched his fists. Just then, Yan Heqing's voice came from ahead, "A bottle of water."
Lin Fengyi suddenly looked up, "What?"
Yan Heqing said calmly, "The price of one game."
Lin Fengyi bought a bottle of soda water and took Yan Heqing to Ruixing Plaza near Beijing University. It wasn't in the arcade, but in a game room on the top floor.
Lin Fengyi booked the entire arcade, but didn't go to a private room; he stayed in the lobby.
The game we played was the Death Forest we played at the Lin Family before.
Lin Fengyi remained silent throughout, focusing intently on the screen. Yan Heqing had no classes that afternoon, so they played a game together, fiercely competing until the sun finally set.
Lin Fengyi won, but there was no joy of victory on his face.
Lin Fengzhi's roar from last night still echoed in his mind, "I knew what was going on from the beginning. Didn't you like Yan Heqing a long time ago? Now you're satisfied? He has no family, so he can be your younger brother..."
Lin Fengyi gripped the handle tightly, almost crushing it.
He couldn't accept that on New Year's Eve, his mother and elder brother wanted to invite Yan Heqing to their home. Lin Fengzhi knew that Yan Heqing was homeless and would be spending the New Year alone, but he remained silent about it.
From the moment he decided to accept Lin Fengzhi as his younger brother, he resolved to cherish Lin Fengzhi forever, seeing him as a kind, innocent, and angelic child who needed protection.
But recent events have shattered his understanding.
He suddenly realized that Lin Fengzhi was no longer the child who would cry at the sight of a stray cat.
"I'm leaving." After finishing the game, Yan Heqing picked up his schoolbag.
As he approached the door, he heard a voice that had been suppressed for a long time.
"Sorry."
Yan Heqing didn't turn around. "I accept."
After saying that, he walked out of the arcade.
He took the elevator down to the first floor. It was lunchtime, and the square was bustling with people. Yan Heqing went into a beef noodle shop and ordered clear broth beef noodles.
While waiting for his food, he took out his phone.
I posted a message on WeChat Moments, visible only to Lin Fengzhi.
See you on Saturday.
The accompanying picture is of him and Lu Lin holding hands.
Chapter 108
A few minutes later, the staff brought over the beef noodles.
A few paper-thin slices of beef, a few scallions—the taste wasn't great. The soup didn't taste like beef, and neither did the beef itself. But Yan Heqing ate it very attentively.
Although he is now able to keep himself from going hungry, he has a natural reverence for food, stemming from his childhood fear of hunger.
After finishing the noodles, Yan Heqing drank the broth before putting down the bowl and leaving.
He didn't go back to his residence, but went back to Beijing University. His plan for the afternoon was to go to the lab, but he couldn't go, and he'll have to stay up all night tonight.
He needs to submit his report before the holiday, which leaves him with less than two weeks.
On the way, Yan Heqing went to a house in the family quarters.
The renovation is complete, and most of the furniture has been delivered. The windows are open, and the setting sun shines in, casting its golden light across the wooden floor.
The curtains were drawn, and the sheer curtains rustled softly in the breeze seeping through the window cracks. They were all made of good quality materials, and there wasn't a trace of odor in the room. The shoe cabinet had also arrived, but it was still empty, with only a box of disposable shoe covers on the cabinet.
Yan Heqing didn't put on shoe covers; he took off his shoes and walked barefoot onto the fish tank.
The same two fish were still in the tank, leisurely swaying their tails in the water.
Yan Heqing's gaze then shifted to the bookshelf, a very spacious bookcase that could hold all his books. If Lu Lin didn't have many books, there would still be plenty of space left. He could buy books with peace of mind in the future without worrying about not having enough room.
After touring the bookshelves, Yan Heqing walked to the sofa.
Compared to the bookshelves and fish tank that take up an entire wall, the sofa is rather small, with only three seats. There's no coffee table, just a small two-tiered walnut trolley, which is enough to hold remote controls, books, fruit bowls, or snacks. It can also be moved around to serve hot pot.
The wall in front is still empty, waiting for the owner to choose a suitable television.
The kitchen and bathroom were decorated in a simple yet practical style. Yan Heqing went to the bedroom last.
The large bed that Lu Lin had specified had also arrived. Visually, it was much larger than Yan Heqing's current bed. Yan Heqing thought of last night; with two adult men, that bed was indeed too crowded.
After calculating the missing necessities, Yan Heqing left.
Yan Heqing left a message for Lu Lin saying he would be staying in the lab that night. He went into the lab and didn't come out until 3 a. m., when he finally came out to the corridor for some fresh air.
The lights were still on in the lab next door.
Yan Heqing unscrewed the cap of the water bottle; it was the soda water Lin Fengyi had bought. After taking a few sips, the door next door opened.
Gu Xingye tossed an orange over, Yan Heqing caught it instinctively.
Gu Xingye didn't come over; he leaned casually against the door, an orange in his hand. The fresh scent of orange peel filled the air. Seeing Yan Heqing didn't move, he raised an eyebrow. "Don't you like oranges?" He reached for his coat pocket again. "There's also chocolate..."
"Oranges will do." Yan Heqing put down the water bottle and bent down to peel an orange.
The corridor was dark, with only the light from the two laboratories and the moonlight. Gu Xingye fiddled with orange segments with his fingertips, his gaze occasionally drifting to Yan Heqing. From his perspective, he could only see half of Yan Heqing's profile.
Gu Xingye suddenly chuckled softly.
Why did I think Yan Heqing and Lin Fengzhi when we first met?
They don't look alike at all.
He thought of the phone that kept vibrating that evening. He was busy with his experiments, but he still managed to squeeze out some time to answer Lin Fengzhi's call.
"Come to my house right now!" Lin Fengzhi blurted out, "My mom won't let me go out, and only you can help me now! I have to go out, I have an urgent matter the day after tomorrow!"
Gu Xingye hadn't eaten dinner and was experiencing low blood sugar. After searching for a while without finding any chocolate, he rubbed his temples and said, "I'm experimenting—"
"The experiment can be done anytime, but my business can't wait!" Lin Fengzhi interrupted him, then pleaded, " Gu Xingye, you're the best! Come to my house quickly, I have to go out."