Chapter 58

Chapter 58

The countryside was far quieter than the city; after eight or nine o'clock, all was silent.

The couple lived downstairs, and the second floor of the old house was kept very clean. The room had been prepared for their son, but since he hadn't returned in over half a year, it remained empty.

The bed was covered with a cool mat, and the quilt was brand new.

It carried the warm scent of the sun.

Xi Siyan took a shower downstairs and came up to find Chen Mo leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone.

"Inside or outside?" Xi Siyan shook his hair, the towel on his shoulder still damp.

Chen Mo looked up from his phone, glanced at the bed beneath him, and said, "Whatever."

Xi Siyan decided for him, "Then you take the inside."

The bed wasn't particularly wide, but it was spacious enough for two people.

Chen Mo put down his phone as Xi Siyan sat on the bed. When Xi Siyan's arm accidentally brushed against Chen Mo's knee, Chen Mo froze. A moment later, he reached out and touched Xi Siyan's arm, surprised. "Did you use cold water?"

"What's wrong?" Xi Siyan turned around. "I saw Uncle using water directly."

"You're an idiot. They heated water on the stove. You should have mixed it," Chen Mo resisted the urge to facepalm, saying, "Uncle and Aunt are used to it. That well water is so cold. Can you handle it?"

Xi Siyan gently pushed him down.

"It's fine."

"Bullshit."

Xi Siyan chuckled, placing his hand on Chen Mo's shoulder to stop him from getting up. "It's quite refreshing, and it'll improve sleep quality. Go to sleep. Uncle said there's a car going to town tomorrow morning, so we need to wake up early."

Unable to move, Chen Mo grabbed the cool quilt and threw most of it over to Xi Siyan. "Cover up; it gets much colder at night."

They lay down side by side, the warm yellow light illuminating the small room.

Neither spoke.

This wasn't the first time they shared a room.

But it was the first time they shared a bed.

The quilt was not thick, feeling light on their bodies. Chen Mo stared at the mosquito net above, unable to fall asleep.

"Turn off the light," Chen Mo reminded.

A moment later, the room plunged into darkness.

Two minutes passed.

Chen Mo thought it would be better if they hadn't turned off the light. He wasn't sure if Xi Siyan could adapt. The darkness amplified every sound and detail—breathing, the slight creak of the bed frame. It wasn't just the strong presence of another person beside him; there was also a subtle awkwardness.

He didn't know whether it had been thirty minutes or ten, but Chen Mo began to feel stiff and uncomfortable. Sensing Xi Siyan's steady breathing, Chen Mo tried to turn on his side, but paused when his foot touched Xi Siyan's calf.

Both were wearing shorts, which made Chen Mo hesitate.

He froze in an awkward position.

The next moment, he felt Xi Siyan turn to face him. Just as Chen Mo was about to ask if he was awake, he felt an arm wrap around his waist.

Xi Siyan didn't hug him tightly but moved him closer to himself.

His left hand lifted and placed under Chen Mo's neck, while his other hand gently stroked Chen Mo's back. His chin rested on Chen Mo's forehead, his voice drowsy yet clear, "Sleep. I sleep better holding you."

"It's hot," Chen Mo responded after a few seconds.

"I'll cool you down," Xi Siyan didn't let go, even pulling him closer. "Didn't you say my skin feels cool?"

Chen Mo was speechless.

Due to the cold water shower, Xi Siyan's skin was indeed cooler than his own.

But Chen Mo had never slept so closely with anyone before, let alone in such an intimate position. He was entirely held in Xi Siyan's arms.

Yet, Chen Mo didn't push him away.

Chen Mo expected to lie awake for hours.

In reality, he fell asleep soon.

And he slept well, without any strange dreams.

The next morning, he woke up to the barking of dogs in the village.

People in the countryside wake up early. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the households were already bustling with activity.

Chen Mo's first sight upon waking was Xi Siyan's face, magnified and close by the dim light from the window.

His arm was still under Chen Mo's neck, likely numb by now. Worried that Xi Siyan might be uncomfortable, Chen Mo tried to remove his hand.

But as soon as he touched it, he realized something was wrong.

The temperature was abnormally high.

He knew that even in summer, the well water was too cold for most people.

"Xi Siyan." Chen Mo propped himself up and pushed him.

Xi Siyan raised his hand to his forehead, unsure if it was due to a fever or numbness. Chen Mo saw his brows deeply furrowed.

But he still opened his eyes quickly, his voice hoarse from the lack of clarity: "What's wrong?"

"It's not about me," Chen Mo said, lowering his head to touch foreheads with him, finding his temperature higher than expected. He urged, "You have a fever. Get up quickly; I'll take you to the hospital in town."

Xi Siyan allowed the closeness. When Chen Mo pulled back slightly, he tested his own forehead and said, "It's nothing. A bit of medicine should do."

Chen Mo knew it would still take some time to get from the village to the town.

After thinking for a moment, he didn't argue but instead lifted the blanket, saying, "Alright, then sleep a bit more. I'll go to the clinic at the village committee to get some medicine for you."

Chen Mo had been sleeping on the inside, so after saying this, he started to roll over Xi Siyan to get out.

However, halfway through, Xi Siyan stopped him by the waist.

Chen Mo thought he was joking and slapped his hand, "Let go, stop fooling around."

"I'll go with you." Xi Siyan held him and sat up halfway.

Chen Mo immediately said, "Why would you come? It's not far; I can run there and be back quickly."

"I'll go with you anyway." Xi Siyan held Chen Mo's hand tightly, already swinging his feet off the bed.

Chen Mo suddenly understood why Xi Siyan insisted on accompanying him. He remembered mentioning something casually when they were treating his leg at the Chinese medicine clinic.

He realized that Xi Siyan had remembered all along.

Chen Mo was still kneeling on the bed, while Xi Siyan, who was putting on his shoes facing away from him, still had messy hair. He held Chen Mo's hand tightly. This was Xi Siyan, the legal heir of the Xi family in Sui City, the genius everyone in the experimental class talked about, the arrogant teenager who never stepped out of his car, and the aloof CEO who kept people at arm's length during business dinners.

None of these impressions compared to the current scene.

He accompanied him through the bumpy ride.

He praised Auntie's cooking skills.

He took cold showers with Uncle and refused to let him go alone to get medicine even when he had a fever.

Yet Chen Mo wanted to say that he was seventeen, almost eighteen, no longer a seven- or eight-year-old child stumbling through the snow.

But at that moment, the feeling of his heart constricting was so intense.

Chen Mo had never understood this person so clearly before, knowing that some feelings could remain superficial, while others could reach the soul.

"Damn it." Chen Mo cursed under his breath, raising his arm to cover his eyes.

In the next instant, he grabbed Xi Siyan's shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed, leaning over him.

To his surprise, Xi Siyan reacted quickly and blocked him, "What are you doing?"

"Can I kiss you?" Chen Mo asked bluntly.

Xi Siyan was clearly taken aback. The room was dimly lit, and he stared into Chen Mo's eyes for a few seconds before smiling, "I don't know why you're suddenly so passionate, but no, you might infect me."

Chen Mo ignored him and leaned down to kiss him again.

Xi Siyan turned his head to avoid, his chest shaking with laughter.

He even grabbed Chen Mo's chin, reminding him, "Stop it; I heard Uncle and Auntie downstairs getting up."

"Surnamed Xi, you..."

Chen Mo was eager to get the medicine for him. Not being able to kiss him, he lowered his head and bit down hard on the muscle near Xi Siyan's shoulder.

He bit so hard that he could hear Xi Siyan's muffled groan.

And the words, "Little mad dog."

By the time they got the fever medicine from the village doctor, it was nearly eight o'clock.

The village doctor had changed; it wasn't the familiar old man anymore but a young doctor in his forties, wearing glasses.

Seeing two young men enter, he was stunned.

Taking his temperature, it read 39.2 degrees Celsius—high fever.

Perhaps because he was young, the doctor did not oppose when Xi Siyan refused an injection and only asked for medicine. He prescribed the medicine, watched him take it once, and gave some instructions.

Xi Siyan, worried about infection, also asked for a mask, which he put on as soon as they left.

On their way back, they encountered many people.

Most recognized Chen Mo, as he had only been gone for a year and had left in such a dramatic manner. On the other hand, Chen Mo had to think hard to match faces with memories, and the greetings were varied.

For example: "They say you're back, but I didn't believe it. Chen Mo, where are your parents?"

Chen Mo: "Um... they should be eating public meals."

The other person: "Ah?"

Or: "Chen Mo, you've made good progress. Come to Auntie's house for dinner sometime."

Chen Mo: "Sure thing."

Or: "Did you get into university? They say you're the only one from this mountain village who made it out. Study hard, okay?"

Chen Mo: "I got in, grandpa. I'm listening."

Then he turned to Xi Siyan and explained, "The old man is getting on in years; sometimes he gets confused."

Most of the people around Chen Mo were curious about his current life, wondering if the rumors about him were true or false. Many also asked Xi Siyan questions, after all, everyone saw him as an outstanding young man.

Especially when compared to others.

At that time, they were standing by the roadside, talking to an uncle in the field.

Suddenly, there was a loud roar from the road. Four or five muddy motorcycles sped around the corner, heading their way.

The riders were young men with various lengths and colors of hair, and some had girls riding behind them.

The uncle in the field got angry at the sight.

He said to the two of them, "These young people in the village these days are getting more and more unruly. They fight with others in town every day, smoke, drink—where's any sense of being students?"

Xi Siyan glanced at the approaching motorcycles and said, "After all, they're just teenagers; it's natural for them to be impulsive."

"I didn't expect you to be so tolerant," Chen Mo remarked, looking at him.

"It's not that I'm tolerant; it's not like you did it," Xi Siyan replied, glancing at him. "Besides, I'm not their father; why should I care so much?"

As the motorcycles approached quickly,

it seemed they were going to speed past them, but the lead motorcycle suddenly braked hard.

The rider lifted his helmet visor.

"Brother Mo?!!"

Chen Mo stared at him for a few seconds before slowly calling out his nickname, "Little Maozi?"

"Hell yeah, it's me!" The other person jumped off the bike excitedly.

As soon as he did, the other motorcycles stopped.

Everyone asked,

"Maozi, who is it?"

"What's up with Maozi?"

Maozi, now the big brother in the village, put his arm around Chen Mo and introduced him, "This is my big brother. When Little Hei and I were bullied outside, it was all settled by my big brother. He fights fiercely; even the likes of Er Hu Zi in town were scared of him back then. Come on, come over and greet him."

A group of young men with a strong sense of youthful rebellion gathered around.

"Brother Mo."

"Hello, Brother Mo."

"Brother Mo, have a cigarette."

Chen Mo stood there without saying a word, hiding his past achievements.

In fact, Chen Mo felt a bit awkward. Back then, he fought for Little Hei because of his parents, but helping one was the same as helping two—it was just a matter of convenience.

Back then, he was full of anger with no outlet, only focusing on throwing punches, which led to a group of people calling him "big brother" every day. He actually didn't remember many of their faces.

The person offering the cigarette noticed it had been taken.

But not by the big brother.

It was a masked boy whose face couldn't be seen. Let's call him a boy, because his demeanor was too good. His exposed eyes were deep and dark, and he had a faint, fresh scent. He was tall and had good skin.

He politely said, "Thank you, I'll take it for him. Do you mind?"

"Not at all... Not at all." The person offering the cigarette suddenly felt awkward and nervous, stuttering as he spoke.

Maozi was also stunned and asked Chen Mo, "Brother Mo, who is this?"

Chen Mo snapped back to reality, seeing Xi Siyan, who was clearly a patient, standing there with such grace that it made others feel ashamed. Feeling a bit mischievous, he said, "My little brother, newly recruited. Just call him Little Xi."

Maozi: "Ah? Ah."

Then, meeting Xi Siyan's gaze, he couldn't bring himself to call him "Little Xi."

Finally, after hesitating for a while, he somehow obediently said, "Brother Xi."

"Hello," Xi Siyan nodded.

Maozi instantly felt admiration.

He thought, impressive, no wonder it's my Brother Mo. Even his little brother has such a commanding presence.