Chapter 19: The Spare Tire

Chapter 19: The Spare Tire

Hearing Chi Xiao's words, Rui Yiqing was taken aback, hardly believing that the legendary untouchable flower would joke with her and even show such an ambiguous, somewhat annoying smile.

In that moment, Rui Yiqing's gossip soul stirred, sensing something unusual.

But soon, considering that Chi Xiao couldn't possibly know who the girl she had in mind was, Rui Yiqing quickly snuffed out the small flame of curiosity in her heart.

The meaning behind his words should simply be a wish for the world to end.

Pretty juvenile.

Rui Yiqing smiled at Chi Xiao, then caught a glimpse of a girl with a punk hairstyle a few meters away from him, whose height, figure, and gait looked strangely familiar.

Just as Rui Yiqing was about to take a closer look, the tall and handsome boy in front of her took a step sideways, casually blocking her view. "Is there anything else?"

Rui Yiqing blinked, remembering something she needed to tell Chi Xiao. "New Year's Eve is coming up. Our high school alumni association is organizing a gathering during the New Year holiday. Will Senior come?"

Chi Xiao shook his head. "I have plans for New Year's."

"Okay." Rui Yiqing had expected his refusal and wasn't too disappointed.

She had already forgotten the familiar figure she had seen. Before saying goodbye to Chi Xiao, Rui Yiqing gave him a thumbs-up. "Senior, you look super cool with that bag; it's turning heads!"

Chi Xiao: ...

In the distance, the last remnants of the sunset gradually faded into the night, ushering in a hazy blue hour.

Ming Can and Miaomiao had walked far away from the crowd, standing under a camphor tree by the campus path.

Confirming their location, Chi Xiao headed towards the parking lot.

The wind grew increasingly biting, and the boy in black strode through it, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder while deep in thought.

Rui Yiqing didn't seem busy just now.

Moreover, Ming Can wanted to take Miaomiao to the A University library, and Rui Yiqing had also mentioned going there. It would have been a perfect match, yet Ming Can didn't invite her best friend but instead asked this half-acquainted senior.

Chi Xiao couldn't understand why.

Recently, many of Ming Can's actions baffled him. She had always been proud and cautious, not one to let any man get close to her, let alone approach one herself. Yet, over the past few weeks, she had added him on WeChat, willingly rode in his car, and even asked him to take her little cousin around the campus...

Chi Xiao hadn't forgotten how, when he picked her up from the bar last week, she subtly indicated that she wasn't interested in men. He wasn't stupid; he knew she was hinting at him.

Her behavior was truly perplexing. At one point, Chi Xiao wondered if it might have something to do with her suddenly appearing little cousin, but that line of thought led nowhere—

What could her little cousin have to do with him, Chi Xiao?

Two unrelated people, even though he now felt quite connected to the child, still, what was the cause? Was it because the child wanted to attend A University?

After teaching him math for over an hour today, Chi Xiao doubted the child's dream of attending A University—too grand, almost fabricated.

No matter how much he analyzed, Chi Xiao's highly analytical brain couldn't find a reasonable explanation. The only plausible theory was the nonsense spouted by his idiot roommates—

A sweet treat followed by a slap, hooked, a big spare tire!

...

That's enough.

If he thinks more, he'll go mad.

Ten minutes later.

Ming Can and Miaomiao climbed into the back seat, and the young man in the driver's seat turned to hand Ming Can her bag.

In the deep winter evening, darkness fell swiftly outside, and a warm yellow light illuminated the car interior. Ming Can brushed her curly hair back and reached for the bag Chi Xiao handed her.

The soft light cast a warm glow on her fair cheeks, her dark, clear eyes blinking gently, making her appear exceptionally gentle. Her voice was unusually soft as she explained to Chi Xiao, "Yiqing and I had a falling out a couple of days ago. I'm afraid she'd be upset seeing me."

One sentence explained both why she couldn't meet Rui Yiqing and why she didn't invite her but asked him instead.

Chi Xiao nodded expressionlessly without saying a word.

Ming Can continued, "I'll treat Senior to dinner another day."

As she spoke, Miaomiao noticed the slight upward tilt of his sharp eyes and the gentle flutter of his long lashes.

Chi Xiao: "Which day?"

Chi Xiao: "You said the same thing last Thursday around nine-fifteen PM, Junior."

This was the first time Miaomiao heard his father express a longer inner monologue.

Though still emotionally distant, the content made Miaomiao realize—

Mom promised Dad something and forgot; Dad remembered but couldn't bring it up, so he must have wanted to remind Mom about it.

Dad is pitiful, Mom is mean!

Ming Can didn't expect Chi Xiao to be so direct, asking her which day she would treat him to dinner.

She pondered as she spoke, "With the year-end rush and exams approaching... I'll think about it."

Ming Can: "Miss Ming never breaks her promises. How dare he doubt me? So angry, so angry, so angry! I hate being pressured!"

Chi Xiao: "Any day works for me."

Chi Xiao: "Except New Year's Day."

Ming Can's mind held a vast and complex schedule. After a thorough search based on the conditions, she finally found a suitable date: "How about New Year's Day?"

What a coincidence.

Miaomiao sighed.

"Why are you sighing at such a young age?" Ming Can gently flicked Miaomiao's forehead and repeated to Chi Xiao, "I'm free on New Year's Day, and so is Miaomiao. Let's take you out for a meal."

Chi Xiao, seated in the driver's seat, turned his body halfway, revealing half of his profile. The light slanted across his face, casting deep shadows and clear contours.

"New Year's Day won't work," said Chi Xiao. "I have something that requires me to go abroad."

He paused and added, "To see my mother."

"I see," Ming Can nodded. "Then let's reschedule another day."

The air grew quiet as Chi Xiao started the car. No one spoke for a while.

Miaomiao had only vague memories of his grandmother overseas. Hearing his father mention her didn't elicit much of a reaction from him.

After using his powers several times, Miaomiao was now a bit tired. As the car started moving, he leaned against the door and fell asleep.

Ming Can gazed out the window, her thoughts lingering on Chi Xiao's family situation.

After learning that Chi Xiao was Miaomiao's biological father, Ming Can had conducted a brief investigation into his family background. She discovered that his parents divorced when he was very young, and he was raised by his father while his mother moved overseas. Later, both his parents remarried and had new families. There wasn't much information available about Chi Xiao's mother's new family, but his father, Chi Yanpeng, often attended high-society events with his current wife and two younger children, excluding Chi Xiao. Ming Can only recently learned that the head of the Chi family had an adult son.

One's experiences shape one's character. Ming Can had a very happy childhood, which allowed her to maintain a lively and outgoing personality even after some unfortunate events in her life.

But what about Chi Xiao? How did he spend his childhood to become so quiet and reserved?

The car drove smoothly along the streets around the university district, which were not bustling. The streetlights cast a dim glow, and the last traces of twilight faded into complete darkness.

The roads were clear today, and they arrived at their residential building in less than ten minutes.

Ming Can unbuckled her seatbelt and gently shook Miaomiao, who had fallen asleep awkwardly: "Baby, wake up. We're home."

The warm lights inside the car illuminated again as Miaomiao opened his eyes and stretched. Still groggy, he mumbled, "Dad is going to see Grandma?"

Chi Xiao didn't understand the random comment, but Ming Can did.

She didn't say anything, helping Miaomiao undo his seatbelt and straightening his rumpled clothes. Just as she was about to open the door, a voice came from the front: "Wait a moment."

Chi Xiao took a small box from the glove compartment and handed it to Miaomiao.

Inside were the wooden animal figurines Miaomiao had asked him to make—a Corgi dog and two cats, one white and one black.

Miaomiao was fully awake now, his words sweet: "Brother, you're amazing! Thank you, brother!"

In the dim light, Ming Can also glanced at the little toys in the box.

They looked incredibly lifelike, seeming more intricate than the hedgehog on his dashboard.

Chi Xiao maintained his usual cold demeanor, saying nothing. After giving the gift, he opened the car door and got out, walking around to help Ming Can with her bag and whiteboard.

"Thank you, Senior."

Ming Can stepped out of the car, taking everything from him with one hand while holding Miaomiao's hand with the other. She said, "Say goodbye to your brother."

Miaomiao: "Goodbye, brother! Don't worry, my sister always keeps her promises. She'll definitely take you out for a meal!"

Chi Xiao: "…"

Ming Can: "…"

She glared at Miaomiao, silently scolding him: "I told you to say goodbye, why are you talking so much? Look at how your dad can barely speak. Are you really his kid?"

Without further ado, Chi Xiao turned back to the car and got in.

After fastening his seatbelt, he didn't start the car immediately but instead turned to look out the window.

Surprisingly, Ming Can and Ming Miao were still standing at the entrance. Sensing his gaze, Ming Can waved dismissively, signaling him to leave.

Previously, Ming Can would rush into the building right away, and Chi Xiao would wait until they were inside before leaving.

Today, it was different.

His hand rested on the steering wheel as he involuntarily recalled the feeling of Ming Can hiding behind him earlier, her hands lightly tugging at his sleeve, her soft curls brushing against his neck.

If being a backup is being a backup,

At least,

We're friends now, right?

Under Ming Can's urging gaze, Chi Xiao had no choice but to start the car and drive away under their watchful eyes.

The sleek black car gradually disappeared into the night, its taillights fading into the darkness.

Ming Can retracted her slightly scrutinizing gaze and walked into the building with Miaomiao.

In the elevator, Miaomiao hugged the gift from his father in one hand and his mother's leg in the other, yawning repeatedly, almost falling asleep standing up. Ming Can gently stroked Miaomiao's fluffy head and spoke to him in a soft voice:

"Your dad..."

"He's actually a little better than I thought."