Chapter 20 The Answer

Chapter 20 The Answer

When Lin Xishan returned to the dormitory, Lin Jichuan was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a guitar in his arms, his phone lying in front of him, a complicated look on his face.

Hearing the door open, he looked up at Lin Xishan and said, "You're back."

"Yeah." Lin Xishan kicked off his shoes, chucked his backpack onto the bed, and plopped down into the chair. "I'm beat."

"I saw the forum post." Lin Jichuan put down the guitar and stared at him. "Ye Jiaonan's apology post—just a few lines, not even a 'sorry' in there. And you're just letting it slide?"

Lin Xishan closed his eyes: "What else was I supposed to do? Go punch him in the face?"

"At least make sure he knows you're not someone to mess with."

"He already knows." Lin Xishan opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. "A demerit on his record, a public apology—a guy who lives off scholarships, a demerit means his scholarship's gone. That stings worse than a punch."

Besides, to Lin Xishan, if it weren't for that goddamn manipulation ability, Ye Jiaonan was just a pebble on the road of life—kick it aside and move on.

Lin Jichuan said casually: "Does that sugar daddy of yours know about the forum thing?"

Lin Xishan tapped his fingers on the armrest: "Yeah, he knows."

"What was his reaction?"

"He said he could help if I needed it."

Lin Jichuan frowned: "How's he gonna help? Have someone beat up Ye Jiaonan?"

Lin Xishan thought about Pei Zhi's expression at the time: "Honestly, wouldn't put it past him."

Lin Jichuan's expression grew even more complicated. He put down the guitar, stood up, walked over to Lin Xishan, and looked down at him from above.

"Brother, tell me the truth." His voice dropped. "That guy—does he treat you right?"

Lin Xishan looked up at his brother's cold, expressionless face and suddenly felt like cracking a smile.

Lin Jichuan was sharp-tongued with outsiders, but with his older brother, he was all genuine care.

"He's good to me." Lin Xishan said.

"How so?"

"It's just..." Lin Xishan thought for a moment, choosing his words. "He's honestly not great at taking care of people, but he's trying to learn. He makes me coffee, even though I barely drink the stuff; he moved to a new place because I mentioned his old one was drafty; he texts me every day asking if I've eaten, even though he asks like he's grilling a suspect."

Lin Jichuan's expression slowly shifted from serious to something more subtle.

"Sounds like," he said, "not a sugar daddy situation."

Lin Xishan blinked: "Then what does it sound like?"

Lin Jichuan didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned and walked back to his bed, glanced at his phone, then set it down.

"Figure it out yourself." He said, his tone casual, but the corner of his mouth twitched up.

Lin Xishan watched his back, feeling like Lin Jichuan was getting at something.

But he didn't overthink it.

He was beat after a long day and just wanted to shower and crash.

Another week went by, and Lin Xishan finally had a rare day with nothing on his plate.

The first phase of the project data had been handed in, and Professor Chen was happy with it, saying they'd start phase two next week and giving them the New Year off.

He'd already quit his library job, and the forum thing had blown over.

He suddenly found himself with nothing to do—which was a feeling Lin Xishan wasn't used to.

On Saturday, he slept in for once, lying in bed scrolling through his phone. He opened Pei Zhi's chat window; the last message was last night's "Goodnight."

Pei Zhi's "Goodnight" routine was consistent: every night at exactly eleven, he'd send those two words.

No extra fluff.

Lin Xishan would reply with a "Goodnight" every time, occasionally throwing in a moon emoji.

Today, staring at that chat window, he suddenly felt like reaching out first.

"Lin Xishan: What are you doing today?"

The message went through, and the reply came back instantly.

"Pei Zhi: Same as always, rehearsal."

"Lin Xishan: Want me to come by?"

"Pei Zhi: Yeah."

After getting the reply, Lin Xishan rolled out of bed, washed up, changed, and checked himself in the mirror before heading out.

Yep, the eight-pack was still there, and the underwear choice was on point.

The rehearsal room was buzzing on Saturday afternoon.

When Lin Xishan walked in, all three members of the Abyss Band were there.

Zhou Yan was sitting on an amp holding his bass, Jiang Muye was adjusting his effects pedal, and Gu Zhou was twirling drumsticks behind the kit.

When Lin Xishan walked in, all three of them froze mid-motion, then exchanged a knowing look.

"Yo." Zhou Yan spoke first, grinning knowingly. "Back for more?"

Lin Xishan nodded politely: "Hey, Brother Zhou."

"Good, real good." Zhou Yan set down the bass, stood up, clapped Lin Xishan on the shoulder, and leaned in to whisper, "Glad you're here. He's been walking around with a sour face since this morning—none of us dared to talk to him."

Lin Xishan was taken aback: "Why?"

"Go ask him yourself." Zhou Yan winked, stepped back, and called out toward the inner room of the rehearsal space, "Pei Zhi! Your better half is here!"

The phrase "your better half" made Lin Xishan's mouth twitch, but he didn't argue.

As soon as Zhou Yan finished speaking, the door pushed open.

Pei Zhi was wearing a thin black sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his forearms, his hair a little messy, like he'd just rolled out of bed.

When he saw Lin Xishan, he paused mid-step, his gaze landing on the bouquet of daisies before flicking away.

"You came?" His voice was flat.

"Yeah." Lin Xishan handed the flowers over. "For you."

Pei Zhi took them, glanced down, then turned and set them on the table with a gentle touch.

Zhou Yan shook his head watching from behind, muttering quietly to Jiang Muye, "Look at that, look at that—treats those flowers like they're some kind of treasure."

Jiang Muye whispered back, "Keep it down, he'll get all moody if he hears you."

Gu Zhou stayed silent behind them, but his drumsticks started spinning faster.

Pei Zhi clearly heard them, but for once, he let it slide.

He walked over to his guitar, picked up a pick, and glanced back at Lin Xishan.

"Sit over there." He jerked his chin toward the chair by the wall.

Lin Xishan sat down without a fuss.

The rehearsal began.

When Pei Zhi played guitar, he'd tilt his head slightly, a few strands of hair falling over one eye, his lips pressed into a thin line. Occasionally, during the interludes, he'd look up at Lin Xishan, their eyes would meet briefly before he'd quickly look away.

Lin Xishan sat in the corner watching, holding the hot water Pei Zhi had poured for him, and suddenly felt that having nothing to do wasn't so bad.

The rehearsal lasted two hours. When it ended, Zhou Yan put his bass back on the stand and stretched. "My treat, let's go grab something to eat."

Jiang Muye immediately responded, "Where?"

"The barbecue spot downstairs."

"Sure."

Gu Zhou raised his hand from the back. "I'm in too."

The three of them purposely didn't ask Pei Zhi if he was coming, because they knew he would, of course—as long as Lin Xishan was there.

Sure enough, Pei Zhi put down his guitar and looked at Lin Xishan. "You coming?"

"Yeah." Lin Xishan stood up and set his empty cup on the table.

The five of them left the rehearsal room and walked to the barbecue place downstairs.

On the way, Zhou Yan fell into step next to Lin Xishan and lowered his voice. "Xiao Lin, tell me the truth—what do you really think of Pei Zhi?"

Lin Xishan thought for a moment. "He's a good guy."

"Like how?"

The question was exactly what his brother had asked yesterday.

Lin Xishan smiled. "He doesn't talk much, but he's serious about things. He's devoted to what he loves, and to the people around him... he actually cares a lot—he just doesn't know how to show it."

Zhou Yan listened, his expression gradually growing thoughtful.

"You're the first person I've met who can describe him that accurately," he said, patting Lin Xishan on the shoulder. "Pei Zhi—he's had a rough life. But meeting you might be the luckiest thing that's ever happened to him."

Before Lin Xishan could respond, Pei Zhi suddenly stopped ahead of them, turned around, and shot Zhou Yan a cold look.

"Why're you walking so slow?" he said. "I'm starving."

Zhou Yan threw up both hands. "Alright, alright, I'm coming, I'm coming."

He sped up and walked ahead, leaving Lin Xishan next to Pei Zhi.

Pei Zhi waited for Lin Xishan to catch up, then fell into step beside him and suddenly spoke. "What'd he say to you?"

"Nothing much," Lin Xishan said. "Just saying nice things about you."

Pei Zhi's brow furrowed. "Saying nice things about me? What could he possibly compliment me on?"

"Said you're a lucky guy."

Pei Zhi clearly didn't believe it, but he didn't push it.

The barbecue spot wasn't big, but it was busy. Five people squeezed around a round table piled with meat and vegetables.

Zhou Yan took charge of the grilling, Jiang Muye took charge of the drinks, and Gu Zhou took charge of the eating.

And Pei Zhi?

He sat next to Lin Xishan, not really serving food or starting conversation, but every time he poured himself water, he'd fill Lin Xishan's cup too, and every time meat was done, he'd casually grab the best piece and drop it in Lin Xishan's bowl.

The movements were so natural, so automatic, like unconscious habits.

Zhou Yan noticed, exchanged a look with Jiang Muye, and they both had that "I knew it" look on their faces.

Halfway through the meal, Jiang Muye, a few drinks in and getting chatty, suddenly asked Lin Xishan, "Xiao Lin, how old are you, anyway?"

"Twenty."

"Four years younger than Pei Zhi." Jiang Muye did the math. "So you're still in school?"

"Yeah, I'm a sophomore."

"Tsk tsk, Pei Zhi's robbing the cradle—" He stopped mid-sentence when Pei Zhi shot him a glare.

Gu Zhou took a sip of his drink and continued the questioning. "So what do you plan to do later? Get a job? Go to grad school?"

Lin Xishan thought about it. "Save up some money first, then do my own thing."

"Start a business?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"As long as you have a goal." Jiang Muye slapped the table. "Unlike us—still doing a band at our age, who knows how much longer we can keep this going."

Zhou Yan rolled his eyes at him. "How old are you? Since when is twenty-seven old?"

"In the rock world, twenty-seven is already ancient, alright?"

"Bullshit, man."

The two started bickering, and the atmosphere picked up.

Lin Xishan watched them argue with a smile, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught Pei Zhi staring at him.

He turned his head and met Pei Zhi's eyes.

Pei Zhi didn't look away, just asked in a low voice, "Have you really thought this through?"

"What?"

"About what comes later."

Lin Xishan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "I've already thought about it. What about you? Have you ever thought about what's ahead?"

Pei Zhi was silent for a while.

"I hadn't before," he said, his voice so low only Lin Xishan could hear. "But now I do."

Lin Xishan wanted to ask what future, but looking at Pei Zhi's expression, he suddenly felt no need to ask.

The answer was already plain in his eyes.