I was born and listened to my neighbor's older sister talk about her family of origin.

Sunday morning.

The air on the sixteenth floor is crisp and clear.

The pothos on the balcony is growing very lushly, with dew clinging to its leaves.

The morning breeze was noisy, carrying the coolness of early autumn. Brushing my teeth on the balcony was a real treat.

Jiang Ye, dressed in pajamas, held a mouthwash cup in one hand and a toothbrush in the other, staring at the still dimly lit horizon in the distance, his mouth full of white foam.

Just then, his ears twitched, and he turned his head to look.

The sliding door to the neighbor's balcony was pulled open.

Ji Xiaoxiao came out wearing a yellow Pikachu onesie pajama.

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were still sleepy, and she had a toothbrush in her mouth.

Their eyes met through the iron bars.

Ji Xiaoxiao froze, her previously dazed eyes widening instantly, her cheeks flushing red all the way to the roots of her neck.

The scenes from last night keep replaying in my mind.

Jiang Ye bit his toothbrush, tapped his tongue with one hand, and raised an eyebrow at her.

It means, is your tongue feeling any better?

Ji Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly.

She held a toothbrush in one hand and waved her other hand wildly in the air.

He pointed downstairs, then struck a not-so-standard punching pose, staring at him with wide eyes.

Are we going to the martial arts gym this afternoon?

Jiang Ye shook his head.

He pointed to his watch and crossed his hands.

I have something to do this afternoon.

He had to meet with Isabella every weekend to finalize funding for several key projects; he couldn't just sit back and do nothing forever.

Ji Xiaoxiao's shoulders slumped instantly, her lips pursed, and her face was full of disappointment.

This girl's emotions were written all over her face.

Jiang Ye spat out the mouthwash and wiped his mouth with a towel.

"Come to the door in ten minutes."

He tossed a sentence over the railing, then turned and went back inside.

Ji Xiaoxiao stood there stunned for two seconds, then quickly spat out the bubbles in her mouth, turned around, and rushed into the bathroom.

Ten minutes later.

The motion-sensor lights in the corridor turned on.

The security door made a soft sound and opened a crack.

Ji Xiaoxiao peeked out furtively.

She hadn't changed her clothes; she was still wearing her Pikachu pajamas, only that she had haphazardly combed her hair.

At the same time, the door of the neighboring Jiang family's house opened.

He had changed into a black windbreaker, zipped all the way up, with a black backpack slung over one shoulder, looking refreshed.

Ji Xiaoxiao's inner thoughts: Wow, so handsome.

Jiang Ye looks even more handsome today than yesterday.

Is this what it means to see beauty in the eye of the beholder?

Jiang Ye strode over and walked directly to Ji Xiaoxiao's door.

The two looked at each other across the threshold.

"You asked me to do something..."

Ji Xiaoxiao's tongue was still a little slurred, so she tilted her head back and asked.

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Ye suddenly lowered his head and leaned closer.

His lips brushed against the corner of her mouth.

Instantly separate.

Even breathing stopped in the corridor.

Ji Xiaoxiao's eyes widened, and she froze on the spot, her brain completely shutting down.

"A return gift from last night."

Jiang Ye put his hands in his windbreaker pockets and turned to walk towards the elevator.

"No need to see me off, go back and catch up on your sleep."

The elevator doors opened, he stepped inside, and pressed the button for basement level.

Ji Xiaoxiao covered her mouth and stomped her feet heavily twice.

That wretched Jiang Ye!

Taking advantage of someone first thing in the morning!

She turned around and leaned against the door, unable to suppress the corners of her mouth, which almost stretched to her ears.

……

Monday morning.

Class 6, Grade 11.

The morning self-study session hadn't even started yet, and the classroom was already noisy and chaotic.

Jiang Ye walked to the last row of Class 6, pulled out a chair and sat down, when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

The caller ID reads: Lin Xinghe.

Jiang Ye was puzzled. He told Lei Dapeng next to him to cover for him, then pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

"Get down."

The two words were cold and emotionless, spoken entirely in a commanding tone.

Jiang Ye didn't even lift his eyelids. He glanced outside and, seeing no teachers passing by, replied in a emotionless voice, "What?"

I heard the sound of someone exchanging phones on the other end of the line.

Then, the voice on the other end of the line changed to Lin Youxun's gentle voice: "Jiang Ye, Xinghe has been discharged from the hospital and is coming to class today, but her leg is still not healed and she can't climb the stairs."

She paused for a moment, her tone tinged with helplessness: "She said she wants you to carry her on your back."

Jiang Ye leaned back in his chair, instinctively about to retort, "I carried her on my back..."

But the next second, he remembered that he had promised Lin Xinghe that he would do whatever she asked while she was injured.

It's probably time to fulfill that promise.

Jiang Ye took a deep breath.

"OK."

I hung up the phone, got up, and walked out of the classroom.

Lei Dapeng: "Where are you going?"

"Welcome back to our ancestors."

At this moment, in front of the teaching building.

The morning sunlight slanted across the camphor trees as Lin Youxun stood at the top of the stairs, pushing her wheelchair.

Lin Xinghe, in her wheelchair, was wearing a school uniform, had her hair tied in a high ponytail, and had a thick cast on her right calf.

A brand-new metal cane leaned against the wheelchair, its packaging still intact.

Jiang Ye walked over and glanced at the cane: "I say, is this thing just for show?"

Lin Xinghe turned her head away, looking at the flower bed in the distance, refusing to meet his gaze.

"I don't want to use it."

Lin Youxun, standing behind, laughed and teased, "Xinghe has always had a poor sense of balance. Yesterday, she was practicing with crutches at home and fell twice after taking three steps."

Lin Xinghe's cheeks flushed instantly, and she turned sharply to glare at her sister: "Sis! What nonsense are you talking about!"

Jiang Ye: "..."

He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What are you laughing at!"

Lin Xinghe gripped the armrest of her wheelchair tightly, pointing at Jiang Ye in a fit of anger and embarrassment.

"Are you going to carry me or not? If you don't... I, I will strongly condemn you!!"

"Back to the ancestors."

Jiang Ye felt that he had no morals.

But at this moment, it is unavoidable.

He walked to the wheelchair, turned his back to Lin Xinghe, and half-squatted down.

"Come up."

Lin Xinghe looked at Jiang Ye's broad back and hesitated for two seconds.

She had just wanted to enjoy the fun of ordering Jiang Ye around, but now that she actually had to memorize it, she felt strange.

Wait a minute, if I let him carry me, will my rabbit fall on his back?

Wouldn't that just let him off easy?!

"What are you daydreaming about? Class is about to start."

Jiang Ye urged.

Lin Xinghe glared at him, but in the end she put her hands on Jiang Ye's shoulders, leaned forward, and lay down on him.

Jiang Ye supported her knees with both hands, using the support to stand up.

It's very light, you can hardly feel its weight.

Does this girl eat?

Lin Youxun lifted her cane and wheelchair and followed behind, wanting to say "be careful," but seeing Jiang Ye's steady demeanor, she said nothing more.

Lin Xinghe lay on Jiang Ye's back, her body stiff, her hands gripping Jiang Ye's collar tightly, even suppressing her breathing.

But she quickly got used to it, and even reached out to pat Jiang Ye's head, just like patting a dog.

Recalling his bark in the hospital, Lin Xinghe couldn't help but smile mockingly.

"Hey! Hurry up, haven't you eaten?"