Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

When Yan Xi came downstairs with her backpack, Li Chen had already cleaned the yard.

The stone table was wiped clean, the bowls and plates were put back in their places, and the sweet potato ash in the iron pot was emptied.

"You even re-tied the door to the chicken coop."

"I've loosened my grip. I'm afraid the chickens will escape."

"You have no connection with the boss's chickens."

"I stayed in someone else's house."

Yan Xi didn't say anything more.

She stood at the gate of the courtyard and glanced back at the stone house.

The walls were made of dry-laid stone blocks, with seashell ash grout, and the shadow of a crooked pine tree fell on the second-floor window.

"I'll stay here again next time I come."

Li Chen slung the two backpacks over his shoulders. "You decide."

The boss returned at some point and was sitting on the low wall outside the yard mending fishing nets.

Seeing them come out, he didn't get up, but just raised his chin.

"Gone?"

"I'm leaving. Thank you."

"Is the fish delicious?"

"It's delicious," Li Chen said.

The boss nodded.

His gaze shifted from Li Chen to the phoenix hairpin on Yan Xi's head, and then back again.

"Young man, the sound of you cooking starts before dawn. Try to stay up less late in the future."

Li Chen was stunned for a moment.

Before she could reply, Yan Xi had already taken three steps.

"I'm leaving." She didn't turn around.

The two of them walked down the gravel path.

The uphill slope turned into a downhill slope. Li Chen walked in front, making sure his shoes were firmly planted on the loose stones before taking another step down.

Yan Xi walked behind him, her hand on his backpack strap.

"You went ahead again."

"downhill."

"You walk in front when going uphill."

"Try the steps uphill."

"You're taking the outside route even on flat ground."

There are cars on the flat road.

Yan Xi's hand slid off the backpack strap.

She went around his arm and took his hand.

"Then when will you walk next to me?"

Li Chen slowed his pace.

"Now."

He switched both backpacks to his left shoulder.

He grasped her hand with his right. The two walked side by side down the rest of the downhill path.

There weren't many people waiting for the ferry at the dock. Li Chen found the seasickness patches and handed them to Yan Xi.

Apply it in advance.

"We haven't boarded the ship yet."

"Let's put it on first. You were so pale from vomiting last time."

"I didn't throw up. I just—"

"You've had acid reflux three times."

"You think I don't know how many times you swallowed on my shoulder?"

Yan Xi slapped the seasickness patch onto the back of his hand.

"You stick it on."

"I'm not dizzy."

You slept for less than four hours last night.

Li Chen looked at her.

How did you know?

"How often you toss and turn. You tossed and turned seven times between 2 and 4 a.m. You only settled down after 4 a.m. This means you didn't really fall asleep until 4 a.m. You got up at 6 a.m. to cook. That's two hours."

Li Chen tore open a seasickness patch and stuck it behind his ear.

"Okay. I'll stick it on."

Yan Xi's lips curved slightly.

She took another seasickness patch out of her pocket, tore it open, turned to the side, tiptoed, and stuck it behind her right ear.

"You have some in your bag. Why are you using your own?"

"I bought it at the grocery store yesterday. You bought that box. I bought this one."

Li Chen looked at the seasickness patch behind her ear.

It's the same brand as his, the mild type.

The whistle sounded.

The ferry docked.

Li Chen took her hand and boarded the boat.

This time, he didn't choose the stern, but instead chose a window seat in the middle.

Minimal bumps.

The ship has set sail.

Yan Xi leaned on his shoulder.

There were no signs of seasickness.

"The parts that weren't mentioned in your guide," Li Chen said.

"Um."

"Where to?"

Yan Xi closed her eyes.

"Didn't you say you'd take me back?"

Li Chen paused for a moment.

"The 'going back' you mentioned, you mean...?"

"Your home, Beijing, that's what you told your dad this morning."

Li Chen tightened his grip on her shoulder a little.

Are you sure?

"My travel guide is 32 pages long. The last page is the weather forecast for the capital city."

Li Chen turned his head to look at her.

Her eyes were still closed.

The eyelashes remained motionless.

Breathing is steady.

But the hand resting on his thigh had its fingertips slightly curled.

She was nervous.

"My dad is a nag."

"I know."

"My mom will look through my childhood photo albums."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"The one about chasing chickens with your bare bottom—"

"I'm even more looking forward to it."

Li Chen covered her curled fingertips with his other hand, gently unfolding each finger one by one.

"take it easy."

Yan Xi opened her eyes.

"I'm not nervous."

"Your fingernails dug into my pants."

Yan Xi glanced down.

indeed.

Her fingernail pressed a small crescent moon into the fabric of his jeans.

She pulled her hand back.

"The fabric is of poor quality."

Li Chen didn't expose her.

His phone vibrated. He took it out and glanced at it. His mother.

[Shen Ruolan: Your dad just changed all the cushions in the living room. He also rearranged the fruit bowl on the coffee table three times. When are you arriving?]

Li Chen glanced at Yan Xi.

"My mom asked when we'd arrive."

Yan Xi's body stiffened for a second.

very short.

But Li Chen sensed it.

"Tell your auntie," she paused, "that she'll be here tonight."

Li Chen is typing.

[Li Chen: Tonight. Just the two of us.]

three seconds.

Shen Ruolan: !!!

[Shen Ruolan: Really??? You're not lying to your mom?]

[Li Chen: Really.]

[Shen Ruolan: I'll go prepare!! You guys eat dinner at home!! Tell me now if she has any dietary restrictions!!]

Li Chen looked at the screen.

I played for a while.

[Li Chen: No scallions, no garlic, no cilantro. Fish bones must be removed. Ribs should be from the middle section. Pumpkin should be steamed until soft. Porridge should not be too hot, around 60 degrees Celsius. Sweet potatoes should be baked, not steamed. Water should not be too hot or too cold. Coconut milk should be at room temperature. Coconut should be slightly sweet, with a little bit of dark chocolate. Milk should not be ice-cold.]

After sending it, he thought about it and added another message.

[Li Chen: She'll say it's no trouble. But don't listen to her.]

There was no reply for fifteen seconds.

Then his mother sent a voice message. He didn't open it.

Switch to group 302.

[Chen Mo: According to the ferry timetable and the highway travel time from Haining to Linjiang, he will not be returning to school today.]

[Zhao Zixuan: Where did he go?]

[Chen Mo: Beijing. Probability 87%.]

[Wang Qiang: Beijing? Meeting the parents?]

Li Chen typed a message.

[Li Chen: Go back to Beijing. Take her to meet my parents.]