TATSD Chapter 85

“I said, you need to grow up faster,” Ji Wei teased. “What, you don’t want to?”

“No, it’s just that… I thought I heard you wrong!”

Liu Yimian stumbled over his words, his eyes sparkling as he looked up at Ji Wei. Gathering his courage, he shyly asked, “Ji Ge, do you want to marry me?”

“Did you forget our promise? I said that if you grow tall enough to reach my ears, I would marry you. You’re still an inch short, so you need to work harder,” Ji Wei said, playfully scratching Liu Yimian’s small, straight nose as he held his hand tightly.

This recurring dream had come true at such a moment!

Liu Yimian didn’t know what to say. His eyes felt sore and swollen; just as he lowered his head, two warm tears escaped his eyes and fell to the ground.

“Fool, why are you crying? Do you think I wouldn’t see you just because your head is down?” Ji Wei lifted Liu Yimian’s chin, raising his head and shaking his head with a sigh. “Don’t think so much. In this world, I have no family left. From now on, we’ll depend on each other. Are you afraid?”

Liu Yimian’s eyes were red, and his eyelids glistened with tears, but he shook his head firmly. “I’m not afraid! As long as I’m by your side, I wouldn’t be scared even if the sky fell.”

Ji Wei chuckled lightly. “For such a young age, you sure know how to speak beautifully. Come on, let’s not dawdle.” With that, he pulled Liu Yimian, but instead of heading to the stable, they walked straight out of the academy.

“Didn’t you say we were going to get the book? Where are we going now?”

“A date!”

Liu Yimian was pulled along by Ji Wei, running to keep up with him. Hearing that word, he murmured in confusion, “A date? What’s that?”

“I know you’ve probably never stepped outside the academy since you arrived. We finally get to meet, and you don’t want to be trapped in that small space. We should at least check out the bustling streets of Daxi Town, right?” Ji Wei took a few steps and suddenly remembered, “Since you’re from Daxi Town, you should be more familiar with this place. Why don’t you show me around?”

Liu Yimian hesitated for a moment, but seeing Ji Wei’s excited demeanor, he didn’t want to spoil the mood and agreed. The two of them, hand in hand, walked toward the nearest street.

Two young men holding hands naturally drew attention. As passersby took a closer look and noticed the red mark on Liu Yimian’s forehead, they realized he was one of the “young gentlemen,” prompting many who had never seen a “young gentleman” before to steal glances at him.

Liu Yimian, who rarely ventured outside and disliked interacting with others, felt uncomfortable being the center of attention. He took a half-step back, trying to hide behind Ji Wei’s broad shoulders, hoping to shield his face, but Ji Wei pulled him back out.

“What are you afraid of? With me here, they can’t possibly eat you! Let them look; it won’t cost you anything.”

This perspective was new to Liu Yimian. Although Ji Wei’s words were simple, Liu Yimian still found it hard to get used to. He couldn’t dare to meet anyone’s gaze and kept his eyes downcast, focused on the ground in front of him, fearing he would lock eyes with someone.

Seeing Liu Yimian like this, Ji Wei shook his head. “What are you afraid of? That’s even more reason to act! If you retreat in difficult times, you’ll only hinder your progress. It’s just like studying at the academy; you’ll always encounter people who look down on you. Are you going to give them what they want and waste Zhang Xiucai’s recommendation by dropping out?”

“No! That’s not it! I won’t let Ji Ge or Zhang Xiucai down; I will study hard!” Liu Yimian clenched his right fist tightly by his side, his gaze resolute.

“See? You know what to do when it comes to studying. So why can’t you figure out something simpler than that? It’s not that hard. Just lift your head, straighten your chest, and look back at them confidently, just like I do. Who knows, they might even feel embarrassed from being stared at by you.”

“Really?” Liu Yimian asked curiously.

“Then why don’t you try it? How will you know if it’s true?”

Encouraged by Ji Wei’s words, Liu Yimian finally mustered the courage to lift his head. Eagerly, he turned his gaze to the surroundings. As soon as he made eye contact with the curious stares of passersby, he instinctively wanted to shrink back. But recalling Ji Wei’s advice, he forced himself to hold his ground and met their gaze directly.

The young man he was looking at noticed and felt it was somewhat rude, his face showing embarrassment as he turned away.

“Ji Ge!” Liu Yimian tugged at Ji Wei’s sleeve, his voice rising with excitement. “It’s true! It really is!”

“Isn’t that even better? You won’t have to lower your head to anyone anymore. You don’t owe them anything. As long as you have a clear conscience, you can hold your head high,” Ji Wei said, squeezing Liu Yimian’s hand gently, his tone warm.

“Mm!” Liu Yimian nodded vigorously.

Daxi Town was quite large, almost equivalent to two Changliu Towns. The street near the county school was also bustling with activity. Even before nightfall, many stalls had already set up along the road, their shouts rising and falling as vendors occasionally approached to attract customers.

“Sir, come take a look at our jewelry! Affordable and beautiful, perfect for your gentleman!” A young vendor, well-acquainted with the trade, spotted Liu Yimian and quickly guessed their relationship. He picked a jade bracelet from the display and handed it to Ji Wei. “Look! This jade has great quality and is not expensive—just five coins!”

Ji Wei paused, recalling the ancestral jade bracelet tucked away at the bottom of his family’s wardrobe. He pushed the vendor’s hand away. “No, thank you.”

As they walked a few steps away, Ji Wei noticed Liu Yimian glancing back at the stall, thinking he wanted the jade bracelet. He stopped and prepared to pull him back.

“If you like it, I can buy it for you.”

“No need, I don’t like it; I was just looking.”

Liu Yimian was straightforward, and his thoughts were easily read on his face.

Seeing that he genuinely didn’t seem interested in the bracelet, Ji Wei didn’t press the matter. However, he quietly pondered that his mother had said the bracelet was a family heirloom meant to be passed down to a daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, she had passed away early and hadn’t been able to give it to her. She had told Ji Wei to present it to the chosen one after finding the right person.

Ji Wei had never considered that he would need to use the bracelet.

But now, in this original body, it would be perfect for Liu Yimian.

As he contemplated this, he fell silent on the way. The aroma of food wafted through the air, prompting him to pull Liu Yimian into a restaurant adorned with colorful flags.

Upon entering, a server approached to ask what they would like to order.

“What do you want to eat?” Ji Wei asked Liu Yimian, inviting him to choose.

Liu Yimian didn’t have any strong cravings; as long as he was with Ji Wei, even leftovers would be delightful to him.

So he just shook his head, letting Ji Wei take the lead.

“Okay then, I’ll order a few signature dishes: braised pig trotters, steamed duck with vegetables, pan-fried tofu… and two servings of rice. That should be enough.” Ji Wei had intended to order a couple more dishes, but Liu Yimian tugged at his sleeve from under the table.

After the server left, Liu Yimian said, “If we order too much, we won’t finish it. Three dishes are enough.”

Ji Wei understood Liu Yimian’s intention and didn’t press the matter, smiling as he agreed.

At this time, it wasn’t mealtime yet, so the restaurant wasn’t very crowded. Including their table, there were only three occupied tables, making it relatively quiet.

Ji Wei asked if Liu Yimian was having any difficulties with his studies. Not wanting to trouble Ji Wei with his concerns, Liu Yimian shook his head and denied it. “The teacher’s lectures are fascinating, filled with references and examples. If there’s anything I don’t understand, Lin Tai, Mian Guang, and the others patiently explain things to me. There’s nothing wrong, Ji Ge, don’t worry.”

But Liu Yimian had no idea that what he considered “nothing wrong” sounded quite the opposite to Ji Wei.

“The academy is full of boys; is it inconvenient for you there? I could rent a place near the academy for you, where it’s quiet and you won’t be disturbed. It would be more convenient.” Ji Wei hadn’t thought much about these details before, but now that he had Liu Yimian on his mind, he couldn’t tolerate someone like Zhao Mian Guang being around him every day, especially in a place filled with men.

Just the thought of it made Ji Wei anxious.

After Ji Wei spoke, he noticed Liu Yimian looking troubled and remaining silent for a long time. He asked, “What’s wrong? Are you unwilling?”

“Well… will you be there, Ji Ge?”

“The shop on North Street is just getting started; how can I be here at the same time?” Ji Wei rubbed Liu Yimian’s head, feeling a bit guilty. “Once the shop is set up near the academy’s entrance, I’ll come to keep you company, okay?”

Liu Yimian pursed his lips and smiled shyly, revealing a small dimple. “That sounds great! I’ll wait for you, Ji Ge.”

He hesitated for a moment but ultimately declined Ji Wei’s offer. “I appreciate your kindness, Ji Ge. Although moving out of the academy would be more convenient and quiet, I’d have less company. When you’re not around, I sometimes… sometimes feel very lonely.” As he spoke, his voice grew faint. If Ji Wei hadn’t leaned closer, he might not have heard him.

Just as Liu Yimian was about to lean back and create some distance, Ji Wei sat up straight.

“I understand.” Ji Wei reached for a cup of tea.

“I just… just…” Liu Yimian saw that Ji Wei wasn’t speaking and thought he might be upset, but he didn’t know how to explain. He was never very eloquent, and in front of Ji Wei, he felt even more tongue-tied.

“What are you so nervous about? Wanting a friend is a perfectly normal thing,” Ji Wei pushed a full cup of tea toward Liu Yimian. “A big part of why I brought you to the academy was so you could make some friends. My earlier suggestion wasn’t well thought out, so don’t take it to heart.”

“I know you’re… looking out for me.” Liu Yimian’s fair cheeks flushed slightly, his voice soft and gentle, and his gaze toward Ji Wei was as clear as autumn water, making one’s heart flutter with shyness.

Ji Wei playfully took Liu Yimian’s hand resting on the table and brought it to his lips, giving it a light kiss.

Neither of them spoke.

In the air, there seemed to be a strange and electrifying atmosphere spreading between them.

It continued until the server’s loud voice broke the unusual silence as he brought their dishes.

“Here, try this pig trotters!” Ji Wei coughed awkwardly, picked up a large piece of pig trotter, and placed it in Liu Yimian’s bowl to cover his unease.

Liu Yimian, on the other hand, couldn’t bring himself to look at Ji Wei, his neck flushing with embarrassment.

“After we finish eating, I’ll take the books back to you, and then I’ll return to Changliu Town.” Ji Wei suddenly said halfway through their meal.

“Heatstroke is a minor issue, but the evening heat can linger. If… if it gets worse and I’m not home, no one will be able to take care of you. It’s better to rest here for the night; we can leave tomorrow!” Liu Yimian spoke urgently.

He hadn’t thought much about it; he just felt that he only got to see Ji Wei once every ten days. Besides, Ji Wei was particularly gentle and caring today, and he didn’t want to part ways. He was also afraid that when they met again, they would return to square one.

“Well—” Ji Wei considered it. Zhao Hu could manage things at the shop on his own, so it wouldn’t be a big deal even if he wasn’t there. He agreed, “Alright, after I return, I’ll be busy for a while and might not be able to come see you often. So, I won’t leave today.”

Liu Yimian felt a surge of happiness and found his appetite improving. He quickly devoured a piece of pig trotter.