A few days later, school ended for the afternoon. Chengyu and his friends were on their way to an arcade when they unexpectedly ran into Xiazi near the school gate. The students greeted him enthusiastically.
"There he is, our favorite tutor."
One of them excitedly held up a test paper. "Look, I finally passed. It's the first passing grade I've ever gotten. You're the reason I survived this exam."
Xiazi smiled modestly. "You did the hard work. I only explained a few things."
Everyone insisted on celebrating by treating him to dinner. Embarrassed by all the attention, Xiazi tried to politely decline.
Just then, Chengyu casually placed an arm around his shoulder. "My little brother has studying to do. You guys shouldn't keep him out too late."
To Chengyu's surprise, Xiazi answered before anyone else could. "I'll go."
The unexpected response caught Chengyu completely off guard.
The group eventually arrived at a large arcade. For Xiazi, almost everything inside was new. He looked around with quiet curiosity.
Qi Jingshao noticed and smiled. "Ever tried one of these?" He handed Xiazi a toy rifle from one of the shooting games.
"No."
"Then I'll teach you."
Qi Jingshao explained a few simple tips for the shooting game. Xiazi listened carefully, copied exactly what he was shown, and pulled the trigger. Bullseye. Then another, and another. One perfect shot after another.
Qi Jingshao stared at the screen in disbelief. "No way."
The noise quickly drew the attention of the other students. Soon a crowd had gathered around them.
"This isn't fair. He's already the smartest student in school, and now he's amazing at games, too."
"Does this guy have any weaknesses?"
Qi Jingshao reached for another controller. "Come on. Let's try the two-player mode."
Before he could hand it over, Chengyu stepped between them. "I'll teach him."
Qi Jingshao shrugged and stepped aside. Standing behind Xiazi, Chengyu adjusted his grip on the controller and showed him how to aim. Strangely, the same Xiazi who had just landed every shot suddenly couldn't hit a single target. Miss. Another miss. Then another.
The students burst into laughter. "Chengyu, your coaching is terrible. I think you're making him worse."
Leaning closer, Chengyu whispered so only Xiazi could hear. "What happened? Without the person you're trying to impress, you suddenly can't focus?"
Xiazi didn't answer. The truth was completely different. His hands weren't shaking because of the game. They were shaking because Chengyu was standing so close behind him. Every time Chengyu guided his hands, Xiazi lost all concentration.
Completely unaware of that, Chengyu continued quietly. "It doesn't matter how hard you chase after someone. You can't force people to return your feelings. If someone doesn't feel the same way, no amount of effort will change it. You should let it go."
With that, Chengyu stepped away and casually draped an arm over Qi Jingshao's shoulder. "Sorry, everyone. Jingshao and I have somewhere to be. You guys keep my brother company. Tonight's expenses are on me."
As the two walked away together, Xiazi silently lowered his head. The disappointment in his eyes was impossible to hide.
The remaining students invited Xiazi out for barbecue. While everyone chatted over dinner, someone suddenly asked, "By the way, why didn't we know you back in middle school?"
Another classmate answered before Xiazi could. "Because he spent most of his childhood in the hospital. Chengyu told us before."
Xiazi looked up in surprise. "He mentioned me?"
The others nodded. "Of course."
One student recalled the story. "It happened during the first-year parent meeting. Someone noticed Chengyu's dad leaving another classroom and asked why he was attending a different student's meeting. So Chengyu explained. He said the transfer student was actually his younger brother. He also told us you were often in the hospital when you were little. Whenever school was on break, he'd spend the entire day with you. He read stories to you, played games with you, and every time his family visited a temple, he'd pray for your recovery and bring you a good luck charm. He said you're much healthier now. You're just quiet, a little shy, and always buried in your books."
The students smiled warmly. "We thought it was really touching. You two must have been very close."
Xiazi lowered his gaze. Until that moment, he had believed Chengyu had forgotten every memory they shared as children.
He also realized something else. Chengyu could have easily told everyone the truth about the misunderstanding between them. If he had, Xiazi knew the entire school would probably have turned against him. But Chengyu never said a word.
That evening, after returning home, Xiazi opened a small drawer beside his bed. Inside was the worn good luck charm Chengyu had given him years ago. He carefully held it in both hands, studying it for a long time. A faint smile appeared on his face.
Then, gathering every bit of courage he had, Xiazi walked upstairs.