The Guardian

Last night, a rainstorm had just ended, and the asphalt road was still soaked.
The car drove at a moderate speed, neither fast nor slow. Along both sides of the road, large banyan trees and the city's concrete jungle flashed by. The morning sun streamed through the car window, illuminating the sharp eyebrows and narrow, long eyes of the man in the driver's seat.

Xie Qi Zhi fastened his seatbelt, still a little dazed, unable to believe that the person in front of him wasn't some difficult stranger, but Ying Huai himself.
He was still the same as before; when he didn't smile, his features were so sharp they exuded a coldness that could hurt others. But there also seemed to be something different; his formerly soft black hair was now shorter and neater. The nonchalance and recklessness that many teachers had criticized had also quietly vanished.
Over the years, he must have gone through many hardships, but these experiences had subtly refined him, making his cold, almost indifferent, appearance even more utterly captivating.
It was indeed Ying Huai.

Approaching the city center, traffic suddenly became congested, a seemingly endless line of cars.
The car slowly stopped. Ying Huai placed his hands on the steering wheel, his fingers unconsciously tapping twice. He didn't turn on any music; the car was so quiet one could clearly hear the faint friction and the sound of wind from the air conditioner.
There was joy, but after years of separation, the atmosphere was a little awkward.
Xie Qi Zhi pursed his lips, finally realizing he should start a conversation and ask him a few questions.
But what to say?
He stared blankly at the air conditioner vent, hesitating for a bit too long.

Ying Huai glanced at him, his gaze also stopping at the vent, then unexpectedly reached out and turned off the synchronized air conditioning mode for the driver and passenger seats. Xie Qi Zhi froze, about to say he wasn't cold, when his chest uncontrollably tightened, and a few soft coughs escaped his throat.
He covered his mouth with the back of his hand. Noticing Ying Huai looking at him again, he quickly adjusted the fan speed for the passenger seat. The cold air brushing Xie Qi Zhi's face immediately became much gentler.
"Thank you," Xie Qi Zhi said softly.
Ying Huai no longer looked at him, only saying, "If you're uncomfortable, just say so directly."
Xie Qi Zhi pursed his lips, silent for a few seconds, then softly replied, "Oh."

Xie Qi Zhi's health was not good. Since childhood, he was like a medicine jar; he spent more time in the hospital than in school, entering the hospital as frequently as major school exams. To those who knew him, this was already too normal, no longer a secret.
An ordinary person, at this point, whether they cared or not, would outwardly ask about his health, what medicine he was taking recently, if there were any new developments from foreign pharmaceutical companies...
Only Ying Huai, despite his much calmer exterior, seemed to have made little progress in social finesse.

His brother once said that Ying Huai was like a robot fully equipped with defense capabilities; if anyone gave a command outside his pre-set program, Ying Huai would not react, even too lazy to glance.
It was indeed true.
However, there were exceptions. Even if Ying Huai maintained an indifferent expression towards everyone and everything... he would respond to Xie Zhi Lan.
Among ten thousand people who spoke to Ying Huai, he only responded to Xie Zhi Lan.
Xie Zhi Lan was Xie Qi Zhi's brother, Ying Huai's best friend of 15 years, and also his first love and ex-boyfriend.

Xie Qi Zhi took his medicine with the mineral water bottle Ying Huai gave him, clutching the bottle, and suddenly spoke, "I didn't know the phone number my brother gave me was yours."
Even though six years ago they were so close they seemed to share a pair of pants, that was six years ago. Since Ying Huai's family went bankrupt, his father and his mistress died in a car accident, and he returned to the country only to face shareholders colluding to pin all responsibility on the deceased. The real estate and investments under his father's name were seized by the court and auctioned off to pay debts.
At that time, the media was filled with news of the past glory and horrifying collapse of a billion-dollar enterprise. Below the company building, it was crowded with pitiful people holding banners, blocking roads and demanding payment...
After that, Ying Huai cut off contact with all his previous social connections.
As a young master from a wealthy family who once lived for pleasure, Ying Huai's social circle was surprisingly simple. Most of it could be summed up in three words: "Xie Zhi Lan."
He and Xie Qi Zhi's brother had broken up.
Xie Qi Zhi also became collateral damage.

He still remembered when he was just over ten years old, his mind still immature, he was deeply infatuated with this cold older brother. He thought he was tall, long-legged, and so handsome that he stood out. Even without adding emotional points, he could rival his brother. So, whenever he was free, he would use his watch-phone to bother Ying Huai.
Ying Huai never responded to him. Before breaking up with Xie Qi Zhi's brother, he reluctantly replied once or twice just for show. But after the breakup, he became much more ruthless, first half a year of coldness, then directly using two capital letters "TD" to crush Xie Qi Zhi's tender heart.
TD = 退订 = Unsubscribe, here meaning "stop messaging."
Xie Qi Zhi angrily blocked and deleted him, never expecting that after several years, a once arrogant "Brother Ying" would one day be ordered by his brother to be a driver.
Indeed, the wheel of fortune turns; heaven spares no one.
He just didn't know when he had reconnected with his brother, and how much of it was old flames rekindling...
To make his brother so easily entrust him to Ying Huai, it didn't look like just a normal friendship.

Ying Huai said nothing.
A random remark that would never receive a response from him; Xie Qi Zhi was used to it and began to bring up old matters, "I sent you so many messages back then, and you never replied. Today you're willing to pick me up at the airport, it must be out of respect for my brother, right?"
When he said the first half of the sentence, Ying Huai turned to look at him, his gaze meeting those clear grey-blue pupils.
Xie Qi Zhi smiled at him, his pupils clear, his expression completely unburdened: "Brother Ying, am I wrong?"
The traffic ahead was still congested. Ying Huai remained silent, finally giving a perfunctory "Mhm."
He squeezed the plastic bottle, which made a crackling sound. Though hiding his displeasure, a bright smile still bloomed on his face: "Are you two back together? Who initiated it? My brother? Or you?"
This time, Ying Huai answered very quickly.
"Xie Qi Zhi," he said without turning his head, "That's none of your business."

His grey-blue eyes suddenly widened, revealing the awkwardness of being cut off, his delicate eyelashes fluttering. Amidst the almost cold silence, Xie Qi Zhi lowered his eyes, saying nothing more, only his pale eyelids imprinted with a red streak from the setting sun.
After half an hour of silence, the distance to the east gate of Ximing University was less than ten minutes.
Xie Qi Zhi tilted his head to look out the window and suddenly asked, "Do you hate me a lot?"
Ying Huai paused for a moment before speaking: "No."
"No" here meant not hating, not liking, and not caring.
That's why he saw but didn't reply, not bothering whether the atmosphere became awkward or not, because he simply didn't need to care about his feelings.
Xie Qi Zhi understood that the identity of "Xie Zhi Lan's younger brother" that he used to sulk was precisely the only reason he could meet Ying Huai.
He softly "Mhm"-ed, turned his head, and smiled at Ying Huai: "That's good then."

Ying Huai glanced at his watch, rarely explaining, "After leaving Yi Zhou, I changed my phone number. I saw that message a long time ago."
Xie Qi Zhi rested his chin on his hand, looking out the window, and said understandingly, "Even if you didn't change your number, you wouldn't have bothered with me."
Ying Huai indeed didn't defend himself: "Sorry."
His personality had always been like that, unable to say two comforting words, rather hurting others than speaking against his heart.
"It's okay," Xie Qi Zhi replied, lowering his eyes, "I was childish back then, saying all sorts of silly things. It's normal for you not to pay attention."
Ying Huai then said, "It's alright."
"What do you mean 'it's alright'?" Xie Qi Zhi looked up, turned his head, and deliberately asked, "Then what's 'not alright,' and what's 'very alright'?"
"My mood was very bad during that time, so I found you annoying," Ying Huai's tone was calm, "Now, it's alright."
Xie Qi Zhi understood that his patience in talking to him like this was already a rare trait, but the dissatisfaction in his heart couldn't be appeased. He couldn't help but retort, "I'm sorry, I spammed you with too many messages and bothered your eyes."

"Back then, you..." Ying Huai turned the steering wheel around a bend, stopping opposite the east gate of Ximing University.
Xie Qi Zhi didn't understand: "What about me back then?"
Ying Huai frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but then abruptly stopped: "Nothing. You've arrived, get out of the car."

Xie Qi Zhi didn't ask further. He unfastened his seatbelt, pulled his backpack from the back seat, hugged it, and said, "You didn't just come here to give me a ride, did you? My brother asked you to help take care of me?"
Ying Huai's expression showed a hint of surprise, but he didn't admit it. However, in many cases, silence was the answer.
"I already guessed it. You probably aren't happy about it either."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been silent until now.

Xie Qi Zhi lowered his head, his hair falling to obscure his beautiful eyes. A section of his fair wrist was exposed from the wide shirt sleeve, bearing needle marks.
"I also think it's best if you don't bother with me," he said, pulling down his sleeve to cover the back of his hand, then added with an emotionless expression, "Ying Huai, my illness is very troublesome."
He was mixed-race, with distinct foreign features: strangely pale skin, light-colored hair, and natural blue eyes. Only his facial contours retained the classical gentleness of the East. Due to delayed development, his appearance was somewhat more immature than his peers, but his face was much paler and more haggard.
Fate had bestowed upon him astonishing beauty from his parents' genetic combination, and at the same time, fairly granted him a life full of wounds.

"My brother wants me to stay in Yi Zhou because the medical standards there are high, and the doctors are familiar with my condition, which is convenient for treatment. But here... it's too far, and he can't take care of me. He knows I'm doing it on purpose, that I'm stubborn, clearly knowing he can't rest assured leaving me alone."
Xie Qi Zhi's voice was very soft, carrying a hint of small grievance, "When I saw your number, I already guessed what he meant, I just didn't expect it to be you."
Ying Huai listened silently, then asked him, "Is there a problem if it's me?"
"I'm an adult now, I don't need something called a guardian," Xie Qi Zhi looked up with his grey-blue eyes, deliberately emphasizing coldly, "And I especially don't need you to be my guardian."
Ying Huai raised an eyebrow: "Did he tell you that you have veto power?"
Xie Qi Zhi didn't back down: "Did he tell you I'm a good boy, who will listen to you obediently, follow you around, and call you 'Brother'?"
"Not exactly," Ying Huai said, "Your brother just told me you've always liked me, and you'd definitely be happy to see me again."

Xie Qi Zhi was stunned, his cheeks suddenly flushed hot, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance rising stronger than ever.
He gritted his teeth, opened the door, and got out of the car, replying to Ying Huai with a loud slam of the door.
Why? Xie Qi Zhi couldn't understand. Taking on such a troublesome patient, a task that was time-consuming and thankless, what other benefit could there be besides pleasing his brother and putting his mind at ease?
Wasn't he the one who hated trouble the most? Why did he agree? Did he like his brother that much?!

Xie Qi Zhi was fuming. He hadn't gone far when he suddenly remembered he hadn't taken his luggage, so he turned back.
Ying Huai's car was still in the same spot, not having left.
He suspiciously walked halfway around the car, returning to stand in front of Ying Huai, and tapped on the window: "Open the trunk."
Ying Huai was clearly waiting for him. He rolled down the window and said, "No need to take it. Just go in and complete the procedures, then come out and wait. I'll pick you up in an hour."
Xie Qi Zhi glared: "I said I don't want to!"
"I also said," Ying Huai placed his left hand on the car door, calmly declaring, "You have no veto power, you can only listen to me."
Xie Qi Zhi turned and walked away.

Through the rearview mirror, Ying Huai looked at his sulking nape, feeling a slight urge to smile, which he suppressed by rubbing his nose.
"Xie Qi Zhi," he reminded, "You'd better not kick my car. I'm not your biological brother. If you make me angry, I'll really hit you."
"Xie Zhi Lan isn't my biological brother either!" Xie Qi Zhi retracted his leg, turned and glared furiously at Ying Huai, "I was picked up by their family! Do you know why you're the one picking me up and not him? Because my second biological brother is coming back, he's the real son! Instead of taking on a half-dead burden like me, why don't you go see his biological brother? Maybe there's a chance for a broken mirror to be reunited!"
"Qi Qi," Ying Huai stared at him, his voice also deepening, "Instead of sulking at me, why don't you say those exact words to your brother and see if he hits you."