The next day started like any other. The sky was cloudy, as if the world outside wanted to mirror the confusion inside Nu Yang.He arrived at school a little earlier than usual. The gate was still open, but only a few students had arrived. Maybe it was the first time he allowed himself to walk without rushing.
When he got to the classroom, he noticed Xiao Xing was already there.
Sitting in his corner, he carefully organized his pens on the desk. How could someone be so methodical first thing in the morning?
Nu Yang approached slowly.
— Hey.
He said almost in a whisper. Xiao Xing startled, dropping a pen on the floor.
— Ah, sorry, I…
Xiao Xing quickly bent down to pick up the pen, without even looking at him.
— Are you okay?— I'm fine. I-I just like to get here early.
Nu Yang scratched the back of his neck, not knowing how to continue the conversation. He wasn't good with words, much less with people. But there was something about Xiao that made him want to try.
— About yesterday…
Yang started, looking out the window.
— You don't need to thank me. I just did what anyone should have done.
Xiao Xing finally looked him in the eyes.
— No one has ever done that for me.— That's because no one pays enough attention.
An uncomfortable silence settled, but it wasn't bad. It was… calm. For the first time, Yang felt that silence didn't suffocate him.
. . .
At recess, Nu Xian surprised him by sitting next to him on the back stairs.
— You and the new guy are close now?
He raised an eyebrow.
— Since when do you care?
— I'm just saying maybe… you're different.
— Different?
She bit a piece of the apple she was holding.
— Yeah. You're… less of a 'grump'.— Thanks, I guess.
— I'm serious. — She said, now in a softer tone. — When you were little, you smiled more. Then… you changed. And now, suddenly, you're protecting cute little kids on the terrace.
Nu Yang blushed without realizing.
— Shut up, Xian.
She laughed, like she hadn't in a long time.
— Just… be careful. Broken people recognize other broken people. That can be beautiful, but also dangerous.
He didn't answer. He just looked at the cloudy sky, as if searching for an answer among the clouds.
. . .
Later, leaving school, he found Xiao Xing standing near the gate, alone, holding a faded blue umbrella.
— Looks like it's going to rain.
Yang commented.
— I noticed that too.
Nu Xian left with some friends; she didn't want to scare them with her brother's corpse-like face.
Seeing Xiao alone, Nu Yang felt a certain urge to protect him, remembering what happened on the terrace.
He seemed a bit nervous, and even stammering, he ended up saying:
— Would you like me to walk with you?
— What did you say? I didn't hear right.
— Since we're friends, I thought that's what friends do.
— Friends, huh? That sounds more like a date request.
He started laughing.
— It's nothing like that, really!
He was really nervous, maybe a little flushed.
— I know, I'm just kidding.
— That's not something you say, you know?
— I apologize.
That made Nu Yang laugh sincerely.
. . .
As they walked under the umbrella, too small for two, their shoulders brushed discreetly.
— Do you like stars?
Xiao Xing asked out of nowhere.
Nu Yang thought for a moment.
— I never really paid much attention.
— You should. When we feel lonely… sometimes looking at the sky helps. It's like they say we're alive.
Yang looked at him sideways, surprised by the sensitivity hidden behind that fragile appearance.
— Maybe… we're closer to the stars than we think. — he murmured.
And for the first time, Xiao Xing smiled for real. Nu Yang didn't know why, but seeing him smile brought calm to his heart.
It was as if the storm surrounding him had dissipated.
. . .
They walked in silence for a few more minutes, until Xiao Xing suddenly stopped.
— This is it.
He pointed to the gate of a gated community, with guards at the entrance and carefully trimmed trees along the sidewalk.
Nu Yang looked around. It was a wealthy neighborhood, surrounded by big houses, with perfect gardens and impeccable facades. A sharp contrast to his own reality.
— You live here?
He asked, surprised.
Xiao Xing nodded slightly.
— Yeah… my parents work a lot, so I spend most of the time alone.
Nu Yang hesitated before answering.
— It must be… too quiet.
Xiao Xing gave a half-smile, somewhat melancholy.
— Silence doesn't mean peace.
Yang understood immediately. On the outside, everything was perfect. Inside, maybe not so much.
— And you? You live with your sister, right?
— Yes… since…
He froze. The rest of the sentence hung in the air, heavy. Xiao Xing didn't force it.
— Since our mother… left.
It was the first time Nu Yang said it out loud since the funeral. It sounded strange. As if the words had been kept too long.
Xiao Xing looked at him kindly, saying nothing. Sometimes, silence understands more than a thousand sentences.
— It must be hard. — he finally said, sincerely.
— It is. But living is too, right?
Xiao Xing smiled sideways, like someone who'd heard that before.
— Yeah, living is.
A distant thunder cracked in the sky. The rain fell harder, hitting the umbrella like little explosions.
— Run inside. You'll catch a cold. — Yang said.
— And you?
— I live nearby.
A lie. But Xiao Xing didn't question it. He just ran toward the condominium and, before entering the gate, shouted:
— See you tomorrow!
Nu Yang just raised his hand in a wave.
. . .
On the way back, wet and thoughtful, he looked up. No stars in sight — just clouds, heavy like memories.
But somehow, his chest ached less.
Maybe… that's what Xiao meant.
Even hidden, the stars are still there. Waiting for the sky to clear.
Author's Note
So, did you like the chapter? Nu Yang and Xiao Xing are already showing that this friendship is going to mean a lot for both of them. Despite their differences and secrets, they share one thing: the will to move forward.
Stay tuned because the next chapter is coming with lots of surprises! Thanks for reading so far — come back soon to see what happens next.
Cheers,Lu Kawang!