Chapter 24 Chapter 24: My Weird Knowledge Just Increased Part 2
Xu Yecheng opened his laptop—and instantly remembered he still had online courses to finish.
He sighed, tidied his desk a bit, logged into his MOOC account, and started the video.
The whirring of the hair dryer from the bathroom gradually faded. He Xiaohan stepped out just as his phone rang. The ringtone—a jazzy tune—sounded oddly catchy to Xu Yecheng.
He watched as He Xiaohan picked up the call.
The light in He Xiaohan’s eyes instantly softened.
“What’s up?” He Xiaohan sat down in a chair, his gaze drifting toward the floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, the sky was a flawless, crystalline blue.
“Yeah… it’s been a while… Hope you’re well. I’m doing fine.”
His usually clear voice had dropped a register, now rippling like gentle waves—soft, warm, and tender.
Xu Yecheng furrowed his brow, curious about who He Xiaohan could be talking to.
He Xiaohan took a bite of his black wheat bun, sipped some soy milk, and just then, Liu Xianlin stood up and opened the large window.
Xu Yecheng put on his headphones, minimized the lecture video to a corner of the screen, and opened Bilibili.
...
He Xiaohan swiped his ID card to exit the dorm building. He wore a pure white T-shirt and white shorts, the hems delicately embroidered with a touch of teal. Scattered across his shirt were faint, water-blue letters.
Sunlight poured over him from above. His pale skin—almost translucent—glowed under the summer sun. The striking all-white outfit drew plenty of admiring glances.
“Hey, classmate! Can I add you on WeChat? Just wanna get to know you!” A girl, tugging her friend along, appeared in He Xiaohan’s path.
He Xiaohan smiled—genuinely, beautifully.
“Sorry, I already have a girlfriend.”
His voice remained calm, though it carried a hint of summer’s lazy warmth.
“Oh… uh… I see. Sorry to bother you!” The girl’s cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly pulled her friend away, scurrying off in embarrassment.
He Xiaohan walked into the subway station. After a fifteen-minute ride, he emerged onto the street and entered a nearby fruit shop. He bought cherries, oranges, and green grapes—all her favorites.
Bag in hand, he entered a residential compound, easily navigating to the innermost building. He took the elevator up and stopped in front of a door.
He knocked.
“Coming!” a woman’s voice called from inside.
A moment later, the door opened. The woman wore a thin sleep shirt and a messy bun. She was lovely, though exhaustion shadowed her eyes.
“You actually came,” she said, her face brightening with genuine delight.
They looked about the same age, yet her demeanor carried a maturity—perhaps even weariness—that He Xiaohan lacked.
He Xiaohan offered a gentle smile. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to visit?” He handed her the fruit bag. “Here, I brought you some.”
She beamed and took it. “Thanks~”
She fetched a pair of slippers for him. “Come on in!”
Just as she spoke, a baby’s cry echoed from inside.
A flicker of helplessness crossed He Xiaohan’s face. He slipped off his shoes and stepped in. The woman had already disappeared into the bedroom.
“Shh, shh… what’s wrong, sweetie?” He heard her coo softly.
He Xiaohan walked to the doorway and saw her cradling the infant in her arms.
He moved to the living room and took in the surroundings—her home. A man’s clothes lay draped over the sofa. An infant crib sat in the corner. Family photos hung on the wall. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating a potted succulent on the sill. He Xiaohan stared at it, but his eyes grew distant, his thoughts drifting far away.
The woman’s name was Shu Tingyun—twenty years old, the same age as He Xiaohan.
She emerged from the bedroom, baby in arms, and sat down beside him.
“Little Su’s been so fussy lately,” Shu Tingyun sighed, clearly worn out.
He Xiaohan’s gaze fell on the infant’s calm face. The baby’s wide, dark eyes stared back—and in them, He Xiaohan saw echoes of Shu Tingyun herself.
Little Wen Su looked at He Xiaohan with innocent curiosity, the corners of her eyes still slightly red from crying.
Then, she smiled—revealing tiny white nubs: her first milk teeth.
A small, involuntary curve touched He Xiaohan’s lips.
“She looks just like you,” he said softly.
Shu Tingyun chuckled and gently tapped the baby’s nose.
“She’s all smiles now, but this little demon drives me crazy.”
“Ah!” Wen Su squealed, waving her tiny arms.
He Xiaohan blinked.
“Give her your hand,” Shu Tingyun said.
He extended his finger. Wen Su grabbed it firmly. Despite her size, her grip was surprisingly strong.
“That’s your Uncle’s hand,” Shu Tingyun murmured tenderly.
He Xiaohan’s eyes softened with quiet compassion.
She no longer resisted this tiny life in her arms.
Watching mother and child, He Xiaohan felt a wave of bittersweet emotion.
*The girl who once declared she’d marry me… is now someone else’s wife.*
He exhaled quietly.
“How’ve you been lately?” he asked.
“Pretty good—except Wen Su cries all night,” Shu Tingyun said, tilting her head with a helpless expression.
“How’s college life?” she asked in return.
“It’s alright. Met a lot of interesting people,” He Xiaohan replied, that harmless, polite smile returning to his face.
“Got a girlfriend yet?” Her tone turned subtly tentative.
“No,” he said simply. “What about you? What are your plans for the future?”
Her expression darkened instantly.
She looked down at Wen Su in her arms, her brow furrowing.
“I… I really hate this life. I never liked that man,” she whispered, her voice trembling with suppressed hurt. “But I can’t leave. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to support Wen Su.”
Wen Su, sensing her mother’s distress, blinked up at her and reached a tiny hand toward her face.
“The best thing right now is to stay put,” He Xiaohan said after a deep breath. “You’ve come this far. Wen Su needs a complete family.”
“He Xiaohan… but I’m so tired,” Shu Tingyun’s voice wavered, tears threatening to spill. “I have dreams. Things I want to do…”
He Xiaohan looked at the baby in her arms—still smiling, blissfully unaware.
“Wait until Wen Su’s a little older,” he said gently. “Then you can chase what you want. It’s not too late.”
She looked at him, eyes glistening. “…Can we ever go back to how we were before?”
He Xiaohan paused. Then, with that same gentle, practiced smile, he replied:
“Probably not.”
Wow this is quite sad, and the last sentence I think is quite cruel, but it is also necessary.