Chapter 9 Getting out of control

 Huai Xu and Jing Zheng xuan were not natives of Jin City; 

their homes were in the neighboring Yuan City, about an hour and a half away by car.

Huai Xu had the habit of falling asleep the moment he got into a vehicle. 

No matter what kind of car it was, as soon as he sat down, 

he would get drowsy, as if he hadn’t slept in ten days—even in the passenger seat of a sports car.

So, as soon as they got in the car, Jing Zheng xuan instinctively took out a blanket 

and prepared his shoulder for Huai Xu to lean on.

The moment the car started, Huai Xu leaned against Jing Zheng xuan’s shoulder, 

falling asleep faster than if he had taken a sleeping pill.

Jing Zheng xuan thoughtfully draped the blanket over him and 

gently rested his head against Huai Xu’s.

The soft, smooth strands of hair carried a faint peach scent, 

lingering at the tip of Jing Zheng xuan’s nose. 

He took a deep breath, but it did little to dispel the subtle frustration simmering in his chest.

The bag beside him belonged to Huai Xu, and he couldn’t resist opening it. 

Inside, he immediately noticed two books that didn’t belong to Huai Xu. 

He took them out and flipped one open, seeing the name “Xie Kaiyan” written on the title page.

The handwriting exuded a calculated elegance.

Jing Zheng xuan lowered his eyelids, remaining silent for a moment before putting the books back 

and zipping the bag shut.

It wasn’t that he didn’t respect Huai Xu’s privacy—

it was just that, after all these years, their lives had been intertwined in this way. 

Even Huai Xu’s bag was usually organized by Jing Zheng xuan, 

so checking for forgotten items wasn’t unusual.

They were just class notes.

Rubbing his temples, Jing Zheng xuan adjusted the blanket and naturally held Huai Xu’s hand. 

Feeling the delicate, slender fingers in his palm slightly improved his mood.

The driver drove steadily, familiar with the route. 

Even though it was a Friday, they avoided the evening rush hour and 

arrived precisely on time at a well-known villa district in Yuan City, 

rumored to be home to the wealthy and influential.

The villas were nestled between the mountains and the sea, offering stunning scenery.

The car stopped before the massive iron gates. 

The system automatically recognized the license plate and opened the gates, 

allowing the vehicle to proceed down the asphalt road lined with lush greenery.

After driving for a few more minutes, 

the Phantom stopped in front of two villas situated at the highest point.

Jing Zheng xuan gently pinched Huai Xu’s cheek. 

“Ah Xu, we’re home.”

Huai Xu mumbled in response, slowly waking up as he blinked open his eyes.

The driver opened the car door for them, and they got out one after the other.

The car had stopped in front of Huai Xu’s house. 

Compared to his own home, Jing Zheng xuan actually spent more time at Huai Xu’s place, 

something both families were long accustomed to.

Without even glancing at his own house, Jing Zheng xuan walked straight into the Huai residence.

Huai Xu’s mother, Huai Mo, was delighted to see them. 

“Ah Xu, Ah Xuan, why are you home today?”

Huai Xu walked over to hug his mother.  

“I missed you, so I came back.”

Standing behind him, Jing Zheng xuan nodded politely. 

“Hello, Aunt Mo.”

“Ah, you must be tired. Take a rest. I’ll ask Aunt Liu to bring you some snacks,” 

Huai Mo said with a smile, glancing fondly at both boys before leaving.

Relaxing on the couch, Huai Xu turned to Jing Zhen gxuan. 

“Aren’t you going home to check in?”

Jing Zhengxuan shrugged. 

“No need. They’ll come over.”

Thinking about it, Huai Xu agreed. 

Since starting college, every time Jing Zheng xuan returned home, 

he came straight to his house. He was practically part of the family.

Before long, Huai Mo and Aunt Liu returned with snacks.

The three of them sat together, chatting about amusing things at school, resembling a close-knit family of three.

Huai Mo had built her business from scratch. 

After becoming successful, she met Huai Xu’s father, 

only to discover his ulterior motives of seizing her assets.

Without hesitation, she divorced him and collected evidence to send him to prison.

To avoid harassment from his peculiar relatives, Huai Mo moved with five-year-old Huai Xu to this neighborhood. 

Not only did she sever ties with the ex-husband’s family, 

but she also met the wonderful neighbors next door.

She often felt she had chosen the perfect place. The decision had even given her son the best possible friend—someone who cared for him more than she did, like a blood brother.

As they were chatting, Huai Mo received a call, and shortly after, Xi Qing arrived.

Xi Qing, Jing Zheng xuan’s mother, was a well-mannered lady from a prominent family, 

with a straightforward personality. 

She and Huai Mo shared a close bond and often went shopping, 

attended beauty treatments, or did charity work together.

Seeing Xi Qing, Huai Xu stood up politely. 

“Aunt Qing.”

“Ah!” 

Xi Qing greeted him warmly and gave him a hug. 

“I was just thinking about you, and here you are. It’s great to see you.”

“I missed you too,” 

Huai Xu replied with a smile.

Jing Zhengxuan also stood up and greeted her with a simple, emotionless, 

“Mom.”

Xi Qing glanced at him and responded with a cool, 

“Hmm, you’re here too.”

Xi Qing adored obedient, well-behaved children, the ideal example being someone like Huai Xu.

 Unfortunately, Jing Zheng xuan was the exact opposite—

rebellious, stubborn, and hard to manage.

Despite all their attempts, Jing Zheng xuan’s parents could never control him. 

They had resigned themselves to letting him be, but then Huai Xu appeared in his life.

From then on, everything changed.

At first, the change wasn’t noticeable. 

Jing Zheng xuan, who had always disliked his peers, simply started spending more time with Huai Xu.

 However, Huai Xu, being the kind of child everyone adored, never lacked friends. 

And since young Jing Zheng xuan had an unruly and domineering personality, 

Huai Xu wasn’t particularly inclined to spend time with him.

Being rejected by Huai Xu left Jing Zheng xuan feeling disheartened, 

but Xi Qing saw an opportunity in this. 

She gently suggested to him that Huai Xu liked children who were polite and well-behaved.

Surprisingly, this advice worked wonders. 

Jing Zheng xuan made visible efforts to change his behavior—

at least when he was around Huai Xu.

Unfortunately, this transformation was only surface-level. Behind the scenes, 

Jing Zheng xuan remained as headstrong and defiant as ever, often leaving his parents exasperated.

As time went on, Xi Qing grew fonder of Huai Xu. 

The more she looked at him, the more she liked him, wishing her own son could be more like him.

The two families sat together, chatting about various topics. Shortly after, 

Jing Zheng xuan’s father, Jing Heheng, arrived, having finished his work for the day.

Jing Heheng was the epitome of a gentleman from a distinguished family—

polite and composed but naturally reserved. 

He greeted everyone briefly before taking a seat beside Xi Qing, acting as a quiet observer.

When he was younger, Huai Xu had wondered if Uncle Jing didn’t like him. 

That changed one year on his birthday when Jing Heheng gifted him a full set of limited-edition dinosaur figurines, 

which filled an entire display cabinet.

From then on, he realized that Uncle Jing, much like Jing Zheng xuan, 

had a cold exterior but a warm heart. 

Despite appearing distant, they both knew how to care for others.

The five of them sat and chatted for a while, 

though it was mainly the two mothers and Huai Xu leading the conversation 

while the Jing father and son listened quietly.

After a while, dinner was ready, and everyone moved to the dining room.

The dinner table was filled with dishes that catered to both Huai Xu and Jing Zheng xuan’s tastes, 

while also considering Xi Qing and Jing Heheng’s preferences. 

The five of them ate and talked, feeling as close as a family.

After dinner, Jing Zheng xuan suggested taking Huai Xu for a walk in the garden.

Because the two families were so 

close, they had merged their gardens into one large space filled with various exotic plants and flowers, 

all meticulously maintained by professional gardeners.

Before heading out, Jing Zheng xuan carefully applied mosquito repellent on Huai Xu 

and even added mosquito patches, making sure he was fully protected.

Huai Xu’s skin was delicate and pale, and a single mosquito bite 

would leave a red, swollen mark that looked alarming. 

Because of this, Jing Zheng xuan was always particularly cautious.

After a leisurely walk around the garden, Jing Zheng xuan led Huai Xu back upstairs. 

Just as they reached the stairs, Xi Qing called out, 

“Zheng xuan, come home with me. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“…” 

Jing Zheng xuan paused mid-step, standing on the stairs as he looked at his mother. 

His voice was calm but heavy. 

“What is it?”

This time, Jing Heheng spoke, a rare occurrence. 

“If your mother asks you to come home, just go.”

Jing Zheng xuan’s expression hardened, but he didn’t move.

Sensing the tension, Huai Xu patted his shoulder reassuringly. 

“Listen to Uncle and Aunt. Go home.”

After a moment of silence, Jing Zheng xuan finally relented and walked downstairs, 

leaving with his parents.

Watching them leave, Huai Xu joined his mother in the living room to watch a movie.

Time spent with family, even doing something as simple as watching a film, 

always felt warm and comforting.

When the movie ended, Huai Xu and his mother said goodnight, 

and he returned to his room to rest.

It was around ten o’clock when, having finished his shower, 

he was about to blow-dry his hair. 

That’s when the door to his bedroom unexpectedly opened.

It was Jing Zheng xuan.

Surprised, Huai Xu asked, 

“What’s going on? Did something upset you?”

Jing Zheng xuan’s face was stiff, his cold brown eyes shadowed and unreadable. 

He seemed both frustrated and gloomy, emotions swirling in a way that was hard to discern.

Seeing the concern on Huai Xu’s face, Jing Zheng xuan froze for a moment. 

Then he rubbed his face and quickly regained his usual composure.

Without saying a word, he picked up the hairdryer, 

gently pulled Huai Xu over to the mirror, and said in a calm tone, 

“It’s nothing.”

“…?” 

Huai Xu blinked, puzzled. 

“You’re acting so weird. Are you sure there’s nothing you’re hiding from me?”

“It’s really nothing.” 

Jing Zheng xuan didn’t give him another chance to ask, 

turning on the hairdryer and carefully drying his hair.

Through the mirror, Huai Xu observed Jing Zheng xuan’s quiet and focused expression. 

After some thought, he decided not to press further.

No matter how close their relationship was, everyone needed their own space. 

Jing Zheng xuan wasn’t obligated to share everything with him.

Letting the matter drop, Huai Xu waited until his hair was dry 

before checking the wound on Jing Zheng xuan’s arm. 

Once he confirmed it was healing well, he nudged him toward the bathroom to take a shower.

Their rooms were practically shared spaces, filled with each other’s belongings. 

If it weren’t for their differences in size and height, they could have literally 

“worn the same pants,” as the saying went.

Of course, that had never actually been possible, even as children. 

Jing Zheng xuan had always been bigger.

It was a mystery how they grew so differently despite eating almost the same food. 

Jing Zheng xuan had grown to a towering 193 cm, while he had only reached 180 cm. 

No amount of milk seemed to help, and the disparity in physique was even more striking.

While Huai Xu had a slender, student-like build with a hint of muscle, his delicate appearance often gave off a fragile impression.

In contrast, Jing Zheng xuan’s physique was extraordinary. 

With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and perfectly sculpted muscles, 

he looked like a masterpiece from Michelangelo’s chisel.

But appearances could be deceiving—he got injured far too often.

Sometimes, Huai Xu couldn’t help feeling smug. 

While he was naturally frail, at least he wasn’t as “fragile” as Jing Zheng xuan.

Lying on the bed, he waited for Jing Zheng xuan to finish showering so he could blow-dry his hair. 

But perhaps it was the long day at school and the journey back home—

he drifted off to sleep before he realized it.

When Jing Zheng xuan emerged from the bathroom, he found Huai Xu already sound asleep.

It was only at moments like this that he allowed himself to stare at Huai Xu unreservedly.

Quietly, he climbed into bed and gently pulled the sleeping figure into his arms.

The peachy scent still lingered, intoxicating as ever. 

Yet some feelings were beginning to spiral out of control...

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