Chapter 18

After washing his hair, Xi Wan felt much calmer. If one overlooked Zhu Shiyan’s stiff body, restless hands, and nervous expression while washing his hair, the process had gone fairly smoothly.

Zhu Shiyan beckoned to him, “Come here, let me dry your hair.”

Xi Wan obediently walked over and sat on the carpet in front of him.

During his hospital stay, Zhu Shiyan had hired a barber to trim his hair. The messy long locks had been cut into a neat, refreshing short style, still damp and resting on his forehead.

Zhu Shiyan ran his palm through the hair, pleased with the texture, then stood up and took two items from his bag, handing them to Xi Wan.

“This is for you.”

Xi Wan took them with a puzzled look.

“It contains the letter of disownment from your father, along with your ID card and household registration booklet.”

Zhu Shiyan sat cross-legged beside him and said, “Once you turn eighteen, you can transfer your household registration independently. From then on, you’ll have no relation to those two.”

Xi Wan stared blankly at him.

“Are you dazed?” Zhu Shiyan couldn’t resist stroking his head again. “With these, that scumbag can no longer threaten you. If you want to change your name or go anywhere you please, you can.”

Though the disownment letter might lack real legal weight, having it meant that wherever Xi Wan went, at least he wouldn’t be shackled or condemned by moral obligation.

Xi Wan clenched his fingers tightly, his fingertips whitening with force, his voice hoarse. “Didn’t he make things difficult for you?”

Zhu Shiyan smiled. “I told you, my sister is formidable. This is nothing to her. Don’t worry.”

Joy and relief slowly radiated from his heart throughout his body. Xi Wan couldn’t believe that what he had longed for but never obtained was now so easily placed before him—not as a life-or-death struggle, not with screaming, but simply handed to him on an ordinary afternoon.

In a daze, he even felt as if he were dreaming.

He had tried countless times to escape that home, but Xi Kuo held all his documents and controlled his every move. If he disobeyed, Xi Kuo would make a scene at his school or workplace until everyone knew and branded him a misbehaving troublemaker.

When he was in middle school, he tried to run away but had no money or ID, so he couldn’t get far. He was caught at dusk and locked up for a whole month, nearly losing half his life and almost unable to return to school.

He wanted to call the police, but Xi Kuo dismissed it as childish misbehavior, saying he just needed to be disciplined properly at home to be brought back easily.

The word “father” seemed to grant him a natural shield to do as he pleased.

But now, these things lay right in front of him, within reach.

Xi Wan’s fingers began trembling uncontrollably.

“There’s more,” Zhu Shiyan pondered for a moment, having thought carefully about how to say it. “When my sister got these, she also looked into your father. He... well, he’s committed quite a few crimes. I want to hand the evidence over to the police. What do you think?”

“And your mother... I don’t know how you feel about her...”

No matter what, they were still his parents. Zhu Shiyan worried that being too harsh might hurt Xi Wan’s heart, so he wanted to ask for his opinion.

“I don’t care,” Xi Wan tightened his fingers and gritted his teeth. “I want them to get the punishment they deserve.”

That man beat and scolded him at will; that woman was no better—coldly watching, abetting the wickedness. As a child, she starved him for two days and nights, burned him with cigarette butts, poked him with needles, and sometimes vented her frustrations from the man onto him with subtle yet cruel methods.

During those long, dark years, Xi Wan had long given up on expecting any love from father or mother.

“All right.”

Satisfied with his answer, Zhu Shiyan relaxed.

He sent a message to Zhu Tingyun, then took two steps forward and wrapped Xi Wan in a hug.

He just held him, saying nothing, yet somehow said everything.

Xi Wan clung tightly to his clothes, returning the embrace with a hoarse voice, “Thank you, thank you...”

Beyond endless thanks, he didn’t know how else to express the overwhelming emotions inside.

Zhu Shiyan gently patted his back, letting him hold on tightly.

Xi Wan’s nerves had been taut, but at this moment, Zhu Shiyan felt him relax, his back forming a gentle curve, shoulders dropping, and the hand gripping his clothes trembling slightly.

Things would get better and better.

A tender smile played at Zhu Shiyan’s lips.

—Fate owes him, and it will pay in full.

That night, lying on a soft, comfortable bed, Xi Wan couldn’t fall asleep.

The heavy mountain pressing down on him had suddenly lifted, leaving him feeling light but somewhat at a loss.

He sniffed the scent on the blanket—a faint white peach fragrance, exactly like Zhu Shiyan’s bed.

For some reason, a warmth spread across his cheeks.

He burrowed into the blanket, inhaling deeply. Soon, his whole body felt flushed and restless.

He wriggled under the covers, then slowly slipped out, breathing shallowly.

Sleep eluded him completely.

After an unknown amount of time, Xi Wan threw off the blanket and got out of bed, opened the wardrobe, and precisely found the garment.

He took it down, hugged it back to bed, and closed his eyes peacefully.

This time, he fell asleep quickly.

On Sunday, the two studied at home all day. Monday, Xi Wan returned to school.

When he appeared, a considerable commotion erupted among the students who saw him on the way.

“Wow, so handsome!”

“Who is he? Do you know him?”

“Never seen him before, a new transfer student?”

“Isn’t that Zhu Shiyan beside him? Transferred from Lincheng No. 1 High?”

“I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere…”

Whispers buzzed in his ears; Xi Wan instinctively lowered his head.

Zhu Shiyan said, “What did you promise me before coming here?”

Xi Wan paused, then slowly raised his head and straightened his back.

Zhu Shiyan was pleased, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “Don’t worry, they’re all complimenting your looks.”

Xi Wan looked at him in confusion.

Zhu Shiyan winked. “If you don’t believe me, listen carefully.”

Xi Wan focused on the murmurs—they were very different from the usual critical voices he was used to.

He was stunned.

Zhu Shiyan laughed and slung an arm around his shoulder as they walked toward the classroom.

“You haven’t done anything wrong, so why keep your head down? You should hold your head high and blind them with your brilliance.”

Xi Wan nodded quietly, inching closer to him.

The moment they appeared in the classroom, the noisy chatter ceased instantly, then erupted into an uproar.

“Who’s that? So handsome!”

“Zhu, is he your friend?”

“Is he transferring to our class?”

“What’s wrong with his leg, handsome guy?”

...

Before, Xi Wan’s messy hair obscured his brows and eyes; malnutrition left him weak and thin. He always kept his head down, wore ill-fitting clothes, and to everyone else was an unremarkable, pale, ordinary student.

But now, with a neat short haircut, delicate, striking features, taller than Zhu Shiyan himself, dressed in new clothes handpicked by Zhu Shiyan, and standing tall—he was completely transformed. It was no wonder no one recognized him.

Zhu Shiyan was very satisfied with the effect and smiled brightly.

“Yeah, he’s my friend, transferring to our class today. His leg’s injured, so take good care of him.”

“Make way, make way!”

Chu Junyuan squeezed into the classroom at the last second, pushing through the crowd.

“What’s going on here? Why is everyone gathered before class?”

He spotted Xi Wan among the crowd and clicked his tongue twice.

“You’ve changed a lot, kid.”

Since their last conversation in the hospital and knowing Xi Wan’s family situation, Chu Junyuan was less resistant toward him. For Zhu Shiyan’s sake, he reluctantly accepted him as a friend.

He stepped forward and patted Xi Wan’s shoulder.

“Is your leg okay?”

Perhaps out of habit, the gesture was a bit awkward.

Xi Wan frowned slightly and subtly stepped back.

“I’m fine,” he said, then looked at Zhu Shiyan with clear eyes. “Class is starting.”

The classmates watched as he took the seat next to Zhu Shiyan and heard Chu Junyuan call out, “Xi Wan, can I copy your homework?”

The classroom erupted in stunned silence.

Xi Wan?

Is he really Xi Wan???

Someone asked with a puzzled look, “Who’s Xi Wan? The name sounds familiar.”

A single stone stirred a thousand waves; the classroom buzzed with speculation and uncertain glances toward Xi Wan.

He remained unmoved, and Zhu Shiyan completely ignored the commotion, burying himself in homework with Chu Junyuan.

When the teacher entered, the noise gradually subsided.

“Sorry I’m late.”

The young female teacher hurried in, her gaze lingering on Xi Wan for a second before saying, “Class begins.”

It took the students two full days to accept that the new handsome guy was indeed Xi Wan.

Word spread quickly, soon the entire school knew that the pale, expressionless boy from Class Ten had completely transformed into a tall, strikingly handsome young man.

Zheng Xingyan heard this news while smoking in the restroom.

With a bang, he kicked the door open, grabbed the collar of the person speaking, his face fierce.

“Who did you just say?”

The man trembled and looked at him, “Xi… Xi Wan.”

“Xi... Wan.”

Zheng Xingyan mulled over the name, a cold smile flashing in his eyes.

“Get lost.”

Outside, the lively chatter had lasted for days, but Xi Wan didn’t care. He took his application forms to the office to arrange for dormitory withdrawal.

After the homeroom teacher signed off, she paused thoughtfully, then said, “The national physics competition teacher recommended you. Would you like to participate?”