Chapter 4: Toothache

 Editor: A Friend

Jiang QingChi leaned in to look at the picture, giving his opinion: "The photo is good, but the composition is too tricky."

Xiao Qi turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket.

"Even this can be photographed." Compared to the truth of the gossip itself, Jiang QingChi seemed more concerned about being photographed. His tone was light and indifferent.

Xiao Qi unconsciously pressed the power button on his phone, feeling a long-lost sense of helplessness in dealing with Jiang QingChi. It felt like he might get another unexpected blow; even Xiao Qi himself didn't know what answer he wanted from Jiang QingChi. But he didn't want to lose sleep over it, so he asked again, "Is it true?"

Jiang QingChi was stunned for a couple of seconds, then looked at him with amusement: "What do you think?"

"Isn't it said that photographers usually have a lot of fun?" Xiao Qi's voice grew quieter as he spoke. "It would be normal if it were true."

"There was a photo shoot that day, and the location was set at that hotel. I didn't come out all night because it was too late, so I booked a room and stayed there." Jiang QingChi patiently explained.

Seeing that Xiao Qi still didn't speak, Jiang QingChi's tone became somewhat helpless. He said, "Xiao'er, if others say that, fine, but if you say it, I’d really be hurt. Don’t you know how long it’s been since I last dated?"

"Right, I almost forgot," Xiao Qi, realizing his mistake, corrected himself, "You’re very dedicated."

---

This year, Jiang ZhiDe wanted to keep his birthday celebration simple. Last year's big celebration left the old man unsatisfied; he criticized Jiang QingChi afterward, saying it was extravagant.

This year, Jiang QingChi decided to scale back. Initially, he planned to book a private room at a hotel and gather his grandfather's friends for a meal. But Jiang ZhiDe told him not to bother, as not enough friends were left to fill a table, and it would only make everyone sad.

Jiang ZhiDe preferred quiet, so they eventually decided to invite a few close friends from the courtyard to their home for a simple meal.

Jiang QingChi and his grandfather now lived in a house his parents had bought long ago. Moving out of the courtyard was Jiang QingChi's idea. It was closer to his university, making it easier for him to take care of the old man and avoid his grandfather being reminded of past sorrows.

After Jiang QingChi's grandmother passed away, Jiang ZhiDe seemed to have his health deteriorate rapidly. Fortunately, his disciplined lifestyle had kept him in good shape, preventing him from collapsing completely.

The distance from the courtyard to the community wasn't short, so Jiang QingChi borrowed a seven-seater van from the downstairs convenience store owner to bring everyone over in one trip.

"Does Grandpa need anything else? I can help you carry it up later." The convenience store owner lived across from Jiang QingChi. He usually went home to prepare lunch and then brought it back to the store to eat, so he often helped out whenever he could, just like Jiang QingChi would help him unload goods.

"No need, Brother Zhao, I've got everything arranged," Jiang QingChi glanced at the rack of lollipops on the counter, grabbed a cola-flavored one, and put it in his pocket, smiling as he told Brother Zhao, "Charge the candy to my account."

It seemed like a habit by now, though calling it a habit wasn't entirely accurate. For example, when Jiang QingChi spent two years alone in Lian City, he never thought about buying candy. He held the candy in his pocket, thinking about how this habit seemed to have a trigger condition.

Initially, it was Xiao Qi's grandfather who asked Jiang QingChi to carry some candy because Xiao Qi once fainted at school due to low blood sugar in second grade.

At the time, Jiang QingChi was in his Chinese class, reading a poem when his thoughts were interrupted by a shout from outside the window. He couldn't quite remember the classmate's face or name, only that they were in the same grade as Xiao Qi. The classmate shouted, "San Dian Shui! Your brother fainted on the playground!"

Jiang QingChi ran without thinking, not even realizing Xiao Qi had been telling people about his nickname again.

When he reached the infirmary, Xiao Qi had already woken up, looking pale and weak. When he saw Jiang QingChi, he just glanced at him without speaking.

Fortunately, this state didn't last long. After drinking a whole cup of glucose water given by the teacher, Xiao Qi's spirits returned, and he even asked for another cup.

After that, Xiao Qi got into the habit of thinking low blood sugar required sugar. After school, he pestered his father, Xiao JianGang, to buy a big bag of candies in various flavors, generously sharing them with the children in the courtyard, except for Song Grandpa’s grandson, Little Fatty. He made an exception and gave him two pieces because Jiang QingChi had held his hand that day.

Timely sugar intake and Xiao JianGang's insistence on Xiao Qi eating breakfast regularly seemed to have resolved the fainting issue for a while.

But the good times didn't last. Soon, Xiao Qi began to have toothaches, grimacing every time he ate. Xiao JianGang, frowning, opened his mouth to find his teeth starting to wobble. To protect his new teeth from cavities, Xiao JianGang confiscated his bag of candies.

Xiao Qi was full of tricks and excuses from a young age, but no matter how much he pleaded this time, Xiao JianGang was determined to confiscate the candies. Finally, Xiao Qi pretended to faint again the next day, trying to time it right in front of Xiao JianGang. He didn't realize how much his eyelids trembled when he closed his eyes, thinking he could fool his father. Surprisingly, Xiao JianGang didn't expose him, but later they compromised, and the candies were handed over to Jiang QingChi for safekeeping.

At first, Jiang QingChi would forget, making Xiao Qi feel disappointed and angry. Later, Xiao Qi stopped reminding him, and bringing candy quickly slipped Jiang QingChi's mind until Xiao Qi fainted again during a physical test at the end of the term.

Jiang QingChi only found out when Xiao Qi's homeroom teacher mentioned it after school. On the way home, usually talkative Xiao Qi became unusually quiet, walking home with Jiang QingChi without a word.

Dealing with Xiao Qi when he was angry or throwing a tantrum was second nature to Jiang QingChi, but a silent Xiao Qi left him at a loss, especially when he felt guilty for not having candy in his pocket. From that day on, Jiang QingChi never forgot to carry candy for Xiao Qi.

The habit persisted until high school. One day, Xiao Qi suddenly told him not to bring candy anymore.

Jiang QingChi remembered Xiao Qi's expression that day for a long time, though he couldn’t explain why. It just felt rare for the other to look so sad when making a request. When Jiang QingChi asked why he was unhappy, Xiao Qi only said, "Toothache. I don’t want to eat candy anymore."

Jiang QingChi didn't understand at the time, but even now, he couldn't completely break the habit.

It was already ten o'clock when he arrived at the courtyard.

Jiang QingChi parked the van at the entrance and saw Xiao JianGang watering flowers with his hands behind his back.

"Grandpa Xiao, have you got new plants?" Jiang QingChi walked over to him.

"Hey," Xiao JianGang nodded with satisfaction, "you have sharp eyes. That kid Xiao Qi comes back every time asking why I keep growing the same things, says his eyes aren't as good as an old horse's!"

Jiang QingChi laughed, glanced inside, and asked, "Where's Xiao'er?"

"He called me this morning, saying he couldn't make it. He also asked me to wish your grandfather a happy birthday for him. The little ingrate," Xiao JianGang sighed, "he's grown up and still doesn't seem to have any signs of becoming sensible."

"You probably wouldn't be used to it if he suddenly became sensible, would you?" Jiang QingChi teased him.

"That's true," Xiao JianGang's hair at the temples had turned white, but he still stood tall and looked vigorous, even frowning in a way that was imposing. "I feel like something's off with him lately, can't put my finger on it. Last time, he came back without a word. Xiao Chi, you interact with him a lot. Has he gotten into any trouble recently?"

"Considering he cried for a week over a goldfish eaten by a cat, what trouble could he cause..." Jiang QingChi said, feeling a bit guilty, so he mentioned he hadn't contacted Xiao Qi much recently but assured Grandpa Xiao not to worry.

Indeed, they hadn’t been in touch much lately, Jiang QingChi thought.

Xiao Qi had changed his mind. Since a few days ago, Jiang QingChi’s messages to him hadn't received any replies, yet he could see Xiao Qi commenting on other people's posts in his moments.

He had promised not to avoid him, but it seemed it was just a casual promise.

Jiang QingChi couldn't do much about him. Xiao Qi had never been one to listen to advice, and once he made up his mind, it was hard to change it. So Jiang QingChi could only patiently give him enough time to sort out his thoughts.

However, leaving Xiao Qi to

 his own thoughts didn't seem very effective, Jiang QingChi concluded while looking at the photos sent by Yang JinHua.

Yang JinHua, Jiang QingChi's aunt, had settled abroad early on and was about the same age as his father. They both had busy lives, so they often visited during major holidays. Jiang QingChi and Yang JinHua were closer in age and had always gotten along well.

The photos she sent were taken when Xiao Qi visited her two days ago.

One photo was of Xiao Qi, who seemed a bit drunk, singing karaoke, and the other was a group photo of them with a few others at the dinner table.

Jiang QingChi had seen Yang JinHua's updates on her moments and noticed Xiao Qi wasn't in them. It seemed he didn't want Jiang QingChi to know he had gone to Yang JinHua's place.

Jiang QingChi replied with a couple of laughing emojis, commenting, "I haven't seen such an uninhibited Xiao Qi for a long time."

Yang JinHua responded, "He seems to have drunk too much and said he wanted to come and stay with me. I asked if he was fighting with you, and he just laughed, saying, 'Brother Jiang's tired of me.' What's going on? Did you two argue?"

Jiang QingChi thought for a moment before replying, "Nothing major, just a bit awkward."

Yang JinHua didn’t ask further, but sent another message, "By the way, Xiao Qi's birthday is in two weeks. He wants to hold a small party and is inviting his friends over. He asked me to remind you to come."

"I know," Jiang QingChi replied, not mentioning that he hadn't received any invitation from Xiao Qi yet.

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