True or False - Chapter 11

As night fell, colorful light filtered through the windows first, followed closely by the thunderous crackle of fireworks.

Chu Xi-ang dropped his pen and ran to the balcony. Opening the window, he craned his neck to scan the horizon. Brilliant fireworks burst across the sky, sweeping over a corner of the small town and showering the eaves in light before vanishing in an instant, leaving only a few lingering sparks.

He scrambled out of his room and pounded on the door opposite, his heart racing faster with every explosion of the firecrackers outside.

“Brother, there are fireworks outside!” Chu Xi-ang shouted the moment the door opened.

Seeing the sparkle in the boy’s eyes, Shen Hengxi couldn’t help but smile. “I see them.”

Chu Xi-ang seemed to remember something; he spun around and bolted downstairs. “Brother, wait for me!”

Seeing his frantic pace, Shen Hengxi hurriedly called out, “Be careful!”

He really is just a kid after all, he thought. Nevertheless, he pulled his door shut and slowly made his way downstairs. The moment his feet touched level ground, the deafening roar of firecrackers made his chest feel warm.

It had been a long time since he’d watched fireworks like this. Shen Hengxi stood by the roadside, head tilted back, the pyrotechnics reflected in his eyes.

When Chu Xi-ang returned, this was the picturesque scene he encountered. The shadows of the fireworks flitted across Shen Hengxi’s face like restless butterflies, before surging forward to claim every corner of his silhouette.

Unconsciously slowing his pace, Chu Xi-ang walked up to Shen Hengxi’s side and looked up at the sky.

“This place is quite nice,” Shen Hengxi suddenly remarked as the display ended.

Chu Xi-ang shifted his gaze from the sky to the man. After a long pause, he said, “It is nice here, but aren’t you going to leave eventually, Brother?”

He then looked at Shen Hengxi with a soft curve in his eyes. Opening the bag in his hand, Chu Xi-ang pulled out some small fireworks. “Since they’re so pretty, let’s set some off ourselves.”

Shen Hengxi looked down, his gaze lingering on the top of the boy’s head for a moment before he reached out to ruffle his hair. “How are you so good at reading minds?”

“I’ll just take that as a compliment,” Chu Xi-ang replied without looking up. He fished a lighter from his pocket and handed a sparkler to Shen Hengxi. “I bought a little bit of everything. Let’s just set them all off.”

Shen Hengxi took the sparkler. Looking at the long, thin stick in his hand, he felt a bit amused.

“I’ll light it for you.” Chu Xi-ang stood up, shielding the tiny flame with one hand.

The boy was wearing a high-collared sweater; as he leaned down, the lower half of his face was buried in the collar, leaving only his eyes and the bridge of his nose visible. The flickering flame cast a tangible glow across his features.

With a sharp hiss, the sparkler ignited. Sparks flew. The light made Shen Hengxi’s features appear bright and gentle.

“No one here will ever truly know you,” Chu Xi-ang said suddenly. He looked up and blinked at Shen Hengxi. “In this place, no one will understand you.”

He repeated it once more.

“Why?” Shen Hengxi’s gaze returned to the sparkler.

Chu Xi-ang pondered for a moment. “You don’t belong here.”

Shen Hengxi arched an eyebrow. “And you don’t understand me either? I thought we’d reached a point of knowing each other inside and out by now.”

The sparkler in his hand burned out completely. He heard Chu Xi-ang let out a short laugh before speaking: “I won’t understand either. You’re going to leave here eventually.”

Their conversation had started in a strange, almost reckless way as if they were about to part ways and had decided to just let everything out. They were “dining partners” who hadn’t known each other long, yet in this moment, they felt like old friends pouring their hearts out.

But Shen Hengxi didn’t find it strange. If this were anyone else, he would have felt they were overstepping, but this was Chu Xi-ang.

“Won’t you think about coming to find me? After all, we’re so compatible.” Shen Hengxi took another sparkler and lit it.

Chu Xi-ang shook his head. “No. People brush past each other every day; who’s to know which one is you?”

Hearing this, Shen Hengxi laughed heartily the first time he had been this happy since coming to the town. “Why so pessimistic, Little Brother Ang?”

“I’m not, really.” Chu Xi-ang’s expression was quite serious. “I’ve always felt I’m someone who can see things for what they are.”

Shen Hengxi didn’t argue. He stood with him, letting off the rest of the fireworks and watching the fleeting beauty.

When the last spark died out, Shen Hengxi rubbed his fingers together and said to Chu Xi-ang, “If such a day truly comes, then I’ll be the one to find you.”

Sensing the boy turn to look at him, he blinked. “Let’s consider it a proper ending to our chance encounter. Otherwise, just parting ways like that would be a bit too unsightly.”

Chu Xi-ang didn’t look away; he kept his eyes fixed on Shen Hengxi. He knew that some words were meant only to be heard and not dwelled upon. Since growing up, the first thing he had learned was contentment.

Yet, Shen Hengxi’s words still made his heart tremble. He shouldn’t hold onto hope with someone he had met by mere chance. But he couldn’t control it, just as he couldn’t stop himself from buying a whole bag of fireworks just to make Shen Hengxi a little happier.

Having reached this realization, Chu Xi-ang offered a shallow smile and remained silent.

“You’ve been calling me ‘Brother’ for a few days now, taking all the benefits. Now, I’ll take you for a drive to catch some fresh air,” Shen Hengxi said, ruffing the boy’s head.

“At this hour?” Chu Xi-ang asked.

Shen Hengxi nodded. “At this hour. I suggest you just say yes. In the past, this isn’t something I would have even offered.”

Chu Xi-ang’s eyes crinkled. “Then, thank you, Young Master.”

Shen Hengxi shot him a look, his chin lifting slightly. “Let’s go.”

The night air was a bit cold. Feeling the chill, Chu Xi-ang couldn’t help but sniffle.

“Cold?” Shen Hengxi rolled up the window slightly.

The boy shook his head. “It’s fine. It’s just the wind keep’s crawling into my nose.”

“The wind is for your soul, not your nose,” Shen Hengxi said with a laugh.

Chu Xi-ang laughed too, his gaze fixed outside the window as the town he had lived in for seventeen years swept past him, inch by inch. “This is the first time I’ve experienced it like this.”

Night is a time for baring souls and for talkativeness.

“I’ve never left this place in all my life. Before, there was no need; now, there’s no time. Brother, I knew the moment I saw you that you were from the outside. You’re different from us the aura you carry isn’t something we have here.”

Shen Hengxi listened silently, unable to resist teasing: “Stop flattering me all day.”

“No, I’m serious.” Chu Xi-ang slowly turned his head back to look forward. “You have something I’ve always longed for. You’re different. That’s why I said you’ll leave; you don’t belong here, and you don’t suit this place.”

Shen Hengxi suddenly wanted to ask how he knew and why he was so certain. So, he did.

“It’s simple,” Chu Xi-ang said. “You have concerns in your heart, and the people you care about aren’t here.”

Shen Hengxi fell silent. Even a child could see it.

“But I’ll leave here too,” he heard the boy say. “This place is a mountain weighing people down. If you don’t walk out, the mountain only gets heavier until you’re forced to carry it at a snail’s pace.”

Shen Hengxi was stunned. He looked at the boy’s profile, his mouth opening as if to speak.

“But I’ll definitely make it out. My grades are so good; my family will be thrilled if I get into a top university.” Chu Xi-ang turned his head and blinked at Shen Hengxi. “Truth be told, I’m usually in the top five of my class.”

The somber atmosphere vanished instantly, and even the moon appeared from behind the clouds.

Shen Hengxi let out a huff of laughter. “I believe you. You look exactly like a high-achieving senior.”

Chu Xi-ang’s eyes widened. “But last time you said you didn’t even know I was a high schooler.”

“I was joking then,” Shen Hengxi said solemnly.

“Ah, I see.” Chu Xi-ang shrugged. “I think my classmates would definitely be envious of me.”

His shift in topic was so fast that Shen Hengxi didn’t react immediately. “What?”

“Think about it, Brother. I’m seventeen, in our little town, sitting in your Panamera isn’t that enough to make them jealous?”

For the first time, Shen Hengxi couldn’t keep up with the kid’s leaping logic. He was left stunned by the wind, only finding his voice after a long pause. “Where’s your ambition?”

The kid only laughed and didn’t argue.

That night was the most relaxed Shen Hengxi had felt. Perhaps the boy’s words had reached his heart, because he suddenly wanted to call home.

The kid was right. Since the concerns were there, no matter how far he ran, he would eventually have to go back.