TAM 23

When Mo Yao returned to school, it was already afternoon. He went alone. Yu Zhenzhen stayed at the animal hospital to help.

On the way back, Mo Yao was lost in thought. When he couldn’t decide, he called his mother and cautiously mentioned his plan to rent a place.

Mo Yao was the kind of child raised in a loving home. His family was well off. His parents were affectionate and doted on him. Because of that, he was innocent and sincere, mixed with the carelessness of someone who had always been loved.

When his mother heard that he wanted to rent a place, she asked him why.

Mo Yao told her about his plan to raise cats.

His mother said, “You want to adopt strays? That’s good. I’m just worried you’ll lose interest after a few days. What will you do then?”

Mo Yao said, “I won’t.” He couldn’t tell her that his bond with those two cats was far more than a passing whim.

His mother said, “Think it through. You can rent a place, and you can keep cats, but you can’t make decisions just because you feel like it in the moment. You have to be careful.”

“I know,” Mo Yao answered.

His mother’s tone relaxed. “How’s school lately? You’re being good, right?”

Mo Yao scratched his head and started chatting with her. Before he realized it, he was already back at school.

He had nothing planned that afternoon. He walked around the area near campus and found several rental listings. Some places looked good. They were aimed at students, and the prices were reasonable, but he still couldn’t decide.

He didn’t know what Si Yuan thought. He didn’t even know whether he should invite him.

Mo Yao didn’t know who to talk to about it. After thinking for a while, he asked Li Yahan to have dinner with him. He figured girls were usually more thoughtful and better at giving advice.

They met at a quiet western restaurant outside the school. A young man and woman sitting together almost looked like they were on a date.

Li Yahan found it odd that Mo Yao had invited her. She asked, “Why didn’t you ask Wu Jingyan?”

“Why would I ask her?” Mo Yao hadn’t even thought of inviting Wu Jingyan.

Li Yahan said, “When I left this afternoon, she asked me where I was going.”

Li Yahan had no relatives, old classmates, or close friends in this city. If she didn’t go out with her dormmates, she rarely ate with anyone alone.

Mo Yao said, “Ignore her.”

The mood dropped for a moment, so Li Yahan changed the subject and asked if he had found the cats he’d been looking for.

That was when Mo Yao told her about visiting the rescue center and seeing the cats being neutered at the animal hospital.

Li Yahan looked interested and listened carefully.

Mo Yao said, “I want to adopt the two cats.”

“How? You can’t keep pets in the dorms.”

“I’ll rent a place.”

“Oh.” Li Yahan nodded. She and Mo Yao weren’t that close, so she didn’t say much more.

Mo Yao leaned forward slightly. “Do you think it’s okay if I ask Si Yuan to rent a place with me?”

Li Yahan froze for a moment before she said, “If he thinks it’s okay, then it’s okay.”

Mo Yao said, “You know he doesn’t have much money.”

“Yeah.”

Mo Yao chose his words carefully. “If I ask him to split the rent, will it be too much pressure for him? But if I pay the whole thing myself, will he think I’m looking down on him?”

Li Yahan had a hard time following him. She asked carefully, “Did Si Yuan say he wanted to live with you?” She couldn’t really imagine Si Yuan agreeing to rent a place with someone else.

Mo Yao said, “Yeah.”

Li Yahan asked, “And do you want to live with him?”

This time, Mo Yao didn’t immediately answer. He thought seriously about it. Did he? If he really lived with Si Yuan, if they went to class together and came home to play with the cats every day, that would be nice. He said, “I guess I do.”

“Then you should talk to him,” Li Yahan said. “Ask what he thinks. That’s better.”

“Just ask him directly?”

“I think Si Yuan’s the kind of person who plans for his future,” Li Yahan said. “He’s different from others. If he thinks your idea doesn’t work, he’ll just say no. He won’t feel awkward about it, so you don’t have to overthink it.”

Mo Yao listened and couldn’t help asking, “Do you still like Si Yuan?”

Li Yahan said, “I gave up.”

“What do you mean gave up?”

Li Yahan lowered her head slightly. “He doesn’t like me. I’m not the type who can chase someone. It wouldn’t work out between us.”

Mo Yao looked at her and suddenly felt a little sorry for her. “You can just give up on someone that easily?”

Li Yahan said, “Everyone’s different. I can like a guy, or I can like a celebrity, or a kind of food. The world is big, and there are all kinds of feelings. There’s no need to hold on too tightly to one.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard a girl say that.”

Li Yahan smiled. “Are you trying to encourage me to chase Si Yuan?”

Mo Yao said, “No.” He didn’t add that Si Yuan wouldn’t like her.

They finished eating and walked back to school together.

To enter from the west gate, they had to pass the girls’ dorm first. Then they needed to turn right to reach the boys’ dorm. They said goodbye there. It looked as if Mo Yao had walked Li Yahan back.

When Li Yahan entered the dorm, she ran into Wu Jingyan. Wu Jingyan clearly saw them too, but she only gave a cold look without saying a word. Mo Yao pretended not to notice and turned toward the boys’ dorm.

Si Yuan returned to school late that night. After he parked his bicycle in the shed and came out, he noticed a dark figure crouching by the roadside. That figure suddenly grabbed his calf.

Even someone like Si Yuan was startled by the sudden move. He lifted his foot to kick, but before his toes touched anything, he heard Mo Yao’s voice. “Si Yuan.”

Si Yuan forced his foot back down. In the dim light, he saw Mo Yao crouching there and asked, “What are you doing?”

Mo Yao said, “Waiting for you.”

“Why are you squatting here?”

“So I won’t block anyone from parking.” Mo Yao stood up as he spoke and brushed off his pants.

They slowly walked outward. Si Yuan asked, “Why were you waiting for me?”

“I went to see the two cats today.”

“How were they?”

“They’re…” Mo Yao paused. “I think they’re fine. I don’t know if they think they’re fine though. They’re both boys, after all.”

Si Yuan didn’t reply. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Mo Yao said, “What do you think?”

“Me? I think it’s all fine.”

They entered the dorm building and started walking up the stairs one step at a time.

Mo Yao said, “When you said you wanted to rent a place and raise the cats, were you serious?”

“Yes, serious.”

“Can I ask something? Don’t take it the wrong way. Would renting a place be a big financial burden for you?”

When Si Yuan heard that, he stopped.

Mo Yao stopped too.

Si Yuan looked at him. “Why do you think I’d take that question the wrong way?” His tone was calm. “Are you worried about hurting my pride?”

Mo Yao didn’t answer.

Si Yuan suddenly smiled. “Mo Yao, you weren’t like this before.”

“What do you mean?”

“You used to talk without worrying about other people’s feelings.”

“Did I?” Mo Yao sounded unconvinced. “You’re the one who doesn’t care about other people’s feelings.”

Si Yuan lowered his head slightly and started walking again. Mo Yao followed a few steps behind and noticed the curve at the corner of Si Yuan’s mouth.

“Why didn’t you answer me?” Mo Yao couldn’t help looking at him again and caught up.

Si Yuan’s steps were unhurried. He said, “Answer what?”

“The rent. About the money.”

“A bit,” Si Yuan said. “Keeping things as they are already takes a lot of effort.”

Mo Yao stopped.

“My family situation isn’t good. The problem starts with my dad. When people my age can rely on their families for support, I mostly rely on myself.” Si Yuan stopped too. He turned back and looked down at Mo Yao from the higher step.

Mo Yao felt something hard to describe. He could sense a kind of heaviness from Si Yuan that his own life had never given him.

Si Yuan said, “But I still want to pay my share of the rent.”

“Why?” Mo Yao asked without thinking.

“All my effort right now is for the future. Maybe it seems unreasonable for someone like me to rent a place, but that’s part of planning ahead. I think it’s worth it.”

Mo Yao thought his words sounded complicated.

Si Yuan said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to hold on to something. I’m afraid I’ll lose it.”

Mo Yao met his eyes.

At that moment, footsteps echoed from downstairs. Si Yuan turned away and continued up the stairs.

Mo Yao said, “One more question. Forget it. I’ll ask next time.”