After midnight

The place Wang Changze chose was a street-side home-cooked stir-fry restaurant not far from Xishui International. It was located diagonally opposite Xishui International. Walk along the street where Xishui International is located for a while and then turn into a small road. The restaurant is called Grandma's Stir-fry. I don't know if it was because of the rain or because the location was relatively remote, but apart from them, there were no other customers in the restaurant at this time.

Wang Changze randomly picked a table and sat down. He asked Wu Si, "What would you like to eat?"

"I'm fine, I'm not too hungry. You guys order." Wu Si said. When Wang Changze asked him, Wu Si came back to his senses. He thought of Qi Qi again. He had only eaten with Qi Qi outside, and he couldn't help thinking about her. But now, once he started talking, Wu Si didn't lose his focus anymore. He listened to them attentively.

"Their fried pork with peppers is delicious. I've already ordered it. I've also ordered the braised fish. What else would you like to eat? How about a vegetarian dish, three fresh vegetables or thousand-leaf tofu?" Since Wu Si didn't order it, Wang Changze turned around and asked the others.

"Three fresh vegetables." Xu Xing said.

"I want to eat spicy chicken. I want to order spicy chicken." Bai Ming said as he flipped through the menu.

"Okay, I know you like meat, order it."

"Then I'll order another vegetarian dish, how about stir-fried spinach?"

"Okay, do you want to drink soup? Will soup warm you up in this weather or do you want to drink some wine?"

"No, why don't you just drink at my place?"

"Yeah, then I'll order some corn soup."

"Okay, you order." The three of them quickly reported the dishes in a few words, but this sounded very new to Wu Si.

"I was scared when I saw you there that day," said Bai Ming.

"Yeah, so didn't I come here to treat you to a meal?"

"Please have dinner, that's a must."

Wang Changze was not familiar with Bai Ming and Xu Xing at first. It was only when Wang Changze often went to the bar alone to drink that he gradually got to know them. It was also because they had similar tastes to a certain extent that they gradually became friends.

"Let me tell you, I knew this guy was working in the revolutionary army, but I didn't expect him to be so powerful. You said you haven't run into him before?" Bai Ming was complaining to Wu Si when he went to question Wang Changze.

"You guys are awesome. I don't have a brain, otherwise I would actually do something."

"If we talk about the best, it would be Song Xinjun and Zhou Chen."

"Yeah, none of us three can beat any of them." Wang Changze laughed.

The three of them chatted with each other, and Wu Si finally understood as he listened. This man named Wang Changze was also a member of the revolutionary army. He might not be a military man, but he must be a powerful figure in some aspects. Therefore, he knew who he was to a great extent. No, Wu Si looked at Wang Changze and confirmed that he knew who he was. Because the look in Wang Changze's eyes told him so.

But he was very open with himself, and had no other thoughts or purposes. He looked at Wang Changze, and Wang Changze looked at him politely and warmly, just like a friend of a friend.

"May 4th, eat, eat more."

After the dishes came, Wu Si barely touched his chopsticks. When Wang Changze called him, he quickly responded and lowered his head to eat. He was not used to the way Wang Changze looked at him. Wu Si took a few bites of the food and found that it tasted really good. He ate a few more bites, then moved his ears to listen to the sound of raindrops outside.

By the end of the meal, the four of them were enjoying it very much. The sound of rain had also subsided as the meal was about to end. At this time, Bai Ming suddenly put down his chopsticks and said to Wu Si, "Xiao Wu, come sleep at our place tonight."

"Ugh?"

"Actually, we've wanted to tell you early on that the place where you're sleeping now is no longer suitable for sleeping. The weather will get colder and colder in the future. Besides, we've already cleaned up the house, so you can sleep there," said Xu Xing.

"Ah?" Wu Si was so shocked that he couldn't tell whether the expression on his face was expectation or fear.

"Okay, let's go." Without waiting for Wu Si to hesitate, Bai Ming took Wu Si's arm and walked out of the restaurant.

Bai Ming did not give Wu Si time to refuse, and Wu Si perhaps did not want to refuse either.

When Wu Si and Bai Ming stepped out of the window together, the rain was still dripping. He stepped on the ground and saw small puddles of water with bright lights, which were reflected street lights and the warm lights in every window and every household.

"We're home." said Xu Xing.

"Yeah." Wu Si responded.

In front of them was a grayish yellow residential building. This residential building was quite old, because compared with the surrounding buildings, it was a little short and gray. But around it were planted tall trees that were somewhat dry in this season. Wu Si liked these trees very much. He walked along two rows of big trees and entered a small residential building.

They climbed up the stairs. Xu Xing and Bai Ming's home was on the seventh floor, the highest floor here.

The door opened, and Wu Si looked in curiously. The living room was not large, and the sofa, refrigerator, bookcase, and two sets of tables and chairs almost occupied most of the living room space. Add to that the daily necessities and clothes placed on the sofa and chairs, and the entire living room was simply full.

"The living room is a little small, but the lighting is very good. Look."

Wu Si obediently followed Bai Ming's movements and looked. To the west of the living room was the kitchen, and to the east was the balcony. Needless to say, the balcony had double rows of French windows that went from the ground to the roof, but there was also a large skylight on the wall facing the kitchen door and the living room. When the weather was fine, it must be very warm here.

"Besides, this apartment has three bedrooms and a living room. The rooms are large and comfortable. Xiaowu, come and take a look at your room. We carefully selected for a long time before choosing to live here." Bai Ming excitedly took Wusi to the bathroom and opened a door inside.

Inside the door was a bed covered with a light blue duvet. Two soft pillows were placed neatly at the head of the bed. Next to the bed and the bedside table was a row of wardrobes, with their backs against the wall. On the other wall opposite the bed was a transparent glass. They blocked all the wind and rain outside and let the sunlight in.

And all these things, Wu Si could see, were new and specially prepared for him.

"We cleaned up briefly before you came," said Bai Ming.

"Yes, your room is still missing a set of tables and chairs, and a carpet for the bed. I have already picked them out and will have them delivered tomorrow," said Xu Xing.

Wu Si held his hands up, not knowing what to say for a moment. He could only feel his cheeks getting hot.

"We are responsible for abducting you, not just letting you stay for one night. Wusi, this will be your home from now on."

"Thank you, thank you."

Wu Si was about to bow, but was stopped by Bai Ming. "Okay, I know you're touched. Manly. By the way, the bathroom is next to you, you should go take a shower and go to bed early. And your clothes are too thin, how about I take you to buy clothes tomorrow? Oh, don't think too much, the money will be deducted from your salary."

"Okay, thank you."

Wu Si watched Bai Ming and Xu Xing go out and close the door. He stood quietly for a while and then sat down beside the bed. Then, he heard someone open the door opposite him. From that moment on, there was no silence in this house. The rumble of the washing machine on the balcony, the sound of running water in the bathroom, the sound of the refrigerator opening and closing in the living room, and the sound of people walking around, all these sounds remained in Wu Si's heart.

That night, Wu Si wrapped himself in the hot quilt, looked at the light and shadow reflected outside the window, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, he was woken up. Wu Si rubbed his eyes and sat up. The house began to rhythmically echo with the sounds of life. The balcony door was opened and the kitchen fire was lit. He took advantage of the noise to walk to the empty space in the living room. After the rain, the sky cleared and there was warm sunshine.

"Wu Si, you're up, go wash your face. I'll go change my clothes first." Bai Ming came over in his pajamas, holding the clean clothes he had just brought down from the balcony.

Bai Ming walked around him after he finished speaking. Wu Si observed him open the door opposite his room and walked in. The room in the corridor facing the living room must be Xu Xing's. Wu Si turned around and peeked into the kitchen. He looked over and saw Xu Xing, dressed neatly, busy making breakfast in the kitchen. After he cracked two eggs, he took another one after a while.

Wu Si scratched his head, turned around and walked to the bathroom. He stood in front of the mirror and looked up to see the person in the mirror with a gentle face and a faint smile in his eyes and mouth. Wu Si was stunned and took a long time to recognize that it was himself. He quickly leaned down and patted his face and turned on the faucet.

After breakfast, Xu Xing closed the door and left in a hurry. Wu Si looked at Bai Ming strangely.

"Aren't you going to work?"

"No, I'm taking a day off today. Besides, didn't I say yesterday that I would take you clothes shopping today? Didn't you forget so quickly?"

“I haven’t forgotten.” Wu Si lowered his head and drank his porridge.

Bai Ming looked at him and said nothing more, "Eat quickly. We have to go out soon. After the furniture is delivered in the afternoon and it is ready, we can go to work in the evening."

"Okay, is breakfast made by Xu Xing?"

"No, I do it too. We basically take turns. Xiaowu, wait and see my cooking skills tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

"Xiaowu, I noticed that you talk more and ask questions on your own initiative." Bai Ming teased him. Wusi didn't say anything, and quickly lowered his head to drink two mouthfuls of porridge.

By the time Bai Ming and Wu Si were done packing, it was already 9:30 in the morning, almost 10 o'clock. Wu Si followed Bai Ming downstairs and walked into the street under the warm sun. He looked at the old people, children, men and women passing by on the street, and then looked at Bai Ming walking not far ahead, and he seemed to feel that this world was no longer strange.

After a night of rain, even though the sky had cleared up, Yin still didn't want to step on the wet ground. So, he opened the door of An Yan's house through the secret passage and walked down. He stood at the stairs and shouted to An Yan, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book, across the entire living room: "Why don't you come to me to ask about the progress of the map?"

An Yan put down the book and answered him: "If there is any progress, you will come to me. Just like now."

"Okay, but I'm sorry to tell you that Qiqi has spent a lot of time and effort to build the map into a physical object, which is much more difficult than we imagined, so we have to wait a while." Yin said as he walked over.

An Yan nodded calmly, without asking any further questions or making any other unnecessary comments.

"You haven't thought of this, have you?" Yin asked him as he sat down.

"No." An Yan was a little amused.

"You are still so calm, but this is also good, it gives everyone time to prepare more."

"Yeah." An Yan asked him, "Would you like some water?"

"Yes." Yin replied.

An Yan stood up and walked towards the kitchen. At this time, Yin took the letter that An Yan had half-hidden on the table when he came in. The letter was written by Xu Xing to An Yan, and there were only five words on the letter: "Don't worry, I'll stay." After Yin read it, he put it back intact.

When An Yan came back with a glass of water and sat down to read again, Yin said to him, "You, worrying about Lin Nuan is fine, but you also worry about Qi Qi and Wu Si. When will you worry about the people around you?"

When Lin Nuan and Wu Si were mentioned, An Yan knew that Yin probably knew everything he had done recently. An Yan didn't ask him how he knew, but just said, "I think Ajiu and Xiao Su are both in good health recently."

"What about the big one? Excuse me, the problem between the Son of God and the Guardian has not been resolved. The man who appeared on the platform that night must give us an explanation. Even if you don't want to say it, I don't want to ask, but Zi Ling will think about it." Yin added. "This is just my thought, he didn't say much to me. Anyan, I originally thought that you two would have a better understanding of each other."

"I will tell you about that person later. If Su Ziling wants to know, he can ask. I think the current situation between us is good."

"It might be good to have you protecting me like this. But are you willing to give Zi Ling what he really wants? Or are you afraid of this unique relationship?" Yin probed An Yan's cold face and continued, "I'm curious about what kind of spirit the contract between the Son of God and the Guardian is."

"I'm curious too." An Yan smiled calmly, "Also, I'm not afraid. I've never been afraid of Su Ziling, nor will I be afraid of the relationship he brings. Besides, when it comes to relationships, you two are the closest. Yin, nothing is more important than family."

An Yan's last words left Yin unable to refute. Forget it. He was an outsider in this matter. He couldn't force Su Ziling, let alone An Yan. This was the end of his words. He would not mention it again.

"Okay, I have something else to do, so I'll leave first. As I said before, I'll let you know as soon as there's any progress."

"Got it, thank you."

An Yan watched Yin leave and then closed his eyes tiredly. It was not that he was unwilling, but that he could not.