Mu Rui's mouth opened in surprise, and his heart was stirred with some waves. It turned out that the reason why Cheng Jin's complexion didn't look good these past few days was because his mother fell ill. It seemed that Cheng Jin lived alone in a room at school, and his father understood music. Oh, their family background should be pretty good.

I had intended to ask, "Could your father play the flute for your mother?" However, sensing a slight bitterness in Cheng Jinyu's tone, I felt there must be some hidden story behind it, so I suppressed my doubts.

"Sure, anyway I have nothing to do today."

"Thank you."

The two of them changed their clothes and took a bus to the hospital. Along the way, people were coming and going.

After getting to know Cheng Jin, Mu Rui seemed to gradually realize that he wasn't as annoying as he thought. Or perhaps, it was just his own heartbreak that was clouding his judgment, leading him to befriending someone who seemed pretty decent under his wicked thoughts.

Outside the hospital, there are doctors wearing white coats. On the lawn outside, there are many patients sitting or standing, wearing loose white and blue striped robes. Next to it, there is a small lake with an exquisite and serene fountain. It is a decent hospital.

"Mom."

When Cheng Jin pushed open the door and entered, Cheng Mama was startled. She slowly sat up from the bed where she was lying down and said, "Xiao Jin, didn't you have class?"

I don't have class today.

Cheng Jin smiled and quickly set aside the fruits he had bought along the way. He then freed up his hands and placed a pillow behind his mother's back. Looking toward the back, he said, "Mom, my classmate is here today too."

Ms. Cheng turned her head and smiled warmly, "Hello."

Mu Rui politely smiled, his hand tightening the rope of the guitar case a bit. "Hello, Auntie."

"Mom, his name is Mu Rui. He came with me today to visit you."

Mrs. Cheng kindly looked at the guitar in Mu Rui's hands and softly said, "Why don't you take a seat, Xiao Jin, and find a chair for your classmate."

The ward was predominantly white, quite peaceful, and unlike the typical crowded hospital rooms. This once again confirmed that his family background was indeed quite good.

"Mom, do you want to listen to 'The Green Sleeves'? My friend plays the guitar really well."

Hearing Cheng Jin's words, Mu Rui felt a little embarrassed. Unexpectedly, Cheng Mama's expression suddenly changed, seemingly filled with surprise. She then stared at Mu Rui and asked, "Is it really possible? I do want to hear about it. It has been a long time since then."

Mu Rui spoke up, "Of course, I can."

On the windowsill, there are placed green potted plants. Outside the house is a lawn, with many trees of moderate height planted. The morning air is very fresh, not too humid or chilly, thanks to the sunlight.

The guitar sounds low and mellow, yet not lacking in delicacy. Occasionally, it's also crisp. The unique and beautiful melody of Lü Xiuzi resonates as Mu Rui earnestly plays, his head slightly lowered. After all, she is his elder, and he still respects her deeply.

Cheng Jin sliced two apples and stood leaning against the wall. The sunlight through the window gradually brightened, shining into his eyes, seeming a bit hazy, with dust particles floating in the beam.

On the bus ride back to school from the hospital, the two of them sat side by side. Cheng Jin was quiet, so Mu Rui always tried to strike up a conversation. He didn't like the silence, as it made him feel awkward, perhaps because the two of them weren't very familiar with each other to begin with.

"What illness does your mother have? Is it serious?"

Mu Rui had a good impression of his mother. She appeared to be gentle and kind, though her complexion was pale and somewhat gaunt. She did not resemble someone from a wealthy family; perhaps her illness was the reason for her unhealthy appearance.

Cheng Jin leaned against the back of the bus, "She, she has cancer."

"...I'm sorry."

Unable to hear Cheng Jin's response, Mu Rui hastily glanced at him and said, "I'm sorry, I, I don't know."

Cheng Jin shook his head, "It's nothing."

The two of them fell into a moment of silence. Suddenly, Murui felt that the sunlight outside was a bit too bright. He turned his head slightly and looked at Cheng Jin, who had his eyes closed. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, indicating that he was not asleep.

It seemed as if no one had ever observed him before. Mu Rui slightly pursed his lips, and noticed it when his gaze fell upon his face.

Cheng Jin's face was a bit pale, with his bangs slanting across his forehead, covering half of his eyes. He was a quiet person, and the sound of his voice was always soft. He often felt like something was stuck in his throat and would cough before speaking. Perhaps it was because he rarely spoke, so even the pronunciation seemed unfamiliar when he did speak. Occasionally, when he smiled, it was also awkward and polite.

What kind of person is he after all? Truly a man from two different worlds.

Before the car reached the school, Cheng Jin greeted him and got off the car first, saying that he had made an appointment with someone.

Tut, made an appointment with someone?

When the bus started moving, Mu Rui glanced at the platform. A fresh-looking girl ran towards Cheng Jin, seemingly very familiar, and smiling happily.

The fragmented words between the two were overwhelmed by the roaring sound of cars. He didn't hear the girl shout "cousin Cheng Jin". I'm not sure why, but there's a tiny sense of loss.

There was nothing much going on when I returned to school. Murui received a call saying that there was a soccer match in the afternoon, which was a perfect opportunity for him to relax.

Even though we lost the game, we still had a great time. We played with such vigor and excitement, it was truly satisfying!

In the evening, a group of boys were walking in pairs, laughing and chatting. Mu Rui lifted the hem of his T-shirt to wipe off the sweat on his face. As they walked from the West Playground towards the dormitory, Mu Rui caught sight of Cheng Jin riding a bicycle back. Before he could say hello, he only saw a figure gradually disappearing into the distance.

"Hey! What are you looking at?"

The teammate next to him patted Murui on the shoulder.

Mu Rui glanced at him sideways and said, "My mistake, I thought he was someone I know."

"Hey, hey, you seem to know a lot of people around the school. Is one of them a beauty?"

"Beauty, you've got some nerve."

"Hahahaha."

On the playground, girls are playing badminton, while scattered individuals run on the track— young, old, and children. The evening breeze is refreshing, and a gentle broadcast sound can be heard all around. The tall French plane trees along the road have new green leaves, overlapping in large patches. As dusk approaches, the sunlight becomes exceptionally soft, tinged with a faint orange hue.

There was a gentle piano melody playing on the campus radio station. Ah, it's dinner time again.

After eating and showering, he stayed in the dormitory, while Xu Wen went to the library at night.

Mu Rui poured a glass of cold water and placed it next to the desk. Then, he took out his laptop and logged into a game. It had been a few days since he last relaxed. Hehe, I wonder if Master has been thinking about me.