Archive of Our Own ^beta

As the person in charge of getting her brother and his partner their jobs, Qiao Ling likes to act friendly, open, yet also keep a respectable distance. She has to draw a line when interacting with the often regret-ridden customers interested in their service. She grew up following a professional businessman and woman, she knows where to draw her boundaries.

(Most of the time anyway. It can’t be helped that they still have weekly self-defense classes with Master Siwen and the occasional dinner with his wife. And Doudou’s kidnapping was personal before they even took the case… And some other stuff is taken into consideration. So yeah, she draws her boundaries when she can.)

Qiao Ling is also fully aware, especially after her boys explained their powers and the Li twins fiasco, that whether or not they take the job is first and foremost Lu Guang’s decision. Purely because he’s the one who’s able to decide whether or not the mission is viable in the first place.

So it probably comes as a surprise to them when Qiao Ling explicitly asks Lu Guang to please take this job and explain it to them in such an excited manner.

“Twelve years ago, our dear client went on a trip with her friends. They eat together, cook together, sleep together, and have an overall happy trip. And during that trip, they buried a time capsule filled with letters for each other’s future self,” she dramatically begins her storytime, “However, none of them marked the location, and the details of their trip have been buried under years of memories. Thus the time capsule is lost to time...”

“So she wanted us to get the location? Should be easy. You can just note it down, right Lu Guang?” Cheng Xiaoshi cuts, face showing disinterest as his gaze moves back to his mobile game.

Ugh how dare he interrupts me , her story isn’t finished yet, she’s quick to give him a slap on the head. Pouting as she interjects, “And how are you gonna do that? They were middle schoolers. They didn’t have a phone or GPS.”

Cheng Xiaoshi grumbles, complaining about her carelessly taking the job and putting the hard part on them. Qiao Ling fights back though, and Lu Guang can only sigh as he tries to get them back on track, “Qiao Ling- jie , please continue.”

And that’s when Qiao Ling decided to share her excitement.

Slowly, she reveals a thick brown envelope, opening it to show a stack of money. With a wide grin and a flourish, she exclaims.

“We’re going camping!”

Predictably, Cheng Xiaoshi too got caught up in the excitement, quickly bombarding her with questions like Really? When? Where? Nodding along to each and every single one of her equally excited answers.

But she notices, sitting on the couch and away from their excitement, Lu Guang seems to be covered in some apprehension. It seems someone isn’t looking forward to camping, and that’s something Cheng Xiaoshi notices too.

“Lu Guang, you don’t like camping?”

Caught in his pondering, Lu Guang’s face reddens as he admits, “I’ve never been camping.”

That’s not right, Qiao Ling herself has gone camping four times. Twice with her family– Cheng Xiaoshi included– and…, “There are school camping trips,” once during middle school and high school each.

“Our highschool doesn’t have a camping trip, and I was… sick, during my middle school camping trip.” 

That’s unfortunate, and wrong. Their high school does have a camping trip, but it was during their first year, before Lu Guang transferred. Qiao Ling can’t fault him for that. What caught her attention though, is that Lu Guang was suspiciously hesitant to reveal he was sick during middle school, but he has always been a guarded person so Qiao Ling won’t push.

Cheng Xiaoshi wouldn’t push either, at least, not about that pause. What he will push though, is his enthusiasm.

Ignoring Lu Guang’s obvious doubts about the trip, Cheng Xiaoshi pushes himself into Lu Guang’s personal bubble, clinging to the other, ignoring the white-haired boy's half-hearted attempts to push him off as he exclaims, “Then we’ll just have to introduce you to the best camping experience ever!”

That evening, as Lu Guang closes the shop, Cheng Xiaoshi excuses himself to get take-out. Sure, he could’ve and would’ve cooked dinner, but he had something he wanted to do. The moment he steps out of the door, he calls Qiao Ling.

It seems like Qiao Ling was already expecting it, since before a single syllable can leave his mouth, she’s already replying, “You want to plan out Lu Guang’s perfect camping experience.”

It’s not a question, because he knows she feels the same he does. They grew up together, she’s his sister, they have gone camping together, and they want Lu Guang to enjoy camping the way they did. So instead of answering the non-question, he gets straight to the point. “Want to grab take-out with me and plan?”

“Yes.”

“On my way to your place. See you in 5, landlady.”

So that’s how Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling took the longest 40 minute take-out walk in existence. Reminiscing on their own experience camping when they were kids. 

Things from Cheng Xiaoshi pushing Qiao Ling into the river. Or when Cheng Xiaoshi somehow managed to catch a fish with his bare hands. Sharing stories from within each of their sleeping bags. The one time during middle school camping when Cheng Xiaoshi sneaks into the girl’s side because his flashlight got misplaced into Qiao Ling’s bag. The kid who kicked a bag of air into the campfire, creating a small explosion and got their high school class lectured on fire safety. Playing UNO in the dark to avoid getting scolded by patrolling teachers.

The more they talk about it, the more Cheng Xiaoshi thinks of his childhood. More importantly, how prominent Qiao Ling is within his childhood memories.

There is a popular saying, you are made of those around you . That phrase usually refers to your parents, your family, the immediate environment that raises you. And for him, that phrase refers to Qiao Ling. There is no doubt she plays a big part in making Cheng Xiaoshi who he is today.

He was an angry kid. A feral, lonely, parentless kid as the neighbors would say. And they weren’t wrong, he was angry, he was alone, his parents haven’t been here for a single one of Cheng Xiaoshi’s major milestones.

But it could have been so much worse. Because, while she can’t replace them all, Qiao Ling has given him space to enjoy a family. He still has many beautiful childhood memories to look back on. He remembers quizzing each other on the multiplication table and he remembers throwing pillows and punches at each other over some stolen banana. It was stupid, probably insignificant to most, but it was cherished all the same.

He’s currently reminiscing about the time he experiences a family holiday.

Cheng Xiaoshi might have lost his parents, but he still has a family.

By dragging Cheng Xiaoshi into her family, Qiao Ling has guided him to make his own. One that he cherishes, that he went through hard times with, one that supported him as much as he supported them.

And now he’s here, walking side-by-side with his sister and planning his own family holiday with the family he has made . “Qiao Ling, I can’t imagine growing up without you.”

She snorted, replying with a soft smile and a clear lie, “I can. It would be nice only having to buy boba for one instead of two, or three, all the time.”

By the time they reached the studio, the both of them were grinning from ear to ear. Whispering random phrases into each other’s ears. Lu Guang can only stare in dread as he wonders what they were plotting.

Despite his hesitant feeling, Lu Guang finds himself awake bright and early on Friday. Loading bags, food, tents, and other camping equipment Qiao Ling has dug up from somewhere into the rental car. Ignoring Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling fighting over a bag of snacks as he tries hard to stack all these items together with Qiao- xiansheng .

Oh yeah, Qiao Ling’s father is joining them.

It’s not that Lu Guang minded, honestly he expected it. No matter how much freedom he gave to Qiao Ling and his endless trust towards Cheng Xiaoshi, this is still his daughter planning to camp in the big, open woods. There’s a lot that can happen, and one does not put their daughter’s safety in the hands of two boys recently recovering from near fatal wounds.

In brief, Qiao Ling’s father has been really protective of her after their tango with Qian Jin. It probably didn’t help that Qiao Ling doesn’t keep secrets from her dad either, revealing hers and subsequently their abilities to the man.

So no, Lu Guang isn’t surprised Qiao- xiansheng decided to join them. It’s just that, while they’re definitely on good terms, Lu Guang doesn’t know the man that well. Qiao- xiansheng entrusted Qiao Ling to keep track of their rent and needs. So even though the man is technically his landlord, Lu Guang never really needed to interact with him.

Speaking of, Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling have moved on to another topic.

Lu Guang doesn’t know how their previous argument ended, but they’re fighting over who gets to sit shotgun now. Qiao Ling argues that it’s her baba driving and her right as their landlady while Cheng Xiaoshi argues his longer legs deserve the extra room and Qiao- shushu would agree.

Lu Guang doesn’t mind having to sit in the back, but considering he would have to spend the next two nights sharing a small tent with Cheng Xiaoshi, sitting alone in front would be nice. He feels he deserves it the least though.

“Lu Guang,” the man calls out, gesturing to the squabbling siblings, “Do those two always fight like that in front of you and your other friends too?”

“Yes,” this argument is just like the many other arguments he witnessed before. But before Qiao- xianshen could say anything, Lu Guang defended them, “I don’t mind it though.”

The man only hums in reply.

This is how all their conversation goes. Awkward, stilted, and always revolving around the same two people they care about. Because they have nothing else in common.

The man probably thought so too, since he turns away from Lu Guang and calls out to his two kids and stops their squabbling.

“Kids! Stop arguing,” the man scolded them, and in an unexpected twist, he declares, “Lu Guang is sitting shotgun.”

Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling complain, of course. Asking baba and shushu why Lu Guang gets the front seat and whether or not he even wants them. Not that Lu Guang let them complain for long.

“Qiao- xiansheng said I’m sitting upfront. I deserved it.” He claims as he nonchalantly climbs onto the desired seat.

He may not be close to the man, but he can appreciate his sense of humor. And the seat.

For all their complaints, neither Qiao Ling or Cheng Xiaoshi minded giving up the front seat to Lu Guang. After all, they wanted him to enjoy himself, and giving up the front seat is a small sacrifice.

What isn’t a small sacrifice though, is the fact that since they’re sitting side-by-side, Qiao Ling can’t safely hog all her snacks to herself. Since the very beginning of the car ride, Cheng Xiaoshi has taken her pocky sticks, her candy, her chips. Everything.

(She’s actually doing the same to his snacks, but well… nevermind, she doesn’t have any real defense.)

What she does have though, is Lu Guang keeping her on track. “Qiao Ling- jie, we’re already on our way and you haven’t even told us our client’s name. Or give me a photo to work on.”

Oh right, she got too excited she almost forgot they’re going on this trip using somebody else’s money. Baba rightfully scolded her for this, “Lingling, come on now. Don’t get distracted from your job.”

Cheng Xiaoshi laughed at her though, so she also rightfully smacks him. 

Digging into her bag, she pulls out an envelope with around 15 photos. Reaching up front to hand them to Lu Guang, “I’m sorry,” she says, “Cheng Xiaoshi distracted me the first time, I’ll brief you now, alright?”

So Qiao Ling tells them. About Mao Weijia, their client who in middle school went camping with her friends, Liu Sanjie and Guo Xiaolu. The three of them were neighbors, growing up together and always being with each other. One day, they decide to go on a camping trip, escorted by Liu Sanjie’s father. And during that camping trip, in the dead of the night as they lay in their tent, Liu Sanjie excitedly brought up the idea of a time capsule. Using Guo Xiaolu’s empty candy tin can and torn notebook paper to send handwritten letters to each other’s future self.

The morning after, the trio went into the unexplored forest, off the beaten track. WIth their tin can and letters, Liu Sanjie leads them to find a special secret spot to bury their time capsule. Finally burying it near a big old tree stump. Twelve years later, a month prior to their agreed time capsule opening, their client asks for their help uncovering it. Willingly paying extra to not only uncover the location, but also retrieve the old tin can.

“Isn’t the big deal about time capsules is digging it up together? Why don’t they mark it? What about the dad? Or Liu Sanjie? Don’t they remember where it is?” Cheng Xiaoshi asks.

Lu Guang, who has been quietly listening and examining the photos, chimes up, “They did mark it. Most of these photos were taken by Guo Xiaolu as landmarks, but they’ve been shuffled and the forest surely has grown significantly too.”

“For various reasons, they’re unable to go retrieve it,” and this is where Qiao Ling hesitates. Because she does have extra information, “Two months ago, Liu Sanjie passed away from illness. Guo Xiaolu has not been coping well and our client is hoping a letter from Liu Sanjie would help, even if it’s from twelve years ago.”

Maybe she shouldn’t have said it. The alarmed look everyone in the car sends her way amplifies her regret. That was too personal, too private, something she shouldn’t have known nor shared.

Qiao Ling can’t help knowing that though. Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi deal with the client’s past, but as their spokesperson and medium, she deals with the client’s present.

She coughs into her fist, before beckoning Lu Guang for an answer, “So? You can track where it’s buried, right?”

It’s a dirty tactic, Qiao Ling knows, but if anyone in this car wants to move on from the topic of a close friend’s death, that person would be Lu Guang. And as expected, he takes the bait.

“Yeah, this photo was taken by our client an hour before their hike,” he waves a photo of the three friends giving peace signs in front of a dead campfire, “Cheng Xiaoshi, all you have to do while you dive is follow Liu Sanjie’s lead, and Guo Xiaolu will hold your hand and guide you through most of it. Then I can simply follow your movement from the present.”

Cheng Xiaoshi nods along, and Qiao Ling raises her hand. “And I can accompany Lu Guang on his hike!”

“Eh? You only wanted to accompany Lu Guang to enjoy the view.”

“Well it doesn’t matter what I want, Lu Guang shouldn’t have to hike alone. What if something happens?”

“I’ll be there with him!”

“No, you’ll be in the past. Cheng Xiaoshi, don’t be stupid.”

Qiao Ling is glad, the atmosphere in the car almost feels normal again. Bantering with her brother as if she didn’t say anything.

If only she can ignore the concerned look her ba is giving her from the rearview mirror.

Once they’ve reached the camping site, the sky is already filled with a gradation of reds and oranges. They’ve already eaten their packed lunch somewhere on the road, but at this point it might as well be time to start preparing dinner. And that’s how Cheng Xiaoshi found himself unpacking the food from the car.

They’ve already split tasks, Cheng Xiaoshi would cook dinner, Qiao Ling would release every girl’s inner arsonist and gather wood to start their campfire, and the both of them have agreed beforehand that Lu Guang should experience building a tent at least once, so despite multiple complaints, that’s what he will be doing, and Qiao- shushu is going to help Cheng Xiaoshi unload the car before he starts building the other tent.

Between himself, Lu Guang and Qiao Ling, Cheng Xiaoshi always has been the better cook. So while Qiao Ling was the one who went shopping for this trip, she was strictly following Cheng Xiaoshi’s previously agreed on planned menu. 

Today’s dinner is supposed to be roasted meat. Cheng Xiaoshi always wanted to do an open fire barbeque, and what better chance to do so then in the open forest. He already got the grill out, the charcoal as well, the various sauces and vegetables. All he needs is the marinated meat which is right over… there–

“Ehh,” looking at the store’s packaging, Cheng Xiaoshi is taken aback, “This is… This is… Premium meat! How much extra did the client pay us?”

Qiao- shushu who has just unloaded their bag of snacks looks over, “Oh, I bought that. It’s the best for grilling, isn’t it?”

But, this is premium meat , it’s expensive . You can’t just casually answer like that .

“ Shushu , you shouldn’t have! The regular ones would’ve worked too.”

Qiao- shushu just laughs, reaching over to ruffle his hair, “I know you’ve been wanting to do this, gotta try it with the best materials, right? And I’ll be eating it too, so it won’t be a waste.”

Shushu has always been like this. He puts the pre in pre pared. The moment Qiao Ling showed interest in taking over the business, he bought a bunch of business and success motivation books. When Cheng Xiaoshi started taking photos in middle school, he bought a brand new camera for him to use. The moment Cheng Xiaoshi declared he would one day reopen the shop, he sat him down and taught him how to run a business 101 .

“Alright! I’ll make sure I grill it well just for you shushu! ”

He smiles warmly, saying words without a single doubt, “Of course you will, you’ve never disappointed me before,” trusting Cheng Xiaoshi fully.

Ah, that reminds him, “A couple days ago, Qiao Ling and I were talking about our previous camping trips.”

“Is that so?” the corner of shushu ’s mouth turns upwards, smirking mischievously as he remembers something, “Did you talk about that time you almost lost your pants in the creek?”

“Don’t bring that up!” That was an embarrassing moment for Cheng Xiaoshi. Against shushu ’s better judgment, a young Cheng Xiaoshi refuses to tie his sweatpants before playing in the creek. Thus there was little to no resistance when the water current tried to sweep it away. Thankfully Qiao- shushu was there to catch it, otherwise Qiao Ling would have laughed at him for the rest of the trip.

They shared a laugh over the memory, before quieting down again.

“It’s just that shushu ,” Cheng Xiaoshi begins, “I realized you did so much for me, and I never thank you for any of it.”

In reply, shushu snorted, averting his gaze back to the trunk, “Thank Lingling instead, Xiaoshi. She was the one who dragged you home.”

No, Cheng Xiaoshi doubles down, “You could’ve turned me away. When my parents left, you lost rent, yet you wasted more money taking care of me, you even brought me camping and–”

“Xiaoshi,” the man cuts him off with a sigh, “Raising you wasn’t a waste, you were a kid. I only tried to give you what you deserved.”

“But I’m not a kid anymore,” Cheng Xiaoshi argues, “I’m an adult now. You didn’t have to buy me this expensive meat. And I know you like to send Qiao Ling over with food. I also know about your re–”

Before he could speak anymore, shushu silenced him with a hand on his head and a smile on his face.

“Because you’re my kid. Is that so hard to believe?”

With that, shushu left him in silence, continuing to unload the last baggage from the car.

No , Cheng Xiaoshi realizes, it’s not hard to believe. Ever since his parents disappeared, shushu has always been there for him. He’s the person the school called whenever Cheng Xiaoshi gets into trouble, he was the one that helped Cheng Xiaoshi pack when he was moving into the college dorms, he was Cheng Xiaoshi’s emergency contact when he got shot.

Staring at his retreating back, finished unloading the car, Cheng Xiaoshi calls out.

“... I love you, shushu !”

He laughs, back arching as he grabs at his chest, “Just count your rent correctly next time, Xiaoshi!”

“Hey! I’ve been paying them, haven't I?”

“That’s exactly the problem kid.”

Lu Guang really didn’t want to set up the tent. He has never done it and after half-an-hour of wrestling with it, he’s sure this is meant to be at least a two-person job. The poles are too long and bendy, the tarp refuses to stay straight, the ropes keep tangling, and the pegs won’t stay buried.

It’s barely been an hour but Lu Guang already found camping to be such a pain .

Looking around him, Cheng Xiaoshi is cooking, but Qiao Ling seems to only be snapping a pile of twigs. Maybe he can ask her for help?

Though before he can call out to her, another rings behind him, “Do you need any help?”

“Qiao- xiansheng! ” The man is already holding pieces of the tent, his own standing tall and upright behind him, “... If it’s of no trouble to you.”

Instead of answering, the man simply passes a pole to him and starts picking up other random pieces of the tent. Lu Guang can do nothing but follow his lead.

Slowly but sure, the tent takes shape. Lu Guang is sure if the man had done it himself he would have finished it faster but the man seems insistent that Lu Guang stays engaged in building this tent, even if he needs a helping hand every step of the way. Staying silent except for giving clear instructions every once in a while.

It’s not until they’re tossing the raintarp over the tent did the man awkwardly try to start a conversation. “So you’ve never been camping before? How come?”

“... My mother wasn’t a fan of the outdoors.”

“Neither are you,” the man turns, hands on his hips and looking at him sharply, “Yet you didn’t refuse coming here.”

Lu Guang only shrugged, “It’s a job, it pays,” he reasons. He moves to the other end of the tarp, ready to throw it over to the other side.

The man raises an eyebrow at him, “And that is all? I’m sure there are other jobs, or you could take the time off after the whole getting stabbed thing.”

Lu Guang frowns slightly, “But coming here makes them happy doesn’t it?” he says, gesturing towards Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling doing each of their own things, “Qiao- xiansheng , why are you asking me this?”

The man looks back at where Lu Guang gestures before replying, “Both of them like you, so I want to get to know you more. It’s about time,” and then, without sparing him a glance, the man begins walking away, “Come, we need to grab the pegs.”

Lu Guang obediently follows closely behind, to the other side of the tent away from Cheng Xiaoshi’s and Qiao Ling’s sight. Listening as the man keeps on talking, “I’ve watched them grow, you know. I know Cheng Xiaoshi has trouble making friends. Then one day you just showed up and you’re both attached at the hips in no time at all.”

If it was any other person, Lu Guang would have kept his silence, but this isn’t just any person. This is the man that raised Cheng Xiaoshi, so Lu Guang pushed, “Does it matter? He’s my first friend too.”

That’s when the man turns to face him, cornering him against the tent. “No, normally it wouldn’t,” the man begins, “Normally I would be happy he gained a friend. But then it turns out there are these powers, and my daughter got hers by holding a dying girl. So I need you to tell me what happened for Cheng Xiaoshi to get his.”

The man’s gaze is so intense, Lu Guang feels like he just entered an interrogation. Intimidated like he’s prey. “... It was during the overseas trip,” unconsciously, he started speaking, confessing as if it was a sin, “I wasn’t there when Cheng Xiaoshi got his, but I got mine because– because, something happened… It happened and I needed to protect him.”

Whatever the man took of that statement is enough for him to back down. Stepping backwards and giving Lu Guang his space back, gaze concerned and inquiring as he took his time to respond. “You don’t need to protect him. You know that, don’t you?” the man asked.

When Lu Guang stays silent, the man continues on, “Xiaoshi is a strong kid. Look at him, his parents left him as a child, has been gone for years and he’s doing just fine. He made friends, he’s running a business he loves.”

“But that’s because he has you, isn’t it?” Lu Guang interjects, “You were there for him when he was a kid. Even now the rent you’re charging is suspiciously low, and Qiao Ling- jie came over with food so often…”

“Because he needed it as a kid and I’ve discussed rent with Xiaoshi before you arrived. I couldn’t charge him normal price, he’s my kid, but I’m still a landlord and he is running a business on my property. For tax and regulation reasons I have to charge him rent, as low as it is,” the man patiently explains, “Though, I never thought he would start time traveling and pay extra for a debt that didn’t exist.”

The man gives a weak laugh, head hanging as he crouches low to the ground. Lu Guang stands near him, awkwardly placing what he hopes is a comforting hand on the man’s shoulders as he continues to talk. 

“You don’t understand how glad I am when Lingling reveals all this superpower crap to me. Xiaoshi is so stubborn in this idea that he’s indebted to someone. I was scared he got that extra money from running drugs or something. At least with me I can send my Ling over with food or games, but anyone else? I don’t want him to run himself dry just because he feels like he owes just about anyone.”

Lu Guang doesn’t know how to respond to that. It honestly explains a lot about Cheng Xiaoshi. Qiao- xianshen is a selflessly caring individual, and in his lowest point where no one so much glances at him, Cheng Xiaoshi receives that selfless hand, sees it and applies it himself, endlessly and carelessly helping everyone he comes across.

Including Lu Guang himself… That’s why, “He shouldn’t feel like he owes me, I’m the one that owes him. He saved me first, that’s why I want– need– to protect him, keep protecting him. I would do anything for him.”

In response to his declaration, Qiao- xiansheng can only look at. Something akin to sadness in his eyes, “You’re a good kid Lu Guang. I can see that. When you said he doesn’t owe you, I know that you meant it,” the man starts slowly, “but does Xiaoshi know that?”

What is a camping trip if they don’t play cards? That’s exactly what Qiao Ling and the boys did for hours after their delicious barbeque dinner. They played Go Fish, they played King’s Corner, Cheng Xiaoshi destroyed them at Old Maid, Lu Guang dominated at Bullshit, and her brother greedily ate his share of the chips and pocky sticks they’re using as Poker currency because Qiao Ling is a beast at it and would otherwise run him dry.

(They should do this more often, late at night in the back of the studio beneath the glass roof of the sunroom. It would be nice, and would probably help bury memories of that one awful night that started it all)

It’s really late by the time she enters her tent. Really dark too, but she tries her best to keep quiet because Baba entered their tent a couple hours before she did and she doesn’t want to disturb his sleep.

Not that it really matters, the moment she zipped the tent entrance close behind her, his voice rang loud and clear. “Lingling? Let’s talk for a bit.”

She dropped her phone in surprise, and he grabbed it, turning on the flashlight and propping it up in such a way that it dimly illuminated his serious looking face. Patting the sleeping bag he laid down next to his, a worldwide recognizable gesture of we’re going to talk, don’t argue .

With a feeling of dread, she settles into her sleeping bag, lying down straight with her eyes glued to the roof of the tent. Trying her best to avoid his gaze.

Qiao Ling knows exactly what baba wanted to talk about.

Yet he stays quiet, not saying a single thing and letting the sounds of nature fill the silence. It’s uncomfortable. She doesn’t want to do this talk and she wants this talk to be over as soon as possible. She wants him to fall asleep and she wants him to ask. She wants him to turn away and she wants him to hold her close.

She wants her ba to do something, anything .

“... It’s been a while since we slept side by side like this. My little girl is an adult now but I still remember the first time we went camping you clung to me the whole night.”

That was not what she expected he would start with. Unconsciously, her hands unclench and her heart lightens. Giving out a little breathless laugh as she whines, “ Baba ! I was 10 and it was storming!”

Her baba laughs and she follows along. She should , she’s not sure she’ll be able to laugh at what she knows is coming up next. Thankfully, her father seems intent on slowly easing her into the topic, prompting her to discuss other stuff beforehand.

“So how are the boys? I know they said they’re fine but Cheng Xiaoshi tends to be stubborn and Lu Guang seems like the type to keep quiet when hurt.”

“They’re fine. Two months in the hospital did its job well. I think there have been some nightmares but they’re handling it together.”

Her ba hums thoughtfully, “And how about you? How have you been handling it?”

“I’m fine. My injuries were just bruises and scratches from the hospital raid and the theater.” It’s a dismissive answer at best. Her previous answer led him to this, she knows that’s not what he’s really asking.

“And nightmares? Your friends were kidnapped and a girl died in your arms.”

Qiao Ling turns to her side, looking into her ba ’s eyes full of concern. “Her name was Li Tianxi– Xixi. She’s a sweet girl, and I do think of her sometimes, but I swear I’m fine baba .”

His gaze intensifies, examining her own for any lie, any hurt she tries to hide. She tries to meet his gaze head on, eye-to-eye, but it doesn’t take long before she gives up on the facade. He already knows she’s not alright. 

Reaching out, his hands hold tightly into hers as he asks the question he’s been wanting to ask since the car ride this morning.

“Then why did you use your powers on an unsuspecting client?”

She can only hold his hand tighter.

“Lingling, come on. I doubt she told you and I know you don’t need to know about her deceased friend. My daughter won’t do this, I taught you about respecting a client’s privacy. So I need you to tell me what’s wrong, why you do what you did, alright sweetpea?”

Qiao Ling hates that baba sounded concerned, reassuring , understanding . She knows what she did was wrong, she wants him to be mad. Yet when her hands move to his shirt and she buries her face into baba ’s chest, he cradles her head protectively.

“ Ba , do you know I was the one who stabbed Lu Guang? And that Xu Shanshan was kidnapped the day before? And Cheng Xiaoshi took that bullet for me?”

Baba holds her tighter. She’s so close she can feel his breath hitch, he didn’t know. Of course he didn’t, she never told him before. Yet his words are still so soft, “I’m sure it was out of your control.”

Qiao Ling is sure baba can also feel her shaking. Her eyes tearing up, her hands trembling, words choked in her throat as she continues, “I didn’t understand how they work baba . I hand them job-after-job and it hurts them. A serial killer went after them, ba! The studio was empty! They were hospitalized for months! They could’ve d–”

Throughout her outburst, words spat out and words choked back. Her baba shushes her, hands moving and rubbing her back, head tilted forward to press kisses to her head. Slowly guiding her to breathe, to calm down. She didn’t realize she’s been hyperventilating. 

“ Ba , Xixi shouldn’t have died, but I’m glad she did. I’m glad I got her powers,” slowly, she untangles herself. Moving back so she can stare resolutely into his eyes, “I need to protect them, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang. I can’t take the chance of a client bringing bad attention to them again. I won’t risk it.”

Her declaration is met with silence. He doesn’t agree with her, she can tell. But that look in his eyes, he understands, and that’s enough for her.

After another pause and a deep breath, finally he speaks, “You can’t do this, Lingling. This side business is questionable enough as it is, but the client at least somewhat knew they were having their past explored. What you did could break a lot of trust, not only of the clients but of Xiaoshi and Lu Guang as well.”

“Then what should I do?” She tearfully asks. Qiao Ling feels like a child again. She knows it was wrong but she doesn’t know what else to do. She’s clueless, not knowing how the world works, asking baba for guidance.

“... We can start by talking to them. Maybe talk to a therapist. Talk to that captain too, you’ve got police connections, you can use it. Would that help?”

“Yeah…”

She would hate to trouble Captain Xiao like that, but it does sound doable, and more ethical. He probably wouldn’t mind doing it either, Captain Xiao owed them a lot. Tired but relieved, she buries herself into baba ’s chest again. He pats her back lovingly.

“Thank you, ba. ”

“Of course. Anytime you need, sweetpea. You can always talk to me.”

It’s getting really late, she’s getting sleepy, and she has a hike tomorrow. She should sleep now, it’s safe here.

.

.

.

“Look at that, Lingling. Even twelve years later you're still clinging to your ba. ”

Cheng Xiaoshi knows, last night, Lu Guang had trouble sleeping. Probably not used to sleeping in a cramped sleeping bag, or to the noise outside. Cheng Xiaoshi spent a decent amount of time just staying awake and trying to make Lu Guang feel more comfortable.

So really, Cheng Xiaoshi shouldn’t be surprised he woke up with Lu Guang’s head tucked directly under his chin, yet he woke up.with a startled sneeze. In his defense though, Lu Guang’s hair tickles his nose, so you can’t blame him for sneezing and waking up Lu Guang in the process.

Lu Guang looked really grumpy having been woken up like that, combined with how messier his hair is than it usually is, he looks like he could strangle someone. Thus Cheng Xiaoshi escapes the tent, coming face to face with an equally grumpy Qiao Ling, squinting at the sun like it’s the worst thing in the world.

“ Baba snores,” she complains, and Cheng Xiaoshi can only snort as he remembers the first time he suffers through Qiao- shushu’ s snores.

(Honestly, it’s not a good start to the day for them, but it definitely is a comedic start for him. hehe.)

Together, they eat the breakfast Qiao- shushu prepared in front of the dying embers of the campfire. Qiao Ling and Lu Guang’s warm sleepy body leaning on either side of him. Stretching out their bodies once they finish, Lu Guang looking at his ever present watch and declaring they should start preparing for the mission.

Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t need to prepare anything but he helped Qiao Ling and Lu Guang pack water, light snacks, and a small trowel into their pack. Annoyingly reminds them to tighten their laces and not to drop his camera case multiple times, until Lu Guang has had enough and sent him into the photo.

As always he takes a few moments to adjust, blinking the dots from his vision, clenching and unclenching her hands as he gets used to this foreign body of a middle school girl. Finally breaking out of focus once a voice calls out, “Mao Weijia! Come ooon, hurry up and let’s go!”

It’s Liu Sanjie, the client’s friend who recently passed. He feels her heart pangs, though not with the sadness of grief, not yet, more with the fondness of a loved one. 

It makes him sad, yet he can’t deny its beauty. It sort of reminds him of the love between Officer Chen Bin and his wife.

“ Cheng Xiaoshi?” Lu Guang’s voice rings inside his head. Right, he has to move, so he starts towards Liu Sanjie before Lu Guang interrupts, “ Stop. Tell them to wait a minute and grab a pen from the tent. ”

Well, it is his job to follow Lu Guang’s directions, so he turns around and heads into the tent. Opening a patterned brown school bag, rummaging around until he found a pen. He hesitates on leaving the tent though, they’re going to start hiking right after, aren’t they? And, “ Should I stall? ” he asks Lu Guang, “ You and Qiao Ling aren’t ready to go yet, right? ”

In his head, Cheng Xiaoshi can hear Lu Guang huff, “ We won’t take long, and our legs are longer than yours, ” his voice echoes, reassuringly when Cheng Xiaoshi steps falter before the tent’s entrance, “ It’s fine. Just go. ”

So Cheng Xiaoshi does, having her arms seized by Guo Xiaolu and getting dragged into the forest behind Liu Sanjie’s confident steps. He didn’t realize it, but before Lu Guang reminded him, he was stalling and putting a little bit of resistance to getting dragged like this. He’s not here to change the past, he should not do anything but follow Guo Xiaolu’s guide.

In the end though, getting dragged along like this means that other than the occasional laughs or nods at jokes the three friends throw around, Cheng Xiaoshi could linger in his own head and simply talk with Lu Guang.

Honestly, it’s a miracle he hasn’t stumbled. Guo Xiaolu is doing a really good job guiding Mao Weijia. And they’re not even questioning how quiet she is, they just assumed Mao Weijia is thinking of her unwritten letter.

“ They’re really good friends aren’t they? And they’re still friends in the present too, it’s like they’ve known each other since forever, ” he commented. Lu Guang only replied with a brief breathless humm, probably a bit worn out from his own hike in the present. It’s not really an answer but Cheng Xiaoshi understands and lets his thoughts continue on, “ Makes me wonder what it would be like if you transferred sooner, and we became friends in middle school. ”

There was a beat of silence before Lu Guang gave a small snicker, “ Qiao Ling-jie said that would mean, ” he said between breaths, “ I would get to see you in your horrible hair gel phase. ”

What? Bringing up his old shame? Betrayed by his own sister! “ It’s not like she was any better! ” he retorted, “ Qiao Ling cut off her bangs in middle school, I can show you pictures later! ”

Like before, it took Lu Guang a while to answer, “ ... She says if you do that, she will bring up pictures of your old buzzcut. ”

He whines, “ Why did you tell her I said that? Lu Guaaang! ” Betrayed once again! This time by his own partner!

“ I’m not, ” Lu Guang replies with indignation, “ She’s using a photo of us to read our thoughts. I’m just helping her get her message across. ”

“ She can do that? ” That’s shocking, or maybe not. Li Tianxi was using it to keep track of them in the theater. Okay, so not betrayed by his partner, just an annoying eavesdropper. “ Hey landlady! Stop making Lu Guang be your microphone and buzz off. ”

Poor Guangguang is being used as a mouthpiece. Though at least he’s getting some amusement from their forbidden middle school misadventures.

That’s when another voice echoes in his head, “ As if you weren’t doing the same thing! And I already apologized. ”

That was Qiao Ling’s voice ringing inside his head, but, “ How?! ”

“ I’m holding Lu Guang’s hand, ” she explains. Oh, hearing her voice here is weird, “ I thought maybe mine and Lu Guang’s ability can work together and connect itself to you. ”

Which turns Lu Guang into, “ a literal telephone line, ” the other boy deadpans.

Cheng Xiaoshi can’t help but laugh, and he can hear Qiao Ling doing the same from the other side. It makes him forget where he was until Lu Guang interrupts them. Silencing them both before speaking,

“ Cheng Xiaoshi, look left. ”

Right, the job. He follows Lu Guang’s orders and looks left.

There.

Roughly not even ten centimeters away from his face.

Is a big ass spider.

“Aaaakkh!” their client screams. And maybe Cheng Xiaoshi did too.

In his head, he can distantly hear the annoying sound of Lu Guang’s small breathy laugh as well as Qiao Ling’s muffled giggles. But he can’t focus on that, not when seconds after his scream Liu Sanjie and Guo Xiaolu both rushes in and hugs him tight.

They’re rubbing at Mao Weijia’s shoulders, rubbing circles down her spine, dragging her away from the spider, wiping the little bit of tears pooling in her eyes and whispering sweet comforting words right into her ears.

“Down worry about it, we’re here,” Liu Sanjie whispers, “The spider won’t do anything.”

“Yeah!” Guo Xiaolu readily agrees, “If it gets near you, Liu Sanjie will smack it down!”

“ ... –aoshi? ”

Instead of smacking the spider, Liu Sanjie smacks Guo Xiaolu instead, “It’s your fault she’s freaking out! Why did you lead her close to the spider?”

Guo Xiaolu whines, “I didn't mean to! I didn't see the spider! Honest!”

“ –hey! ”

Neither Liu Sanjie or Guo Xiaolu's attention are on Mao Weijia still, but Cheng Xiaoshi feels something warm flutters in her chest. This is Mao Weijia’s feelings, she is being worried over, cared for, and she feels so loved .

“ –eng! Xiao! Shi! ”

That’s when the present breaks through.

“ What?! ” Having Qiao Ling scream in his ear daily is enough, he doesn’t need her screaming in his head too.

“ Ugh! Why didn’t you answer us before? ” she scolded, “ You just suddenly went quiet! ”

Lu Guang’s calm voice comes after, “ I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were scared of spiders. ” 

He sounded apologetic, remorseful even, “ I’m not, Lu Guang! I was just startled! ” Cheng Xiaoshi doesn’t like the sound of Lu Guang’s guilt, especially for a simple misunderstanding. He wasn’t scared, just distracted.

It was quiet, both Lu Guang and Qiao Ling trying to determine if he really is okay from his words. Then Lu Guang finally speaks again, “ ... If you’re really fine, then pay attention and don’t make us worry, idiot. ”

“ Yeah, don’t make us worry for no reason! ” Qiao Ling chimes in, “ He’s so annoying, isn’t he Guangguang? ”

“ What! Hey! ” Where did that question come from?

“ Yeah, ” and Lu Guang agrees with it too! 

“ If anything, you’re the annoying one! ” Cheng Xiaoshi interjects, “ Shouting in my head like this! ” How did their conversation turn into this? A banter that’s repeatedly striking his pride.

His heart is warm though. And he gets it, he gets Mao Weijia’s feelings.

He feels so loved .

Cheng Xiaoshi likes it.

Lu Guang knows he’s not as energetic as Cheng Xiaoshi is, and he also knows he has more stamina than Qiao Ling does. But maybe it’s the combined effort of hiking in uneven terrain, navigating an unfamiliar and untracked route, guiding Cheng Xiaoshi through a conversation as their client and her friends took a break, and the blazing sun rays slipping in through the big cracks of foliage.

Lu Guang feels absolutely exhausted. His head hangs heavily as he sits on a fallen log, probably from the same tree Cheng Xiaoshi, as their client, is currently leaning against in the past. It feels like his heart is beating way too fast and his ears are full of cotton.

Then suddenly, there’s a heavy weight on his neck, and his head seems to clear. Looking up, Qiao Ling is standing in front of him and blocking the sunlight, hand outstretched with a half-filled water bottle.

“This is why I don’t want you to hike alone,” she says, “You overheat too easily.”

Reaching to his nape, Lu Guang felt the cold surface of the damp towel Qiao Ling threw over him, a simple but very effective help. “Thanks, Qiao Ling- jie ,” he replies, taking the offered bottle and taking a swig out of it.

While he was doing that, Qiao Ling dug an item out of her bag and carelessly plops it down on his head before sitting next to him. He reaches for it, wanting to see what it was. It’s a cap, a white one with faux cat ears, the same one he used on his and Cheng Xiaoshi’s trip to Bridon.

He puts the cap back on, normally this time, when Qiao Ling begins to speak, “You never answered his question, by the way.”

Huh, “What question?” Lu Guang didn’t feel like he missed anything. Did Cheng Xiaoshi say anything while he was in his brief exhausted state?

Qiao Ling teasingly smiles at him, “The one where he asked,” she starts, as if knowing Lu Guang is scrubbing his memories to find the question he missed, “What would it be like if we met in middle school.”

Oh, Lu Guang didn’t register that as a question. At the time it seemed more like Cheng Xiaoshi’s bored rambling. If he were to think about it though, about his middle school days, then, “I was… I wasn’t an active kid. I don’t think we would’ve been friends.” 

“Really? I see,” she accepted the answer. Though it seems to kickstart some thoughts. The world turns quiet,  the sound of the forest becomes the only sound from the present, with Cheng Xiaoshi and the client’s friends quietly chattering somewhere in the back of his mind.

“Say, Lu Guang,” Qiao Ling, finally speaking up again, should have filled the forest with noise, “Has Cheng Xiaoshi… died?” Yet the silence that follows her question is endlessly deafening for Lu Guang.

Panic fills his veins, and scenes flood through his head. Too detailed, too messy, too visceral, he can feel the wet textures between his fingers and the phantom iron smell in his nose, it’s too… real. As much as he tries to objectify it, rationalize it, Lu Guang can’t deny that these are memories.

Memories of Cheng XIaoshi’s multiple deaths.

And Qiao Ling is in front of him. Her phone, displaying a photo of him, in her limp hand as tears pool in her eyes. 

She’s in his head, she sees it all.

She knows.

But there’s also the sound of Cheng Xiaoshi, clearly laughing in his head. ‘No,” Lu Guang denies, “he’s not dead. He won’t.”

That’s why Lu Guang is here, isn’t he? Because Cheng Xiaoshi isn’t dead. He’s alive, happy, helping others just because he can. He’s speaking, and whining, and laughing, and smiling, and breathing , and so, so, alive . And Lu Guang is here to make sure it stays that way.

No matter what.

Qiao Ling’s head bowed, blinking and wiping the tears away from her eyes. Finally lifting her head, her eyes are fierce as she looks into his, “You’re right, he won't,” she agrees, “He’s my brother, I refuse to let him die.”

Slowly, she reaches a hand up to his face, wiping tears away from his wet cheeks. When did he– He didn’t realize he was crying. “I’m here with you now, Lu Guang. I will help you keep him safe.”

And here is something he learned when he first met Cheng Xiaoshi. Sometimes, you don’t realize how lonely you are until you find that one person . Just one, who pulls you up from the deep dark well you were in, and introduces you back to the sun.

So many dives. So many loops. He does it all. Over and over. For him. Lu Guang has been losing Cheng Xiaoshi, again and again. 

Lu Guang didn’t realize how deep he had fallen back into the well. He has been grieving trying to save Cheng Xiaoshi all on his own. Because he dived back, it hadn’t happened, nobody else shares his knowledge.

He always thought Cheng Xiaoshi would be the first to find out. Lu Guang was scared of his reaction, to the blatant hypocrisy that he did. But the one who does is Qiao Ling, and she’s here confronting him with it. She’s not angry, she’s not mad, she’s crying with him, she’s agreeing with him, she wants to help him.

It feels like she pulled him out of this well, and into the night sky. It’s still so dark, but there’s a chance. Wait and see, for the sunrise will soon come. 

She gives him hope.

Though she seems to have taken his stunned silence as doubt, pulling his face closer to hers as she once again declares, “We won’t lose him, Lu Guang. We won’t.”

“Okay,” he finally speaks, “We won’t.”

Maybe, just maybe. This is the change the timeline needs. A shared knowledge, a helping hand, a camping trip. The one critical node that would finally , against all odds, change death.

Change his death.

Lu Guang can hope.

Neither Qiao Ling nor Lu Guang talked a lot for the rest of the hike. Though, she can’t blame Lu Guang.

After that emotional talk, they’re too tired to do anything but follow Cheng Xiaoshi’s steps in the past. It’s not completely quiet though, there are still three-way conversations with the unaware Cheng Xiaoshi.

(Whether that three-way conversation was an actual three-way discussion, a one-way order from Lu Guang, or a two-way banter between her and Cheng Xiaoshi utilizing phone-line-Lu Guang is up for debate.)

Either way, the longer they hike, the quieter they get. Unless you consider her exhausted huffs and puffs, that is. At some point, Lu Guang had moved her heavy water bottle into his own bag, reassuring her that, “it won’t take much longer,” and holding her hand tight in his.

He’s reliable as always.

(And no, Qiao Ling is not getting bested by a group of middle schoolers, she can see from Cheng Xiaoshi’s thoughts how much the landscape has changed and the trees have grown. Or not grown, some of these large fallen trunks have been a pain to navigate around.)

Finally though, in her head she can hear Liu Sanjie calling out, “the perfect place!”

And Qiao Ling can’t help but agree, even twelve years after the fact, this is a very pretty place. She’s sure Cheng Xiaoshi has reached a similar conclusion in the past too. A mossy clearing surrounding a very large tree stump. The soil is pretty soft too, which is great because all they brought to dig up the time capsule is a small trowel.

(Not that they’re expecting it to be hard in the first place, the ones who buried it were only a bunch of adventurous kids.)

Slowly, Lu Guang leads her to sit on the soft moss, placing down his bag to dig out their water bottles. Drinking greedily as they in collaboration ignores Cheng Xiaoshi’s excited question of, “So have you found it yet? Can I come back yet?”

Once upon a time, Qiao Ling happily listened as Cheng Xiaoshi talked about the latest camera innovation or the newest camera he could afford. She would even gladly model in his amateur photoshoots.

But right now, with his professional camera bag being a significant weight both Lu Guang and her have passed back and forth the last couple of hours. The fact that he probably can’t wait to return to take photos irks her a little.

Next to her, Lu Guang takes a big gulp before responding in an annoyed deadpan, “You– our client hasn't even written her letters yet.”

“Stupid Cheng Xiaoshi,” leaning back, Qiao Ling closes her eyes and focuses on what she can see in the past, or more accurately what her brother is seeing.

Liu Sanjie running excitedly around the clearing, Guo Xiaolu skipping towards the big stump, and Mao Weijia slowly moving towards the center while craning her head in every direction possible. Then Liu Sanjie decides it’s been long enough and drags Mao Weijia towards Guo Xiaolu who’s standing proudly on the stump.

Liu Sanjie stomps her feet, “This is where we’ll bury our time capsule! Between these roots,” she declares. Pulling out a piece of folded paper and a used candy tin can, she holds out her hands demanding the other two to submit their letters.

Lu Guang’s soft voice cuts in then, “Tell her you haven’t written yours yet,” he orders. There’s an echo of his voice in Cheng Xiaoshi’s head and in her present ears– though it’s getting further away as Lu Guang is walking towards the stump– and also an echo of their client’s voice repeating what Lu Guang said.

Guo Xiaolu would repeat that sentiment, running to the edge of the clearing to write hers down in privacy. Liu Sanjie whines in response, “Hurryyyy! I already finished mine last night!” but she also watches fondly before she moves to the other side of the stump, “I’ll sit on this side so you can write yours too, okay?”

“Mkay,” Mao Weijia replies. Cheng Xiaoshi brings out the pen and paper he previously prepared out of his pocket and places them against the stump. He asks, “What do I write, Lu Guang?”

Before Lu Guang can answer though, Liu Sanjie speaks again. “Did you enjoy the hike?” she asks, “I get worried you know. You always went along with what I said, I’m worried you’ll get bored.”

In the present, Lu Guang sits down next to Qiao Ling, distractingly nudging her with a dirt-covered tin can while passing his next line to Cheng Xiaoshi. In the past, the client speaks slowly but surely, “But I wouldn’t know what to do otherwise, and you always think about us. So I trust you. You can make everything fun.”

He’s still talking to Cheng Xiaoshi when Qiao Ling opens her eyes, guiding him on what to write on each of their client’s letters. He didn’t need to do so, they already got the time capsule. But he’s wearing such a melancholic expression on his face that she can’t help but ask, “Is that why you’re desperate to save him? Because you wouldn’t know what to do without him?”

He doesn’t answer, barely even glances at her as he orders Cheng Xiaoshi to come back. Manifesting right in front of them and hurriedly snatching his camera bag in excitement.

It makes her curious. Qiao Ling tries to think of what she would do if she were the one who witnessed and gained Cheng Xiaoshi’s powers upon his death. Could she have left everything behind for a chance to save him? 

She wants so badly to say yes, but there is so much to think about.

Could she have done it? Made a foolproof plan that won’t hurt Cheng Xiaoshi or anyone else? Made minimal changes to the past based on her memory alone? Think of the hours, weeks, years, she would physically leave behind in her present.

Could she abandon Xu Shanshan and her excitement over her developing lovelife? Could she abandon Lu Guang to drown in the emptiness of the studio alone? Could she have left Cheng Xioashi's funeral go unmanaged? Could she let her baba lose two of his kids in a short span of time?

Qiao Ling would much rather not think about any of this.

But she thinks of Lu Guang's memory, sitting bloodied in his bedroom all alone, staring into a photograph just for a chance to see Cheng Xiaoshi again. And she thinks of Cheng Xiaoshi, falling into his knees and crying out of relief, staying glued to Lu Guang’s bedside the moment it dawns on him that the other has survived.

The both of them are so very lonely, and lonely people are different. 

In the present, Cheng Xiaoshi is trying to bribe Lu Guang with multiple milk teas for a quick photoshoot. “He’s always thinking about us, isn’t he?” Lu Guang quips to her, before he stands up and answers Cheng Xiaoshi’s pleas.

Qiao Ling gets it,

Just look at them, Cheng Xiaoshi eyes focusing along his camera and Lu Guang hiding a faint smile from the viewfinder. They fit together.

Their unavoidable separation is endlessly tragic , but their approaching union would be endlessly beautiful .

It’s a shame, but the moment they returned to camp, both Qiao Ling and Lu Guang conk out immediately. Too tired to do anything more than eat and lounge around the campfire shushu relit while they were gone. Not that Cheng Xiaoshi can blame them, he guessed. Technically, he only did half the hike they did and they did return somewhere around 4.

But they’re on a camping trip, and Cheng Xiaoshi refuses to spend his time camping doing nothing . He has planned so many things to do!

So first thing he does the next morning, Cheng Xiaoshi drags both Lu Guang and Qiao Ling to the advertised river nearby. They are going fishing!

What he forgot to do though, is read the camping grounds brochure in detail.

Cheng Xiaoshi hates how Qiao Ling laughs at him, “Cheng Xiaoshi, you thought you could fish,” she breathlessly says, “in a river this deep?” standing in knee-deep water.

“Aaaughhh,” he groans. Is it so wrong for him to think of fishing when he heard ‘river’? He always wanted to try it, and he thought it would be something Lu Guang would also enjoy. If anything, it’s the camping grounds’ fault for false advertising this… creek as a river.

So instead of fishing, they’re playing around in the water instead.

(He did not forget to tighten his pants this time, thank you shushu .)

Qiao Ling had already rolled up her pants, but ended up sitting on a smooth and half-submerged slab and got her pants soaked. Cheng Xiaoshi never even bothers to roll up his pants, running straight in to splash water at his sister over her teasing. Meanwhile, Lu Guang starts off by simply staring at them, sitting on the bank, but he doesn't have time to prepare as both Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling shift their focus and drag him into the water too.

For how disgruntled he initially looked when getting dragged, Lu Guang didn’t complain much for the rest of their time here. Probably because he realized how refreshing being in the water is compared to just sitting under the sun’s heat.

He even sat down on the riverbed, fully submerging himself in water before getting out of the creek and laying down on a nearby boulder. Soaked and all on the hot sun-kissed surface, ignoring Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling’s playful teasing and eventually dozing off.

Cheng Xiaoshi is friends with a cat. A hissy and grumpy cat, sure– it’s a miracle he managed to sneak a picture of Lu Guang napping– but still a cat nonetheless.

And a bunny apparently, seeing how Qiao Ling is currently hopping from one slab to another. Which seems fun, Cheng Xiaoshi wants to join her, but he bets he can make it better.

What’s a creek good for if not for a little bit of water splashing? Grinning maniacally and swinging his arms, Cheng Xiaoshi is going to get his sister wet!

.

.

He failed.

By the time they get back to camp, Lu Guang is dry and slightly tanned via sunbathing, Qiao Ling has successfully dodged his multiple attacks and is only slightly damp, while Cheng Xiaoshi himself is soaking wet.

That’s what he gets for running on wet and mossy stone.

That night, after dinner courtesy of Qiao- shushu , Cheng Xiaoshi sat all of them down in front of the campfire for s’mores. That’s a popular thing to do while camping, right? He never did it himself considering school camping sucks and he could never ask shushu to buy him marshmallows. But he’s an adult with his own money now and this is something they always did in those foreign movies, along with sharing ghost stories.

Cheng Xiaoshi decides to skip the ghost stories, Lu Guang is afraid of ghosts. Without the ghost stories though, they sit here with their stick and marshmallows talking about the most random things.

From reminiscing about their highschool days, the latest gossip from Xu Shanshan, a random challenge to toast their marshmallows as burnt as possible, a dispute from yesterday’s uno game, and the various job commissions they have received.

Mostly to satisfy Qiao Ling’s curiosity now that she has added context to how their missions usually goes.

Which brings Cheng Xiaoshi to his current thoughts, “Our current client. Their letters and this time capsule, it’s like they suspend time in a tin can,” he muses, “Should we make a time capsule too?”

Lu Guang continues chewing on his gooey s’more, but Qiao Ling giggles, “Stupid Cheng Xiaoshi. It’s too late to bury one in the forest, and what would you even put in there?”

He sputters, she has a point but, “It doesn’t have to be buried! We could just… put it in a lockbox and keep it in the attic!” In his excitement, Cheng Xiaoshi waves his hands and ends up pointing the end of his roasting stick in Qiao Ling’s direction. She did not like that, menacingly stepping closer and pushing the stick away. 

“Yah Cheng Xiaoshi! Watch where you’re pointing that thing! Respect your el–”

“If it’s us,” Lu Guang chimes in, “It has to be filled with photos, right?”

In an effort to save himself, Cheng Xiaoshi takes the change in topic, “Yes! Yes, of course it’s photos! Like from our graduation party, or…”

“The basketball court.”

“The basketball court… Where we first meet? Okay,” Cheng Xiaoshi doesn’t know why that choice surprised him, but well, it got him flustered for some reason. He should probably stop and think of something else, “What other photos should we add? Qiao Ling?”

“Hmm,” she mutters in thought, aggression forgotten, “Last month’s welcome home party?”

Oh, that is a nice day. Cheng Xiaoshi agrees, a day where their dear landlady spoiled them rotten.

(And they’re finally home. Safe. No serial killers or anything else.)

“Ooh, then I’ll add a photo of when we repainted the studio too! See, this is a great idea,” he declares, “keep them in a box and one day we’ll open it and relive the photo…”

Cheng Xiaoshi trailed off, he just realized something, and so did Lu Guang and Qiao Ling.

“That’s basically…,” Qiao Ling reluctantly concludes out loud, “Your abilities, isn’t it?”

Putting his face into his hands, Cheng Xiaoshi can feel his embarrassment spread. Reliving photos… what she said is true.

Then maybe, they don’t need a time capsule after all.

If their client and her friends preserved time in a tin can.

Cheng Xiaoshi and this stitched together, handmade family of his preserved their time in photos.

Finally, it’s time to return to the bustling metropolitan and the small studio they call home. He’s leaning against the outside of the car with Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling as they wait for Qiao- xiansheng to finish his… business, somewhere in the forest and start the drive back to the city. This quiet downtime isn’t good, it’s making Lu Guang’s thoughts run free.

Cheng Xiaoshi, always sensitive towards Lu Guang’s mood, is quick to notice his melancholy. Tilting his box of pocky in an offering as he sidles up next to him. “So,” he asked with crumbs in his mouth, “do you enjoy camping?”

With that question, Qiao Ling perks up, awaiting his answer. It doesn’t take much thinking for him to decide. The sound of bugs and the cramp sleeping bag disturbs his sleep, the slippery mud dirties his clothes, the tall grass makes his skin itches, and the constant sun blaring up above gives him headaches.

“Yes,” Lu Guang answers, “It was fun.”

Somehow he already misses this camping trip, and they haven’t even left yet. The hike was exhaustingly fun, the view was simply amazing, the night they spent playing cards was chaotic and splashing around in the river is a precious memory he would like to relive forever. The calm comfort Cheng Xiaoshi gives in the tent and the uplifting speech Qiao Ling gives him in the forest.

Lu Guang could hardly believe it himself, but he really does love this trip.

Both siblings’ faces seem to glow with that confirmation, flocking around him as if he’s a museum centerpiece.

“Really? You did?” Cheng Xiaoshi asks with excitement,

“We planned it, you know?” Qiao Ling follows, “Once you said you never went camping, we did everything we could to make sure you have the best first camping experience.”

Everything, for you, always .

But does he know that? No. Cheng Xiaoshi doesn’t know how much he means to Lu Guang, and maybe he never will. Lu Guang doesn’t have the courage to say, not with death constantly looming over his shoulder, his lips dries up and his throat closes up. But maybe Lu Guang can share, just a little bit, just to show how much Cheng Xiaoshi had saved him.

“I wasn’t sick in middle school,” he suddenly starts. Clearly neither Cheng Xiaoshi or Qiao Ling expected it, eyes wide like a deer in headlights, but they both stayed quiet and listened, “But my mother wouldn’t let me go camping.”

He hated thinking about his mother, because some twisted part of him loved her. “It’s the hair,” he explains, “Heightened risk of heatstroke and photosensitivity, blindness.” Some part of him understands that she loved him too.

He can see how it clicked in their head. The risk is no longer as high, but the both of them have long since noticed how prone he is to heat exhaustion and eyestrain. That’s why they bought him the cat-ears cap before their Bridon trip. That’s why Qiao Ling won’t let him hike alone. That’s why Cheng Xiaoshi is so adamant about him using his bluelight glasses.

“She gets overprotective,” that was an understatement, “I wasn’t allowed anywhere after school.” All he did back then was stay in his house, reading books or people watching from his bedroom window. Guess he wasn’t so different from back then, still reading and people watching from random photos now.

But he’s doing it with Cheng Xiaoshi, everything feels different with Cheng Xiaoshi. It feels like coming to his own, instead of being led to a cage.

“Is that why you said we wouldn’t be friends in middle school?” Qiao Ling finally asks. Next to him, Cheng Xiaoshi lets out a confused gasp, and Lu Guang just shrugs, you can’t make friends with someone you won’t ever meet.

He was a hopeless kid back then, until the basketball court. He didn’t know back then, but Cheng Xiaoshi asking him to play basketball changed a lot. “That day, when we first met, was the first time I ever stayed out long after school ended.” His mother had been mad of course, but it made him realize how isolated he was growing up.

So he gathered his courage and sneaked out the next saturday, coming across Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling repainting the place he now calls home.

And he keeps sneaking out. His mother grew angrier each day, but he too grew braver. Then comes the last straw. They start to fight, argue, she would limit his already small allowance, and they would stop talking altogether.

“I know you don’t like it when others talk about your parents,” Lu Guang apologetically said, “But when I heard how you’ve been living on your own, and seeing how you’re mostly doing fine… I want to do it too.” And I was much happier for it .

The shackles he was so sure his mother had tied around his ankle turned out to be a thin string. All it took was one tug, one random invitation from a classmate, and he was free.

“That’s why…,” say it, just say it , “I trust you.” Lu Guang couldn’t say it, he’s sure his face is burning red with everything left unsaid. But he hopes Cheng Xiaoshi listens, he hopes he understands.

I’ll follow you, I’ll stay forever. I’ll do anything. Everything, for you, always.

Cheng Xiaoshi smiles, slings a hand over his shoulders and pulls him close, so close. His other hand reaches out and beckons Qiao Ling to complete the impromptu group hug. “Then let’s go home,” he says, and maybe that’s his way of saying he understands. That he agrees, he wants the same thing.

This is why I’ll do anything to save you. No one else, but you.

Epilogue.

As quietly as she can, Mao Weijia knocks and opens the door into Guo Xiaolu’s apartment. Even with her frequent visits and effort, the place is a mess. Trash and clothes strewn everywhere, and in the middle of it all, Guo Xiaolu’s silhouette is curled up on the couch.

“Guo Xiaolu? Have you eaten today? I’m bringing something special today.”

Slowly, Guo Xiaolu stirred, sitting up to properly greet Mao Weijia. Her hoarse voice weakly replies, “What did you bring?”

After passing Guo Xiaolu a drink she brought, Mao Weijia slides the old tin can out of her purse. Breath held in anticipation. Would she like it? Would it make her angry? Would she cry, or laugh?

No, all Guo Xiaolu did was weakly reach out to take the tin can into her own hands. Voice small, yet her eyes seem to shine so much brighter than it has been these last few weeks, “I thought this was lost forever.”

It’s encouraging, her Guo Xiaolu is coming back to her, and Mao Weijia is glad.

“... Do you want to open it?” She cautiously asks, “We can read Liu Sanjie’s letter. It’s about time, isn’t it?”

Instead of answering, Guo Xiaolu grasp the can tightly and,

Pops.

It’s open now. The content, several torn notebook pages, spilling out in between them.

Why are there only five ? There should be six , two from each of them three.

Quickly, Mao Weijia rifles through the papers. Setting aside the one she made, and the one Guo Xiaolu made. Holding the last one, written by Liu Sanjie.

Addressed to both Mao Weijia and Guo Xiaolu.

Oh, Liu Sanjie only ever wrote one. Mao Weijia passes it to Guo Xiaolu, she needs to read these words more urgently than she does. Guo Xiaolu refuses though, leaning forward so they’re sitting side-by-side, paper held between them.

“We can read it together,” Guo Xiaolu says, and who is Mao Weijia to disagree with?

So they open it.

.

.

Dear Guo Xiaolu and Mao Weijia, 12 years from now,

I’m putting you both in one letter. Don’t question me! It just feels right.

From the moment I brought up the idea, I know exactly what I want to say to the both of you.

Because of you both, this trip has been really fun and I’m really happy, I know you both are too. I hope we will remember this day forever. I love you both. Now. 12 years from now. And far into the future. I know I will always love you.

Now you gotta say it back to future me ! Okay?

Okay! Byee future Guo Xiaolu and future Mao Weijia! Let’s stay this happy forever!

.

.

.

The both of them can only share a choked laugh. Oh Liu Sanjie, Of course she would know exactly what to say. She’s the best, isn’t she? That’s why they love her, always .