Echoes of My Heart

Chapter 2

Xiao Yuan was tired and exhausted. It had been a long day, and after finishing his shift at the coffee shop, all he could think about was sliding into his bed and closing his eyes. His body ached from the endless hours on his feet, serving customers and making drinks, and his mind was clouded with fatigue. He had made sure to finish his homework before going to the job, a small victory in his otherwise gruelling routine.

As he walked home, the cool evening air provided a small respite, but it did little to alleviate the heaviness in his limbs. He trudged up the stairs to his apartment, each step feeling like an insurmountable effort. When he finally reached his door, he fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking slightly from the exhaustion.

Inside, the apartment was quiet, the soft hum of the refrigerator the only sound breaking the silence. Xiao Yuan made his way to his bedroom, hoping to shed his clothes and just collapse into bed. Xiao Yuan dropped his bag on his bed, plugged his mobile phone into the charger, and made his way to the bathroom to wash up.

The harsh fluorescent light in the bathroom was a stark contrast to the comforting darkness of his bedroom. Xiao Yuan splashed cold water on his face, hoping to wash away the fatigue that clung to him like a second skin. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, the dark circles under his eyes a testament to the endless cycle of work and study. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into his bones.

A quick shower later, Xiao Yuan felt marginally better. The hot water had loosened his tight muscles, and the steam had helped clear his foggy mind. After he dressed in his comfortable track pants, t-shirt and hoodie, he headed back to his room, his steps slightly lighter. However, as he was passing by, Lili stopped him and beckoned him to help to finish her homework.

Xiao Yuan paused, his fatigue momentarily pushed aside by the sight of Lili's pleading eyes. He couldn't refuse her, even though every part of him screamed for rest. Lili was like a little sister to him, and he had always looked out for her. Even though she was a brat, half the time.

With a small sigh, he nodded and sat down beside her at the table.

"Lili, can't this wait until tomorrow?" Xiao Yuan asked, trying to stifle a yawn. "I'm dead tired."

Lili rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh sure, because I'll totally wake up knowing calculus. I thought you were my knight in shining armour, not the 'I'll help you later' guy."

Xiao Yuan rubbed his temples, feeling the exhaustion settle back in. "Fine, I guess I have to help you, or else you will fail like the last time"

"Please! I didn't fail. The teacher is just jealous of my beauty and thinks I am dumb." Lili frowned, gathering her books and papers close. "I even got the grade up in make-up test"

"Exactly. You are dumb. You had to have a make-up test. Ever heard of Gē or I give one?." Xiao Yuan retorted, grabbing a few of her textbooks to help her. "I just don't understand how we have you as a sister?"

"Heyyyy!" Lilli tried to swat her hand at his shoulder, but Xiao Yuan dodged it.

"Okay, what's the problem?"

Lili pointed to a particularly difficult maths problem. "This one. It's like the maths gods hate me."

Xiao Yuan leaned forward, examining the problem. "Alright, let's break it down. First, you need to understand the equation. See here? This is where you start."

Lili groaned, her head falling onto her arms. "I'll never get this. My brain is allergic to math."

"Yes, you will," Xiao Yuan said, a hint of teasing in his voice. "If I can do it, so can you."