"These past few days have been busy with work, so I didn't want to disturb you. How's your sleep been?" Su Chi Yuan didn't realize it, but his tone of voice during the conversation was expressive, perfectly matching the content of his words.

　　"It's been better than when I was back in my hometown. I can sleep for up to five hours. Oh no, I mean, I can even reach five and a half hours!" Gu Pan, inspired by Mr. Su's concern, proudly reported the improvement in his sleep quality, feeling delighted to share the good news.

　　"Not bad! By expanding your horizons and enriching your life with more experiences, things will surely continue to improve," Mr. Su responded.

　　"I'm trying." The young boy's voice seemed to grow a hand symbolizing determination, which clenched into a fist.

　　After finishing the call, Gu Pan realized that he hadn't asked what kind of exercise he was supposed to do. His thinking in this area was limited, and he could only recall what he had been taught in physical education class.

　　Regarding exercise, Yu Yan had mentioned before that she admired men who were knowledgeable and had good athletic abilities. She jokingly encouraged Gu Pan's younger brother to try weightlifting and strength training. She mentioned that with his height of 1.8 meters, long limbs, and excellent proportions, it would be great if he could develop some abdominal muscles, chest muscles, and biceps. It would make girls feel safer around him.

　　However, Yu Yan's comment was just a passing remark, and he didn't make any plans for this matter. So this matter, which seemed only meaningful for a future girlfriend, has been continuously neglected.

　　2

　　Gu Pan, based on his understanding, put on a basketball jersey and stood at the entrance of the apartment complex five minutes before the agreed-upon time.

　　Seeing Gu Pan settling into the passenger seat, Su Chi Yuan couldn't hold back his chuckles any longer. He observed Gu Pan from head to toe. The other day, when Gu Pan entered the bar, he seemed a bit uneasy, but now, upon hearing about the physical exertion, he didn't waste a moment and wore a complete student-like outfit. This further solidified Su Chi Yuan's conviction that this kid was sent to him by fate to be taken care of.

　　"What are you laughing at, Mr. Su?" Gu Pan gripped the seat with both hands and made some adjustments to his sitting position, shifting his hips back and forth. He would rather have the laughter directed at something external and easily changeable.

　　"Oh, it's nothing. Don't overthink it. Hmm... I find you quite interesting," Su Chi Yuan replied.

　　"I don't understand. You're the first person to say that I'm interesting. What exactly...?" Gu Pan suppressed his anticipation, silently hoping that Mr. Su would explain the unfamiliar compliment of being "Interesting."

　　"Is that outfit from high school?"

　　"I graduated from high school, and my sister gave it to me."

　　"In that case, what do the letters 'YY' on the chest and at the bottom of the pants mean? They seem like later additions, embroidered on. What's the significance?"

　　Gu Pan couldn't help but admire Su Chi Yuan's precise and superior observation skills. These two capital letters, if not mentioned, would have gradually blended in with the logos that some branded sportswear comes with. Gu Pan lowered his head, lifted the stretchy fabric on his chest, and carefully examined it. He said, "My sister embroidered them. It's her name."

　　"Oh, such a strong bond between siblings," Su Chi Yuan nodded, as if he had an epiphany. "How about I change your clothes today?"

　　"Su..." Gu Pan was caught off guard by the sudden proximity, leaving him momentarily speechless. Their relationship had taken a sudden leap, and he couldn't help but ponder if there was anything to gain from it. The various intimate relationships between men that he was familiar with ranged from genuine brotherly love to so-called brotherly love... But in an instant, he felt that such thoughts were too narrow and would taint Mr. Su's kind gesture.

　　"What are you thinking?"

　　"Nothing. Okay," Gu Pan believed that concise language would minimize the chances of making mistakes.

　　Su Chi Yuan led Gu Pan to a sports equipment store. Climbing shoes, climbing gloves... Gu Pan was still overwhelmed by the variety of options, but Su Chi Yuan had already finished selecting everything they needed.

　　"You'll love these!" Su Chi Yuan handed the shopping bag to Gu Pan and put his arm around his shoulder. "Trust me, little brother! Let's go!"

　　The black SUV headed towards the unknown and thrilling adventures that lay ahead.

　　3

　　At the front desk of the indoor climbing gym, Gu Pan stared at the equipment rental sign, lost in thought. After Su Chi Yuan paid the fees, he called Gu Pan over to sign the liability waiver. Observing his pensive expression, Su Chi Yuan deduced his concerns.

　　"It won't be a waste if you buy them. We'll come back here in the future. I don't want this to be your only visit to the climbing gym. And most importantly, I don't want you wearing clothes and shoes that others have worn. Having your own, isn't that great?"

　　"You don't want me to wear clothes that others have worn ?" Gu Pan didn't conceal his difficulty in digesting that choice of words.

　　"Oh, I mean, it's better to have your own dedicated gear. Let's go! Once you change your clothes, I'll accompany you to the beginner's route," Su Chi Yuan lightly patted the teenager's back.

　　The two of them finished changing their clothes. Su Chiyuan pulled Gu Pan along and sprinted towards a lively and bustling place.

　　As Gu Pan maneuvered between the rock points, secured by a safety rope, Su Chiyuan remained stationed below the cliff, looking up. This particular route had large rock points and a simple path, making it relatively safe for someone of Gu Pan's height and arm length. Whenever Gu Pan subconsciously caught sight of Mr. Su, his arms crossed, motionless, and staring up, it distracted him for a split second. He couldn't make sense of it. Was this person, who was like a father, a brother, and a friend, meant to appear in his life by divine intervention? Who was truly blessed by fate? Was it me?

　　He continued climbing. Gu Pan deliberately glanced quickly below the cliff, where Su Chiyuan still stood with a slightly worried expression, craning his neck.

　　"This level must be too easy for Mr. Su, right? That's why you didn't go up," Gu Pan said, taking the water that Su Chiyuan handed over. Feeling refreshed after the exhilarating climb, they headed towards the direction of the shower room.

　　"Do you want to hear the truth? I'm really glad to see you having so much fun. I hope you can have a good night's sleep," Su Chiyuan said, his face beaming with the contentment of a competent psychologist.

　　"I hope so," Gu Pan replied.

　　Before leaving, they passed through the most bustling area, the children's climbing zone. Su Chiyuan pointed in that direction and told Gu Pan that he brings his daughter here almost every weekend for exercise.

　　"If I'm not available, her mother brings her here. This activity is good for enhancing children's physical fitness, courage, and judgment. I don't want her to grow up as someone who can't protect herself, even if she's a girl," Su Chiyuan explained.

　　"Does your daughter enjoy it?" Gu Pan asked.

　　"She was initially scared, which is normal. My wife gets soft-hearted when she sees her cry and wants to give up. But I told her that because our daughter is still young, there's plenty of time for everything," Su Chiyuan explained, displaying a firm and confident attitude toward parenting.

　　"Last time you mentioned she's four years old, indeed quite young," Gu Pan remarked.

　　"... Let's go!" Su Chiyuan decisively changed the subject. "We've had quite a bit of exercise today. I'll take you back and you can rest well. In the afternoon and evening, it's better not to go out again. Stay at home, read a book, or do something else, but nothing too strenuous..." Su Chiyuan continued.

　　"I understand. Creating a sleep-friendly environment," Gu Pan tried to summarize.

　　"Exactly! Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything. I'm here for you," Su Chiyuan said, highly satisfied with Gu Pan's ability to summarize. To him, the understanding he received from this child was the most heartwarming reward after a long and tiring day.

　　After getting out of the car, Gu Pan didn't go directly through the small gate. Instead, he went around to the other side of the residential area. There was another gate there, which led him to Ling Hanlu's apartment building after a few steps. He had a mission to "destroy" Hanlu, but surprisingly, he started to develop a fondness for her after interacting with her. He couldn't resist getting closer to her.

　　He wanted to check if there were any clothes hanging on Ling Hanlu's balcony. This would help him determine whether the owner of the blue-printed shawl was out or at home.

　　The balcony was empty. Gu Pan stood near the building, changing angles and observing from both near and far, but it was still empty.

　　Feeling a bit dejected, Gu Pan returned to his apartment. As soon as he opened the door, a wave of scorching heat rushed in, causing beads of sweat to instantly form at his hair roots. In his haste to leave earlier that morning, he had been preoccupied with tidying up his basketball uniform in front of the mirror and had forgotten to close the balcony doors and windows. The sweltering heat of a midsummer afternoon in City A was just as unbearable as the bone-chilling dampness of the year-end season, making it difficult to determine which was more tormenting. Seizing the opportunity during the sunniest part of the day, the heat rushed in and stubbornly occupied Gu Pan's room, turning it into a steam room.

　　The "medal" accompanied by the blue printed shawl was placed on one side of the bookshelf. The excessively high room temperature infused a subtle fragrance from the simple paper bag containing the cotton and linen fabric. Gu Pan couldn't resist opening the bag once again to take a look, reminiscent of the way he used to repeatedly check the snacks in his backpack on the eve of a spring outing during his childhood. "The night feels so long, how much longer until dawn? "How much longer until I can feast my eyes and soul amidst the picturesque landscapes?"