Chapter 143: Keeping Warmth in the World

He stepped forward, taking a couple of strides before reaching Bai Qingxia’s side.

“How’s Uncle Lu’s face? I just came out and didn’t see him...”

“It’s nothing. My dad’s skin is thicker than mine; it’s no big deal.”

While the boy spoke teasingly, the girl found little humor in his words at that moment. She furtively glanced at the instant noodle box in the trash can, hesitated for a few seconds, then spoke up, “Maybe... I should ask my dad not to come tomorrow...”

“Hey, that won’t do. Uncle Bai has finally settled into the routine of balancing home and the supermarket; he can’t just break it now,” Lu Yuanqiu immediately refused.

Noticing the troubled look on the girl’s face, he reached out and patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Today was just a tiny little hiccup; it won’t affect anything.”

Bai Qingxia stood there, occasionally glancing at the instant noodle box in the trash, her expression full of guilt. No matter how much grudge Bai Xifang Noodles held against her family, it had nothing to do with Uncle Lu’s supermarket—they merely stocked that batch. Although Lu Yuanqiu didn’t care about such small matters, she did, and felt uneasy about it. Yet she dared not mention it, fearing he would find her nagging or troublesome.

“Little monk, little monk.”

At that moment, Bai Songzhe foolishly pointed at Lu Yuanqiu and laughed.

Catching Bai Qingxia’s gaze, Lu Yuanqiu glanced over at the trash bin. Understanding her concern, he took a step aside, blocking her view.

“You probably don’t know that Four Seasons Fresh Supermarket never stocks Bai Xifang noodles because my uncles’ companies are archrivals with Bai Xifang. Because of that, my dad has always disliked that brand. So even if those noodles got thrown away, it’s no loss to the supermarket.”

Bai Qingxia looked up at him, half doubtful.

Lu Yuanqiu smiled and gently pushed her back. “Come on, come on, let’s hurry home and get Uncle to bed early.”

The three walked along the night road. Lu Yuanqiu couldn’t help but complain, “Can you ask your dad to give me a different nickname? ‘Little monk’ sounds awful.”

From beside him, the girl’s soft voice came: “Dad only gives nicknames to people he likes. For those he doesn’t, he forgets them after one meeting.”

Lu Yuanqiu was momentarily speechless.

Scratching his close-cropped hair, he said, “I keep this haircut just for convenience. Once I get into university, I’ll change it. What do you think?”

The girl glanced up at his head, smiling and nodding. “Anything’s fine. This looks great too.”

“You mean I’m handsome now?”

“…”

“Come on, say something. Why so silent all of a sudden?”

“…”

“Say it or not, say it or not!”

“Don’t hit Xia Xia!” Bai Songzhe interjected, frowning at Lu Yuanqiu.

“No hitting, just a little poke, just a poke...” Bai Songzhe finally calmed down.

From Wangjiang Road to Osmanthus Alley on Qingnian Road, it took about twenty minutes on foot. Lu Yuanqiu led the father and daughter all the way to their doorstep.

“It’s late; you should get some rest,” the girl said, looking him in the eye at the door.

Surprised, Lu Yuanqiu said, “Your first sentence isn’t asking me in for some water?”

Realizing, Bai Qingxia stepped aside quickly. “Come in, have some water.”

“Too late! Late affection is cheaper than grass!”

Lu Yuanqiu twisted his face and raised his hand mockingly.

Seeing the girl embarrassed and standing there, he laughed and said, “Just kidding. By the way, what are you going to do later?”

“Put dad to sleep, then brush my teeth, wash my face, take a shower, wash... wash my underwear... then sleep.”

“Where do you shower?”

Noticing the girl’s beautiful eyes fixed on him warily, silent as if on guard, Lu Yuanqiu raised four fingers. “Heaven knows, I just wanted to know where you shower since I didn’t see any place.”

“Hmph, I’m not spying. That’s it, my heart feels cold—people’s prejudices run too deep—”

Before Lu Yuanqiu could finish, the girl stepped back, her earlobes flushed, pointing at the bathroom opposite Bai Songzhe’s bed.

“Ah?”

Lu Yuanqiu was stunned. There was a small bathroom with a squat toilet, but he remembered from a quick glance that it was barely a square meter. Where would one shower?

Circling around and looking up, he saw a showerhead hanging from a rope above the squat toilet.

Wow... small but complete. But when showering, isn’t there a risk of stepping into the toilet? Her feet are so tiny.

“How do you put your dad to sleep?”

Lu Yuanqiu asked as if something had just occurred to him.

Bai Qingxia stood shyly and answered honestly, “Just... telling him stories.”

“That good?! What kind of stories? Can you tell me some?”

Her cheeks flushed as she shook her head.

Lu Yuanqiu was unusually talkative tonight, and she was starting to lose patience. She quickly pushed him away, “You should go home. It’s already eleven; it’s late, and we have class tomorrow...”

After pushing him to the door, Lu Yuanqiu grabbed the doorframe with one hand and said, “Wait, wait! One last thing!”

Only then did Bai Qingxia let go, looking at him with some annoyance. She was almost certain Lu Yuanqiu planned to stay the night, and that thought made her uneasy.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Yuanqiu turned around. “Actually... I’m afraid you can’t digest what happened today. Your dad kept a secret from you for over ten years, but I told you in just one minute. I…”

Bai Qingxia’s mouth opened slightly, finally understanding his meaning. She quickly said, “I won’t dwell on things that mean nothing to me. I... I’ve been through a lot since I was little and I’m still here.”

She ended with a self-mocking smile and even stuck out her tongue playfully—a gesture unlike her usual demeanor, perhaps a sudden impulse to put the boy at ease.

Still here... really?

Lu Yuanqiu looked at her deeply, his eyes seeming to hold unspoken words. He was moved by the purity of her smile and nodded gently, smiling in return.

“Okay, I’m leaving now.”

Just as he stepped forward, he quickly turned back, and before she could react, he cupped her soft cheeks with both hands, rubbed them twice, then smiled and left.

Bai Qingxia stood frozen at the door; Lu Yuanqiu hurried down the stairs.

Her cheeks were warm.

May the girl always keep her warmth for this world.

...

The next day, Tuesday.

Zhushi City, Baoling Prison.

A young man wearing black-rimmed glasses sat at a square table. Opposite him sat a prisoner wearing an orange vest.

“Mr. Lin, in these last two years of your life, is there anything you wish to say? Or... is there any final message you want to leave behind?”