Su Ronggui had an injured hand and didn’t drive over, but the weather was great. The moon was clear, the sky high, and the heat of the day had dissipated completely. A faint scent of Cobaea lingered in the night breeze.
"Let’s walk for a bit," he said.
"Mm!" She had eaten a bit too much in the evening as well and wanted to take a walk for digestion.
For a long stretch, they didn’t speak, yet strangely, it didn’t feel awkward at all.
The alley at night carried a bit more ancient charm than during the day. Every house shut its doors, a solitary yellow lamp here and there. Occasionally, a household would hang a pair of red lanterns under the eaves, lighting a path to bygone tis. With each step, another tale of an old courtyard was left behind. Inside the doors were people of the story; outside, those pondering the story.
He walked step by step, slowly and steadily; she followed in small steps, stepping on the bricks behind him, counting the lanterns they passed, playfully stepping on his shadow, finding it fun.
"Walk properly, be careful not to trip," his voice mingled with the scent of Cobaea in the air, so even if it was a rebuke, it wasn’t very harsh.
"I’m doing just fine!" Her crisp voice floated in the night breeze, like a stream moving through bamboo.
He reached back and brought her up to walk by his side, "Today... thank you."
"Mm?" Thank her?
"Thank you for making Grandma so happy." The night covered the faint smile at the corners of his lips.
"Oh! That? What’s there to thank for that? I should thank Grandma for making delicious food for and telling interesting stories! By the way!" She looked at him curiously, "Haven’t you ever watched a movie outside?"
"Mm."
"Then what do you do during your rest ti?" Write? Read? She only knew about those.
He thought for a mont, "Traveling, sailing, parachuting, climbing, bungee jumping, gliding..."
She was amazed, "Wow, if it’s not flying in the sky, it’s rushing through the water, or hanging on a cliff... Aren’t you scared?"
"Not scared. Are you scared?"
She nodded repeatedly, "I am, terrified..."
He was about to laugh at her when she said, "If I die, it’s fine, but then there will be no one to accompany Mom. What would Mom do? So, I actually cherish my little life a lot! Mr. Su, you don’t have to worry that I will fool around and lose my life."
The faint smile on his face gradually faded, the air stiffened again. After a long pause, he spoke, "Could you spend a day with Grandma every week from now on?"
"Sure!" She agreed without hesitation.
"While with Grandma, practice calligraphy as well." After a mont, he added, "And don’t always chat at Fan Yue’s place."
"..." Isn’t that undemocratic? "Why?"
"You are to accompany Grandma! Not Fan Yue!" His words were tinged with impatience.
Instantly, the atmosphere of the Cobaea, red lanterns, and secluded courtyard doors was gone, "But practicing calligraphy isn’t accompanying Grandma either?"
"You’re just not allowed to spend all day at Fan Yue’s place!"
"That’s unreasonable!" She realized Mr. Su didn’t really want her to accompany Grandma but to tornt her!
"No ans no!"
"Why? You’re not my parents! Nor my departnt head!" Controlling everything! Even ddling in her friendship with Yueyue was intolerable!
"Why? Simply because..."
"Because what?"
He wore a stern expression, "One day you’ll know why!"
"..." ??? What kind of answer was that? She was indifferent, "I don’t want to know!"
He didn’t understand how he could be so bored to join in such a sparring ga with her, "Do you know your disobedience makes one want to beat you?"
"Dare you! I’ll tell Grandma!"
He scoffed; did she now think she had backing and was getting cocky? "Are you tired? Want to take a car?"
"Not tired!"
"Let’s take a car." He hailed a cab, and they got in together.
"You... Why are you coming? We’re not going the sa way?" She was forced to move aside.
"I’m heading over there for sothing," he said seriously.
"Oh..."
They sat in silence, but Tu Hengsha suddenly rembered sothing, "Mr. Su, didn’t you invite to be with Grandma?"
"Mm..." What did she an by that? Was she going to co up with so new peculiar notions?
"Then... I didn’t seize the opportunity to get close to you, you can’t use your warning this ti! I didn’t want to intrude on your off-work ti and space!" Hmph! I hope my off-work ti and space won’t be disrupted by so inexplicable people and matters. She rembered it clearly!
The lines on Su Ronggui’s face tightened in the darkness.
"Hear that? Rember! Stop scolding !"
Mr. Su’s jawline was about to break, "Get out!"
Tu Hengsha was startled by the sudden harshness, what now?
"Driver, please stop the car!"
The driver, not knowing what happened, stopped the car by the roadside.
"Get out!"
Tu Hengsha was dumbfounded, extrely angry, opened the door, and got out. "Next week! Even if you invite , I won’t co!"
She ran forward without looking back. Upon reaching the school entrance, she realized where she was. Yet, she refused to forgive!
"Sir, where to now...?" the driver asked.
Su Ronggui’s gaze returned from the distant figure, "To Yangrou Geda Alley."
The car headed back to the alley.
Su Ronggui got out and walked back to Grandma’s small courtyard.
Grandma was about to sleep and opened the door to see him, "Gugu, what’s...?"
Two hours later, he ca out of the small courtyard, holding a small gilt enal bejeweled hairpin.
The night grew deeper, the old alley sparsely lit. He walked alone, his gaze somber, the red lanterns reflected in his eyes like two flickering flas.
He pulled out his phone, scrolled to a number, and dialed.
Tu Hengsha was lying on her bed, scrolling through news on her phone, when the unexpected call interrupted. Mr. Su? If he had the guts to throw her out of the car, then he should have the guts not to call!
She hung up the call!
Imdiately, a ssage ca through, "Task, answer the call."
Fine, official business first! When he called again, she picked up, staying silent. The other side remained silent too, and they were in a standoff for dozens of seconds.
"The task?" She couldn’t hold back; playing the silent ga with Mr. Su was like competing with the Tang Monk in ditation!
"Took your dicine yet?"
He seed to still be outside, as car horns accompanied his voice.
"I did! What’s the task?"
"The task..." he said slowly, "Don’t forget to accompany Grandma next week..."
She fell for it! Just as she was about to hang up, she heard him say, "Wait, Grandma really likes you! Can you bear to disappoint her?"
He hit her weak spot again! "That... depends on your sincerity! Think carefully about how you plan to bribe ; if I’m satisfied, I’ll agree to it!" This felt too good! So good that it made her giddy and forget the consequences of angering Mr. Su.
Yet, Mr. Su surprisingly replied calmly, "Alright!"
Tu Hengsha was surprised herself—was he really that agreeable now?
"Sleep early; see you tomorrow."
Tu Hengsha held her phone, not reacting for a long ti, wondering if the person on the phone just now was really Mr. Su.
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