First floor, the sensor light turned on.
Second floor...
Third floor...
Sixth floor...
In the next second, the lights in the little girl’s house ca on.
Bao Shaojin lowered his eyes, a cigarette between his fingers at so point, took a shallow puff, and slowly exhaled a stream of smoke that lightly escaped from his lips. His sharp eyes, partially hidden beneath ssy hair, flickered in and out of view.
***
The following day.
Before dawn, An Anqing’s alarm clock went off incessantly. She turned it off in irritation, hoping to sleep in a bit more. Suddenly rembering sothing, she sprang up from bed, not bothering to put on shoes, and rushed to An Ying’s bedroom.
Upon opening the door, she saw the lights on in Mrs. An’s room. An Ying sat at the bedside, holding a box she regarded as a treasure.
"Mom," An Yin spoke softly, "why are you up so early?"
"You’re here already."
An Ying hadn’t expected her daughter to burst into the bedroom so suddenly. With a hint of panic in her eyes, she hastily covered the box, pretending to be calm as she placed it in the bedside cabinet.
One of her hands was in a cast, so she could only place the box down on the bed first.
"I’ll help you." An Yin ca to the bedside, opened the cabinet, and reached for the box. But just as her hand hovered in the air, the other person quickly took it, leaving An Yin bewildered.
An Ying’s expression showed a trace of discomfort. To prevent her daughter from overthinking, her gaze fell on An Yin’s pale feet. "Put on your shoes quickly, or you’ll catch a cold again." As she spoke, she discreetly stuffed the box into the cabinet.
Listening to Mrs. An’s nagging, the groggy An Yin imdiately forgot about the little incident just now.
An Yin went back to her room to put on shoes, washed up, and returned to An Ying’s bedroom.
"Mom, what do you want to eat? I’ll go buy groceries." Just as An Yin finished speaking, an abrupt sound interrupted.
"Your phone is ringing," An Ying reminded her daughter.
An Yin, wearing flip-flops, left the room. Watching her daughter’s hurried silhouette, An Ying shook her head helplessly.
In An Yin’s bedroom.
She looked at the familiar number on her phone screen, hesitating for a few seconds before slowly answering.
"Open the door."
Bao Shaojin’s voice was haughty and commanding.
"You’re here?" An Yin’s eyes lit up. She didn’t even realize the hint of excitent in her voice.
The man on the other end of the line suddenly fell silent.
Perhaps sensing the slight excitent in her tone, he was montarily lost in thought.
Seeing the other party remain silent, An Yin, after putting on her shoes, nervously headed towards the door.
When her hand was on the door lock, the other party spoke.
"I’ll be busy for a while, and you won’t manage everything with Aunt An alone. I’m sending Aunt Zhang over to help you," he instructed, word by word.
At the sa ti, An Yin unlocked the door.
Outside, Aunt Zhang was pushing a suitcase, with a basket in her other hand, surprisingly containing fresh vegetables.
"Aunt Zhang," An Yin called out in surprise, her eyes wide.
The phone was still held up to her ear, her sweet and soft voice transmitting through to the man on the line.
"Keep chatting with the gentleman on the phone," Aunt Zhang said with a rry smile.
Hurriedly, An Yin said into the phone, "Goodbye."
"Why the rush? You can continue chatting, don’t mind ," Aunt Zhang, ever familiar, entered and began unpacking her suitcase, taking out her own house slippers to wear.
"Aunt Zhang, I can take care of Mom. You don’t need to trouble yourself," An Yin stood there nervously.
"It’s no trouble. I’m more than willing to co over," Aunt Zhang stood up, seeing the guilt on the young girl’s face. She concealed her smile with a trace of sadness. "Every New Year, the villa is so cold and empty, and the gentleman has many social engagents, leaving to guard the vast place. It’s truly lonely."
"Aunt Zhang, you can go ho and be with your relatives," An Yin blinked her bright eyes, speaking ekly.
"I’m an orphan," Aunt Zhang replied, pulling a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t know," An Yin said, filled with guilt and feeling a bit of a sting in her heart.
"Silly child, no need to apologize," Aunt Zhang regained her smile. "Let Aunt Zhang stay."
Inside, Aunt Zhang quietly thought to herself: a good deed.
She knew the young girl was kind-hearted, which was why she revealed her background.
As expected, An Yin, after a mont of contemplation, nodded deeply, "Alright."
When An Ying learned that Aunt Zhang had co over, albeit surprised, she could see her determination to stay and had nothing to say.
In the morning, Aunt Zhang prepared breakfast. After the al, she and An Yin started cleaning the house.
Aunt Zhang worked efficiently, and everything was exceptionally clean and tidy, leaving no room for criticism.
In the afternoon, An Yin went out to buy groceries, leaving Aunt Zhang to take care of An Ying at ho.
When a knock on the door was heard, Aunt Zhang ca out of An Ying’s bedroom, mumbling, "Forgot your keys?" But when she opened the door, she saw an elderly lady with a kind face.
"Hello! Who are you looking for?" Aunt Zhang asked, puzzled.
Grandma Wu, unfamiliar with the woman, hesitated for a mont before speaking, "Is An Ying ho? I’m her neighbor."
"She is," Aunt Zhang nodded.
"I have sothing to discuss with her, may I co in?" Grandma Wu asked with concern.
"Grandma Wu, please co in."
The sound insulation of the old building wasn’t good, so An Ying heard their conversation and called out loudly.
Aunt Zhang stepped aside, watching Grandma Wu head to An Ying’s bedroom. She paused, closed the door, and then paced to An Ying’s bedroom door, appearing to listen closely.
Inside the room.
Grandma Wu, seeing An Ying’s thin face and her hand and foot in casts, was filled with pity. "What happened to you, how did you get hurt so badly?" She spoke while anxiously tapping her thighs with her hands.
"Aunt Wu, don’t worry, it just looks serious. These things will be gone soon," An Ying spoke softly, her tone sohow bringing a sense of calm and comfort.
"Is it really okay?" Grandma Wu still seed worried.
"Truly," An Ying assured solemnly.
"That’s good," Grandma Wu sighed in relief, finally letting go of her concern.
"Is there sothing you need this ti, Aunt Wu?" An Ying adjusted her position, her uninjured hand supporting her on the bed.
Sitting for long periods lately had made her feel achy, so she had to shift positions to feel comfortable.
Upon hearing An Ying’s words and noticing her injuries, Grandma Wu swallowed back what she wanted to say.
An Ying, perceptive as always, coupled with what her daughter had ntioned before, had already guessed the neighbor’s intention for visiting.
An Ying looked gently at her, "Aunt Wu, since you’ve co to visit, there’s sothing I’d like to discuss with you."
Hearing the word "visit," Grandma Wu laughed with slight embarrassnt. "Alright, go ahead."
"Please, have a seat," An Ying gestured to a stool in the corner.
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