Zhao Chun saw her agree so straightforwardly, naturally he obliged. Helping soone move was just a small favor, after all.
In the past, he wouldn’t have even bothered lifting a finger. But who could say no to Tian Sangsang? He was already used to her bossing him around. Before leaving, Zhao Chun made sure to remind her, "Then you and Yanyan head ho first. I’ve already made lunch."
Tian Sangsang waved her hand and curled her lips mischievously, "If you don’t want to eat cold leftovers, you better hurry up."
Wow! This task feels like a challenge!
Zhao Chun imdiately sprinted forward, shouting, "Hey, Jin Zhi!"
Jin Zhi turned around slowly, her heart skipping a beat, "Mr. Zhao."
Zhao Chun’s dark eyes showed a hint of embarrassnt, "I’ll go back with you and help you move."
Jin Zhi was so stunned she couldn’t speak. She looked down at her toes but ultimately didn’t refuse.
She softly murmured two words, "Thank you."
The conditions at Tian’s place were great; she had actually been considering moving there, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. If she admitted it, she feared being labeled materialistic, even though deep down she desired it.
When they reached the bus stop, Zhao Chun suggested, "Let’s take the bus; it’ll be faster."
Jin Zhi opened her mouth to object—how expensive! Yet, before she could say anything, Zhao Chun pulled her onto the bus. He quickly bought two tickets and paid for them. Each stop cost two cents, and there seed to be over a dozen stops.
Jin Zhi felt an acute pang of distress over the cost but didn’t dare point out the wastefulness. Her face flushed bright red.
Seeing her embarrassnt, Zhao Chun said reassuringly, "It’s alright. If you feel bad about it, I’ll count the fare towards your wages. I’ll get it back from Sangsang."
At this, Jin Zhi found herself unable to refuse.
Jin Zhi didn’t have many belongings—just so clothes. She hadn’t even brought her winter jacket yet. It was autumn, and her bedding was still thin. Other daily necessities fit into one luggage bag and an additional small sack.
Zhao Chun carried the larger bag with ease.
Jin Zhi walked beside him, feeling for the first ti in her life that she could lean on soone. The thought made her nose tingle and brought her close to tears. Away from ho, she had always been alone, surrounded by n who were sleazy scoundrels. Never had she t soone as genuinely kind as Zhao Chun.
When they reached the ground floor, they again encountered the sa gang of small-ti hoodlums from last ti.
They teased insincerely, "Jin Zhi, are you moving in with your sweetheart now?"
Jin Zhi ignored them in disgust, quickening her pace.
She turned her head cautiously and said, "Mr. Zhao, don’t take what they’re saying to heart. They’re just talking nonsense."
Zhao Chun smirked, "I know—they’re just jealous that I’m handso."
Jin Zhi took a closer look at him, then imdiately looked away. Indeed, he was quite handso.
Once again, they boarded another bus. Midway, Zhao Chun reminded her, "Alright, I’ll drop you off here. My stop’s next."
Jin Zhi was caught off guard.
Zhao Chun patted his stomach, his smile radiating, "I’m hungry. I need to get ho and eat. Once you’re there, don’t rush into anything either—go out and grab yourself sothing to eat first."
Jin Zhi tenderly murmured an "Mm," feeling both ashad and frustrated—she should have cooked him a al.
**
In the afternoon, ng Shuyan was at the store, with no extra custors around.
This child was irresistibly adorable, so Jin Zhi couldn’t help teasing him, "Your na is Yanyan, isn’t it?"
ng Shuyan nodded.
Jin Zhi asked, "Yanyan, why do we always see your mom but never your dad?"
ng Shuyan paused his hands on the Rubik’s cube and lifted his head seriously:
"My dad is a soldier. He’s busy with work and only cos ho after a long ti."
"But isn’t your dad..." Jin Zhi hesitated, had she heard wrong?
Before she could finish her sentence, a custor arrived, and Jin Zhi quickly stopped chatting, stepping forward graciously to greet them.
ng Shuyan’s round little eyes dimd slightly.
On their way ho that evening with Tian Sangsang, he couldn’t hold back and asked, "Mom, when is Dad coming ho?"
"I don’t know either," Tian Sangsang replied.
She paused for a mont, wanting to lift him up for a kiss, but her body was too unwieldy. Instead, she ran her hands through his hair and softly smiled, "Maybe he’s planning to surprise us. Do you miss Dad? Just wait a little longer."
ng Shuyan puffed out his small lips and turned his head, saying nothing.
He wanted to cry.
"Yanyan." Tian Sangsang tilted his little face toward hers to look at him. "Mom is still here. Mom and you— we’re together forever. Don’t be sad, okay?" She struggled to bend down.
ng Shuyan shook his head and looked up, "I’m fine, Mom. Don’t bend over—you’ll squish little sister."
Tian Sangsang was overwhelmingly touched and grabbed his tiny hand.
**
Ye Binyi waited early at the door of the cultural palace.
School had ended.
"Grandma." ng Shuyan paused in surprise and walked toward her happily.
Grandson—this was her grandson! She could still see traces of her son in his face!
Ye Binyi wiped at her tears, walked forward, and tightly hugged ng Shuyan, "Ah, Yanyan, Grandma ca to see you."
She embraced her grandson, stroking his small back, and held him so closely that she didn’t want to let go.
Her son was gone, so her grandson was everything to her now.
At this mont, her heart was full—not just with bitterness, but also with sweetness.
She felt that her grandson was like a candy—soft and tender, incredibly comforting to hold—she loved him so deeply she wished she could tuck him into her pocket and take him out to look whenever she wanted.
"Grandma..." ng Shuyan spoke softly, almost out of breath.
"Ah, Grandma’s here."
His little face turned red from suffocation, and ng Shuyan reached out his tiny hands to push her away, "Grandma, I can’t breathe!"
Ye Binyi quickly let go and touched his little face.
"Yanyan, how about coming to Grandma’s house and staying overnight?" she coaxed.
ng Shuyan blinked his clear big eyes, "I need to tell Mom first."
Ye Binyi wanted so much to say, ’Why bother telling that vixen, just co with directly.’ But her grandson wasn’t like ordinary children—he couldn’t be lured away with just a few words or a piece of candy. Nervously, she held his hand tight.
ng Shuyan pursed his lips; Grandma was acting a little strange today.
"Yanyan!" Zhao Chun arrived to pick him up and greeted them warmly, "Aunt Ye."
Ye Binyi replied perfunctorily and didn’t seem very amicable toward him.
Startled, Zhao Chun scratched his head awkwardly, "You ca to see Yanyan, huh?"
Ye Binyi didn’t answer but asked instead, "Why are you the one picking up Yanyan? Where’s Sangsang?"
Zhao Chun explained, "Sangsang’s belly is big now—she’s due soon—so I ca to help pick him up."
’Due soon, but not yet giving birth. Acting as though she were more important than everyone else, even leaving her own son behind.’ Ye Binyi suddenly realized she couldn’t recall how many months pregnant Tian Sangsang was. Calculating, it seed she really was about to have the baby.
"Go tell her," she said, grabbing ng Shuyan’s hand, "Yanyan’s staying at my place tonight."
Zhao Chun looked alard and hurriedly stepped forward, "Aunt Ye, I’m just here to pick him up. Decisions like this aren’t mine to make. Sangsang’s in the store—why not go talk to her about it?"
ng Shuyan lifted his head and said, "Grandma, I need to see Mom first, or she’ll be worried."
Unable to argue, Ye Binyi thought it was ti to resolve things once and for all, so she followed Zhao Chun to Yipin Xiangju.
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