At the Nancheng Night Market.
Lin Ran was standing in line at the milk tea shop. He glanced back, noticing two young girls whispering together and occasionally sneaking glances in a certain direction.
Following their gaze, Lin Ran looked over.
In that direction stood a young man dressed in trendy streetwear. His buzz cut was sharp, his face handsome, and his captivating peach blossom eyes made him especially noticeable when he smiled. Clearly, the two girls had their eyes on him.
Lin Ran: “…”
He should’ve kept these two restless little troublemakers at home, but for some reason, he had thought it would be a good idea to bring them out.
By the time Lin Ran returned with two iced milk teas, the young man had disappeared from sight.
The two girls still looked a bit disappointed.
With a darkened expression, Lin Ran handed a cup to Lin Yanyan, then reached out and pinched Sheng Qingxi’s face. Bending down to meet her gaze, he spoke in a calm tone, “Sheng Qingxi, what were you looking at?”
Sheng Qingxi looked at Lin Ran innocently.
She blinked. She hadn’t been looking at anything.
Lin Yanyan had already started sipping her milk tea, ready to enjoy the drama. She wisely scooted a bit further away. The three of them were waiting for He Mo and Xie Zhen; tonight was the Nancheng Fireworks Festival.
The fireworks festival happened once a year, held in a different part of the city each time.
This year, the venue was right by the Qinghe River in the Nancheng.
A night market had sprung up along the riverbank. The streets were brightly lit and bustling with activity. Even the summer heat couldn’t stop the flow of young people, the crowd mostly consisting of young men and women.
Sheng Qingxi and Lin Ran locked eyes.
Reflected in the boy’s dark eyes were the distant lights from across the river—and a small version of herself.
Sheng Qingxi reached out and tried to push Lin Ran away but failed.
He still stubbornly pinched her cheek, just like he would when they were at home.
Lin Ran wasn’t about to let it go. “Were you just looking at another guy?”
Sheng Qingxi answered honestly, “…I was.”
Lin Ran’s eyes darkened, his tone dangerous, “Was he good-looking?”
After a brief moment of consideration, her survival instincts kicked in. She shook her head slightly, “Lin Ran is better looking.”
Lin Ran stared at her small face for a while before letting out a soft grunt.
He slowly stretched out his hand to the left. Lin Yanyan, knowing what was expected, dutifully handed him the other cup of milk tea.
Lin Yanyan thought Sheng Qingxi was quite pitiful. Even drinking milk tea, she still had to pacify her brother.
Lin Ran poked the straw into the cup of milk tea before handing it to Sheng Qingxi.
Lin Yanyan quietly explained, “Brother, Sister Sheng and I were looking at the takoyaki that person was holding. We were looking at the brand of the takoyaki, not at him.”
Lin Ran paused for a moment, then looked at Sheng Qingxi, raising his eyebrow, “Do you want to eat takoyaki?”
Sheng Qingxi and Lin Yanyan both nodded.
Lin Ran was tempted to buy them some takoyaki, especially since Sheng Qingxi, a “grass-eating rabbit,” rarely craved anything other than simple food. But he wasn’t comfortable leaving the two of them here alone.
Earlier, when he went to buy the milk tea, they were within his line of sight. Now, going to find the takoyaki would take some time.
Lin Ran stood where he was and looked around.
In such a bustling and lively place, there were always scenes that they wouldn’t normally notice.
For instance, Lin Ran’s gaze landed on a young boy. When they first entered the night market, he noticed that Sheng Qingxi had been looking at this child for a long time before she finally averted her gaze.
The boy appeared to be around seven or eight years old, dressed in worn-out clothes, with a dirty little face and some scars on his neck. He squatted by the roadside, holding a small bowl, with a piece of cardboard in front of him.
Lin Ran walked over to take a look. There were a few lines written on the cardboard.
The board described the child’s difficult family situation. The handwriting and phrasing were immature, suggesting the boy had written it himself.
Lin Ran thought for a moment and crouched down to speak to the boy, “Brother here is unfamiliar with this area. Could you help me buy two servings of takoyaki? The box has a picture of little round balls on it. The remaining money will be your reward.”
The boy looked up at Lin Ran with a blank expression. His eyes were bright as he softly said, “Brother, my hands are dirty.”
Lin Ran’s heart ached a little. The boy’s eyes reminded him of Sheng Qingxi’s.
Lin Ran reached out and patted the boy’s head, speaking gently, “They’re not dirty. Brother will wait for you here.”
With that, Lin Ran handed the boy several hundred-yuan bills and smiled, “I’ll watch your bowl for you. Can you find your way back?”
The boy nodded, hesitated for a moment, then only took one bill. Before Lin Ran could say anything, the boy had already run off with the money, disappearing into the crowd in no time.
Lin Ran carefully read the text on the cardboard.
It didn’t mention his parents, only that his grandmother was gravely ill. A copy of her medical diagnosis was attached to the side.
Lin Ran thought for a moment and made a call to the Lin Foundation, briefly explaining the boy’s situation. The foundation staff gave Lin Ran a direct contact number for follow-up.
Lin Ran didn’t have to wait long.
In just ten minutes, the boy came running back with two bags of takoyaki, beads of sweat forming on his forehead from the effort.
Lin Ran noticed the boy had also wrapped the plastic bags in two napkins. He reached out and took the two bags of takoyaki, asking, “What’s your name?”
The boy, clutching the change tightly in his hand, replied, “My name is Xiwang (Hope).”
Lin Ran was taken aback. He instinctively turned to look at Sheng Qingxi. She was watching them from a distance, as if wanting to come over but was held back by something. In the end, she just stood there.
Lin Ran smiled at the boy named Xiwang and told him, “Xiwang, brother has a phone number here. The person who answers will be able to help your grandmother. I’ll leave my phone number with you too. If you need anything, just call me.”
He wiped the boy’s dirty little face and said softly, “Go home now, and make that call soon so your grandmother can get treatment earlier.”
The boy stood there for a long moment, not moving. After a while, he timidly looked up at Lin Ran, asking for confirmation, “Will she really be able to see a doctor? Tonight?”
Lin Ran originally planned to give him the phone number and leave, but looking into the boy’s clear eyes, he felt that he couldn’t just walk away.
As Lin Ran was talking with Xiwang, He Mo and Xie Zhen arrived. Seeing Lin Ran crouched in a corner, Xie Zhen couldn’t help but walk over and ask what was going on. Lin Ran handed him the takoyaki and said, “I need to step out for a bit. You two take the girls around the market for a while, I’ll be back later.”
Xie Zhen gave Lin Ran a confused look but didn’t ask any questions. He simply took the bag and walked away.
…
By the riverside of Qinghe.
The bustling night market seemed to quiet down in an instant.
Grand fireworks bloomed in the pitch-black night sky. Everyone raised their heads, gazing at the brilliant display, the beautiful fireworks shining like glass. For a moment, it seemed as though a meteor had streaked across the sky.
Sheng Qingxi’s eyes reflected the dazzling fireworks.
She still held the milk tea Lin Ran had bought for her.
On Qixi Festival, Lin Ran had asked her what she wanted to do in the future. At the time, she couldn’t give him an answer, but tonight, she could finally tell him what she wanted to do and the kind of person she wanted to become.
In Lin Ran, she saw herself.
The night market was lively, but the summer heat and the crowds made it uncomfortable. He Mo and the others decided to find a night snack place to wait for Lin Ran to return. With the air conditioning and late-night snacks, there was nothing more comfortable than that.
Lin Ran returned about an hour later, drenched in sweat from the round trip.
He didn’t sit next to Sheng Qingxi but casually pulled up a chair beside He Mo. Xie Zhen, that chubby guy, hated the heat too.
Sheng Qingxi glanced at the empty seat next to her. They had saved that spot for Lin Ran. She stared straight at Lin Ran, who was sitting diagonally across from her, and called out, “Lin Ran.”
Lin Ran put down his water glass, first checking Sheng Qingxi’s expression to make sure she wasn’t feeling unwell, before replying, “What is it?”
Sheng Qingxi patted the seat beside her, her gaze fixed on him, her voice calm but firm, “Sit here.”
At first, Lin Ran didn’t catch on.
When he did, he couldn’t help but smile. He grabbed a napkin from the table and explained, “I’m covered in sweat, and I smell. You stay put.”
He Mo: “?”
So what am I in your eyes?
Sheng Qingxi said nothing, just kept looking at him with her bright eyes.
Lin Ran held her gaze for three seconds before finally sighing in defeat. This stubborn girl, calling her a little bull last time was practically a compliment. She was more like a small stream, one that had frozen over.
After wiping the sweat off his forehead and neck, Lin Ran finally dared to sit beside her.
Sheng Qingxi reached out and poked his face, softly saying, “You’re not behaving.”
This time, Lin Ran couldn’t hold back and let out a quiet chuckle.
Not long ago, it was him grabbing her by the scruff of her neck, scolding her for not listening and not behaving. Now, when it was his turn, his heart felt sweet, like it had been dipped in honey. Since their “cold war” period a month ago, Sheng Qingxi had changed a lot.
She had let go of her previous cautiousness around him and was learning to express her emotions.
Lin Ran was happy to see these changes. Sheng Qingxi had her own life, and regardless of whether he lived or died in the future, she needed to find her own path to move forward.
There were a few cans of chilled beer on the table. Feeling good, Lin Ran opened one and started drinking.
As they chatted while eating, time passed in the blink of an eye.
Around eleven o’clock, Lin Ran offered to take Sheng Qingxi home. He Mo and Xie Zhen planned to spend the night at Lin Ran’s place since the night market was just a few streets away from Chengnan Garden.
Lin Yanyan blinked her big eyes and suggested, “Sister Sheng, why don’t you stay over at our place tonight? Let my brother take you home tomorrow since he’s had a drink and can’t drive anyway.”
Well, well.
He Mo and Xie Zhen both turned to look at Lin Yanyan, impressed. This little girl was getting sharper by the day.
Hearing this, Lin Ran raised his eyebrows and leisurely glanced at Sheng Qingxi, curious to see how she would respond. He thought for sure that Sheng Qingxi, being so proper, would politely decline.
Sheng Qingxi paused, feeling the weight of eight wide eyes on her, all eagerly awaiting her answer.
She found the situation amusing and a bit helpless.
Sheng Qingxi started to speak, “I…”
The four people across from her perked up their ears.
She smiled and said, “Then I’ll head home tomorrow.”
Lin Yanyan immediately tugged on Lin Ran’s sleeve, tilting her head up to look at her brother, eyes gleaming with excitement, clearly seeking praise.
Lin Ran couldn’t help but laugh. As a reward, he gave her a gentle rub on the head.
…
It was close to midnight, and aside from the occasional passing car, there were few pedestrians on the street.
The streetlights cast long shadows of Lin Ran and his group. He Mo, Xie Zhen, and Lin Yanyan walked ahead, leaving a bit of distance between them and Lin Ran, who strolled leisurely with Sheng Qingxi.
Lin Ran held Sheng Qingxi’s hand as they walked at a slow pace.
Her palm was cool, a comforting feeling in his hand. Lin Ran gave her hand a small swing and lazily asked, “So why’d you agree to come back with me today? Aren’t you afraid I’ll bully you?”
Sheng Qingxi muttered softly, “You can’t even beat me.”
Lin Ran: ?
Even though it was true, couldn’t she say it a little less bluntly?
Lin Ran chuckled and scooped her up, tucking her under his arm playfully. He teased, “Sheng Qingxi, I haven’t even bullied you, and you’re already thinking about beating me up? After we get marri—”
Halfway through his sentence, Lin Ran stopped himself.
Wasn’t that a bit too forward?
Sheng Qingxi wriggled slightly, turning her head to ask, “After we get what?”
Lin Ran cleared his throat, looking a little awkward. “Nothing, nothing. Brother’s just taking you home.”
As he spoke, Lin Ran let go of her and gently took her hand again.
Sheng Qingxi’s thoughts drifted back to the young boy from earlier. She leaned closer to Lin Ran and asked, “Lin Ran, what about that boy… How is he? I noticed there were wounds on his neck.”
Lin Ran knew what she was concerned about.
He explained quietly, “It’s nothing. The little guy got those injuries from a fight. I took him home, and it’s just him and his grandmother. His grandmother’s been ill, but they don’t have money for treatment.”
Sheng Qingxi pressed her lips together and softly asked, “What about his parents?”
Lin Ran sighed, “His father passed away a few years ago. His mother remarried and never came back. It’s just been him and his grandmother these past few years, and now his grandmother’s sick.”
Lin Ran raised his hand and patted Sheng Qingxi’s head gently, comforting her. “I’ve already contacted the Lin Foundation. They’ll be following up with them, and his grandmother will get the treatment she needs.”
Sheng Qingxi tugged on Lin Ran’s sleeve. After a long silence, she finally said, “Lin Ran, thank you.”
Lin Ran didn’t reply. He just held her hand a little tighter.
—
At Chengnan Garden Villas.
Sheng Qingxi originally planned to sleep in the same room as Lin Yanyan, but Lin Ran firmly refused, saying that Lin Yanyan kicks off the blanket in her sleep, and Sheng Qingxi would definitely catch a cold if they shared a bed.
Lin Yanyan felt she was being wronged.
Meanwhile, He Mo and Xie Zhen were busy playing video games in the arcade, and Lin Ran was pushing the two girls to go to bed.
The room Lin Ran prepared for Sheng Qingxi was right next to his own. He handed her some new clothes that he hadn’t worn, and as for her change of undergarments, they had conveniently picked them up on the way.
Sheng Qingxi glanced at the clothes in Lin Ran’s hand, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly taking them. “Yanyan said she would find me a dress to wear, but here you are handing me your clothes again.”
Hearing this, Lin Ran suddenly remembered the last time she wore his clothes. Leaning casually against the doorframe, he chuckled lazily, “My clothes can work as a dress too, and they look better than Lin Yanyan’s.”
Sheng Qingxi: “…”
She reached out and gave Lin Ran a push, shoving him out the door before shutting it with a loud thud.
Lin Ran, standing outside the now closed door, let out a soft laugh.
How adorable.
—
By the time Lin Ran finished his shower, it was already past midnight, but sleep eluded him. Knowing Sheng Qingxi was sleeping just next door, he couldn’t help but think about her.
For Lin Ran, this feeling was strange and unfamiliar. Yet, it filled him with a profound sense of calm. In front of her, he could drop all his facades, even if his past had been shattered and chaotic, and his future uncertain.
With her, none of it mattered.
He was simply alive.
Lin Ran slowly closed his eyes.
The night deepened.