When grandma was still alive, mom always resented that grandma wasn’t fair, helped uncle a bit more. But grandma said, back then only one person could study, uncle went out to work, supported dad.
So grandma leaned more toward uncle a bit, helped quite a bit in earlier years. Mom had quite some complaints, handed her over to grandma to raise, also thought if money isn’t given, at least the person should be taken care of. That way it’s fair.
After grandma passed, all inheritance was given to her, not a single bit left for others. Two sons, other granddaughters and grandsons had none—only she alone had it.
Uncle, aunt, and paternal cousins—even her own older sister and younger brother would complain, say it’s unfair, biased toward her alone.
Uncle and aunt made the biggest fuss, because giving to her was equal to giving to her parents.
But it had already been transferred under her name, had legal validity, and the will had been prepared long ago—certified by notary, so no one could do anything.
She took the money to treat mom’s illness, to help transition the business, and mom no longer spoke of grandma being biased.
Back then she didn’t like her—perhaps just because she was raised by grandma, and after becoming that “favored person,” mom’s resentment toward grandma lessened, and she also looked at her more pleasingly.
Nan Zhi didn’t know what to say. Just remembered, back when she was little, grandma used to mutter:
“All are my own children. Whoever’s life isn’t going well, I can’t help but lean toward them, want to pull them up a bit.”
Back then it was uncle’s household that wasn’t doing well, so grandma gave support.
Now it’s her mom and dad whose days aren’t going well—if it were grandma, she would also lean toward dad and mom.
So what she did, was a choice that was right for herself, and also one grandma would have made.
That inheritance was also too big for her. If the real estate could ensure her food and clothing without worry, was grandma’s love, then the wealth was unexpected fortune—too much, made her a bit at a loss, felt unworthy of that much affection. Spent it on dad and mom—not wasted, and her heart settled down.
Song Qing was still a bit different from her. The money he got back from his aunt—one part was compensation for his parents’ car accident, another part was from selling their house. To him, both were equivalent to “blood-stained mantou” \[血馒头 – literally “blood mantou (steamed bun),” a metaphor in Chinese for gaining benefit from tragedy or bloodshed].
Eating blood mantou, heart surely wouldn’t feel good. Using it for medical fees he could accept. Other than medical fees, using it for himself—he wasn’t willing. So he borrowed an empty bank card from her, and stored all the money inside.
Didn’t even keep the card, handed it to her. Nan Zhi was somewhat surprised—unwilling to spend it, she could understand. But giving it to her, and not even changing the password—she couldn’t quite understand.
Song Qing’s attitude was quite firm—insisted on giving it to her.
Nan Zhi could only say: “Then I’ll help you keep it for now.”
Paused, then added: “That money from the kind-hearted person, you don’t need to pay back for now. She’s rich, doesn’t care about this bit. When your days are better, I’ll take you to return it in person, that’s fine.”
This was fooling him. The kind-hearted person was her. How she wanted to say it was up to her to make up.
She mainly felt—that amount was just right. Exactly enough to cover all his medical fees, with just a tiny bit left. In these past two days, taking him to visit various teachers and other important people, giving gifts, leaving money, already spent almost all.
The remaining bit mostly already had designated uses. With his character, once this storm passed, he would definitely pay it all back.
Which is to say, he still actually had no money. After returning that ten thousand yuan, he was basically in a state of not a single cent left.
Nan Zhi still had a bit on hand. Plus she had drawing commissions—her savings not only didn’t decrease, but actually increased a little. Enough for the two of them to eat and drink—not urgent. Whether he repays or not, when he repays, doesn’t matter.
Just now when he wanted to transfer money to the ‘kind-hearted person,’ she also stopped him. She said the kind-hearted person is wealthy and generous, not lacking money—can leave it for the very end, to avoid running short later.
If anything left over, then repay her. If not, then just wait until he has money again to repay—also fine.
When Song Qing was in front of her, he still listened to her a lot. Because if not obedient, he might get beaten, get his arm twisted by her.
Not hard, but it was still a beating, still a twist.
Sitting this close, he couldn’t run—could only endure it face-on.
Song Qing was sitting in the front passenger seat, tilted his head, and gave her a strange look.
That one glance contained very complicated emotions—vaguely had a kind of “I’ve seen through you” or “what medicine are you selling in that gourd” kind of confusion.
Nan Zhi sensed something was off, probed and asked: “Why haven’t you asked about the kind-hearted person lately?”
Maybe it was because he wanted to find out who the kind-hearted person was and return the money—he had been quite interested in the kind-hearted person. Often after meals or during moments of chatting, he would ask her: Who exactly is the kind-hearted person? Is it your friend? How did you meet?
Recently, it really seemed like he hadn’t been asking.
Song Qing didn’t speak, just looked at her more intently than before.
Nan Zhi: “……”
Looks like he already guessed.
Well, yeah—from beginning to end, the only one he had contact with was her. The kind-hearted person never even showed a shadow. As long as you’re not dumb, you’d probably figure it out.
“When did you know?” she asked while driving.
Song Qing answered honestly, “At first it was just a guess. Later it was confirmed.”
At the beginning, he only had suspicions. Then he tried tentatively saying he wanted to return money to “her.” Every time, Nan Zhi would make the decision on “her” behalf.
No need to rush. She’s not lacking money.
He said he was afraid “she” would get angry. She also said: No, she’s a really nice person.
As if she really understood that person. But he still felt—unless it was between close girlfriends—Nan Zhi, with her personality, wouldn’t directly decide for others. She should’ve said: “I’ll ask her.”
Once he had suspicions, that transaction list came out—he couldn’t help but test it behind Nan Zhi’s back.
The payer was Alipay. Alipay account equals phone number.
Nan Zhi had two phone numbers. One he knew. The other never called him. But after inputting it, before transferring the money, one of the recipient’s name characters would pop up.
That 10,093 yuan transaction—payer account displayed 【Zhi】. Nan Zhi’s full name is Nan Zhi, so it could only be her.
After Song Qing finished speaking, Nan Zhi blinked, gave an awkward laugh, and said: “You’re actually pretty smart, huh.”
She hid it from Song Qing at the start because she was afraid of causing trouble. Now that the trouble was basically settled, she didn’t argue, and admitted: “I’ve read too many ridiculous news stories—was afraid something might happen, so…”
She took advantage of a red light break to glance at Song Qing. His expression stayed the same, didn’t seem to mind. “I understand,” he said.
Nan Zhi nodded—that was considered letting this matter pass.
Everything that needed to be handled was basically taken care of. She drove the car, brought him back to the apartment building. Helped straighten his hat, checked his mask and scarf, made sure everything was tightly covered, then carried him out of the car. After he sat in the wheelchair, she pushed him along while stopping by to buy groceries and pick up deliveries.
On the way back, the left side of Song Qing’s wheelchair had one bag hanging, the right side another, the small pocket below also had stuff, and in his arms he held two packages.
It had already been more than a week—his wounds basically had no big problems. Even the stitches could be taken out today, so holding two packages wasn’t a big deal.
Only, Nan Zhi looked at him—this busy and useful look, looking like he could hang stuff all over—and felt it was kind of funny.
She laughed out loud.nHe still didn’t quite get it, raised his head and looked at her.
Nan Zhi reined in her smile, didn’t take the packages, went to hug him first.
She reached out her hand. Song Qing was still a bit unresponsive—raised his arm and lowered it again repeatedly, dazed for a moment, then saw her slide her hand under his arm and lift some of the packages off him. Only then did he come back to his senses, threw the packages into the wheelchair, and his whole person was hugged into her arms, carried into the house.
As soon as the door opened, the two cats came running out cursing and mumbling, wanting to go out and play.
Nan Zhi didn’t have time to deal with them for now, but knowing they loved to run, she had already closed the fire escape door in the hallway in advance, and installed a tall white gate blocking the corridor leading to the elevator—so the cats couldn’t get past.
The reason she installed it was because two days ago, one cat ran out, and she had to chase it for a long time.
Too pissed off, she directly went to a physical store to custom order the right size. Luckily, the store just happened to have one that matched the size of her corridor path. She immediately bought it, installed it, and only then let the two cats run around as they pleased.
Nan Zhi placed Song Qing on the sofa. As soon as Song Qing sat down, he called for the two cats. They’d run too far, couldn’t hear him, and didn’t respond.
Nan Zhi didn’t bother either. She carried the wheelchair, the packages, and groceries back in, then went to catch the two cats. The kittens were over two months old—she grabbed them by the scruff and pressed them down on the sofa for a scolding.
While she was pressing one down, Song Qing was holding the other in his arms. When she finished scolding the first one, he passed the second one to her, told her to continue scolding, while he watched from the side.
The big cat, while watching the little cat being scolded with great interest, suddenly had its face pinched and twisted by her without warning.
The big cat looked up, confusedly gazing at her, eyes still carrying that kind of college-student-like clear and innocent look.
Nan Zhi kept a stern face, and said seriously: “If the child is not taught, it’s the parents’ fault.”
Actually, the target had always been him. The little cat didn’t listen at all—jumping all over the place day and night. Today it broke a flower vase, tomorrow it’ll chew through charging cables, and the day after it’ll hide in the washing machine—almost got washed by her.
Luckily, Song Qing heard the cat meowing and checked. Otherwise, the cat would’ve been gone.
Compared to the little cat, she still preferred the big cat more. So pretty much every time, the real target was the big cat.
The big cat had no awareness whatsoever. When she hit the cat, he even came really close, helping her hold the other cat in place—right beside her. Wearing a face that said: “You made her angry again. You’re screwed.”
Completely unaware that from beginning to end, she was coming for him. If she didn’t rub him a bit, she felt sorry for herself.
So the big cat never escaped, always ended up being grabbed by her and messed with.
Today too, half of his face got pinched red. But he only “oh’d” softly, like he accepted the reason, and even thought it was quite reasonable, with a face saying: “So this is why I got dragged into it.”
Nan Zhi held back hard not to laugh. After she was done scolding the little cat, and done pinching the big cat, she went to open the packages.
Song Qing picked up the grocery bags she had put on the floor, placed them on the wheelchair, pushed the wheelchair into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and began tidying up.
He hadn’t even finished tidying, when Nan Zhi had already opened the package—as expected, it was still his clothes. Those few T-shirts had arrived.
While opening the packaging, one item dropped out. Nan Zhi picked it up and looked—it turned out to be socks sent by the seller.
Cotton socks—the quality looked pretty decent. Only, at a glance the style was clearly men’s.
Because the T-shirts were men’s, the gift that came with them was too.
Nan Zhi couldn’t help but glance under the wheelchair—where the empty, dangling pant legs were—making her feel even more that it was a pity.
That little girl named Yue Yue had taken those photos—Nan Zhi had basically seen them all. The ones taken when he was surrounded were the most, almost like a moving sequence when lined up one by one.
An artist’s imagination was most vivid—almost the moment she saw them, the whole scene popped up in her mind.
He was pinned on the ground. Someone grabbed his wrist bone, lifted it high, then pinched the pull tab at the back of his shoes and pulled off his shoes. And then, his socks.
Because they were silk socks, they clung closely to the wrist bone. So someone slipped a finger in, hooked the sock’s opening, and pulled the whole thing off. The pale white, skinny foot was exposed outside. The person who pulled it off froze for a moment, then said something teasing—she didn’t know exactly what—and everyone laughed.
If her guess wasn’t wrong, it should have been:
——“Pretty nice-looking.”
Yes, pretty nice-looking.
So it really was… such a pity.