Chapter 92

"Go, go, go, go..." Grandpa Liu waved impatiently, gesturing for Xia Yan to hurry inside. "Then I'll... go first?" Xia Yan asked, somewhat puzzled. "Get lost... if you dawdle any longer, use the side door." Grandpa Liu chuckled and scolded, then slammed the window shut. Touching his full head of white hair, he couldn't help but sigh softly, "Youth is truly wonderful..." "Give that child a proper home." How come I never noticed before that she was a girl? Hmm... you wouldn't tell with short hair. Grandpa Liu nodded confidently, then his gaze was drawn back to DF's performance in the ALSG match on his tablet, making him furious. "What a piece of trash Mike..." His attention shifted away from Hua Xin. —————— "I'm downstairs." "Should I come up... or will you come down?" "Tell me your apartment number and I'll come up to find you..." "Thank you..." Xia Yan was startled, his eyes shifting from his phone, looking at Hua Xin, who had somehow opened the stairwell door and was standing in front of him, somewhat surprised. He hadn't even finished sending the message yet, why was she here? Oh well. Xia Yan, a slight smile playing on his lips, unzipped his coat, revealing a barbecue grill perfectly wrapped in insulated paper. Lao Hua would be so happy. So much of her favorite food. Not just the usual pork skewers, he'd also ordered beef and lamb. He'd remembered Hua Xin mentioning her love for beef during a casual chat. Hua Xin walked over to him, carefully taking the large bag of skewers and iced tea. "Eat less tonight, it's bad for your stomach." "Just microwave it tomorrow morning." "I have to tell you, Xiang Guan looks so funny yet so pitiful... How could he fall for such a high-class woman... I really..." "And... you need to study! I don't want to see you fail, Lao Hua..." Hua Xin silently watched Xia Yan, who seemed overly talkative, as if trying to hide something, and instinctively hugged the things in her arms tightly. "What's wrong?" The girl looked up; the hood and mask she'd hastily put on upon returning home concealed her previously exposed face. Meanwhile, her long bangs obscured her eyes, which seemed to sparkle with light. Xia Yan fell silent. He seemed to realize something was wrong with him. He gently rubbed his head, the bitterness amplified by alcohol leaving him speechless. Many things weren't as he'd imagined. Even with his heart pounding with conflict, he had no one to confide in. He'd become cheerful, sunny, academically gifted, physically strong, envied by everyone, popular, and excelled in everything—why... Xia Yan shook his head, smiling softly, and said, "It's nothing, just drunk..." "Get some rest, Lao Hua, I'll take a taxi home, don't worry." With that, he turned and left. Why was he still so lonely...? "Xia Yan!" A slightly sharp but unmistakably boyish voice made him stop. A girl ran up to him, her tone sarcastic yet undeniably concerned. A rice ball lay in Hua Xin's thin, malnourished hand, a gesture he remembered vividly. "With your pathetic alcohol tolerance," "You probably threw up after drinking, right?" "Eat it later when you're hungry, at least you'll have something in your stomach..." Seeing Xia Yan still looking dazed, Hua Xin simply stuffed the rice ball into his pocket, then turned and ran back to the stairwell. "I'm going home... you... you should go home too." With that, Hua Xin slammed the door shut as if fleeing, then leaned against the door to calm her slightly nervous heart, her breathing rapid as she took off her mask. You know, she had just gone upstairs to get her mask and back down in a flash... "Thanks, Lao Hua." "I'll treat you to dinner after the exam." Xia Yan's cheerful voice came from outside the door. The girl didn't answer, just pouted and went upstairs. "Shrimp head..." "I've never even tasted a rice ball before!?" "But I'll forgive you if there's barbecue." Back home, Hua Xin took off all her clothes in one go, tore open the thermal paper, and the unique aroma of meat instantly made the girl's mouth water... Delicious?... So delicious?... It smells so good?! She eagerly picked up a skewer, and following her memory, sideways pulled off the still-warm, oily skewer covered in cumin and barbecue seasoning, chewing it... "Plop." The girl silently finished the skewer, wiping away her tears. It wasn't because it was delicious that she was crying. She remembered the person who had treated her to barbecue the last time. Before that, she had been starving for four whole days, eating everything edible in the house. Even the unknown green plant by her bed was dug up and eaten. Hungry... so hungry... the feeling of being so hungry was something she would never forget, a feeling etched deep into her soul. Hua Xin remembered the soil was astringent, with an indescribable taste, but drinking it with tap water could still fill her stomach. The belt wasn't made of edible cowhide like in the TV shows; she couldn't even bite into it... could it be that the belt wasn't made of cowhide? She felt full even drinking water, but despite her full stomach, her limbs remained weak, her cries grew weaker, and her throat burned. Finally, she could only scrape the door and lock with a screwdriver... Hua Xin pulled over a plastic stool and gently sat down. Tears streamed down her face, yet she silently ate the incredibly delicious barbecue skewers. After a few, she stopped. If she kept eating like this because it was so good... she'd vomit. "Buzz." Hua Xin then hastily wiped away her tears and picked up her phone to check the messages. Upon seeing them, the girl froze, unsure what to do. It wasn't from Xia Yan, but from "Lao Shui." ..."Young man, something's bothering you?" The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and asked with concern. Xia Yan had been keeping his head turned to the side since getting in the car, and his frequent long sighs showed how uncomfortable he was. "It's nothing." "Thank you for your concern, Master." "Sigh, it's nothing, you young people are just worried about your studies and work..." "Just do what you want to do, do what you can do." "Hesitating won't change anything." "Here we are." "Thank you, Master." "It's nothing." After getting off the bus, Xia Yan didn't head towards home, but instead took out the Hua Xin had given him. The sound of the plastic being squeezed rang out. Hmm... it's pretty good. Salty. He ate it while picking up his phone and sending the message that had been in draft form. Locked the screen. Putting down the phone. Xia Yan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and started walking towards home. He had only taken two and a half steps when his phone vibrated. It's okay. Any answer is fine. Xia Yan Lao Shui himself this; he was prepared. "We can still..."