Zhou Guangfu held the candy Feng Dema had given him, looked at his face with its mismatched eyes, then glanced at Wen Ning and Lu Ming. A smile touched his lips. Without a word, he tucked the candy into his shirt pocket.
Wen Ning helped Zhou Guangfu over to the little bed in the partitioned room.
"Get some rest, Uncle. If you get thirsty tonight, just call out."
Zhou Guangfu nodded, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked up to wave at Wen Ning.
"You get some rest too. Sorry for the trouble, young man."
Lu Ming set the apples and biscuits Liu Dazhu had given them beside the bed.
"Uncle, everything's right here. Help yourself if you get hungry."
The three tiptoed out. Feng Dema was still leaning over the counter, muttering.
"He's such a nice old man. He couldn't even bear to eat the candy right away."
The shop stayed quiet that night. Just as dawn began to break, the door to the little room opened softly.
Zhou Guangfu got up without disturbing anyone.
First, he touched the apples and biscuits beside the bed. Then he took the candy from his pocket and gazed at it for a long while before carefully placing it in the most conspicuous spot on the little cabinet.
He left no note. He simply slipped away in silence.
By the time Wen Ning woke, it was light outside. He went straight to check the little room. The bed was neatly made, but the old man was gone.
Lu Ming followed him over. His heart clenched at the sight of the empty bed, and he turned to grab Wen Ning's arm.
"Wen Ning! He's gone?! Are we just going to let him leave like that? In his condition, how can he go