Meng Qiu's instruction manual

"Uncle Lin."

Once they were outside the school, Chen Shi'an naturally switched to calling Lin Ming Uncle Lin.

He lifted the boxed meals in his hand. "You probably haven't had dinner yet, have you? I just packed two meals from the cafeteria. How about we eat together at the rental place in a bit?"

"That's thoughtful of you, Shi'an." Lin Ming smiled and waved a hand. "But I'm having dinner with a higher-up tonight, so I'll have to head over after showing you the apartment. Come over to my place next time, and I'll cook you something nice."

"I didn't know you could cook, Uncle Lin. I'll definitely have to try your cooking."

Lin Ming laughed at that. "I grew up in the countryside too. What country kid from my generation couldn't cook? Whether it tastes any good is another matter."

The rental apartment wasn't far from the school, so Lin Ming didn't drive. He took Chen Shi'an there on foot, letting him get familiar with the neighborhood along the way. They chatted as they reached the school gates.

"Uncle Lin, if you've rented out your old apartment, where do you live now?" Chen Shi'an asked.

"Also very close to the school." Standing at the gates, Lin Ming pointed left. "I live in that complex over there now." Then he pointed right. "The rental is in the older complex that way."

Neither place was far from the school. Chen Shi'an estimated that either would be about a ten-minute walk.

"Does Meng Qiu commute to school too, then?"

Lin Ming paused, then smiled. "She lives on campus. Mostly because I'm busy with work and don't have time to cook for her. I happen to have been assigned a room in the teachers' dormitory, so she usually stays there by herself. If she needs anything, I bring it over."

After a pause, he asked curiously, "Did Meng Qiu tell you I'm her dad?"

"She didn't, actually, but I could see a bit of a resemblance."

"Heh, you've got a good eye for people, Shi'an!"

Since Lin Meng Qiu had come up, the conversation naturally turned to her, and they kept chatting as they walked.

"Shi'an, are you settling into class all right? Meng Qiu hasn't been giving you trouble, has she?" Principal Lin asked.

"Everything's been fine."

Of course Principal Lin knew what his daughter was like. He had saddled her with a deskmate and asked her to help him along. It would be good enough if she didn't give Chen Shi'an the cold shoulder.

"My wife passed away early, and I'm usually busy with work. Meng Qiu has been independent since she was little, but she isn't very good with people. Every day, all she does is read and work through practice questions. She has no other interests or hobbies, and hardly any friends..."

There was some worry in his voice. "Naturally, I'm not concerned about her grades, but I keep wondering whether the way she is now is really good for her..."

Chen Shi'an listened quietly. He didn't know Lin Meng Qiu well enough to comment.

After all, with different points of comparison, everyone's place in other people's eyes-and their opinions of them-would differ.

"What do you think, Shi'an?"

"...My understanding of the Dao is far behind my master's. I'm afraid I can't offer you much useful advice, Uncle Lin."

"You're being modest, Shi'an. If your master is willing to pass the whole Daoist temple on to you, he must have faith in your abilities. I'd also like to hear what you young people think."

"What you just described, Uncle Lin, is really only a series of comparisons. Perhaps it doesn't reflect who she truly is. Personally, I think that whatever kind of person Meng Qiu wants to become, whatever kind of life she wants to lead, it's enough if she feels comfortable with it and has no regrets."

Chen Shi'an paused. "Not every choice has to be the right one. If she wants to, she can choose what she likes. Besides, life is long, and she's still young. The supposedly 'right' choice might not actually be right."

After hearing Chen Shi'an's words, Principal Lin fell into thought.

Over the years, he had heard plenty of opinions about his daughter. Some praised her grades, some praised her for never making her parents worry, and others said she was too cold or didn't understand how to get along with people.

But no one had ever said, as Chen Shi'an did, that it was enough for her to like it.

The understanding and acceptance in his words briefly left even Lin Ming, her father, feeling that he fell short.

He couldn't help seeing Chen Shi'an in a new light. If Old Daoist Master Chen had said this, he would have taken it for granted. Yet the one offering such insight was a boy around his daughter's age.

"You have a point, Shi'an."

Principal Lin nodded with a smile. "If I didn't know you two only met today, I'd have thought you'd known each other for years. Young people really do understand each other better."

"You're too kind, Uncle Lin," Chen Shi'an said politely. "These are just general observations. When it comes to understanding Meng Qiu, naturally I can't compare with you."

Upright, steady, modest, and pleasant to talk to-Lin Ming liked this young man more and more.

"That's true. As her father, I do know what my own daughter is like. She may seem cold, but she has a sharp tongue and a soft heart. Don't be intimidated by her, Shi'an. If there's anything you don't understand in your studies, just ask her. She won't refuse to explain."

"I'm just worried I'll upset Meng Qiu and she'll want me moved to another seat," Chen Shi'an said, half joking.

"She wouldn't dare. I'll back you up!"

While Lin Meng Qiu was entering Chen Shi'an into her [Deskmate evaluation: book of life and death], she had no idea that he had already obtained [Meng Qiu's instruction manual] from her father.

Deskmates had the most distinctive relationship of any classmates on campus. They would spend their days side by side for a long stretch of their school lives, so Chen Shi'an took it fairly seriously. He didn't expect them to become especially close; he only hoped they wouldn't part on bad terms.

Of course, if they really did part ways, that would simply mean they weren't suited to each other and weren't destined to be deskmates. Either way, it wouldn't affect him.

As far as Chen Shi'an was concerned, agonizing over things like that simply wasn't an option.

As they chatted, the two arrived at the apartment complex where the rental was located.

"This complex has been around for a while. I bought the apartment when I first started working."

"The school offered a subsidy back then, so I got it cheap. More than twenty years went by in a flash, and now these buildings are all getting run-down."

While Chen Shi'an and the cat in his bag surveyed the complex, Principal Lin gave him a brief introduction.

"The buildings are a bit shabby, but the overall environment is decent. There are convenience stores, general stores, and everything else nearby. There's also a farmers' market a few hundred meters west. Most importantly, it's close to school. Since you've decided to live off campus, Shi'an, you might as well stay here. Getting to school will be convenient. There's no elevator, though, and we're on the ninth floor, so you'll have plenty of stairs to climb."

"Uncle Lin, I think it's already very nice. Stairs aren't a problem. Back on the mountain, going down and coming back up took me over an hour."

Chen Shi'an wasn't just being polite. He genuinely thought the living conditions here were very good.

Though the complex was old, it was clean and tidy, with convenient amenities. To him, climbing stairs really was no

big deal.

"Did you used to live here too, Uncle Lin?"

"For a few years. Then I moved after getting married, and I've been renting this place out ever since."

As they climbed the stairs, the difference in stamina between the older and younger man became clear. With the fat cat and his luggage on his back, Chen Shi'an walked as easily as if he were on level ground. Lin Ming talked as he climbed and soon grew breathless.

"Whew, once you hit middle age, you really do need goji berries in your thermos..."

"You should take better care of yourself, Uncle Lin."

"Whew, my place is on the top floor, so I usually rent it out cheaply. Twelve hundred for three bedrooms and a living room."

"How much do places nearby go for?" Chen Shi'an asked curiously.

"Around two thousand. Even if they're old, shabby, and small, they're still in a school district, with convenient transport and amenities."

"Then even for a top-floor apartment, twelve hundred is very cheap, Uncle Lin."

"Yes. I'm not short of money now, and I don't plan to sell it, so I just keep renting it out. Most of the tenants are young people who've just graduated and don't have much money. If they seem like decent people, I rent it to them. Think of it as easing society's burden a little, heh..."

"That's very generous of you, Uncle Lin." Chen Shi'an cupped his hands in admiration.

"It's within my means. Hardly any effort at all."

Principal Lin waved a hand, though his expression showed how much he appreciated the praise.

"We had favorable conditions back then. As long as you were healthy, had a bit of education and sense, and worked hard, you could always make money. Times are different now. Young people have it tough, so I help where I can."

Chen Shi'an had little understanding of most of what Lin Ming was saying. He really had spent so long on the mountain, removed from everyday worldly life. This trip down had certainly taught him a great deal.

After finally reaching the ninth floor, they stopped in front of a door marked [901].

"Here we are. This is the place." Lin Ming wiped away his sweat. "I didn't bring the spare key, but the young woman renting it should be home. She called me when she got off work."

As he spoke, he curled his fingers and knocked on the door. "Xiao Li, are you home? It's Uncle Lin, your landlord!"

"Coming, coming."

Hearing the clear reply from inside, Chen Shi'an blinked, and the image and face of a certain woman quickly surfaced in his mind.

That voice... it was her!