It's Lu Lin.
Yan Heqing hadn't expected Lu Lin to appear on New Year's Eve. He was briefly taken aback when Lu Lin was already in front of him.
Lu Lin's gaze fell on Yan Heqing's face.
The boy's face appeared even paler upon closer inspection.
Coming to his senses, Yan Heqing politely smiled and asked, " Mr. Lu, is there something you need?"
Lu Lin's voice was low and deep. "There's a temporary job that can cover medical expenses. Would you like to take it?"
Yan Heqing asked, "Now?"
"Now."
Yan Heqing had a feeling this job was no simple matter. "May I ask what kind of job it is?"
"To keep my mother company." Lu Lin's eyes were deep. "She's in poor health and spends most of her time recuperating in the mountains. She rarely sees people. My job is to keep her happy, and I'll pay her three times the market rate per hour."
The photo of them together that I had seen at Lu Lin's place flashed through my mind.
So this is why Lu Lin never ate New Year's Eve dinner at the Lu Family in the original text.
Yan Heqing was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I won't answer."
His dark eyes narrowed slightly. Before Lu Lin could speak, Yan Heqing suddenly raised his face to meet Lu Lin's gaze. A slight smile played on his lips. "I'd like to come over as a guest. May I have a meal with you?"
Yan Heqing was going upstairs, and Lu Lin was waiting for him downstairs.
Watching the slender figure disappear into the apartment building, Lu Lin took out his phone and dialed a number.
The other end is very slow to respond.
Lu Ruchan's hearing has become increasingly poor over the years, and she usually has to wait a while before she can get better.
Just as the ringtone was about to end, Lu Ruchan's voice rang out, " A-Lin, are we almost there?"
"No, I'm here to pick up a friend."
Lu Ruchan was quite surprised. Bringing friends? This was the first time. She smiled and nodded, "Okay, I'll have someone add a few more dishes. What do your friends like?"
"Home-style cooking, light and not too sweet." After a pause, Lu Lin said, "He's a young man."
Lu Lin emphasized this point, which piqued Lu Ruchan's curiosity, "How young?"
Just then, the hallway lights came on, and Yan Heqing emerged from the building. Lu Lin's gaze followed him. "18."
Yan Heqing, carrying a paper bag, came out and saw Lu Lin standing outside the car. Snow began to fall again, so he quickened his pace and jogged towards Lu Lin. " Mr. Lu, you can go now."
Lu Lin put his phone back in his pocket, walked to the back seat, and opened the car door.
Yan Heqing was puzzled. Did they want him to drive? He didn't have a driver's license.
Lu Lin didn't leave him wondering for long. "Get in the car," he said, then returned to the driver's seat.
He drove it himself.
Yan Heqing then got into the back seat. The car was very warm, as if it were in a different time and space from the outside. In front of him was Lu Lin's head, which was halfway up the back of the seat.
Lu Lin fastened his seatbelt, started the car, and drove off.
Yan Heqing gently placed the paper bag at his feet; it contained the few potted succulents he kept.
It's a gift for Lu Lin's mother, but all the shops are closed at this time, so I can't buy any other gifts.
Perhaps because the car was too quiet, Lu Lin casually turned on the radio.
A random radio station broadcasts two comedians performing a crosstalk routine, their tone exaggerated.
Lu Lin glanced at the rearview mirror; in it, the boy sat quietly. "If you don't like it, change the song."
"No need." The young man suddenly looked up at the rearview mirror. "Listening to crosstalk during the New Year is very lively."
Lu Lin looked away, drove the car out of the residential area, and after driving for a while, he turned around and got on the highway.
The car was filled with the actors' exaggerated laughter. He spoke again, "Why don't you stay longer?"
"I have something to take care of, it's more convenient to go home."
The car turned onto the highway, illuminated by streetlights on both sides. Snowflakes fell onto the windshield, and the snowfall gradually intensified. "Didn't run into the creditor?"
"Hmm." Yan Heqing's eyes crinkled into a smile. "They celebrate the New Year too."
Lu Lin glanced at the rearview mirror and met the boy's clear eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Lu."
Lu Lin's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he shifted his gaze without changing his expression. "You thank me."
"Thank you for today." Yan Heqing smiled. "Actually, I was in a bad mood today, but I'm very happy that you invited me to your home for the New Year."
Lu Lin felt a slight cough coming on, but he suppressed it. "Why is it so bad?"
"I miss some people." Yan Heqing then turned his gaze away and looked out the window. There were a few streaks of streetlights here and there, but most of the time it was silent darkness.
On the radio, when the crosstalk performance reached its climax, the audience erupted in laughter.
*
For the rest of the journey, neither of them uttered a sound.
After exiting the highway, we drove uphill for a while. The mountains were quiet, with only one spot lit up halfway up the road.
When they stopped at the villa, the snow was falling more heavily than in the city, with large flakes falling all around. Yan Heqing closed the paper bag, got out of the car, and walked up the steps.
Lu Lin lowered the car window halfway. "Let's go inside first, I'll go park the car." He then drove to the garage.
At the same time, the sound of a door opening came from behind, light shone onto the steps, and then a kind female voice said—
Hello, little friend.
Yan Heqing turned around and saw an extremely thin woman, almost a pale skin covering a skeleton, wearing a thick hat and sitting in a wheelchair.
She almost immediately overlapped with the woman in the group photo.
This is Lu Lin's mother.
Yan Heqing bowed politely, "Hello, my name is Yan Heqing."
Lu Ruchan beckoned, "Come closer."
Yan Heqing was puzzled. He took a few steps forward, bent down, and approached Lu Ruchan. "Please speak."
Lu Ruchan then got a good look at Yan Heqing. She smiled and said, "It suits your name well." He was indeed young, five years younger than Lu Muchi.
With a dry palm, she gently patted Yan Heqing's shoulder, "Come inside quickly, it's cold outside."
Following him inside, the maid had already prepared slippers for the guests. The entire house was comfortably heated by the underfloor heating. Yan Heqing changed into his shoes and took off his coat. Once in the living room, he took out the gifts one by one, saying, "These are my little potted plants; I hope you like them."
There are four pots in total.
Pink bluebirds, colorful berries, snowflake jade pendants, and string of pearls are all planted in small white porcelain pots, and each one is blooming with remarkable vitality.
Lu Ruchan was delighted. She picked up the pink bluebird, admiring it dearly. "It's so beautiful! I'll definitely take good care of it."