Yan Heqing looked down at his short boots.
After taking off his coat and shoes, Yan Heqing picked up a cushion, lay down on his side, and covered himself with the coat.
The car was well-heated, and he felt safe under the blanket.
Exhausted from the inside out, Yan Heqing opened his eyes and stared at the chair back that hadn't fallen. He took out his phone and set an alarm.
No. 1 Primary School.
He only needs to sleep for No. 1 Primary School.
Before long, her eyelids drooped, and she fell into a deep sleep.
The back seat was quiet, and after a while, Lu Lin turned around.
In the narrow field of vision, Yan Heqing was curled up, her hands folded over her chest, her chin buried in her hands, revealing No. 1 Primary School part of her profile, her long legs bent, her clothes on the ground, and a cell phone lying there.
Lu Lin took the cashmere blanket, unfolded it, leaned back, and gently covered Yan Heqing with the thin blanket.
As if sensing something, Yan Heqing moved, shrinking into the cashmere blanket, her long, brush-like eyelashes barely brushing against Lu Lin's fingers.
It's furry and a little itchy.
Lu Lin's dark eyes intensified.
Yan Heqing shrank completely into the cashmere blanket, and judging from the shape, he was gripping the blanket tightly with both hands.
Lu Lin let go and prepared to pick up Yan Heqing's coat.
Then the phone screen lit up.
The caller ID showed a local number.
Lu Lin didn't answer the phone until the call ended and then answered it a second time, just in case someone needed to contact Yan Heqing urgently.
The screen went dark quickly, then lit up again, still showing the same number.
Lu Lin picked up his clothes and phone, hung his coat on the back of the passenger seat, and got out of the car, phone in hand.
He wasn't wearing a coat. He had just gotten out of the car, and the temperature difference was obvious. He quietly closed the door, took a few steps forward, and answered the phone.
As soon as the call connected, the other end launched into a tirade of complaints, "Why didn't you answer the phone! I delivered the car, the flower shop owner..."
Lu Lin interrupted in a deep voice, "Explain clearly, repeat it."
His tone wasn't harsh, even quite calm, but it carried an undeniable authority. The other person's breathing quickened slightly, and when he spoke again, his tone had become submissive. "Here's the thing, the car you bought from our dealership yesterday, I delivered it to Xiumei Flower Garden according to the address. If you have any questions later, please contact me anytime."
Lu Lin calmly said, "I understand."
He hung up the phone, and only then did the other end dare to hang up.
Lu Lin put away his phone and was about to turn around when it started ringing and vibrating.
Alarm clock.
Yan Heqing set her alarm for 8 o'clock.
Lu Lin pressed stop.
At the same time, a WeChat notification popped up.
Sep 12.
[Brother? Still not awake?]
elder brother?
Lu Lin's eyebrows twitched slightly.
*
At first, Yan Heqing slept very uncomfortable, but gradually he felt very warm, as if he had returned to the place where he was first in his mother's womb, a place where there was no defense and only safety and warmth.
He drifted off into a deep sleep.
When Yan Heqing opened his eyes again, he was a little confused for the first time. After staring at the car roof for about four or five seconds, his memory became clear.
He was in Lu Lin's car.
Yan Heqing looked down to touch his phone; the alarm hadn't gone off yet.
I only saw the cashmere blanket; the coat and phone were gone.
He looked up again, his gaze first falling on the driver's seat. The seat back was still not lowered, and he could only see No. 1 Primary School part of Lu Lin's head peeking out.
Lu Lin just sleeps like that?
Hearing the noise, Lu Lin opened his eyes, raised his hand to check his watch; he had also slept for several hours.
He opened the armrest box, found a bag of dried pineapple, and handed it to the person behind him without turning around. "Eat something to tide you over. There's a fish restaurant down the mountain; go there for lunch."
Yan Heqing was slightly taken aback. Lunch? He took the dried pineapple, his voice hoarse from just waking up, "What time is it?"
1:23 PM.
He slept for so long... no wonder he looks so refreshed.
Yan Heqing propped himself up on the soft chair cushion with his arms.
Lu Lin started the car and said simply, "I answered a phone call for you. The car you ordered has arrived."
Yan Heqing tore open a piece of dried pineapple. "Okay." He pulled out a slice. "Would you like some dried pineapple?"
"I'm not eating anymore." Once the car was on the road, Lu Lin added, "It's a bit hard to chew."
As Yan Heqing chewed on a thin slice of dried pineapple, he suddenly asked, "Are your teeth bad?"
The car suddenly fell silent. Lu Lin ran his fingertips along the steering wheel, its all-wood texture smooth as if it were delicate skin. After a moment, he said slowly, "The teeth are fine, it's just the dried pineapple that's a bit hard."
Yan Heqing chewed on the second piece of dried pineapple, finding it to be just the right texture—neither too soft nor too hard.
After descending the mountain, it's another half hour's drive to the fishing village.
Lu Lin had been here many times before. He drove straight into the courtyard, where there were already quite a few cars parked at this time.
There's a river nearby, and lots of people fish there. For a small processing fee, the fish restaurant can help you prepare the fish.
The boss recognized Lu Lin and jogged out of his office to personally lead them to a private room on the second floor.
Upon entering the private room, the owner, holding the menu, observed Lu Lin's expression. This was Lu Lin's first time bringing people to dine here.
He was very perceptive and first handed it to Yan Heqing, saying, "Since this is your first time here, I recommend you try our specialty fresh fish hot pot. The fish was caught this morning and is still soaking in the tank before being killed. The vegetables are grown in our own garden, so it's incredibly fresh."
Yan Heqing wasn't picky; he looked at Lu Lin, "Fish hot pot?"
Lu Lin nodded, "Either is fine."
Yan Heqing handed back the menu, "Fish hot pot, please."
The owner left the private room, quietly closed the door, and quickly ran downstairs to personally prepare the fish.
During the break between serving dishes, Yan Heqing went to the restroom. When he returned, Lu Lin followed him out.
Yan Heqing now had time to think about Lin Fengzhi, so he took out his phone.
Lin Fengzhi sent another WeChat this morning.
[Brother? Still not awake?]
The call from the time and the car dealership came around the same time.
Lu Lin should have seen it.
Yan Heqing didn't care; Lu Lin didn't know Lin Fengzhi, let alone Sep12.