Yan Heqing did not reply.
He returned to the café, and before long, his shift was over. The café did not sell cakes left over from the day before, and employees could buy any unsold cakes at half price.
Yan Heqing bought three doughnuts and a small square cream cake.
The cream cake was packed separately.
After changing back into his own clothes, Yan Heqing picked up his things and left the café.
By five, it was completely dark. Streetlights glowed along the road, heavy snow drifted down, and the ground was wet.
The snow today was wet, the flakes melting before they reached the ground. Yan Heqing opened his umbrella, but instead of going to the subway, he went to the Lu Group next door.
When he reached the Lu Group building, he stopped by the revolving doors, folded his umbrella, and waited quietly.
It was time to leave work, and people kept coming and going. Gradually, their numbers dwindled.
A long time passed before another elevator stopped. The doors opened, and Lu Lin walked out.
At the same time, Yan Heqing saw the Maybach slowly pull up and stop at the entrance.
Yan Heqing turned slightly, making out Lu Lin's figure through the revolving glass doors.
Yan Heqing stepped forward. Once Lu Lin came out, he spoke first.
"Mr. Lu."
Lu Lin had already noticed Yan Heqing. He stopped, his gaze settling on Yan Heqing's face.
Yan Heqing offered him the cream cake. "I didn't get the chance at the hospital last time. I didn't expect to run into you here. This cake tastes quite good. Thank you for saving me last time."
Lu Lin did not take it. "I remember your financial situation wasn't very good."
Yan Heqing gave a faint smile. "I can still afford to treat you to a cake." Then he added, "Besides, this cake was half price. Of course, it's still fresh. You don't need to worry about that."
It was the first time Lu Lin had received a half-price cake. His dark eyes flickered, but he accepted it in the end. "Thank you."
Yan Heqing dipped his head slightly. "Goodbye. I wish you well."
He left by the other side, opened his umbrella, and walked into the night.
Lu Lin watched him walk away, then withdrew his gaze and got into the car.
As the car slowly set off, Lu Lin opened the cardboard box. Inside was an ordinary little cream cake.
Lu Lin did not like sweets and never touched cream cakes, but he picked up the spoon and scooped up a bite. The cream was lightly sweet, and the cake was soft and delicate.
Just as the boy had said, it tasted good.
Meanwhile, Zhang Qing called out to Yan Heqing. "Xiao Yan, are you going to the subway station? I didn't bring an umbrella. Let me walk with you."
Zhang Qing held her bag over her head with both hands. Snow had fallen on her coat, leaving it visibly wet, and she was distressed over it. She had only just bought this coat and was saving it to wear back to her hometown for the New Year.
Yan Heqing stopped and made room beneath half his umbrella.
Zhang Qing happily ran under it. "Thank you!"
They walked side by side toward the subway station, the umbrella tilted slightly toward Zhang Qing.
Zhang Qing noticed and felt deeply regretful. What a wonderful boy. If only he were her boyfriend!
But Zhang Qing knew she had no chance with him.
Yan Heqing was easy to get along with, humble and polite to everyone, but that was all. The indifference and distance that ran through his bones kept anyone from truly getting close to him.
Zhang Qing did not start another conversation along the way. They walked quietly to the subway entrance before she took a packet of cream from her bag. "The free pet cream cups from the café. There was loads left, and it would only get thrown in the bin if it stayed there. Aren't there lots of stray cats in your neighborhood? Take it and feed them. Don't let it go to waste."
Yan Heqing accepted it and put it in the bag with the doughnuts. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Zhang Qing smiled brightly and bounded out from under the umbrella in a few steps. "I'm off. See you tomorrow."
After waving, Zhang Qing ran down to catch the subway, her footsteps clattering.
Yan Heqing lowered his umbrella, gently shook the water off toward the ground, then folded it and entered the subway.
He had to transfer between two lines to get home. By the time Yan Heqing arrived, it was almost seven.
He delivered the cream to the stray cats before going home.
"Cough, cough."
He had not fully recovered from falling into the water last time, and Yan Heqing still coughed now and then.
He took off his coat, changed his shoes, and walked over to the coffee table. A bottle of loquat syrup sat on it, already two-thirds empty.
Yan Heqing fetched a spoon, poured out a spoonful, and swallowed it. His throat felt much better afterward, and he went to the kitchen to make dinner.
There were vegetables in the fridge that he had bought yesterday. Yan Heqing picked out a few ingredients and made three-delicacy soup, stir-fried pork slices with sweet peppers, and steamed eggs.
Not long after he sat down to eat, someone knocked at the door.
Yan Heqing quickly ate a few more mouthfuls, then got up to answer it.
When the door opened, Lin Fengzhi stood outside. After a week apart, Lin Fengzhi seemed much more at ease. His gaze lingered on the canned cat food. "Is this cat food yours?"
"No." Yan Heqing stepped aside. "Come in."
Lin Fengzhi came inside and changed his shoes. Seeing the food still laid out on the coffee table, he was very surprised. "You're only eating now?"
It was already eight...
"Yes, I just got back from work." Yan Heqing paused and asked, "Would you like a bowl too?"
Lin Fengzhi was still shocked that Yan Heqing was working part-time. At the question, he hurriedly shook his head. "I've eaten. No, thanks."
He liked king crab, and Lin Fengyi had brought a whole crate home today. He had stuffed himself and was still full.
Yan Heqing did not insist. He nodded. "Then I'll eat first." He sat down and continued eating.
Lin Fengzhi did not see a stool. After some thought, he sat down a little distance from Yan Heqing. Feeling awkward, he took the initiative to find something to talk about. "You've started working?"
"Yes. I've taken on a few part-time jobs."
A few? Lin Fengzhi's eyelid twitched. He studied photography, and his classmates all came from fairly well-off families. None of them worked part-time, let alone several jobs.
"Are you really short of money?" Lin Fengzhi regretted it as soon as he asked.
What if... Yan Heqing said he was? Should he give him money or not?
Fortunately, Yan Heqing did not say he was short of money. "I'm saving up for the fees. I'm getting my driver's license over the break."
Lin Fengzhi breathed a sigh of relief and stole a glance at Yan Heqing.
After being beaten for no apparent reason last time, he had thought it over once he got home and more or less guessed that the couple who had hit him had mistaken him for Yan Heqing.
That couple was very likely Yan Heqing's adoptive parents.
It was the first time Lin Fengzhi had ever seen such an uncivilized man, so ready to resort to violence.