Chapter 56#
During the Spring Festival, the welfare institute organized the children to make dumplings.
Oddly shaped dumplings went into the pot, boiling into a pot of dumplings in all sorts of postures. Yan Heqing arrived just in time.
After the children finished eating and left, he sat across from Aunt Zhang with a plate of dumplings.
Aunt Zhang had been waiting for him, saying with a smile, “I didn’t expect you to come today; you’ve been a huge help again.”
Yan Heqing smiled, “This is my job.”
“That’s what you say, but you don’t take welfare benefits, nor do you get a salary, just exchanging for a few credits.” Aunt Zhang put down her chopsticks, “With your ability, where couldn’t you earn these few credits?”
Yan Heqing didn’t reply. He had already obtained two-thirds of what he needed. He lowered his head and bit into a dumpling, suddenly hitting his tooth on something hard. He pulled out a tissue, covered his mouth and spit it out; it was a one-yuan coin.
Seeing this, Aunt Zhang said in surprise, “Good luck, Xiao Yan! You ate this year’s lucky dumpling! You will definitely have great luck this year!”
She then became a bit downcast, remembering Xu Qiaoyin. Last year’s lucky dumpling was eaten by Xu Qiaoyin.
“Xiao Yan, have you contacted Teacher Xu recently?” she asked.
Yan Heqing put down the coin and continued eating dumplings with his head down, “I can’t reach her.”
“Her, she resigned.” Aunt Zhang shook her head with a sigh, “She called me on New Year’s Day. Sigh, I could hear she was in a bad mood. I don’t know what accident happened. She loves children so much…”
It was more than ten years ago. There was a little girl in the welfare institute.
Born with a cleft lip and carrying HIV. Her mother only found out she was infected with HIV by the father. In the argument, the father killed the mother and went to prison.
Before she was a month old, the little girl was sent to the welfare institute.
Normal contact wouldn’t transmit HIV, but most people were still afraid. The little girl was an innocent victim. They were just ordinary people working a job, so they pushed the responsibility of taking care of her onto each other. It was Xu Qiaoyin who took the initiative to care for the little girl and even used all her savings to pay for the little girl’s cleft lip repair surgery.
Aunt Zhang sighed again, “I hadn’t said a few words before she hung up, as if she was afraid of something, sigh…”
Yan Heqing collected the information he wanted and sped up his eating.
On the other side, not long after Lu Lin left the Rainbow Bridge Welfare Institute, Chu Ziyu’s call came in.
Tongue tied, extremely drunk.
“Brother Lu, my brother, I just want to ask you one thing. Your brother, I, am heartbroken. Are you… are you coming or not… If you don’t come, I’ll call you brother. If you come, I’ll call you—”
The phone was snatched away, and next was Xie Yunjie’s voice, with Chu Ziyu’s wailing singing in the background, “I’m about to be tortured to death by him. Don’t know who dumped him, he’s going crazy at home. If you’re free, come over. I’m afraid he’ll blow up his house later; I can’t stop him!”
Lu Lin navigated to Chu Ziyu’s address.
When he arrived, Chu Ziyu had already calmed down, lying on the bed in a tank top and boxers, snoring.
Paper balls were all over the floor. Xie Yunjie coughed a few times, “Don’t imagine things, he was wiping tears and snot…” Suddenly he paused, staring at Lu Lin with burning eyes, “You and Master Xiao Yan, what stage are you at?”
The whole room had been splashed with alcohol by Chu Ziyu; there wasn’t a single spot to sit. Lu Lin turned to leave: “Nothing’s wrong, I’m leaving.”
Xie Yunjie avoided the paper balls and chased after him, “I’m leaving too!”
Xie Yunjie was called over urgently and didn’t drive, hitching a ride back with Lu Lin.
He sat in the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and glimpsed the armrest box open, full of small snacks and chocolates.
Xie Yunjie clicked his tongue, “Looks like things are going well, even the little boyfriend’s snacks are stocked.”
Lu Lin hated snacks.
When they were in school, every Valentine’s Day, his desk drawer was stuffed with chocolates and snacks, all finished off by Xie Yunjie and Chu Ziyu.
Xie Yunjie reached out to grab a handful.
Lu Lin didn’t speak. When starting the car, it jerked. Xie Yunjie was leaning sideways and swayed unexpectedly, falling straight forward. His forehead hit the dashboard, he howled heavily, rubbing his forehead, his smile particularly cheap, “So precious, won’t even let me eat his snacks.”
“Don’t touch his things.” Lu Lin said faintly, “If you want to eat, find a shop and I’ll treat you.”
“Fine, find a shop.” Xie Yunjie sat up straight.
His expression became slightly serious.
His impression of Yan Heqing could be said to be full marks. Just 18 years old working part-time in a bar, yet mixing a good drink; his background must not be simple.
Although he knew that with Lu Lin’s wrist and ability, no one dared to mess with him, as an old friend, he hoped everything was good for Lu Lin.
The seriousness maintained for thirty years was evident in this box of snacks.
It was almost eight o’clock when Yan Heqing returned to his residence.
Stepping onto the stairs, the dim light of the sensor lamp illuminated Lu Muchi.
No cigarette butt this time.
He was holding a cardboard box, looking at Yan Heqing with a complex expression.
This scene was very familiar.
In the original plot, every time Lu Muchi angered Lin Fengzhi and came to apologize and curry favor, he would hold this kind of cardboard box containing different gifts.
Only now, the recipient was him.
Yan Heqing asked calmly, “What are you doing here?”
Lu Muchi gripped the cardboard box tightly, and the suppressed anger erupted, “I fucking waited for you for a day and a night, what do you think I’m doing here!”
Yan Heqing was unperturbed, “I didn’t ask you to wait.”
His breath hitched. Lu Muchi’s facial muscles twitched rapidly. After a moment, he softened, “Yan Heqing, don’t treat me like this, okay? I really don’t know how to treat you anymore.”
“Meow meow meow…”
The kitten cried inside the box. Lu Muchi then remembered he still had a killer move.
He rushed down the stairs in a few steps and uncovered the box like offering a treasure.
It was a Ragdoll, with incredibly pure eye color.
Last night, Lu Muchi went to the pet shop Lin Fengzhi loved most and bought the most expensive cat.
Having not seen Yan Heqing this close for so long, Lu Muchi looked at him almost greedily, his gaze gradually becoming tender, “A gift for you, don’t be angry with me anymore.”
Yan Heqing frowned.
“Take it away.”
Lu Muchi’s smile froze. He was puzzled, “Don’t you like cats?”
“I don’t like them.” Yan Heqing’s voice was cold.
“You feed…” Lu Muchi stopped.
Yan Heqing feeding wild cats didn’t mean he liked cats.
Lu Muchi felt unprecedented frustration.
Even facing Lin Fengzhi, he had never been this frustrated.
Lu Muchi gritted his teeth, “Then throw it away.”
Yan Heqing didn’t fall for it, “Your cat, you have the right to dispose of it.” He said lightly, “Please don’t come looking for me again in the future.”
Lu Muchi’s pupils tightened, “Afraid someone will misunderstand?”
Yan Heqing suddenly looked at him. His light-colored pupils, in the mottled dim light and shadows, appeared a complex deep purple.
Lu Muchi’s heart skipped a beat, and he guiltily avoided the gaze.
Yan Heqing slowly and clearly enunciated, “Lu Muchi, you are truly disgusting.”
He walked past Lu Muchi and went upstairs.
Lu Muchi stood motionless. Hearing the door close, he cursed under his breath.
Came to explain, and messed it up again.
He turned back wanting to follow, but the phone in his pocket vibrated again.
He took it out.
It was Lu Changcheng urging him again.
If he didn’t go back, the bodyguards would come to drag him away.
Lu Muchi had no choice and left reluctantly.
Walking out of the apartment building, a stray cat darted past in front. Lu Muchi suddenly braked.
He understood the reason for Yan Heqing’s anger.
Lin Fengzhi liked cats…
And he had tried to use a cat to coax him!
Lu Muchi felt a surge of irritability. The cat in the box was still meowing. Becoming even more annoyed, he threw it directly to the roadside, got in the car, and sped away.
The taillights disappeared, and a figure walked out of the apartment building again.
Yan Heqing walked to the cardboard box and crouched down. He lifted the lid, and the kitten immediately popped its head out, anxiously licking his palm.
Yan Heqing’s palm had pet treat cream on it.
After the kitten finished eating, Yan Heqing took out a bottle of mineral water from his pocket, unscrewed the cap, poured some water into the cap, and placed it in front of the kitten. The kitten sniffed and slowly extended its tongue to lick the water.
Yan Heqing filmed a video of the kitten drinking water.
He searched for cat and dog adoption platforms in the capital, registered an account, and posted the video.
Many people messaged him privately.
The wind was strong at night, but Yan Heqing didn’t mind. He patiently screened them and finally made an appointment with a local girl who owned a home and had a stable job to pick up the cat the next morning.
Yan Heqing took the cat home temporarily.
The next day, the girl came very early to pick up the cat.
Afraid of encountering a scammer, she brought her friends, three girls in total.
When Yan Heqing opened the door, all three were very surprised. They didn’t expect such a young and beautiful boy!
The girl adopting the cat blushed furiously. She nervously handed over the documents she prepared: her ID card, work ID, and she even brought her property deed.
Yan Heqing smiled politely, didn’t check the girl’s documents, and handed over the box, “I’ve seen your homepage. You started feeding stray cats and dogs a few years ago. I trust you.”
The girl’s eyes lit up instantly. She carefully took the box and nodded vigorously, “Don’t worry, I will definitely take good care of it!”
The girls left happily with the cat.
Yan Heqing closed the door and continued reading.
He read until the afternoon.
Yan Heqing finally put down the book, went into the kitchen to start the rice, changed clothes, and went downstairs to buy groceries.
The small supermarket at the entrance of the community was open.
Yan Heqing chose a few tomatoes, some green leafy vegetables, a bag of heirloom small potatoes which would be very soft and glutinous when cooked, full of potato flavor, and also picked a piece of very good quality beef. He also took a box of mini blueberries and a bag of vacuum-packed fragrant mini pineapples.
Passing by the daily necessities section on his way to pay, Yan Heqing suddenly stopped. After thinking for a few seconds, he changed direction, walked further in, and saw slippers.
There were both men’s and women’s styles.
Yan Heqing picked carefully, and finally took a pair of pure black, largest size men’s slippers.
Back home, Yan Heqing made a rich clear broth beef pot.
He ate two bowls of rice, washed the bowls, and cleaned the kitchen. He studied again until eleven o’clock, then went into the bathroom to take a shower.
After washing his hair and towel-drying it, he changed into loungewear and weighed himself before sleeping.
His weight finally went up.
——
After finishing his work, Lu Lin returned to the Lu family ancestral home after a long absence.
He didn’t go to his room but went to the study.
It was called a study, but it was actually a small library with a very rich collection of books. He walked straight to the innermost row of bookshelves. With his superior height, he easily took down the full set of comics from the top shelf.
Superheroes.
This set of comics was a reward from his grandmother when he ranked first in his grade in elementary school.
He stopped reading comics later, but he kept this set.
A total of 36 books.
Putting them into the prepared cardboard box, Lu Lin carried them out of the study.
Going downstairs to leave, just after changing his shoes, the door opened.
Lu Muchi was supporting Lu Changcheng. Lu Muchi was cracking jokes to make him laugh. Unexpectedly bumping into Lu Lin, Lu Muchi immediately stopped laughing and greeted respectfully, “Hello, Uncle.”
Lu Changcheng saw Lu Lin and “humphed”.
Lu Han was a few steps behind. Seeing Lu Lin was also there when entering the house, he immediately put on a smiling face, “Ah Lin is here too, that’s even better. You should stay tonight, the family is hosting guests tomorrow.”
Lu Changcheng said sarcastically, “He is so busy, how would he have time.”
Lu Han stepped forward to hold Lu Lin, smiling and saying: “Dad is discharged from the hospital. For the meal celebrating his recovery, Ah Lin must make time even if he has none.”
Lu Muchi also just found out about the dinner tomorrow, “Hosting who?”
Lu Han picked and said: “Some family friends, oh, and the Lin family. Aren’t you on good terms with their youngest son?”
At this time, Lu Lin spoke, “What time tomorrow?”