Chapter 9: Only Near Dusk

The winter sunlight wasn’t dazzling, shining softly through the window with a warm glow.

Luo Shisi pulled a snack cart over and placed it beside him. The cart had four small wheels and three tiers of pastries in total pastries on the top, dried fruits in the middle, and assorted snacks at the bottom.

“Here~ all for you…”

Lin Chao stared blankly at the cart full of snacks, his mouth slightly agape.

“I… I’ll just have a little bit”

These clearly weren’t cheap some packages even had English text, probably imported goods. And these must be snacks she liked too… otherwise she wouldn’t have stocked so many.

“Just eat,” Luo Shisi curled her lips, ruffling his hair firmly before placing two osmanthus cakes in his hand and turning to leave. “I’m going out for a bit, be right back. Eat to your heart’s content.”

Looking at the osmanthus cakes in his hand, Lin Chao’s stomach involuntarily rumbled. He hadn’t eaten since morning and was absolutely starving.

The translucent osmanthus cakes were wrapped in thin packaging, with fragmented osmanthus flowers scattered across the surface. Just looking at them made him imagine their delicate fragrance, the rich aroma practically wafting through the air.

Gazing at the osmanthus cakes, Lin Chao slowly swallowed but ultimately set them down, picking up his cup instead. The water was still scalding hot, so he only dared take a small sip… Even so, he got burned, his tongue tingling with numbness. He had to stick out his tongue and inhale air to cool it down slightly.

When Luo Shisi returned carrying a glass, she found him sticking out his tongue like a little puppy.

The boy’s skin was pale, his hair fine and soft, his eyes like black obsidian, his lips pink, and even his tongue was pink.

Luo Shisi forced herself to look away from the boy.

She walked in smiling, took his cup, added some cool water, and returned it to him: “Silly, didn’t you know how to adjust the temperature?”

When Lin Chao looked up and saw Luo Shisi’s teasing eyes, he finally realized what he had been doing and lowered his head in embarrassment to avoid her gaze.

“Just like a puppy.”

Luo Shisi crouched opposite him, elbows propped on the coffee table, unwrapped an osmanthus cake and handed it to him: “Why aren’t you eating?” Instead of eating, he’d been struggling with the lemon water.

Lin Chao bit his lip, his eyes unavoidably welling up with reflexive tears. He said: “I was waiting for you to come back… to eat together. You haven’t eaten anything either.”

As he spoke, he took the osmanthus cake from Luo Shisi’s hand, broke it in two with both hands, and offered the larger half in his right hand to her: “This piece is for you.” This bigger piece should be for her.

Crouching opposite the boy, watching his pure and lively eyes, Luo Shisi found herself momentarily speechless, various emotions surging within her heart.

They were touched, there was sadness, and some happiness.

Such a good child, such an endearing child how could those bastards bear to bully him?

If he had been born into her family, not just her, but the entire family would have cherished him dearly, never letting anyone lay a finger on him.

In the afternoon, Luo Shisi brought him to play mini-games on her computer games like Forest Ice and Fire, Dress-up Kirby Doll, Human: Fall Flat and similar titles.

Time passed quickly. Though Lin Chao was initially somewhat nervous, he gradually relaxed completely until the room was filled with the sound of keyboard clicks and Luo Shisi’s hearty laughter.

Lin Chao rarely played two-player games. He didn’t have many friends and usually played alone even when gaming.

While playing co-op games with Luo Shisi, tempers would occasionally flare, leading to arguments between them, but it was still a distinctly different experience.

Joy accumulated in his heart like colorful bubbles, rising step by step.

As evening approached, Luo Shisi walked Lin Chao home. When they stepped out, they happened to run into his aunt He Tan, He Qing’s cousin.

She had just returned by car with her daughter.

As Luo Shisi and Lin Chao exited, they coincidentally encountered them getting out of the vehicle.

He Qing was at the doorway greeting them, exchanging pleasantries.

Luo Shisi merely glanced at their way before striding off with a swagger, showing no intention of acknowledging them.

Lin Chao only took a brief look. Seeing Luo Shisi remain silent and treat them like strangers, he followed suit and turned away, pretending not to notice.

He always knew how to read the room and wouldn’t ask unnecessary questions.

But He Qing didn’t care what tantrum she was throwing. Seeing her pass by, she grabbed Luo Shisi by the ear and dragged her over: “Say hello to your aunt.”

Luo Shisi yelped in pain from the pull but kept a stern face: “I won’t…”

The woman opposite was well-dressed with short hair, wearing glasses and a suit. She had a slender figure and carried herself like a polished professional, bearing some resemblance to He Qing.

Seeing her resistance, the woman adjusted her shirt collar and smiled: “Ah Qing… forget it, let her be. Though I don’t know why she holds a grudge against me, she’s still young. No need to strain relationships.”

Luo Shisi covered her ear with one hand and sneered coldly at her: “Do I need to spell out what you’ve done?”

“You’re not even worth mmph!”

He Qing didn’t let her continue, calmly covering her mouth and pushing her aside: “Fine, skip the greetings then. Go see your friend’s home.”

Luo Shisi stormed off immediately, full of hostility: “As if anyone wants to breathe the same air as her…”

But when she turned around, she saw He Shiqing He Tan’s daughter standing beside Lin Chao, already reaching out to hand him something with a nauseating expression on her face.

The boy stood frozen in place, not even dodging.

Luo Shisi strode over in one step and slapped He Shiqing’s hand away.

Smack! An exceptionally sharp sound.

He Shiqing stared at her instantly reddened hand, her expression flickering briefly before returning to normal. She lowered her hand, stuffed it in her pocket, and looked up at Luo Shisi haughtily, rubbing the back of her hand inside her pants while scoffing: “Is this your idea of manners?”

It hurts! Since when Luo Shisi hit so hard!

She wore her hair half-up, dressed in a white shirt with a plaid suspender skirt. Her collar and cuffs were adorned with intricate lace, and a delicate brooch was pinned to her chest.

She looked like aristocracy straight out of Europe.

The sunset dyed half the sky crimson. Her Shiqing’s frilly sleeves fluttered in the north wind as she maintained her haughty demeanor.

Luo Shisi stood protectively in front of Lin Chao, facing He Shiqing directly. She scrutinized her from head to toe until He Shiqing grew visibly uncomfortable.

A vein bulged on He Shiqing’s forehead before she finally snapped: “Are you insane?”

Luo Shisi scoffed, casually pulled out two tissues, and with a cold expression, shoved them forcefully into her nostrils: “Stop pretending when it’s this cold out.”

He Shiqing’s face instantly darkened. Turning her head, she saw Lin Chao’s small head peeking out sideways from behind Luo Shisi’s shoulder, his eyes deer-like as he pointed to his own philtrum.

He Shiqing subconsciously licked it… salty.

Her complexion gradually shifted darkness tinged with white, white tinged with gray, a murky grayish-purple mess.

How humiliating caught sniffling from the cold in front of her rival.

While walking, Luo Shisi drilled a series of safety awareness tips into Lin Chao:

#Which body parts shouldn’t be casually touched by others#

#Three techniques to guard against human traffickers#

#Ten signs to identify toxic women#

Lin Chao listened quietly the whole time. Only when she finally grew tired of speaking did he smile faintly and say, “Actually… she just wanted to borrow a tissue from me earlier.”

Luo Shisi: “……” It’s a bit awkward.

“Oh still, you need to protect yourself,” she said stiffly.

Lin Chao nodded vigorously. “Mm!”

When they reached the entrance, Lin Chao bid her goodbye. Just as he turned to leave, she grabbed his elbow. Puzzled, he glanced back.

He watched as Luo Shisi pulled a small pack of spicy strips from her coat and stuffed it into his hand. He was about to thank her when she interrupted.

Her coat pocket seemed to transform into Doraemon’s magic pouch, producing an endless stream of snacks.

As she dug them out, she muttered, placing them one by one into his hands.

“This one… this one… and this one…”

The orange glow of the setting sun fell beside them, casting long shadows on the ground.

Lin Chao looked at the serious girl, his hands now overflowing with snacks, and he couldn’t help but smile.

He tilted his head slightly, avoiding her gaze, and murmured in a low voice, “Can we… play together again tomorrow?”

The sunset blurred his silhouette and hid his flushed ears.

For him, making such an invitation felt as difficult as performing a New Year’s skit for the elderly.

But he truly wanted… to be a little closer to her.

Luo Shisi paused her snack-distributing. After a moment, she met his gaze, a hint of laughter sparkling in her eyes. “It’s a deal.”