Jiang Shiyu pressed his lips together, his movements slowing down even more.
The sun slanted westward, painting the hillside gold.
"Time to eat! Stop picking!"
Chen Shuzhen called out from a distance.
The small round table was piled with dishes: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, pickled radish, and a steaming pot of free-range chicken soup.
Just as they sat down, a figure appeared at the gate.
Zhang Kang stood at the door, wearing a black T-shirt, holding a plastic bag containing fish and pork ribs.
He stared blankly at Jiang Shiyu and Zeng Keqin in the yard.
"Grandma, why did you let them in?"
Chen Shuzhen waved him over. "Kangkang's back! Xiaoyu saw I had trouble moving, so he came specially to help pick tea."
Zhang Kang didn't move. His eyes swirled with complex emotions.
"Don't just stand there. Come eat together."
Zhang Kang placed the fish in a basin of water by the kitchen door, then picked up a small stool and sat beside Chen Shuzhen.
"Look at Xiaoyu, coming to see me every now and then. You, on the other hand, haven't been back for months." Chen Shuzhen put a piece of food on his plate, her tone filled with concern. "You've lost weight again."
Zhang Kang pressed his lips together and lowered his head.
"Kangkang, listen to Grandma. That matter from five years ago... it's time to let it go. You can't avoid home forever. You can hate anyone, but you can't hate Grandma."
Zhang Kang clenched his chopsticks. After a long while, he said, "Grandma... I don't hate you."
"That's good. Eat now. Young lady, try my cooking."
Chen Shuzhen put a piece of egg on Zeng Keqin's plate.
Zeng Keqin quickly held out her bowl to receive it. "Thank you, Grandma."
The atmosphere at the table gradually eased. Chen Shuzhen chatted about village gossip while piling their plates with food, afraid they might not get enough.
After lunch, Zeng Keqin voluntarily helped Chen Shuzhen wash the dishes.
"Young lady, how did you and Xiaoyu meet?"
Zeng Keqin thought for a moment. "We met by accident."
"Don't let his flippant demeanor fool you. He has a good heart. Ever since Kangkang went to prison, he's been taking care of me. The fridge, the stove, even the leaky roof—he fixed all of them. Kangkang doesn't understand him. He thinks Xiaoyu is just trying to make up for what he owes us. But actually, it's us who owe him. If Xiaoyu's parents hadn't helped, Kangkang would have been in jail for who knows how many more years. I've explained it to him, but he won't listen. He thinks I'm partial, so he comes back less often."
"Girl, I already consider Xiaoyu as half my grandson. The fact that he brought you here means he trusts you. If you don't mind an old woman like me, feel free to visit whenever you have time."
Zeng Keqin nodded gently. "Thank you, Grandma. My name is Zeng Keqin. You can call me Xiaoqin or Qinqin."
"Alright, Qinqin."
They came out of the kitchen. In the yard, Jiang Shiyu and Zhang Kang were sitting, ignoring each other. But the fact that they could sit together was already a good sign of reconciliation.
After saying goodbye to Chen Shuzhen and Zhang Kang, the car drove out of the village and onto the country road.
Zeng Keqin leaned back in her seat, looking at the fields outside. The warm sunlight caressed her, and with the day's fatigue, drowsiness soon overtook her. She closed her eyes, half-asleep.
When the car stopped at the school's North Gate, it was already dark.
Jiang Shiyu turned off the engine and looked at the passenger seat.
Zeng Keqin was still asleep, her head tilted toward the window, breathing steadily.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on her profile. Her hair, like seaweed, spread over her shoulders, a few strands quivering slightly with each breath.
Suddenly, she frowned and shivered.
Jiang Shiyu thought she was cold, so he reached over to the back seat and grabbed a black jacket.
Just as he was about to drape it over her, her eyelids fluttered.
Then she opened her eyes.
Their eyes met.
Jiang Shiyu's hand froze in mid-air.
Zeng Keqin was startled for a moment, then spoke softly, "Are we here?"
Jiang Shiyu withdrew his hand and looked ahead. "Just arrived. I saw you were still sleeping, so I didn't wake you."
Zeng Keqin straightened up, recalling what Chen Shuzhen had said in the kitchen.
"Trust," "friend."
These unfamiliar words flooded back into her mind, forming a clear realization.
"Jiang Shiyu."
He met her gaze.
"I have something to tell you."
Author's note: I was held up yesterday and posted late. Today I'm updating earlier. Thank you, my little angels, for your support!