Li Xun’s saved his hair that approach till now.

When she noticed the surprising colour of it, Li Lan truly felt a heat wash over her. All issues stated and performed, he’d dyed his hair with cash he borrowed from her. Although the connection wasn’t precisely robust, and although Li Xun hadn’t given her a single phrase of thanks… This “secret” that nobody else knew of moved Li Lan in a approach she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

Li Xun’s tough childhood made him mature early, and it additionally made him very cautious. However irrespective of how he matured, he was nonetheless a toddler; he wanted others’ concern. Steadily, he began to just accept Li Lan’s care and concern, although he would by no means admit as a lot.

The times handed, one after the other, and Li Lan realized that, as Li Xun grew up, the as soon as calm days turned chaotic.

Li Xun usually left dwelling, although for brief durations at a time. The household had been busy making ready for Li Lan’s eldest brother’s marriage ceremony, in order that they didn’t have time to fret about Li Xun. Li Lan’s mom truly felt it was higher if he left; there could be one much less mouth to feed that approach.

Afterward, not solely did Li Xun go away, be introduced Li Lan with him. Li Lan was a timid individual, so she by no means dared to go away on a whim. Each time, Li Xun needed to drag her out in opposition to her will.

The attraction of the town was certainly nice. At the same time as Li Lan trembled with concern, she was drawn by the dazzling world and its temptations. As soon as, Li Xun had ready a protracted whereas for his or her journey. Li Lan would ask him about it, however he by no means gave a touch about it. Later, Li Lan discovered that he was taking her to a live performance.

Li Lan was surprised. It was the band that Li Xun’s mom usually let her take heed to. Li Lan didn’t dare to consider her eyes. She couldn’t enter the live performance enviornment in any respect. Li Xun needed to drag and push her in.

The complete live performance really felt like a dream. The thrilling and upbeat music pounded in her ears, and it felt like a fantasy had turned actual. She saved asking Li Xun the place he obtained the cash, however he simply advised her to not fear about it.

On the finish of the live performance, Li Lan was standing on the entrance to the live performance venue when she noticed Li Xun speaking to a different boy. He was a bit older than Li Xun, and from his clothes and the way in which he carried himself, the 2 boys have been from completley totally different walks of life.

After they spoke briefly, the boy obtained right into a small automotive and left. However earlier than he did, he turned again and shouted, “Don’t neglect the examination time!”

After that, Li Xun introduced her to a small restaurant close to the live performance enviornment. As Li Lan thought over the great efficiency, Li Xun advised her, “I’m leaving quickly.” Li Lan had thought that “leaving” could be like what he was already doing, often staying out to play earlier than sneaking in again dwelling. So, she simply nodded.

It wasn’t till afterward that Li Lan understood what he meant by “go away.” And not using a second thought, she rejected the thought. She grabbed onto him, making an attempt to carry him again from doing this death-seeking factor. She knew that their household had some issues, however at the very least, it was one thing to dam the wind and rain. It was one thing that you possibly can depend upon.

Li Xun talked to her about it as soon as. He advised her that he occurred to fulfill some folks within the metropolis, and their homes had quite a lot of new and attention-grabbing issues.

“Are you aware about computer systems?” Li Xun requested. “Their homes have these actually skinny computer systems.”

When Li Xun spoke about these new issues, his eyes lit up. Li Lan didn’t know a lot about them, and since Li Xun was talking so shortly from pleasure, she had a tough time understanding what he was occurring about.

However she did hear the tip of his discuss—”I would like these issues too, but when I keep right here, I’ll by no means have them.”

That was the primary time that he advised her what he was considering and what he wished. However Li Lan couldn’t settle for it. She didn’t know what he was speaking about. All she knew was that her little brother was only a teenaged child. If he left dwelling, he wouldn’t be capable to survive.

Li Xun tried to purpose together with her, however Li Lan completely refused to pay attention. She wasn’t as articulate as he was, and she or he wasn’t good at telling tales. No matter what Li Xun stated, she would merely return with a “No. Simply, no.”

In the long run, Li Xun obtained offended and had a giant combat with Li Lan. He stated some hurtful issues, which made her really feel horrible and offended.

Li Lan obtained sick. What shocked her was that the complete time she was sick, Li Xun didn’t go away her aspect. The sick Li Lan dreamt of Li Xun’s mom and her ultimate phrases earlier than dying.

Li Lan couldn’t bear to see Li Xun go away. Generally she felt that, even when she had her personal youngsters later, she won’t love them greater than she liked her little brother. Although her mind wasn’t something nice, for some purpose, she remembered very clearly each phrase and each element they spoke about.

However she additionally knew that she was a part of “them.”

When Li Lan obtained higher, she stole a few of her father’s alcohol cash and advised Li Xun to go away that evening and by no means come again.

Earlier than he left, he advised her one thing. “I’ll pay you again sooner or later.”

—

Her espresso was already chilly, and the server had stopped by as effectively.

Zhu Yun was considering. She recalled Ren Di’s phrases—He has to earn cash to repay his debt.

What debt?

The cash Li Lan spent on Li Xun was hardly something. So when he spoke a couple of debt, that will need to have been an emotional debt.

Zhu Yun regarded over at Li Lan, trembling earlier than her. She was a typical individual whose liveliness had been rubbed away by life.

“Really, I knew from the very starting that he would depart,” Li Lan murmured. “He hated our household. He hated us to dying.”

Zhu Yun didn’t say something, and Li Lan quietly continued, “I by no means wished him to return any cash to me. However now that my father’s gone, my mom can’t get away from bed, and my brother’s sick. We don’t come up with the money for for the hospital payments. My mother compelled me to ask him for cash… I had no selection.” Li Lan lowered her head in a daze. “My household turning out this fashion should be retribution.”

Zhu Yun checked out this skinny lady. She’d had a lifetime’s price of struggling. The suffocation and exhaustion of her life confirmed by means of. Even her ache appeared sluggish and uninteresting.

Li Lan rubbed her face. “I’m sorry. I simply stated all this nonsense…”

Zhu Yun shook her head.

Li Lan quietly stated, “Nobody at dwelling desires to take heed to these things.”

“Possibly he doesn’t hate you that a lot,” Zhu Yun all of a sudden stated.

Li Lan replied, “You don’t know him. You don’t perceive him.”

Zhu Yun silently thought to herself that, perhaps she understood only a tiny bit…

Li Xun was very proud, even to the extent that he was prejudiced. Usually instances, he didn’t converse out his true ideas. He would by no means be threatened by anybody, and nobody may power him to do what he didn’t wish to do. If he actually hated her, it doesn’t matter what methods Li Lan pulled, she wouldn’t be capable to get any cash from him.

Moreover, he spent a lot each month, and he supported a money-losing band…

After her story, Zhu Yun understood quite a lot of issues.

All hearts wanted comfort.

“Thanks for listening to me.” Li Lan couldn’t consider any type of present. She thought left and proper, and quietly stated, “I-I’ll present you my brother.”

!?

Zhu Yun had been deep in considered moral issues, and when she heard Li Lan, she practically jumped out of her seat.

Li Lan pulled out a laminated photograph from her bag. It regarded moderately outdated, and the colours have been light. “That is our solely household photograph. We took it at New 12 months’s one 12 months. Look…”

Li Lan pointed for Zhu Yun to see, however she didn’t actually need it identified. The second Li Lan pulled out the photograph, Zhu Yun’s eyes had already landed on somebody.

“How outdated was your brother right here?”

“9.”

Zhu Yun took a deep breath. How cute…

The kid Li Xun had been very skinny, however his bone construction was good. His face was taut, a faint compelled smile on his lips. That unyielding and conceited character may even be seen when he was so younger.

Zhu Yun practically forgot to blink. She saved staring and staring on the photograph, as if it meant she’d be capable to add ten years to their relationship.

Within the photograph, Li Xun regarded lonely. He stayed a bit aways from everybody else, and solely Li Lan stood behind him.

“Your little brother likes you a large number, proper?” Zhu Yun stated.

Li Lan shook her head. “He likes women like his mother.”

Zhu Yun glanced at Li Lan, silent.

Awhile later, as curfew approached, Zhu Yun went to the counter to pay. When she returned to their desk, Li Lan stated, “Can I preserve sitting right here?”

Zhu Yun paused after which stated, “Certain.”

Earlier than leaving, she secretly purchased Li Lan a steak set meal. She advised the waiter, “If she asks, inform her it’s a present from the shop.”

After leaving the espresso store, Zhu Yun saved considering again to the dialog she’d simply had. She headed again to the challenge base, and when she pushed open the door, she noticed Gao Jianhong.

It was then that she lastly realized. It appeared that she’d stood him up.

Zhu Yun shortly apologized, “Sorry, I—”

“It’s advantageous.” Gao Jianhong packed away the books on his desk. “I simply spoke to Wu Mengxing a bit, and he appeared fairly within the competitors. We should always speak about it collectively tomorrow.”

Zhu Yun nodded, and Gao Jianhong stood up. He stated, “Then, I’ll head out first.”

“The place’s Li Xun?”

“He simply stepped out, however he must be again quickly.”

After Gao Jianhong left, Zhu Yun was the one individual within the challenge base. Zhu Yun closed the door and walked over to Li Xun’s seat. She opened up the bag on his desk, the one branded with the downtown stadium’s title.

As she’d anticipated, there have been live performance tickets for the weekend inside.

He was going to take her?

Simply then, she heard a sound from the hallway. Zhu Yun put the bag again in its unique place.

When Li Xun noticed Zhu Yun on his return, he raised his brows. “What are you doing right here?”

Zhu Yun shook her head. “Nothing. I simply must tidy up, after which I’m leaving.”

Li Xun sat down in his seat, however he didn’t activate his laptop. As an alternative, he requested Zhu Yun, “The place have been you this night?”

Zhu Yun’s coronary heart skipped a beat. She advised herself to settle down. “I had one thing to do, so I went out a bit.”

“Actually.”

“Mmh.”

With a peaceful face, Zhu Yun grabbed two books on her desk and put them in her bag. Then she noticed Li Xun wave her over. Zhu Yun took two steps in direction of him, and Li Xun leaned over.

She stood there, and he sat there. Together with his face turned like that, his ear practically touched her chest.

……

!??!?!?!?!?!?!?

Because the climate warmed, her clothes had gotten thinner. With such a skinny layer of cotton between them, Zhu Yun may clearly really feel the contours of Li Xun’s cheek.

Her bra felt a bit tight.

A burst of heat air hit her again, spreading throughout her limbs and her ears.

She couldn’t step again as a result of Li Xun had his proper hand on her waist. She practically couldn’t breathe anymore. What was one plus one equal to once more…

Simply as Zhu Yun felt like she was going to faint, Li Xun regarded up. He didn’t straighten up, however as a substitute simply regarded up from chest-level, his eyes sweeping over her. His brows raised barely, as if he have been smiling, however not fairly. “Together with your coronary heart beating this quick, you should be mendacity.”

Zhu Yun’s entire physique felt numb.

That’s positively not why my coronary heart is thrashing so quick.