Chapter 34: Are You a Lolicon?

The two figures slowly descended as the motion-sensor lights in the stairwell flickered off one by one from top to bottom.

First came the metallic spring sound, then the rusty hinges began to turn.

Yezhe pushed open the heavy Apartment Block door.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm.” Responding to Yezhe, Yudong stepped out as well.

One after the other, they crossed the threshold.

Yezhe retracted his hand from blocking the Iron Door and followed Yudong toward the District Gate.

Under the warm yellow streetlights, their shadows stretched long and thin.

The autumn wind brushed past them from time to time.

The season’s large temperature difference between day and night was teaching Yudong a hard lesson—the combination of a Sweater and Jacket was clearly not enough for the near-freezing air outside.

Usually strong-willed, the girl now appeared so delicate in the face of nature, shivering from time to time.

When she pulled her clothes tighter again, Yezhe, trailing behind, couldn’t watch any longer. He called out to Yudong and, as he did, took off his own Jacket to hand it to her.

“Aren’t you cold?”

The girl’s gaze fell on the Jacket, still faintly warm from his body. Her fingertips hovered in midair, hesitant to reach out.

“I can manage. But look at you, freezing like this and saying nothing.”

Yudong’s hesitation didn’t escape the boy’s notice, but he chose to ignore it.

“We’ll be upstairs soon, it’s fine….”

“Enough. Just put it on. Don’t catch a cold for nothing.”

Not waiting to see whether Yudong would accept or refuse, Yezhe simply unfolded the Jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“Ah….”

Seeing Yezhe act so directly, Yudong didn’t resist further.

She hooked the collar with her fingers, wrapping herself up tighter, then reached out to straighten the loose hem.

The warmth, still carrying the boy’s scent, gradually enveloped her, and before she knew it, her face was flushed.

“Sss… It was so warm during the day though.”

They hadn’t walked more than a few steps when another gust of wind swept by.

Left with only a long-sleeved shirt, Yezhe tried to scrunch his neck to resist the chill but failed; forced by the cold, he stomped his feet a few times.

“Why don’t you take it back?”

Seeing him like this, Yudong felt a pang of guilt.

She grasped the Jacket on her shoulders, ready to return it to Yezhe.

If her comfort meant the boy suffered, she’d rather bear it herself…

“Even if you toss the tonic, I still don’t want it.”

His words ended with a playful smile, but the firmness in his tone made it clear he wouldn’t let her refuse.

“You…”

Yudong was at a loss for words.

She’d wanted to insist he wear it, but seeing that unconcerned smile on his face, she suddenly didn’t know what to say.

“By the way, don’t you live nearby? I always thought you could walk right home from the bus stop. Didn’t expect the route to be so winding.”

Obviously, Yezhe didn’t want to argue over a Jacket, so he took the chance to change the subject while Yudong was speechless.

“It’s not bad… If you take the detour, you just have to wake up earlier, and it’s not expensive here either.”

“Yeah… That’s true, these old Residential Buildings… Cheap.”

Yezhe replied, his gaze sweeping over the rundown Residential Building beside them.

As if reminded of something, the smile at his lips faded and his tone lost its earlier brightness, turning more somber.

“Yeah… If I didn’t live here, I’d really have nowhere else to go…”

Yudong seemed to be affected by his mood; her words grew melancholy too.

“Mm… Mm? What do you mean?”

Yezhe clearly hadn’t expected her to say that.

He looked surprised, confusion flickering in his eyes.

“This place belongs to a Relative. After they had money, they moved to the Capital District… They wanted to sell it at first.”

As she spoke, Yudong stopped and glanced back at the nearby Residential Building.

“But the Elder in the Family couldn’t bear to sell, and they wouldn’t rent it to outsiders, so they let me take care of it for now.”

“Besides, I couldn’t afford to rent such a big place anyway…”

“But I really should thank them. They know my Family’s situation and never charge me rent—just utilities every month.”

“That’s true. Saves you quite a bit…”

Listening to Yudong, Yezhe didn’t say much, just quietly responded along with her words.

“Mm…”

After that, silence fell between them.

Only the howling autumn wind whistled down the narrow alley.

They walked side by side, their steps muffled against concrete cracked to reveal the Stone underneath, shadows sometimes swallowed by darkness, sometimes stretched thin under the dim streetlights.

When they finally reached the rusty iron gate at the District Gate, Yudong seemed to make a huge decision and suddenly grabbed Yezhe’s wrist.

“Tonight… Will you stay with me? Eat with me…”

She lowered her head so far her gaze stayed locked on his wrist, her voice trembling…

“As for sleeping, I’ll make up a bed for you. As long as you’re with me, in the same home… that’s enough.”

She slowed her breathing on purpose, forced her lips to turn downward, squeezed out a few tears, and did her best to look pitiable.

…

As long as she could make him stay… Once inside, she’d find a way to get him drunk… Quench a little thirst tonight… Then step by step, she’d make him unable to leave her…

Such crazy thoughts had never left Yudong’s mind.

If anything, they’d long since taken root, impossible to pull out…

A sly glint flickered in her lowered eyes, though her face stayed soft and fragile. Her grip on Yezhe’s wrist tightened.

“I’m standing right here, where could I run? What are you thinking?”

Yezhe turned and looked at Yudong’s slender figure, sighing helplessly, a teasing note in his voice. As for her true intentions… how could he have guessed?

“Then… thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Besides, it’s so late, Liuyin and I can’t really go back anyway. If we hadn’t bought so much today, I might’ve had enough for a cab home.”

Yezhe shrugged.

He meant to sound a little helpless, but he couldn’t quite hide his smile.

“…Weren’t you the one who stood me up? And now the cake’s nowhere to be seen.”

“Ah, that…”

Hearing Yudong bring up old scores, the boy raised his hand to ruffle his messy hair, then glanced away guiltily.

“Aiya, come on, let’s go. If we’re any slower, the whole pot will be cold.”

To save his wallet, Yezhe changed the subject again, joking as they entered the Bing Shop at the District Gate.

“Auntie, two big Steamed Buns please.”

Yudong lifted the curtain and called out to the shop, her voice unusually clear in the small space.

“Hey! Coming!”

No sooner had she spoken than an older Auntie in a Blue Apron, stained with oil, hurried out from the kitchen, responding to Yudong with a smile and hands still dusted in white flour.

She quickly lifted the white cloth from the table, unleashing a wave of wheat fragrance.

But the Steamed Buns had long cooled, their warmth faded since leaving the oven.

With practiced hands, she pulled a Plastic Bag from the wall, used tongs to pick out two big Steamed Buns, put them inside, tied up the bag, and handed it to Yudong.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

As she spoke, Yudong took out her phone and scanned the QR code on the table.

A few seconds later, the payment notification chimed.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

“Come again next time!”

“Mm, goodbye Auntie.”

After saying goodbye, Yudong led Yezhe out of the Bing Shop.

A few steps later, Yudong suddenly turned her head toward Yezhe, her pace slowing, a shadow darkening her eyes.

“So… what exactly is your relationship with Liuyin?”