After getting off at the last stop, weaving through several winding cement paths, Yezhe brought Liuyin to a modest bungalow.
He pulled out a key and inserted it into the rusty lock, and together, Yezhe and Liuyin returned to this so-called “Home”.
Actually, it wasn’t so bad—it couldn’t really be called dilapidated, since Yezhe cleaned it regularly.
Even before entering, the young girl was curious about what the place looked like inside.
Now that she was in, she began exploring every corner.
“This Bedroom is a bit plain for you, and it’s not exactly convenient for things like washing your face…”
Looking at the curious girl before him, Yezhe couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.
She could have lived a much better life—no need to endure the cold, no need to suffer beatings or scoldings…
“Big Brother?”
Liuyin’s call broke Yezhe from his thoughts.
“Mm? What’s wrong?”
“Big Brother…aren’t you going to sleep with me?”
Liuyin hugged Yezhe from behind, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
“Hmm?”
Once again, Yezhe was thrown into chaos.
Normally, for work, Yezhe only wore a thin shirt under his thick coat.
He hadn’t expected that this white shirt would become Liuyin’s ultimate weapon at a time like this.
Maybe it was just an innocent gesture from a child, but the warmth and softness pressing against Yezhe’s back felt all too real…
Don’t panic—quick, lust is emptiness, emptiness is form.
He barely managed to calm his excitement.
“After all, you’re a girl, I’m a boy—we shouldn’t be too close…”
Unsatisfied with the answer, Liuyin only hugged Yezhe tighter.
“No…I want to sleep with you.”
Faced with that soft, warm sensation, the reason Yezhe had just regained seemed laughable.
Even the smoothest road will jostle a car if there’s a stone; never mind if there’s a bump.
“You have to let go of me first, I need to plug in the Electric Blanket. Otherwise, you’ll get too cold tonight and you won’t be able to sleep.”
Setting down the comforter in his hands, Yezhe tried to pry Liuyin’s arms away from his waist.
The truth was, under special circumstances, Liuyin’s strength could be surprisingly great.
Although Yezhe was afraid of hurting her and didn’t use much force, logically, a little girl like Liuyin—who often didn’t get enough to eat—shouldn’t be this strong.
But Yezhe’s struggles were totally counterproductive—the grip around his waist only tightened, and Liuyin even squeezed him to the point of discomfort.
“Let go of me first, then I’ll promise you.”
“Hmph, you promise first, then I’ll let go.”
“Big Brother, just sleep with me…”
Now it wasn’t just the softness from before—Liuyin’s face was pressed right against Yezhe’s back.
“Big Brother…please, sleep with me.”
Her breath seeped through his shirt in warm waves on Yezhe’s back.
He thought several times about forcing her arms off, but Yezhe just couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He simply couldn’t get angry with Liuyin.
If he agreed to sleep with her, Yezhe knew he wouldn’t get any sleep tonight; if he refused, Liuyin wouldn’t let go any time soon.
Maybe… just this once, he could be a liar.
With a bang, the door was flung open.
A tremor ran through Liuyin’s arms—she was clearly startled by the sudden intrusion.
“Zhe’er! The store was having a sale so I brought you A Bag of Apples—don’t keep eating junk food all the time, alright!”
The intruder was an old man with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
“Uncle Wang? Thanks a lot.”
“I’ll just leave it here.”
Since he was facing away from the door, Uncle Wang didn’t notice the two small hands still wrapped around Yezhe’s waist.
“I’m off, then.”
Without closing the door, Uncle Wang hurried out.
Wait a minute.
Were there two hands around Yezhe’s waist just now??
Taking a drag from his cigarette, Uncle Wang barged right back into Yezhe’s room.
No way?
“Zhe, where did you pick up a little girl??”
He was so surprised, he even forgot to tap off his cigarette ash.
Like startled kittens, Liuyin and Yezhe backed away together.
“Big Brother…who is he?”
A small head poked out from behind Yezhe’s back, staring intently at Uncle Wang.
“He’s not—not a bad person. Both of you, calm down and let me explain!”
……
“So, you brought a girl home?”
“Mm.”
“And you want to adopt her?”
“Yes.”
“Uncle, can you help look after Liuyin while I’m at work?”
Still clutching Yezhe tightly, Liuyin sat on the Sofa with him in an awkward posture.
Uncle Wang didn’t say a word, just smoked in silence.
Though he was still sturdy in his fifties, he’d always been a bachelor—never had any experience taking care of kids…
Obviously, bringing Liuyin to the Store where Yezhe worked wasn’t realistic.
But if Yezhe left, there’d be no one at Home to watch her.
Though Uncle Wang was reluctant, he couldn’t withstand Yezhe’s repeated, heartfelt pleading.
“Whew.”
With a long exhale, Uncle Wang finally agreed.
“I’ll say this first—I can only promise nothing bad happens to the girl.”
“That’s fine, that’s more than enough. Thank you so much for helping out.”
“I’ll get going, then. You two should get to bed early.”
With another drag of his cigarette, this time Uncle Wang really did leave.
Honestly, Yezhe admired Liuyin’s persistence.
From the moment they got Home until Uncle Wang left, she refused to let go of Yezhe.
“Alright, alright, I’ll sleep with you.”
“Really?!”
“Really, really—now let go, you’re going to squeeze me to death.”
She let go.
Though she did it reluctantly.
“Be good, wash up and get ready for bed.”
“Big Brother has to go to work tomorrow.”
“Oh…”
After changing into his sleepwear, Yezhe decided to find something for Liuyin as well.
He took out a clean short-sleeved shirt from the bottom of the chest. It was a bit big, but Liuyin could wear it.
There was nothing special about this; it was just that Liuyin only had this one clean set of clothes at the moment.
Her old set was probably taken by the Welfare Home Auntie to wash, but in their rush, she hadn’t brought them along.
The new set was a short-sleeved shirt, a jacket, and a pair of long pants.
Even with the Electric Blanket, it would get really cold in the latter half of the night. Yezhe could handle it, but Liuyin might not.
So, Yezhe looked for another piece of clothing for her.
Actually, there was another possibility…
Who knew if Liuyin would end up using Yezhe as a pillow tonight?
Thinking of that, Yezhe shoved the short-sleeved shirt back into the chest and took out a long-sleeved one instead, putting it on Liuyin over the short sleeves.
“All done—let’s go to bed. I’m turning off the lights.”
Throwing open the covers, Liuyin patted the mattress.
“I’m lying down—Big Brother, hurry up and get in.”
He turned off the Electric Blanket. This time, Liuyin really was sleeping with Yezhe.
Just as he’d feared, as soon as they lay down, Liuyin snuggled right into his arms.
No, don’t let your thoughts wander.
She’s just a child—what am I even thinking!
In his mind, Yezhe felt like he’d slapped himself countless times.
“Big Brother, are you asleep?”
The adorable creature in his arms seemed wide awake.
“Hmm? Not yet.”
“I don’t like Uncle Wang. Uncle Wang smells bad.”
“Uncle Wang might smell a little, but he’s a good person.”
As he spoke, Yezhe gently stroked Liuyin’s head.
“This room is also Uncle Wang’s. If not for him, we wouldn’t even have a place to live.”
“Tomorrow Big Brother has to go to work. I’ll be home in the evening, so you need to be safe and listen to Uncle Wang, okay?”
“No…I want Big Brother to stay Home with me.”
Looking down at the little one, he could see all her reluctance written plainly on her face…
“Be good, Liuyin. If Big Brother doesn’t go work and earn money, then neither of us will have anything to eat.”
“Can’t Liuyin go with you?”
“There are too many people there—what if a bad person tried to take you?”
……
After a long silence, Liuyin finally replied.
“Okay…Big Brother, come home early.”