Peng Kai didn’t explain their relationship and handed over two cigarettes before getting back under the car to continue repairs.
The two customers were already used to Peng Kai’s cold demeanor. For him to offer them cigarettes meant he was actually in a pretty good mood.
Lan Hui was thinking about the unfinished dumplings and hurried home, making it back in just ten minutes.
As soon as she got home, she started making chive egg filling, scallion pork filling, and corn pork filling.
She was so busy she felt like a spinning top, completely forgetting about Peng Kai’s request to send him a message upon arrival.
It wasn’t until Peng Kai called and asked, “Did you get home?”
Lan Hui replied with a smile, “I got home ages ago, I’m making dumpling filling right now.”
“Didn’t I tell you to send me a message when you got home?”
Lan Hui suddenly remembered and slapped her forehead in frustration. “Ah, I was too focused on making dumplings and totally forgot. Sorry, Kai-ge.”
“It’s fine, as long as you’re home. I’ll hang up now.”
“Alright.” Lan Hui asked, “Kai-ge, did you eat the dumplings yet?”
“Not yet, I’ll eat after I wash my hands.”
“Okay.”
Lan Hui hung up the phone, marveling at how the sun must have risen from the west today—Peng Kai actually took the initiative to ask if she’d gotten home!
Before, when she was sick with a cold, he’d sent her home late at night. She’d asked him to message her when he got home, but he completely ignored it.
She always had to be the one to ask first before he’d reply.
She never expected him to be so concerned today. It really was like the sun rising from the west.
Lan Hui stayed busy until past eleven at night, finally finishing up the different dumpling fillings.
She’d made probably a hundred or two dumplings, stuffing the fridge to the brim.
It’d be enough for the two of them to eat for ten days, maybe half a month.
After her shower, Peng Kai still hadn’t come back. Since she had work the next day, she went straight to bed.
The next time they saw each other was the following evening at class.
Peng Kai was used to sitting with Lan Hui. He glanced around the classroom, saw the girl’s silhouette, and walked straight over.
Lan Hui was playing Fruit Crush when a cup of milk tea suddenly appeared on her desk. She looked up to see Peng Kai had arrived.
“Kai-ge, good evening.” Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the milk tea. “Is this for me?”
Peng Kai’s face was expressionless. “A customer bought it. I don’t like sweet drinks, so I brought it for you.”
In the past, when customers brought milk tea, he’d give it to the staff. This time, for some reason, the moment he received it, he thought of Yue Fu and brought it along.
“Hahaha, Kai-ge, you’re the best. If you ever get milk tea you don’t want, give it all to me, I love them all.” Lan Hui quickly tore open the straw wrapper, jabbed it in, and took a big, satisfied sip.
The sweet milk tea was laced with the creamy taste of pudding and chewy pearls—it was delicious.
A smile tugged at Peng Kai’s lips. “As long as you like it.”
“By the way, Kai-ge, did you like the dumplings I made?” Lan Hui asked.
“They were good.” Peng Kai nodded.
At that moment, the teacher walked in and the classroom instantly fell silent. Lan Hui quickly put away her milk tea and opened her book.
Time flew by, and soon it was break time.
Peng Kai went to the restroom, while Lan Hui continued playing Fruit Crush.
Suddenly, a child’s cry rang out across the classroom.
Lan Hui looked over to see a mother in the front two rows comforting her two children. “Don’t cry, I’ll let you watch my phone. Wait for Mommy here, I’ll be back from the restroom soon.”
Both kids were young—a little girl about three, and a boy a bit over four. They didn’t want to stay in the classroom and insisted on following their mom to the restroom.
The mother, handling both kids on her own, barely had a chance to use the restroom. She looked about ready to break down.
Lan Hui felt bad and said to the mother, “Sis, if they want to go to the restroom, just let them. I’ll watch the kids for you outside the restroom.”
Kids are very attached to their moms. These two hardly spoke in class and were already pretty well-behaved.
It wasn’t their fault—they just lacked a sense of security and weren’t used to being away from their mother.
The mother was deeply grateful. “Thank you so much, girl.”
Lan Hui smiled, “Let’s go then.” She walked over and took the kids’ hands.
Lan Hui was very approachable, so the two kids didn’t resist her. The four of them headed to the restroom together.
The mother, a bit embarrassed, said, “Girl, sorry to trouble you, but I might be a while. My stomach’s upset.”
If it was just a quick trip, she’d take the kids in with her. She’d done that before—bring them along, use the restroom, and then return to class.
Lan Hui had guessed as much. Many mothers would bring their kids for quick trips, but for longer ones, with the smell and the time, they didn’t want the kids getting restless.
“No problem, Sis. Go ahead, I’ll play with them by the sinks.”
“Thank you.” The mother reminded her kids, “Listen to the big sister, don’t be naughty, okay?”
The two kids nodded obediently.
About five minutes later, the mother came out, and Lan Hui was shocked.
That was so fast.
The mother smiled, “Once you have kids, you do everything in a rush.”
Lan Hui nodded, “Being a mom is tough, especially for someone like you who has to bring kids to class. It’s even harder.”
The mother turned on the tap to wash her hands and sighed, “It really is hard. I’m always worried the kids will disturb classmates, so I sit in the back row and don’t even have time to use the restroom.”
“But there’s no other way—my in-laws are old and can’t watch the kids, and their dad works overtime every day to earn more money.”
“I’m saving up Point System credits so the kids can get into Public School, so I have to bring them along.”
“These hard times are just temporary. Things will get better.” Lan Hui comforted her, feeling genuine respect.
The mother said, “I hope so. I was impulsive back then. If I’d chosen someone with slightly better conditions, maybe life wouldn’t be so hard now.”
Lan Hui smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
The mother asked, “Girl, you should be careful yourself.”
Lan Hui was puzzled. “Sis, what do you mean?”
Seeing that Lan Hui was a good person, the mother offered some advice.
“With your qualities, you could find a great partner. There’s no need to rush into a relationship—take your time. I see you’re close to Peng Kai, but you should be cautious.”
“He doesn’t look well-off, always has a cold face, and seems gloomy. A lot of people in class are afraid of him. Some even say Peng Kai is violent at home.”
Lan Hui knew the mother meant well, but hearing others belittle Peng Kai made her indignant.
“Sis, you don’t know Peng Kai. He’s actually warm-hearted beneath that cold exterior and a very sincere person. When it comes to friends, I think character and values matter most, not material things. “
“He doesn’t have much money now, but he’s young, hardworking, and ambitious. He’ll definitely get better in the future.”
Lan Hui understood that material conditions were important. Many girls blamed unhappy marriages on a lack of money, but how could unhappiness always be just because of money?
A person’s character and values matter most. After marriage, a man with the right mindset would naturally take on more responsibility.
Even if he had no money, he’d work hard and wouldn’t let his wife suffer. Hard times are only temporary.
On the other hand, if you marry someone rich who doesn’t care about the family or has no sense of responsibility, would a woman really be happy in that marriage?
There may be money, but who would play the roles of husband and father? Could a child really be happy growing up in that environment?
Marriage is about finding someone who matches you. The most important match is in values. If a woman only wants to marry up, even if she does, the man’s family won’t value her.
Only by being independent, diligent, self-respecting, and self-loving can a woman expand her options and attract better men.
The mother just smiled, thinking the young girl was still head-over-heels in love and wouldn’t listen to reason.
She’d understand once she had kids of her own.
“Class is about to start, let’s go back.”
Lan Hui nodded, “Okay.”
As the four of them left, a figure emerged from the boys’ restroom, his face full of complicated emotions—mostly moved.
It was Peng Kai.
After class, he’d gone downstairs for a smoke, then to the restroom, and as he was about to return to class, he overheard Yue Fu and another woman talking about him.
He couldn’t help but listen in.
Inside, he was shaken and at a loss for words.
He’d never thought the girl would defend him so fiercely.
Her words were firm, confident in his future achievements, unwilling to let anyone disparage him.
People really are different.
He remembered back when Gu Shinan was in grad school and he’d visited her.
What did she do? She told her friends he was just a fellow townsman, not even a close friend.
As if his identity was something shameful.
When Peng Kai came back to class late, Lan Hui couldn’t help but whisper, “Kai-ge, where did you go? Why are you so late?”
After all, Peng Kai was a diligent student and almost never late.
Peng Kai replied, “I went downstairs for a smoke, then walked around to get rid of the smell. That’s why I’m late.”
To buy cigarettes.
Lan Hui nodded, “You should cut back, it’s bad for your health.”
Peng Kai grunted in acknowledgment. “I know.” He hadn’t smoked before, but he’d spent all his savings supporting Gu Shinan’s education. He had no money left.
Later, after Gu Shinan broke up with him, during that painful, desperate period, he picked up smoking. Now his addiction wasn’t bad—just one cigarette a day.
After class, when they got home, Lan Hui transferred the rent money to Peng Kai. She’d gotten paid today and settled her debt right away.
She also said to Peng Kai, “Kai-ge, we spent over three hundred at the supermarket yesterday, so I’ll put eight hundred and fifty into the public account this month.”
Peng Kai nodded. “As long as you’ve got it organized.” Last night, he’d already transferred a thousand yuan into the public account for her.
Lan Hui grinned and took out a notebook. “This is the ledger. I’ll record every expense in here so you can check anytime.”
Lan Hui actually wanted to keep records on the computer, but she was too poor to own one right now, so she wrote it all by hand.
“Alright.” Peng Kai smiled.
He didn’t really care how the girl spent money, but he liked seeing her manage the accounts so earnestly.
She was like a little housekeeper—it felt warm and comforting.
“Kai-ge, is there anything else you want to add?”
“No.”
“Then I’m going to shower. I have work tomorrow.”
“Go ahead.”
Peng Kai also returned to his bedroom.
He was always careful about this. Except for meals, he rarely stayed in the living room for long, making sure Lan Hui had enough personal space.
***
Time flew by, and a month passed quickly.
The two of them got along well this month, and their relationship grew closer.
One night, after her shower, Lan Hui was about to go to bed when she suddenly saw a message from her mom and let out a startled scream.
Peng Kai hadn’t gone to sleep yet. When he heard the girl’s shriek, he thought something had happened and rushed over.
He was so anxious he didn’t even knock, just burst straight in.
“Yue Fu, what’s wrong?”
Lan Hui was startled by Peng Kai’s worried expression, then pulled a long face and said, “My mom just messaged me—she’s coming to see me tomorrow!”