Section 9

No one denies her decision, Aunt Lu has a deep understanding with her, saying that she ventilated this room early in the morning, and the bedding inside is laid out very softly, with a scent of sunlight lingering in the air

Zhuo Shaohua opened the umbrella again. He informed Zhu Hang that the woman’s surname was Lü, and she was a hired aunt responsible for household chores and cooking. Sister Tang specifically took care of Fan Fan and her, and occasionally, when there was heavy work, a servant would come to assist.

The rooms on the left and right are the study and guest room, as well as the art studio. The south-facing rooms are the living room and the master bedroom. Now there is an additional nursery where little Fan Fan resides. She insists on staying in the east-facing guest room so that when the sun rises, she can open the window and see the first rays of sunlight.

Her legal home is, for her, an entirely unfamiliar environment

The street gradually widened, and the number of vehicles decreased, until eventually only their car was racing between the tall ancient trees lining both sides.

With the addition of a new member to the household, there has been a certain level of chaos, and it is not until 9 o'clock that everyone returns to their rooms to rest. She did not step into the living room or the master bedroom.

He gestured with his eyes for her, who was dumbfounded, to sit down and handed her a pair of chopsticks

It is natural that there are no snacks in the house, she opened the door and carefully identified the direction, remembering that the kitchen is next to the courtyard gate

She burped all night long and secretly vowed: even if she were to starve to death in the future, she would never go out to seek food

I do not have a gun in my hand, I cannot fight against them

Two bowls of water were placed in the pot, the fire was lit, and when the water boiled, a roll of noodles was taken from the cupboard and poured into the water. While waiting for it to boil, a bowl of prepared soup was taken from the refrigerator and heated in the microwave. The noodles were taken out and steadily placed into the soup, then shredded cucumber was added on top, followed by some prepared meat sauce.

She received it with both hands

As she was chewing vigorously, a shadow suddenly appeared on the wall. She recognized the newcomer as Zhuo Shaohua, feeling so embarrassed that she wished she could burrow under the table, as if she were a petty thief sneaking over the wall in the middle of the night, stealing a cucumber.

She instinctively clutched the hem of Zhuo Shaohua's garment

"I have arrived," Zhuo Shaohua nodded and said, "Please help me pack the luggage."

She selected a well-shaped one, twisted off the head and washed it clean, without peeling it, and gnawed at it with a crunching sound

She was engrossed in eating noodles

A tall and majestic gatehouse comes into view, beneath which soldiers stand with their rifles, resembling a tightly drawn bow. Looking further inside, one can see dense trees, with houses faintly visible among the treetops. However, the atmosphere is so austere that not a single bird can be seen flying.

They have guns. She pointed at the soldiers as the vehicle slowed down

She thought that others would look at them with the eyes of a monster. The focus rate is very high, but the gazes are all kind and blessed. Perhaps this is truly a beautiful custom, when in Rome, do as the Romans do

Her eyes and nose were all squished together, and there was no further discussion. He was in front, she was behind, at a half-step distance. After seven days without leaving the hospital building, suddenly bathed in intense sunlight, she instinctively closed her eyes. When she opened them again, a large umbrella blocked her view.

The night is as deep as the sea. The streetlights outside cannot penetrate the dense foliage, and only the moon in the sky lends a bit of light.

There are no books in the room, nor a television; this is what Sister Tang means, saying it is for her eyes. She lies in bed with her eyes open. This place is located in the city, yet it is devoid of noise. In the silence, the sound of the wind rustling the leaves is distinctly clear

He glanced at her

The food that the postpartum woman eats is bland and tasteless, and she can only force herself to take a few bites

She had not slept for long when hunger woke her up. It felt as if her front was being squeezed by her back, and she could not endure it for a moment. During her pregnancy, in order to provide nutrition for Xiao Fan Fan, she allowed herself to eat freely, which stretched her stomach.

He handed over a cup of water, which was lukewarm, allowing her to rinse her mouth. He then turned around to wash the dishes.

However, this atmosphere... makes one involuntarily have such associations. I still prefer to live in... the large communal courtyard.

Darkness granted him black eyes, yet he uses them to seek light

Why

He sat down opposite her, poured himself a cup of tea, sipping it intermittently, his gaze fixed on the darkness in the courtyard

"I can't help but want to surrender..." she whispered in a volume only he could hear

The duty officer drove a spacious business vehicle today, which was very comfortable. Sister Tang and Fan Fan were seated in the back. When getting into the car, Zhuo Shaohua gave her a slight nudge.

He has never mentioned that his home is also a siheyuan, not a large courtyard, but rather a private courtyard with its own entrance.

She pouted, turned away helplessly, and forced out a couple of laughs, "I... I am a bit hungry"

In contrast to the solemn and dignified atmosphere outside, the courtyard is much gentler, with a flowerbed in the center. She recognizes that it is planted with roses, most of which have already withered, leaving only a single yellow rose swaying in the wind alongside its now non-vibrant leaves. This variety is quite precious and its cultivation is complex. One can imagine that those who care for them must possess delicate hands and a gentle, tender heart

The long-lost street scene made her feel a bit nostalgic, as if she were seeing the light of day again, and it seemed as though a century had passed; she had truly become a bit awkward.

A woman slightly older than Sister Tang, wearing an apron around her waist, came out from the courtyard to greet them. She eagerly leaned forward to pull back the small quilt, took a look at Xiao Fanfan, and exclaimed that they were cut from the same mold as Zhuo.

She finished the noodles and soup completely, and I must say, the portion was quite substantial

What does he mean by this? To ensure that she has no worries, and that no one will treat her as a servant? ... Then ... she is not indispensable

Hmm. What next

She counted sheep for a while, then counted rabbits, and suddenly realized something: Xiao Fan Fan was born in the Year of the Rabbit. Therefore, she continued to count rabbits, big rabbits, small rabbits... Sleepiness gradually crept in

The kitchen door was not locked, and the light switch was right next to the door, with the refrigerator inside. As she opened the refrigerator door, she felt a surge of disappointment and wanted to scream. Aside from the nutritious soup she had prepared for herself, there was nothing to eat, oh, and a few cucumbers.

He turned off the lights and closed the door, escorting her to the front of the guest room, watching her enter and get into bed before leaving

Madam, you must be tired. Let me assist you inside to rest. The astute Aunt Lu noticed her discomfort

He wore a bathrobe, with the buttons fastened meticulously and the belt tied tightly. He silently closed his eyes for a moment. He walked over and took the cucumber from beside her mouth. Using a knife, he cut off the end she had bitten, then sliced the remaining part into thin strips. His knife skills were proficient and smooth.

Unbeknownst to her, his silent and expressionless demeanor was particularly captivating, and she seemed somewhat afraid of him

No one is speaking

His throat was itchy, and he coughed a few times, "There shouldn't be any chance of getting into a fight." He answered very seriously

"The second courtyard is our home." He patted her hand, interrupting her worries