Chapter Four, Undercurrents (01)

Zhou Xian looked at her for a moment and turned the electric fan in front of him towards her direction

Half an hour later, the sky was completely dark. Xu Yang entered, carrying the heat of summer. Upon seeing the person on the sofa, his footsteps immediately halted, "Sister, have you started dating?!"

Zhou Xian looked at the whirring fan in front of him and couldn't help but chuckle

It was completed at school

Xu Tang felt a difficulty in breathing, while the other hand quietly clenched at her side

Then you tidy up your room, and after I finish eating, I will help you make the bed

Xu Tang averted his gaze and turned to the backyard to tend to the water in the barrel

Xu Tang's heart skipped a beat, and she struggled a bit but could not break free. Zhou Xian's palm was very warm, with a rough texture and slight calluses. He was only wearing a black tank top, revealing the firm muscles on his arms. His brow bones were prominent, his nose was straight and handsome, and there was a hint of a barely perceptible smile at the corners of his mouth. His voice carried a hint of mockery, "Xu Haitang, do you want to be my girlfriend?"

It would be more troublesome to have him killed at the door, Xu Tang explained, his voice gradually lowering, Moreover, it could earn him a favor...

She sat for a while, then got up and opened Xu Yang's wardrobe. After searching for a moment, she found a T-shirt that was too big and a pair of large shorts, which she placed on Zhou Xian's bed. Xu Yang was growing quickly, so his clothes were barely fitting Zhou Xian.

Doctor You was startled when he saw the wound on his arm, but he did not ask further. He took the medical kit and began to disinfect and apply medicine.

You threatened her, otherwise she would go to the police, and I cannot stop her. " Xu Tang paused for a moment and then said, "However, the threat should not be too severe, as she is rather timid.

Zhou Xian glanced at the paper, the handwriting neat and elegant, "Please affix your fingerprint."

"Xu Haitang, are you feeling hot?" There are two fans in the room, both directed towards Zhou Xian.

Xu Yang was picking up food while glancing at Zhou Xian, and Xu Tang, unable to bear it any longer, gently kicked Xu Yang under the table

Xu Tang glanced at Zhou Xian and turned to Dr. You, smiling as she said, "It is quite troublesome for you to come here on such a hot day. If it is just a matter of changing the dressing, why don't you just tell me what I need to pay attention to, and I can do it myself?"

Xu Tang sat at the kitchen door, helping to pick vegetables, feeling somewhat helpless. Every time a sound came from the kitchen, she couldn't help but glance at Zhou Xian. Zhou Xian sat quietly on the sofa, his expression indifferent, as if he had not heard anything.

Xu Tang felt somewhat regretful for having spoken out, and at this moment, she did not know how to remedy the situation, so she could only shake her head

Xu's mother remained doubtful and uneasy, while Xu Tang offered some words of comfort, feeling a subtle discomfort in her heart

Only Zhou Xian seems to be adapting quite well

Xu Tang was slightly taken aback. She thought that Zhou Xian was certainly not the type to smile. However, she could sense that Zhou Xian seemed to be in a good mood, though she did not understand why.

Xu Tang paused momentarily in her actions, lowering her gaze to continue studying the instruction manual

About twenty minutes later, footsteps sounded again in the courtyard outside. Xu Tang returned to the room carrying a plastic bag, glanced at Zhou Xuan without saying a word, and sat down at the desk to carefully examine the manual she took out from the bag

In the end, Xu Tang slept in Xu Xian's room, while Xu Yang set up a mat on the floor in his own room. After much consideration, Xu Tang felt that if Xu's mother saw her son sleeping on the floor of the living room, she would undoubtedly feel even more uncomfortable.

While cooking, Mother Xu still felt dissatisfied, chopping the cutting board with a resounding thud

Xu Tang served herself another half bowl of rice and continued to eat slowly. After Xu Yang finished two bowls of rice, he discarded his bowl and chopsticks to take a shower. When he came out and saw the two still at the table, he exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, why are you so delicate today?"

Do not consume foods that cause inflammation, and avoid contact with water. Doctor You took a piece of paper and quickly wrote down a few lines. "Xiao Xu, please follow this list to buy the medicine. The weather is hot now, and it is especially important to take the anti-inflammatory medication on time."

Grandma Xu Tang fell ill due to the grief from the passing of her father. During the last period of her life, she was bedridden, and throughout this time, it was Dr. You from the town who assisted her with her medical care

Xu Tang lowered her head and said, "Well, there is no other way now."

Xu Yang immediately averted his gaze and buried his head in his meal

No, no one knows he is here

Dr. You understood clearly in his heart. Upon hearing Xu Tang's words, he naturally comprehended the situation, so he left behind the medicine, gauze, tweezers, and other tools, and gave a few reminders regarding precautions

Her hair, which she had just washed, was now dry, with strands sticking to her sweaty cheeks and neck. A layer of sweat glistened on the tip of her nose, and her face was flushed with a faint red from the high temperature

Zhou Xian still leisurely picked up the vegetables, "Xu Haitang, I will sleep in your room"

Xu Tang was also busy; she brought the large electric fan from the living room and poured a glass of cool tea for Dr. You

She thinks, what a strange person, having their arm chopped off like that, yet still being so cheerful

Xu Tang paused with her chopsticks and said, "Xu Yang, would it be alright for you to sleep in the living room?"

Dr. You was taken aback and looked towards Xu Tang

Xu's mother works at the passenger station in Duhhe Town and left home at six in the morning. Xu Yang also went to school at six thirty for early self-study.

Xu Tang meticulously noted down and escorted Doctor You out.

After serving the dishes at dinner, Mother Xu retreated back into the kitchen

Zhou Xian lifted his eyelids slightly, which could be considered a response

Xu Tang's ears turned red, and he quickened his pace of eating, "Have you finished your homework?"

Xu Tang nodded repeatedly, took a glance at the list, and tucked it into his pants pocket

After much deliberation, Xu's mother finally chose to endure in silence. She grasped Xu Tang's sleeve and pulled her into the kitchen

Xu Yang glanced at Zhou Xian and said, "Alright"

Xu Tang shook her head decisively, "I don't want to."

Xu Tang looked up at him, reached out to grasp his hand, held his thumb, dipped it in ink, and pressed it onto the paper

Dr. You directed Xu Tang to assist, and soon they had cleaned the wound on Zhou Xian's arm, applied the medication, and bandaged it properly

Zhou Xian raised an eyebrow and let out a low laugh, saying, "Foolish."

You tell him not to go out, so that he won't be seen by others and have rumors spread about him

There is now an additional person in the house, and it is still this particular person, which makes it somewhat uncomfortable for everyone. Xu Tang chose the bed, while Xu Yang, still half-asleep, got up too abruptly during the night and accidentally bumped into the wardrobe.

Mother Xu dismissed it with a cold snort, saying, "What does this little hoodlum know about human feelings or relationships"

When Xu's mother returned home from work, she was naturally startled by the presence of this plague god that had suddenly appeared in the house. Zhou Xian did not utter any threatening words, but his silent demeanor as he sat in the living room was intimidating enough.

After sitting quietly for a while, Xu Tang suddenly remembered that the bucket of blood in the backyard had not been cleaned up, and immediately stood up. When she reached the doorway of the bedroom, she paused again, turned around to look at Zhou Xian, and said, "You wait a moment to threaten my mother"

The risk has not changed

After a moment, Zhou Xian said again, "I want to stay here for a few days"

Zhou Xian's gaze paused for a moment, fixating intently on Xu Tang

No wonder, Dr. You's tone was one of sudden realization, "However, you should still be cautious. If things go awry, do not hesitate to contact the police..."

Mrs. Xu was taken aback, "What do you want to find him for?"

Xu Tang brought Doctor You to her home, where Zhou Xian was sitting by the bed, lost in thought while smoking.

Xu Tang has good habits; although it is now summer vacation, he still gets up at 7:30.

Why

Xu Tang was not surprised at all and replied calmly, "Fifty a day."

Will anyone cause us trouble

"Why did you let him in?" Mrs. Xu said, her brows furrowed with anger.

It is unclear how much time has passed, but Zhou Xiansong released her, the inquiring look in his eyes vanished, and his voice became flat, "Do not entertain the idea of calling the police"

While Zhou Xian was washing up, Xu Tang went to the kitchen and scooped out a large bowl of porridge, placing it on the dining table

Where does this person come from

Xu Tang awkwardly introduced, "Xu Yang, this is Zhou ... ..."

Xu Yang nodded and walked towards the bedroom

Zhou Xian looked up at her and uttered a single word: "Big"

It is not hot. Xu Tang did not look up either

Xu Tang returned to Xu Yang's room. After a moment, he heard the sound of the bathroom door opening

She handed the clay box to Zhou Xian, waiting for him to extend his thumb

Zhou Xian remained silent, quietly observing her, his gaze growing deeper.

After doodling on the paper for a while, Xu Tang suddenly heard the sound of the bedroom door opening. She turned her head to look outside the door and happened to see Zhou Xian walking towards the bathroom wearing only a pair of underwear. Xu Tang quickly averted her gaze.

Zhou Xian? '' Xu Yang has already recognized it

She pushed the clay box forward by one unit again

During the dressing change, Zhou Xian remained silent. Upon hearing Dr. You say this, he suddenly spoke up, "Not for use with books."

Zhou Xian still hasn't moved

Xu Tang thought for a moment, then went to rummage through the drawer. After searching for quite a while, she indeed found half a box of unused ink paste. Xu Tang rubbed it with her finger; it was somewhat dry, but still usable

Two figures walked towards the main gate. Zhou Xian reached out to grab a cigarette box, just as he was about to put a cigarette in his mouth, he suddenly heard Xu Tang's lowered voice from the courtyard outside: "... a distant relative, took a bit of a detour, now wants to turn over a new leaf, but the higher-ups do not agree..."

Zhou Xian's left hand was bandaged, making movement difficult, and he ate very slowly. Xu Tang finished a bowl of rice, glanced at his bowl, and noticed that only half of it was gone

The dangers are not understood

The human voices gradually faded away, leaving only the cicadas on the tree calling out hoarsely.

First, it is owed

Just as she intended to let go, Zhou Xian suddenly tightened his grip on her finger

Xu Tang speaks frankly and honestly

Xu Tang blinked, picked up a pen and paper from the table, swiftly wrote a few lines, and then handed it to Zhou Xian, saying, "Please sign here."

The sound of chopping vegetables in the kitchen suddenly stopped for a moment, then resumed with a louder thud than before

He will not go out, as there are still people looking for him

After she got up, she saw that the door to her room was tightly closed. After hesitating for a moment, she still did not go to knock on the door. She served herself a bowl of sweet potato porridge and drank it, then went to Xu Yang's room to tidy up the bedding and began planning for setting up a stall.

Xu Tang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "I will not report it to the police," she paused for a moment and added, "You still owe me money"

Zhou Xian sat at the table, glanced at the kitchen door, then withdrew his gaze and quietly ate with his chopsticks and bowl

The two individuals were somewhat close, and Xu Tang could distinctly feel the warmth emanating from Zhou Xian, rendering the fan momentarily a mere decoration.

I will come back in two days to change the medication