Chapter 4

If a child bullies you, you should know to retaliate, hit back first, and then report to the teacher

Hastily arriving at the entrance of the community, Wan Xiang just caught the school bus as it stopped right in front of him after exiting the main gate. He broke free from Kong Liqing's hand and walked to the school bus door by himself. A teacher opened the door and helped him board the bus from above. The child did not say goodbye to her, but turned around and waved his hand slightly in her direction. Soon after, the door closed, and the bus slowly started to move away.

Kong Liqing knew she could not deny it any longer, so she slowly stood up, opened the drawer in front of the man, took out a pack of cigarettes, and placed it along with a lighter in front of him

After the two had just finished speaking, Lu Xu, who was nearby, also ended his phone call. He put away his phone and said to Kong Liqing, "Miss Kong, could you please make us some breakfast?"

Kong Liqing said to them with a neutral expression: "The child needs to attend kindergarten"

Kong Liqing turned his head and shouted loudly at the child who was running without saying a word: "Did you hear me!"

Kong Liqing took out a cigarette and lit it with the lighter on the table. There was no place left to sit in the room, so she had no choice but to sit on the adjacent single bed. After Kong Liqing put down the lighter, the man also lit a cigarette for himself. He took a light puff and exhaled a faint wisp of smoke, then sat there in silence, just looking at Kong Liqing.

A large person and a small child stand there; the child is dressed neatly and exquisitely, with a lovely little face that is quite endearing. In contrast, the adult is dressed casually, wearing an oversized, old-fashioned T-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts. Their short hair, having been slept on for a night, is slightly tousled, and their complexion appears dull, giving off a somewhat unkempt impression

"Zhou of King Wen, fire, Huaye, and the manifest of Zhang." The man spoke to Kong Liqing in a cold tone

Kong Liqing did not want to eat under the watchful eyes of others, nor did she feel like engaging with them, even the slightest exchange of glances felt exhausting to her. Without pausing, she swallowed the noodles in her mouth, lowered her head, and moved to the sofa with her bowl, changing her location to turn on the television and eat while watching.

Kong Liqing tightly closed her eyes for a moment, enduring as she turned around. Before her was the man's pale, slender hand, holding a cigarette case, with one cigarette already drawn halfway out, exposed. Upon seeing her turn around, the man extended the cigarette case towards her again.

Kong Liqing was momentarily taken aback. She circled around the model and the network cable socket at the back of the chassis several times, trying to secure it with force, but it still showed a small red cross. Squatting behind the chassis, she worked up a sweat. Just when she was feeling extremely frustrated, a voice suddenly came from above her head: "I forgot to tell you just now, last night Lu Xu modified the telephone line at your home."

In a rush, Kong Liqing jumped out of bed, holding the child and dashed towards the bathroom, shouting, "Hold on, you must hold on." Thus, the day began in a lively manner for both the big and the small.

Mom, I fell asleep

After a long while, the man suddenly spoke: "Can you give me a cigarette?"

His flight to City B is scheduled to arrive at 9 o'clock this morning

The man stared at them for a moment, then nodded. When Kong Liqing saw the man nod, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. She took hold of Kong Wanxiang and walked out the door.

Lying flat on the bed with eyes wide open, there was no sound at all in the room outside. After midnight, even the noise of cars on the road ceased. Kong Liqing steadied his breathing and turned to look out the window until he noticed a faint glow at the edge of the sky.

Kong Liqing felt that her child was beginning to have his own thoughts, and she did not say anything further. She had been too weak as a child, which led to her being bullied by the child brought by her stepmother, enduring humiliation for many years. During her school years, her own weak and gloomy personality also made her a target for bullying by her classmates. She understood that sometimes there could be sordidness among children, and she was particularly sensitive to this, fearing that Wanxiang might also be bullied by others.

Holding the child's hand, they walked into the living room, where two men were sitting on the sofa. Both men's gazes were fixed on the direction from which these two had emerged, clearly indicating that they had heard the commotion from this morning quite clearly.

Kong Liqing was aware that she ate quickly and her movements were not very graceful. When dining out, she could put on a facade, but at home, she felt free and had nothing to disguise. As a result, she was curiously observed by others. Deep down, she felt quite annoyed that her privacy was being intruded upon, and she felt embarrassed about it

Well

The noodles cooked by Kong Liqing follow the method of southern Chinese cuisine. A handful of dried noodles is added to a pot of boiling water, along with a handful of greens, and everything is boiled together. Seasonings are not added to the pot; instead, some homemade lard, a bit of soy sauce, salt, MSG, and a handful of chopped green onions are placed in a large bowl. When a bowl of noodles is served at the table, it looks clean and appetizing. Kong Liqing enjoys this dish as well. Having grown up in the north, this method of making noodles represents her only profound memory of her mother, who used to cook noodles for her in this way during her childhood.

After a while, the man finally stood up. He walked around to stand in front of Kong Liqing, looking down at the back of her head. Two seconds later, he suddenly said: "My name is Zhou Yezhang"

Kong Liqing knew that the man was watching her, and he might even be analyzing her in his mind. However, she was truly fed up with it. He had been staring for so long; let him think whatever he wanted. She now understood to some extent that her current situation at least posed no threat to her life

Kong Liqing stood at the kitchen door for a while and then asked him: "May I go online?"

The man looked up at her and nodded slightly: "Yes."

The child's breathing beside her gradually became steady, and the small body in her arms also softened. Kong Liqing knew that the child had fallen asleep. She reached out to turn off the table lamp next to her, and darkness enveloped her.

"Hmm, I know," the child looked up at her and replied.

Kong Liqing remained silent, finishing a cigarette, contemplating leaving but feeling too apprehensive to do so, ultimately resigning to stay there. The man's gaze was fixated on her, as if he intended to dissect her for thorough examination. She felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny, yet could only endure it.

The man looked at Kong Liqing, and his expression seemed relatively relaxed as he gently shook his head

"Do not close the door," Lu Xu commanded coldly once again. After speaking, he did not wait for Kong Liqing to respond and turned back to the living room.

After having breakfast, Kong Liqing washed the dishes, tidied up the kitchen, and returned to the living room only to find that Lu Xu was no longer there. The injured man was sitting properly next to the armrest of the sofa, watching the morning news on television, his gaze focused.

The man seemed to know her thoughts: "Your phone is now on the coffee table outside; Lu Xu just returned it to you."

In the end, she still did not dare to close the door, and Kong Liqing climbed into bed with a hint of resentment. As soon as she lay down, Kong Wanxiang, who was already inside, instinctively rolled over to her side. Kong Liqing stretched out one arm, and just as her arm was positioned, the child's head perfectly rested upon it, the two of them in perfect harmony.

Kong Liqing supported himself against the door, his expression somewhat stiff

In just a few moments, he washed the child's face, then carried him back to the study. Along the way, he deftly dressed the child, taking a moment to glance at the time. The alarm clock on the bedside indicated exactly 7:30. After checking the time, Kong Liqing quickened his movements and began to discuss with Kong Wanxiang: "Wanxiang, we are going to be late. Is it alright if you skip brushing your teeth today?"

On this side of the dining table, Lu Xu was momentarily taken aback by the ambiguous smile on his boss's face. Both men turned their attention to the woman hunched over on the sofa, whose nose was sweating from eating. After a brief moment, neither of them spoke, and they tacitly lowered their heads to begin eating.

Holding Kong Wanxiang, he let him stand on the toilet to solve his problem. The child was not wearing shoes, and Kong Liqing directly placed him on the washing machine, then turned around to wet a towel to wash his face

"Take four pills." Kong Liqing said coldly, placing the medicine and the cup of water on the coffee table in front of him

The child smiled shyly and reminded Kong Liqing: "Mom, we are going to be late"

Kong Liqing slowly relaxed her body, as if she felt that the danger was beginning to pass. The nerves that had been tense all night finally eased a little. When the sky began to brighten, she finally fell into a drowsy sleep.

Alright. The child lies in her arms, one little leg resting on her belly

Kong Liqing vaguely and unwillingly replied: "Kong from Confucius, Li from to stand, and Qing from Bao Qingtian."

Kong Liqing fell silent and went to the study. She is currently unemployed, and since she cannot go out, she can only submit her resume online. However, when she entered the study and turned on the computer, she found a small red cross displayed on the broadband connection of the computer screen

Kong Liqing was startled and sat up in bed, as the child covered his little private part and kicked his legs, urging, "Hurry up, I need to pee"

The man also sat there motionless, simply gazing at the woman who was huddled and unmoving. There was a certain depth in his eyes, and his face was as still as water.

"Hmm, good, Wanxiang is the most well-behaved." Kong Liqing softly comforted, coaxing the child

After a moment of silence, the man's voice sounded: "Yes."

As soon as she appeared in the living room, the man's gaze seemed to be fixed on her, and it appeared that there was a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. Kong Liqing had no particular fondness for this person; her act of bringing him medicine was purely out of a physician's parental concern. Just before she left, she noticed the man's complexion was ashen, his lips were pale, and there were cracks on his lips. Although she had not taken his temperature, she could roughly tell that he was at least running a low fever.

Moments later, faint footsteps passed by the door. Lu Xu's voice was not loud, but it was clear enough for Kong Liqing to hear: "Mr. Zhou, the matter has been resolved. He Mao has returned to Hong Kong, and the people outside have all withdrawn."

The man held a cigarette box, looking around. The box of cigarettes belonging to Kong Liqing was the Bai Sha brand, priced at 10 yuan per pack. She usually did not have a strong craving for cigarettes; one pack could last her a week, and with 100 yuan, she could buy a carton that would last her over two months. She knew that her cigarettes were not of good quality, and this man, with his demeanor, clearly appeared to be wealthy. He would certainly look down on her cigarettes, but she couldn't care less whether he found them acceptable or not, and turned to walk out.

Kong Liqing tightened her grip on the door, filled with a sense of disgust. This was her territory, a place she cherished deeply. She had always felt fear and annoyance towards the outside social environment. After struggling for many years, she finally had her own nest, yet now even the last place where she felt safe had been invaded. She suppressed immense feelings of disgust and dissatisfaction, both towards her situation and the two men outside. However, the disparity in strength between the two sides was significant, and she lacked the courage and wisdom to drive them away. Thus, she could only endure and compromise. After struggling for many years, she finally had her own nest, yet now even the last place where she felt safe had been invaded. She suppressed immense feelings of disgust and dissatisfaction, both towards her situation and the two men outside. However, the disparity in strength between the two sides was significant, and she lacked the courage and wisdom to drive them away. Thus, she could only endure and compromise.

Ah? Kong Liqing looked up at him, unable to understand the situation

Kong Liqing possesses a remarkable resilience; when she feels unsafe, she can go for extended periods without sleep. However, afterward, she compensates by sleeping for a long time. It is this formidable self-recovery ability that has allowed her to endure numerous mental hardships during her childhood without succumbing to madness or suicide.

It seemed to be the moment when that faint, hazy light appeared. A slight noise came from the living room outside. Kong Liqing listened intently; it seemed that Lu Xu was on the phone with someone. His voice was very soft, as if he were merely listening, responding with only monosyllables. Kong Liqing could not discern the situation.

Kong Liqing turned around to organize the child's backpack, patiently coaxing: "Just for one day, didn't you brush your teeth after dinner last night? It's fine, others won't notice."

"How to write it, which three characters?" the man continued to ask in a cold tone

Kong Liqing sat facing the man, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. She pulled her feet up onto the bed and crossed her legs to change her position, but even with the new posture, she still felt awkward. Ultimately, she curled her legs up, hugging her knees with one hand while holding a cigarette with the other, forming a protective, curled-up position that made her feel slightly more at ease.

Kong Liqing sat there in silence, and the man also remained quiet, patiently waiting. No one came to break the awkwardness of Kong Liqing. After a long time, she finally spoke: "Kong Liqing"

The child often asks her this way, his nerves are as sensitive as hers, he can perceive Kong Liqing's negative emotions, and he becomes uneasy; this child, like her, lacks a sense of security

Thank you. The man kept staring at her face and softly expressed his gratitude

Hmm. The man's deep voice was followed by the soft sound of a door closing

The child curled up in her arms, Kong Liqing rested her chin on the top of his head and gently exhaled a breath

Kong Liqing looked up at him. The man was backlit, and his features appeared relatively soft. He sat there properly, neither crossing his legs nor slouching. His elbows rested on the armrests of the chair, and his fingers were interlaced across his chest. Objectively speaking, this man was truly handsome, despite having not groomed himself for a night, with some stubble emerging on his chin. His features remained strikingly handsome, and he exuded a noble and elegant aura, a quality that Kong Liqing rarely encountered in her daily life.

After five minutes, Kong Liqing slowly got out of bed. She cautiously walked to the living room, but there was no one there. Where did everyone go? she wondered to herself. She looked around again, and indeed, there was not a single person. It was at this moment that she truly realized that everyone had left. She slowly moved her steps and sat down on the sofa, letting out a long sigh.

In the dark space, Kong Liqing lay wide-eyed, staring at the ceiling. There was not a sound in the outer room, and occasionally, the distant sound of a car could be heard from outside the window. Everything was too quiet, yet lurking in the distance were unsettling factors. The unknown sense of insecurity kept her from falling asleep

A sudden ringtone rescued Kong Liqing. The man answered the phone, listened for a while, and then said, "Come up." After hanging up, the man looked again at the woman huddled there, his gaze heavy and inscrutable.

Kong Liqing was very angry, but she did not dare to voice her anger. She maintained that posture, squatting there, passively resisting, looking somewhat pitiful and somewhat cowardly.

Before she could even take a step, a man's voice came from behind her: "Come and smoke one with me."

Kong Liqing finished calling the names and directly sat down to eat. Moments later, two people sat down at the table, and she didn't even lift her head. After several big bites, the noodles in her bowl were reduced by half. A subtle sense of research and probing gazes fell upon her again, and a feeling of slight embarrassment and shyness gradually arose in her heart, causing her face to flush a little.

Subsequently, no further sounds of conversation were heard; just like before, there seemed to be a brief pause in the faint footsteps as they passed by her door. After the footsteps faded away, the outside once again fell into silence, just as it had throughout the night

Love

Kong Liqing stood in place, watching the car drive away and turn the corner until it was out of sight. Only then did she withdraw her gaze and turn to walk back into the community. With the child no longer by her side, she felt a bit more at ease thinking of the two men at home. If any dangerous situation were to arise, at least she could ensure the child's safety. She slowly made her way back, reluctant yet cautious not to linger outside for too long, ultimately dragging her feet back home.

Kong Liqing prepared three large bowls of noodles, and she brought each of the three big bowls to the table, saying to the two men in the living room: "Alright, it is time to eat"

Hmm. Kong Liqing heard the man's somewhat languid response, and along with this monosyllabic echo, she seemed to faintly hear the sound of the man turning over.

Remember," the man said in a commanding tone, then without looking back at the woman who appeared foolish, he walked towards the door. A faint knocking sound came from outside the main door. Kong Liqing listened as the man opened the door, and then a deep, calm male voice said, "Mr. Zhou, I have come to pick you up.

The situation outside is still quite unstable; the person who stabbed you yesterday has not yet been found. Achen said he would personally come to pick you up once he arrives in City B

Kong Liqing suddenly looked up, and the man had already stood beside her without her noticing. The man glanced at her flushed face and, without any courtesy, sat down in the only office chair in the room.

Mom, do you love me

The child is putting on the shorts by themselves, somewhat unwillingly: "I won't brush my teeth, my mouth stinks"

When will Achen arrive? The man's voice was somewhat hoarse

Kong Liqing held the child's small body in his arms, gently stroking him back and forth: "Shall we not tell a story today?"

Kong Liqing generally has a good appetite as long as she is not physically ill. She has a passion for food and is focused when eating. In her childhood, she experienced hunger. Her father was not particularly poor; at least during those years, food and clothing were not an issue. However, her father subjected her to a perverse form of torment by starving her. Throughout her formative years, there were long periods when she would be starved for several days at a time. This severe hunger instilled in her a fear of being deprived, leading to a fervent obsession with food and a tendency towards binge eating. At least during those years, food and clothing were not an issue, but her father subjected her to a perverse form of torment by starving her. Throughout her formative years, there were long periods when she would be starved for several days at a time. This severe hunger instilled in her a fear of being deprived, leading to a fervent obsession with food and a tendency towards binge eating.

The child beside her did not respond to her

Kong Liqing's mind raced as she understood; they had not allowed her to close the door to sleep yesterday and had damaged her phone line, fearing she would contact the outside world. It was only now that she vaguely recalled that she had not seen her mobile phone since last night

Although this person is good-looking, Kong Liqing is also an unmarried single woman. From the perspective of normal human desires, it stands to reason that this person should at least have some appeal to her. However, Kong Liqing instinctively dislikes this person. She possesses an innate intuition about people and can sense a kind of bloody, cold aura emanating from this individual, which she has always rejected.

Lu Xu's expression and tone were very sincere, and Kong Liqing had no aversion to her request. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I can only cook noodles." In fact, Kong Liqing was capable of more than just making noodles; having taken care of children for many years, preparing a delicate breakfast was not a challenge for her. However, from the perspective of caring for patients, she could make some congee or something similar, but she did not like them and did not want to serve them

In the morning, Kong Liqing was still called up by Kong Wanxiang. In her daze, she felt someone pushing her beside her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Kong Wanxiang already sitting next to her. The child was wearing a small vest, with thin and tender arms and legs. He frowned and pushed Kong Liqing hard, saying, "Mom, Mom, I need to pee"

Upon returning home, the interior was not much different from when she had left. The injured man sat on the sofa; upon seeing her enter, he turned his head to look at her. His gaze was not as sharp and cold as it had been last night, but much more tranquil. Another man was speaking on the phone, pacing back and forth in front of the coffee table. He was speaking Cantonese, a language that Kong Liqing could not understand at all

The man made an ambiguous sound of "mm" and then fell silent.

Are you my treasure

Kong Liqing did not greet them; she went straight to the bathroom. Earlier, she had worn her home slippers outside for a while, and the soles had gotten dirty. She went to the bathroom to rinse the soles clean and also freshened up before coming out. In the study, she rummaged through a cabinet and found a pack of cephalosporin. Back in the living room, she filled a cup with hot water from the water dispenser and walked up to the injured man, asking him: "Are you allergic to penicillin?"

The school bus for Kong Wanxiang Kindergarten arrives every day at 7:45 AM to pick up the children. After going through this routine, Kong Liqing only has 5 minutes to drop the child off at the entrance of the community. Along the way, she holds the child by the hand and walks briskly backward, instructing Kong Wanxiang, "Make sure to have a good breakfast at school."

Kong Liqing opened his mouth, unsure of how to respond

Lu Xu did not say much; he nodded and said, "Then I will trouble you with it."

Kong Liqing had many thoughts in his mind, but he merely glanced at the man before turning his head away. The man, unhurried, added, "I know you smoke"

Yes

The two individuals quietly smoked, and the small room was exceptionally silent, filled with a heavy and somewhat ambiguous atmosphere. After half a cigarette's worth of time, the man suddenly spoke, his voice as cold and desolate as his demeanor: "What is your name?"

In the end, the child compromised and put on his little leather sandals by himself. Kong Liqing also packed his backpack for him, fastening the stylish little bag onto the child. She squatted down, creating a bit of distance from the child, who wore a little vest featuring a mischievous rabbit, paired with a bright green short-sleeved shirt and deep blue three-quarter pants. Kong Liqing looked him up and down and exaggeratedly nodded, saying, "Hmm, my Wanxiang is incredibly handsome."