Thoughts: Don't Go

Maybe it was because she was still weak from being sick, or maybe it was because she hadn't seen Jiang Xu in so long. Even though the figure before her was nothing but a blurry shadow, she knew that the person supporting her was Jiang Xu. Her eyes inexplicably welled up. A cold hand touched her forehead, still carrying the chill of the outside: "You have a fever, Sister Qing."

The voice was a bit more urgent than before. Liang Xiaoqing closed her eyes and asked, "Do I?" Her voice was hoarse.

"Let's go to the health clinic now." Jiang Xu tossed her schoolbag onto the floor, slipped an arm around Liang Xiaoqing's waist, and practically half-carried her out the door. Liang Xiaoqing hugged her. The thick cotton coat was still a little damp, but Jiang Xu's embrace was very warm. Maybe it was because Jiang Xu was back, but her head didn't hurt as much anymore.

She leaned into Jiang Xu, her whole body still lacking strength: "I don't have any energy. I want to go lie down for a while." Her voice was weak and feeble.

The darkness flowed slowly around them. Jiang Xu stopped, steadied herself, and said nothing more, supporting her as they walked toward the bedroom.

Jiang Xu was back, and Liang Xiaoqing instinctively felt a sense of safety. She didn't have to worry about being alone in this little room with no one to care for her. Aside from her head aching and spinning a bit, and her body feeling limp and weak, there was nothing else that made her uncomfortable.

Her health had always been decent, and she rarely caught colds. Maybe she'd feel better after a good sleep.

The excessive worry had only been a psychological burden brought on by Jiang Xu's absence. Now that Jiang Xu was back, it was fine.

When she collapsed onto the soft bed, the world spun for a moment, and she sank completely into the mattress. Jiang Xu bent down to look at her. Maybe the fever had truly addled her brain, or maybe Jiang Xu's completely different attitude toward her gave her some kind of insecurity.

"Sister Qing, I'll go get you some fever medicine."

She couldn't see clearly in the dark, only that Jiang Xu's eyes were as dazzling as if they'd been washed with water. When she spoke, her breath fell on Liang Xiaoqing's cheek, tickling her.

She instinctively murmured "Mm," but when that shadow slowly began to pull away from her, silent and quiet, she felt afraid again. Her hand lifted and grabbed the hem of Jiang Xu's clothes.

The owner of the body naturally stopped and turned around. Liang Xiaoqing half-opened her eyes and saw the blurry figure now very close to her.

Jiang Xu sat on the edge of the bed and asked, "What's wrong?"

After a long pause, she heard Liang Xiaoqing say, "Don't go." It was light and ethereal, like a gust of wind, leaving no trace behind.

Listening more carefully, there was nothing more.

Still, Jiang Xu's heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Xu had originally planned not to come back this winter break. She could work a few more part-time jobs and earn a bit more money. Around New Year, temporary work was everywhere and paid better than usual. That way, she could work less next semester and focus more on her studies. She'd heard the courses next semester would be harder.

At university, she got along pretty well with her roommates. One of them, a girl named Wang Yu, was a local and a year older than the rest of them. She was the peacemaker of the dorm and resolved any conflicts. At first, Jiang Xu hadn't adapted well. A four-person dorm always had this or that little friction. Jiang Xu had a cold face and generally didn't initiate greetings. A girl named Bai Tian was also in their dorm. On the very first day they met, she took the initiative to greet Jiang Xu. At the time, Jiang Xu was still grieving her separation from Liang Xiaoqing, so she barely nodded at Bai Tian. Bai Tian joked that she was shy.

She didn't think much of it, and Jiang Xu had no idea how she'd offended her. On some ordinary afternoon, Bai Tian suddenly exploded. The source of her anger was directed at Jiang Xu, demanding why she acted so high and mighty every day, and who she was putting on a sour face for.

Bai Tian's family apparently ran a company and had some money. Another girl in the dorm was always her little sidekick, speaking in a syrupy soft voice and being bossed around arrogantly by Bai Tian.

Jiang Xu had always disliked Bai Tian's ways, so she shielded Jiang Xiaoxiao behind her and went head-to-head with Bai Tian. Bai Tian was so furious she tried to hit her, but Jiang Xu naturally didn't let her get away with it. Seeing Jiang Xu's stance, Bai Tian immediately chickened out, crying pitifully and asking Jiang Xiaoxiao to comfort her. In the end, it was Wang Yu who stepped in to mediate and averted a "war." Still, because of this, she and Bai Tian had sort of become acquaintances through a fight. Bai Tian kept targeting her in her words, and Jiang Xu never gave her a good face either.

Over time, Bai Tian stopped picking fights with her.

That period was actually the hardest for Jiang Xu to adjust to. Coming to a strange environment, sharing a dorm with strangers, and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed—she had insomnia for a week before slowly getting better. Back then, she wanted to call Liang Xiaoqing every day and pour out her worries. Despite her cold face, she was actually pretty scared.

But she was afraid that calling Liang Xiaoqing every day would annoy her, so she could only endure, and endure some more. When she could no longer bear it, she'd pick a place with few people around and call Liang Xiaoqing.

Liang Xiaoqing might never know the feelings with which she made those calls. She'd gotten into university, just as she'd wished and just as Liang Xiaoqing had wished. Her world was no longer limited to that small place. Yet strangely, Liang Xiaoqing was still someone incredibly important to her.

She wanted to stay on the phone with Liang Xiaoqing a little longer, but she still worried about Liang Xiaoqing's attitude toward her. She was afraid that being this way would make Liang Xiaoqing feel annoyed, and she was afraid of taking up too much of her time... More importantly, she couldn't spend too much money on phone bills.

Life at the start of university was very tight. Before she left, Liang Xiaoqing had given her a card. Liang Xiaoqing said the PIN was her birthday. Jiang Xu had looked at it—twenty or thirty thousand yuan. It was a huge sum, more like proof that Liang Xiaoqing wanted to completely sever ties with her.

Jiang Xu's heart went cold at the time. She wouldn't take her money. She hadn't touched a cent of it.

It was only after Wang Yu introduced her to several part-time jobs that things got a bit better. Every night she worked until just before the dorm curfew before returning. The dorm occasionally discussed family situations, and Bai Tian would chime in to show off her family background. When Wang Yu asked about her, she only said Liang Xiaoqing was her sister and refused to reveal more. Every time she said this, it was somewhat evasive.

She also knew that her relationship with Liang Xiaoqing wasn't something that could be shown in the light.

So she had no choice but to desperately minimize contact with Liang Xiaoqing.

Her days were so busy she had no free time, and she hadn't thought about that matter in a long while. But calling a few times each month was a habit—and something else as well. It filled her heart with contentment. Then she'd look forward to the next time.

"Sister Qing, what did you just say?" Jiang Xu bent down and asked softly, hoping she hadn't misheard. That slightly aggrieved-sounding voice was especially heart-melting. Even though she'd long resolved to keep her distance from Liang Xiaoqing, even though she told herself not to be so obvious in front of Liang Xiaoqing, she'd admonished herself countless times that her feelings would become a burden to Liang Xiaoqing. The best way was to stay away, to not see her. Then she wouldn't think these thoughts.

But she still came back. She still wanted to see how Liang Xiaoqing was doing. Aside from what she thought that feeling was, Liang Xiaoqing truly was like her only family in this world. She dared to believe that no one else in the world would treat her as well as Liang Xiaoqing did. People should be content and grateful.

Jiang Xu often thought: if she and Liang Xiaoqing could go on like this forever, that would be nice too. Let them establish another kind of bond, like blood relations. Would that be enough?

Jiang Xu didn't know. Right now her mind was full of Liang Xiaoqing. She still obeyed Liang Xiaoqing like she did as a child—whatever she was told, she did. If she told her not to leave, she'd stay.

Liang Xiaoqing's lips moved faintly: "Don't go."

A current of warmth surged through Jiang Xu's chest. She scooted forward, took Liang Xiaoqing's hand, and her heart was extraordinarily calm. She bent down to feel Liang Xiaoqing's forehead—burning hot and slightly damp. Jiang Xu spoke with great patience, her tone extremely gentle: "I'm here, Sister Qing."

The grip on her hand grew tighter and tighter. A little puzzled, Jiang Xu lifted her hand and touched Liang Xiaoqing's eyes. To her surprise, the corners were wet.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Xu asked, worried. "Are you crying?"

Her answer was silence. Liang Xiaoqing grabbed her other hand and pressed it to her own chest.

Jiang Xu could only sit there quietly and wait.

After a while, Jiang Xu began to feel sleepy. She'd taken the cheapest train ticket home—24 hours, sitting for most of it. She hadn't slept well, both because it was too noisy and because she'd needed to stay alert at all times. She hadn't even eaten a bite since coming back. Hungry and exhausted, her hand still held by Liang Xiaoqing.

Liang Xiaoqing on the bed had grown still. Jiang Xu sat on the floor, her head resting against the edge of the bed. She closed her eyes and dozed off, her hand still clasped in Liang Xiaoqing's. She had no idea how much time had passed. Jiang Xu opened her eyes again. She probably hadn't slept long. It had just gotten deeper and darker around her.

She got up from the floor, and her hand slipped out of Liang Xiaoqing's.

"Sister Qing." She was annoyed at herself for falling asleep—Liang Xiaoqing still had a fever. How could she fall asleep?

Liang Xiaoqing didn't react. Jiang Xu rubbed her disheveled hair, got up to fetch the medicine for Liang Xiaoqing. The arrangement of the house had never changed. Jiang Xu easily found where the medicine was kept, hastily popped out a fever-reducing pill, poured a cup of warm water, and returned to the room. She didn't want to wake Liang Xiaoqing, but she had to take the medicine. There was no other way.

She sat on the edge of the bed, bent down, and lifted Liang Xiaoqing into her arms. Every muscle in her body was taut, but her voice carried composure: "Sister Qing, Sister Qing, wake up. Take the medicine first, okay?" The voice was almost a murmur, her breath stirring the strands of hair by Liang Xiaoqing's ear.

Liang Xiaoqing's head fell onto her shoulder, and her shoulder dipped with the weight. Jiang Xu had to shake her awake.

Fortunately, Liang Xiaoqing wasn't sleeping too soundly. She woke up and instinctively nuzzled against Jiang Xu's shoulder. Jiang Xu, afraid Liang Xiaoqing would scold her, quickly pulled away and let Liang Xiaoqing lean against the headboard.

"Sister Qing, take the medicine first." Certain that Liang Xiaoqing hadn't noticed the previous moment, Jiang Xu handed her the water and the pill together. Liang Xiaoqing struggled to open her eyes. It was too dark in front of her—she couldn't see anything.

She said in a hoarse voice, "Xiao Xu, turn on the light. I can't see a thing."

"Okay." Jiang Xu set the medicine and water on the nightstand, got up, and turned on the light.

The bedroom light really should have been replaced long ago. It had been used for years and was still stubbornly holding on. By now it was dim, barely illuminating the bed. But that bit of light was enough. Liang Xiaoqing first shielded her eyes with her hand, then adjusted to the brightness.

She saw that she was in bed, saw the familiar arrangement around her, and saw Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu walked slowly toward her, sat on the edge of the bed, at just the right distance.

"Sister Qing."

Her mind became clear. Just by listening to Jiang Xu call her name, she could tell Jiang Xu had changed somewhat. Her voice wasn't as youthful as before, but listening more closely, it hadn't truly changed either. It just sounded different from over the phone.

The pill and water were offered to her. Liang Xiaoqing nodded, put the pill in her mouth, and swallowed it with water.

Jiang Xu relaxed a little and scooted forward: "Sister Qing, are you still sleepy? Do you want to sleep a bit more?"

Liang Xiaoqing nodded first, then shook her head.

She wanted to see Jiang Xu more clearly. By the dim light, she traced her features with her eyes. Her brow and eyes had grown more refined. The baby fat in her face was gone. Her hair, neither short nor long, was casually tucked behind her ear. When she leaned in, her voice had changed too.

Tempered by the big city, Jiang Xu had become more radiant. Her appearance alone made it impossible to tell she was from this little circle. She carried the shimmer of the metropolis, so illusory it felt unreal.

It hadn't been long since their last meeting, yet Jiang Xu's changes could be called earth-shattering. Liang Xiaoqing couldn't say what she felt in her heart.

The words she wanted to say wouldn't come out. She mustered a small smile, looking at Jiang Xu, who had grown up better than she'd imagined. Her heart was filled with both emotion and bitterness.

She instinctively wanted to ruffle Jiang Xu's hair, but found her whole body too weak. So she could only lightly touch her cheek with her hand, her voice not as hoarse as before: "Don't worry. I'm fine."

The light in Jiang Xu's eyes flickered, like light waves on water. She held Liang Xiaoqing's hand, and her cheek brushed against her palm, almost imperceptibly.

"Then sleep a little more, Sister Qing."

Liang Xiaoqing nodded. She lay back down and slept.

Liang Xiaoqing found herself ridiculous, yet also lucky. Jiang Tang made her feel dependence; Jiang Xu made her feel depended upon. It wasn't easy to meet someone who treated you sincerely in life.

The car accident took Jiang Tang's life. Before that, she'd always believed Jiang Tang was capable of anything. She never expected Jiang Tang's life to be so fragile. She hated herself, she hated her parents. She once felt that she had caused Jiang Tang's misfortune. She fell into repeated self-doubt—she didn't deserve a sincere relationship. From the initial pain to later numbness, to what she believed was going through the motions, she didn't know how to let go of Jiang Tang's departure. She even felt she should have left with Jiang Tang.

Just at that critical juncture, she met Jiang Xu. At first, she thought the child was pitiful. Later, she seemed to make her her anchor. She raised her into adulthood, so that she wouldn't lose all connection to the outside world. Her past experiences had caused her immense pain that she couldn't vent or digest. Only when she was with Jiang Xu did she feel a little better, feel that she was still alive, that she hadn't lost everything.

She once regarded Jiang Xu as her closest existence, but overlooked that this little girl was also slowly growing up. One day, the girl would say so recklessly that she liked her... This nearly plunged her back into her old pain.

Did Jiang Xu really like her? Was she worthy of Jiang Xu's liking? She knew full well these were the words of an immature child, yet for a moment she was dazed and almost believed it. Was it Jiang Tang returning to her in another form? Was it Jiang Tang who couldn't bear to part with her? Otherwise, why would she have met Jiang Xu...

Such absurd thoughts tortured her for days without a good night's sleep. When she saw Jiang Xu's shy yet desperately concealed behavior—such actions were actually quite obvious to an adult—she suddenly felt as if she'd been slapped awake.

Jiang Tang wasn't Jiang Xu, and Jiang Xu could never be Jiang Tang. She was too despicable, and it seemed she had never truly grown up.

Liang Xiaoqing cried bitterly once. The way she handled it was so immature. She was afraid Jiang Xu would say such things again, afraid that unpredictable things would happen to another person, just as her parents had said—no good would come of it. These sorts of relationships never had a good ending.

Fortunately, Jiang Xu backed off in the face of difficulty, or perhaps it was Jiang Xu's illusion. Liang Xiaoqing understood that feeling. When everyone left her, the only one she could rely on was her. She simply had no choice. She had no concept of her own feelings at all.

Liang Xiaoqing understood it all, so she rationally distanced herself from Jiang Xu, so that Jiang Xu wouldn't have any psychological burden. At the very least, she had to get Jiang Xu safely through high school.

That's what she thought at the time. Then things developed as she wished. Jiang Xu got into a pretty good university, and her studies no longer required her worry. Even on the day she escorted Jiang Xu to university, Jiang Xu thanked her very sincerely and said that in the future, she would repay her.

"Sister Qing, you'll always be my Sister Qing."

She didn't dare speculate too much on what those words meant. But she knew Jiang Xu was a good child. Quiet children who kept things bottled up were the ones most likely to suffer. They didn't know sweet talk.

People naturally favored sweet-tongued children. In her spare time, Liang Xiaoqing had also thought about Yang Man's words. She wasn't too certain about Jiang Xu's feelings for her either, because Jiang Xu's attitude toward her was hard to read. Sometimes she'd fall into this paradox, but looking back, she'd never actually wanted anything from Jiang Xu. And Jiang Xu had always been grateful.

Honestly, Jiang Xu was sensible most of the time and didn't need much worrying over.

Except for that one matter that had grieved her. But given Jiang Xu's current experiences, that was just a small episode in her life.

She'd deliberately observed: Jiang Xu hadn't shown her any moment of discomfort since then. She could feel Jiang Xu's deliberate distance. If high school had meant Jiang Xu still needed her, then by university, Jiang Xu no longer needed her at all.

She could support herself, had new goals, and worked toward them. She should be happy and comforted. But occasionally, she couldn't suppress her sadness. Her only expectation was the occasional call from Jiang Xu.

That way, she could be sure Jiang Xu hadn't completely left her. It was like a mother bird waiting in the nest, worried at all times whether the fledgling outside was facing grievances or difficulties, though she herself had no way of knowing.

She waited in the nest, craning her neck for the day the fledgling would come home.

Liang Xiaoqing had no doubt about this feeling. But faintly, she keenly noticed a change in herself—though it occupied only a tiny part of her feelings for Jiang Xu.

She began to feel something was off, but she was helpless. She could only think more broadly: not every feeling needed a resolution. She became less obsessed with finding an answer.

She hoped Jiang Xu would grow up steadily and never have to go through what she had.

But Jiang Xu's distant departure still gave her an inexplicable sense of panic. She could feel Jiang Xu slowly pulling away. And the "small detail" in her heart found new soil, quietly taking root and sprouting, without even she herself noticing.

She felt tormented by it, doubted herself, and on sleepless nights felt despicable and shameful, shedding bitter tears.

This change was almost uncontrollable. Liang Xiaoqing felt that having lived this long, she was regressing. She didn't seem to have become more mature, nor had she truly escaped from the past.

It was only reason that kept pulling at the string in her mind.

She slept very deeply. She dreamed a series of bizarre dreams. When she opened her eyes, she found the corners of her eyes wet, but when she tried to recall what she'd dreamed, she couldn't remember.

When her mind cleared, her head was only a little foggy, not as painful. It must have been the medicine.

It was pitch-black around her. Only a small lamp on the nightstand glowed faintly, letting her see her surroundings a little. She could hear the wind slapping against the glass, rattling the window frame as if it might fall apart. She was covered in a thick quilt, tucked in snugly, with warm hands and feet. She lay in bed for a while, staring blankly at the dark ceiling, the sound of "crackling" in her ears.

This made her worry the window would be blown off by the wind. This room was too old; everything was worn out. Liang Xiaoqing often thought about replacing some furniture at home.

She touched her forehead. It wasn't very hot anymore, just covered in a thin layer of sweat, slightly damp to the touch. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Besides the sound of the wind outside, Liang Xiaoqing vaguely heard something else—coming from outside the bedroom.

"Thump, thump, thump." Someone was using a cutting board. Maybe because she hadn't slept well lately and her mind was often foggy, her illness had actually been a blessing in disguise, letting her sleep well. It should be deep into the night by now, but her mind was growing clearer and clearer.

She thought the house should only have her in it. So why were there other sounds? She slowly sat up in bed. Her eyes caught the suitcase by the bedside, and she paused. She remembered: Jiang Xu was back. Then the one making the noise must be Jiang Xu.

So late at night, what could Jiang Xu be doing? Why wasn't she asleep? Liang Xiaoqing couldn't help but start worrying again. It had become her habit, impossible to break.

Dragging her sickly body, she walked out. She'd removed the curtain at the bedroom door because it was too much trouble. At first, she'd put up a bead curtain because it looked nice and offered some privacy, since another person had moved into the house.

Later, she felt it was no longer necessary.

Leaving the room, Liang Xiaoqing followed the sound. The small living room had no lights on. What was lit was the kitchen—only large enough for one person. On the stove sat two pots, one of them bubbling away, steam rising continuously. A figure was bustling around inside.

It was Jiang Xu. She'd grown a bit taller and thinner. She'd probably gotten home and not eaten yet, so she was cooking herself a meal.

Liang Xiaoqing felt a little guilty. Since Jiang Xu had started university, they rarely saw each other, and even phone calls were few and far between. The rare time Jiang Xu came all the way back, she had to be sick and let Jiang Xu take care of her. She couldn't even make Jiang Xu a meal.

The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt. She couldn't help but think of how Jiang Xu almost never asked her for money now. That card was specially left for Jiang Xu in case she didn't have enough. Ever since high school graduation, Jiang Xu hadn't asked her for money. Back in high school, no matter how embarrassed Jiang Xu was, she'd occasionally ask. Now Jiang Xu never took her money. She earned her own tuition and living expenses. In a certain sense, Jiang Xu no longer needed her. Whether she came back or not was entirely her own choice. And when she'd helped Jiang Xu initially, it was just to make her life better.

Thinking this, Liang Xiaoqing seemed to feel a little relieved.

Under the warm lamplight, Liang Xiaoqing felt that place was warmer than where she was.

"Xiao Xu." Her voice was still a bit hoarse. "What are you making?"

Jiang Xu probably hadn't expected her to wake up and was startled: "Sister Qing?" She turned around, her face a little flustered. "You're awake."

"Mm." Liang Xiaoqing walked over to Jiang Xu and saw she was washing the cutting board. "Are you hungry?"

As if to confirm Liang Xiaoqing's words, Jiang Xu's stomach growled loudly at the worst possible moment.

Jiang Xu quickly covered her stomach and muttered in defense, "Not entirely."

Liang Xiaoqing laughed. "You didn't eat much on the way back, did you?"

Jiang Xu nodded.

The steam rose, blurring both their faces. Jiang Xu turned off the stove, then pulled Liang Xiaoqing out. She led her to the dining table, then went to turn on the light herself. The small living room was much brighter. As soon as the light came on, the whole place was lit up, dispelling the cold darkness that had long lingered.

So now she could see Jiang Xu more clearly. Perhaps because she'd been rushing to cook, there was something smudged on her face. Jiang Xu stood neither far nor near. She called Jiang Xu over, and Jiang Xu came. Liang Xiaoqing gestured for her to sit beside her, pulled a tissue from the table, pinched a corner, stood up, bent down, and carefully wiped Jiang Xu's cheek: "There's something dirty on your face. Let me wipe it for you. Don't move."

Just as Jiang Xu was about to dodge, her words made her stop. She whispered, "I can do it myself."

"Can you even see it?"

Liang Xiaoqing wiped it carefully. Once Jiang Xu's face was clean, she smiled and said, "There."

She looked up and met Jiang Xu's gaze. Only then did she realize how close they were. Shallow breaths brushed against her face. Liang Xiaoqing's heart skipped a beat. She felt annoyed at herself for lacking a sense of boundaries.

She quickly pulled away, though the faint breath seemed to linger on her face. She folded the tissue into a small square, her expression not too flustered, and kept her hands busy, tossing the tissue into the trash. Fortunately, Jiang Xu had kept her eyes lowered the whole time and wasn't looking at her.

After a moment, Jiang Xu stood up and spoke a little cautiously: "Sister Qing, did I wake you?"

Liang Xiaoqing also stood up and said, "No, I woke up naturally."

She changed the subject: "What did you cook? It smells pretty good."

Jiang Xu then remembered, her eyes widening slightly: "I made porridge, Sister Qing."

She looked at Liang Xiaoqing seriously: "I made it especially for you, Sister Qing. You have a fever. I thought you might want some porridge when you woke up."

"..."

Liang Xiaoqing didn't know what to say. Jiang Xu really hadn't changed. She was just like before.

Jiang Xu felt she might have said something wrong and said, "I'll go check the kitchen." And left. She was afraid Liang Xiaoqing would notice something. She somewhat regretted coming back on a whim. She hadn't yet learned to control her feelings. She didn't want to see a complicated, pained expression on Liang Xiaoqing's face. She vaguely sensed that Liang Xiaoqing's past hadn't been smooth.

She just wanted to come back and see her.

She didn't want to cause Liang Xiaoqing any trouble.

She took a deep breath, her back sagging like a wilted flower. She pressed her lips together slightly, ladled out a bowl for each of them, and when she brought them over, Liang Xiaoqing was still sitting there.

Jiang Xu placed the porridge in front of Liang Xiaoqing: "Sister Qing, have some porridge. It should make you feel better."

Liang Xiaoqing nodded. "Thank you." She also told Jiang Xu to eat with her.

The porridge was still hot, too hot to eat. Liang Xiaoqing stirred it along the edge of the bowl, and the steam spread further. Jiang Xu sat beside her and had already started eating—it was clear she was truly starving.

She asked, "Next time you come back, you could buy some snacks to eat on the way. Otherwise, being hungry for the whole trip must be awful."

Jiang Xu nodded.

Liang Xiaoqing actually wanted to ask another question, but she hesitated, unable to speak. She looked at Jiang Xu, whose face was blurred by the steam. Liang Xiaoqing seemed to see the little girl who was always so cautious beside her when she was young.

Jiang Xu seemed to notice her gaze, turned to look at her, and asked, "Sister Qing, why aren't you eating? Is it not very good?"

Liang Xiaoqing quickly took a bite and smiled: "How could it not be good?"

Jiang Xu said, "That's good." At that moment, she felt coming back was the right choice.

In fact, Jiang Xu hadn't come back just to see Liang Xiaoqing. She also had her own little thoughts.