After Zhou Wan replied with an "Mm," Lu Xixiao arrived at the arcade in less than fifteen minutes.
He seemed to have just woken up, with faint red marks on the side of his face and slightly messy hair. His drowsiness and weariness made his entire demeanor appear even colder and more distant. Dressed in black from head to toe, he exuded an icy aura.
Had he just woken up even though it was already dark outside?
He walked straight up to Zhou Wan, pulling out his wallet with one hand while lighting a cigarette with the other, then placed five hundred yuan on her counter.
Zhou Wan loaded the five hundred yuan onto his game card and handed it back to him. "Done."
Lu Xixiao didn’t leave. He remained leaning against the counter, smoking with a roguish air, then lifted his eyes to look at Zhou Wan. His gaze held no discernible emotion, like a deep, still pond.
More often than not, Zhou Wan felt that Lu Xixiao wasn’t someone who enjoyed crowds. Even though he had plenty of loud, boisterous friends and was never short of female attention, he always seemed indifferent to it all.
Like now, having just woken up, the facade of frivolity and sociability was stripped away, revealing an unadorned coldness that seeped into him, immersing him in an aura of detached darkness.
He raised an eyebrow. "Don’t recognize me?"
Zhou Wan called his name: "Lu Xixiao."
He smirked, his voice hoarse as if he had a cold.
But then again, wearing so little in this cold weather, it was no surprise he’d caught one.
He flicked the ash from his cigarette and tilted his chin slightly. "So you’re pretending not to know me?"
"…"
Zhou Wan didn’t understand what he meant.
Was he referring to her not clinging to him like other girls did, or to that afternoon during the break when she had seen him but acted as if she hadn’t?
After a pause, Zhou Wan lowered her eyelashes and asked softly, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
She was very direct.
Lu Xixiao frowned, as if puzzled by her question. "No."
Then, recalling the scene from that afternoon, he added, "That one wasn’t."
"…"
Zhou Wan was taken aback. Unconsciously, she twisted her fingers. "Oh."
She had to prepare for the Physics Competition soon and couldn’t afford to be distracted by Lu Xixiao, so she quickly buried herself in solving practice problems.
Meanwhile, Lu Xixiao played games nearby. He was already familiar with all the machines and easily won a large number of Arcade Tickets.
Girls around watched in awe, whispering among themselves.
Lu Xixiao was undoubtedly attractive to girls his age.
Some mustered the courage to ask for his contact information, but Lu Xixiao declined them all, indifferent and casual.
Zhou Wan heard the commotion, glanced over briefly, then lowered her head again.
After finishing two Competition papers, the light in front of her was blocked.
She looked up.
Lu Xixiao stood before her, placing a thick stack of Arcade Tickets on her desk.
"So many…" Zhou Wan was startled.
Lu Xixiao tapped the counter. "Off work yet?"
Zhou Wan checked the time and realized it was already 11 p.m. The arcade was empty except for the two of them.
"I’m off," Zhou Wan said. "Let me record your Points first."
It took several minutes just to input the thick stack of tickets. Zhou Wan saw the machine display a total of 40,000 Points. "Do you want to redeem them?"
He pulled out a cigarette and tapped it on the counter. "Just save them."
Zhou Wan returned his game card to him, but he still didn’t leave. He waited for her to pack her things, and when she walked out of the arcade, he left with her.
He exhaled a puff of smoke.
He actually looked quite attractive when he smoked.
Zhou Wan watched the hollow of his cheek as he took a drag and said softly, "You’re always smoking."He lowered his gaze. "Did the smoke bother you?"
Zhou Wan shook her head gently.
Guo Xiangling smoked. Back when they were poor, she smoked those slim, elegant women's cigarettes, but the smoke was particularly pungent. Zhou Wan had grown accustomed to the smell since childhood.
The two of them walked together along the quiet, empty street.
After the autumn rain, the ground was covered with withered yellow leaves that rustled beneath their feet.
Lu Xixiao suddenly asked, "Want some noodles?"
Zhou Wan paused mid-step, then nodded. "Okay."
It was the same old noodle shop. This time, Uncle Kang didn't even ask for their order, simply calling out to the small kitchen, "Two bowls of Three Treasure Noodles!"
Zhou Wan rushed to pay again.
Noticing Lu Xixiao's gaze on her, Zhou Wan thought he might not like it when girls did this. After a moment's hesitation, she explained softly, "You've spent so much at the arcade. I get commission from it, so I should treat you."
He raised an eyebrow.
Zhou Wan thought for a moment, then added, "Though for now, I can only afford to treat you to something cheap."
He laughed. "Fine. Treat me to something expensive next time."
When he was in a good mood, such ambiguous remarks came effortlessly to him—no wonder so many girls couldn't get over him.
Lu Xixiao wasn't much of a talker, and neither was Zhou Wan. They finished their noodles in silence before getting up to leave.
He had walked her home once before; this was the second time.
Zhou Wan didn't think he was specifically seeing her home—it was probably just convenient.
But... Guo Xiangling didn't live around here anymore, did she?
This area was mostly old buildings, far from the developing downtown where Guo Xiangling now lived—the place with the highest property prices currently.
Zhou Wan could only think of one explanation.
Lu Xixiao had moved out on his own.
It wasn't hard to guess—he seemed to despise Guo Xiangling.
"Lu Xixiao." Zhou Wan jogged a few steps forward to catch up with him.
He glanced sideways at her.
"Do you live around here too?"
"I live alone," he said. "A bit further ahead."
Just as she thought.
Further down the street past the old residential area stood several old buildings, including some small Western-style houses that had seen better days. Though they couldn't compare to modern villas, those houses had been the height of fashion twenty years ago.
He probably lived in one of those old houses.
When they reached Zhou Wan's home, she waved at Lu Xixiao. "I'm going in now. Goodbye."
He responded with a faint "Mm."
Zhou Wan entered the building, then glanced back at him once more before finally looking away.
The old complex had no elevator. She ran upstairs, stomping hard at the corner to trigger the motion-sensor lights. They lit up one after another until the one on her floor—the third—remained dark, broken.
Zhou Wan unlocked the door and entered. "Grandma?"
No response.
Was she asleep?
It was rare for her not to be feeling unwell today. She must be sleeping peacefully.
Zhou Wan set down her backpack, rubbed her eyes, and planned to stay up late doing more practice problems. It was then that she faintly heard rapid, labored breathing coming from her grandmother's bedroom.
Zhou Wan's heart leaped into her throat. She rushed into the room.
Her white-haired grandmother was curled up on the floor, struggling to breathe as if unable to draw air. Her fingers were clenched tightly over her heart, and there was vomit on the floor.
Zhou Wan threw herself down, cradling her grandmother in her arms. "Grandma, Grandma... what's wrong? Don't scare me..."
The elderly woman's face was deathly pale, her forehead beaded with large drops of sweat, her body wracked by continuous spasms.
Having never encountered such a situation before, Zhou Wan was thrown into panic and helplessness. All her usual calm and composure vanished—she couldn't imagine how she would manage without her grandmother.If even Grandma were to leave, she would truly be left all alone.
Lu Xixiao hadn't gone far.
Since going home would only mean returning to an empty, silent house devoid of human presence, he wasn't in a hurry to head back.
Suddenly, he heard a voice calling from behind.
"Lu Xixiao!"
It was the first time he had seen Zhou Wan like this—tear-streaked, her breathing ragged and broken, teetering on the edge of collapse.
She clutched Lu Xixiao's wrist tightly, as if grasping the last piece of driftwood in a vast ocean, her voice choked and trembling: "My grandma—my grandma is acting strange, like she can't breathe. What do I do, Lu Xixiao, what do I do..."
"Zhou Wan."
Lu Xixiao placed his hands on her shoulders, bent down, and stared straight into her eyes. His dark pupils were like swamps, pulling her in.
His voice was calm, composed, and firm. "Did you call an ambulance?"
Under his gaze, Zhou Wan slowly regained her composure and immediately pulled out her phone to dial 120.
The sound of the ambulance siren pierced the quiet night sky.
Fortunately, Dr. Chen was on duty that night. Familiar with Grandma's medical condition, he quickly took her into the emergency room for oxygen therapy and heart rate monitoring.
Zhou Wan stood outside the operating room, drenched in cold sweat, still reeling from the earlier shock. Her face was pale, and she had unconsciously bitten her lower lip so hard that a blood mark had formed.
Lu Xixiao stood nearby, watching her.
Seeing the blood mark deepen, almost to the point of bleeding, he stepped forward and raised his hand. His cool, tobacco-scented fingertips gently brushed her cheek.
Zhou Wan snapped back to reality, abruptly looking up at him, finally releasing her lip.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Wan asked.
"Nothing." Lu Xixiao withdrew his hand, slipping it into his pocket, and said lightly, "I'm going downstairs for a bit."
"Okay."
After a pause, Zhou Wan added, "Thank you."
Lu Xixiao didn't respond, turning to head downstairs.
Zhou Wan assumed he had gone home, but to her surprise, he returned in just over ten minutes, holding two bottles of water.
He unscrewed one and handed it to her.
Zhou Wan thanked him and took a sip, the dry sensation in her mouth and throat instantly relieved.
The green light in the emergency room remained on. Outside, the two of them waited—Zhou Wan sitting, Lu Xixiao leaning lazily against the wall—both quiet, neither speaking.
Zhou Wan knew that, out of courtesy, she should have told Lu Xixiao to go home first, that he didn't need to stay with her.
But she simply didn't have the energy to spare for even a single word to him.
Besides, there was another reason—she was afraid.
She was afraid that today might truly bring bad news, sealing her fate of being alone from then on. At the very least, if she had to face that reality, she wanted someone by her side.
As it turned out, Lu Xixiao was the best companion.
His presence was strong; even just standing there, he couldn't be ignored.
Yet he was quiet, standing silently nearby without disturbing her.
Every second felt like torture until the operating room light finally went out.
A nurse came out and said everything had gone smoothly.
Zhou Wan felt all the strength drain from her body. The tension that had gripped her nerves finally eased, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.
What followed was another round of busy running around. Grandma was settled into a hospital room, and Zhou Wan went to Dr. Chen's office to inquire about her condition.
Even late at night, the hospital was still filled with people, each one a testament to the pain and suffering of human existence.
After handling everything, Zhou Wan suddenly remembered she hadn't paid for the surgery yet.
Dr. Chen raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You've already paid."
Zhou Wan was taken aback.
Dr. Chen pulled up the records on his computer. "Look, you even paid for two weeks of the hospital room.""But I didn't pay."
Just then a nurse walked in: "It was that boy who was with you during the surgery—he went downstairs to pay."
Zhou Wan froze.
Lu Xixiao?
When he went downstairs earlier, he hadn't just bought water—he'd also paid her medical expenses.
In that moment, Zhou Wan felt a tumult of emotions.
She asked the nurse how much it was, intending to repay Lu Xixiao later, but fell silent upon hearing the amount—she couldn't come up with that much money right away.
After leaving the office, Zhou Wan went to check on Grandma in the ward.
Lu Xixiao had paid for a private room.
The room was quiet, allowing for proper rest.
Grandma hadn't woken yet as the surgical anesthesia hadn't worn off. Zhou Wan poured a glass of water and placed it by the bedside before leaving the room. She sent Lu Xixiao a message.
[Zhou Wan: Where are you?]
After a moment, Lu Xixiao replied.
[6: Downstairs.]
Zhou Wan found him at the hospital entrance.
Smoking was prohibited inside the hospital, so the open area outside had become the default smoking section. Lu Xixiao had a cigarette between his lips but hadn't lit it yet. The cigarette bobbed up and down between his teeth as he stood tall and carefree under the moonlight.
"Lu Xixiao."
He turned around but didn't speak.
"Thank you." Zhou Wan expressed her gratitude solemnly.
He gave a faint smile. "You've been saying that to me all night."
"This time it's for paying my medical expenses." Zhou Wan looked at him. "But I can't pay you back right away. Can I give you the money after I've saved up enough?"
"No need." He lowered his head, shielding the wind with one hand as he lit the cigarette, responding casually. "You treated me to noodles too."
Zhou Wan paused, then said softly, "But that's nowhere near the same amount."
"Same thing."
Zhou Wan knew he wasn't short on money.
Perhaps those medical fees were truly insignificant to him, but she couldn't think that way. No one was obligated to help her.
Still, Lu Xixiao seemed very different from what she'd previously assumed.
She used to think he was reckless and self-indulgent—fickle, unfeeling, surrounded by dubious friends, getting into fights, indulging in revelry, and treating life as a game. Someone so openly casual that he didn't care about most people or things.
That was why she had tentatively considered using him to get back at Guo Xiangling.
After all, he wouldn't develop feelings for her or get hurt.
If everything went according to plan, it would only take a month—none of Lu Xixiao's girlfriends lasted longer than that.
Just one month, and she could take revenge on Guo Xiangling, then part ways with Lu Xixiao amicably, each going their separate paths.
But now, she realized Lu Xixiao wasn't what he appeared to be.
He was actually quite thoughtful and had become Grandma's savior.
Lu Xixiao held the cigarette between his fingers and sat down on the steps, glancing at her sideways. "Sit for a while."
Zhou Wan sat beside him, somewhat restrained, her hands properly placed on her knees.
The autumn breeze felt pleasant, though her face felt dry from crying earlier. Zhou Wan wiped her cheeks and said softly, "Lu Xixiao."
"Hm?"
"Do you like being in relationships?" she suddenly asked.
Lu Xixiao turned his head, his gaze turning playful as he looked at her.
But Zhou Wan's expression remained calm and straightforward, her eyes clear.
Lu Xixiao looked away and smiled faintly. "No."
"Then why have you had so many girlfriends?"
"Boredom."
"Did you actually like any of them?"
He didn't answer, only gave a noncommittal smile, utterly indifferent.
Zhou Wan understood his response and changed the subject. "Aren't you going back yet?""Mm-hm."
"......"
After a while, Zhou Wan asked again, "Why do you live alone?"
"Moved out a long time ago." Lu Xixiao gave a faint, ambiguous smile. "Besides, my dad's already brought women home. Out of sight, out of mind."
He spoke with brutal directness.
Zhou Wan picked at the hangnail on her finger, accidentally drawing blood. She lifted her hand to her lips and pressed down, the metallic taste of blood spreading between her teeth.
Her eyelashes fluttered. "Do you hate that woman?"
"That woman has nothing to do with me. I just can't stand Lu Zhongyue's behavior."
Lu Xixiao leaned back with his hands braced behind him, chin tilted up. The lines of his jaw were clean, his Adam's apple sharp—a lethal kind of sharpness that could kill without drawing blood.
Around them, people hurried in and out of the hospital.
In an eerily calm voice, he said, "Lu Zhongyue betrayed my mother and caused her death. That's why I can't bear to see him happy."
Zhou Wan froze.
She knew his parents were divorced, but this was the first time she learned that his mother was no longer alive.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, lowering her head.
Lu Xixiao glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Besides 'thank you' and 'sorry,' what else do you know how to say?"
"......"
Zhou Wan gazed at the stars in the sky. The haze was heavy today, making even the stars appear dim and gloomy.
"Lu Xixiao." She fixed her eyes on the brightest star, Polaris, as if trying to find her direction forward. "What would you do if someone betrayed you?"
Lu Xixiao shot her a glance, chuckled lightly, and answered with casual, almost joking indifference, "I'd destroy her."
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