As the thunderous crash sounded, a rip tore across the horizon.
Like a twisting dragon, a jagged bolt of lightning suddenly lit up the entire sky.
It’s a thunderstorm!
And judging by where the lightning struck, it was extremely close to the family compound.
Fang Shuqin hurriedly grabbed Song Tian and pulled her inside. “It’s probably going to pour, Xiao Tiancai. Don’t stand outside—what if lightning strikes you?”
Hearing this, Song Tian panicked even more.
The family compound’s drainage was poor. If it rained heavily, every yard would flood, and anything on the ground could be washed away.
If she didn’t find the missing part now, after the storm, it would be impossible.
This was the bicycle Fang Shuqin had specially bought for her.
And it had only been ridden once.
“I’ll keep looking,” Song Tian said, burying her head and continuing to search the ground.
Fang Shuqin was frantic.
Lightning could really kill a person.
She had heard from the neighbors that a couple of years ago, someone nearby had been struck dead—found charred to a crisp!
She was still thinking about it when another bolt of lightning struck, even closer this time, seemingly about to hit the yard.
“What are you standing there for? Bring Xiao Tiancai inside!” Fang Shuqin urged.
Lu Beizhen’s face was cold as he stepped in front of Song Tian. “Inside.”
“Wait, I just need another minute to look!” Song Tian pleaded, her hands still searching the ground.
Crash!
Another thunderclap, so close it seemed to shake their ears.
“Inside!” the man said coldly.
Song Tian agreed verbally, “Okay, I’ll go now.”
She said it, but she didn’t move, her hands still rifling through the ground.
Lu Beizhen’s eyes narrowed sharply. Without another word, he bent down, scooped Song Tian into his arms, and strode toward the house.
Song Tian, small and delicate in his embrace, flailed like a tiny fish in a jar—she couldn’t escape no matter how much she struggled.
Fang Shuqin covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
The brat’s finally clever—he even knows how to carry his wife!
Suddenly, huge raindrops began pelting down, blurring the world in white mist in an instant.
The poorly drained ground quickly became a sheet of water, with layers of rain splashing everywhere.
Song Tian had wanted to keep searching on the ground, but seeing this, she froze in disbelief.
At this point, finding the missing part was basically impossible.
Her beautiful apricot-colored eyes misted over, like the rain outside.
Lu Beizhen’s gaze lingered on her eyes; his thin lips lifted slightly, but he said nothing.
Fang Shuqin patted her shoulder sympathetically. “It’s okay, Xiao Tiancai. If this bike can’t be fixed, Mom will buy you a new one later!”
Song Tian suddenly had an idea.
She was working at the machinery factory now—parts were not hard to come by.
If she could draw up the schematics, she could have the machine make the part herself. Then the bike could be repaired!
Without hesitation, she dashed upstairs to draw the schematics.
Fang Shuqin watched her rush away, guilt gnawing at her. “It’s all my fault. If only I had a bicycle coupon, we wouldn’t have had to buy a secondhand one… and now it’s broken.”
Sigh!
Where could she get a bicycle coupon now?
Fang Shuqin scolded herself and went back inside to check the tickets she had, figuring out how to trade for a bicycle coupon.
Lu Beizhen went upstairs.
Pushing open the bedroom door, he saw Song Tian bent over the desk, her head low, as if… crying?
His steps froze.
He really didn’t know how to comfort anyone.
Hearing him, Song Tian turned her head, puzzled. “Commander Lu, is something wrong?”
He noticed her eyes were red, like a frightened rabbit’s.
“…Sleep. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to the machinery factory,” he said with a nod.
Wait, why was he taking her to work?
Song Tian widened her eyes and shook her head to refuse.
But Lu Beizhen had already walked away.
Fine.
It was probably Fang Shuqin’s idea. After all, the storm had left the roads muddy.
Without her bicycle, she’d have to walk to the bus stop and get filthy.
Hitching a ride wasn’t bad—better than showing up at work covered in mud the next day.
With that, Song Tian returned to her paper, sketching and drawing.
But the tungsten lamp was harsh, and she had to wipe her eyes often—they burned terribly.
Finally finishing the schematics, her eyes were swollen and sore. Dawn was breaking.
Checking the time—it was 5 a.m.
Song Tian got up, planning to make breakfast.
She was on her period, and Fang Shuqin hadn’t allowed her to cook until now.
Time was early, so she decided to make a healthful corn porridge that took longer to prepare.
For a light morning side dish, she cut some potatoes, blanched them, stir-fried them lightly, then sprinkled a little vinegar and salt.
With the dish ready, the corn porridge was done.
Song Tian took a bowl, preparing to set it on the table to cool.
Turning her head, she saw Lu Beizhen leaning silently against the kitchen door, watching her.
His tall figure made the kitchen doorway seem narrow and cramped.
And her in the kitchen looked almost trapped.
Song Tian’s heart skipped. She didn’t hold the bowl steadily—hot porridge spilled on her fingertips.
It burned!
Her cute face scrunched up, and she hurriedly placed the bowl on the counter.
The pain in her fingers continued.
Instinctively, she reached to touch her ear.
But Lu Beizhen had already grabbed her hand, pulling her to the sink, turning on the cold water to rinse the burn.
The sticky porridge covered her fingers.
He pressed his calloused fingertips against hers, rubbing gently to wash it away.
He seemed unaware that he had her pinned between him and the sink.
His long arms wrapped around her from behind, holding her so close she nearly melted into his embrace.
Her head rested under his jaw; leaning slightly, she could smell a faint, fresh fragrance.
What kind of soap was she using? The scent was unfamiliar.
Leaning in closer, he noticed her eyes—swollen like walnuts, almost reduced to a slit, dark bruises underneath.
“You didn’t sleep last night?” he asked.
Song Tian stifled a yawn. “Mm.”
Drawing the part required precise data. Hand-sketching made it even harder, with countless corrections.
Being able to finish it in one night relied entirely on the solid foundation she built in school.
Lu Beizhen’s thin lips pressed tightly.
This woman cried all night over a broken bicycle?
At that moment, Fang Shuqin got up too.
Seeing Song Tian’s swollen, red eyes, she immediately realized she’d cried the whole night.
Her heart ached.
Without a word, she went outside.
The storm had wrecked everyone’s yards in the compound, and people were cleaning up.
Fang Shuqin carried her box of tickets and began asking around which households had bicycle coupons and what it would take to trade for one.
When she got to Jiang Xiaoyu’s house, she skipped them entirely.
Bad luck!
Even if she knelt on the curb begging for a bicycle coupon, she wouldn’t dare ask this mother and daughter.
Xiaoyu’s mom had already been watching Fang Shuqin going door to door from the window.
She had been planning to knock on their door herself, but Fang Shuqin bypassed them.
Curiosity piqued, Xiaoyu’s mom ran out to ask a neighbor.
The neighbor, knowing her temper, told the truth to avoid future trouble.
Xiaoyu’s mom’s eyes widened; she dashed back inside, grabbed the still-sleeping Jiang Xiaoyu, and said, “Girl, wake up! Mom has huge news to tell you!”