The next day was a rare weekend. Just as the sky was beginning to faintly brighten, Su Nuonuo had already woken up. Although there was no early morning self-study class, she was going to look for Lu Zhiye.
Thinking that she would soon go find Lu Zhiye, the feeling in her heart, which had just settled, began to surge again uncontrollably with excitement.
She quickly got up and went to wash up. In the mirror, the girl’s cheeks carried a hint of excited red.
The March wind had already lost its chill. She took out that light apricot-colored dress and layered it with a soft white knitted cardigan. As the hem of the skirt fell naturally, it made her entire presence appear much gentler.
It was really nice—her mother was accompanying her father on a business trip today.
She no longer had to rack her brains to fabricate lies, no longer had to find excuses in front of her mother, and no longer had to feel that faint guilt after sneaking out.
In her previous life, her mother had been strict, and it had caused her to miss Lu Zhiye.
Back then, she had resented it—resented her mother’s forcefulness, resented the constant pressure.
So after Lu Zhiye left, she did not discuss it with her family and moved into the old house where he and Grandpa Lu had lived, stubbornly guarding that empty home and stubbornly insisting on taking care of Grandpa Lu until the end of his life.
But in this life, she gradually realized that her mother did not seem as unreasonable as she had once thought.
Just like today—her mother was also not at home in both her past and present lives. She could have taken advantage of that to go find Lu Zhiye, yet she did not.
And in the previous few times, when she casually made up excuses like “going to the library to study,” her mother had believed them without difficulty.
It turned out that what had trapped her was never her mother’s strictness—it had always been her own weakness and hesitation.
Su Nuonuo shook her head vigorously, tossing all those heavy memories to the back of her mind.
In the next second, light returned to her eyes.
This life was different—she would no longer leave any regrets.
She turned into the alley and entered the familiar breakfast shop.
From a distance, warm yellow light could be seen glowing through the shop’s glass window.
Grandpa Lu was wearing a gray apron, standing in front of the oil pan and busy at work. The sizzling sounds of frying were accompanied by the aroma of fried dough sticks drifting far into the distance.
And Lu Zhiye, who should have still been sleeping in, was actually wearing a simple T-shirt as well. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms as he lowered his head to seal a freshly packed cup of soy milk. His movements were efficient, and the broken strands of hair at his forehead curled slightly from the heat.
Hearing footsteps, Grandpa Lu was the first to look up. When he saw her, the wrinkles on his face folded into a bright smile:
“Nuonuo’s here? Come in quickly.”
Lu Zhiye’s movements paused for a moment. Just for a second, he continued what he was doing as if nothing had happened, though the tips of his ears quietly turned red.
He did not turn around, yet he could accurately distinguish her footsteps—step by step, as though they were stepping directly onto his heart.
Su Nuonuo tugged lightly at the hem of her clothes and softly replied, “Good morning, Grandpa,” though her gaze couldn’t help but linger on Lu Zhiye.
He usually carried an aloof, hard-to-approach demeanor at school.
But at this moment, standing amidst the warmth and liveliness of the shop, with traces of soy milk on his fingers, the lines of his side profile appeared much softer, giving off an indescribably gentle impression.
“Freshly fried—you’ve got to eat them while they’re crispy!” Grandpa Lu skillfully lifted a fried dough stick, wiped off the oil with absorbent paper, and handed it to her.
He then gestured toward Lu Zhiye’s direction and said, “This kid got up early today, insisted on helping me out. From what I see, he was waiting for you to come.”
At those words, Su Nuonuo’s face instantly flushed bright red.
Lu Zhiye, as though having his thoughts exposed, sped up his movements slightly. The redness on his ears deepened, and he muttered in a low voice, “Grandpa.”
Grandpa Lu laughed even more heartily and turned back to his work.
Su Nuonuo took a bite of the fried dough stick—it was crispy and fragrant, making her eyes narrow with delight.
She secretly glanced up and met Lu Zhiye’s gaze.
His eyes were not as cold as they were at school; instead, they carried an indescribable warmth.
That glance caused her heart to skip a beat. She quickly lowered her head and pretended to focus on eating the fried dough stick.
Lu Zhiye looked at the swirl of hair at the top of her head, his throat rolling. In the end, he could not help but speak. His voice was lower than usual, slightly hoarse:
“…The pan-fried dumplings from yesterday were pretty good.”
Su Nuonuo suddenly lifted her head, her eyes shining like stars.
He turned his face away, the redness on his ears spreading all the way down to his neck.
His hands did not stop moving. He sealed another cup of soy milk and handed it to her. His fingertips accidentally brushed against the back of her hand, and both of them paused at the same time, as if startled by the warmth.
“For you.” He quickly withdrew his hand, his tone stiff, “It’s sweet.”
Su Nuonuo happily accepted the soy milk. She had clearly seen Lu Zhiye add extra spoonfuls of sugar.
But somehow, it felt even sweeter in her heart.
A warm temperature spread from her fingertips into her heart. Looking at the little yellow duck printed on the cup—identical to the one on her lunchbox—she instantly understood something, and the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve into a sweet smile.
Morning light passed through the glass window, falling on the two of them and stretching their shadows long and far.
The aroma of fried dough sticks mixed with the sweetness of soy milk, brewing the gentlest moment within the small shop.
As the sun gradually rose higher and the crowd at the alley entrance slowly dispersed, Grandpa Lu glanced at the clock on the wall, quickly turned off the oil pan’s fire, and efficiently poured the oil into an iron bucket.
“Kids, Nuonuo,” he removed his apron and wiped his hands, smiling as he spoke, “Grandpa’s closing up. I have to go to your aunt’s banquet in the west of the city at noon, so I’ve got to head out now.”
Lu Zhiye’s hand holding the rag paused slightly as he looked up and gave a quiet “mm.”
Su Nuonuo quickly stood up as well. “Grandpa, please be careful on the road.”
“Alright,” Grandpa Lu replied, casting a meaningful glance at the two of them.
He changed his clothes, picked up a cloth bag, and walked out briskly. Just before leaving the alley, he did not forget to turn back and shout, “Make something good for Nuonuo at noon—don’t let her go hungry!”
The wooden door closed gently, and the small breakfast shop was instantly left with only the two of them.
The air grew quiet.
Lu Zhiye tossed the rag into the basin, and the sound of splashing water broke the silence.
“I’ll walk you back.” He turned around, his gaze landing on Su Nuonuo, his tone firm and unquestionable.
But Su Nuonuo shook her head, her fingers lightly pinching the hem of her clothes, her eyes bright and sparkling:
“I’m not going back.”
She could spend the entire day with Lu Zhiye today—how could she possibly miss such a good opportunity?
Thinking this, she said it out loud:
“My parents are both not at home today. If I go back, there won’t be anything to eat.”
Lu Zhiye’s brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing. Since she had already said that, he could not very well force her to leave—and he did not want to make her leave either.