The Meaning of Staying
That night, no one slept well.
The broken gate had been temporarily tied together with rope and loose planks, but everyone knew it would not stop determined men for long.
The house felt exposed now.
Vulnerable.
Even the wind slipping through the damaged entrance sounded threatening.
Lin Shu sat near the stove quietly, holding a cloth against the bruise on his cheek.
Across from him, Zhao Mei was boiling water.
Zhao Jun kept glancing toward the doorway every few minutes like he expected the enforcers to return immediately.
Only Zhao An had fallen asleep, curled against his sister’s side after crying himself exhausted.
Lin Shu looked away slowly.
The child had cried silently.
No loud sobbing.
No tantrum.
Just quiet tears while clutching Zhao Mei’s sleeve.
Like he had already learned that fear should not make noise.
That hurt more than Lin Shu expected.
A chair scraped softly.
Zhao Cheng sat down nearby.
The room immediately grew tense again.
Not because anyone feared him.
But because his presence carried weight naturally.
Zhao Cheng placed a small wooden box on the table.
Medicine.
Lin Shu blinked.
“…For me?”
Zhao Cheng looked at him like the question itself was strange.
“You were hit.”
Then he looked away and began wrapping the cut on his own arm with another cloth.
Clumsy.
Too tight.
Blood slowly seeped through anyway.
Lin Shu frowned instinctively.
“That’s wrong.”
Zhao Cheng paused slightly.
Lin Shu pointed awkwardly.
“The wrapping. It’ll reopen if it’s too tight.”
Silence.
Zhao Jun stared suspiciously.
“You suddenly know medicine now too?”
Lin Shu almost sighed.
“I just know basic first aid.”
Nobody understood the last words, but Zhao Cheng quietly loosened the cloth anyway.
After several moments, he held the bandage out.
“Then do it.”
The room froze.
Even Zhao Mei looked shocked.
Lin Shu blinked.
“…Me?”
Zhao Cheng didn’t repeat himself.
Slowly, Lin Shu moved closer.
Very carefully.
Zhao Cheng’s arm was warm beneath his fingers, muscles tense from years of labor.
The cut wasn’t shallow either.
Lin Shu cleaned it gently before rewrapping the cloth properly.
The room remained silent.
Zhao Jun looked deeply uncomfortable watching this.
As if seeing peace between them felt unnatural.
Lin Shu finished tying the bandage and quietly pulled his hands back.
“There.”
Zhao Cheng glanced down once.
Then nodded.
“…Better.”
Just one word.
But somehow it made Lin Shu’s chest feel strange.
Later, Zhao Mei quietly brought food over.
Simple rice porridge.
This time, she placed a bowl in front of Lin Shu without hesitation.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
But naturally.
Lin Shu stared at it for a second.
Then softly said, “Thank you.”
Zhao Mei paused.
The old Lin Shu had never thanked anyone for household work.
She quickly looked away.
“…It’s just porridge.”
Still, her ears had turned slightly red.
Much later into the night, after the children finally slept, Lin Shu stepped outside again.
The moon was hidden behind clouds.
The damaged gate creaked softly in the wind.
He stared at it quietly.
Then crouched and began repairing what he could with leftover rope.
A few minutes later, footsteps approached.
Zhao Cheng.
Of course.
“You should sleep,” Zhao Cheng said.
Lin Shu kept tying the wood together.
“Could say the same to you.”
A pause.
Then, unexpectedly, Zhao Cheng crouched beside him.
The two worked in silence for a while.
Not comfortable.
Not awkward either.
Just…
shared.
Finally, Zhao Cheng spoke.
“The debt collectors won’t stop.”
Lin Shu nodded slowly.
“I figured.”
“They answer to someone above them.”
“The local officials?”
“Mm.”
Lin Shu’s expression darkened slightly.
Corrupt officials in ancient settings.
Of course.
Some things truly existed in every world.
After another moment, Zhao Cheng suddenly asked:
“Why did you stand in front of the house earlier?”
Lin Shu’s hands paused.
The honest answer came easier than expected.
“Because someone should.”
Zhao Cheng looked at him quietly.
Lin Shu continued softly, “The original me hurt this family enough already. I couldn’t keep watching more happen.”
The night grew still.
For a long time, Zhao Cheng said nothing.
Then:
“You keep separating yourself from who you were.”
Lin Shu froze slightly.
Zhao Cheng’s gaze remained steady.
“As if you truly believe you are another person.”
Lin Shu’s heartbeat quickened.
Dangerous territory.
But Zhao Cheng didn’t press further.
Instead, he looked back toward the broken gate.
And quietly said:
“Whoever you are now…”
A pause.
“…don’t disappear halfway.”
Lin Shu stared at him.
Zhao Cheng stood slowly.
Then walked back inside before Lin Shu could answer.
Leaving those words behind.
Like trust was still impossible.
But hope…
Hope had begun by accident.
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