A Name Given Softly
After that day, something subtle changed inside the household.
No one spoke about Zhao An calling him Lin-ge.
But everyone remembered it.
Especially Lin Shu.
The name stayed with him far longer than it should have.
Not because it was special by itself.
But because it had been given freely.
Without fear.
Without hesitation.
A child had looked at him and chosen warmth naturally.
And somehow that felt more precious than anything else.
That evening, Zhao An followed Lin Shu around the kitchen while dinner was being prepared.
Not clinging exactly.
Just…
nearby.
Watching.
At one point, Lin Shu glanced down and found the little boy carefully handing him vegetables one at a time.
Lin Shu blinked.
“…You’re helping?”
Zhao An nodded seriously.
“You helped Mei-jie carry baskets.”
As if that explained everything.
Lin Shu smiled helplessly.
“Then thank you.”
The child brightened immediately.
Nearby, Zhao Mei quietly hid a smile behind her sleeve.
Zhao Jun pretended not to notice any of this.
Very badly.
Dinner felt lighter than usual.
Not cheerful exactly.
But peaceful.
The kind of peace that made ordinary conversation possible.
Zhao Mei spoke about basket prices in town.
Zhao Jun complained about another village boy cheating during wrestling practice.
Even Zhao An chimed in occasionally.
Lin Shu listened quietly, surprised by how natural it felt.
Then suddenly-
“Lin Shu.”
He looked up immediately.
Zhao Cheng rarely called him by name first.
“What is it?”
Zhao Cheng placed another bowl of soup near him.
“You barely ate earlier.”
Lin Shu froze slightly.
“…You noticed?”
“You gave half your lunch to An’er.”
Silence.
Lin Shu suddenly became aware that everyone at the table was looking at him.
Zhao Jun frowned.
“Why would you do that if you were hungry?”
Lin Shu blinked.
Then answered honestly:
“He wanted it more.”
The room became quiet again.
Zhao Jun stared at him like he was trying to solve an impossible problem.
Because this kind of behavior still didn’t match the person he remembered.
Finally, Zhao Cheng spoke calmly:
“Eat properly.”
Lin Shu nodded obediently this time.
“…Okay.”
Zhao Jun immediately looked disgusted.
“You actually listen to Father now.”
Lin Shu almost laughed.
“Your father is terrifying.”
“I know.”
The agreement came so quickly from all three children that even Zhao Cheng paused slightly.
Lin Shu failed to hold back his laugh this time.
And after a brief second-
Zhao Mei laughed too.
Then Zhao An.
Even Zhao Jun cracked a reluctant grin before hiding it immediately.
For one fleeting moment, the room felt startlingly normal.
Warm lantern light.
Simple food.
Family laughter.
Lin Shu looked around quietly and felt something ache inside him again.
Because he realized-
He had started wanting this life.
Not just surviving in it.
Wanting it.
Later that night, after the children slept, Lin Shu stepped outside to bring in dried clothes.
He found Zhao Cheng already there.
Leaning against the repaired gate.
Watching the dark road silently.
Lin Shu walked over naturally now.
No hesitation anymore.
“The officials still haven’t returned,” he said quietly.
“Mm.”
“You think that’s good?”
“No.”
Lin Shu sighed.
“That’s what I thought.”
Silence settled between them comfortably.
Then Zhao Cheng suddenly asked:
“Why did you buy Mei’er the ribbon?”
Lin Shu blinked.
“…Because she liked it.”
“You noticed?”
“She stared at it three times.”
A pause.
Then, unexpectedly:
“You pay attention to the children often.”
Lin Shu smiled faintly.
“They’re good kids.”
Zhao Cheng looked at him quietly.
Then said:
“They weren’t always.”
Lin Shu frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“After their mother died,” Zhao Cheng said calmly, “Jun’er fought constantly. Mei’er stopped speaking much. An’er cried every night.”
The night air felt colder suddenly.
Zhao Cheng continued:
“When you first entered this house…”
A pause.
“…they slowly started smiling again.”
Lin Shu froze.
Because that meant-
The original owner had not always been cruel.
Zhao Cheng’s eyes remained on the dark road ahead.
“I still don’t know when things changed.”
Lin Shu’s chest tightened painfully.
He remembered what Zhao Cheng had said before.
You weren’t like this at first.
Maybe the original owner had changed slowly.
Maybe bitterness and insecurity poisoned him over time.
Maybe loneliness did.
And now Lin Shu had inherited the aftermath of that collapse.
The thought made him strangely sad.
Then Zhao Cheng looked at him directly.
“But now,” he said quietly, “they smile again.”
Lin Shu’s breath caught.
Not praise.
Not gratitude.
Just truth.
And somehow that made it impossible to answer immediately.
After a long silence, he finally whispered:
“…I’m trying.”
Zhao Cheng studied him for a moment.
Then nodded once.
“I know.”
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