Shen Qingyou followed behind Yan Tingxu, crossing two alleyways before turning onto the main street.
Early in the morning, there weren’t many people about.
From a distance, she could see the sign for Dongfeng Restaurant—white background, red characters, four large letters.
Several bicycles were parked out front. Red paper was pasted on the glass windows, listing the day’s offerings: steamed buns, stuffed buns, congee, pickled vegetables.
Yan Tingxu pushed open the door. A wave of hot air mixed with the fragrance of fresh bread rushed out to meet them.
“Third Master Yan has arrived?”
Behind the counter stood a young woman in a white apron. She had delicate features and looked at Yan Tingxu with eager eyes.
Yan Tingxu gave a cold “Mm” in acknowledgment, then glanced back at Shen Qingyou. “Find a place to sit.”
Shen Qingyou nodded and took a seat by the window.
She looked around the restaurant.
There were six or seven square wooden tables with bench seating. Propaganda posters and slogans about thrift and economy hung on the walls.
Several workers in blue cotton jackets were eating with their heads down, the sound of slurping congee rising and falling around the room.
In her previous life, she had never been here.
Back then, she had been too timid—afraid to go out, afraid to spend money.
Yan Tingxu had seemed so cold, like a living King of Hell. She hadn’t dared to talk to him much, let alone go out to eat with him.
She just stayed cooped up in the courtyard every day, eating the meals he had sent over, saving whatever she could.
“Here.”
Yan Tingxu came over carrying a large tray and set it down on the table.
Shen Qingyou froze.
Two large meat-stuffed buns, a bowl of millet congee, a dish of shredded pickled vegetables, and one boiled egg.
In those days, a meat bun cost twenty cents plus a ration coupon.
For most families, breakfast was a cornmeal cake with pickled vegetables. Even being able to eat a white-flour steamed bun was considered well-off.
“Third Uncle, this is too much.”
“Eat.” Yan Tingxu handed her the chopsticks. “You’re too thin.”
As he spoke, he set down an enamel mug in front of himself.
His mug contained nothing but plain boiled water.
Shen Qingyou looked at him. “Third Uncle, aren’t you eating?”
“I’ve already eaten.”
Shen Qingyou didn’t believe him.
Only later in her previous life did she learn that Yan Tingxu never ate breakfast outside. He had his own routine—morning exercise, then home for a shower, then a casual bite at home.
“Casual” often meant that if he got too busy, he simply forgot to eat.
She lowered her head, picked up her chopsticks, and took a bite of one of the buns.
The meat filling was incredibly fresh. The juices nearly scalded her tongue.
Yan Tingxu watched her eat.
The young girl ate very slowly, taking small, careful bites.
Her head was bowed, her eyelashes lowered. She ate with earnest concentration and delicate care.
Her hands were painfully thin, the bones visible beneath the skin. The way she held the bun was like holding a piece of gold.
He looked away, toward the window.
After a moment, Shen Qingyou lifted her head.
“Third Uncle, I can’t finish this egg. Can you help me eat half?”
Yan Tingxu turned his head to look at her.
She held up the egg, her eyes clear and bright, black and white. There was a hint of cautious hope in them.
“Eat it yourself,” he said.
“I can’t finish it.” Shen Qingyou insisted. “Help me eat half. Otherwise, it’ll go to waste.”
Yan Tingxu was silent for two seconds. Then he took the egg, tapped it on the table, peeled off the shell, and broke it in half.
He handed the larger half back to her and put the smaller half into his own mouth.
Shen Qingyou’s eyes curved into a smile as she took the half-egg and ate it in small, careful bites.
Yan Tingxu said nothing. He drank his plain boiled water.
Sunlight streamed through the glass window, falling on the table, falling on the young girl’s soft hair.
Something stirred in his heart.
She was too thin. He would have to work hard to fatten her up a bit.
“Third Uncle,” Shen Qingyou said after finishing the egg, looking up at him. “When we go to handle the school transfer later, what do I need to bring?”
“Do you have your household registration booklet with you?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s all.” Yan Tingxu said. “I’ve already spoken to the school. You can just go directly to register.”
Shen Qingyou nodded.
She remembered that in her previous life, she had transferred schools right around this time as well, joining midway through the first year of high school.
Back then, she didn’t understand anything. She was afraid to raise her hand in class, afraid to talk to her classmates after class, and her grades were a complete mess.
Later, Yan Hao used that against her, calling her an uneducated country girl.
In this life, she was going to study hard.
“Third Uncle,” she thought for a moment and asked, “does the school have a library?”
Yan Tingxu glanced at her. “It does. Why?”
“I want to borrow books to read,” Shen Qingyou said. “My father taught me to read, and I want to learn more.”
Yan Tingxu’s brow twitched slightly.
This young girl had a strong will.
“Alright,” he said. “If you want to read any particular books, just tell me.”
Shen Qingyou acknowledged him, lowered her head, and continued drinking her congee.
As she drank, she suddenly heard laughter coming from outside the door.
“Hao, you’re late again. Watch out—your manager’s going to dock your pay!”
“Let him dock it. My third uncle is Yan Tingxu. Who would dare dock my pay?”
Shen Qingyou’s hand, holding the spoon, stiffened.
That voice was too familiar.
So familiar that she could recall it with her eyes closed.
The smell of alcohol, the smell of smoke, the dull thud of fists landing on flesh…
Her eyelashes trembled a few times before she slowly raised her head and looked toward the door.
Outside the glass door, a young man in blue work clothes was playfully pushing and shoving with someone as they laughed.
He had thick brows and big eyes. When he smiled, he showed a row of white teeth. He looked full of energy.
Yan Hao.
The man who in her previous life had been endlessly attentive before marriage and shown his true colors after.
Shen Qingyou looked at that face and suddenly felt that the bun in her hand wasn’t so appetizing anymore.
She remembered how, after Third Uncle died, he had come to the courtyard, saying he was there to take in the “dependent.”
He was neatly dressed, spoke politely, bought her a bag of apples, and said he would take care of her in Third Uncle’s place.
Back then, she didn’t understand anything. She only knew that Third Uncle was gone, she had lost her support, and anyone willing to take her in was showing her an immense kindness.
Later, he married her. It was fine at first, but gradually, he changed.
He drank, gambled, and when he lost, he beat her.
After hitting her, he would kneel down and cry, saying he was drunk, that he hadn’t meant it, that he would never dare do it again.
But next time, he still hit her.
She ran away once. He caught her and beat her so badly she couldn’t get out of bed for three days.
As he hit her, he cursed at her.
“Where do you think you’re running? If it weren’t for my third uncle, you would’ve starved to death long ago! My third uncle supported you for three years, and I’ve supported you for five. You’re nothing but an ungrateful wolf!”
Only then did she understand—in his eyes, she was no better than a dog.
After that, she stopped running, because she got sick.
Yan Hao didn’t have the money to treat her, and she didn’t want to be treated anyway.
When she died, she was twenty-three years old. She couldn’t get out of bed, and there was no one by her side.
She thought of Third Uncle—that quiet man who was always away from home but would leave money and ration coupons by her door.
If Third Uncle were still alive, would things have been different?
Then she opened her eyes and found herself back in the present.
Shen Qingyou took a deep breath and pushed down those emotions.
By the door, Yan Hao had already pushed his way inside.
The moment he entered, he spotted Yan Tingxu sitting by the window. His eyes lit up, and he strode over.
“Third Uncle! You’re eating here too?”
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Shen Qingyou and paused.
“Who’s this…”
“Old Shen’s daughter,” Yan Tingxu said. “Shen Qingyou.”
Yan Hao was momentarily startled, then immediately broke into a smile, showing those white teeth.
“Oh! The one who came yesterday? Uncle Shen’s daughter? Hello, hello. My name is Yan Hao, and I’m—”
“My nephew,” Yan Tingxu finished for him.
Yan Hao scratched his head and said to Shen Qingyou with a smile, “That’s right, I’m Third Uncle’s nephew. If you ever need anything, just say the word. We’re family.”
Shen Qingyou looked at him.
In her previous life, she hadn’t gone out for breakfast with Third Uncle, so she hadn’t met Yan Hao this early.
“Hello,” she said with a slight nod, her voice faint.
Yan Hao didn’t mind. He sat down on the bench next to her and called out to the counter, “Aunt Liu, two buns and a bowl of congee!”
After calling out his order, he turned back to look at Shen Qingyou, grinning. “How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
“What a coincidence—I’m fifteen too!” Yan Hao said. “But I was born in the twelfth lunar month. What month are you?”
Shen Qingyou paused. “March.”
“Then you’re a few months older than me!” Yan Hao laughed. “So should I call you ‘big sister’?”
Shen Qingyou didn’t respond.
In her previous life, he had said the exact same thing.
First it was “big sister.” Then, as they got more familiar, he called her by her name. And later… later it turned into “You get the hell over here.”
“What ‘big sister,'” Yan Tingxu interjected, his voice flat. “You’re the same age. Just use her name.”
Yan Hao grinned sheepishly. “Alright, then I’ll call you Qingyou. Qingyou, where did you go to school before?”
“In the countryside.”
“There are schools in the countryside too, right? What grade did you finish?”
“First year of high school.”
“Perfect—maybe we’ll even go to the same school!” Yan Hao said. “I go to Red Star Middle School, class two of grade eleven. What about you?”
Shen Qingyou paused.
In her previous life, she had also gone to that school, but she couldn’t remember exactly which class. She only remembered that it wasn’t the same class as Yan Hao’s, so they rarely ran into each other at school.
“I haven’t transferred yet,” she said. “I don’t know which class I’ll be placed in.”
“Then when you find out, I’ll come find you and hang out!” Yan Hao said. “I know that school like the back of my hand. I grew up around here—I know every corner…”
He chattered on, but Shen Qingyou kept her head down, drinking her congee, not responding.
Yan Tingxu glanced at her.
Something was off with this girl.
She had been fine just a moment ago, but now her head was lowered, her eyelashes drooping, obscuring her expression. The hand holding her spoon was gripping it tightly, her fingernails bloodless.
He looked at Yan Hao again.
The kid was still prattling on, completely oblivious.
“Alright.” Yan Tingxu stood up. “Are you done eating? Go settle the bill when you’re finished.”
Yan Hao immediately jumped to his feet. “Third Uncle, let me do it, let me do it. I have money.”
“Sit down,” Yan Tingxu said. “Pay for your own.”
With that, he walked toward the counter.
Shen Qingyou raised her head and watched his back.
He reached the counter, pulled money and ration coupons from his pocket, and handed them to the woman called Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu said something with a smile. Yan Tingxu nodded but didn’t look back.
Shen Qingyou withdrew her gaze. When she looked up again, she met Yan Hao’s smiling face.
“Qingyou, so you’ll be living at Third Uncle’s place from now on?”
“Mm.”
“Third Uncle might seem cold on the outside, but he’s actually a really good person,” Yan Hao said warmly, chattering on. “When I was little, my dad died and my mom remarried. Third Uncle took care of me. He was barely in his twenties back then, had just found his footing in the business world, and still managed to raise me.”
Shen Qingyou looked at Yan Hao.
She had heard this in her previous life too.
He had said it with tears in his eyes—how Third Uncle’s kindness to him was as heavy as a mountain, how he would definitely repay Third Uncle someday.
Back then, she had listened and thought he was a man of loyalty and gratitude.
Then Third Uncle died. Yan Hao used the money Third Uncle left behind to marry her. And then he started hitting her.
“Third Uncle truly is a good person,” Shen Qingyou said, her voice soft and airy. “The best person in the whole world.”
Yan Hao was taken aback.
The way she said it… it sounded a little strange?
He wanted to ask more, but Yan Tingxu had already returned.
“Let’s go.” Yan Tingxu said to Shen Qingyou.
Shen Qingyou stood up, wrapped the remaining half of her bun in oil paper, and tucked it into her pocket.
Yan Hao also stood up. “Third Uncle, I’ll walk with you. I need to go to the street office anyway.”
“It’s not on the way,” Yan Tingxu said. “Finish
your food first.”
As he spoke, he was already walking toward the door.
Shen Qingyou followed. At the doorway, she suddenly turned her head and glanced back at Yan Hao.
Yan Hao was standing there blankly. When his eyes met hers, he grinned and waved.
Shen Qingyou withdrew her gaze and pushed open the door to leave.