Liang Shi asked gently, "Did you have a nightmare?"
The voice was very soft, like a feather gently brushing against the heart, carrying boundless tolerance and affection.
Hearing her voice, Xu Qingzhu frowned, but her tone softened, drawing out even a single syllable, "Mmm~".
Just as Liang Shi was about to speak, he saw another person appear in the camera's view.
Sheng Linlang found a piece of paper, leaned over and gently wiped away Xu Qingzhu's tears, got up to cover Xu Qingzhu with the blanket, and then got out of bed.
Xu Qingzhu sensed the movements around her very clearly. When Sheng Linlang got up to leave, she finally struggled to open her eyes and called out in a hoarse voice, "Mom."
"Okay." Sheng Linlang said, "It's still early, you can chat for a while before going to sleep."
"Where are you going?" Xu Qingzhu's voice sounded hoarse as if it had been rubbed by sand.
Sheng Linlang chuckled, "You're chatting and flirting with your wife, do you think I'd be here as a third wheel?"
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
“I’m going back to find your dad,” Sheng Linlang said. “After sharing a bed for so many years, I’m not used to having someone else by my side.”
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
She chuckled lazily, "Then you go ahead."
After Sheng Linlang left the room, Xu Qingzhu picked up the water glass by the bed, took a sip, and frowned after drinking. Liang Shi immediately understood, "Was it cold water?"
Xu Qingzhu nodded: "It's too cold."
"What nightmare did you have?" Liang Shi asked softly. "Why are you crying like this?"
Xu Qingzhu belatedly realized, "Did I cry?"
Liang Shi nodded: "Touch your nose, it's still wet."
Xu Qingzhu leaned against the headboard, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes again. "It was a very sad dream."
"I'm sorry," Liang Shi said, "I disturbed your sleep."
"It's nothing." Xu Qingzhu sighed softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "I just went to bed early tonight."
Even through the screen, Liang Shi could sense her helplessness and couldn't help but ask, "Is it about your parents?"
When Liang Shi uttered that title, Xu Qingzhu immediately knew who he was referring to.
It wasn't Xu's parents, but her biological parents.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyelashes casting heavy shadows on her lower eyelids. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes half-closed, and she said softly, "Yes."
Those two seemingly light words carried all her complex and indescribable emotions.
"Xu Qingzhu." Liang Shi looked at her on the screen and suddenly said gently, "I'll come find you."
Xu Qingzhu: "Hmm?"
"It's too late," Xu Qingzhu said. "It takes half an hour to drive there."
"There's no traffic now," Liang Shi said. "It's still early; we'll be there in twenty minutes."
Xu Qingzhu was speechless.
Liang Shi then said, "I have something to discuss with you."
After hanging up the video call, Xu Qingzhu saw the message Liang Shi had sent her.
Is it okay to move this Saturday?
Although you don't like me asking so many questions, I still feel this is a matter between the two of us, so I need to discuss it with you.
[Teacher Xu, what are you doing?]
Are you asleep?
It's not your bedtime yet.
[You'll move to Zhao Xuning's house. It's a bit small, but you'll have the master bedroom with a bay window.]
When I have more money in the future, I'll buy a super big one in that neighborhood.
[I'll be rich soon.]
[...]
Liang Shi, who is usually not very talkative, was unusually talkative today, probably because he sensed that she was not in a good mood, so he kept sending messages.
There was a message every few minutes, but she was chatting with Sheng Linlang at the time, and went to sleep after chatting, so she didn't notice it at all.
Now, news about Liang Shi is all over the internet.
It gives people an indescribable sense of security.
//
When Liang Shi drove to the Xu family's door, he suddenly realized... he had acted impulsively.
All she really wanted to say was about moving on Saturday, but that was just a lame excuse.
The real reason was that she saw the sadness Xu Qingzhu conveyed through the screen, and the fragility that came with her sorrowful expression, and she really wanted to be with her.
Spending the night with negative, uneasy feelings can be very distressing.
She had experienced it firsthand, so she wanted to stay with Xu Qingzhu through this sad and difficult night.
He came here on a whim with a lame excuse.
But when the car stopped, she let out a soft sigh of relief.
In what capacity did they come?
From what standpoint are we coming here?
And where will we stay after we arrive?
Liang Shi closed his eyes lightly, thought for a moment, and then got off the car.
He thought to himself: I'll go check it out first, and if it doesn't work out, I'll drive back.
As soon as Liang Shi got off the car, he saw the people standing at his door.
Xu Qingzhu wore a light-colored cardigan over a pure white cotton T-shirt and loose gray pants, with cotton slippers on her feet. Her hair fluttered in the wind, and her small face, no bigger than a palm, looked bright and pure in the dim light.
She stood at the door with her arms crossed, looking around. She soon spotted Liang Shi, who smiled at her and waved gently.
Liang Shi stood there, suddenly feeling at ease.
She walked over and asked in a low voice, "Why did you come out to wait?"
Xu Qingzhu had been outside for a long time, and her nose was red from the cold. Her voice was also soft from the cold, and her clear and cold voice was about to be blown away by the wind, leaving only softness. She opened her arms to her and said, "Teacher Liang, give me a hug."
Liang Shi was taken aback. Xu Qingzhu had already stepped forward, buried her head in her neck, and breathed on her neck and hair, while tightening her arms around her waist.
Their bodies suddenly pressed close together. Liang Shi was stunned for a moment before reaching out and gently patting her back, whispering, "I'm here."
//
After a brief hug, Xu Qingzhu let go of her before answering her question: "The housekeeper is resting at home, and you can't come in unless someone opens the door."
"How long have you been waiting?" Liang Shi asked as he followed her inside.
Xu Qingzhu replied perfunctorily, "Not long."
As soon as Liang Shi got close to her, he felt a chill. Taking advantage of her inattention, he placed his hand on her neck, which made Liang Shi shiver.
The sudden closeness made Xu Qingzhu instinctively back away, shrinking back slightly. She glanced at Liang Shi and asked, "Teacher Liang, why did you launch a sneak attack?"
Her tone had returned to normal, without any of the vulnerability seen in the video.
Liang Shi said in a low voice, "Why is it so cold?"
"It's cold outside," Xu Qingzhu said. "You'll get cold if you stand here for a while."
Liang Shi said, "Then you should wait for me to come downstairs. I will call you."
"You're lying." Xu Qingzhu chuckled. "If I hadn't been waiting for you outside, you would be driving back by now."
Liang Shi: "..."
A flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes, but she quickly replied, "How could that be?"
Xu Qingzhu smiled but remained silent.
Liang Shi: "..."
Xu Qingzhu led her back to her room, then leaned against the headboard, snuggled into the covers, and asked, "What do you want to tell me?"
Liang Shi stood up and asked her, "Is there any hot water?"
Xu Qingzhu said, "It's in the kitchen downstairs, almost the same as at home."
"Then wait a moment." After saying that, Liang Shi took her cup and went out. The cup contained half a cup of cold water.
Xu Qingzhu stared blankly at her retreating figure.
Not long after, Liang Shi returned with a tray in his hands containing a glass of water and a glass of milk.
Liang Shi handed the hot milk to Xu Qingzhu and said in a serious tone, "Do you know why you have nightmares?"
Xu Qingzhu: "Hmm?"
“I didn’t drink milk,” Liang Shi said.
Xu Qingzhu: "...Oh."
Holding a hot water bottle, Liang Shi felt her whole body warm up. She sat on the edge of the bed, not having much to say.
It was rather awkward.
After a while, Xu Qingzhu gently kicked her with the back of her foot through the blanket. "What do you want to say?"
Liang Shi paused slightly, "I was asking about your moving."
Hearing this, Xu Qingzhu teased her, "Didn't Zhao Xuning already tell you? Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."
“That’s the question,” Liang Shi said. “This is where you’ll be living. What if you’re not comfortable living here?”
Xu Qingzhu tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "If you're uncomfortable, just bear with it. What else can you do?"
Liang Shi looked at her and gently pursed his lips, "You didn't plan to stay for long, did you?"