After saying this, Shu Nian didn’t care about his reaction. She lowered her head, walked around him, and headed toward the checkout counter. Though she had vented her anger, her emotions weren’t the least bit relieved.
She didn’t hear him following behind her.
After walking quite a distance,
Shu Nian suddenly thought of Xie Ru He’s legs. Her footsteps halted, her grip on the shopping cart handle tightened, then relaxed. She felt her thoughts were inappropriate—she was still angry about his strange behavior, but when she thought about this—
She felt that her anger toward him was truly unwarranted.
Back then, it was because of something so devastating that he was taken away by his grandfather, leaving Shi Yan Town. Had something else happened afterward? Something that made him become like this now.
Shu Nian genuinely hoped that he had lived a good life.
Even if not that good, at least not like his current state.
One look, and she knew he wasn’t happy.
Shu Nian secretly glanced back.
Sure enough, he hadn’t followed.
She felt inexplicably dejected, stood in place arguing with herself for a while, then resignedly walked back.
But Xie Ru He was no longer in his original position.
Shu Nian stood in place for half a minute, feeling somewhat downcast, then left the area. She lowered her eyes to look at her phone, and when she looked up again, she happened to see Xie Ru He coming from the snack section.
Shu Nian froze.
Unlike before, Xie Ru He’s arms now held not only the pack of sanitary pads that Shu Nian had thrown at him earlier but also five or six more packages. Each package wasn’t small, and they were stacked fully in the crook of his arm, creating a kind of endearing contrast.
Shu Nian was very familiar with that packaging—it was the mango-flavored soft candy she had loved since long ago.
Xie Ru He moved his wheelchair with one hand while holding the candy with the other. With one unsteady movement, a package fell to the ground.
With a plop, it rolled between the two of them.
Shu Nian walked in front of him, picked up the candy before he could, and handed it to him.
Xie Ru He lifted his thin eyelids, looked at her, and silently accepted it.
Shu Nian stood up straight, but she wasn’t much taller than him sitting in his wheelchair. She lowered her head and apologized first: “I’m sorry for talking nonsense just now.”
Xie Ru He no longer maintained his silence. Unlike his formerly clear, youthful voice, his voice was now hoarse and deep.
“What.”
Shu Nian didn’t look at him, extended her hand to point at the pack of sanitary pads in his hand, and emphasized softly: “I don’t think you need to use those.”
Xie Ru He: “…”
Shu Nian still stood in front of him, looking dejected, and didn’t speak further. She remained motionless, as if she wouldn’t take a single step away without his forgiveness.
Xie Ru He didn’t persist in the standoff: “I know.”
Shu Nian’s expression visibly relaxed a bit, and she looked at him again: “Do you need to buy anything else?”
Xie Ru He said indifferently: “No need.”
Shu Nian thought for a moment, then suggested: “Then shall we go pay together?”
Xie Ru He paused, then nodded.
The two of them joined one of the checkout lines, one in front of the other.
Neither was particularly talkative; Shu Nian didn’t try to speak to him again, and Xie Ru He didn’t initiate conversation either. The two maintained an indescribable awkwardness, just like true strangers.
Shu Nian stood in front, never turning back to look at him. She paid first, then stood aside waiting for him.
She noticed the cashier pick up the pack of sanitary pads, ready to scan the barcode. Shu Nian suddenly realized and helped him tell the cashier: “Hello, we don’t need this anymore.”
The cashier’s movements paused, and she looked at Xie Ru He: “You don’t want it anymore?”
Xie Ru He hesitated, but still said: “I want it.”
“…”
“What are you buying it for?” Shu Nian turned to look at him, her expression puzzled. “Were you going to buy it?”
Xie Ru He avoided her gaze and made a somewhat unnatural sound of agreement.
When he received the bag from the cashier, the two walked toward the escalator. Shu Nian still found it a bit strange and quickly understood: “Oh, are you buying it for your girlfriend?”
Hearing this, Xie Ru He’s hand, which was moving the wheelchair, froze, and he stopped in place.
Noticing from the corner of her eye, Shu Nian turned back: “What’s wrong?”
Xie Ru He’s eyes were lowered as if he was pondering something, and for a long time, he didn’t move. Then, he suddenly held up the bag in his hand and gave it to her: “For you.”
Shu Nian was stunned: “For me?”
Xie Ru He nodded, repeating: “For you.”
“Why give it to me?” Shu Nian was bewildered, but noticing that the bag was transparent and that it seemed quite awkward for him to hold it, she could only say, “Then let me take this out.”
In the bag, besides the pack of sanitary pads, there were five packs of mango soft candy.
Xie Ru He shook his head: “All for you.”