Lu Xixiao didn’t particularly enjoy that noodle shop, but for some reason, he nodded and followed Zhou Wan back to the same place they’d visited yesterday.
“Three-delicacy noodles again?” Zhou Wan asked.
He’d just smoked a cigarette on the way, and his irritation had dissipated somewhat with the smoke, the aggressive aura around him finally becoming less oppressive.
“Mm,” he responded flatly.
Zhou Wan told Uncle Kang “Same as yesterday,” and then quickly pulled out her phone to pay for the noodles.
Since he wouldn’t accept yesterday’s money, Zhou Wan would treat him back, even though this amount probably meant nothing to Lu Xixiao – one pair of his shoes could probably cover several months of her living expenses.
Lu Xixiao wasn’t an unobservant person; he noticed her rushed movement to pay.
He turned his head, exhaling smoke: “Keeping such careful count?”
Zhou Wan pressed her lips together, responding in her gentle voice: “Money isn’t easy to earn.”
She had a quiet nature, didn’t talk much, and was never noisy. She answered questions one at a time, her voice soft and delicate, not cloying, with an exceptionally clean tone.
Lu Xixiao suddenly felt that having her nearby wasn’t annoying at all; rather, it brought a sense of calm.
“Why do you need to earn money?”
Lu Xixiao’s first time seeing her was when she was working part-time at the arcade.
“Grandmother is sick.”
He raised his eyebrows, showing neither excessive surprise nor sympathy, taking another drag of his cigarette before asking quietly: “What about your parents?”
“My father passed away when I was little.”
His hand holding the cigarette paused slightly: “Then what about your mother?”
Because of this question, Zhou Wan accidentally bit her tongue, a metallic taste of blood spreading in her mouth, but she showed no outward reaction.
Seeing her silence, Lu Xixiao didn’t ask further.
As they sat down with two bowls of three-delicacy noodles, Zhou Wan caught a glimpse of the wound on the back of his hand as he picked up his chopsticks. It looked several days old but had been poorly cared for, healing and breaking open again, leaving a red patch.
Zhou Wan withdrew her gaze and lowered her head to eat.
This time, Lu Xixiao showed some courtesy by eating several bites.
They ate their noodles in peaceful silence.
Zhou Wan finished first. She wiped her mouth with a napkin, then softly told Lu Xixiao: “I’ll step out for a moment.”
“Mm.”
There was a pharmacy near the noodle shop.
Zhou Wan returned with alcohol and gauze.
She pushed the bag in front of him, keeping her gaze lowered: “The wound on your hand needs disinfecting.”
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow.
Having been spoiled by all sorts of girls, he didn’t take this kind of concern seriously, responding dismissively: “No need.”
Zhou Wan paused briefly but wasn’t affected by his attitude, simply informing him of the consequences.
“If it’s not properly disinfected, it might get infected, which would be more troublesome.”
Grandmother had experienced that once before.
Lu Xixiao leaned back in his chair, chin slightly raised, giving her a cursory look before smiling.
He leaned forward, extending his hand to her, wordlessly.
Zhou Wan looked up in confusion.
Lu Xixiao smiled somewhat condescendingly: “I don’t know how.”
“…”
His mood seemed to have improved again.
Unpredictable.
Zhou Wan took out the disinfectant, dabbed some on a cotton swab, and helped clean his wound.
She kept her head down, completely focused, her hair falling forward across her chest, a few strands brushing against his fingertips, causing a slight tickle.
From this angle, Lu Xixiao could observe her well.
She had long eyelashes, an upturned nose, and youthful features. The only thing that didn’t match her cool appearance was probably those two tiger teeth – the reason Jiang Fan found her sweet.
Finally, Zhou Wan applied the gauze.
“Done.”
Lu Xixiao lowered his gaze to look, noting it was done quite properly.
“Going to the arcade?” he asked.
“Mm.”
“Let’s go,” Lu Xixiao stood up.