Noticing Lu Xixiao’s gaze on her, Zhou Wan thought he might not like this when out with girls. After a pause, she explained softly: “You’ve loaded a lot of money at the arcade, I get commission from that, so I should treat you.”
He raised an eyebrow.
Zhou Wan thought for a moment and added: “Though I can only treat you to something cheap right now.”
He smiled: “Fine, you can treat me to expensive things in the future.”
When he was in a good mood, such flirtatious words came naturally to him, no wonder so many girls couldn’t get over him.
Lu Xixiao didn’t talk much, and neither did Zhou Wan. They quietly finished their two bowls of noodles and got up to leave.
Lu Xixiao had walked her home once before; this was the second time.
Zhou Wan didn’t think he was specifically escorting her home, probably just because it was on his way.
But, Guo Xiangling didn’t live here now?
This area was mostly old buildings, far from the developing bustling district where Guo Xiangling now lived in the most expensive area.
Zhou Wan could only think of one reason.
Lu Xixiao had moved out to live on his own.
It wasn’t hard to guess – he seemed to dislike Guo Xiangling.
“Lu Xixiao.” Zhou Wan ran a few steps forward to keep up with him.
He turned his head.
“Do you live nearby too?”
“I live alone,” he said, “A bit further ahead.”
As expected.
The old neighborhood had a cluster of old buildings two streets ahead, with several vintage Western-style houses. Though they couldn’t compare to today’s villas, twenty-some years ago those houses were the most fashionable.
He probably lived in one of those old buildings.
Reaching Zhou Wan’s home, she waved to Lu Xixiao: “I’m going in, goodbye.”
He gave a faint “mm.”
Zhou Wan entered the apartment building, glancing back at him once before withdrawing her gaze.
The old complex had no elevator. She ran upstairs, stomping hard at the corner. The sensor lights lit up one after another, but the light on her third floor was broken and didn’t work.
Zhou Wan unlocked the door and entered: “Grandma.”
No response.
Had she fallen asleep?
It was rare that she hadn’t felt unwell today and could get a peaceful sleep.
Zhou Wan took off her backpack, and rubbed her eyes, planning to stay up late to do more practice problems. It was then that she faintly heard rapid, labored breathing coming from her grandmother’s bedroom.
Zhou Wan’s heart instantly tightened as she rushed into the room.
The white-haired elderly woman was curled up on the floor, struggling to breathe as if she couldn’t get any air, her fingers tightly clutching at her heart. There was vomit on the floor.
Zhou Wan rushed over, cradling her grandmother in her arms: “Grandma, Grandma… what’s wrong, don’t scare me…”
The elderly woman’s face was deathly pale, her forehead covered in large beads of sweat, her body wracked with continuous spasms.
Never having encountered such a situation before, Zhou Wan was completely at a loss, all her usual composure and calmness vanishing—she couldn’t imagine how to face life without her grandmother.
If even her grandmother was gone, she would truly be left all alone.
Lu Xixiao hadn’t gone far.
Anyway, his home was empty and lifeless too, so he wasn’t in a hurry to return.
Suddenly he heard a voice from behind.
“Lu Xixiao!”
This was the first time he’d seen Zhou Wan like this – tears streaming down her face, breathing chaotic and broken, on the verge of collapse.
She clutched Lu Xixiao’s wrist tightly, like grabbing onto the last piece of driftwood in a vast ocean, her voice choked and trembling: “My grandma, my grandma’s acting strange, it seems like she can’t breathe, what should I do, Lu Xixiao, what should I do…”
“Zhou Wan.”
Lu Xixiao gripped her shoulders, bent down, and looked straight into her eyes, his black pupils like a swamp pulling her in. His voice was steady, composed yet firm, “Have you called an ambulance?”
Under his gaze, Zhou Wan slowly regained her senses and immediately pulled out her phone to dial 120.
The sound of the ambulance broke through the quiet night.
Fortunately, Dr. Chen was on duty tonight. Familiar with her grandmother’s condition, he quickly started emergency treatment, providing oxygen and monitoring her heart rate.
Zhou Wan stood outside the operating room, covered in cold sweat, still not recovered from the earlier shock. Her face was pale, and she’d unconsciously bitten her lower lip until it bled.
Lu Xixiao stood nearby watching her.
Seeing the wound getting deeper, blood almost seeping out, he stepped forward and raised his hand, his cool fingers carrying the scent of tobacco lightly touching her cheek.
Zhou Wan suddenly came to her senses, abruptly looking up at him, finally releasing her lip.