Chapter 383: [Side Story: Chanxi] (2) Childhood Bonds

More than a month has passed since his wife Yan Ruqing's death.

To spare his daughter Ying Chanxi from excessive grief, Yin Zhicheng first took sick leave, then requested an extended leave from his teacher, spending over a month mostly by Ying Chanxi's side.

But upon noticing that Ying Chanxi seemed to prefer visiting next door, where she was accompanied by Li Guohong's family and appeared genuinely happy, Yin Zhicheng gradually relaxed.

Moreover, the company was in disarray, its performance having declined since Yuan Wanqing left the industry to seek treatment abroad, and it still desperately needed him back to seek breakthroughs and transformation during this painful transition.

So Yin Zhicheng privately asked Li Guohong to look after his daughter on a daily basis.

Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong naturally agreed at once, telling him to go to the city for work without worry.

In fact, there truly was nothing for him to worry about.

Children forget easily; under the care of Li Luo's family, Ying Chanxi soon emerged smoothly from that shadow.

But Li Luo forgot even more easily.

One ordinary afternoon in second grade.

Li Guohong rushed over from the breakfast shop to pick up the children at the gate of Experimental Primary School.

At dismissal time, class after class marched out of the teaching building in neat lines.

When it was Class 201's turn, Li Guohong saw Li Luo, who had successfully been elected class sports officer this year, holding the class sign and leading his classmates out of the building.

Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong didn't know how Li Luo had become sports officer, but all the students in Class 201 knew very well.

Mainly because they were afraid of Li Luo.

Last year, after what happened with Ying Chanxi, Li Luo had dared to hit girls; this year, when he ran for sports officer, no one dared challenge him.

Now, as he carried the sign to the school gate and handed it to the nearby teacher, Li Luo slung his backpack over his shoulder, waved to Ying Chanxi in the line, and the two walked together to Li Guohong, who took each by the hand.

"After leaving the school gate, which way should we go?" Li Guohong didn't move right away, but asked the two children.

"This way," Ying Chanxi pointed to the right side of the gate, indicating a right turn ahead.

"Yes, that's right," Li Guohong nodded, smiling. "Xixi is so smart. Li Luo, did you remember?"

"I remembered, I'm not stupid."

"Then let's go."

Experimental Primary School was directly across from People's Square and very close to Jincheng Community.

At the intersection, after turning right and going downhill, they passed a small tunnel entrance, above which ran the old green-painted railway tracks.

After passing through the tunnel, Li Guohong asked again which way to go, and Ying Chanxi immediately answered.

Another right turn brought them to the breakfast shop entrance; Li Guohong called out inside, and Lin Xiuhong stepped out, removed her apron, tidied up, locked the shop, and the family headed home.

"How was it? Did you both remember everything?" Li Guohong asked over dinner. "Starting tomorrow, can you two go to school and come back by yourselves?"

"No problem," Ying Chanxi nodded seriously. "Uncle Li, don't worry—I won't let Li Luo run off."

"Good," Li Guohong smiled. "With Xixi saying that, I'm at ease."

"Dad! What's that supposed to mean?" Li Luo complained. "I memorized the route too! I can walk by myself without Xixi."

"What? You wanna ditch Xixi and run off alone?" Lin Xiuhong tapped his head. "Stick with Xixi going to and from school. Don't wander off, got it?"

"I won't wander off," Li Luo patted his chest. "It's me who keeps Ying Chanxi safe and gets her home—boys protect girls, that's how it should be."

"I don't need your protection," Ying Chanxi muttered softly, though she was secretly pleased.

The next day came.

Early in the morning, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi woke up obediently and prepared to head to school.

Normally, at this hour, Lin Xiuhong, busy at the breakfast shop, would come over and escort the two children to school.

But today Li Guohong was alone managing the shop, especially during six or seven a. m., when the breakfast shop was busiest and he was often overwhelmed.

But today was the first time the two children were going to school alone.

Li Luo and Ying Chanxi, with their small backpacks, greeted Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong at the shop, ate breakfast there, and then Lin Xiuhong watched them leave.

She then said a few words to Li Guohong, immediately removed her apron, and quietly followed behind the two children.

Though she said they should go alone, Lin Xiuhong was still a little worried.

For this first time, she had to follow and see—if everything went smoothly, the couple could finally rest easy.

Fortunately, their home was only a few minutes' walk from Experimental Primary School, just two turns away, not complicated at all.

Lin Xiuhong trailed quietly behind, watching the two children walk ahead.

This was Li Luo's first time going to school without an adult—he completely let loose, dashing back and forth along the sidewalk, making Lin Xiuhong frown.

Fortunately, the boy still had some sense—he only ran on the sidewalk, never onto the bike lane, or Lin Xiuhong would've truly been tempted to spank him.

But just as Lin Xiuhong was frowning, Ying Chanxi couldn't take it anymore—she quickly grabbed Li Luo's arm and took his hand, telling him not to run around.

Li Luo was annoyed, not wanting to walk so calmly, but after Ying Chanxi whispered something to him, he immediately became obedient.

Watching the two children walk hand in hand toward school, Lin Xiuhong's face broke into a relieved smile.

She followed them all the way to school, watching them walk smoothly through the gate, then turned around and hurried back to the breakfast shop.

Fortunately, the whole thing took only about ten minutes, so Li Guohong wasn't overburdened; the couple immediately plunged into their morning rush.

But when they finally had a moment of rest around ten a. m., recalling the morning scene, Lin Xiuhong couldn't help sighing.

"What's wrong?" Li Guohong asked. "Did something happen with the kids?"

"Everything's fine—Xixi was obedient, holding Li Luo back so he wouldn't run off. We won't need to escort them to school anymore," Lin Xiuhong sighed. "But seeing how well-behaved Xixi is, I can't help feeling sad—if Ruqing could only have seen this."

"It's all in the past," Li Guohong patted his wife's shoulder and sighed too. "As long as Xixi is fine—that's what matters. After all, we've watched her grow up."

"I've raised her like my own daughter," Lin Xiuhong whispered. "More obedient than your son."

Li Guohong: "..."

By evening, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong forced themselves not to go to Experimental Primary School to pick up the children.

After dismissal time passed, and another ten minutes or so, they finally spotted the two children far off near the shop entrance—only then did Lin Xiuhong exhale deeply, her heart finally at ease.

When Ying Chanxi led Li Luo to the breakfast shop's entrance, Lin Xiuhong immediately crouched down, hugging both children tightly and kissing each on the cheek: "Such good kids, you're both wonderful."

After bringing the two children home, Lin Xiuhong specially prepared a particularly lavish dinner to celebrate their first successful trip to and from school alone.

After praising the children a bit, Li Guohong and his wife fell into their own casual conversation.

Ying Chanxi and Li Luo sat quietly beside them, eating their meals.

"This weekend, my second uncle's son Guomao is getting married—we need to attend the wedding," Li Guohong said.

"Oh, got it," Lin Xiuhong nodded, pulling out a tissue to wipe the grease off Li Luo's greasy mouth.

Hearing this, Li Luo immediately said: "I'm getting married too!"

"You? Get married?" Lin Xiuhong rolled her eyes and laughed. "You're still a kid—who are you going to marry?"

"Chanxi," Li Luo said, utterly matter-of-fact, then grabbed Ying Chanxi's arm and raised it. "We already agreed on it."

"Hahaha~" Lin Xiuhong couldn't help laughing. "Alright, alright, finish eating. Marriage talk can wait—you're still too young to understand."

Li Luo didn't mind this at all and went back to eating.

Lin Xiuhong continued discussing with Li Guohong how much money they should give as a wedding gift.

But as they chatted, Li Guohong suddenly felt something was off—he turned to look at Ying Chanxi and realized the girl was quietly crying while eating, her tears falling into her bowl and swallowed with every bite.

"Chanxi, what's wrong?" Li Guohong was startled, rushing over to her side. "Why are you crying?"

Only then did Lin Xiuhong notice. She quickly turned around, hugging Ying Chanxi's small frame and wiping away her tears with concern: "Oh dear, oh dear, what's wrong? Did Li Luo sneakily bully you? Should I hit him? Chanxi, don't cry, don't cry."

Li Luo: "…?"

He was just eating, and never expected a black pot to suddenly land on his head.

But seeing Ying Chanxi crying like this, Li Luo was also confused: "I didn't bully her—I was just eating!"

"N-no, it's not Li Luo…" After being caught crying, Ying Chanxi finally broke into sobs, her small lips trembling as she looked pleadingly at Lin Xiuhong. "Lin Yi… Lin Yi… do you dislike me?"

"How could that be?!" Lin Xiuhong widened her eyes in disbelief, hugging Ying Chanxi tightly and rubbing her cheek. "I adore you! Chanxi is so adorable, so well-behaved—way better than Li Luo. I could never dislike you!"

"But… but…" Ying Chanxi wiped her tears, yet they kept falling like pearls. "If Lin Yi won't let Li Luo marry me, doesn't that mean you dislike me?"

Lin Xiuhong: "…?"

Li Guohong: "…?"

"Hey, no big deal," Li Luo immediately patted Ying Chanxi's shoulder and comforted her. "If they don't agree, we'll just run away. We don't need them."

"You kid…" Li Guohong laughed and smacked his head. "Say that right in front of Mom and Dad?"

"Wuuuwaahhh!" Hearing this, Ying Chanxi cried even louder.

"Don't cry, don't cry," Lin Xiuhong hugged her tighter, panicked, and quickly corrected herself. "I didn't mean to forbid it!"

"I love how sweet and well-behaved Chanxi is."

"If one day you two grow up and Chanxi truly wants to marry Li Luo, I'd be overjoyed."

"Why wait until later?" Ying Chanxi lifted her tear-red eyes to Lin Xiuhong, her voice small and pleading. "Can't we do it now? Can I marry Li Luo right now?"

"Alright, alright, fine," Lin Xiuhong, desperate to stop the crying, immediately agreed. "Then Chanxi is officially our daughter-in-law from now on, okay? No more crying."

"Really?"

"Really!"

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi instantly stopped crying and smiled, her cheeks still flushed red—adorably so.

Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong exchanged a glance, equally amused and exasperated.

Since Ying Zhicheng wasn't home, their daughter seemed to have been quietly stolen away by their household?

How had Li Luo managed to make Chanxi so fond of him?

Li Guohong was baffled, assuming it was just because the two kids spent all day together and played house too much.

After all, they were still children—talking about marriage now was just childish play. Li Guohong and his wife didn't take it seriously, only finding it charming that Ying Chanxi, besides being obedient and sweet, also had a delicate, adorable side.

After dinner, the two children did some homework, then prepared for bed.

But Ying Chanxi wanted to stay in Li Luo's room again.

"Aren't Lin Yi and Uncle Li also sleeping together?" Ying Chanxi said.

"Of course we sleep together—but your room is next door. You have to go back to sleep in your own room at night."

"But I'm already Li Luo's wife," Ying Chanxi snuggled under the covers and refused to come out, whispering in protest. "Lin Yi, you can't break us up."

Lin Xiuhong: "…Fine, fine. Go to sleep early."

Afraid Ying Chanxi might start crying again, Lin Xiuhong reluctantly agreed, turned off their light, stepped out, and told them to behave and sleep well.

But the next morning—

Since it was the weekend, Ying Zhicheng had finally returned home. He rushed straight to his daughter's bedroom, eager to give her a big hug.

But when he opened the door and saw the empty bed, Ying Zhicheng fell into deep thought.

He then called Li Guohong, got the answer, went to the potted plant by the opposite door, pulled out a key, opened the door to 401, then pushed open Li Luo's room.

When he saw his daughter peacefully curled up under the covers, sleeping beside Li Luo, he pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.

…

"Chanxi insisted on sleeping there?"

"Yeah, we couldn't stop her."

"What do we do? It's fine now since they're still young, but if they grow up and this becomes a habit, it'll be bad…"

"Cough… don't rush. They're still kids, so they still say they want to sleep together. When they're older, they'll stop."

"But we can't just let it continue…"

"Forget it. I'll talk to Li Luo privately—Chanxi listens only to him. I'll have him tell her."

"Hmm… don't tell her it was me who said it."

"Don't worry—I won't."

……

After the parents on both sides had privately discussed things, Lin Xiuhong quietly pulled Li Luo aside and said something to him.

Li Luo had originally firmly refused, but swayed by Lin Xiuhong's promise to give him extra pocket money, his ironclad resolve cracked.

That evening, Li Luo watched Ying Chanxi walk into his bedroom again, then took her small hand and led her toward the opposite door.

Ying Chanxi followed, puzzled, and when they returned to her own bedroom, she asked curiously, "Why did you bring me back here?"

"You'll sleep here from now on," Li Luo said with a regretful shake of his head. "We can't sleep together anymore."

"W-why not?" Ying Chanxi panicked, grabbing his hand and refusing to let him go. "Don't you want me anymore?"

"Cough…" Li Luo's eyes darted away guiltily, but he still said, "We're married, but we don't have a marriage certificate—that's something you can only get after turning eighteen."

"You know that, right?"

"Without a marriage certificate, we can't sleep together—if anyone finds out, the police will lock me up."

"So we'll wait until we're older to sleep together."

Hearing Li Luo might be arrested by the police, Ying Chanxi was startled and stopped insisting on sleeping with him.

Seeing she didn't object, Li Luo took her hand and guided her to lie down on the bed, then looked around until his gaze landed on a small blanket.

"This was mine to you, wasn't it?"

"Mm." Ying Chanxi nodded. "You gave it to me in kindergarten."

"Then take this." Li Luo picked up the blanket and placed it beside her head. "Treat it like me—it'll keep you company while you sleep, so you won't be scared at night."

"Mm…"

"I'll stay with you for a bit." Li Luo squatted on the bed, holding her small hand and tucking her in. "I won't leave until you fall asleep."

"... Okay."

……

Time flew, and they reached the end of sixth grade.

Li Luo and Ying Chanxi had both grown much taller.

Girls develop faster; Ying Chanxi quickly shot up to one meter fifty, slightly taller than Li Luo, which made him feel awkward.

As they grew older, the distinction between boys and girls became clear, and they no longer clung to each other all day like they had in previous years.

"Ying Chanxi! Come on, we're graduated—what are you still taking pictures for?"

"Stay still—I'll take a couple more of you."

"Photos are so boring—I'm going to play basketball with Zhao Rongjun."

"We're going home to eat anyway," Ying Chanxi said, aiming her camera at Li Luo. "Pose."

"Heh."

"You look awful!"

"Where's it awful? I'm handsome."

"Handsome my ass."

"Who was it that used to scream she wanted to marry me? Now you talk to me like this?"

"Go die! Don't say that!" Ying Chanxi blushed furiously and chased Li Luo all over the school.

After finally taking all the pictures she wanted, Ying Chanxi packed away her camera, slung her backpack on, and walked out the school gate with Li Luo.

Standing at the gate and looking back, Ying Chanxi felt a pang of sadness.

Li Luo, meanwhile, was already eager to welcome his first summer vacation without homework.

¤

"Woo-hoo~ Finally graduated~"

"You're happy about graduating?" Ying Chanxi glanced at Li Luo, backpack on her shoulders.

"Of course—I wish I could graduate every day."

"You just want summer vacation every day."

"Heh."

When they got home, Ying Chanxi went to the kitchen to help Lin Xiuhong cook.

Li Luo, mischievous, sneaked snacks from the table and was promptly sent by Lin Xiuhong to peel garlic beside the trash bin.

……

The next day, summer vacation officially began.

Lin Xiuhong dragged Li Luo to the supermarket to buy daily necessities. Bored, he browsed the shelves, occasionally slipping a pack of snacks under the cart, then pretending he hadn't done anything.

When it came time to pay, Lin Xiuhong noticed the cart was full of extra snacks and gave Li Luo an irritated glare.

Li Luo grinned and whispered, "I bought these for Xi Xi—she loves them."

"Do you think I don't know what Xi Xi likes? Do you need to tell me?" Lin Xiuhong snorted. "Fine, since you graduated, I'll let it slide this once—just remember to share some with Xi Xi."

"Of course!" Li Luo patted his chest in assurance.

"Hello," the cashier said after scanning all items. "Total is two hundred and one yuan and sixty fen—exactly two hundred yuan. You qualify for our supermarket's spend-and-win lottery: two hundred yuan entitles you to two draws."

"See!" Li Luo beamed. "If it weren't for my snacks, we'd have lost one draw!"

"Shoo, shoo—what good is winning a lottery?" Lin Xiuhong waved her hand dismissively as the cashier brought over the lottery box and drew at random.

"Consolation prize: a pack of tissues. Please take it," the cashier smiled, slipping the tissues into the bag. "You have one more draw."

"Mom, why did you draw so fast? Let me do it!" Li Luo pushed forward, blocking her. "Your luck's terrible—watch me!"

"At least I got tissues. Don't end up winning nothing."

"Watch me—I'll win the grand prize." Li Luo asked curiously, "What's the grand prize here?"

"First prize: a panda plushie. Second prize: Transformers figurines. Third prize…"

"Good!" Before the cashier could finish, Li Luo's eyes lit up; he shoved his right hand straight into the prize box and shouted, "You! Transformers!"

"It's not about who shouts loudest." Lin Xiuhong frowned, embarrassed by his noise. "Keep it down."

"It looks like he won..." The cashier stared at the golden slip in Li Luo's hand and froze.

Most prize slips were white; only special prizes were golden.

Did this kid actually win?

The cashier was startled and quickly snatched the slip from Li Luo's hand to check: "It's even the first prize!"

"Huh?" Li Luo stood stunned, then wailed, "Why's it the first prize? Can I swap it for second?"

"Swap what?" Lin Xiuhong slapped the back of Li Luo's head. "First prize is worth more than second. Keep it."

"Ahem... Both of you wait a moment. The prize needs to be delivered by staff."

Carrying a giant panda plush, Li Luo returned home with Lin Xiuhong.

To be honest, though he'd wanted the Transformers figurine, winning first prize still made him happy.

He carried the panda plush—nearly as big as himself—into his room, tossed it onto the bed, peeled off the outer plastic bag, sighed deeply, then collapsed onto the bed.

But since they'd just gotten home, the air conditioner hadn't been turned on; in this sweltering summer heat, squeezed by the plush, Li Luo felt like he was burning up.

"Damn! How am I supposed to sleep tonight? This is way too hot..."

Li Luo muttered, already wishing he hadn't won it.

So he rolled his eyes, grabbed the panda plush, ran out, and pounded on the door across the hall: "Ying Chanxi! Open up! Quick!"

"Coming, coming!"

Ying Chanxi answered with a call, then hurried to the door and opened it, her face full of confusion.

The next second, she froze.

Staring at the giant panda plush in Li Luo's arms, Ying Chanxi stared blankly, then couldn't help asking, "Where did you get this?"

"I bought it specially for you," Li Luo grinned shamelessly. "Girls all like this stuff, right? Do you want it? If not, I'll throw it away."

"Who said I don't want it!" Ying Chanxi grabbed Li Luo's arm and pushed open her bedroom door. "Put it on my bed."

"Got it!"

"Why did you think to buy me this?" Ying Chanxi sat on the edge of the bed, tugging the plush's fluffy arm, curious. "And where did you get the money?"

"I bought it with my mom," Li Luo said as if it were obvious. "We got lots of snacks too—I'll go get them for you."

Watching Li Luo bring over another pile of snacks, Ying Chanxi felt touched, then rushed to the study and spread a stack of photos on the bed: "Look, these are the photos I took yesterday—just developed."

"These are yours."

"I printed two copies of every photo we took together—keep yours safe."

The two exchanged gifts on the bed, chatting happily.

Several days passed.

Late at night, Li Luo sneaked again to Ying Chanxi's door and whispered for her to open up.

Ying Chanxi cracked the door just enough for him to slip in, then whispered, "Again with the computer?"

"What else is there to do?" Li Luo slipped into her study and eagerly turned on the computer.

"Don't stay up too late," Ying Chanxi followed him in, whispering a warning.

"Don't worry—I'll head back by midnight." Li Luo spoke, then his gaze landed on Ying Chanxi, and he went, "Huh? Why did you change your pajamas?"

"W-what's it to you?" Ying Chanxi's face flushed red; she hurried out of the study. "Play all you want. I'm going to sleep. Just leave when it's time."

Saying that, Ying Chanxi slipped back to her room, hugging the giant panda plush on her bed, wearing her cute panda-patterned pajamas.