Chapter 140: Going to them.

because kids usually liked things that were easy on the teeth and fun to chew, so she added some rice crackers, boxed cookies, bagged milk buns, and a few big bowls of jelly. The more she picked, the more she filled the bag, and before long the thing was starting to get heavy and hard to close. Bai Li did not stop there. On the other side of the room, she saw two rows of Wahaha drinks that had given her enough bad memories to last a while. She stared at them for a beat, then reached over without hesitation and grabbed them too. If she had to bring them, she would bring them. It was not like she was scared of them anymore. At worst, they were just drinks. At best, Lili might like them. So into the bag they went as well, until the whole thing was packed almost to the top with snacks, candy, and drinks. Bai Li looked at the bag once it was full and then nodded to herself. That should be enough. Children did not need much philosophy. They needed things they could actually like.

Her clothes from yesterday were wrinkled from being slept in and worn all day, and Bai Li did not like looking messy when she went out. She also knew her hands were not nimble enough right now for anything fussy like a shirt with tiny buttons, so she opened the closet and found a black dress that would be easier to put on. It was simple, plain, and neat, the kind of thing that did not get in the way when she needed to move fast. She changed into it without wasting time and checked herself in the mirror once. The dress looked fine on her, clean and sharp, and it made her seem a little less tense than she felt on the inside. After that she carried the large bag of snacks on her wrist and left home. The bag was heavy enough to make her arm feel it, but she did not mind. She had carried heavier things than this before. Food was worth carrying. Especially when it was for someone who mattered to Yan Cijin. Bai Li closed the door behind her, locking her heavy security door with the same careful habit she had used the night before. Then she stepped into the hallway and moved toward Yan Cijin’s apartment.

Before knocking, Bai Li paused for a second and stood outside the door, listening. The building was still fairly quiet at this hour, which meant most people were either asleep, hiding, or trying not to make noise. That was good. Quiet meant fewer problems. Quiet meant no one was running around in the stairwell or making a mess for the zombies to follow. Bai Li adjusted the bag on her arm and then finally knocked on Yan Cijin’s door. She did not knock too hard, just enough to let her know she was there. She was not really nervous, but there was still a tiny bit of tension in the back of her mind because of everything that had happened before. She knew Yan Cijin cared. She also knew Yan Cijin could be a little worried if Bai Li showed up too formal or too stiff. Bai Li was not great at turning warmth into words, but she was trying in her own way. Bringing snacks, coming over in the morning, carrying a bag full of things for Lili, all of that counted. At least she thought it did.

When the door opened and Yan Cijin saw her, Bai Li’s expression stayed calm, but her eyes softened just a little. She held up the bag slightly, almost like a small offering. It was not a grand gesture. She was not the type for dramatic stuff. But she had remembered Yan Cijin’s concern, remembered the little girl, and remembered that she wanted to come by herself rather than wait for more awkward back and forth. Yan Cijin would probably understand that as soon as she saw the snacks. Bai Li could already imagine Lili’s face when she noticed the candy. Kids usually reacted in a very immediate way. That was part of why Bai Li had filled the bag with such bright, sweet things. She wanted to make the visit easier, friendlier, and less formal than the last one. The morning air in the hallway felt still, and Bai Li stood there for a second with the heavy bag in one hand and the quiet thought that maybe this visit would turn into something a little softer than the day before. After all, she had already done the hard part. She had gotten up, taken the medicine, checked the news, gathered the snacks, and come over. The rest would be up to the people inside. And if Lili smiled, that would probably make the whole thing worth it.

Bai Li waited at the door with her usual calm face, but inside she was already thinking about the child’s reaction, about whether Yan Cijin would look relieved, and about whether she would have to explain anything at all. She was not the kind of person who felt good about being overly polished or overly sentimental, but she did know how to show care in the ways that made sense to her. A heavy bag of snacks was one of those ways. A careful knock was another. Coming over first instead of waiting around and guessing was another. She had done all of that. Now the apartment door was open, and the quiet morning seemed to hold its breath for a moment while she stood there. Behind the door, she knew there was warmth, family noise, and probably Lili’s small curious voice. That thought alone made the whole hallway feel less cold. Bai Li adjusted the bag once more and looked at the doorway with a very slight, almost unreadable softness.

Because of what happened yesterday, Yan Laojin and the little dumpling

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To be continued.