Chapter 2: Greetings from Afar

Greetings from Afar

Qing Qing Xukong pulled his thoughts back to reality, slightly flustered as he took out his phone from his pocket. When he saw the caller ID note, he paused for a moment, but then immediately pressed the answer button.

"Mm, I'm fine... The money is enough, I don't need it... Me? I'm in my second year of high school this year. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up?" Qing Qing Xukong replied with a hint of impatience.

"... You know, I owe you all too much... I just..." Perhaps Qing Qing Xukong's answer was too blunt; the person on the other end of the phone became somewhat hesitant.

Before the person on the other end could finish speaking, Qing Qing Xukong impatiently pressed the hang-up button. The man on the other end of the phone was someone Qing Qing Xukong should call his "biological father." As he had said, he indeed owed him and his mother too much.

How long ago was it? Qing Qing Xukong was almost forgetting. Past memories were like a layer of white haze. He had gradually become calm from his former excitement, anger, and grief. He had once been surprised by his own indifference, thinking he was not such a heartless creature, but he found that the truth was just so. He seemed to be a cold person without empathy. Ever since his mother left his side, every day of his life seemed to accelerate. Past, present, future—every moment passed like smoke. Even the memories he once cherished slipped away from his fingertips like the wind.

"Yulu Station is approaching soon. Passengers getting off, please take your belongings to both ends of the carriage and wait to disembark. Yulu Station is arriving soon."

The system's broadcast voice brought Qing Qing Xukong's wandering thoughts back to reality. Qing Qing Xukong brushed his hair back with his hand, stood up, and picked up his bag from the seat. He gazed at the city outside the window, feeling a sense of confusion. The door opened. Qing Qing Xukong shook his head, then walked out of the carriage. The sunset's afterglow shone on his face; he felt he could barely keep his eyes open. As if thinking of something again, he quickly left.

Qing Qing Xukong took a taxi, which stopped at an intersection. Qing Qing Xukong's residence was in an old district. Although old, the people living there were either very wealthy or very powerful. The villa area where he lived was once so hard to buy even with money, which showed that his father was not simple. Qing Qing Xukong thought there might be nothing left to eat at home, so he immediately walked toward a nearby convenience store.

"We look forward to your next visit." The clerk smiled as she watched Qing Qing Xukong leave. Qing Qing Xukong walked out of the convenience store, adjusted the handle of the plastic bag under the streetlight, and gazed at the insects swarming around the lamp. Suddenly, he felt a bit lonely, but he immediately returned to reality and started walking toward home.