After seeing Liu Yue come out, Chen Bing glanced at Chen Shichao, who was still sleeping on the sofa, then got up, opened the door, and went out with Liu Yue.
The elevator doors slowly closed, and the red number inside the elevator jumped from 9 to 1, then changed to the word "Arrived".
With each opening and closing of the door, the familiar front door was no longer before them. Facing the rising sun at the end of the outer corridor, Liu Yue took Liu Xiaoxiao's hand and whispered some comforting words to her as she led her slowly forward.
Chen Bing followed behind the two until the three of them arrived at the entrance of the residential area, where he once again felt a sense of familiarity. Years ago, Liu Xiaoxiao looked just like this when her grandmother picked her up.
It was the same morning, and the same two figures, one tall and one short, were bathed in the same slanting sunlight, casting their dark shadows on the ground.
The figures from back then are gradually merging with those of today, but the person waiting outside the community has changed.
The man was wearing pointed leather shoes and taking puffs of a cigarette. He was leaning against a black Audi, dressed in a well-fitting suit, looking every bit the elite.
Upon seeing Liu Yue leading his daughter over, Liu's father threw the cigarette in his hand on the ground and then stomped it out with his shoe.
"Thank you, ma'am, please don't take these things."
After shaking hands with Liu's father and accepting his business card, Liu Yue held up the item in her hand and said in a slightly cold tone, "For the child."
After giving a forced smile, Liu's father took his daughter's wrist from Liu Yue's hand, then lowered his head and said to her, "Quickly say thank you to your auntie."
Liu Xiaoxiao ignored the other person's words, shook off the other person, and then opened her arms and took the initiative to hug Liu Yue.
Goodbye, Aunt Yueyue.
"Goodbye, Xiaoxiao. You must come to Auntie's house often in the future. How about Auntie Yueyue takes you shopping?"
"Um!"
After cuddling with Liu Yue for a while, Liu Xiaoxiao left her embrace and waved goodbye. Then, she turned to look at Chen Bing standing to the side.
"Thank you, brother. Goodbye, brother."
Hearing the word "brother" from Liu Xiaoxiao's lips again after many years evoked complex emotions in Chen Bing. Although her tone was calm and even, it still sounded very comforting.
After waving to the other person, Chen Bing also said goodbye.
After saying goodbye, Liu Xiaoxiao bowed slightly, then turned to leave with her father.
"Come visit again when you have time." Chen Bing suddenly called out as he watched the two figures leave. Liu Xiaoxiao turned around and glanced at him sideways after hearing this, then nodded slightly.
Her gaze reminded Chen Bing of several years ago once again, and she felt a tremor in her heart.
Damn, this scene feels so familiar. What if she just leaves and never comes back? She lives with her stepmother; what if she gets bullied by her? What if... what if...
Chen Bing frowned as she watched Liu Xiaoxiao walk further and further away, then suddenly took a step and ran after her.
"Hey! Wait, wait a minute!"
Liu's father and Liu Xiaoxiao turned around at the same time to watch him run over. Chen Bing took a couple of light breaths before reaching them. After a moment of silence, he straightened up, looked Liu Xiaoxiao in the eye, and said, "If you hadn't come to me, I would have come to you! How about we play badminton together? I can also play the violin for you."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaoxiao smiled. Her eyes were no longer filled with the indescribable look they had just had; instead, her smile was genuine and she seemed very happy.
However, she did not reply immediately, but instead turned to look at Liu's father who was standing to the side.
This action wasn't meant to seek the other party's consent, but rather because the young girl didn't know where she would be living in the future.
Upon hearing their conversation, Liu's father immediately smiled at Chen Bing and replied, "We live in Longhua Community, Shangping County, Building 11, Room 1403. Uncle welcomes you anytime you want to visit."
After silently making a mental note of it, Chen Bing waved goodbye to the two of them again.
Two figures, one tall and one short, got into the car through the front and back doors respectively. With the roar of the engine, the black sedan slowly started moving. Chen Bing and Liu Yue stood there, watching Liu Xiaoxiao, whose small face was partially visible through the rear window, grow further and further away until she disappeared at the end of the road.
This time, however, Chen Bing didn't feel empty inside; on the contrary, he felt exceptionally at ease. Because he knew that this goodbye truly meant goodbye forever.
Wait for me, I'll come visit you in a few days.
The early summer morning breeze was still a bit chilly. Chen Bing tightened her coat, then turned around and went home with Liu Yue.
Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoxiao, who had left Baishi Town and was on her way to her new home in the county town, turned her gaze away from the car window. After casually replying to her father's words, she took out the things Chen Bing had given her in the bathroom from her pocket.
It was an iPhone, which someone had given to Chen Shichao a while ago, and then Chen Shichao gave it to him.
Because she had never used an Apple product in her previous life, Chen Bing wasn't used to it and usually only used it to watch videos. Now, it's perfect for Liu Xiaoxiao to use as a temporary communication tool.
Although it might be unnecessary, Liu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but smile when she looked at the only number in her contacts—Chen Bing.
Chen Bing: If you're free next weekend, I'll come over to hang out with you.
A message suddenly popped up at the top of her phone. Liu Xiaoxiao opened it and saw that it was a message from Chen Bing to her alternate account.
Liu Xiaoxiao: Let's talk about it later. I'll familiarize myself with the environment first.
Chen Bing: Where are you now?
Liu Xiaoxiao glanced out the car window and saw a lake reflecting the golden sunlight on both sides of the wide road. On the surface of the lake, early lotus buds stretched out, each one tinged with a faint red.
Liu Xiaoxiao: The place where lotus flowers bloom
...
After chatting with Liu Xiaoxiao for a while, Chen Bing put down her phone. Well, it was hard to say she had actually helped her, but the guilt she had felt earlier had been somewhat alleviated.
Chen Bing never felt like he was saving anyone; he just wanted to make himself feel better.
Is everything he's doing now still just for this purpose? Chen Bing felt it probably wasn't. The reason that prompted him to do something different from last time was probably the memory of when Liu Xiaoxiao tugged at his clothes when he was a child, sweetly calling him "brother" and asking him to play the violin for her.
I really long to see that lively, cheerful little sister with her sweet smile again someday.
After tossing her phone aside, Chen Bing leaped onto the bed.
Sister, sister...
Oh, right. Why hasn't that little girl Shang Yunmiao come back yet? Didn't she say she'd be home yesterday afternoon? Why hasn't she come to visit?
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