Chapter 872 This World, Family. She spoke these words cautiously, her eyes fixed on her son, Yo-young, afraid of hurting his pride, and also afraid that he would truly keep all his suffering to himself.
Lu Qingyang smiled and said, "It's really tiring, Mom. It's quiet at night, but there's a lot to do. It's just right for me, it's peaceful."
Seeing her son's calm expression, which seemed like a forced smile, Lu's mother could only nod, swallowing back any further instructions, and saying instead, "Then... eat the dumplings while they're hot. I'll come back for the bucket tomorrow."
She turned and slowly walked back, the cool autumn night breeze ruffling a few strands of gray hair at her temples.
Lu Qingyang suddenly felt an indescribable heaviness in his heart.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lu Qingyang returned from his night shift, his body still carrying the chill of the night dew.
The kitchen lights were on, and the range hood was humming softly.
Mr. Lu was standing in front of the stove, the pot sizzling.
"Father Lu didn't turn around, focusing intently on flipping the fried eggs in the pan. 'You're back? Wash your hands, come eat.'"
Lu Qingyang hummed in agreement and went to wash his face.
Returning to the small dining table, I found that the table had already been set.
The usual rice porridge and pickled vegetables, a bowl of plain noodles sprinkled with scallions, the soup was clear, the fried egg was soft-boiled with crispy edges, and there was a small dish of finely chopped pickled cucumber on the side, with a few drops of sesame oil drizzled on it.
He loved to eat 놅 when he was little.
Mr. Lu brought over the last plate of freshly fried, golden-brown youtiao (Chinese fried dough sticks), placed it in front of him, and sat down opposite him.
He didn't touch his chopsticks, but just watched his son eat noodles with his head down.
The room was quiet, with only the faint sounds of Lu Qingyang eating noodles and the gradually rising sounds of the city outside the window.
Sunlight streamed through the water-stained windows, casting dappled shadows on the old dining table.
After a long while, Mr. Lu finally spoke: "Last night... your mother came back and said that you looked alright."
Lu Qingyang paused while eating his noodles.
“In the past, Dad always thought that you were the first college student in our family, and even a PhD. You had to be successful and make Mom proud.”
Mr. Lu picked up a fried dough stick but didn't eat it. He just unconsciously squeezed it. "I'm worried about your job and starting a family. I feel that you're going downhill as a security guard and it's embarrassing for you."
“These past few months, seeing you working so hard, going to and from get off work, I haven’t heard you complain once. Your mother brought you food and said that you get along well with your colleagues and are very careful in your work… But I feel really bad about it.”
This man, who had run a small restaurant his whole life and was always determined, had a kind of clumsy softness on his face at this moment.
“Qingyang, if being a security guard is really tiring or frustrating, then we’ll take the job. Our little restaurant at home, even though we’ve made a fortune, can still accommodate an extra pair of chopsticks. You can come and help Dad, whatever you want.”
“Dad will never force you to go on blind dates again. We’ll see those idiots. Life is long in some ways and short in others. I’ve figured it out. Success and face are nothing compared to making my son feel at ease and healthy. As long as you’re healthy, live like a human being, and are comfortable, that’s better than anything else.”
Lu Qingyang lowered his head and ate the bowl of noodles heartily, even drinking the soup clean.
"Dad, the fried egg is cooked just right."
Mr. Lu smiled, his wrinkles deepening at the corners of his eyes: "Well, that's all your dad's skills are, and they're not even presentable."
Lu Yunyun is the youngest daughter in the family, currently stuck at that slightly thorny age of six.
A few months ago, she was full of pop songs and celebrity posters, and her parents' nagging to "study hard" went in one ear and out the other. She felt that running a restaurant was meaningless, and studying was even more meaningless. She dreamed of one day standing on a shining stage like on TV.
During the time her older brother Lu Qingyang was hospitalized after his accident, she felt for the first time in her life that "the sky might collapse."
My parents suddenly aged by 20 years and looked haggard.
She secretly watched her older brother lying unconscious outside the ward, and her hands and feet turned ice cold from fright.
At that moment, all dreams of stardom and rebellious phase emotions were swept away by immense fear.
A vague thought popped into her mind: What will happen to Mom and Dad if my older brother really is gone? What will happen to this family?
What can I, a girl who can only hum songs and whose grades are at the bottom, possibly shoulder?
She became much quieter during that period.
After school, I would stroll around with my classmates, then go straight home. I would clumsily help serve dishes, wipe tables, and even try to do the math, though I often made mistakes.
Looking at her mother's red and swollen eyes and her father's back as he forced himself to be energetic, she clearly felt for the first time the heavy weight and sharp edges of the word "responsibility".
Fortunately, my older brother woke up and came back.
Lu Yunyun's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and she felt as if the air in the house had started to flow again.
But soon, the observant girl noticed that although her older brother had returned, it seemed that he had lost part of his soul.
He became more silent than before, often sitting alone in a daze, his eyes looking into the distance, his brows occasionally furrowing unconsciously, that faint sorrow like the thin mist that always dissipates on an autumn morning, shrouding his face.
He will no longer ruffle her hair, laugh at her for being a fan of celebrities, or occasionally inquire about her disastrous report card, just like before.
Lu Yunyun felt a mix of panic and pain. She understood what her older brother had gone through to become like this.
But she wanted to make him happy, like before, even if it was just a helpless smile at her.
Lu Yunyun saved up her allowance and bought some snacks that her older brother had mentioned before and thought tasted alright, then secretly placed them in his room.
Before he went on his night shift, I clumsily filled a kettle with hot water, just like my mother does, and put it in his mouth.
Lu Qingyang sensed his sister's cautious and well-intentioned actions.
That day, when he came home from his night shift, he saw a box of pastries that had been opened and were arranged a little crookedly on the table, with a note next to it. The note read in Lu Yunyun's childish handwriting: "Brother, try this new product! —Yunyun".
He picked up a piece; it was cloyingly sweet, but he ate it slowly.
That evening, he saw that Lu Yunyun's room light was still on, and he could hear her hushed voice practicing English words through the crack in the door, her voice filled with obvious frustration and frustration.
He knocked on the door and went inside.
Lu Yunyun was startled and hurriedly stuffed the test paper under the book, her face showing a bit of embarrassment at being caught.
"Brother...you're still awake?"
Lu Qingyang sat down next to her, glanced at the papers spread out on the table, covered with red crosses, and then looked at the faint dark circles under his sister's eyes.
"Have you been sleeping late lately? Are you under a lot of stress?"
Lu Yunyun lowered her head, clutching the hem of her clothes, her voice muffled: "Yeah, midterms are coming up soon. I... I think I'm really good at studying, I can't seem to absorb anything no matter how I study. Brother, I... I just love singing, I can... I can..."
"Yes, if you like singing, then sing well. Force yourself to do what you are good at and what you like."
Lu Yunyun was stunned, not expecting to receive such direct support.
Although her parents doted on her, they always said, "Singing can't put food on the table," and "You should focus on your studies first."
"I'm so bad at school. What am I going to do if I get into a good university and find a good job?" She was still a little worried.
"There's only one path in life: find something you truly love and can stick with, do it well, and you can still live with confidence and dignity. If you love singing, then learn and practice, even if you start from the very basics. Even if you don't become a star in the end, it's good to be able to sing for yourself, for people you like, and to make yourself happy. Don't put too much pressure on yourself; you're still young, and you have a long road ahead."
Lu Yunyun stared blankly at her older brother, her eyes slowly reddening.
During this period, I was anxious, doubted myself, and fearful of the future. It's as if I've suddenly found a corner where I can put my worries.
Her older brother didn't laugh at her for having unrealistic dreams, nor did he force her to do anything. He simply told her: "Just do what you like."
Her voice choked slightly, "Brother, are you really okay? You always seem so happy."
Lu Qingyang smiled, this time with a more genuine smile and a touch of warmth: "I'm fine, I just need some time to think things through. Take care of yourself and don't worry about me."
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