Song Lili finished dishing up the food, and the two of them came out of the kitchen.
At this time, the amount of information Lu Ziqing had given was a bit much, so much so that he still had the bag he hadn’t taken off since entering the house on his back. Song Lili also only noticed it then, and after glancing again at the luggage and blankets on the other side, she hesitated before asking,
"Brother Lu, you... you’re not planning on moving back in today, are you?"
When Lu Ziqing denied this, Qi Yong standing in the living room was a bit confused.
"Then why are you bringing so much luggage..."
"Oh! These bags, I’m planning to go camping and stargazing with my comrade tonight! It’s just on another hilltop."
Qi Yong’s mouth was slightly ajar.
"Comrade... you mean Comrade Qi Yong?"
"Just the two of you?"
Lu Ziqing answered very straightforwardly, but Song Lili’s gaze on him became increasingly strange.
Qi Yong really wanted to grab his head and leave. What on earth was the higher-up talking about!
"Are you staying for dinner then?"
"No, no, we just brought some fruit for you, and now we’re leaving."
Saying this, Lu Ziqing instructed Qi Yong to carry the blankets and they left one after another.
"There are only two days left until the exam. If you have any questions or need anything, call me, you understand?"
Song Lili nodded, "Do you need my help to carry anything downstairs?"
"No need, we’re leaving. Go back in and lock the door."
Lu Ziqing waved his hand and went downstairs, with Qi Yong hastily following.
In the car, Lu Ziqing sat very quietly in the passenger seat. After a moment of contemplation, Qi Yong asked softly, "Higher-up, are we... really going to look at the stars?"
"Are you looking for trouble? Head back to the military district!"
Qi Yong had been holding it in for too long!
Song Lili closed the door, facing Tang Xiaocao’s wide-eyed blink...
"Sister, who was that uncle?"
"Umm... a very nice brother whose house we’re currently living in."
Song Lili stroked Tang Xiaocao’s head, "Xiaocao, remember, wherever I am, that’s your home."
"I’ll stir-fry one more vegetarian dish, and then we can eat dinner."
Song Lili turned back to the kitchen, but Tang Xiaocao came in holding her phone,
Song Lili took it, glanced at the caller ID, and then put the phone aside, letting it ring...
Wen Nian almost called every day like clockwork, and she perfectly "missed" every one, before sending him a message, spinning the illusion that she was traveling abroad...
It was the same every day, but today was different, this deathly series of calls had been ringing for over half an hour now.
Tang Xiaocao looked at Song Lili with confusion...
"Sister, you look so sad?"
"Your eyebrows..." Tang Xiaocao couldn’t articulate it, so she used her hands to gesture the meaning of "furrowed together."
Song Lili quickly smoothed out her eyebrows.
"Your eyes... also look so sad..."
Song Lili clenched her fist tightly and quickly averted her gaze; she was truly afraid of this child.
"Go wash your hands, it’s time to eat."
Song Lili urged her, and Tang Xiaocao obediently went to wash her hands.
Song Lili arranged the bowls and chopsticks. The phone was still ringing, and looking at the unmarked but all-too-familiar number on the caller ID, Song Lili felt like there was a stone weighing on her heart.
She was afraid to hear his voice, especially from the phone, a voice that would be right at her ear...