"Cui Cui."

"Brother Yuanhou, you're back. Where's Sister A Li?"

"She didn't return."

"Hehe." After a simple greeting, Cui Cui began to laugh.

She was genuinely happy. Over the past year, she often came here to play with Brother Yuanhou and Sister A Li because only they wouldn't mind her.

Li Zhiyuan went to Jinling for college, and Alii left too, leaving Cui Cui friendless again.

However, she didn't feel lonely or sad because she had once had them.

Whenever she saw other children playing together, she would remember her time with Brother Yuanhou and Sister A Li and proudly walk past them with her chin up.

"Brother Yuanhou, come to my house to play. My mom and grandma are home."

Li Zhiyuan nodded, "Alright."

He had lived in the village for a long time, but there weren't many people he felt needed a special visit.

His grandparents were now helping at Grandmaster's place and had already had lunch together. He didn't need to visit those uncles; it would displease Grandmaster.

Liu Jinxia and Li Juxiang once helped him through difficult times; he should go see them.

Seeing Li Zhiyuan agree, Cui Cui tentatively reached out her hand.

Li Zhiyuan proactively reached out and held her hand.

The little girl was immediately so happy that she seemed eager to turn into a butterfly.

She still remembered when Li Zhiyuan first came here, walking with her by the stream and treating her to chocolate.

Later, her mom bought her many types of chocolate, but no matter how identical the brand and packaging were, she never tasted the same sweetness.

Li Zhiyuan knew she was very happy.

He matured at a young age, quickly learning to read people. Through imitation and observation, reasoning and analysis, he could make most people around him feel content and pleased with his "identity," except for Li Lan.

This was a habit, not inherited from the womb, but almost as ingrained.

Even when he deliberately stopped performing, this inertia remained.

For instance, he wanted to see Binbin become class president and wanted to see Binbin and Zhou Yunyun together.

For example, when Run Sheng showed nostalgia for Mr. Shan, he said he'd be back by the end of the month.

For example, he knew that if he returned, Grandmaster would be very happily upon seeing him.

Li Zhiyuan considered himself a foolish person.

In some ways, he was still a novice at feeling joy and emotion, so he hoped to have more examples around him to observe, understand, and imitate.

Not just superficially, but with genuine emotion.

When he was with Alii, there was no problem, but as Alii's balcony window, he needed to venture out earlier and more boldly to continue guiding her onward.

However, when passing Aunt Zhang's shop and facing Aunt Zhang's enthusiastic greeting, Li Zhiyuan's polite response, a "smile," unconsciously faded as he noticed the telephone there.

Cui Cui led him on. Before they reached home, she was already shouting from afar, "Mom, Mom, Brother Yuanhou is here, Brother Yuanhou is here!"

Li Juxiang was doing laundry; upon hearing this, she was so happy she abandoned the laundry and went inside to fetch some snacks.

It was already a bit chilly, so lemon acid drinks weren't suitable. She opened two bottles of milk beverage instead.

Li Zhiyuan accepted, drank a sip from the straw, tasting mostly saccharine with a hint of milk flavor.

He still didn't like sweet drinks. He'd rather sip tea at Liu Yumei's place or drink plain water in his dorm room.

Tan Wenbin often enjoyed tea at Grandma Liu's. After his father gave him tea leaves, he couldn't drink them anymore.

Li Zhiyuan only used drinks for quick replenishment after physical exertion.

However, when Aunt Xiang Hou asked again, "Is it good? Want a different flavor?" he still lowered his head and took two consecutive sips:

"It's good."

Liu Jinxia didn't play cards this afternoon; she took up a task and was holding a brush, attempting to write a couplet from the book.

This was a relatively traditional folk custom, where the couplet could be hung in the temple, at a funeral, or placed atop offerings to be burned.

Liu Jinxia's acceptance of this task proved her status and position had risen again.

Indeed, in her trade, seniority meant popularity; the older one got, the more trusted one became.

Yet, Liu Jinxia hesitated to write directly on the white cloth, practicing repeatedly on yellow paper.

Her handwriting was barely acceptable, having been earnestly practiced.

Half a year ago, she secretly underwent cataract surgery in the city, her vision much improved, but she habitually pretended to be "blind" in front of people.

Li Zhiyuan walked to the table.

Liu Xiazi chuckled, "Little Yuanhou, you've come."

"Yes, Grandma Liu." Li Zhiyuan straightforwardly offered, "Grandma Liu, let me help you write it."

"You know how to write?" Her tone held a note of surprise and inclination to believe, given the child attended university at such a young age.

"I do."

Li Zhiyuan picked up the brush and started writing directly on the white cloth.

Initially, Liu Jinxia was a bit worried, but upon seeing the boy's writing, her heart settled completely.

The couplet he wrote didn't seem to appear in her book, but it didn't matter; the style was elegant, grand, and solemn, pleasing the homeowner.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.