CH 42

After six busy days, they could finally rest. Tu linlin went home to accompany her grandmother, and Zhuo Long said he wanted to go out for a walk. So Bai Xianzhi slept until the afternoon before getting up. He yawned and went downstairs to fix himself a bowl of noodles. After finishing a few bites, he put the bowl in the sink and opened his phone to find that Ji Dong was online. They connected through voice chat and played games together until their phones were almost out of battery. Only then did he tell Ji Dong that he was quitting the game. It was already half past four in the afternoon.

With both employees out, he wasn’t worried about revealing anything. Bai Xianzhi put on his slippers and went out.

At the entrance of Wutong Lane, he happened to run into Liu Qingshan coming back from outside. Liu Qingshan, who rarely dressed up in a suit, looked neat and tidy, but he appeared dejected, with a disheartened expression on his face.

Bai Xianzhi called out to him, “Qingshan, what’s wrong?”

Liu Qingshan looked up and greeted him, “Xianzhi, sigh, don’t ask.”

Seeing that he was genuinely disheartened, Bai Xianzhi asked, “What happened? Do you want to talk about it?”

Liu Qingshan nodded, “Okay.”

The two sat under the French phoenix tree, a symbol of Wutong Lane. The warm spring sunshine filtered through the tree branches, bringing a gentle warmth to them.

Liu Qingshan sighed deeply, “Do you think I’m ridiculous? Graduating from college and still without a job, just eating and drinking every day, living off my parents. Even if others don’t look down on me, I can’t help but look down on myself.”

Bai Xianzhi hadn’t thought about this issue before and pondered before saying, “No, I’ve never thought you were ridiculous.”

Liu Qingshan didn’t believe him, “Don’t comfort me. I know I’m a joke without a job after graduating. You know why I dressed up like this today? I went on a blind date, my mom’s friend’s daughter. She’s a top student, from an educated family. But as soon as she heard that I don’t have a job, I could practically see the disdain in her eyes. I know I’m lazy, unlucky, and lack responsibility, but does that mean she has to be so disrespectful? She didn’t even finish her meal before leaving, claiming she suddenly had something to do. Do they think I’m blind and can’t see through her excuses?”

“D*mn it, so what if I rely on my parents? It’s not like I’m using their money or eating their food! Do they have to look down on me so much?”

Bai Xianzhi quickly tried to console him, “Don’t get upset. Those people who have these prejudices against you don’t really understand you. Everyone’s situation is different. People tend to label others based on one thing and then pass judgment. You don’t need to care about such judgments.”

“…In my opinion, you don’t even need to find a job. For you, working has too low cost-effectiveness. Besides, aren’t you the one in charge of collecting rent for your family? A while back, didn’t you take your parents to Japan for a trip? If it weren’t for you, your uncle and aunt wouldn’t have dared to go, right? And when Wang Grandma in the alley suddenly fainted, weren’t you the first to call 120?”

“Your family doesn’t need you to find a job to fill any material needs. What your parents probably need the most is your company. I remember you said you like drawing, right? You can pursue what you love without insisting on getting a job.”

Liu Qingshan looked at Bai Xianzhi in a daze, “Really? Do you really think so?”

Bai Xianzhi smiled, “Of course. Why else would I, a college graduate, run a restaurant? It’s because I enjoy it, isn’t it?”

Liu Qingshan took a deep breath, dispelling his frustration, and slapped the stone table, saying, “You’re right! My family’s money is enough for me for several lifetimes. Why should I go out to work and serve those who earn less than my pocket money? Tomorrow, I’ll sign up for an art class and combine painting with collecting rent!”

He turned to Bai Xianzhi and said, “Thank you, Xianzhi! Thanks to you, I won’t be so down anymore!”

Bai Xianzhi smiled, “No problem, but in the future, try to play fewer games and spend more time on learning painting.”

Liu Qingshan chuckled, “Sure, I won’t play games with you during voice chats anymore.”

Bai Xianzhi: “…” Feeling slightly offended.

After bidding farewell to Liu Qingshan, Bai Xianzhi went to the supermarket and bought beer and coconut milk. Ever since the first day when Zhuo Long had coconut milk, Bai Xianzhi noticed that the cool and aloof Zhuo Long had no resistance to sweet and creamy things like coconut milk. If you asked him if he wanted to snack, he’d often refuse, but as soon as you asked him if he wanted coconut milk, he wouldn’t say a word. Bai Xianzhi had figured him out and stopped asking, simply putting the coconut milk in front of him.

On the way back to Three Thousand Food House, Bai Xianzhi met several aunts and grandmothers from the alley and greeted each of them before returning to the restaurant. As soon as he put the beer in the fridge, Zhuo Long came back.

“I’m back. We have coconut milk. Do you want some?”

The person behind didn’t say anything, and instead, took out a coconut milk from the fridge and turned around, handing it to Zhuo Long, the young boy, who stood there motionless.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Xianzhi asked.

Holding the coconut milk tightly in his hand, Zhuo Long hesitated and said, “Boss, I want to move out.”

Hmm? Move out?

Bai Xianzhi invited Zhuo Long to sit in the outer room. Facing him was a young boy dressed in all black – a black top, black pants, and black shoes. His expression was inscrutable, perhaps because Bai Xianzhi had been observing him for too long. The boy pursed his lips and said, “I feel that living in the restaurant is nice, but it’s a bit inconvenient.”

“Do you have enough money?” Bai Xianzhi smiled and asked. In the Three Thousand Worlds, at the age of sixteen, a child was already considered an adult and responsible for their actions. After almost a month of observation, Bai Xianzhi had found that Zhuo Long was actually a very sensible child. He knew what he was doing and what he wanted to do, so Bai Xianzhi had no worries about him.

“I have enough. My money is sufficient,” Zhuo Long said, giving the coconut milk in his hand another squeeze.

Bai Xianzhi took out a card and placed it in front of Zhuo Long, saying, “Take it. Your salary will be paid in a few days anyway. Consider it an advance on your wages. Since you want to move out, don’t skimp on yourself. You’re earning over ten thousand a month now, so living too frugally isn’t appropriate.”

Zhuo Long wanted to refuse, but hearing Bai Xianzhi’s words, he hesitated and retracted his hand. In reality, he didn’t have much money and could only afford the lowest-quality accommodation outside. With this money, many things would be much easier. He took the card and looked at Bai Xianzhi earnestly, saying, “Thank you, boss! I’ll work hard!”

Bai Xianzhi waved his hand, “This is your salary, what’s there to thank me for? By the way, when are you moving out?”

Zhuo Long felt his face getting warm and averted his gaze, “Today.”

So urgently?

Bai Xianzhi checked the time, “It’s almost five o’clock. Hurry upstairs and pack your things. I’ll cook you a bowl of dumplings, and you can eat before you leave.”

After saying that, Bai Xianzhi got up and went to the kitchen. Zhuo Long was about to say he didn’t need to be treated like this, but the words were swallowed back when he saw Bai Xianzhi’s back. As he looked at Bai Xianzhi’s departing figure, he felt touched. Since his first day at Three Thousand Food House, he had sensed that this place was different from where he had been before.

Initially, he thought that the people here were just very good at pretending, but after nearly a month, Zhuo Long couldn’t convince himself that the two people in the restaurant had any malicious intentions. They were genuinely good! So good that Zhuo Long felt like he had returned to the days when his parents were still alive, surrounded by kindness and genuine care. The concern in their words was real, and the things they gave him were not meant to test him… Brother Tu and Bai Xianzhi, the boss of Three Thousand Food House, genuinely treated him like a little brother, and Zhuo Long could feel it.

He had never imagined that he would be so lucky. He thought that the so-called affection had disappeared when he entered the Time-Space Orphanage. Even after leaving the orphanage, he didn’t expect to be treated normally. He had mentally prepared himself when he marked his face with the scar at the age of ten.

But now, in Three Thousand Food House, not only could he work normally, but the two people in the restaurant also took good care of him. They asked him to eat more, rest more, and the boss even said he was still young and growing, so he should eat more meat and sleep more to grow taller.

God knows, Zhuo Long had long thought of himself as an adult capable of taking care of himself. But here, he seemed to become a child again, a child who was cherished.

The days were too wonderful, so wonderful that Zhuo Long didn’t even want to recall the impurities of the past that could taint these memories. But there were some things he had to do. He had indeed left and found relief, but there were still many people suffering. Not everyone had his good fortune…

After packing his things, Zhuo Long had a satisfying meal of dumplings downstairs and walked out of Three Thousand Food House with his bag.

…

“Xiao Long, Xiao Long, it’s so dark here, I’m scared!”

“Don’t be afraid, look at the lights ahead, that’s Three Thousand Food House, we’re almost there!”

…

After seeing off Zhuo Long, Bai Xianzhi quickly settled dinner and lay in bed to watch a movie. The movie finished early, so he played a game. Seeing that it was getting late, he turned off the lights and went to sleep.

Wutong Lane was located in a remote area, far from the main road. After 10:30 PM, the alley became quiet. Bai Xianzhi was quite satisfied with this place since he could sleep peacefully at night without worrying about sudden horn noises. He had been sleeping in Wutong Lane for several months and could sleep soundly until morning, a very pleasant feeling.

So, when he was awakened by the sound of banging on the door in the middle of the night, Bai Xianzhi felt confused for a while before realizing that he was at Three Thousand Food House. It seemed like someone was banging on the main door downstairs.

Rubbing his head, yawning, he put on his slippers and walked downstairs. Halfway down, the commotion outside the door suddenly stopped. Bai Xianzhi reached the outer room, and the faint light from the streetlamp seeped through the hollow pattern on the rolling shutter. Childish voices whispered in the darkness.

“Xiao Lu, let’s not bang the door anymore. Let’s just wait here. They will definitely open the door!” It was the voice of a little boy.

“Yeah! I’ll listen to Xiao Long. This stone is so clean. We can both sleep on it!” It was the voice of a little girl.

In the quiet of the night, when the small shop suddenly had banging noises on its door, as soon as the owner approached, the banging stopped, but outside the door, there were suddenly childish voices. Was this some eerie conspiracy, or…

Definitely a pair of mischievous kids running away!

Bai Xianzhi yawned and opened the door with his key. After the clattering sound of the door being pulled open, he saw two children sitting on the only stone step outside the door.

One with green hair and green eyes, the other with black hair and black eyes. At a glance, Bai Xianzhi determined that the two children were from the Three Thousand Worlds. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed that the little boy with black hair and black eyes was staring at him with big, sparkling eyes, and shyly calling out, “Dad!”

Bai Xianzhi: “???!!!”

I’m not married, where did this son come from?!

“Dad, I missed you so much!”

The child dashed towards Bai Xianzhi like a little cannonball, snapping him back to reality. He reached out to lift the child away, but upon grasping the child’s arm, he realized how thin and weak the child was. Bai Xianzhi was taken aback. How could a child be so frail?

Caught in the misunderstanding, the child, thinking that Bai Xianzhi had accepted him, looked up with tearful eyes and called out, “Dad, Dad, Xiao Long missed you so much! Xiao Long finally found you! Wuuu—”

The little girl standing nearby also rushed over, clutching Bai Xianzhi’s leg and crying, “Uncle, Uncle, Xiao Lu also missed you! Wuuu—”

The two children cried heartbreakingly, their tears and mucus staining Bai Xianzhi’s pants. Bai Xianzhi: ??? Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

…

For the first time, Three Thousand Food House’s lights were turned on at three in the morning. The two children held hands, sobbing and nervously looking at him.

Bai Xianzhi: “…”

Silence was the theme of the night. The Time Management Bureau was probably not working at this hour, so how should he handle these two children?

Under the bright incandescent light, the two children shuffled uneasily. Bai Xianzhi noticed their clothes were tattered and covered in dirt. The little girl’s green hair was tangled and messy, while the little boy’s black short hair looked as if it had been gnawed by a dog. Two black and crystal-clear little packages were adorably placed on their foreheads. Perhaps the light was too bright, or maybe Bai Xianzhi’s sudden appearance frightened them, but the two children held hands, pressed against the door, and sobbed softly.

“Um, do you want to eat something first?”

The two small children were even younger than the previously encountered Feng Baoer and Feng Beier. Bai Xianzhi’s heart softened, so he decided to let them eat first and then figure out what to do.

The two children continued to sob, their big eyes looking at him, but they did not speak. Sighing, Bai Xianzhi said, “I’ll go cook something for you. Find a place to sit down.”

Since there were two more kids, Bai Xianzhi didn’t prepare anything complicated. He took out the leftover dumplings from the small room and boiled them in a pot.

A few minutes later, the dumplings floated to the surface. Bai Xianzhi scooped them into two bowls, six dumplings in each. Carrying the bowls, he went out, and the two little ones were still standing by the door, not moving. He placed the two bowls of dumplings on the nearest table to them and said, “Come, eat first, we can talk after you finish.”

The chubby dumplings emitted steam in the white porcelain bowls, and an unfamiliar fragrance wafted to their noses. The two little ones had never seen such things, let alone smelled or tasted them before. Their little tummies immediately growled with hunger.

“Go ahead and eat; they won’t taste good if they get cold.”

Upon hearing this, the two children looked at each other and finally couldn’t resist it anymore. They walked to the table and sat down, wolfing down the dumplings with gusto.

The six dumplings, which Bai Xianzhi had made himself, had thin skin and plenty of filling. For children, it was not a small amount. However, Bai Xianzhi was surprised to find that the two little ones finished all six dumplings in less than five minutes! They even drank all the soup!

“Do you want more?” Bai Xianzhi blinked and asked.

The two children reluctantly put down their spoons, shook their heads in unison, and said, “No, we’re full.”

Alright then, they were full. Since they were full, let’s discuss serious matters.

Looking at the two little ones seriously, Bai Xianzhi said, “First of all, I am not your dad.”

Xiao Long pouted, and Bai Xianzhi hurriedly added, “Don’t cry; listen to me. Although I am not your dad, I can help you find him.” Then, he turned to the little girl, “You too, I will help you find your family.”

Xiao Long sniffled and remained silent, while Xiao Lu said dejectedly, “You won’t find them. You just need to help Xiao Long find his dad.”

Find them? Bai Xianzhi was about to inquire further when the little boy spoke up, saying to the little girl, “Xiao Lu, it’s possible. He is an adult, and he can definitely find your dad and mom! He even went up on the communication device, and so many people know him. As long as he says something, no matter where your dad and mom are, they will be able to see it and come find you!”

With hopeful eyes, the emerald green pupils looked at Bai Xianzhi. “Is that true?”

Uh, well, although… but…

“Probably,” Bai Xianzhi didn’t dare to guarantee.

Instantly, the little girl became overjoyed, and she grabbed Xiao Long’s hand, laughing happily, “Xiao Long, Xiao Long, I can find my dad and mom too!”

Xiao Long was also very happy, and he shyly grinned, saying, “Xiao Lu, Xiao Lu, when my dad finds me and your dad and mom find you, we’ll let them all live together, and we’ll never be separated!”

Xiao Lu nodded vigorously, “Yes, we’ll never, ever be apart! And Ah Hua too!”

Xiao Long added, “Right! And Ah Hua too!”

Bai Xianzhi couldn’t help but feel helpless at the side. Indeed, they were still children. They hadn’t even crossed their t’s, yet they already planned their future like this.

—–

Author’s note: Thank you~ Muah~

Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solutions from 2020-07-29 14:10:39 to 2020-07-30 15:14:32~

Thanks to the landmine thrower: cat 1;

Thanks to the nutrient solution providers: Heartwarming Chicken Soup 25 bottles; Wei Dong 20 bottles; Si Yi 555 10 bottles; Zhi Yi Shen Qing Lian Chi Gu 8 bottles; Yan, Ya Yao 5 bottles; 22776082 2 bottles; Zero 07, Shi Zi Xin Ya, a big orange, Ji Li Ji Li 1 bottle.

Thank you all so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!

1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ”