Chapter 11: The Swindler

A fire burned within Qin Yi’s heart. Restless, he longed to vent that wicked flame, but glancing at his grandmother’s worried face, he forced himself to hold back.

Just yesterday she had said she wouldn’t leave, yet at dawn she was gone.

Was she really going to leave just like that?

So impatient to be gone?

Those words had only been meant to deceive herself.

The irony was that he had fallen for such a crude trick.

Grandmother Qin looked at Qin Yi, concern etched deeply in her face, wanting to comfort him.

“Xiao Yi, Wanwan… she wouldn’t do that…”

“Grandma, don’t defend her. She’s a liar.”

“She deliberately lied to us, pretending she wouldn’t leave to lull us into a false sense of security. We should never have trusted her!”

Grandmother Qin said nothing. She recalled Wanwan telling her this morning that she was going out, thoughtfully urging her, “Grandma, it’s cold—sleep in a little longer.”

She couldn’t believe such a good child would just leave without a word.

But the results from Qin Yi’s examination yesterday lay glaringly before them—was it true, as Qin Yi said, that she was just trying to lull them?

If she left now, she might never come back.

At the thought, tears welled in Grandmother Qin’s eyes.

Her mind drifted back through her life: her husband died young, she had worked tirelessly raising her son; he married and had children, but both her son and daughter-in-law had perished before her grandson reached adulthood.

She had struggled to raise the boy, who had finally shown promise.

Yet now her grandson was paralyzed.

She had found a capable granddaughter-in-law, but would she truly return?

While the two at home fretted endlessly about Wanwan’s absence, Wanwan herself wandered the bustling marketplace, dazzled by the sights.

She had left after telling Grandmother Qin she was going out, not mentioning she was buying Lunar New Year supplies, fearing the old lady would worry and want to accompany her.

The cold weather made her cautious—if Grandma caught a cold, it would be worse.

Wanwan bought two sets of thermal underwear for Qin Yi. When she washed his clothes yesterday, she noticed several worn patches.

After some thought, she purchased fabric to sew a padded cotton jacket for him to wear inside—he couldn’t walk now, and the chill would be hard to bear. With his legs like this, he couldn’t afford to fall ill. Wearing extra layers wouldn’t hurt.

She also chose a bright, festive outfit for Grandmother Qin.

As Wanwan strolled and browsed, she gathered a large bundle of goods.

Without the embarrassment typical of a young girl, she skillfully bargained with vendors, adopting the air of a seasoned homemaker.

A vendor looked at her with a pleading expression.

“Oh, take it, take it! If it weren’t for your sweet words, I wouldn’t sell it to you at any price.”

“Thank you, sir. No wonder your business is so good—it’s because you’re so kind.”

Her words made the vendor’s heart bloom with joy. He then handed her some candies.

“Here, little miss. Since you’re so sweet, have some sugar.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Wanwan smiled and stood to leave when a voice called out in surprise.

“Wanwan? Is that really you?”

The newcomer approached with a joyful expression—it was Lu Xing.

Wanwan greeted him politely.

“Hello, Lu.”

Lu Xing had imagined countless times during the holidays that he might meet Wanwan, but never expected his wish to come true so soon.

At school, he secretly watched her every day; at home, he longed to see her.

He had no idea where she lived, having asked several classmates to no avail.

Since the holidays began, he had been listless and dispirited.

He didn’t understand why, with so many classmates around, he only wanted to see Wanwan.

But the moment he saw her just now, his heart raced wildly, and his usual lethargy vanished instantly.

He finally understood why he longed to see Wanwan so much.

His gaze was filled with stars as he looked at her.

Wanwan met his eyes, memories of school flooding her mind.

She had no desire for suffering; Lu Xing was a good person, but to her, he was like a furnace—everyone who came near could share its warmth.

That warmth was not hers alone, nor would it ever be.

Since she was married to Qin Yi, she understood the proper boundaries between men and women.

She would neither embarrass Qin Yi nor give others cause for gossip behind her back.

Lu Xing seemed oblivious to her distance and eagerly stepped forward to help carry her things.

“This is too heavy. Let me help you.”

“No—”

Before Wanwan could refuse, Lu Xing had already taken the bundle.

He pointed to his bicycle.

“Wanwan, where do you live? I’ll give you a ride.”

“No need. I can go back on my own.”

Wanwan declined, but Lu Xing, having missed her for days, was unwilling to let this chance slip away.

With no choice, Wanwan gave him an address.

Lu Xing’s face lit up with surprise.

“Really, Wanwan? My family lives in the same staff housing complex.”

Wanwan hadn’t expected his father to work in the same line of work as Qin Yi’s—a remarkable coincidence.

Immersed in the joy of their meeting, Lu Xing opened up in conversation, while Wanwan responded with polite smiles.

At the entrance to the staff housing, Wanwan set down her parcels.

“Lu, thank you. It’s getting late—I won’t trouble you to come in.”

“N-no problem. Th-then, see you.”

“Goodbye.”

On his way home, Lu Xing’s mind buzzed with excitement. He was certain of his feelings for Wanwan and resolved to find the right moment to confess.

Since Wanwan lived in the same complex, their families’ circumstances were similar, and his chances seemed promising. Next time, he would be braver and reveal his heart.

No matter the difficulties, he would overcome them.

So excited, he hadn’t stopped to wonder why he’d never seen Wanwan in the complex before.

Opening his front door, Lu Xing called out happily, “Mom.”

His father appeared.

Lu Xing parked his bike.

“Dad, where’s Mom?”

“Wasn’t she with you?”

“Oh no!”

Lu Xing hurriedly pushed his bike outside. In his excitement to see Wanwan, he had forgotten that his mother had accompanied him.

Seeing the dusk settle, he pedaled furiously toward the market.

Near the market, he spotted his mother, Shen Qingxia, carrying bags, walking slowly.

Feeling guilty, he called out, “Mom.”

“You little brat! Where have you been? Let me tell you—”

Shen Qingxia scolded him relentlessly.

Meanwhile, back at home, Wanwan entered to a haunting silence.

“Grandma, I’m back.”

Grandmother Qin lay in bed, sorrowful. Hearing Wanwan’s voice, she rose with joy and stepped outside.

“Wanwan, you’re back! Where were you, coming home so late?”

“Grandma, I went to buy some New Year goods.”

Wanwan put away the items and took out the clothes she had bought for Grandmother Qin. The old woman’s eyes reddened with emotion.

“My child, why did you buy these? Grandma has clothes to wear.”

“Just trying them on to see if they fit.”

Voices drifted from outside—Wanwan and Grandmother Qin chatting.

Inside the room, Qin Yi, brooding in silence, had heard Wanwan’s footsteps before she entered. Her arrival instantly quelled his day-long agitation.

She was back. She had not left.

Wanwan stepped in and peeled a candy for Qin Yi.

“I don’t eat sweets.”

“Just one. It’s New Year, and the vendor gave them to me.”

Qin Yi found the candy extraordinarily sweet.