Chapter 30: The Locked Door

Chapter 30: The Locked Door

Back inside the house, Ding Cuicui gave the man on top of her a hard kick. "Why'd you come at night too?"

"Didn't you get enough during the day? I'm making up for it tonight." The man didn't mind the kick, covered Ding Cuicui's mouth, and got back to work.

"Easy, watch my belly." Ding Cuicui complained.

The two, lost in their own world, paid no attention to Lin Jinrui calling for her mom outside the door.

After sitting there for a while, Cheng Miao figured they couldn't just sit there forever and suggested, "Let's go. You can crash at my place tonight and sleep with my mom."

Lin Jinrui shook her head. "My mom might be asleep or she might've gone out. I'll wait a little longer—if she can't find me, she'll worry."

Cheng Miao felt helpless—your mom probably doesn't have time for you tonight anyway. He thought for a second, then pulled a piece of paper out of Lin Jinrui's schoolbag.

"Leave your mom a note saying you're staying at my place. If she comes looking for you, she'll see it on the door."

Lin Jinrui held the paper, hesitant.

Lu Yu urged, "Hurry up—we gotta get home early too."

Lin Jinrui quickly scribbled the note and tucked it into the door lock, so anyone unlocking the door would see it.

The three headed back to Cheng Miao's place. Cheng's mom was surprised to see Lin Jinrui, and after hearing their explanation, she was still a bit uneasy and thought about going over to check.

But she couldn't leave three kids home alone, so she dropped it and decided to have Cheng's dad check when he got back.

Cheng's mom had already mixed the meat filling, adding ginger, eggs, and cornstarch to the minced meat. Once it got slightly sticky, she rolled it into small meatballs.

She arranged the meatballs in small porcelain bowls, topped them with broth, ginger slices, and shredded chili peppers, then put them in the steamer. They were done just when the fat had fully rendered out.

Cheng Miao waited in the fragrant steam for the meat to cook, going from drooling to dozing off. After a full three hours, it was finally done.

By then, Cheng Miao was leaning against the bed, about to pass out. Cheng's mom nudged him to wash up and go to bed. He opened his eyes and asked, "Is it ready?"

Cheng's mom found it both funny and exasperating. She shoved a meatball into his mouth. Cheng Miao swallowed it happily, washed up in a rush, and went back to sleep.

It was already past ten o'clock. Cheng's mom told Lu Yu and Lin Jinrui to wash up too. Both kids climbed onto the bed—Cheng Miao and Lu Yu on one side, then Cheng's dad, and Lin Jinrui next to Cheng's mom.

Cheng's mom arranged everyone's spots and told them to lie down. She still had to wait for Cheng's dad to come back. With the New Year coming up, this was the best time for selling vegetables.

Cheng's dad had gone out in the afternoon to stock up. He always took his sweet time picking and choosing, and before he knew it, the whole afternoon was gone. But tonight he was running a bit late too.

Just then, the door creaked open. Cheng's dad walked in, took off his coat, and warmed himself by the heated brick bed.

"What took you so long tonight?" Cheng's mom asked while reheating his food.

"I was done early, but it was cold out, so I went back to cover the vegetables with an extra layer." Cheng's dad looked at the bed. "Are the kids all asleep?"

Cheng's mom nodded. "By the way, Lin Shun's daughter is staying with us tonight. She went home this evening and the door was locked."

"What's that about? Their own kid didn't come home—aren't her parents worried?" Cheng's dad said, surprised.

"Who knows. I was gonna have you check, but at this hour, no one from their family has come looking. Forget it." Cheng's mom said with irritation. "It's freezing out—I care about my man. Eat, then sleep."

Cheng's dad smiled. "Yeah, my wife's the best." The two happily went to eat.

Lu Yu listened quietly. He was a light sleeper and was still awake even after both adults had gotten into bed.

He had never imagined so many people could fit on one bed, but it was still quite spacious. He turned over—next to him was Cheng Miao, who was sound asleep, breathing steadily, occasionally smacking his lips, probably dreaming of eating something delicious.

He shifted his body slightly toward Cheng Miao, listening to his familiar breathing, and gradually drifted off to sleep.

In the morning, Lin Jinrui was the first to wake. Suddenly being in a new environment, she hadn't slept very soundly. Cheng Miao and Lu Yu were still asleep.

She quietly got up, dressed, and planned to tell Lu Yu that she wanted to go home and check.

As she approached Lu Yu, he opened his eyes warily, startling her. She whispered, "I want to go home and check."

Lu Yu squinted at the sky outside—it was just barely light. Going back at this hour would easily run into people she shouldn't see. He said, "Eat breakfast first, then go."

"I don't need breakfast. I want to go check." Lin Jinrui said anxiously.

Lu Yu glanced at Cheng Miao, still asleep. "Keep your voice down."

Then he pointed at the door. "The key is with me. If I don't open the door, you can't get out. Go to sleep."

With that, he wrapped himself in the blanket and turned over to sleep again.

Lin Jinrui had no choice but to lie back down, counting numbers to pass the time, and unknowingly fell asleep again.

When she woke up again, Lu Yu had already heated up breakfast—the meat made yesterday had been reheated.

One porcelain bowl held delicate little meatballs, the other held tightly packed crispy fried pork, the fat already rendered out, smelling delicious.

Lin Jinrui smelled it and unconsciously swallowed.

Lu Yu set out the bowls and chopsticks. "Go wash up."

Lin Jinrui quickly climbed off the bed, slipped on her shoes, and went to wash her face.

Lu Yu nudged Cheng Miao. "Get up."

Cheng Miao didn't budge.

Lu Yu leaned close to his ear and said, "The meat is ready."

Cheng Miao mumbled and opened his mouth, waiting to be fed. Lu Yu patted his cheek and said in a low voice, "Lin Jinrui is going home."

Cheng Miao jolted awake. "Wait."

He grabbed Lu Yu's hand and looked up just in time to see Lin Jinrui walk in. Only then did he relax.

Now that he was awake, Cheng Miao didn't dawdle. He quickly washed his face and sat down at the table.

It was rare for the three of them to have breakfast together—biting into steamed buns with side dishes, the two small bowls of meat were eaten clean.

Both Lu Yu and Lin Jinrui silently left the last piece of meat in their bowls for Cheng Miao.

Cheng Miao ate to his heart's content. After finishing, he and Lu Yu followed Lin Jinrui to check on her home.

When Lin Jinrui arrived, the door was already open. She hurried inside. Ding Cuicui was still asleep, disturbed by the sound of the door opening, cursed once, and went back to sleep.

Lin Jinrui quietly backed out of the room. So her mom had come back—she just hadn't been home all night. She had expected to be scolded today, but her mom didn't even care whether she had come home or not.

She walked out with a dejected look and said to Cheng Miao, "Let's go. My mom is still sleeping."

But Cheng Miao planned to take the chance to look around inside. "I'm tired from walking. Can I go in and rest for a bit?" He rubbed his legs as he spoke.

Lin Jinrui frowned, looking troubled. "I can only take you to my room. There's nothing in there."

Cheng Miao nodded. "I'll just sit for a moment."