Chapter 175: LiLi.
Yan Cijin quickly stopped her, "Don’t take any more, you won’t have any left."
She finally said it in a firmer voice because the pile on the table was already looking ridiculous. Bai Li had a way of being very quiet while doing very decisive things, and that somehow made it even more overwhelming. Yan Cijin had not expected her to pull out so much meat at once. The little red tint in her ears deepened a bit, and she took half a step forward as if she wanted to stop Bai Li physically, but she still did not touch her.
"There’s more, don’t worry about me, LiLi likes meat, take this for her." Saying that, Bai Li put all the meat together.
The moment Bai Li mentioned LiLi, her tone softened just a little. It was obvious she remembered the child being cheerful and a bit greedy when eating. That memory was enough for Bai Li to make the decision without hesitation. If the little girl liked meat, then she should take enough for her. Children needed more nutrition, and LiLi was so small and tender that it would be wrong to be stingy with her food. Bai Li thought about that while packing, and the thought made her chest feel quietly warm again.
Yan Cijin looked at the huge pile of things on the table and hesitated. Even at this time, she was still willing to take out so much to share with her family.
That hesitation was not because she did not want to accept. It was because the amount was honestly too much, and because Bai Li kept giving in a way that made Yan Cijin feel a little bad for taking advantage of her kindness. But at the same time, she knew Bai Li would not be happy if she insisted too much. Bai Li looked like the type who had already decided on something before anyone could stop her. The more Yan Cijin watched her, the more she felt a strange mix of gratitude, admiration, and something else she did not want to name too quickly.
"Then come with me now, LiLi said she missed you this morning." Yan Cijin said with slightly red ears.
The words slipped out before she could think too hard about them. Once they were spoken, Yan Cijin realized they sounded a little more personal than she had intended. Missed you this morning. The phrase itself was simple, but it somehow carried a hidden kind of warmth that made the air between her and Bai Li shift again. Yan Cijin turned her head a little, pretending to focus on the bags, but her face had already betrayed her. She could feel that awkward little heat rising in her cheeks, and because she did not know what Bai Li was thinking, that only made her more nervous.
"Okay." Bai Li nodded, and would come back to rest after lunch.
That simple answer should have been nothing special, but Yan Cijin still felt weirdly happy hearing it. Maybe it was because Bai Li agreed so quickly. Maybe it was because she did not look annoyed at being invited. Or maybe it was because Bai Li’s voice sounded a little softer than usual when she said okay. Yan Cijin did not dwell on it too much. Instead, she started gathering the bags and preparing to leave, though she quickly discovered that carrying everything would be awkward.
"You don’t need to carry these, just go open the door." Yan Cijin was a little embarrassed carrying three bags of things.
She had one bag in each hand and one awkwardly balanced on top of another, which made her look a little clumsy. Bai Li glanced over, then immediately walked to the security door and opened it for her. The close proximity made the moment feel strangely intimate, even though they were just doing ordinary things. Bai Li could hear Yan Cijin moving behind her, the soft rustle of the bags, the tiny shift of her breathing, and for some reason that made her own pulse go a little off rhythm again. She did not know why such a normal scene could make her feel like this, but the feeling was there, faint and difficult to ignore.
There was still one more thing Bai Li kept thinking about, even while packing the food. The apartment next door had gradually become a place she did not mind going to, and that thought itself was a little surprising. Before the apocalypse, she had not really cared much about keeping up with neighbors. People either stayed in their own lane or drifted past each other without much meaning. But now, in a world where every day could turn ugly without warning, a simple lunch invitation suddenly felt different. It was not just about eating. It was about having a place to go where someone would say come in, sit down, eat first, and do not worry too much. That kind of ordinary kindness had become a rare thing.
Bai Li bent down to check the last bag of vegetables and made sure the onions were not bruised. At the same time, she could hear Yan Cijin still standing nearby, not leaving, not interrupting, just waiting for her. That quiet patience also felt a little strange. Yan Cijin was not pushing her, but she was not walking away either. She stayed right there as if she was comfortable in the same small space, and that alone made Bai Li’s thoughts drift a little. She noticed the way Yan Cijin looked at her hands now and then, careful and focused. It made Bai Li feel as if she was being watched over, not in a bad way, just in a way that made the air feel warmer.
When Bai Li straightened up, her eyes met Yan Cijin’s for just a second. That second was enough to make Bai Li’s heartbeat feel uneven again. It was subtle, almost embarrassing, and she had to pretend she was more interested in the plastic bags than in the face looking back at her.
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TO BE CONTINUED.
