Face Flushed Red

Just as Yang Lin was submerged in his thoughts, his adoptive mother shuddered, she cast a dubious glance at Grandma Mo who was eyeing her Lin'er, as if realizing something that shook her to the marrow. Yet, she remained silent, not interfering with Lin'er and his transaction.

Xuan'er retained her pout, her bright eyes growing a little misty as shallow layers of snow and breeze accumulated over her head, prompting Yang Lin to snap out from his daze momentarily to pull up her hoodie in a gentle manner.

"Little sister, you shouldn't cast away your headwear under this chill, you'll end up sick!" Yang Lin reprimanded, this small action allowed him a leeway to clear his mind and rationalize.

Xuan'er maintained her pout, though a tint of crimson dyed her pale cheeks underneath the shade of her hoodie, it was just that with her head lowered, coupled with the large hoodie, no one had noticed it.

Yang Lin phased back into his absentminded mentality for a brief moment before he switched his gaze from his adoptive mother towards Grandma Mo, almost three or four times before he steeled himself with a decision.

He said, "Although I am interested in the story, I'll still sell you the bulk of wood for two copper coins. The usual price."

Yang Lin smiled faintly, not saying more. Grandma Mo's eyelids slightly parted, though only slightly. She looked at this young lad once again, after a while of contemplation she said, "I'm an old lady, and I only have this silver coin on me, I have no spare coins, and neither do I have a house to return to. I fancied your bulk of wood to spend a warm night before leaving..."

The more she spoke, the more desolate and quiet her voice became, she even heaved a deep sigh afterward, looking very miserable to the eye.

Yang Lin's lips twitched... Even a kid like him could tell the holes in such reasoning, but he wouldn't dare call out an elderly over such trivial matters...

Yang Lin said, "If that's the case, you can spend the night at our hut, you can rent the night with your story, but I'll sell the wood somewhere else."

Grandma Mo chuckled lightly at Yang Lin's proposal, but she didn't disagree. She thought for a while and said, "Are you sure? This old Grandma has her granddaughter with her, won't we burden your pot?"

Though she spoke lightly, the meaning was obvious. A poor family of two, he might be able to accommodate a guest for the night, but what about two?

For a moment, a sheen of perspiration began to roll down from Yang Lin's temples, he clenched his fists and said, "It's alright... We will welcome the both of you, but you will owe me an extra story!"

Grandma Mo nodded her head at Yang Lin and said, "Good lad, I will take you up on that offer, hopefully, we won't burden you."

...

Once Grandma Mo turned her tracks and left, Yang Lin sighed out with a bitter smile, cast his gaze down, then he noticed that he's been holding onto Xuan'er by her hoodie this entire time.

He was wondering why she ceased pestering him for a moment, and now as he noticed his actions, he flinched softly and retraced his hands abruptly in an awkward manner.

Yang Lin scratched the tip of his nose and offered a few apologetic phrases. However, when he noticed how Xuan'er didn't respond for a moment, his heart sank, he began to wonder if he did something inconvenient.

"Little sister, I wasn't paying attention to my actions..." He whispered out in a helpless manner. Just then, Xuan'er extended her petite hand to tug at Yang Lin's sleeve, she then looked up at him with a bright smile, the shade of crimson had already dissipated from her cheeks as she said, "Brother Yang doesn't need to worry! Xuan'er was a little upset because Brother Yang didn't sell!"

Seeing her expression, Yang Lin sighed in relief, oblivious to the fact that the small hand grasping his sleeve was slightly trembling. He then calmly retrieved his sleeve and went back to pushing the wheelchair, saying softly, "I and Mother happened to be headed over to your place, little sister, is auntie home?"

Yang Lin asked, no longer perturbed about the matter with the silver coin. In fact, he was more or so worried about dinner, and the identity of that Grandma Mo.

Xuan'er followed after Yang Lin and his adoptive mother, occasionally they would chat about each other's circumstances, but lady Yang seemed to be lost in her own thoughts ever since Grandma Mo mentioned an affinity with Yang Lin, somehow she felt uneasy at heart.

-

-

-

The day went by quickly, Yang Lin didn't sell his wood, but he left his pair of boots with his aunt to patch them up, so at least one objective was cleared.

As the sun slowly descended towards the western horizon, the sky was slowly tainted crimson, the clouds gathered, and the moon gently sprinkled its silver radiance.

At this moment, Yang Lin was crouched by a column of wood, he patiently trickled down some gasoline, a pack of matches resting beside him. Not far away, his adoptive mother was preparing the ingredients for some soup, leaving behind the vegetables that required exquisite handwork for Yang Lin.

Xuan'er hinted the matter of Grandma Mo to her mother, be it intentionally or unintentionally, no one knew. Still, her mother insisted to impart some ingredients like fish meat, vegetables, condiments, and a set of clean knives.

After setting up the fire and the pot, the sun had already escaped from sight, and a massive tapestry of darkness, illuminated by silver lanterns blanketed the sky.

Just as Yang Lin was preparing the dining table, he heard faint knocking noises from the front door. The hut was plain and simple, even the door was in tatters, so he could faintly listen in to the footsteps approaching from the outside, let alone the hollow knocking noises.

Unhurriedly, Yang Lin went to open the door with a bitter smile.

Just as he was about to greet the smiling Grandma Mo, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of her so-called granddaughter, instantly rendering him petrified.

Grandma Mo didn't seem surprised the least. In fact, she knew her granddaughter best, so this reaction was well within her expectations.

The young girl had also reacted a tad, her clear eyes visibly trembled as she muttered softly, "It's you..."

Yang Lin's heart began to race. Unknowingly, his cheeks were already stained crimson as he gawked unmovingly at the porcelain face before him...