Qin Xue glanced at Xue Ling and nodded, promising to come back and spend more time with the child, ensuring she wouldn't be out too late.
After breakfast with Xue Ling, she fed her two children, told them where she would be going, and then picked up her bag to leave. She wasn't afraid of being tricked by the man, as she saw genuine pain in his eyes. Besides, she had a place to retreat to, if things went wrong, she could escape there.
"You're here so early," remarked Qin Xue, as she arrived at the agreed meeting place and saw he was already waiting.
"I didn't want you to be left waiting," the man replied, scratching his nose sheepishly. His punctuality was a habit ingrained from his time in the military, so he didn't tend to be late.
"Let's go," Qin Xue nodded, without further comment.
"Okay," the man then took Qin Xue to his house.
"Why are there so few people living here?" Qin Xue asked, surveying the old and secluded houses, noticing that only a handful were inhabited.