Qiu Xing had always been the center of attention here, from when his father’s trouble began until now. Eyes filled with sighs, sympathy, mockery, and envy—all staring at Qiu Xing.

Qiu Xing wasn’t entirely like his father, and was even more different from the truck owners or drivers around him. He had originally been quite a pampered young master, just like Lin Chang now—the disobedient brat of old Lin, who, after graduating from high school, could drive around in an Audi every day.

The difference was that Qiu Xing had been the son Qiu Yangzheng constantly bragged about. Whenever Qiu Yangzheng mentioned his promising son, his mouth would be too happy to close, overtly complaining yet covertly showing off, pretending to be modest by saying “he’s nothing special” when others praised his son.

That promising son, whom everyone had flattered along with Qiu Yangzheng, had now ended up just like them—trudging through mud and dirt, living a half-human existence on highways day and night. This story alone was already a topic of conversation.

Now he even had a pretty young girl in his truck, adding color and interest to an already story-rich topic.

That’s youth for you—unable to endure the monotony of highway life, finding some joy for himself.

*

Qiu Xing took the cash from his pocket, placed it on the table, then turned to get a money counter from the cabinet and plugged it in.

He hooked a plastic stool with his foot, sat astride it, and started counting his cash once the machine was ready. As the money counter whirred, Brother Lin leaned against the bedhead, cigarette between his lips, playing poker on his phone.

“Stop playing and come settle accounts,” Qiu Xing called to him.

“Just do it yourself and give me the total later,” Brother Lin said.

“No, come watch,” Qiu Xing said.

“I don’t have the patience for that.” Brother Lin didn’t lift his head, his gaze fixed on the poker game.

Qiu Xing stopped calling him. After running the cash through twice and transferring five thousand more via WeChat, he said, “Payment received, Brother. I’ll settle the rest next time.”

“I see it, I’ll collect it later,” Brother Lin glanced at him briefly. “Do you still have money on hand? You know I’m not in a hurry, but don’t delay paying those two drivers on your truck. Pay them on time so they’ll work properly.”

“I have some saved,” Qiu Xing stood up to wash his hands. “I’ve never delayed paying drivers, I wouldn’t dare.”

“Hiring people is just like that. Your father used to make the drivers furious all the time.”

“I’m getting there too,” Qiu Xing laughed self-mockingly. “Lost over a thousand in fuel again.”

Brother Lin also laughed: “Deduct it from their pay and nothing will go missing.”

Qiu Xing finished washing his hands but had nothing to dry them with, so he wiped them on his clothes and returned, saying: “If I deduct it, I’ll still have to find someone, and I won’t find anyone. I’ll make do. By the end of the year, I should be able to repay everything, then I’ll sell that truck.”

“What about the one you’re driving now?” Brother Lin asked him.

Qiu Xing said: “I’ll drive it a while longer, I need to save some money.”

“You should stop once you’re done,” Brother Lin advised. “Don’t accumulate a body full of ailments; they’ll all come back to haunt you in a few years.”

Qiu Xing nodded and said: “I know my limits.”

While Qiu Xing was talking to people in the room, Lin Yiran didn’t follow him in but stood against the wall in the living room outside.

Sister-in-law Lin brought out some fruit for her, and Lin Yiran quickly thanked her.

“Come sit down, why are you standing?” Sister-in-law Lin beckoned to her, pulling her to sit.

Lin Yiran went over to sit, and Sister-in-law Lin, being very friendly, kept putting fruit in Lin Yiran’s hands for her to eat while chatting with her.

Sister-in-law Lin complimented her beauty, saying she was delicate, fair, and radiant.

Lin Yiran wasn’t sure how to address Sister-in-law Lin. By age, she should call her “Auntie,” but since Qiu Xing called her “Sister-in-law,” Lin Yiran found any form of address awkward.

“How old are you?” Sister-in-law Lin asked her.

“I’m nineteen,” Lin Yiran answered.

“You do look young, even a year younger than my son,” Sister-in-law Lin didn’t continue asking if she was in school, but changed the subject to something else.

A young girl, at such a tender age, dating a boy and living in his truck—this hardly sounded like a girl from a strict family. Most likely, like Qiu Xing, she had dropped out of school.

Qiu Xing finished talking and came out, looking as if he was about to leave.

Lin Yiran immediately stood up, said goodbye to Sister-in-law Lin, who invited her to come play again next time.

*

This time, Qiu Xing stayed home for two days. Before leaving, Lin Chang again told him he wanted to come along for a trip.

Qiu Xing said: “It’s not convenient.”

“You didn’t say it wasn’t convenient when you took that young girl with you, but now it’s inconvenient for me,” Lin Chang said. “I won’t get in your way.”

“There’s no room,” Qiu Xing pushed him aside. “Don’t bother me.”

“I’m going to pack my things, and I’ll put them in your truck later. Take me with you tonight,” Lin Chang said before driving off, saying he needed to go home and get some clothes.

Lin Yiran, listening from behind, widened her eyes slightly as she looked at Qiu Xing.

Qiu Xing walked away to call a driver, and Lin Yiran remained anxious.

She was already imposing on Qiu Xing, and if another person joined them in the truck, she would willingly make space—as long as she had somewhere to sit.

But if the truck no longer held just her and Qiu Xing, the space would no longer be safe for her.

Her unconditional trust was directed solely at Qiu Xing.

Lin Yiran stood by the truck door with her bag and a few of Qiu Xing’s clothes, waiting for him to return.

Qiu Xing finished his call and came back with a bag of fruit from Sister-in-law Lin. He jerked his chin up at Lin Yiran, indicating for her to get in the truck.

Lin Yiran climbed in, looked at Qiu Xing, and hesitated.

Qiu Xing looked at her, raising an eyebrow: “What is it?”

Lin Yiran pointed outside, paused, and asked: “Are we waiting for him…?”

“Who? Lin Chang?” Qiu Xing said. “No waiting.”

Lin Yiran’s anxiety was written in her eyes, though she didn’t realize it herself. To Qiu Xing, she looked cautious and somewhat expectant.

She hesitantly said: “But he went to get his clothes.”

Qiu Xing started the engine and set the truck in motion: “Who cares about him?”

And so the old truck’s cabin remained Lin Yiran’s haven, a shelter where she could set aside all concerns and vigilance, a place where she could sleep soundly no matter where they parked.

The stale old truck smell in the cabin was fading, gradually being replaced by various faint fragrances—the scent of her clothes, shampoo, and a heavily jasmine-scented sachet of dried flowers.

Qiu Xing’s original pillow and bedding had all been replaced with the set she’d brought from home—everything was fragrant and soft. Even the dirty curtains on both sides of the lower bunk, whose original color was indiscernible, had been taken down and washed by her.

This truck, which Qiu Xing used to run himself ragged, was gradually becoming less numbing under Lin Yiran’s bit-by-bit improvements. It was almost comfortable.

Even Qiu Xing seemed to frown less when sleeping at night. It made him appear more lively, rather than just muddling through his days.

Qiu Xing was a light sleeper in the truck, waking at the slightest sound.

Lin Yiran slept quietly, barely moving.

That day it had been raining outside, with the front window half open, cool breeze blowing in at a comfortable temperature. The white noise was especially soporific; it should have been a night for good sleep.

“Lin Xiaoboat,” Qiu Xing opened his eyes in the darkness and called her.

Lin Yiran hadn’t expected him to be awake and was startled by his sudden voice. She took a deep breath before asking: “You’re awake? What is it?”

Qiu Xing asked her: “What’s wrong with you?”

Lin Yiran lay curled on her side, wrapped in a blanket, pausing in surprise before answering softly: “Nothing…”

Qiu Xing asked again: “Why are you tossing and turning instead of sleeping?”

“Ah…” Lin Yiran apologetically said, “Did I wake you?”

“What’s wrong?” Qiu Xing sat up, “Tell me.”

Lin Yiran half-covered her face with the blanket. Even though she didn’t dwell on gender boundaries with Qiu Xing, she was still a girl after all.

Qiu Xing would become impatient if she didn’t answer, so despite her embarrassment, Lin Yiran bit her lip and said in a muffled voice: “It’s nothing… I’m just not feeling well. Go back to sleep.”

Qiu Xing looked at the rain outside, thinking she might have caught a cold, and asked: “Should I close the window?”

“No,” Lin Yiran closed her eyes in embarrassment, “My stomach hurts.”

Lin Yiran usually spoke directly, never hemming and hawing, but now she was struggling to get the words out. When Qiu Xing heard her say her stomach hurt, he understood.

The cabin fell silent, becoming somewhat awkward.

After a while, Qiu Xing asked her: “Do you need to buy anything? Go to a supermarket?”

His voice remained as emotionless as usual, as if discussing something ordinary.

Lin Yiran pulled the entire blanket over her face and said: “No, no, it’s fine, just go back to sleep.”

Qiu Xing lay back down: “Then I’ll sleep.”

“Okay,” Lin Yiran immediately replied, keeping her eyes tightly shut.

Qiu Xing wasn’t polite about it; he said he would sleep and he did.

Lin Yiran took a long time to calm herself before emerging from under the blanket. By then, Qiu Xing was already fast asleep. Afterward, Lin Yiran was careful not to move around much, even turning over cautiously.

However, the next day.

Qiu Xing stopped at almost every service area, jumping down to rest and wander around. Lin Yiran was confused but took the opportunity to use the restroom.

Two of the service areas were very close to each other, less than an hour apart.

Qiu Xing stopped the truck again. Lin Yiran didn’t get out, just waiting for Qiu Xing to take his break and return. But Qiu Xing didn’t leave the truck either. After they sat in silence for a while, Qiu Xing asked her: “Not getting out?”

Lin Yiran shook her head.

Qiu Xing asked again: “Should I drive on, then?”

Lin Yiran nodded, looking puzzled.

So Qiu Xing started the engine and drove away.

It wasn’t until they reached the next service area, where Qiu Xing parked the truck right in front of the restroom entrance, that Lin Yiran suddenly understood what Qiu Xing had been doing all day.

Qiu Xing got out with a bottle of water, took a couple of sips, then stood to the side, sending messages.

Lin Yiran’s face suddenly felt hot, but she also felt apologetic. Qiu Xing usually drove to make good time, but today he had to stop many times.

When they both returned to the truck, Lin Yiran said to him: “You don’t need to stop every time… I’ll tell you in advance if I need to get out.”

Qiu Xing’s face remained expressionless: “Got it.”

Lin Yiran now knew that his expressionless face didn’t mean he was impatient. She softly said, “Thank you.”

Qiu Xing glanced at her, and as always, didn’t respond to her thanks.