At that moment, Lin Yiran was in Qiu Xing’s arms. She could sense his breath and his warmth. Being held by a man like this made her heart beat quickly, her breathing soft and light. Yet her soul remained undisturbed, steadily held in its rightful place.

After this brief embrace that lasted only a few seconds, even though neither spoke in the car, the atmosphere had changed from before.

Lin Yiran sat in the passenger seat, her bare feet on the edge of the seat, hugging her knees as she looked outside. After passing through the heaviest rain clouds, the downpour had lessened.

The rain made everything outside appear as if covered by frosted glass, becoming hazy and indistinct.

Lin Yiran hadn’t turned around, resting her chin on her knees with only the back of her head facing Qiu Xing. Qiu Xing glanced at her a couple of times, but Lin Yiran didn’t move.

Qiu Xing drove to another city, finished a call with a client, and arranged to load the truck the next morning. This time, after loading up, they would drive straight home, a journey that would take two days.

After hanging up, Qiu Xing asked her, “Are you hungry?”

Lin Yiran heard his question but didn’t turn around, still maintaining her position with her back to Qiu Xing, and answered, “Yes.”

Qiu Xing’s voice carried a hint of amusement as he said, “Alright.”

Lin Yiran remained curled up there like someone who’d taken offense. This couldn’t continue.

After a while, Qiu Xing asked her, “Are you angry with me or just annoyed?”

Lin Yiran immediately replied, “Neither.”

“Don’t want to look at me?” Qiu Xing asked again.

“No…” Lin Yiran said softly, sitting up to glance at Qiu Xing before curling back up, and honestly admitting, “I’m just a bit embarrassed to look at you right now.”

Lin Yiran hadn’t turned around, otherwise, she would have noticed that Qiu Xing was smiling slightly, unlike his usual self. He looked truly at peace, his gaze soft.

With a smile on his face, Qiu Xing stopped talking to her.

Lin Yiran added, “I’ll be fine in a bit.”

“Well, hurry up,” Qiu Xing said, “it’s almost time to eat.”

Lin Yiran had a delayed reaction to the situation. At the time, she didn’t feel much and remained quite calm, but later felt embarrassed—she was, after all, a quiet and introverted girl.

Qiu Xing parked the truck in the parking lot and told Lin Yiran to bring her things, saying they wouldn’t return to the truck for the night. Lin Yiran packed up and followed him, carrying all the important items from the truck in her bag.

It was obvious she still felt a little awkward, avoiding eye contact with Qiu Xing, but trying her best to act normal.

Qiu Xing looked at the scraped skin on the inside of her arm and said, “We’ll disinfect that tonight.”

Lin Yiran nodded, “Okay.”

She walked beside Qiu Xing with that obedient and docile manner of hers, not questioning where he was taking her.

After dinner, Qiu Xing took her to a hotel not far from the parking lot. They both needed to shower; they were dirty from being soaked in the rain, especially Qiu Xing, whose arms and hands were still unwashed.

This wasn’t the first time Lin Yiran had stayed at a hotel with Qiu Xing. There had been previous nights when the truck was empty, though not many.

They looked like an ordinary, well-matched young couple as they approached the hotel reception, where the receptionist politely asked, “One king-sized bed?”

“Two rooms,” Qiu Xing said.

Hearing this, Lin Yiran immediately looked up at him. Qiu Xing met her gaze, and Lin Yiran gently shook her head, whispering, “One room.”

Qiu Xing smiled and corrected himself to the receptionist: “One standard room, please.”

Over these two months, Lin Yiran had always stayed with Qiu Xing. On the truck, it went without saying, but elsewhere it was because Lin Yiran was afraid. Especially after seeing someone at the window that night, she was even more scared to stay alone.

Qiu Xing had suggested two rooms only because he thought she might feel embarrassed, but Lin Yiran didn’t want that.

It wasn’t… that embarrassing after all.

After getting the key card, Qiu Xing handed it to Lin Yiran, saying, “You go up first, I need to make a call.”

Lin Yiran nodded, and the receptionist politely asked, “Would you like another key card?”

“No need,” Qiu Xing told Lin Yiran, “You can let me in later.”

“Okay,” Lin Yiran said before heading upstairs with her backpack.

The room was clean and tidy. Lin Yiran placed her backpack on a chair and took out her clothes to shower first.

She knew Qiu Xing wouldn’t return before she finished bathing, and even if he did, he couldn’t enter without her opening the door.

When Lin Yiran first arrived in his truck, Qiu Xing had specifically instructed her to handle any inconveniences herself, saying he wouldn’t cater to her. But in reality, over these two months, Lin Yiran hadn’t experienced any particularly inconvenient moments.

For instance, now—the hotel bathroom now has semi-transparent frosted glass. Even though one couldn’t see clearly, a person’s silhouette and outline were visible from the room when someone was showering.

Even with the most minimal boundaries between Lin Yiran and Qiu Xing, this situation would be inappropriate. If Qiu Xing were in the room, Lin Yiran would either not shower or shower uncomfortably.

At first, Lin Yiran hadn’t noticed, but after a while, she realized that whenever such awkward moments arose, Qiu Xing was coincidentally absent.

When the knock on the door came, Lin Yiran had long finished showering and had even dried her hair halfway. Her hair was long and thick, so she could never dry it completely and had to leave it loose.

Having showered comfortably, wearing clean clothes with her hair in loose disarray, and her small, clean face relaxed, she had a cozy, homey feel about her.

Qiu Xing handed her a small bag, saying, “Apply this yourself.”

Lin Yiran looked down; it was a packet of iodine cotton swabs.

The scrape on the inside of her arm appeared slightly red, mainly because her skin was so fair; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been very noticeable.

Qiu Xing said, “Don’t be so absent-minded next time.”

Lin Yiran responded listlessly, “I know.”

A light rain fell all night, with the corridor light outside their door turned on while all other lights in the room were off.

This was a rare night when Qiu Xing could sleep well. He fell asleep right after his shower. Lin Yiran lay flat on her bed, listening to Qiu Xing’s steady breathing.

She unconsciously began to follow the rhythm of his breathing, rising and falling with it.

Lin Yiran recalled Qiu Xing’s slightly fierce expression earlier in the day as he watched her from not too far away. She remembered how her nose had hurt when he held her, and the slight scent of machine oil on him.

In this quiet room, she silently entwined their breaths together in rhythm.

*

“Xiao Qiu, you should find someone.”

When Qiu Xing returned home this time, coincidentally, Xiao Quan and Brother Li Hui had also returned with the other truck, both parked at Brother Lin’s repair shop. Li Hui stood with Qiu Xing in the shade, offering him a cigarette, telling him he didn’t want to continue working.

“You smoke, Brother.” Qiu Xing waved his hand, declining, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, it’s not about you, Xiao Qiu.” Li Hui felt awkward, taking a drag from his cigarette before telling Qiu Xing, “Your sister-in-law has mentioned it to me several times, and I feel the same way. My kid is in high school now, and I want to spend more time with him. I don’t want to do long-haul routes anymore.”

After hearing this, Qiu Xing didn’t try to persuade him otherwise, nodding and saying, “Alright, Brother, please cover for me a bit longer while I find someone.”

“Sure, no problem.”

Li Hui was an honest man, just not articulate or particularly quick-witted. He drove that truck more than Xiao Quan did, and Qiu Xing knew this well—last New Year, he had given Li Hui an extra twenty thousand yuan.

Li Hui knew Qiu Xing treated him fairly. Other long-haul truck drivers earned six thousand yuan monthly, maybe six thousand five hundred at most, but Qiu Xing gave them eight thousand, not to mention the extra money he gave them privately.

He also understood Qiu Xing’s difficulties; everyone in the local trucking community knew about Qiu Xing’s family situation. The truck Qiu Xing drove was profitable, carrying valuable cargo. The truck with the two hired drivers didn’t make much profit after expenses. Qiu Xing kept operating it only to maintain relationships with clients. Since he couldn’t handle all the routes himself, he couldn’t afford to lose good resources, so he maintained the second truck to preserve his shipping network.

These valuable routes had all been good contracts of Qiu Xing’s father, which Qiu Xing had contacted and reclaimed one by one after his father’s accident.

“Xiao Qiu, let me say a few words, don’t think I’m being nosy.” Li Hui moved closer to Qiu Xing, holding his cigarette between his fingers without taking another drag. “Both your trucks are worn out. Yours is still okay because you drive it yourself and don’t abuse it, but the one we drive needs repairs every few days. It’s a lot for you to worry about.”

Qiu Xing nodded to show he was listening.

“I won’t say much about what Xiao Quan is like, but you know people don’t care about things that aren’t theirs. If you can’t find good drivers in the future, you’ll have even more to worry about. Why not sell one truck and have Xiao Quan drive with you, so you can take turns? No one can do long-haul routes alone without getting exhausted.”

Afraid he’d said too much and annoyed Qiu Xing, Li Hui gave a simple smile and said, “Anyway, that’s just my suggestion. Just consider it, and make your own decision.”

Qiu Xing smiled too and said, “Okay, Brother Li, I understand.”

After finishing his conversation with Li Hui, Qiu Xing walked over to Brother Lin’s room.

“The clutch plate needs replacing, the oil line needs cleaning, and the engine, middle bridge, and rear axle all need thorough maintenance this time. Don’t wait until it breaks down on the road,” Brother Lin told him.

“Go ahead with it,” Qiu Xing said.

“Old Sun is selling his truck. It’s only seven years old and hasn’t had any major repairs. Last time I asked, he said fifteen million, and the price is negotiable. Why don’t you ask him? You could switch to driving his truck,” Brother Lin suggested.

Qiu Xing replied, “I don’t have the money.”

“I can lend it to you, and you can pay me back when you earn it. Your truck can still sell for around forty thousand, so you won’t need to add much more,” Brother Lin handed Qiu Xing a bottle of water. “Otherwise, just keep repairing this one. I worry about it even if you don’t.”

“Let’s just repair it for now. I don’t want to owe money. Just thinking about owing money gives me a headache,” Qiu Xing smiled self-deprecatingly. “Even owing a little more now makes me uncomfortable, let alone tens of thousands.”

“Owing me doesn’t count as owing. Or you can pay me interest, like a bank loan,” Brother Lin joked. “The more you owe me, the more interest I can collect.”

“I don’t even borrow from banks. Going into debt here and there—I’ll never pay it off in this lifetime,” Qiu Xing refused.

That evening, Brother Lin invited Qiu Xing to stay for dinner. Sister-in-law Lin prepared many dishes, with Lin Yiran helping out.

This was Lin Yiran’s last visit before leaving for school, and it was uncertain when she would return. Sister-in-law Lin had become more familiar with her and knew about her family situation, asking, “Your father still hasn’t contacted you?”

Lin Yiran gently shook her head. “No.”

Sister-in-law Lin muttered quietly, “Never seen a father like that.”

Lin Chang had a new girlfriend whom he had brought to the workshop. She had pink hair with a few strands dyed gray, wore a spaghetti-strap top and shorts, had a sleeve tattoo on her arm, and a lip piercing.

Lin Chang saw that Qiu Xing had returned and looked around, noticing Lin Yiran with his mother, and observed her for a moment.

His girlfriend, chewing gum, blew a small bubble and said, “There’s a pretty girl over there.”

“Not as pretty as you,” Lin Chang said. “Too plain.”

His girlfriend didn’t appreciate his insincere compliment and said, “You’re blind.”

During dinner, Lin Yiran sat with Qiu Xing on her left and Lin Chang’s girlfriend on her right.

The pink-haired girl asked her, “How old are you?”

Lin Yiran replied, “I’m nineteen.”

“I’m nineteen too,” she said.

Lin Yiran didn’t know what to talk about with her. She had no topics of conversation, and she was naturally slow to warm up to people. She had always been quiet. Her mother used to feel guilty about this, thinking it was because of their single-parent household.

Lin Yiran had told her mother that she didn’t feel unhappy, and her introversion wasn’t due to any inferiority complex.

The girl suddenly touched Lin Yiran’s arm. Lin Yiran had been listening to Qiu Xing speak, and the unexpected contact made her drop her spoon.

“Sorry, I just wanted to talk to you,” the pink-haired girl said.

“It’s okay,” Lin Yiran bent down to pick it up.

Qiu Xing heard the noise and glanced over. Lin Yiran was wiping with a tissue, and while continuing his conversation with Brother Lin, Qiu Xing casually placed his unused spoon in her bowl.

“Your boyfriend is so sweet,” the girl beside her said.

Her comment implied she thought Qiu Xing was Lin Yiran’s boyfriend. All summer, they had been mistaken for a couple, and Lin Yiran never corrected anyone.

As she said this, Lin Chang passed a piece of spare rib to her. Lin Yiran found it somewhat amusing and smiled, saying, “You…”

Lin Chang was simply not someone Lin Yiran could call “brother,” so she faltered, saying, “Your boyfriend is also quite… quite nice.”

“Him?” The girl glanced at Lin Chang and snorted.

Her disdain was too obvious, and Lin Yiran asked, “Aren’t you two together?”

The girl leaned closer and whispered in Lin Yiran’s ear, “I lost a bet. Just putting up with him for a few days.”

Lin Yiran looked at her in surprise. The girl smiled and said, “Don’t look at me like that, beauty. Who wouldn’t be attracted?”

Although Lin Yiran didn’t say anything, her expression was clear enough. The girl asked, “You’re a good student, aren’t you? You look like one.”

Before Lin Yiran could answer, she continued, “What era is this? Is dating still such a big deal?”

Her voice was a bit loud, causing everyone at the table to look at her, including Qiu Xing.

Lin Yiran gently nudged her with her elbow, signaling her to lower her voice.

While the two of them were talking, Brother Lin and Qiu Xing had been drinking some beer on the other side, though not much.

Qiu Xing still hadn’t agreed, shaking his head and saying, “Let’s make do for now.”

“Are you being stubborn?” Brother Lin asked.

He genuinely cared about Qiu Xing. Although Qiu Xing called him “Brother,” he viewed Qiu Xing like a nephew and couldn’t bear to see him struggle so much.

Qiu Xing knew Brother Lin sincerely wanted to lend him money and shared his true feelings, saying, “Brother, paying back debt makes me sick. Thinking about nearly being debt-free gives me hope.”

“You shouldn’t have to!” Brother Lin silently cursed him, then continued, “Did I ever tell you to pay it back? I said at the time that you shouldn’t. After giving away all the family money, with your father gone, the debt should have been cleared.”

Qiu Xing didn’t argue, just smiled slightly.

“You sold the factory, sold all your father’s trucks, distributed the money, and paid back as much as you could. That was enough. Why do you keep paying?” Brother Lin’s temper flared as he scolded Qiu Xing, “You’re just being foolish!”

Qiu Xing sat quietly, taking the scolding without talking back.

“If your father were alive and you wanted to help him bear the debt, that would be one thing. But your father is gone—there’s no reason for it to fall on your shoulders!” Brother Lin, having had some alcohol, spoke with emotion.

Only then did Qiu Xing respond calmly, “If my father were alive, I wouldn’t be handling it.”

Brother Lin retorted, “Is this your way of showing filial piety now that he’s gone?”

Qiu Xing leaned back in his chair and said, “If he were alive, he would have been sentenced, and it would have been his responsibility to pay. He would have carried that burden himself.”

Lin Yiran turned to look at Qiu Xing, whose expression remained calm as he continued, “But since he’s gone, I have to pay for him. I have to compensate for the lives he owes. I can’t repay the lives, but I won’t be short a penny of the money. I can’t let him be a ghost with unpaid debts.”

That night, Lin Yiran learned for the first time how Uncle Qiu had died.

The illegal construction of the electrical factory warehouse had failed fire safety inspections, but Uncle Qiu hadn’t taken it seriously. When the electrical fire broke out, there were over a dozen people in the warehouse. Four died, eight were seriously injured, and five suffered minor injuries.

Uncle Qiu himself was among the four who died.

The major fire had made the news that year, prompting fire safety inspections throughout the province. Lin Yiran had just started her first year of high school at the time. Though she didn’t watch TV or have a phone, she had heard about the fire, but didn’t know it was Uncle Qiu’s factory.

The central government had sent an investigation team to look into the fire, and they had determined the final compensation. Some families were dissatisfied with the amount and demanded more, which Qiu Xing had accepted in full.

No amount of money could compensate for a life, but Qiu Xing acknowledged the liability.

The family’s money, house, cars, factory, and company—all were given away in compensation. Qiu Xing kept only two old trucks and the old house without a property deed.

Aunt Fang couldn’t accept the reality and couldn’t bear the blow. She fell ill before the matter was resolved.

From then on, Qiu Xing alone shouldered the debt that remained after dispersing the family assets. He got his commercial driver’s license and drove without rest, day and night.

“My father didn’t do it intentionally,” Qiu Xing finished what was left in his glass. Brother Lin refilled it, and Qiu Xing continued, “He wasn’t the type to shirk responsibility. Even if he had lived and been sentenced, he would have paid what was owed.”

Brother Lin didn’t deny this, saying, “Your father was a man of principle.”

“That’s why I have to help him pay it all back. Otherwise, wouldn’t his hopes for me have been in vain?” Qiu Xing smiled. “He spent over ten years boasting about how successful his son would be.”

“You are successful,” Brother Lin glanced at his unambitious son across the table and sincerely praised Qiu Xing. “Paying back over seven hundred thousand in three years—and at your age.”

“It’s all thanks to the foundation my father left, his old business,” Qiu Xing said.

Lin Yiran felt a heaviness in her heart as she listened, not wanting to cry but feeling a profound sadness.

Fate can be cruel in its games. It allows a person to grow up smoothly, then, without warning, takes everything away overnight, completely upending their life.

Uncle Qiu was dead, Aunt Fang was ill, and all Qiu Xing had left was the nearly nine hundred thousand in compensation that had yet to be paid.

“Your boyfriend…” the pink-haired girl gave a thumbs up under the table and told Lin Yiran, “Your boyfriend is impressive.”

Lin Yiran didn’t want to talk, but the other girl continued, “Let’s add each other on WeChat. If you two ever break up, introduce him to me. I’d date him.”

Lin Yiran pressed her lips together and never added her on WeChat.

*

Qiu Xing hadn’t drunk much; he didn’t enjoy alcohol.

Brother Lin later drank some baijiu and became somewhat intoxicated. Lin Yiran helped clear the table before leaving with Qiu Xing.

They didn’t take a taxi, walking slowly on the road. There weren’t many cars in the suburbs. In the old district, electrical wires hung messily outside, reminiscent of Lin Yiran’s childhood.

The two walked side by side. The streetlights stretched their shadows long, shortening as they passed under the next light, then gradually lengthening again.

“Qiu Xing,” Lin Yiran called out to him.

Qiu Xing looked at her. “Hmm?”

Lin Yiran tentatively asked, “How much do you still owe?”

“Why?” Qiu Xing asked. “Want to help me pay it back?”

Lin Yiran looked at him carefully and asked, “Could I?”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, Qiu Xing was quite talkative today. He raised his hand and placed it on the back of Lin Yiran’s head, ruffling it messily, and said, “No, you can’t. Keep your money for yourself. Save it to buy your own house.”

“If I pay others first, and then you pay me back when you have money, isn’t it the same?” Lin Yiran simply didn’t want to see him struggle so much anymore. After following him for two months, she knew what Qiu Xing’s life on the road was like.

“You talk to someone for a bit, and you’re ready to pay their debts? Are you that easily fooled?” Qiu Xing kept his hand on her head, pressing down with some force. “You’ll be tricked by strange men.”

Lin Yiran frowned and said, “You’re not just someone…”

“Then who am I?” Qiu Xing casually replied. “I’m your neighbor, you haven’t seen me in ten years.”

“You’re Qiu Xing,” Lin Yiran said immediately.

“It doesn’t matter who. Your money shouldn’t go to anyone. I don’t want to owe anyone anything anymore,” Qiu Xing said.

On this matter, Qiu Xing was non-negotiable. He specifically emphasized that Lin Yiran was no different from anyone else—she was among those from whom he would not accept a penny.

There was something contradictory about Qiu Xing. He was kind to Lin Yiran and close to Brother Lin, yet his world kept everyone at a distance. He didn’t truly allow anyone in, nor did he accept anyone truly getting close to him.

Just like when Qiu Xing told Lin Yiran not to fall off her original life path, whenever Lin Yiran felt their relationship was close enough, Qiu Xing would pull away in the next moment, showing Lin Yiran the glass barrier surrounding his world.

He seemed capable of detaching himself from any place or person at any time, leaving without attachment.

*

Lin Yiran walked silently beside Qiu Xing. The journey of over two kilometers didn’t take them too long.

As they were about to turn the last corner to reach home, Qiu Xing suddenly said, “When you get to school, don’t talk about your family situation, not even to your roommates.”

Lin Yiran responded quietly, “I understand.”

“It’s okay to date, but don’t get tricked,” Qiu Xing added.

Lin Yiran paused mid-step and looked up at him.

Qiu Xing pretended not to notice her gaze and continued, “Don’t believe everything people tell you.”

Lin Yiran resumed walking to catch up with him, not responding and turning to look away.

With their parting imminent, Qiu Xing began giving Lin Yiran advice, noticeably more than during their previous separation.

As he spoke, Lin Yiran would respond with an occasional “Mm,” offering little else.

At a roadside barbecue stall, people were drinking. Lin Yiran kept her head down, listening to Qiu Xing and paying no attention to the drinkers.

As they walked closer, someone suddenly grabbed Lin Yiran’s arm. The action was so unexpected that Lin Yiran let out a small cry as she was pulled down onto the seated person’s lap.

“You bumped into me,” the man said, holding Lin Yiran and looking down at her.

The man reeked of alcohol. Lin Yiran immediately tried to get up, her heart still racing, then suddenly sank—

She recognized this man as one of those who had confronted her outside her door previously.

Qiu Xing reached out to her, but Lin Yiran’s arm was still gripped by the man, his greasy hand clutching her slender wrist. She grabbed Qiu Xing’s hand, and the moment she did, Qiu Xing pulled her into his arms, his hand securing her waist.

“Let go,” Qiu Xing said.

As he spoke, Qiu Xing picked up a beer bottle with his other hand.

There were four men at the table, but Qiu Xing’s gaze didn’t waver, focused only on the bald man holding Lin Yiran.

“You think I’ll let go just because you say so?” The man not only refused to release her but also provocatively stroked Lin Yiran’s arm.

Lin Yiran felt disgusted by his touch. She clutched Qiu Xing’s clothes with her other hand, eyes tightly shut.

She called out to Qiu Xing in alarm. He patted her back reassuringly, then let her go.

The bald man gripped Lin Yiran’s wrist, raising it as if to kiss it. Before his mouth could make contact, Qiu Xing swung the beer bottle hard against his face.

The blow caused the man to release Lin Yiran’s hand and instantly created chaos. The other men stood up, and Qiu Xing pushed Lin Yiran, signaling her to leave.

Qiu Xing kicked their table. All four men were drunk, with several boxes of empty bottles nearby. They could barely stand straight but were full of brute strength.

People from the shop ran out to watch, and the female owner screamed for them to stop fighting. Amid the chaos, Lin Yiran was no longer afraid. Not only unafraid, but she grabbed a chair with a determined expression.

Holding the chair with both hands, she swung it at the drunken men, her slender body lifting the chair high.

The shrill screams of the shop owner continued. Lin Yiran found strength from somewhere, focused only on hitting anyone who approached Qiu Xing.

After some time, Qiu Xing reached out to her. Lin Yiran dropped the chair, grabbed his hand, and they ran away together.

They sprinted down the street, with two men chasing them.

Lin Yiran didn’t look back, just kept following Qiu Xing forward. Air rushed into her lungs, making her chest sharply painful. Her vision blurred, but she felt an exhilarating sense of breaking through everything.

Breathing hard and fleeing, every cell in her body felt unleashed. Blood coursed and collided through her body, her heart pounding against her ribs with each beat.

They passed through gaps in the wind, ducking under the streetlights.

Even after Qiu Xing led her into a completely dark alley, Lin Yiran was still breathing heavily.

Qiu Xing was also panting, placing Lin Yiran between himself and the wall, his mind blank, the pulse at his temples beating strongly.

Lin Yiran’s eyes sparkled with tiny lights in the darkness.

Before Qiu Xing could fully react, Lin Yiran raised her hands, wrapped them around his neck, and kissed him.