Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 109 Little Liu Does Bad Things in His Room

The heating in the room was on full blast, and the chill on my body was dispelled as soon as I entered.

Two pairs of new slippers were placed in the entryway, one pair of dark gray men's slippers and one pair of light pink women's slippers, both fluffy and obviously newly bought.

Liu Yifei blushed again when she saw the pink slippers; this kind of detail, being treated like family, is more touching than any expensive gift.

"Put these on, they'll keep your feet warm," Zhou Huiwen said. "I bought them specially; the soles are thick so they won't freeze your feet."

"Thank you, Auntie." Liu Yifei changed into slippers, which fit perfectly.

In the living room, Jiang Jianguo was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

Hearing the noise, he put down his newspaper and stood up.

She had a face that resembled Jiang Yu's by six or seven points, but looked more weathered, with obvious wrinkles around her eyes and graying temples.

He was wearing a dark blue polo shirt with a gray wool vest over it today, the typical attire of a middle-aged businessman, but more casual than usual.

"Hello, Uncle." Liu Yifei greeted him politely.

"Sisi's here, have a seat." Jiang Jianguo didn't say much, but his tone was gentle and he had a smile on his face. "Was the road congested? The airport expressway is under construction recently, so it's not easy to drive on."

"Fortunately, we took the Second Ring Road, which was a bit of a detour, but there was no traffic." Liu Yifei sat down on the sofa, her posture natural yet polite.

Jiang Yu put his suitcase in the corner, took off his down jacket and hung it up: "Dad, are you reading the newspaper? What's on the news today?"

"Same as always." Jiang Jianguo sat back on the sofa, picked up the newspaper, and said, "The impact of the economic crisis is still spreading. Many factories in Wuhan have laid off workers. By the way, about that Optics Valley project you mentioned last time, the planning bureau has approved it, requiring the construction of a public school."

"That's great!" Jiang Yu sat down next to his father. "Building a school will attract young families and boost foot traffic to the mall. What about the cost?"

"About forty-eight million more." Jiang Jianguo took a folder from the coffee table drawer, flipped to the budget page, and said, "But as you taught me, I negotiated with the government, and they exempted us from some taxes for five years, so it should be enough to make up for it. In addition, after the school is built, they can give us priority to rent the premises, which will be another source of income."

Jiang Yu took the folder and looked at it.

The budget was very detailed, with cost accounting, cash flow forecasting, and return on investment calculations all presented in a very professional manner.

Clearly, Jiang Jianguo has put in a lot of effort during this period.

"Dad, you're becoming more and more professional," he said sincerely.

Jiang Jianguo rarely showed a hint of pride: "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching. Before, in the building materials business, it was all about drinking and socializing, competing on prices, and it always felt like small-scale operations. Now, in real estate, you need to understand planning, be good at accounting, deal with the government, and consider long-term operations."

He glanced towards the kitchen and lowered his voice, "Your mom says I'm going crazy in my old age," that I'm still up to something at fifty. I said, "My son has built such a big business, I, as his father, can't fall behind, right?"

Jiang Yu smiled: "Mom is just worried about you."

"I know." Jiang Jianguo patted his son's shoulder. "You too, don't work too hard. You can't earn enough money, your health is the most important. Look at you, you've lost weight since you last came back."

Zhou Huiwen often said this, but when Jiang Jianguo said it, Jiang Yu felt it was different.

Jiang Yu nodded: "I know. Dad, you too, let the team handle things, don't do everything yourself."

"I know what I'm doing."

From the kitchen, Zhou Huiwen and Liu Yifei's voices could be faintly heard, accompanied by the sounds of water and the clinking of dishes.

"Xixi, don't do anything, just sit down." Zhou Huiwen's voice.

"Auntie, let me help you, it'll be faster if two people do it." Liu Yifei's voice.

"Okay, can you cut this lotus root into chunks for me? Be careful with your hands, it's tough."

"Okay."

As Jiang Yu listened, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

He got up and walked to the kitchen doorway, leaning against the door frame.

In the kitchen, Zhou Huiwen was stir-frying at the stove, while Liu Yifei, wearing an apron, was cutting lotus root at the counter.

She cut the lotus root very carefully. Although her technique was not very skilled, it was very steady, and the pieces were all the same size.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on her profile and casting a soft glow on her features.

She lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes, her lips pursed, as if she were focused on completing some important task.

Zhou Huiwen turned her head and saw Jiang Yu, and laughed: "What are you looking at? Aren't you going to come and help? All you do is stand there."

"I was just afraid of bothering you," Jiang Yu said as he walked in. "What do you need me to do?"

"Serve the rice and take it out. The dishes will be ready soon."

"Yes, ma'am."

Lunch was sumptuous.

In the center of the round table was a large clay pot of pork rib and lotus root soup. The soup was milky white, the lotus root pieces were soft and tender, and the pork ribs were stewed until tender. It was sprinkled with chopped green onions and cilantro, and steaming hot.

Next to it were steamed pork with rice flour, steamed Wuchang fish, stir-fried cured pork, pearl meatballs, fried lotus root sandwiches, and cold preserved egg salad—a whole table full of authentic Hubei home-style dishes.

"Sisi, I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I made some of our Hubei home-style dishes."

Zhou Huiwen served Liu Yifei a bowl of soup and added the largest piece of pork rib. "Try this lotus root soup. It's made with starchy lotus roots from Honghu Lake and has been simmering all morning. This is the most nourishing soup to drink in winter."

"Thank you, Auntie." Liu Yifei took the bowl with both hands, took a small sip, and her eyes lit up. "So fresh! The lotus root is delicious too, so powdery."

"Drink more if you like." Zhou Huiwen smiled, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothing out. "You're too thin, you need to eat more. Xiaoyu too, he eats out every day, he must not be eating well. Look how thin he is."

In his mother's eyes, Jiang Yu will always be a child who "doesn't eat well".

He smiled helplessly, picked up a piece of steamed pork with rice flour and put it in Liu Yifei's bowl: "This is also delicious, it's my mom's specialty. The pork belly is coated with special rice flour, so it's fatty but not greasy."

Liu Yifei took a bite.

The meat is tender and juicy, the rice noodles are fragrant and sticky, and the flavor is perfectly balanced with a hint of savory and salty taste.

She nodded vigorously, saying indistinctly, "Delicious! Even better than what you get in restaurants!"

Zhou Huiwen was overjoyed by these words and placed another piece of fish belly on her plate: "This Wuchang fish was just bought from the market this morning, it was still very lively. Steaming is the best way to bring out its freshness, so you can eat it without worry."

"Auntie, please don't just keep putting food on my plate, you should eat some too," Liu Yifei said, feeling embarrassed.

"I'll eat, I'll eat." Zhou Huiwen smiled, then turned to Jiang Jianguo, "Why don't you put some food on Qianqian's plate too? You're just eating by yourself."

Jiang Jianguo was engrossed in his meal when he heard this, and paused for a moment before quickly picking up a pearl dumpling and placing it in Liu Yifei's bowl: "This, this is delicious too. It's made with minced pork and fish, and filled with water chestnuts. It's refreshing."

"Thank you, Uncle."

It was a pleasant meal.

Zhou Huiwen kept piling food onto Liu Yifei's plate, making Liu Yifei's bowl look like a small mountain.

She ate with gusto, her cheeks bulging out like a little hamster.

Jiang Yu looked at her and found her adorable, but also worried that she might overeat, so he whispered, "Don't force yourself if you can't eat."

"I can eat it," Liu Yifei replied softly. "Auntie's cooking is so delicious."

Zhou Huiwen was even happier when she heard this: "Come often if you like. Anyway, it's close by, just a short walk away."

"Come over for meals often, Auntie will cook delicious food for you."

"Mom, are you trying to feed her like a little pig?" Jiang Yu joked.

"What's wrong with piglets? Piglets are cute." Zhou Huiwen glared at her son, then said to Liu Yifei, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Girls should have some meat on their bones; it's healthy. Look at those celebrities, they're as skinny as bamboo poles; they'd fall over in the wind. That's not good."

Liu Yifei smiled and said, "Auntie is right."

When the conversation turned to work, Zhou Huiwen asked Liu Yifei what she had been busy with lately.

"I'm preparing for a new movie, filming starts in May," Liu Yifei said. "It's a sci-fi film called 'Lucy.' The director is Luc Besson from France, and the script is exceptionally good. There are also a few promotional events after the Spring Festival, which may require two trips to Beijing."

"You're so busy," Zhou Huiwen said with some concern. "You need to take care of yourself. Xiaoyu, you too, don't always let her work so hard. Work is important, but your health is even more important."

Before Jiang Yu could speak, Liu Yifei said, "Auntie, it's not tiring. I enjoy acting, and the roles I'm getting now are all ones I like. Just like Uncle's real estate projects, although it's hard work, it's fulfilling, right?"

She cleverly steered the conversation toward Jiang Jianguo.

Jiang Jianguo nodded: "Yes, doing what you love makes you happy, even if it's tiring."

Zhou Huiwen looked at Liu Yifei with admiration in her eyes: "Qianqian, your mother has raised you so well. Independent, opinionated, knowing what you want, and not arrogant or impatient. There aren't many young people like you these days."

Liu Yifei was embarrassed by the praise: "Auntie, please don't praise me. I still have a lot to learn."

"That's good enough." Zhou Huiwen patted her hand, then turned to glare at Jiang Yu. "You need to treat Qianqian well. If I find out you've bullied her, I won't let you off the hook."

Jiang Yu raised his hands in surrender: "Mom, how could I dare? Look at her, now that you're backing her up, I'm even less likely to do it."

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was as relaxed as that of a real family.

After the meal, Zhou Huiwen went to wash the dishes, and Liu Yifei offered to help.

The two chatted and laughed as they washed dishes in the kitchen.

"Auntie, you have such skillful hands. How do you make those pearl dumplings so perfectly round?"

"There's a trick to it. You need to mix the minced meat until it's elastic. When you're kneading it, wet your palms a little so it won't stick. I'll teach you next time you come."

"Great! I want to learn to cook too. My mom says my cooking is just 'cooked,' not really delicious."

"Take your time. Cooking requires patience; you can't rush it."

In the living room, Jiang Yu and Jiang Jianguo brewed a pot of tea.

It's top-quality Longjing tea; the tea leaves unfurl in the glass pot, and the tea soup is clear and bright.

"How's that JD.com financing you mentioned last time?" Jiang Jianguo took a sip of tea.

"The Series B+ funding plan is out, and Light Chaser Animation is preparing to lead a portion of the investment," Jiang Yu said. "JD.com is building its own logistics network, which requires a lot of capital. It's a good direction, but also very risky."

"Logistics—" Jiang Jianguo pondered, "It's asset-heavy and burns through cash. But if done well, it truly becomes a moat. Just like in the world of shopping malls, location, brand, and service are all moats. It's not easy for an internet company to achieve this."

Jiang Yu was somewhat surprised, as his father came from a traditional industry and had a deep understanding of the Internet.

"Dad, you're researching these things too?"

"I learned it from you." Jiang Jianguo smiled. "Now that you've built such a large business, I, as your father, can't fall behind. I usually read financial news to get a general idea of ​​the direction. The internet, technology, and cultural tourism—these are all the future directions. Our generation started in building materials and caught the wave of the real estate boom. Your generation caught the wave of the internet and globalization."

As he spoke, a hint of emotion flickered in his eyes: "Xiaoyu, Dad knows you're very capable, and that you've done such a great job with Chasing Light. Dad also wants to tell you, no matter how great your career is, don't forget about life. You can't earn enough money, but time, health, and relationships—once you miss them, you can never get them back."

These words were spoken in a simple and straightforward manner, and Jiang Yu understood them.

He nodded: "Dad, I understand."

"Good to know." Jiang Jianguo patted his shoulder, glanced towards the kitchen, and lowered his voice, "Qianqian is a really good girl. Your mother adores her and talks about her all the time. You—are you serious?"

"I'm serious," Jiang Yu said with certainty.

"That's good." Jiang Jianguo smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening. "The sooner things are settled, the more at ease your mother will be. And I'll be at ease too."

At this moment, Jiang Yu suddenly felt that, in this life after his rebirth, besides the grand business plans and industry changes, these trivial but real moments of warmth were what were truly worth cherishing.

At 2 PM, Liu Yifei said she needed to go home because Liu Xiaoli wanted to see her.

Jiang Yu escorted her to the door.

The wind in the yard was colder than when we arrived, and it felt like tiny knives on our faces.

.

Liu Yifei wrapped her down jacket tightly, pulled up the collar, and only her eyes were visible.

"I'll come again tonight," she said softly, her eyes crinkling. "My mom said she wants to invite you and your parents to our house for dinner. She's been preparing for ages."

"Okay." Jiang Yu opened the car door for her. "Drive slowly and be careful on the road."

"Okay, I know." Liu Yifei got into the driver's seat, then suddenly leaned out again, her eyes darting around. "By the way, are you busy this afternoon?"

"It's nothing, what's wrong?"

"Then—" she bit her lip, a little embarrassed, "Will you come back with me? My mom says she wants to see you."

Jiang Yu laughed: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I'm sorry about earlier," Liu Yifei said, her face slightly flushed. "Besides, you just got home, you should spend more time with your parents. Anyway, you're free this afternoon, why don't you come over to my place? My mom really wants to chat with you."

When she said, "I really want to chat with you," there was a mischievous glint in her eyes, like that of a little girl.

Jiang Yu knew that it wasn't just Liu Xiaoli who wanted to see him; she herself also wanted to spend more time with him.

"Okay," he agreed readily. "I'll tell my parents."

He turned around and called into the house, "Mom, I'm going to Qianqian's house. I'll be back tonight."

Zhou Huiwen poked her head out of the kitchen, holding a dishcloth in her hand: "Go on, go on. Remember to pick up Qianqian and her mother for dinner tonight. I made chicken soup, we'll drink it tonight."

"Okay."

Jiang Yu got into the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt.

As Liu Yifei started the car and drove out of the yard, she couldn't suppress the smile on her face, and her eyes sparkled.

"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Yu asked.

"It's nothing." She shook her head, a smile overflowing from her eyes. "I just feel—it's really nice."

"What's so good?"

"Everything is fine." Liu Yifei looked at the road ahead, her voice soft and gentle, as if she were telling a precious secret, "Your parents are good to me, you are good to me, and my work is going well—it feels like a dream. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and have to check if it's real."

Jiang Yu's heart softened.

He reached out and ruffled her hair: "It's not a dream."

"Mmm." She nodded, turning to look at him as they waited for the red light.

The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the car window, casting gentle shadows on her face. "Jiang Yu, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for picking me up." She was referring to what happened in New York last year. "That day, I finished filming and was feeling really down. I called you, but I couldn't say a word; I just cried. You said you'd wait for me," and then you really did fly over. A ten-hour flight, just to spend a weekend with me."

The green light is on.

The car restarted and merged back into traffic.

They did nothing that day; they just stayed at her hotel for two days.

He accompanied her to the movies, read scripts with her, and took walks with her in Central Park.

He flew back to Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon and continued the meeting on Monday morning.

"That's to be expected," he said.

"It's not something I should do," Liu Yifei shook her head. "No one should be so kind to another person. So thank you."

She paused, then spoke even softer: "Thank you too—for letting me meet you."

A certain part of Jiang Yu's heart felt like it had been gently brushed by a feather, a tingling, numb sensation.

Looking at her, he suddenly remembered himself in his past life; a man who drifted in the business world, had a career but no life, lived in a big house but felt empty, and eventually died alone.

If someone had told him back then that one day he would be sitting in a girl's car on his way back to Wuhan for the Chinese New Year, and that she would say "Thank you for letting me meet you," he would probably have thought it was a fantasy.

Now, all of this feels so real that he wants to hold on tight and never let go.

"I'm the one who should be saying thank you," he said.

Liu Yifei turned to look at him, her eyes glistening with tears, then quickly smiled and said nothing more.

She simply reached out her right hand and grasped his left hand, which was resting on his lap.

Their fingers were interlocked, their palms warm.

The car drove into the villa area where Liu Yifei's family lived.

The houses here are more modern, with brown exteriors, large floor-to-ceiling windows, and simple lines.

Liu Yifei's yard is very well maintained. Although the flowers and plants wither in winter, you can see the careful layout; there is a stone path, a stone lantern in the corner, and a few evergreen pine trees.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Liu Xiaoli came out of the house.

She wore a burgundy turtleneck sweater today, which made her skin look very fair. Her hair was styled in elegant curls, making her look much younger than her actual age.

When she saw Jiang Yu get out of the car, her eyes lit up and her smile became even brighter.

"Xiaoyu is here too, that's great!" She greeted him. "Come inside quickly, it's cold outside. Qianqian, you really are something, why didn't you tell me Xiaoyu was coming? I could have prepared more dishes."

"Mom, it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision," Liu Yifei said, linking her arm with her mother's. "Besides, we're going to his house for dinner tonight, so don't bother."

"We still have to entertain them." Liu Xiaoli pulled Jiang Yu into the house. "Come on in. I just baked some pastries, they're fresh out of the oven."

Upon entering the room, a wave of warmth hits you.

Liu Yifei's home has a simple and modern style, mainly in white and natural wood tones, and is spacious and bright.

One entire wall of the living room is lined with bookshelves, filled with books and DVDs. Next to them stands a black grand piano with several framed photos on its lid.

These are photos of Liu Yifei as a child, a photo of her with Liu Xiaoli, and another photo of her and Jiang Yu taken in a park last year. The photo is a bit blurry, but both of them are smiling happily, with autumn red leaves in the background.

"Sit down, sit down," Liu Xiaoli said, gesturing for Jiang Yu to sit on the sofa while she went to make tea.

Liu Yifei went to help, and the mother and daughter talked quietly in the open kitchen, with laughter coming from time to time.

Jiang Yu sat on the sofa, looking around the house.

Unlike Jiang Yu's home, which is traditional and full of life's traces, this place has a more artistic atmosphere and is simpler.

Several abstract paintings hang on the wall, and exquisite flower arrangements adorn the coffee table. The curtains are made of soft off-white linen, and sunlight filters through, making the entire space warm and airy.

"Come, have some tea." Liu Xiaoli brought over a tea set, a complete set of Yixing purple clay teapots. "This is a ten-year-aged Pu'er tea given to me by a friend. Try it. It's warming to drink in winter."

"Thank you, Auntie." Jiang Yu accepted the teacup with both hands. The tea was deep red, clear and bright, with a rich aroma.

Liu Xiaoli sat down opposite him, looked him over carefully for a few moments, and then smiled: "Xiaoyu, you've lost weight since the last time I saw you. Are you too busy with work? I heard from Qianqian that you often stay up until two or three in the morning."

"There's a lot to do at the end of the year, but things will get better after the New Year," Jiang Yu said.

"No matter how busy you are, you must take care of your health." Liu Xiaoli said gently, "I heard from Qianqian that you sometimes have seven or eight meetings a day and don't even have time to eat. Young people take their good health for granted and don't pay attention to their health, but when they get older, all sorts of problems will appear. I've been through this, and I know how serious it is."

"Mom..." Liu Yifei said, drawing out her words a little embarrassedly.

"Am I wrong?" Liu Xiaoli glared at her daughter, then turned to Jiang Yu with concern in her eyes. "Xiaoyu, Auntie is only saying this because she considers you her own child. You and Qianqian are both young, and your careers are important, but your health is the foundation of everything. You two need to keep each other in check, eat on time, and avoid staying up late. You can't earn enough money, but your health is your own."

.

When she said this, her tone carried a motherly nagging and worry.

Jiang Yu listened attentively and nodded, "Auntie is right, I will pay attention. You too, please take good care of yourself."

"I'm fine, I'm free." Liu Xiaoli smiled, picked up her teacup and took a sip, then suddenly remembered something, "By the way, are your parents free tonight? I'd like to invite them over for dinner. It's almost Chinese New Year, the two families should get together."

"I'm free. My mom just said she wanted to invite you and Qianqian to my house for dinner," Jiang Yu said. "How about this, you can have dinner at my house tonight and dinner at your house tomorrow, taking turns? That way, neither of your mothers will have to go through too much trouble."

"Great idea!" Liu Xiaoli's eyes lit up. "Then it's settled. I'll call your mom later. I can cook a few of my signature Hubei dishes. Your mom is a good cook too, so we can exchange some tips."

After chatting for a while, Liu Xiaoli got up to prepare some fruit.

Taking the opportunity, Liu Yifei pulled Jiang Yu upstairs: "Come on, let me show you my room. I've rearranged it a bit."

Her room was on the second floor, at the very back, facing south, and had excellent natural light.

Pushing open the door, the first thing that catches the eye is a floor-to-ceiling window that covers an entire wall, offering views of East Lake.

The room was simply furnished, with a large white bed covered with light gray bedding; a natural wood wardrobe; and a dressing table with skincare and cosmetic products neatly arranged on it.

The most eye-catching spot is in the corner by the window, where an easel sits with an unfinished oil painting depicting the lake view outside.

The paint wasn't dry yet, and it gleamed with a moist sheen in the afternoon sun.

Next to the easel was a small cart piled high with paints, brushes, and palettes.

"Did you paint this?" Jiang Yu walked up to the easel.

The painting depicts East Lake in winter, with its gray-green waters, hazy mountain shadows in the distance, and a somber blue-gray sky.

The brushstrokes aren't particularly skillful, but they have a great feel for the subject, especially the handling of light, which is subtle yet realistic.

"Hmm." Liu Yifei stood next to him, a little embarrassed. "It's not very good—I haven't drawn properly in a long time, I'm rusty."

"It's beautiful," Jiang Yu said earnestly, "especially here..."

'

He pointed to the upper left corner of the picture, where there was a very faint warm yellow, like sunlight piercing through the clouds. "This stroke brings the whole picture to life."

"1

Liu Yifei looked at him in surprise: "You noticed? When I was painting, I was thinking that the lake in winter is too cold and needs a touch of warm color. But it can't be too obvious, it has to be subtle—"

"Perfect timing." Jiang Yu turned to look at her. "You're very talented."

"You're just trying to flatter me." She said this, but her face lit up with a smile, and her eyes sparkled.

The room was quiet. You could hear the clattering of Liu Xiaoli cutting fruit downstairs, and the faint chirping of birds in the distance.

Liu Yifei walked to the bookshelf and pulled out a thick photo album: "Let me show you this, photos of me when I was little. I looked so silly."

The two sat on the edge of the bed and flipped through the photo album.

The first page features a photo of Liu Yifei as a baby, with a chubby face, big eyes, and wearing a little floral dress.

Turning the page, you see photos of her learning to dance; she has her hair in a bun, is wearing a practice outfit, and is stretching her legs in front of the barre, her little face tense.

"This is my first stage performance," she said, pointing to a photo.

The little girl in the photo is about seven years old, wearing a red dance costume and heavy makeup. She is smiling brightly at the camera. "I was dancing 'Swan Lake,' and I was so nervous that I almost fell."

Turning the page further, there are photos of her when she was a teenager, wearing a school uniform and carrying a backpack, walking along the tree-lined path of the school; there is also a photo of her in the art studio, wearing an apron covered in paint, sketching a plaster statue.

"My childhood dream was actually to be a painter," she said softly, her fingers tracing the photograph. "Later, I became an actress, and I gradually put painting aside. After filming 'Black Swan' last year, I felt empty inside, so I picked it up again."

"Why does it feel so empty?" Jiang Yu asked.

"I don't know." She thought for a moment, "Maybe it's because after playing a role I was really into, I felt completely drained and needed an outlet. Acting is about living someone else's life, while painting is about expressing my own feelings. They're different."

Jiang Yu looked at her.

The sunlight cast a golden halo on her face, and her eyelashes cast long shadows under her eyes.

She looked at herself in the photo, her eyes filled with tenderness and nostalgia.

He suddenly understood why she had rejected Tron: Legacy and chosen Lucy.

What she wants is not big productions or international exposure, but roles that allow her to immerse herself, grow, and touch her heart.

Like this painting, it may not be perfect, but it is her true expression.

"Sissi," he called her.

"Hmm?" She turned her head.

Jiang Yu didn't say anything, but lowered his head and kissed her.

Liu Yifei was stunned for a moment, then closed her eyes and reached out to wrap her arms around his neck.

Time seemed to stand still.

Only the sunlight moved slowly across the floor, and dust particles danced in the beams of light.

After some time, Liu Xiaoli's voice came from downstairs: "Qianqian! Xiaoyu! Come down and have some fruit!"

The two parted ways and smiled at each other.

Liu Yifei's face was a little red, and her eyes were watery. She reached out to tidy her hair and then helped Jiang Yu straighten the collar of his sweatshirt.

"Let's go downstairs," she said softly.

As they went downstairs, she naturally took his hand.

Jiang Yu clenched his fist; his palm was warm.

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