Courtyard House: First, kill the hypocrites, leave none alive.

Principal Fang smiled.

"This child is quite clever."

She said, "My foundation is a bit weak. But that's okay, I can make up for it slowly."

She looked at Chen Feng.

"Mr. Chen, please rest assured. We will take good care of her."

Chen Feng nodded.

"Thanks."

Principal Fang took out a form and asked Chen Feng to fill it out.

Name, age, address, parents' names

Chen Feng filled it in stroke by stroke.

Principal Fang looked at it and nodded.

"alright."

She said, "Starting next week, Chen Xiaoyun will be a student at Fude School."

Xiaoyu stood to the side, completely stunned by what she heard.

student.

She, Chen Xiaoyun, is a student.

You can go to school now.

I can now sit in the classroom with my schoolbag on my back, just like those other children, and listen to the teacher's lecture.

She finally couldn't hold back her tears.

It fell down in a soft rustling sound.

Principal Fang saw it and handed over a tissue with a smile.

"Silly child, why are you crying? Going to school is a good thing."

Xiaoyu took the tissue and vigorously wiped away her tears.

But the more you wipe, the more it spreads.

Chen Feng stood beside her, watching her.

His face was expressionless.

But something was gleaming in his eyes.

That's a very rare thing.

Perhaps it was a sense of relief.

Perhaps it was out of heartache.

Perhaps it's just—

happy.

-

It was almost noon when I left the school.

The sunlight was warm, shining on the old streets of Sham Shui Po, gilding the dilapidated signs with a layer of gold.

Xiaoyu walked beside Chen Feng, her steps so light they seemed to be flying.

"Brother, what clothes should I wear to school?"

"have no idea."

"Brother, do you think the teacher might be fierce?"

"have no idea."

"Bro, do you think my classmates will want to hang out with me?"

"have no idea."

Xiaoyu pouted.

"Brother, how come you don't know anything?"

Chen Feng didn't say anything.

But the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

It was a curve that was very difficult to detect.

Like a smile.

It doesn't seem like it.

Xiaoyu saw it.

She froze for a moment.

Then she laughed, a very happy laugh.

"Brother, did you just laugh?"

Chen Feng ignored her.

"Brother, you really smiled! I saw it!"

Chen Feng continued walking.

Xiaoyu chased after him and tugged at his clothes.

"Brother, smile again!"

Chen Feng ignored her.

But Xiaoyu didn't care.

She was overjoyed.

I was so happy I wanted to sing, dance, and hug my brother and spin him around.

"elder brother,"

She said, "I'm hungry."

Chen Feng stopped in his tracks.

He glanced at her.

"What would you like to eat?"

Xiaoyu thought about it.

"I want to eat something delicious."

She said, "Let's have a big meal."

Chen Feng was silent for a second.

Then he nodded.

"it is good."

-

Sham Shui Po, intersection of Fuk Wing Street.

There is a small restaurant called "Fu Lin Men".

It's called a restaurant, but it's really just a street food stall, though it's cleaner than the small stalls on the street. It has a few tables and chairs, and you can order food.

Chen Feng led Xiao Yu inside.

The boss was a chubby middle-aged man, doing accounts behind the counter.

Seeing someone come in, he looked up and greeted them with a smile.

"Two of you? Please come in."

Chen Feng found a seat by the window and sat down.

Xiaoyu sat opposite him, her eyes darting around, finding everything new and interesting.

The boss came over with the menu.

Chen Feng took it, glanced at it, and handed it to Xiaoyu.

"Order."

Xiaoyu took the menu and looked at the words on it; she didn't recognize many of them.

But she recognized a few.

"Brother, this... char siu?"

Chen Feng nodded.

"One serving, please."

Xiaoyu continued watching.

"This...shrimp?"

"One serving, please."

"This...fish?"

"One serving, please."

Xiaoyu looked up at him.

"Brother, you ordered so much, can we finish it all?"

Chen Feng didn't say anything.

He looked at Xiaoyu, at her bright, sparkling eyes, at her little face that had finally regained some color.

"I can finish it," he said.

Xiaoyu smiled.

She continued ordering.

We ordered char siu, boiled shrimp, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, and a bowl of wonton noodles.

The owner finished writing down the menu, then left with a smile.

Xiaoyu lay on the table, watching the flow of people outside the window.

"elder brother,"

She said, "I will study hard from now on."

Chen Feng looked at her.

"Um."

"I want to get first place in my exams in the future."

"Um."

"I'm going to earn money in the future and buy you lots and lots of things."

Chen Feng didn't say anything.

He looked at Xiaoyu for a long time.

Then he reached out and gently pressed her head.

"No need," he said.

Xiaoyu looked up at him.

"What don't you need?"

Chen Feng withdrew his hand.

"Just live well."

Xiaoyu was stunned for a moment.

Then she laughed.

That smile shone especially brightly in the afternoon sunlight.

"Brother, you're so kind."

Chen Feng didn't say anything.

He looked out the window, at the flow of people on the street, at the strangers hurrying by.

His face remained expressionless.

But something inside him was slowly melting away.

That was something that was sealed away a long, long time ago.

He thought it would never happen again.

Now, it is slowly melting.

Because of this little girl.

Because of his sister.

Because he wanted her to live a good life.

The dishes are here.

The char siu was bright red, the shrimp were white and tender, the fish was steaming hot, the vegetables were emerald green, and the wonton noodles smelled delicious.

Xiaoyu picked up her chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

"tasty!"

With her mouth full, she mumbled, "Brother, it's so delicious!"

Chen Feng ate slowly, watching her.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on her face, on her body, and on the steaming dishes.

Everything was so warm.

So peaceful.

Then——

it is good.

After dinner, Chen Feng took Xiao Yu shopping.

Stationery store.

I bought a new schoolbag, a new pencil case, new pencils, a new eraser, a new ruler, and a new notebook.

Xiaoyu hugged those things, grinning from ear to ear.

clothing store.

I bought new clothes, new pants, and new shoes.

Xiaoyu changed into her new clothes and turned around in front of the mirror, looking at herself again and again.

"Brother, is it good?"

Chen Feng nodded.

"nice."

Xiaoyu smiled so hard her eyes curved into crescent moons.

As I left the store, the sun was already beginning to set.

Evenings in Sham Shui Po are more lively than during the day.

The streets were packed with people leaving get off work, children getting out of school, and vendors packing up their stalls.

Xiaoyu walked beside Chen Feng, carrying his new schoolbag in one hand and tugging at his clothes with the other.

"elder brother,"

She said, "I'm so happy today."

Chen Feng didn't say anything.

"I've never been this happy."

She continued, "I'm even happier than during the Lunar New Year."

Chen Feng remained silent.

But he gently squeezed her hand.

Xiaoyu sensed it.

She looked up at him.

His face remained expressionless.

But she knew.

My brother was happy too.

He just wouldn't say it.

She smiled.

I laughed more happily than ever before.

The setting sun cast long shadows on them.

The two, one big and one small, walked hand in hand on the old streets of Sham Shui Po.

They disappeared into the crowd.

-

Back to the third and a half floor of No. 132 Fu Rong Street.

Chen Feng pushed open the door and let Xiao Yu in.

The house was still so small, so old, so dilapidated.

But today, it looks especially warm.

Xiaoyu put her new schoolbag on the table, folded her new clothes, and arranged her new notebooks neatly.

She was extremely busy.

Chen Feng stood by the window, looking out.

As dusk fell, the neon lights of Yau Ma Tei began to flicker in the distance.

He reached into his pocket and touched the envelope containing 150,000.

There's still a lot left.

Enough for Xiaoyu to finish elementary school, middle school, and even university.

She has enough time to grow up properly.

He turned his gaze away and looked at the busy little figure inside the room.

"Xiaoyu," he said.

Xiaoyu turned around.

"Brother, what's wrong?"

Chen Feng looked at her.

"Starting next week,"

He said, "Study hard."

Xiaoyu nodded vigorously.

"Um!"

Chen Feng didn't say anything more.

He turned around and looked out the window at the increasingly deep night.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

It was a curve that was very difficult to detect.

Like a smile.

It doesn't seem like it.

But Xiaoyu saw it.

She smiled.

He was laughing very happily.