This outburst of tears disrupted everything, leaving Feng Xiaoxiao’s carefully prepared toast undelivered. However, it brought the classmates closer together. These boys and girls, raised by their parents to be competitive and guarded like young beasts, suddenly realized that relationships between people could involve compassion and care—not just rivalry and oppression.

During lunch, Teacher Ari ate with the 46 students of Class 5 in the 8th grade. She tried a bite of everyone’s food, to the point where she was so full it felt like she might burst. In her opinion, the meal delivered by the gatekeeper to Yi Nuannuan was undeniably the most delicious. Of course, she didn’t say this aloud—teachers must treat everyone equally. Every student’s lunch represented their parents’ love and was therefore a gourmet meal in its own way.

Yi Nuannuan quietly hid her aluminum lunchbox, an action that didn’t escape Ari’s notice.

After lunch, everyone lined up to wash their lunchboxes. When Yi Nuannuan cleaned hers, she found a small pale yellow sticky note under the third layer. Written on it was a simple message: Please leave the lunchbox in the gatekeeper’s room.

After lunch came the midday break. Brimming with energy, the students didn’t need to nap and instead gathered in threes and fours to chat and play. Ari, however, stayed by Yi Nuannuan’s side, asking her about her family.

Yi Nuannuan wore a hearing aid, and Ari had noticed her hearing difficulties early on, which made her all the more attentive to this girl.

No other teacher had ever inquired about Yi Nuannuan’s family background. Slowly, she began to share her story. She explained that her father worked as a business representative for a multinational company and traveled frequently. Four years ago, he was caught in a fatal accident in Africa, and not even his remains were brought back. Her mother, a professor at Jiangdong University of Technology, passed away six months ago in a car accident. Now, she lived with her grandfather and grandmother.

Yi Nuannuan took out a photo to show Ari. It depicted a happy family of three—her father was handsome and charismatic, her mother beautiful and sophisticated. Four years ago, Yi Nuannuan had looked like a proud little princess; now, she had become a self-conscious ugly duckling.

"A child without parents is like grass," Ari sighed, her heart aching with sorrow.

Yi Nuannuan then showed Ari the sticky note and said this wasn’t the first time, but she still had no idea who was sending her these meals.

Ari replied, "That’s easy to figure out. We can just ask the gatekeeper later."

At that moment, Feng Xiaoxiao approached with a group of classmates. They wanted to consult Ari about preparations for studying abroad, and Ari was happy to answer their questions. However, she remained seated and frequently steered the conversation toward Yi Nuannuan, encouraging her to participate and interact with her classmates.

Ari had realized that Yi Nuannuan’s self-consciousness and isolation could ruin her if left unchecked. She was determined to help Nuannuan build her self-confidence.

There was no English class that afternoon. After lunch, Ari helped Nuannuan return her cleaned lunchbox to the gatekeeper’s room and took the opportunity to ask him who had been sending the meals.

The gatekeeper feigned ignorance, pretending not to know anything and stubbornly playing dumb.

Ari didn’t press further; her instincts told her that this was a warm secret that didn’t need to be uncovered right away.

Ari’s phone buzzed—it was her father calling to check in. Ou Jinhua and his delegation had finished their inspection of the shipyard and were preparing to return.

Ari told him, "I plan to stay here for a few months. I’ve already arranged everything with the school."

Ou Jinhua replied, "I was thinking of using my connections to help you, but it seems I don’t need to. Still, I’m not comfortable leaving you here alone. Let’s discuss this again when you return."

At the VIP lounge, Qin Dechang, Yin Yongchen, Gao Ming, Ma Xiaowei, and others were gathered, waiting to see Ou Jinhua off. Suddenly, Ou’s assistant arrived with news of an unexpected delay.

The assistant announced that the departure time had been postponed by several hours due to a private matter. Since it was a private jet, there were no strict schedules to adhere to, but the senior leadership team, already assembled, wasn’t about to just sit around waiting.

Gao Ming asked, "Is this because Chairman Ou isn’t feeling well?"

The assistant, of course, didn’t reveal anything specific. He simply apologized and explained, "Chairman Ou has a private matter to attend to. We may not leave until this evening, but please don’t let us delay your plans."

Gao Ming exchanged a look with Ma Xiaowei, who gave a subtle nod, his expression unreadable.

When school let out, hundreds of middle school students poured out of the gates. This weekend was New Year’s, and as usual, preparations for the celebratory party were already underway. Class 5 of the 8th grade, like other classes, had begun planning their event. Students left in groups—some on bicycles, some on electric scooters, and a few on foot. Yi Nuannuan was one of the walkers, always going home alone. But this time, she was accompanied by Ari.

In noisy crowds, Nuannuan struggled to hear clearly due to her impaired hearing. Smart as she was, she had taught herself how to read lips, allowing her to roughly guess what people were saying. Chatting with Ari, she walked aimlessly through the bustling streets, eventually entering the Shipyard Workers’ New Village.

Since Ari planned to stay here as a teacher, she needed a place to live. Though she could easily afford the VIP residence, or even buy it outright, she wanted something simpler. She preferred living like an ordinary person in a neighborhood full of life and character.

Nuannuan, still a child at heart, had learned from her grandparents how to live frugally. Her first thought was always to save money. She blurted out, "Why don’t you stay at my house? We won’t charge you rent."

"Sure!" Ari immediately agreed without hesitation.

The words had barely left her mouth when Ari covered her own lips, realizing what she’d just said. She had always had her own room growing up. Even during her school years, she struggled with dorm life and eventually bought a house near campus to live alone. Yet here she was in Jiangwei, agreeing without reservation to share a room with a local girl.

"That’s wonderful!" Nuannuan smiled brightly. It had been so long since she’d smiled like that. She didn’t even fully understand why she’d made the offer—it was instinct. Discriminated against, isolated, and in need of care, Nuannuan desperately sought comfort, support, and protection. Her aunt couldn’t provide it, nor could her grandparents. Her instincts told her Ari could.

On their way home, they passed a shoemaker’s stall run by a one-legged man. Behind him was a ramshackle shelter barely holding together. Yi Nuannuan picked up a pair of repaired shoes, then took her untouched lunchbox from her bag and gave the rice and food to the stall owner.

"This girl has a kind heart, just like her mother," the man said to Ari.

Without realizing it, they arrived at the entrance of Building 17. Ari didn’t want to impose, so she said goodbye to Nuannuan and left. On her way back to the school, she noticed the lunchbox still sitting on the windowsill of the gatekeeper’s room, untouched.

Back at the VIP villa, Ou Jinhua asked Ari about her day. Ari recounted everything in vivid detail, her emotions so strong that her eyes turned red at certain points.

Ou Jinhua realized that Ari had made up her mind about staying. He didn’t oppose her decision but couldn’t help worrying about her facing challenges and dangers on her own. After all, she had grown up surrounded by luxury and had never lived independently away from her parents.

"I’m already 23," Ari said playfully, feigning annoyance.

"Alright," her father relented, "but I’ll leave you an assistant, a bodyguard, and a car."

"No," Ari rejected him outright. "That would make me feel so uncomfortable."

Ou Jinhua didn’t argue. Some things could be done quietly without making a fuss. Pretending to back down, he made another suggestion: "At least let me leave you some money."

"I don’t need it either," Ari replied firmly. "I have my salary, and if that’s not enough, I have my savings—or I can get a part-time job."

"Alright," Ou Jinhua conceded again. "Then I’ll have my assistant book a hotel suite for you."

But Ari shook her head once more. "I want to rent my own place. Dad, you don’t need to worry. If I run into trouble, you’ll be the first person I call for help."

Ou Jinhua said, "One last request—have dinner with your dad tonight."

This time, Ari agreed.

A server holding a mop tried to approach the father and daughter chatting in the living room but was promptly stopped by the assistant.

When Yi Nuannuan returned home, her aunt had already gone back to Jianjiang, leaving the house empty once again. That evening, her grandmother made stir-fried shredded potatoes and a pot of winter melon soup with dried shrimp—a simple meal. After dinner, her grandmother went to join a square-dancing group, while her grandfather sat in the living room watching television. Nuannuan returned to her room, turned on her desk lamp, and opened her diary.

Inside the diary was a photo of three people. She stared at her parents' smiling faces for a while before turning to a new page and writing: Today, I was really happy. Since Mom passed away, this was the first time the world has treated me so kindly...

When her grandmother returned from square dancing and noticed that Nuannuan seemed to be in a good mood, Nuannuan hesitantly shared an idea. She explained that the school had a new teacher who was very nice, and she wanted to rent out their house for the teacher to stay.

"Why are you making such decisions on your own?" her grandmother scolded. "Our house is so old and small, with only two bedrooms. Where would she stay? On a bunk bed with you? Even if she agreed, what about when your aunt comes back?"

Nuannuan had no reply. She nervously pinched the hem of her shirt, realizing that she had been too naïve and hadn't thought things through.

Her grandfather put down his newspaper and said, "Your grandmother is right; the school administration will handle the teacher’s living arrangements. We common folk shouldn’t meddle in their affairs."

Nuannuan nodded, biting her lip. She had never grown up with her grandparents or any other close family. People often said that grandparents spoiled their grandchildren, but that didn’t apply to the Xiang family. To Nuannuan, her grandparents were polite and distant relatives, bound by blood but emotionally estranged.

Her grandfather, known for being henpecked even in his youth, always agreed with her grandmother’s opinions. However, he had his own way of expressing his thoughts, often circling back to voice them indirectly.

"That said, we should still treat the teacher kindly. I’ve heard that substitute teachers at the academy don’t receive permanent positions and have low salaries. Every teacher is someone’s prized child. If we can help, we should. I recall that the upstairs apartment, 302, is vacant. Isn’t that Old Wang's place? I’ll ask him later if he’s willing to rent it out."

Nuannuan’s face lit up with joy. After her grandmother turned on a shopping channel on the TV, her grandfather quietly handed Nuannuan a phone—a device usually forbidden for her to use. He held up one finger, signaling that she could use it for only one hour.

At the Hawaiian-themed seaside villa complex, Feng Xiaoxiao stood on his balcony, practicing the poetry recitation he would perform at the New Year’s party. Inside the living room, his mother, Feng Li, was gossiping on the phone with her friends about a variety of topics. As usual, his father, Ma Xiaowei, hadn’t returned home. As the deputy chief engineer, Ma was always busy, often coming home after 2 a.m. and leaving by 7 a.m. In fact, he had been staying at the company dormitory recently due to a major project. Feng Xiaoxiao hadn’t seen his father for three days.

Feng Xiaoxiao couldn’t really talk with his mother. While Feng Li doted on her son, she lacked any intellectual depth, and even her academic credentials were fabricated. She had no shared interests with her Tsinghua-educated husband. The truth was, the couple had been sleeping in separate rooms for years, and their precocious son was well aware of it.

Now, Feng Xiaoxiao was eager to tell his father about the new teacher at school. Unfortunately, it seemed unlikely that his father would come home tonight.

A stone’s throw from Feng Xiaoxiao’s house was a high-rise apartment building where Jane Shiyu and Mei Xin lived. They were currently chatting with Yin Weiran on QQ, reporting the day’s events in class.

Yin Weiran, who was on leave due to a fractured bone, was frustrated at having missed the chance to be in the spotlight. When she heard that Yi Nuannuan had been "acting smug" again, she became furious.

Over at Yumei Restaurant on Meigang Road, business was booming. In this small town, news spread quickly. Word of Qin Dechang eating "Da Hong Pao Chicken" had already circulated throughout the factory, attracting waves of curious diners. The busier the customers, the more the chef, nicknamed "Yellow-Skinned Tiger," played hard to get. That evening, he announced that only ten chickens would be served—no more, no less. The more exclusive the dish, the more people clamored for a taste.

Priced at 99 yuan, or just rounded up to 100, the "Da Hong Pao Chicken" was a must-order. But no one ordered just one dish. Add in side dishes and drinks, and each table easily spent two to three hundred yuan. With business booming, the day’s revenue surpassed 3,000 yuan. After deducting rent and costs, the owners, Wu Yumei and Xiao Hong, still pocketed over 1,000 yuan, leaving Wu Yumei beaming with satisfaction.

However, with the "Da Hong Pao Chicken" sold out, they couldn’t just close shop. Yellow-Skinned Tiger had come up with another dish: a cold platter of assorted snacks, perfect as drinking companions. Knowing that many of Yumei Restaurant’s customers came for drinks, he sourced pre-cooked meat items like braised beef, pork intestines, pig ears, roast chicken, duck heads, and sausages. These were paired with fresh vegetables like lettuce, cilantro, garlic cloves, scallions, white onions, cucumbers, chili peppers, fried peanuts, and tofu skins. Served with two different dipping sauces, it was ideal for drinking.

The dish was simple to prepare, allowing Wu Yumei and Xiao Hong to handle it themselves. It was just as profitable as "Da Hong Pao Chicken." With less to do in the kitchen, Yellow-Skinned Tiger took a platter of snacks and a bottle of baijiu to the academy to collect a lunchbox and thank the gatekeeper. Giving money would be inappropriate; sharing a drink with the old man was the best way to show gratitude.

On a cold winter night, the campus was eerily quiet under a starry sky. In the gatekeeper’s room, the stove glowed red-hot. The gatekeeper set out the food and poured some baijiu, lighting a cigarette as the two men shared a drink and conversation. The atmosphere was tranquil and rustic.

The gatekeeper made no inquiries about Yi Leng’s identity or his relationship with Yi Nuannuan’s family. Instead, he gestured toward the empty school grounds and said, "This school has lingering spirits under the teaching building."

Yi Leng was startled. Could something criminal have happened here?

The gatekeeper explained, "During the War of Resistance, this place was an execution site. Countless innocent civilians were killed here. Once, 36 anti-Japanese patriots were executed at gunpoint in this very spot."

"Then these spirits must be both unjust and heroic," Yi Leng said. "Gatekeeper, let’s toast to the heroic spirits."

The two men poured their drinks onto the ground, paying their respects to the fallen.

The gatekeeper looked at Yi Leng and said, "Young man, you carry a story on your shoulders."

Yi Leng chuckled. "Do you read faces, Gatekeeper?"

The gatekeeper replied, "Everyone carries a story—some long, some short, some colorful, some plain. But one thing’s the same: every person is the protagonist of their own story."

[--------------------------------------------]

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