Zhuang Nuo parted her lips slightly, but said nothing.
“I can come over, but then I can’t eat in your room tomorrow. It would make me look rude.”
Meng Lan was about to say something, but Zhuang Yi gently caught her by the wrist and shook his head at his wife.
Zhuang Nuo stared at him for a long moment before giving a slight nod.
Early the next morning, someone knocked on the door of the Zhuang family’s home.
Meng Lan went to answer it.
“Good morning, Auntie. Have you eaten?”
Su Li was holding a large cardboard box in front of him, grinning broadly.
“I have. What about you?” Meng Lan said as she reached out to help take the box.
Su Li shifted to the side and avoided her hand. “It’s a little heavy. I can carry it.”
Zhuang Yi came out of the kitchen. “Li Li is here? Have you eaten breakfast?”
“I have, Uncle.” Su Li set down the cardboard box. “You two go about your business. I’ll keep Nuonuo company today.”
Zhuang Yi had not felt that familiar, easygoing friendliness from Su Li in a long time. He was almost flattered by it.
It was summer vacation. Although Zhuang Yi attended night school, he also worked day shifts.
Meng Lan was a head nurse who worked rotating shifts.
The couple had already arranged their schedules with all their coworkers, making sure that one of them would always be home to look after their daughter, whether during the day or at night.
Today happened to be Zhuang Yi’s turn to stay home with her during the day.
“I won’t get in your way. I’ll just stay home and cook for you,” he said.
Meng Lan cut in, “Your uncle will make lunch for you and then head out. You and Nuonuo can have fun at home.”
Zhuang Yi paused. “That works too.”
Su Li didn’t mind either way. He picked up the cardboard box. “Uncle, Auntie, I’m going to see Nuonuo.”
“Go on, go on.”
Meng Lan nodded with a smile, her eyes full of anticipation.
Su Li walked to the door of Zhuang Nuo’s room. Since both his hands were occupied, he couldn’t knock, so he called out directly, “Zhuang Nuo, I’m here. Are you dressed? I’m coming in.”
In the living room, the corner of Zhuang Yi’s mouth twitched. He felt a headache coming on.
That boy… If only he could learn to watch what he said, he’d be perfect.
Holding the box, Su Li twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open with his shoulder.
Zhuang Nuo wasn’t lying on the bed today. She was sitting at her desk.
When she saw Su Li carrying such a large box into the room, her gaze shifted slightly.
“Look what I brought you.”
Su Li opened the box and poured out a large pile of parts, along with a blueprint.
“An F-14 fighter jet model from Country A!”
Zhuang Nuo knew nothing about such things. She looked curiously at the heap of parts.
Su Li was already getting excited on his own. “This is a rare edition. You can’t even buy it outside. My sister had someone bring it back from overseas.”
Zhuang Nuo silently nodded.
Su Li sat down on the floor and spread out the blueprint. He didn’t deliberately try to come up with conversation to coax her into speaking. He simply began assembling the model.
Sitting in her chair, Zhuang Nuo looked down at his focused face.
She had barely slept the night before. She had tossed and turned, both looking forward to Su Li’s visit and afraid that he would really come.
Zhuang Nuo knew there was something wrong with herself.
Ever since she had taken a leave of absence from school, her parents, grandparents, and maternal grandparents had all taken turns looking after her.
They treated her like a delicate porcelain doll. Even when they spoke to her, they were careful and tentative.
But she simply couldn’t summon any energy. The kinder they were to her, the heavier the burden in her heart became. She always felt that she had let her family down, that she had dragged them into her troubles.
But Su Li…
Su Li seemed not to treat her like a patient at all. That feeling eased the oppressive knot in Zhuang Nuo’s chest.
“Zhuang Nuo, do you have a screwdriver at home? The smallest Phillips-head one. Go find one for me.”
Su Li’s tone was completely matter-of-fact. He didn’t even bother to say please.
Zhuang Nuo gave a soft “Oh,” then stood up and walked out.
Zhuang Yi was chopping vegetables in the kitchen. When he heard footsteps, he turned around and saw his daughter standing at the doorway. His eyes immediately lit up.
“What is it, Nuonuo?” he asked gently.
Zhuang Nuo looked a little awkward. In a small voice, she said, “Dad, a screwdriver…”
“You need a screwdriver, right? We have one. I’ll find it for you.”
He put down the knife, wiped his hands on his apron, and rummaged through the cabinets until he found the toolbox. He took out a screwdriver and handed it to Zhuang Nuo.
She accepted it, then said thank you before turning back to the room.
Su Li took the screwdriver and continued assembling the model.
Zhuang Nuo crouched down beside him, staring blankly at what he was doing.
Su Li glanced sideways at her and smiled. “Aren’t your legs tired from crouching? Sit on the floor like me.”
Zhuang Nuo did as he said.
She was so obedient that even Su Li felt a little bad about teasing her.
Su Li played with the model while Zhuang Nuo watched him. The two of them spent the entire morning in quiet companionship.
At last, the model was finished. Su Li stood up and stretched, while Zhuang Nuo gently ran her fingers over the completed aircraft, afraid to press too hard.
Su Li held out one hand to her. “This plane is yours from now on. You can look at it for as long as you want. Come on, get up. I’ll take you out to eat.”
Zhuang Nuo stared at his hand for several seconds before slowly placing her own hand in it.
Su Li closed his fingers around hers and pulled her steadily to her feet.
He placed the model on her bookshelf, then took a few steps back to inspect it. “There. It looks just right here.”
He naturally took Zhuang Nuo’s hand and led her out of the room.
Zhuang Nuo lowered her head and looked at their intertwined hands, blinking slowly.
The living room was quiet. Zhuang Yi had already gone out.
Under the cover on the dining table sat a plate of stir-fried pork with green peppers and a bowl of tomato-and-egg soup, both still steaming.
Su Li had no intention of eating at the Zhuang home. “Do you have any lunch boxes? I need two.”
Zhuang Nuo didn’t ask why. She went to the kitchen and found two aluminum lunch boxes for him.
Su Li packed the food into them and snapped on the lids.
He found a bag and put the lunch boxes inside. Then, with his other hand free, he took Zhuang Nuo’s hand again.
“Come on. I’m taking you somewhere delicious today.”
Zhuang Nuo was pulled out of the house in a daze, without even having time to feel anxious or conflicted.
They rode the bicycle through two streets, turned onto a tree-lined road planted with plane trees, and finally stopped at Aviation Institute No. 6.
There was still a guard post manned by armed police at the entrance to the research institute.
Su Li parked the bicycle and led Zhuang Nuo over to the security booth.
“Xiao Su, you’re here again to bring Engineer Lin lunch?” the guard called out with a smile. He already remembered him.
“That’s right,” Su Li replied with a grin. “Could you please let my sister know I’m here and ask her to come out for the food?”
“Sure thing. Wait here.”
This was a classified facility, and entering required registering a great deal of information. It was troublesome, so they usually had Linlin come out to collect the food.
A short while later, Linlin walked out.
“Hello, Nuonuo.”
Linlin was even more beautiful than before. There was also an air of intellectual elegance about her now, making her especially captivating.
Zhuang Nuo grew nervous and hid behind Su Li.
Su Li handed the lunch boxes to Linlin and said casually, “Sis, don’t scare her. She’s more timid than an ant.”
Linlin rolled her eyes at him and took a hundred-yuan note from her pocket.
“I’m busy. Take Nuonuo out to play, and be sure to keep her safe.”
“Got it.”
Linlin waved at Zhuang Nuo before returning to her office.
Su Li waved the hundred-yuan note in front of Zhuang Nuo. “Pretty impressive, huh? One meal gets me a hundred yuan.”
