Lin Xi felt as if she had been injected with adrenaline, cycling two stops without a hint of fatigue as she turned into Huangjiabao. Passing by a fruit stall, she bought some fruits and nutritional supplements.
This was a relatively bustling village, its low-rise buildings standing in stark contrast to the surrounding high-rises. Xingfu Community, in particular, was a cluster of single-story homes. In the 1950s and 60s, this area belonged to Beijing’s Third Chemical Fertilizer Plant. After the factory dissolved, the houses were allocated to employees who had gone unpaid. Since it was a residential compound, the homes were uniformly built—straight rows and columns, with identical alleyways spaced evenly between them.
Lin Xi parked her bike where the navigation ended, propping one leg on the ground as she checked the house numbers. The sun was bright today, lending a touch of warmth to the air. A group of elderly residents sat chatting by their doorsteps, and one woman in a red floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket was the first to call out to her.
“Young lady, are you here to rent a place?”
Lin Xi turned to them. “No, no, Auntie. I’m here to visit a friend. She lives at No. 13, Tenth Row, Xingfu Third Street.”
The old woman studied her for a moment. “You’re Taotao’s friend? Go down this alley to the very end—that’s their house.”
“Thank you, Auntie.” Lin Xi expressed her gratitude and followed the indicated path into the Tenth Row of Xingfu Third Street. Her shared bike had already ended its rental period, so she left it parked near where she had spoken to the elderly woman.
She raised her phone and began recording. The camera swept past the blue house numbers, capturing each one from No. 1 to No. 13. The door before her was a rust-streaked maroon iron gate. She lifted her hand and knocked.
Before the sound of her knock had even faded, a frail voice called from inside, “Coming, coming!”
The door swung open before the words finished, revealing a silver-haired old woman. Her face bore traces of sorrow, and she froze momentarily upon seeing Lin Xi.
“Who are you looking for, dear?” She was Liu Jinxia, Xu Huanhuan’s mother, eyeing Lin Xi with confusion—she had never seen this young woman before.
“Hello, Auntie. I’m Xu Huanhuan’s friend. I’ve been living out of town but came to the capital recently and wanted to visit her.” This was the story Lin Xi and Xu Huanhuan had agreed upon.
Liu Jinxia stood motionless for a long moment before stepping aside to let Lin Xi in, her demeanor warming. “Thank you for remembering our Huanhuan. Come in and sit for a while.”
“I’ve wanted to visit her for a long time, but work kept me busy. Only now did I finally get the chance.” Lin Xi handed over the fruits, which Liu Jinxia accepted, gripping her hand tightly with the other.
“You’re so thoughtful.” Liu Jinxia led her through the entryway into the courtyard. “Old man, we have a guest.”
Xu Huanhuan’s home spanned 160 square meters, laid out in a classic northern Chinese courtyard style with a main house, an east wing, and a reverse-facing room. Opposite the east wing was the neighboring compound’s wall, where a stone table held a pot of vibrant azaleas in full bloom.
Liu Jinxia noticed her gaze. “Huanhuan planted those flowers when she was still here. After she passed, I brought them back and have been tending to them ever since.”
As she spoke, an elderly man emerged from the main house. “Who’s here?”
Lin Xi looked over—he was in his sixties, appearing much older than Liu Jinxia.
“Huanhuan’s friend. She’s in the capital and came to pay her respects,” Liu Jinxia replied.
The old man, Xu Dafu, fell silent, his expression complex.
How could it not be? In his lifetime, he had only two children, and Xu Huanhuan had been his favorite. The agony of outliving one’s child still haunted him, stealing sleep even now.
“Go on, go see her.” Xu Dafu’s voice was rougher now, tinged with a sob as he turned abruptly and retreated inside.
Liu Jinxia took a key from the door and led Lin Xi to the reverse-facing room on the west side. As she unlocked it, she explained, “The old man still can’t accept that Huanhuan is gone. Just thinking about her brings him to tears.”
“I understand.” Lin Xi empathized deeply. When her own grandfather passed, she had often struggled to move on, sometimes feeling as if he were still there.
Liu Jinxia sighed and pushed the door open, revealing the entirety of the west room.
A small altar table held a black-and-white photograph of Xu Huanhuan, her smile radiant. The incense burner before it was filled with spent sticks, and offerings of pastries and seasonal fruit sat on either side.
The fruit looked fresh, clearly replaced often. Below the altar was a basin half-filled with ashes. Beyond these, the room stood empty.
Liu Jinxia approached the altar, opened a drawer beneath it, and retrieved several incense sticks. She lit them with practiced ease.
“Our Huanhuan had a wonderful personality and many friends. In the first couple of years, people visited often. Now, not so much.” She placed the incense in the burner, then handed a few lit sticks to Lin Xi.
“It’s good. The departed are gone, but life must go on for the living.” Liu Jinxia spoke these words, yet like Xu Dafu, she remained trapped in grief. They clung to the thought that if they forgot Huanhuan, who would remember her then?
Somewhere, Liu Jinxia had read that the dead do not truly die as long as someone holds them in memory. She missed her daughter too much to let go, stubbornly deceiving herself. Her eyes grew moist as she glanced at the photograph on the wall.
Lin Xi observed her emotions but found herself at a loss for words. Even her usual eloquence failed her now.
She stayed silent, and Liu Jinxia didn’t expect a response. Over the years, she had heard “my condolences” countless times, yet no words could ease her sorrow.
How could they? She had carried Xu Huanhuan for ten months, birthed her as a tiny bundle, and raised her from infancy to twenty-five—such a wonderful child, gone in an instant.
Lin Xi accepted the incense, raised it solemnly, bowed, and placed it in the burner. The scent of sandalwood spread through the room with the rising smoke.
“Come, let’s sit in the main room.” Liu Jinxia quickly composed herself.
This suited Lin Xi perfectly. She agreed, and the two walked to the main house together.
The living room greeted them first, furnished with an elegant set of rosewood furniture. The TV played an opera channel, the melodic strains of The Drunken Concubine filling the air. Xu Dafu wasn’t there—the east room’s closed door suggested he had retreated inside.
Lin Xi sat on the sofa while Liu Jinxia poured her a glass of warm water. After taking a sip, Lin Xi asked, “Auntie, how are you and Uncle’s health?”
Liu Jinxia sat across from her. “We’re doing well, no major illnesses. The old man just ate two bowls of hand-pulled noodles earlier.”
As she looked at Lin Xi, Xu Huanhuan’s face surfaced in her mind. If her daughter were still alive, she might have been just as youthful and vibrant.
Liu Jinxia seemed a bit absent - minded but quickly came back to her senses. "Xiao Lin, have you eaten? If not, I'll cook something for you."
As she said this, Liu Jinxia stood up.
"No need, Auntie. I've already eaten before coming," Lin Xi quickly stopped her.
Liu Jinxia didn't listen. "Have a little more. You've come from so far away. It's not right if you don't have a meal here. Just have a little?"
Perhaps there was an indescribable pleading look in Liu Jinxia's eyes. Lin Xi was in a daze for a moment and then agreed. Liu Jinxia went to the kitchen, and Lin Xi followed her.
The dough Liu Jinxia had kneaded for hand - made noodles at noon was still unused. She took it out of the fridge, removed the plastic wrap, sprinkled some flour on the cutting board, and started rolling the dough. "Xiao Lin, don't just stand there. Sit down first."
"Auntie tells you, my hand - made noodles are the best. Huanhuan loves them the most. Every time I make hand - made noodles, she eats until she's stuffed. She's said it many times, but she just can't change this habit."
In front of Lin Xi, Liu Jinxia couldn't help but talk more.
"They must be delicious," Lin Xi complimented.
Just then, there were footsteps. Lin Xi turned around and saw Xu Dafu. He didn't say a word but just went to the fridge, took out some chives, and sat at the dining table to pick them. He didn't talk much but was extremely meticulous.
Liu Jinxia's nose twitched, and she almost cried. In the past, when Huanhuan's friends came, the couple would do the same. She rolled the noodles, and he picked the chives. They didn't have any other intentions. They just wanted to spend more time with Huanhuan's friends and listen to them talk about Huanhuan, as if she were still here.
Lin Xi also understood their intentions, so she fabricated a story about her and Xu Huanhuan based on their past conversations. The story was quite ordinary. They were netizens who met in a group because of their common hobbies. After chatting more, they became friends and chatted from time to time.
Liu Jinxia and Xu Dafu listened very attentively and began to imagine according to Lin Xi's description.
The meal was soon ready. Liu Jinxia's hand - made noodles were really delicious. The minced meat sauce was seasoned with scallions, coriander, and chives. The combined taste amazed Lin Xi, and it also had a taste of home. In her hometown, chives were used as a seasoning.
With the chopped chili sauce she made herself, it was extremely delicious. Lin Xi wasn't really hungry, but she still ate a bowl.
During the meal, Lin Xi asked about Xu Huanhuan's elder brother, Xu Taotao.
Liu Jinxia said, "Huanhuan's elder brother is at work. He passed the civil service exam the year before last and is now a traffic police officer. He's very busy during the off - work hours. He won't be back until he gets off work at night."
Hearing this, Lin Xi fell silent. Xu Huanhuan had told her that she was hit by a car during the off - work hours. It was a pedestrian crossing. When the pedestrian light turned green and she was crossing the road, she was hit by a driver who started the car too suddenly.
Liu Jinxia continued, "Huanhuan's elder brother has a girlfriend. They've been together for a year. She works in the same unit as him. It's estimated that they'll get married next spring."
Lin Xi said, "When they get married, Auntie, give me a call or send me a WeChat message. I'll come again then."
Just then, Lin Xi had exchanged WeChat and phone numbers with Liu Jinxia.
"Alright, alright," Liu Jinxia was extremely happy.
After eating the hand - made noodles, Lin Xi was about to leave. Liu Jinxia and Xu Dafu were very reluctant to see her go. When seeing Lin Xi out of the kitchen door, Lin Xi looked back and said to Liu Jinxia, "Auntie, I think your noodles are really delicious. I see there's still some left. Can you pack a portion for me?"
Lin Xi blushed a little when she said this. It was really a bit cheeky to eat and take.
Liu Jinxia was also stunned for a moment but quickly reacted. She turned back to the kitchen, took out a lunch box from the cupboard, and started packing. "Of course it's okay. If you like them, come often. Your uncle and I don't have jobs and are always at home."
"Okay."
Lin Xi left with the packed food. The old couple saw her off all the way to the street outside. When Lin Xi rode away on her blue shared bike, she was still chatting with the neighbors. After knowing that Lin Xi was Xu Huanhuan's friend, the neighbors sighed with emotion.
Lin Xi rode her bike to a secluded place and stopped.
She thought that since the chat group could send her gold, maybe she could also send this packed hand - made noodles to Xu Huanhuan.
Without hesitation, she took out her phone, found the private chat with Xu Huanhuan, and sent the video she had recorded.
This video started when she entered Happy Third Street, Row Ten, and ended when she left Xu's house. Except for the beginning when it captured the faces of Liu Jinxia and Xu Dafu, for the rest of the time, her phone was in her bag.
So, for a long time, only the conversation process could be heard, and no images could be seen.
The video recording that lasted for an hour and a half completely drained the battery of her second - hand phone. Lin Xi wasn't panicked at all. She took out a power bank from her bag and charged the phone.
Then she clicked on the function button in the input box and unexpectedly saw an AirDrop function.
Lin Xi clicked on it, and immediately a function description box popped up.
[AirDrop: You can airdrop any inanimate object. After one airdrop, the cooldown time is 24 hours. Do you want to airdrop?]
Without thinking, Lin Xi clicked yes. Then the camera page appeared. Lin Xi pointed the camera at the lunch box in the basket of her blue shared bike.
With a swoosh, the basket was empty, the camera page disappeared, and it automatically returned to the chat box.
In the chat box, there also appeared a familiar system prompt: [Earth girl Lin Xi airdropped an item to Xu Huanhuan in the ancient world: hand - made noodles. The airdrop was successful.]
Lin Xi blinked and said, "This is really an airdrop across time and space!"
In the ancient world, Xu Huanhuan, who was taking a lunch break, had just lain down. The maids had just left, and she was about to close her eyes when there was a flash in the air. She saw the familiar light - green lunch box appear on the edge of her bed.
She suddenly sat up from the bed, her hands trembling as she reached out. Several times, she was about to touch the lunch box but quickly retracted her hands.
Finally, she closed her eyes and hugged the lunch box in her arms. Smelling the familiar smell coming through the lunch box, Xu Huanhuan cried uncontrollably.
She hugged it tightly. With this lunch box, she could persevere in this annoying world for many, many more years.
