A traffic light appeared ahead. Just as the car approached the crosswalk, the light turned red.
Lu Jingyuan stopped the car smoothly and glanced sideways at Lu Xiaobai.
"Do I need a reason to show a little kindness once in a while?"
Lu Xiaobai didn't respond.
Maybe other people didn't need a reason… but for him, this so-called "once in a while" was honestly terrifying.
Her uncle wasn't someone who showed concern easily. Unless it was family or very close friends, he wouldn't even blink if something happened right in front of him.
And yet now, he was helping Ruan Xingchen—a girl who wasn't even related to him and had previously had conflicts with him.
This was way too abnormal.
She was about to say more when her phone suddenly rang.
She took it out and glanced at the screen.
It was Ruan Xingchen.
Lu Xiaobai instinctively glanced at Lu Jingyuan before answering.
"Ruan Luoli?"
The traffic light turned green. Lu Jingyuan paused ever so slightly before starting the car.
Whatever Ruan Xingchen said on the other end made Lu Xiaobai frown.
"Relatives? Besides me, where did you even get relatives from?"
They had known each other since elementary school. Back then, Ruan Xingchen's mother was still alive—a gentle woman who cooked amazing meals. Xiaobai used to go over often after school, but she had never heard of any relatives.
The more she thought about it, the stranger it felt.
"Wait there, I'll come over right now."
After hanging up, she suddenly remembered Lu Jingyuan was right beside her.
Her eyes rolled slightly, and she leaned closer with a flattering smile.
"Uncle, can we go—"
"No."
His tone was calm but firm.
"You have school tomorrow. You're going back to the dorm tonight."
Lu Xiaobai raised her voice in protest.
"Uncle, what about your kindness?!"
"It's not always available. Be good."
"..."
Defeated, Lu Xiaobai slumped back.
After a while, seeing that he wasn't going to change his mind, she picked up her phone again and sent Ruan Xingchen a message.
Ten minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of Lu Xiaobai's high school.
Lu Jingyuan watched her enter before turning the car around and heading toward Wutong Apartments.
Meanwhile, Ruan Xingchen was squatting in her living room, staring at the box of eggs in a daze.
It had been years since she had seen eggs like these.
Back when her mother was alive, she used to have them regularly for breakfast.
Even now, she could still remember that faint, rustic smell.
She opened the box. Sure enough, the familiar scent greeted her.
The eggs were small, and some still had traces of dirt on them—clearly genuine farm eggs.
Thinking Xiaobai would come over later, she picked four cleaner-looking ones and went to the kitchen to boil them.
Just as she turned on the stove, her phone in the living room buzzed.
She wiped her hands and went back to check.
It was a message from Lu Xiaobai.
Her uncle wouldn't let her come. She had to go back to school.
Ruan Xingchen felt a little disappointed.
She had boiled four eggs… how was she supposed to finish them alone?
After sighing twice, she returned to the kitchen, boiled some water, and prepared a cup of milk.
If she was going to be stuffed anyway, she might as well go all in.
Carrying the milk and eggs back to the living room, the doorbell suddenly rang.
It was almost ten at night—who could it be?
She set the tray down and walked to the door, peeking through the peephole.
…The "uncle"?
Why was he here?
She opened the door and looked up at him.
"Sir, is something wrong?"
Lu Jingyuan's deep gaze rested on her delicate face. Under her puzzled look, he spoke calmly,
"Xiaobai was worried. She asked me to come check on you."
"Oh."
Ruan Xingchen nodded in understanding, then suddenly thought of something.
"Wait here for a moment."
She ran back inside.
Lu Jingyuan watched her disappearing figure, his brows knitting slightly.
Ruan Xingchen rummaged around in her room before finding a small basket.
She returned to the living room, picked up two of the boiled eggs, and placed them inside the basket before heading back to the door.
Smiling brightly, she held it out to him.
"Sir, these are freshly boiled eggs. I made four, but I can't finish them all. You can have two."
Lu Jingyuan lowered his gaze to the basket, then to her fair hand holding it.
His eyes darkened slightly.
Seeing he didn't respond, she called softly,
"Sir?"
Lu Jingyuan looked back at her face… and suddenly stepped forward.