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Chapter 12: Drifting Away with the Wind

Sheng Ying asked curiously, “Shubei-ge, do you know Sister Jian Li?”

Zhou Shubei was about to answer when Marshmallow, who had just been napping in the backyard, trotted over happily and leapt into Zhou Shubei’s arms.

“Now you know to come find me after eating your fill,” Zhou Shubei patted Marshmallow’s head twice, “Have I treated you badly? You’re always running off.”

“Meow!”

Marshmallow looked up and meowed in protest, placing a paw over his lips as if to silence him, tilting its head and shooting him an annoyed side glance.

Zhou Shubei grabbed its paw and turned Marshmallow’s head, “What, I can’t scold you now?”

“Meow!”

Clearly upset, Marshmallow’s ears perked up and its tail slapped against Zhou Shubei’s abdomen. It struggled free from his arms and jumped down, then walked away with a haughty strut toward Jian Li, standing upright and pawing at her pants.

“Your temper’s getting worse,” Zhou Shubei muttered.

Even so, his face showed no irritation.

“Can I hold it?” Jian Li asked.

Zhou Shubei said, “Yeah. Support its butt with your arm, otherwise it’ll feel insecure.”

Jian Li crouched and gently picked up Marshmallow, one hand supporting its bottom and the other around its back. The cat nuzzled its head against her chest like it had found a cozy harbor, flipped over, and promptly fell asleep.

Zhou Shubei chuckled at the little drama queen, “So friendly all of a sudden, huh? Don’t forget who feeds you every day.”

Upon hearing this, Marshmallow turned away, presenting the back of its head in protest.

Marshmallow was clearly well cared for—soft and fluffy, with a shiny coat and no odor. Like a plush toy, its paws stretched comfortably like a mangosteen flower in bloom.

Jian Li instantly liked the cat. She scratched its chin, and Marshmallow tilted its head up, encouraging her to keep going. It purred contentedly.

“It’s so well-behaved.”

Her phoenix eyes curved as she smiled, full of charm even with her black-rimmed glasses.

Zhou Shubei felt an odd itch in his throat and turned away to put on disposable shoe covers at the entrance. Watching her cradle the cat with such affection, he asked, “You like cats?”

“Yeah,” Jian Li said. “We had one at home when I was little.”

Back then, nearly every household kept dogs or cats—for guarding the house or catching mice. That cat was very close to Jian Li. Every day after school, it would wait at the corner with the family dog to greet her, meowing and leaping into her arms. The dog would wag its tail, wanting the same treatment, but she couldn’t carry it, so she’d crouch down, hug its head, and explain why she couldn’t.

But eventually… they were both gone.

Jian Li lowered her eyes. Marshmallow was already sound asleep.

Standing nearby, Sheng Ying glanced between Zhou Shubei and Jian Li as if understanding something, then asked, “Sister Jian Li, do you know how to build Lego?”

Jian Li shook her head. “I don’t.”

She didn’t even know what Lego was.

“It’s okay, Shubei-ge knows how.” Sheng Ying tugged at his sleeve, “Shubei-ge, teach Miss Jian Li!”

“Do it yourself,” Zhou Shubei pulled his sleeve away, “Miss Jian Li is here to tutor you, not build Lego. Don’t make extra trouble.”

Sheng Ying nodded obediently. “Oh. Sorry, Sister Jian Li.”

“No worries,” Jian Li squatted and explained, “I really don’t know how. Maybe you can teach me later, Xiaoxiao?”

Sheng Ying beamed, “Okay!”

The laughter startled Marshmallow awake, who glanced around irritably, then covered its face with its paws and resumed sleeping. Jian Li chuckled softly and looked up—only to meet Zhou Shubei’s gaze unexpectedly. His ink-dark eyes were like a deep, mesmerizing pool.

Flustered, Jian Li stood up just as break time ended and tried to return the cat.

But as she moved, Marshmallow clung tightly to her clothes. Zhou Shubei picked it up by the scruff and cradled it. “Your safe harbor is gone.”

“Meowwoo~”

Marshmallow meowed pitifully, its eyes full of sorrow as it looked at Jian Li. Zhou Shubei pinched its ear and coaxed in a soft tone, “Enough with the drama. I’ll give you a treat when we get home. Be good.”

Marshmallow instantly calmed down.

Jian Li suddenly felt a tinge of envy for the cat. Then she remembered what those girls had said at the basketball court—

“Can you imagine dating him? That would be so blissful.”

Jian Li couldn’t help but picture it—if he had a girlfriend, what would it be like? Even though it was just hypothetical, a wave of sourness welled up in her chest. She lowered her eyes, hiding her foolish thoughts.

“Ah Bei’s here,” Liu Xinlan entered, holding freshly cut flowers from the garden. “Perfect timing, help me trim these. I asked your Uncle Sheng for help and he nearly bald the whole plant.”

Zhou Shubei quickly straightened up and greeted her, “Aunt Lan.”

“Put Marshmallow down. It’s not like it can get lost in my house,” Liu Xinlan nudged him toward the coffee table, “You’re rarely home—help out a little. I made your favorite dishes for lunch. Eat before you go.”

Zhou Shubei clicked his tongue and chuckled, “Alright.”

During the next class, Jian Li noticed Sheng Ying glancing at her occasionally. She waved her pencil in front of the girl. “Got it?”

Sheng Ying: “Got it.”

“Then practice.” Jian Li tore a page from her notebook and wrote similar problems. “Try this?”

Sheng Ying tilted her head. “Is there a reward if I get it right?”

Jian Li thought for a moment. “What kind of reward? Tell me first, and I’ll see if I can manage.”

“I want to play an escape room, but no one will go with me,” Sheng Ying said.

“I’ve never done one,” Jian Li replied. That was the second new term she heard that day. “Is it like a haunted house?”

“Sort of. NPCs will suddenly chase you, so you have to run, and complete missions on your own. It’s a bit scary, so no one wants to go with me.”

“What about your parents?”

“It’s boring with them—they’re slow and not scared at all.” Sheng Ying looked at her. “Are you scared?”

Jian Li shook her head. “Not sure.”

She had never played before, so she couldn’t say.

“No worries, I want to go with you. We can invite Shubei-ge. If you get scared, let him protect you,” Sheng Ying clapped at her brilliant idea, “Deal?”

Jian Li felt her resolve weaken, but steadied at the last part. She didn’t answer right away. “One question’s not enough. If you score 90 on the next math test, then I can talk to your mom.”

“Huh?” Sheng Ying pouted.

“That’s the passing line—I know it won’t be hard for you.” Jian Li smiled, “Xiaoxiao is so smart.”

Jian Li clearly understood child psychology. Encouragement and praise were powerful motivators. As expected, Sheng Ying puffed with pride. “Of course! Then it’s a deal—pinky swear.”

She finished the question. Though she struggled briefly, a few hints helped her figure it out.

Jian Li marked the missing steps with a pen and casually asked, “Is Zhou Shubei close with your family?”

“Yeah, his mom was best friends with mine, but she passed away early. I met her once when I was really little,” Sheng Ying said. “He lived with his grandma before, and only moved back to Beicheng after she passed a few years ago.”

Jian Li’s hand paused slightly, her red pen leaving a small dot on the paper.

After class, Jian Li packed her things and got ready to leave. Zhou Shubei and Liu Xinlan were chatting in the living room and warmly invited her to stay for lunch.

Jian Li politely declined, “No thanks, I have something at school.”

Liu Xinlan didn’t insist. She had the driver take her back. Jian Li didn’t refuse again—this time, she expressed her thanks and went to change shoes at the entrance.

As she left, she glanced toward the sofa—Zhou Shubei lounged lazily, feeding Marshmallow treats from a green packet, gently stroking its back, his eyes soft and warm.

On the way back to school, Jian Li received a transfer notification from Liu Xinlan.

Note: One month’s tutoring fee.

Getting a month’s pay on the first day—she knew it was thanks to Tan Xueying’s recommendation. Still, she accepted it with gratitude. The money truly came at a critical time.

Watching the scenery pass by outside the window, Jian Li recalled what Sheng Ying had said. The wind slipped in through the not-fully-closed window, brushing her face.

She thought of the day before National Day break in her first year of high school.

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