In the dilapidated room, from one of the rooms, came the sound of a boy coughing, a boy as thin as a rake lay on the bed, his face full of sickness, looking very pitiful.
"Sister..."
The boy called out in a slightly hoarse voice.
In the adjacent room, the door was closed, Chu Xiaoxiaoâs eyes were red, she was sitting on the bed wiping tears, hearing her brother Chu Xiaomingâs call, she wiped away her tears and walked out of the room.
Coming to Chu Xiaomingâs bedside, Chu Xiaoxiao said, "Whatâs wrong?"
Chu Xiaoming said, "Sister, I heard you crying, Iâm sorry, Iâm the one who dragged you down, I know you donât want to get married. How about I talk to mom and dad about not making you get married, and letting you continue your studies?"
Chu Xiaoxiao tried hard not to cry, saying, "Fool, if I donât marry, what will you do? Our family is poor, this is the only way to get money to save you."
Chu Xiaoming said, "But, sister, youâre not happy, I donât want you to be unhappy because of me."
Chu Xiaoxiao forced a smile and said, "Iâm okay."
Chu Xiaoming said, "Sister, itâs almost noon, mom and dad still havenât come back, Iâm a bit hungry."
Chu Xiaoxiao hurriedly said, "What do you want to eat, Iâll make it for you."
Chu Xiaoming said, "I want to eat a sandwich, do you remember, the last time you took me to that newly opened bakery on the street next door, their sandwiches were really delicious. I begged mom for a long time, but she wouldnât buy it for me. Now that theyâre not here, sister, will you buy me some?"
Chu Xiaoxiao nodded: "Alright, Iâll go and buy it for you."
Chu Xiaoxiao then left home, went downstairs, and found her new bicycle parked downstairs.
Seeing this new bicycle, she thought of school and Lin Fan, and Chu Xiaoxiaoâs eyes reddened again, nearly breaking down emotionally.
She couldnât accept the reality that to fund her brotherâs treatment, her parents wanted her to drop out and get married; she didnât want to drop out, she didnât want to marry.
Thinking about not being able to go to school anymore, not being able to see her admired Teacher Lin anymore, she felt miserable.
"Teacher Lin..." Chu Xiaoxiao murmured, as scenes from yesterday with Lin Fan floated through her mind, tears couldnât help but flow down.
After Chu Xiaoxiao left.
Chu Xiaoming struggled to climb out of bed, got out of bed with faltering steps, walked out of the room, and then opened the door and went out.
Outside the door, beside him was the staircase, Chu Xiaoming walked to the stairway, looked up, gritted his teeth, and walked over...
On the road, a Kosak sped towards the old town.
Lin Fan was driving, Liu Mengjie sat in the passenger seat.
Chu Xiaoxiaoâs parents went to school today to help her drop out, the reason unknown, Lin Fan tried to contact Chu Xiaoxiao but couldnât, so decided to visit her home.
As the principal, Liu Mengjie also tagged along.
Through conversation, she learned that Lin Fan and Chu Xiaoxiao knew each other, and no wonder Lin Fan would intervene in this matter.
"Little Fan, when you saw Chu Xiaoxiao yesterday, did you notice anything unusual?" Liu Mengjie asked.
Lin Fan thought for a moment, then affirmed, "No, I even went with her to buy a bicycle, we agreed to meet at school before parting. If she didnât want to go to school, why would she buy a bicycle?"
Liu Mengjie frowned, "It seems she did not voluntarily drop out."
Lin Fan sneered, "Seeing her parents, the problem must be with them. We strive to meet Xiaoxiao before they return home."
Liu Mengjie nodded and pointed ahead, "Passing this intersection, itâs not far ahead."
Before long, Lin Fanâs car had entered the old town.
Suddenly, Lin Fan received a phone call.
Lin Fan was parking when he casually answered it.
"Mr. Lin, do you remember me, Chu Yufei," the caller said.
The caller was Chu Yufei, whom he met at the charity gala the day before yesterday.
Lin Fan said, "I remember, Miss Chu."
Chu Yufei laughed, "Originally, I wanted to meet you yesterday, but something came up. Do you have time now, Mr. Lin? I want to meet you to discuss the charity foundation cooperation."
Lin Fan said, "Sorry, I have something to deal with now, letâs reschedule."
Chu Yufei thought Lin Fan was trying to turn her down, "Mr. Lin, I really sincerely want to join your foundation. How about I come to where you are now, I wonât take up much of your time?"
Lin Fan felt a bit helpless, saying, "Alright, Iâm in Hongyun District, South Street Old Town. Find a place nearby to wait for me, Iâll come find you after Iâm done."
Chu Yufei was surprised, "Oh."
Lin Fan asked, "Whatâs wrong?"
Chu Yufei said, "Nothing, okay, Iâll come over now."
The call ended shortly thereafter.
Lin Fan and Liu Mengjie got out of the car and walked into Hongyun District.
This neighborhood was already very old, the surrounding buildings seemed to be at the age of demolition, coupled with dense surrounding houses, the car could only be parked on the road outside.
Chu Xiaoxiaoâs home was right in here.
Suddenly, some people were gathered below a six-story building ahead, making a noise, all looking up at the rooftop.
On the rooftop, there unexpectedly stood a boy, standing on the edge, intending to jump off.
This boy was as thin as a rake, his face full of sickness, clearly a sick person, yet for unknown reasons, such a small child actually wanted to end his life?
"Child, itâs too dangerous up there, what are you doing, hurry and go back!"
"Whatâs wrong with him?"
"Isnât this the Chu familyâs child, why is he so troubled?"
People were in a chaos, some were urging the child, others were asking questions.
Lin Fan heard someone mention the Chu family and was surprised, pulling that person to ask, "Uncle, do you mean the Chu Family as in Chu Yuanhang?"
When he came, he had learned from Liu Mengjie that Chu Xiaoxiaoâs fatherâs name was Chu Yuanhang, and her motherâs name was He Meifang, also that Chu Xiaoxiao had a younger brother named Chu Xiaoming.
The person said, "Yes, exactly, Chu Yuanhangâs son!"
Lin Fan frowned; Chu Xiaoxiao wants to drop out, Chu Xiaoming wants to jump off. What happened?
"Uncle, do you know whatâs going on with the Chu family?" Lin Fan asked.
The person shook his head, "I donât know this, but I know the child has been sick for quite some time, staying home to recuperate, probably couldnât take the pain and temporarily lost reason!"
At this moment, outside the district, a Toyota drove towards the area.
The driver was a man in his thirties with slicked-back hair, triangular eyes, and a slightly crooked mouth, truly not handsome, but rather sturdy.
In the back seat sat a pair of poorly dressed uncle and aunt, who were Chu Xiaoxiaoâs parents, Chu Yuanhang and He Meifang.
At this moment, both had smiles on their faces, a satisfied kind of smile.
This driver was the man they found as a marriage match for Chu Xiaoxiao, named Li Jianlong, a fitness trainer with a relatively decent family background.
This Li Jianlong wasnât young anymore, but hadnât found a wife, and got introduced to Chu Yuanhangâs family. After seeing Chu Xiaoxiaoâs photo, he was very pleased with her and expressed his desire to marry her, also agreeing to pay a bride price of 300,000.
Chu Yuanhangâs family immediately agreed to this marriage, and urgently went to school today to help Chu Xiaoxiao drop out.