C12 Half a Bit Sweet

"Little Hao, you... you can let go of me now!"

Pei Xiu's cheeks were flushed with a shy embarrassment.

Caught off guard, Lin Hao quickly settled her onto the sofa before releasing his grip. "Rest up for a bit, I... I'll whip up something for us to eat!" he said.

With that, Lin Hao turned and headed for the kitchen.

He was no stranger to Pei Xiu's home, familiar with its every nook and cranny. Yet, upon opening the refrigerator, he was met with an awkward surprise.

Indeed, the fridge was barren, echoing emptiness.

The situation was tricky, to say the least.

"Or... maybe we could go out for a bite?" Lin Hao suggested with a smile, turning back to face them.

Pei Xiu was about to respond when Ling, at her side, burst out with excitement, "Yay, awesome! Uncle Lin's taking Ling out to eat!"

Seeing her daughter's enthusiasm, Pei Xiu couldn't muster much objection and simply exchanged an awkward glance with Lin Hao.

"Okay, go get changed and meet me downstairs. I'll get Ling to the car first!" Lin Hao said cheerfully.

Pei Xiu nodded in agreement.

Assuming Lin Hao was retrieving his electric scooter, she was puzzled when she descended the stairs and found no sign of it.

"Mommy, over here!"

Out of nowhere, the window of a Mercedes-Benz rolled down, and there was Ling, leaning out and calling to Pei Xiu.

Pei Xiu was momentarily taken aback before realization dawned on her.

She climbed into the car, still in disbelief, and turned to Lin Hao at the wheel. "You, you bought a car?"

She was well aware of Lin Hao's financial struggles; just recently, his girlfriend had been fussing over his lack of funds. And now, he was behind the wheel of a Mercedes?

"I picked up some work and made a bit of money," he explained.

"By the way, do you... do you realize what's going on with you right now?" Lin Hao asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

At his words, Pei Xiu felt a shiver of anxiety. She glanced back at Ling, her excitement palpable.

Nodding, she voiced her deepest fear, "I... I'm just worried about what will happen to Ling if I'm not here. What if I'm gone?"

"Don't worry, everything will be alright!" Lin Hao reassured with a smile. "Tomorrow, I'll find a hospital for you to stay in temporarily to focus on getting better. And don't fret about Ling—I've got her covered!"

Pei Xiu's eyes went wide with surprise. "But..."

"No more buts!" Lin Hao chuckled. "We wouldn't want the little one to worry, now would we? Just relax."

"Uncle Lin, where are we going to eat?" Ling piped up eagerly.

Lin Hao grinned. "Today, Uncle's going to treat you to something scrumptious!"

"How about... roast duck?"

"Ah?" Pei Xiu gasped. "Isn't that quite expensive?"

Lin Hao dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. "Kids should experience a bit of everything!"

With Ling's excited cheers trailing behind them, Lin Hao drove off.

The roast duck restaurant was sizable, and Lin Hao had expected Pei Xiu to act reserved, but to his surprise, she seemed as familiar with the place as if she frequented it.

"Ms. Pei, do you come here often?" he inquired after they had ordered.

Pei Xiu hesitated, her gaze flickering. "I... I've picked up orders here when I do deliveries."

"Oh," Lin Hao responded, nodding with a mix of skepticism and belief.

Since Pei Xiu had moved in, Lin Hao had sensed there was more to her than met the eye. Lee Ruolan had once mocked her for wearing what she claimed were high-end knockoffs.

But Lin Hao couldn't help but wonder—if the clothes and bags were imitations, why did they look so flawlessly authentic?

The food arrived quickly, and since Lin Hao was driving, he abstained from drinking. Pei Xiu, on the other hand, ordered a 300-milliliter bottle of white wine and drank methodically.

"Ms. Pei, are you... are you sure you're okay?" Lin Hao asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Don't worry, I... I just want to get a little drunk and unwind," Pei Xiu said with a strained smile. "It's been years since I've allowed myself to drink like this, ever since Ling was born. I..."

"You're not upset, are you?"

Lin Hao quickly reassured her, "Of course not. I'm just concerned about your well-being. After all..."

"It's okay. I've made it through tougher times than this. A little setback like this won't knock me down!" Pei Xiu cut off Lin Hao mid-sentence.

She then resumed her solitary drinking.

On the way back, Ling had already dozed off, full from her meal. After parking the car, Lin Hao had no choice but to carry the sleeping Ling into Pei Xiu's home.

Exiting Ling's room, Lin Hao noticed that Pei Xiu had shed her jacket, and several buttons of her white shirt were undone.

The white shirt paired with a grey skirt didn't seem to belong to a married thirty-year-old woman at all. She looked more like a young girl, yet with an allure that was more potent than that of any girl.

"Ms. Pei, Ling's asleep now. You should get some rest too. I'll come by tomorrow to take you to the hospital," Lin Hao said, turning his face away.

"I... I need to..."

Taking a deep breath as if summoning immense courage, Pei Xiu suddenly lunged forward, toppling Lin Hao onto the sofa.

She leaned over him, and at such proximity, Lin Hao could catch the scent of her shower gel. The open buttons of her shirt, combined with her current posture, were particularly enticing.

"Ms. Pei, you... You've had too much to drink!"

It took Lin Hao a moment to snap out of his shock before he attempted to push Pei Xiu away.

But Pei Xiu clung to him tightly, her voice quivering, "No, I'm not drunk. I..."

"I need to ask for your help. I know I don't have much time left. If I pass away, please, could you take care of Ling and keep her close to you?"

"I'll do anything you ask of me. Please, I'm begging you..."

With that, Pei Xiu looked up at Lin Hao, her eyes brimming with tears.

Tears dripped onto Lin Hao's face.

In that instant, Lin Hao fully grasped her intentions.

He gently placed his hands on Pei Xiu's shoulders and said with a wry smile, "Ms. Pei, you don't have to go to these lengths. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."

"You don't want Ling to grow up without her mother, right? Trust me, we'll fight this together. We can beat this illness!"

"I can't bear to think about it," Pei Xiu said, biting her lower lip, "but I hope that if there ever comes a day when I'm no longer here, she'll have someone to look after her."

"I... I have nothing to offer you in return. This is all I can do."

With those words, Pei Xiu leaned in and planted a kiss on Lin Hao's neck.

Her kisses fell like rain upon him, relentless and chaotic.

Had it not been for a sliver of sobriety, Lin Hao might have given in to the moment.

Instead, he turned swiftly, pinning Pei Xiu beneath him.

A smile, mingled with tears, spread across Pei Xiu's face as her eyes gently closed, seemingly in anticipation of something.

Lin Hao gazed upon the beauty before him, so close he could almost touch it, yet he held back.

Abruptly, he rose and dashed to the door. "Ms. Pei, I'll come for you tomorrow. We'll deal with the future... when it comes," he declared.

The words had barely left his lips when the sound of the door closing echoed behind him.

Pei Xiu's eyes fluttered open, gazing at the shut door, her emotions a tangled web.