Chapter 11: The Path at Sunset, With You and Me

The two walked out of the classroom one after the other, following the school path toward the gate. Lin Qianfan carried his backpack and walked ahead with a light step. Behind him, Xia Ruo kept her head down, quietly following while gripping her backpack strap.

Lin Qianfan glanced back and noticed that Xia Ruo was some distance behind. He stopped and waited for her. She probably wanted to avoid unnecessary gossip, deliberately not walking side by side. When she caught up, he resumed walking, eyes on the pebbles along the path, occasionally kicking one aside with a faint clack.

After a while, they reached a less crowded area outside the school. Lin Qianfan stopped again to wait. Xia Ruo quickened her pace slightly and walked up beside him, shoulder to shoulder.

“Let’s go,” Lin Qianfan said, lifting his backpack strap and heading toward Xia Ruo’s home.

“Do you go home alone every week?” he asked casually.

“Yeah,” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lin Qianfan smiled. “You’re brave, walking alone. Aren’t you afraid of bad people?”

“Afraid…” Her voice dropped even lower, but then she said, “But I’m used to it.”

He didn’t ask more. Instead, he looked up at the sky. The sunset’s last light bathed them, stretching their shadows long on the ground.

They walked until a fork appeared ahead.

“Which way?” Lin Qianfan stopped and asked.

“Left,” Xia Ruo pointed without pausing and continued forward.

He nodded and followed. The leaves rustled in the wind, and a few drifted down, twirling gently to the earth.

“The scenery around your home is really nice,” Lin Qianfan remarked, glancing around.

Xia Ruo gave a faint hum but said nothing.

They spoke occasionally along the way but mostly walked in silence.

After about half an hour, a cluster of low houses appeared. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the air carried a faint aroma of cooking.

“We’re here, right?” Lin Qianfan stopped and looked around.

Xia Ruo nodded and pointed to a two-story building ahead. Her voice remained soft, “Yes, that’s it.”

“Alright, might as well see you off all the way,” Lin Qianfan said, waving his hand and stepping forward.

Xia Ruo hesitated but followed.

As they reached the door, it creaked open, and a middle-aged woman peeked out. She froze briefly when she saw them.

“Ruo Ruo’s back?” the woman smiled warmly, eyeing Lin Qianfan with growing enthusiasm. “This young man came to escort you again?”

“Mom…” Xia Ruo’s voice dropped, sounding uneasy.

“Hello, Auntie,” Lin Qianfan nodded and smiled. “I happened to be heading the same way, so I walked her home.”

Xia Ruo’s mother grinned widely. “What a kind boy! Where do you live?”

“In Lin Village,” Lin Qianfan answered honestly, glancing at Xia Ruo’s downcast face. He felt a bit helpless but kept his smile.

The woman nodded approvingly. “Lin Village? That’s quite far. You’re a good-looking young man. How are your studies?”

“I’m an athlete; grades are average,” Lin Qianfan replied casually, though a trace of caution crept in. He already guessed what the woman implied.

Sure enough, Xia Ruo’s mother laughed and patted her shoulder jokingly. “You two are so close. Do you often study together?”

Xia Ruo quickly shook her head. “Mom, no, we…”

Lin Qianfan cut in, “Yeah, Xia Ruo is really good at studying. If I don’t understand something, I always ask her.”

At this, the woman’s smile dimmed slightly but remained warm. “Come in for a bit; it’s windy outside.”

“No trouble, Auntie, we’ll leave soon,” Lin Qianfan waved his hand, standing still.

“You’re already at the door, why leave now?” Xia Ruo’s mother urged warmly.

Lin Qianfan glanced at Xia Ruo and cleared his throat. “Auntie, I’ll head back now. It’s getting dark.”

“Alright, take care on the way,” the woman waved and reminded, “Come visit anytime.”

Xia Ruo stood quietly beside him and whispered, “Thank you for walking me home.”

“No problem,” Lin Qianfan waved and turned back the way they came.

After a short distance, he glanced back and saw Xia Ruo’s mother still standing at the door. He quickened his pace, turning the corner toward his village.

As dusk fell, the croaking of frogs came from the fields beside the road. Lin Qianfan hurried.

He reached home, pushed open the wooden gate, and saw his grandfather carving wood in the yard, while his grandmother sorted vegetables nearby.

“Grandpa, Grandma, I’m back,” he greeted, setting down his backpack.

His grandfather looked up and nodded. “Drink some water first, dinner will be ready soon.”

“Okay,” Lin Qianfan replied and went inside.

He entered his room and opened his phone. A string of unread messages from his editor popped up—five days of reminders to update.

“Lin Qianfan, your book is popular! Readers are urging for updates, and subscriptions have surpassed ten thousand!”

His eyes lit up.

“Looks like writing novels after rebirth still has its use,” he thought.

He quickly replied to the editor, “Got it, updating now.”

Without waiting for a response, he started writing.

After a while, the door suddenly opened, and his grandfather called for dinner.

Lin Qianfan answered and followed him out.

At the table, he held his bowl, typing on his phone with one hand while occasionally picking up food.

“Qianfan, finish eating before looking at your phone. Your food will get cold,” his grandmother asked gently, worry in her eyes.

“I’m eating,” Lin Qianfan said without looking up, fingers swiping the screen.

After finishing quickly, he returned to his room to continue typing.

On Saturday morning, the door burst open. His grandfather stood there, face stern and displeased.

“Look at you! What do you think you’re doing? Always glued to your phone, not studying properly. How will you ever succeed?”

Lin Qianfan paused and glanced back, unwilling to argue. “I’m writing, not playing.”

“Writing won’t feed you!” his grandfather scolded, frowning deeper. “Get back to your homework and stop wasting time.”

Lin Qianfan felt helpless but nodded. “Okay.”

“Grandpa, I finished my homework a long time ago,” he said, glancing at the books on his desk, his words honest but his mind already scheming how to escape this interrogation.

His grandfather’s frown remained as he stared at the phone in Lin Qianfan’s hand.

“Then why are you looking at your phone? You’re a student; you should be reading more.”