As she spoke, her smile grew wider and brighter.
Qiao Xiguan watched Qi Lingfeng, her eyes casting downwards in darkness.
There are many things she didn't want to touch, hear, think about, or know.
Qi Lingfeng seemed to sense something too, his smile fading as he fell silent, and they both returned to the small, decrepit house together.
The dinner that night was again pickled vegetables with watery rice.
Qiao Xiguan didn't say much, quietly and silently eating her meal. After finishing, she waited for Qi Lingfeng to clean up the dishes.
"I want to take a bath," Qiao Xiguan requested.
Qi Lingfeng nodded and once again rushed to the kitchen to boil water.
After what must have been two large buckets worth, Qi Lingfeng carried the buckets to the dilapidated little toilet outside. He prepared everything, even providing her a brand new set of pajamas, from the inside out, "I don't know your size, make do."
Qiao Xiguan took them from him and walked into the toilet.
