Su Bai heard faint whispering in the distance but dismissed it, assuming it was just passersby. After all, no one usually came to this place. The villagers harbored resentment toward his family, blaming them for neglecting the old woman —a sentiment Su Bai definitely agreed with them completely.
If his parents hadn’t forcibly taken him away back then, he would have stayed to care for her. The thought weighed heavily on him. He took deep breaths, trying to push it from his mind, but the voices grew closer, disrupting his solitude.
---
Meanwhile, Han Li returned home, speaking with his neighbor along the way. “Village chief, Su Men’s grandson is back. I just saw him. I think he’s planning to live in the old house. And there’s a child with him too, ah.”
The village chief, an older man with a thick beard and a gruff voice, paused in thought. He remembered the old woman’s child—how they’d abandoned her and taken the boy away, causing quite a stir back then. But he kept those thoughts to himself. As the village head, it was his duty to look after everyone.
After a moment, he said, “If he’s staying there, lend him a hand with cleaning. That house must be buried under layers of dust. And there’s a child involved, we need to ensure their safety.”
Word spread quickly after Han Li mentioned Su Men’s grandson. Several villagers gathered, curious and eager to help. The old woman had been a kind soul who often lent a hand when she was alive, and many still remembered her fondly. Besides, the mention of a "pretty boy" piqued their interest—who wouldn’t want to catch a glimpse of someone beautiful?
---
When Han Li,his wife, the village head, and three strong men arrived at the old house, they peered through the rusted iron gate. There, under the sprawling branches of a massive banyan tree, sat Su Bai. He appeared utterly serene, humming softly while a child played nearby and a small kitten curled up on his lap.
The three young men were left mesmerized by Su Bai’s ethereal presence. His flawless, milky-white skin seemed to shimmer under the golden sunlight that filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on his figure. The warm light caressed his delicate features, accentuating the gentle curves of his face and the natural glow of his complexion.
His silky, jet-black hair swayed lightly in the breeze, framing his soft, serene expression as he sat humming softly. His slender, elegant fingers moved with grace, running tenderly through the kitten’s fur. Each movement was like a poetic dance, his fingertips disappearing momentarily into the kitten’s plush coat before emerging, their faint pink hue adding a subtle, enchanting contrast to the white fur.
The sight was almost surreal, as though Su Bai belonged to another world—a being too radiant, too perfect to exist among them. One of the young men, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty before him, flushed deeply, the blush stark against his sun-kissed skin. The other two, though equally entranced, could conceal their reaction better thanks to their darker, weathered complexions from long days in the fields.
But even they felt the spellbinding allure of Su Bai’s presence, a delicate harmony of natural grace and otherworldly charm that left an indelible mark on their hearts.
Su Bai opened his eyes and got up to check the commotion outside. He paused when he saw some villagers approaching, led by Uncle Han, whom he had met earlier.
Su Ke, hearing the noise, pitter-pattered toward him, with the little kitten faithfully trailing behind. The boy clung to Su Bai’s leg, peeking out cautiously when he saw Grandpa Han. In his sweet, milky voice, Su Ke politely called out, “Grandpa Han,” saving Su Bai from the awkwardness of figuring out what to say. The boy then offered a bright, polite smile to the rest of the group.
“Aiyo, kiddo, you’re so well-behaved,” Uncle Han said warmly before turning his attention to Su Bai. “Ah, you just got here. Let us check if the house is safe—it hasn’t been used for years.”
The village head stepped forward, his tone straightforward but kind. “We’ll help you clean up. It’ll be quicker with everyone helping. You city kids with your thin arms and legs will tire yourselves out trying to clean even a single room.”
Su Bai faltered slightly, his face flushing faintly. He didn’t take offense—their words seemed honest and without malice. It was clear they truly wanted to help. Even so, he couldn’t shake the awkwardness of the situation. He had planned to make do in the hall for the night and hire someone tomorrow, but now it seemed unnecessary to refuse their offer.
After a moment of hesitation, he offered a small, sincere nod. “Thank you... I appreciate the help,” he said quietly, his voice uncertain but genuine.
The villagers didn’t seem bothered by his awkward demeanor and cheerfully stepped forward to assist. Su Bai, trying to stay composed, walked toward the banyan tree and rummaged through his bag for the keys. The gentle rustling of leaves overhead calmed his nerves as he worked, giving him a brief moment to collect himself.
Meanwhile, Su Ke also trailed with the kitty holding his pants. He raised his eyebrow thinking the kid talked with everyone politely but just like him didn't talk after the necessary courtesy.
Su Bai took out the key and trotted towards the house. As he began unlocking the door, Han Li's wife called out, "Why were you all sitting outside? Why not just go in?"
Just as Su Bai opened his mouth to respond, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw an unfamiliar number and immediately realized it must be the delivery driver. "Excuse me," he said, stepping aside to answer the call.
“Yes, yes. Just come straight from the train station and take a left,” he instructed, keeping his voice low.
Feeling the curious gazes of everyone around him, he tucked the phone back into his pocket and explained with a sheepish smile, "That's why we were waiting outside. I ordered a few things—cleaning supplies and other necessities. There's not much inside the house as it is."
Chen Zi, his cheeks reddened against his slightly deeper complexion, gave Su Bai an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “You really thought this through!” he said, clearly impressed.
The village chief, though silent, nodded subtly. It seemed he was quietly reassured that Su Bai was taking his responsibilities seriously, especially regarding the child in his care.
Meanwhile, the brothers Song Da and Song Er offered to wait outside with Su Bai for the delivery, just in case he needed help unloading. The others stepped inside, leaving the door wide open to let the stale air escape and the dust settle.
"Who is Su Bai? Sign here," the delivery man said, handing a clipboard to Su Bai.
Su Bai took it and quickly signed, glancing toward the van.
“Where should we unload these, sir?” the other delivery boy asked, opening the back of the van to reveal stacks of heavy carton boxes.
Su Bai motioned toward the house. “Just bring them inside,” he said as he walked toward the door. The place was still a mess—nothing had been cleaned yet. He figured he’d sort it all out later, even if it meant doing everything on his own. Cleaning first and then moving the boxes by himself seemed even more exhausting.
Just as he opened his mouth to explain, Song Er interrupted, “Just leave them in the yard for now. After we’re done cleaning, we’ll help you move them in.”
“Exactly! If you bring them in now, the things will just get dirty,” Song Da agreed, and the others echoed in unison.
The others thought when they came to help, what's with moving few boxes, they do much more tiring work in the field's growing medicinal plants and flowers.
Su Bai paused.He bowed his head slightly, repeating his thanks several times, but he couldn’t find the words to say more. Situations like this always left him feeling awkward. He was fine talking to children, their conversations easy and carefree, but with adults, he always stumbled over his thoughts.
