After midnight

"You are indeed from outside. Don't you have a place to live now?" She pursed her lips and asked An Yan, looking up and pretending to be calm and mature.

Although it is very cute, this expression is not suitable for a child's face. It is better to smile more. Su Ziling thought so and saw An Yan slowly bend down and ask her, "Can you help us?"

An Yan and the girl looked at each other in a level, with a friendly and sincere attitude. Suddenly, Su Ziling remembered that An Yan also treated Ah Jiu in the same way.

"If you don't mind sharing a room, follow me." The girl was really happy and led the way. The road was farther and longer than Su Ziling had imagined. They followed her out of the town and came to a small house far away from the town.

The hut was built of bricks and tiles, with two bedrooms separated by a living room. Outside the hut, a wooden fence was built to form a courtyard. In addition to the kitchen, another room was built in the courtyard. The newly built room in the courtyard was the girl's room. According to the girl, it was built so that she could take care of the flower garden in the middle of the night so as not to disturb her grandfather.

In the yard, all kinds of flowers were planted together, forming a colorful cluster. The flower beds were separated by gravel paths, which led to the small houses in the yard. Needless to say, this must be the work of the maid.

The girl opened the door, and Su Ziling and An Yan followed the girl to the master bedroom in the main house, where an old man was lying on the bed.

"You're back, girl."

"Well, Grandpa, today's flowers have been sold out well." The girl's voice was particularly loud.

“The two people next to him are…” The old man stretched his head forward, trying to see them clearly.

"They are guests I brought back. They will stay in our house for a while."

"Oh..." the old man stretched out his voice.

The girl motioned for them to follow her out, so Su Ziling and An Yan bowed to the old man as a greeting. The girl led them to the side room, and Su Ziling took a quick look. The room was very clean and tidy.

"You can sleep in this room." The girl pointed at the bed.

"Girl, just call me Yatou?" Su Ziling leaned his backpack against the bed, and remembered that no one had called her name along the way, so he asked her.

"Well, Grandpa couldn't read, so he didn't give us names. So, what are your names?"

"My name is Su Ziling, and his name is An Yan."

"Hello, Brother Su Ziling, hello, Brother Anyan, I'll be out first, you guys have a good rest." The girl also bowed slightly to them before walking out.

"What a good girl~" Su Ziling said to An Yan.

An Yan nodded.

"But it looks like her parents are dead."

An Yan hummed.

"An Yan?"

"Ok?"

"Sleep on the inside."

"it is good."

Su Ziling followed An Yan and lay down on the bed to rest. Both of them were tired today.

"Zhang Dong, Zhang Dong, open the door quickly." Shangguan Can knocked on the door excitedly.

The door opened, and Zhang Dongmu said with a dull face: "I said, I won't go out with you."

"No, I didn't ask you to go out. I've already been out. Guess who I saw outside just now?"

"Who?"

"An Yan and that mysterious boy, they are here too. It's a pity that Yin is not here."

"What's going on?" Zhang Dong was confused and eager to find out.

"I was just wandering outside, and then I felt someone was staring at me. Of course I wanted to see who was looking at me, so I looked over. At first I didn't see anything, but just as I was about to look away, something flashed, and I saw An Yan. His back looked familiar to me, so I ran over and saw that it was indeed them." Shangguan Can narrated the whole process in a rambling manner.

"And then? Where did they go?"

"They followed a little girl of about seven or eight years old. But since, as you know, An Yan's anti-reconnaissance ability is particularly strong, I didn't dare to chase too closely, so... I lost them."

"Are you sure it was them you saw?"

"Of course I'm sure." Shangguan Can was a little dissatisfied with Zhang Dong's doubt, but he continued, "So I came to you as soon as possible. What should I do next?"

"Where did they go?"

"Northeast."

"How about this..." Zhang Dong thought, as everyone was gone. "Let's gather our strength tonight, and tomorrow we'll go see if there's anyone in that direction who has a daughter of similar age who's hiding them."

"Okay." Shangguan Can turned around and left with a bright smile. At least for him, he didn't have to suffer in the desert anymore.

There were intermittent knocks on the door outside, and Su Ziling woke up in a daze.

"Wake up, wake up, Brother Su Ziling, it's time for dinner."

"I'm here." Su Ziling woke up immediately after hearing the girl calling him from outside the door. He had just wanted to lie down on the bed for a while, but he actually fell asleep. When he woke up, it was already dark.

Where's An Yan? He turned his head to look at the bedside, but An Yan was gone.

"Brother An Yan got up a long time ago and just helped me cook. Hurry up and get up." The girl seemed to know what Su Ziling was thinking and said outside the door. This time she went back to the kitchen in a flash.

Su Ziling walked out of the house and saw that the food was already laid out on the dining table in the living room. The old man was already sitting in the main seat waiting for him. He felt shy and embarrassed and quickly lowered his head and said, "Hello, Grandpa~"

The old man nodded with a smile, and the maid and Anyan were carrying the last two bowls of rice in. At this time, Yin just entered Xidu smoothly and rushed to the designated location. Ye was already waiting for him.

"How is it? Yin, has the matter that was so important that you had to personally deal with it been resolved?" The two hugged each other as soon as they met, and Ye asked him after the hug.

"Well, the result was just as perfect as expected. What about your mission?"

“Of course it was also completed perfectly.”

Yin nodded in understanding: "How are they?"

"Same old as always, those who collect intelligence collect intelligence, those who complete transactions complete transactions, and those who are bored at home with nothing to do will wait for you." Ye teased him.

"Are you just waiting for me?" Yin took over the conversation and said with a smile.

"But you really did a big deal this time, making Song Yu like that. How did you do that fatal wound on his chest? I tell you, you're going to be hated by some powerful people this time." Ye shook his head repeatedly as he said the last sentence.

Yin was somewhat helpless, "Okay, let's not talk about this matter for now. Has anything happened in Xidu recently?"

"It's nothing serious, just some small waves. It will probably take some time for them to become huge waves."

"You have to keep a close eye on it. Has the cooperation with the Song Corporation been completely severed?"

"On the surface, it has been completely cut off, but the hidden stakes are still hidden."

"Yeah." Yin was about to say something when the door creaked open. Wuying walked in, and Ye instantly had a gloating expression on his face.

"Why are you here?"

"After someone ordered me around, he told me righteously that he would explain everything clearly. Of course I had to follow Ye as soon as possible." Seeing Yin's surprised expression, Wuying was instantly annoyed.

"Okay, okay, tell me!" Yin stretched out his hand in surrender.

Yin told Wuying and Ye exactly what had happened in the past few days. They were all shocked and speechless for a long time. Yin sat there not knowing what to think. In fact, everything had passed. He didn't want to get sympathy from them or make them feel sad anymore.

Ye was the first to react. He patted Yin on the shoulder and said solemnly: "I finally understand why you do so many dangerous things. Don't worry, since we have chosen to follow you, we will follow you to the end. They must have the same idea as me. But, having said that, you are too good at hiding. As a brother, I don't know your real name until now."

Yin smiled bitterly, "How can you hide it from others if you don't hide it from your own family first?"

Ye sighed, patted Yin's shoulder and went out. After Ye went out, Yin gently walked up to Wuying and held her in his arms to comfort her, "Okay, don't look like that. Who doesn't want to experience a little hardship? Don't you? Everyone does. The key is that it's all over now, isn't it?"

Unexpectedly, Wuying shook her head and said, "But you can't do it. It's you who can't do it."

"Your idea is not fair~" Yin raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and his heart softened.

Wuying broke free from his embrace and said angrily, "I don't care whether it's fair or not. Is it over? I think it's just the beginning now."

After she finished speaking, she walked out without looking back, leaving Yin alone in the room.

Yes, the road is still so long, and a new situation is about to begin. In the ward just two kilometers away from Yin, Song Yu's expression was sinister and ferocious. He would never have thought that the person he wanted to die for would now appear under the same sky with him.

The next morning, Su Ziling opened his eyes and saw An Yan was still sleeping. He felt a little proud. He got up and rolled out of bed. After confirming that An Yan was still asleep, he opened the door and walked out. The fragrance of flowers in the courtyard made him feel refreshed. Su Ziling walked to the water pipe and started to wash. When he finished washing, the old man also came to the courtyard.

"Grandpa, you woke up so early?"

"I'm old, I'm used to not being able to sleep." The old man said happily.

"Girl, you're up too?" The girl opened the door and walked out sleepily.

"Good morning, Brother Su Ziling. Grandpa, please go sit inside. It's cold outside this morning."

"Girl, let me help you make breakfast. I can still do things like washing rice and vegetables." Su Ziling walked around the girl and back to the water pipe.

"Okay, thank you, Brother Su Ziling."

In the kitchen, Su Ziling was washing rice and asked the girl, "What do you and grandpa do every day?"

"I don't do much. During the day I cook, do housework, clean and take care of the flower garden. At night, I go to the street to sell flowers." The girl answered like an adult.

"It turns out that the girl is the one who earns money to support the family, how amazing~"

The girl smiled shyly but was very happy.

Su Ziling washed the things and put them on the chopping board. Just as the maid was about to start, An Yan walked in.

When the girl saw An Yan, she let go and ran over, "Brother An Yan, can you teach me how to cook? I think your cooking is better than mine."

An Yan nodded and rolled up his sleeves carefully.

Su Ziling watched the two of them working side by side, one talking, the other doing things, and even taking things from time to time, so he consciously walked out. As soon as he went out, he saw the old man sitting at the door of the house facing the kitchen with a kind smile on his face and eyes full of smiles. Su Ziling was also very happy, and it would be even better if Brother Yin was there too.

Time passed quickly and it was afternoon. It was time for the girl to go out and sell flowers. However, this time she looked up at An Yan who was following her and smiled secretly several times. Grandpa is old and has physical problems. This is the first time someone accompanies her to go out and sell flowers, the girl thought happily.

Seeing An Yan turned his head because of her frequent gaze, the girl quickly retracted her gaze. Was she looking at him for too long and was being disliked? However, the next second, a beautiful hand with distinct bones stretched out in front of her.

The girl stared at the shallow scar on An Yan's palm and frowned.

"Are you scared?" An Yan's tone was gentle and soft.

How could it be? The girl quickly shook her head. She didn't dare to move. She just didn't understand what Brother An Yan meant. Could she put her hand on it? The girl asked, "Brother An Yan, does your wound hurt?"

An Yan was stunned for a moment, and a smile suddenly spread across his lips like a spring breeze. So he also imitated the girl and quickly shook his head, "This is a very important sign for my brother."

"mark?"

"Yeah." An Yan took the basket full of flowers that the girl was holding on her arm and put it in his own hand. He then stretched out his left hand and used the hand without any visible scars to hold the girl's.

The girl blinked her eyes and looked at their hands holding each other. The two walked side by side, and their hands swayed slightly as they walked forward. In the quiet dusk, An Yan and the girl's figures gradually overlapped and became longer and longer.

After turning into the town streets, An Yan became cautious. He wandered around the town and tried to take a longer route, thinking not only about how to investigate, but also about how to say that they were temporarily separated. But the girl kept holding his hand tightly, as if she was determined not to let go, so he compromised.

The girl held An Yan's hand, and An Yan never let go of his hand. Just be careful. After turning a corner, he saw Zhang Dong, who was facing away from him, asking a middle-aged woman something.

There was a fork in the road not far ahead, and An Yan turned in without leaving a trace and escaped smoothly. Were he and Su Ziling discovered? At present, it seemed that the only people who came to this town were Shangguan Can and Zhang Dong.

Song Yu, needless to say, he was definitely not there. Then Zhao Yunqi would not be there either, because if the teacher was there, he would not have taken such a stupid approach. This town was small and remote, and the news that two strange men from other places were asking about someone would soon spread, which would be too easy to alert the enemy.

So is there anyone else? Not likely.

An Yan held the girl's hand and walked forward. Soon they arrived at the place they were yesterday, which was very close to the town center.

What the girl didn't expect was that the boys were still playing here today, but when they saw someone with her, especially when they saw that person was the big brother who interrupted their fun yesterday, they ran away in a hurry like a bitten rabbit. One of them even glared at her before running away.

"Girl, do they wait here every day to bully you?"

"Not really... Occasionally, I can take a different route later."

An Yan didn't say anything. The girl thought for a moment and said, "Actually... they are also very pitiful. Although there are adults at home, they don't have much time to accompany them. Besides, I don't care about such trivial matters."

An Yan thought about it and squatted down, put his hand on the girl's head, and gently tapped her head with his finger. "I think it's great that the girl thinks this way!"

The girl was overjoyed. This was the second time someone had praised her today. On weekdays, except for her grandfather who would tell her so, other people would probably just think she was a monster. Monster... The girl shook her head and tried not to think like that. She looked up at An Yan's face in front of her and couldn't find a suitable adjective for him. It was a very good-looking and heroic face. Unlike Brother Su Ziling's sunny good looks, Brother An Yan was more upright and elegant.

"What's wrong?" Seeing the girl shaking her head and staring at him in a daze, An Yan asked in a soft voice.

"Brother An Yan, what were you doing when you were my age?"

An Yan fell silent, and the invisible sadness in his eyes made the girl feel a little overwhelmed.

"Probably...looking up at the cold light of the moon in the dark night alone."

"Brother Anyan, I don't quite understand." The girl blinked.

"It's okay, let's go, Grandpa, Brother Su Ziling and our family are waiting for us."

"Okay." The girl nodded and walked happily.

When she arrived in the bustling crowd, the girl was a little nervous. She didn't want An Yan to know her predicament. No small town residents would buy her flowers, even though they were very beautiful. But if she was lucky, she could sell them to foreign travelers. But most of the time, those flowers would always be left over, and the girl would put the remaining flowers on an exposed platform. Because in this way, maybe someone would pick them up and put them in a vase at home, after all, those flowers were so beautiful.

But today was destined to be a day full of surprises. With An Yan here, there was an endless stream of sisters coming to buy flowers, and in a short while, all the flowers were gone. The girl carefully saved the money and took An Yan home contentedly. The money was enough for them to live for many days.