Li Mo flashed a mysterious smile, didn’t speak, and just walked ahead.
Li Mo was quite tall, a full head taller than Bai Xin, and she couldn’t understand how he could be so full of vitality.
She felt old herself, but Li Mo, since leaving the hospital, seemed just like the energetic young man he once was.
Really, she was somewhat envious; she always felt he was very... What word could she use to describe him? Probably "vivid."
It was something she currently lacked, searching for that vividness amidst chaos—it wasn’t likely.
Bai Xin followed Li Mo, back to where she had just been, but, didn’t people here not rent out?
Li Mo pushed open the gate of a small courtyard and started shouting as soon as he stepped in.
"Grandpa Li, you have visitors!"
Bai Xin followed him inside. It was a very pretty courtyard with a large gardenia tree. Next to it was not cement but small plots for vegetables. There were some scattered patches of bok choy and radish sprouts.
"What’s the fuss? Keep it down; I’m not deaf."
An old man with glasses was sitting at the entrance, holding a newspaper.
"Wow, what a rarity today, you actually brought a girl home; that’s not like you."
Uncle Li, whose name was Li Da.
Seeing his grandson bring home a girl, it was as if the sun had risen from the west,
"Hehe, this is my old classmate; she wants to rent a place for just a week. What do you think about the rent? It’s for two girls, two little kids, and an old person. Could you take a look?"
Li Mo chuckled and directly broached the subject without seeming to think there was anything amiss.
"Sure, whatever you think is fair. Pick any room; I live here alone and would actually like some company, to liven up the place."
This, Uncle Li said while looking at Li Mo.
Unfortunately, Li Mo was either in the hospital or the lab and really never came home.
"Thank you, Grandpa Li."
Bai Xin immediately took out a hundred yuan, but Grandpa Li didn’t want it, saying it was good to have company. In the end, it was Li Mo who convinced him to take the money, suggesting that they simply cook an extra portion for Grandpa Li when making meals.
Just like that, the housing problem was solved, and Li Mo walked back with Bai Xin.
Li Mo simply rolled his eyes at Bai Xin before speaking.
"Thanks for what? We are old classmates. To say that, it’s like you’re making us strangers."
How could she not thank him? She had been running around all afternoon and hadn’t found anything—wasn’t she grateful to him?
"Later, when you get married, let me know. I’ll definitely come."
Bai Xin thought to herself that with the way Li Mo had helped her, she would definitely give him a big red envelope in the future.
Li Mo felt a bit embarrassed now; he didn’t have a girlfriend.
Scratching his head, somewhat awkwardly, he said, "Well, my girlfriend is my work. It’s still early for me, very early."
It’s not that there weren’t people trying to set him up, but none were suitable—he didn’t want to settle.
Now it was Bai Xin’s turn to feel embarrassed. If she had known, she wouldn’t have asked.
"No problem. Everyone knows I’m a workaholic. My parents passed away early, so naturally, there’s no one to pressure me into marrying early. So, I’ll wait a few more years. Right now, I just want to follow my teacher and study hard, to become someone who contributes to society."
As Li Mo spoke, he kept touching the back of his head, looking up at the sky, appearing a bit absent-minded.
Bai Xin blurted out, Li Mo was really impressive; ever since high school, he had been the top of the class, always laughing and joking, yet always number one.
"Thank you. Hearing you say that makes me very happy."
Li Mo was actually no longer young; he was 27 this year. At this age, others already had several kids.
Only Li Mo was still a bachelor, with no girlfriend, just his work. The conversation ended there, with both of them feeling a bit awkward; Bai Xin quickly went upstairs.