The Man in the Black Sweater - 6.1: The Great Demon King

Maybe it was because she was used to hard days, but this kind of comfortable life didn’t make Luo Xu’s heart relax. She knew that every day in the future would be harder than now—especially after the child was born.

Aunt Chen was setting the table and muttered, “How come Young Master Tang still hasn’t come back? He’s really at ease leaving you and the baby here like this?”

Luo Xu had her leg propped on the stair railing, pressing down as she stretched. “He’ll be back next month. Besides, I won’t be staying here for long.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s just that no guests have stayed in this house for ages—we’re actually happy about it.” Aunt Chen hurried to explain.

“Doesn’t Mr. Pei’s girlfriend live here?” Luo Xu asked casually.

Aunt Chen glanced at the man coming down the stairs and said, “I’ll go ladle the porridge.”

Luo Xu turned her head. He was standing there in a light-gray tweed suit, his features sharp and resolute, his demeanor calm and steady. Of course, her bit of gossip just now had naturally reached his ears as well.

“Heading out?” Luo Xu withdrew her leg and asked.

Pei Yan came down and said, “Is that something you need to concern yourself with?”

Luo Xu gave an awkward laugh. “Just caring about you.”

“No need.” The two words were flung out cold and hard, instantly chilling her warm enthusiasm.

They finished breakfast in silence. After Pei Yan left, Luo Xu began another day of aimless wandering around the house.

The old butler, seeing how stifled she seemed cooped up inside all day, suggested she go out for a bit—like other young people, even just walking around the mall would be fine.

Of course, the only “young person” the old butler had any experience with was Tang Jue.

Luo Xu stood up from the lawn. “I can go out and have fun?”

“Why not? You’re a guest, not a prisoner,” the old butler said, priding himself on his humor.

Luo Xu rolled her eyes pitifully. “But I don’t know the roads…”

“There’s a driver. Just tell him where you want to go.”

“I get to have a driver?” Luo Xu lit up as if she’d just opened the door to a whole new world.

The old butler, startled by her over-the-top reaction, felt his heart nearly give out. “I’ll make the arrangements. Go upstairs and change clothes.”

“Okay!”

The driver was, of course, happy to serve her—especially since Pei Yan had driven himself today, leaving the driver free. He assumed that a young girl like Luo Xu would definitely want to visit lively, fun places. As a competent guide, he’d already found out Miss Tang Jue’s favorite haunts and was certain he could make Luo Xu enjoy herself.

“Let’s go to Xiangchun Road,” Luo Xu climbed into the car, brimming with excitement.

The driver searched his memory for information about Xiangchun Road and couldn’t help but say, “There aren’t any malls or amusement parks there…”

“I know. I want to find my old school,” Luo Xu said with a smile.

“Oh… alright.”

All day long—from Xiangchun Road to Fengtian Road to Academy Road—the more the driver drove, the more puzzled he became.

At every place, Luo Xu didn’t stay long. It seemed she only wanted to leave her footprints there, not to dig into their history.

“Stop here.” Luo Xu called out from the back.

The driver pulled over. She pushed open the door, hopped out quickly, bought something and clutched it to her chest, then ran right back into the car.

“Egg waffles, do you want some?” Luo Xu asked with a grin.
The driver shook his head. “I had too much of that when I was a kid, I’ve got no interest in it now.”
Luo Xu nodded, eating as she spoke. “I had it when I was little too, but only once before I left here with my mom.”
“Where did you go?” The driver had gotten familiar with her after half a day together, and asked with a smile.
“New York, to find my dad.” Luo Xu sniffed the egg waffle in her hand and said, “Too bad my dad had already found another woman, didn’t want my mom anymore.”
The driver froze for a moment, then fell silent.

“I just don’t understand why she had to give up everything here to chase after a man? This place is so good. If I’d grown up here, I definitely would’ve…” Luo Xu wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and forced a light tone, “I definitely would’ve gone through all those schools we just visited one by one, and finally made it into college.”

Xiangchun Road was for elementary school, Fengtian Road for middle and high school, and Xueyuan Road for university. If she had stayed here instead of going to New York, she surely would’ve followed that track in life.

The driver didn’t know how to comfort her, but he thought of a place she would definitely like.

——

When they came out of Nan Alley, Luo Xu had all kinds of jingling trinkets on her head, neck, and wrists, and she was carrying all sorts of little gadgets in her hands, her mood so bright she looked like she might fly up any second.
“This place is so much fun! Next time I have the chance, I’ll definitely finish walking the other half of the street.” Luo Xu said, waving the sugar figurine in her hand.
The driver smiled. “Let’s head back, or we’ll miss dinner.”
“Okay!” Luo Xu, completely satisfied, strode ahead.

Sometimes she would fall into low spirits, and sometimes she would run into people full of goodwill.

This world was never simply black and white. Fate had taken a lot from her, but at least it had left her with a heart strong enough to fight against misfortune.

On the way back they ran into a traffic jam. It was the 31st, and plenty of people were headed to the shopping district for New Year’s Eve.

Stuck in traffic, unable to move forward or back, the feeling was unbearable. Luo Xu rolled down the window and turned her head to look at a dark lump by the roadside.
“Brother Liu, what do you think that is?” Luo Xu pointed at the lump that seemed like it might be a living thing.

Brother Liu had sharp eyes, and at a glance could tell it was a stray dog.

As the traffic slowly inched forward, Luo Xu pushed the car door open and ran out.
“Luo Xu…” Brother Liu called.