Loneliness

Chapter 7

The sky was already dark when they reached the city, and Amy had fallen asleep leaning on Xiao Zhou. Chen Dong Lan was obviously tired as well, but he leaned against the car window looking outside.

Yuan Yuan first sent Senior and Amy back to the hotel they were staying at in the city. Senior's Caucasian husband was waiting at the car park. Senior had briefly told him about what happened today over the phone, and he was very worried.

This Caucasian was very tall and sturdy. On a winter's day, he was only wearing a thin long-sleeved top. It was a contrast when he carried Amy, making her look especially petite.
He muttered a long string of words in a slightly accented English. Yuan Yuan was in the car and couldn't hear very clearly. It seemed like he wanted to invite them for a meal next time.

Next, it was Xiao Zhou's turn. Today, she had experienced many ups and downs, suffering quite a bit. She sprained her ankle and skinned her elbows when the man flung her to the ground. Although it wasn't a major issue, it would be difficult for her since she lived alone.

Xiao Zhou's family had bought her a place in T city on the sixteenth floor.

Yuan Yuan got out of the car, wanting to send her up.
Xiao Zhou touched her hair. "No need to trouble you, Yuan Lao Da. I can support myself against the wall and move up slowly. Once I get into the building, I'll take the lift. It's not troublesome."

"With you walking so slowly, it'll take you half the night to get home." Yuan Yuan opened the back door of the car. "Sit a little further out. I'll piggyback you."

Xiao Zhou wanted to refuse, but Yuan Yuan had already half squatted in front ot her.

In a timely manner, Chen Dong Lan said, "'I'll piggyback her."

Yuan Yuan took the initiative to piggyback Xiao Zhou. His original intention was that he didn't want Chen Dong Lan to waste his energy on this. "You rest in the car. It shouldn't take me more than ten minutes to piggyback
Xiao Zhou up."

Chen Dong Lan didn't say anything and released his hold on the car door handle.

Yuan Yuan's tone was so firm that Xiao Zhou didn't dare to be bashful.

But, it was clear from her action of climbing onto his back that she was flustered. Yuan Yuan was not in a rush and waited till she had adjusted herself properly before carrying her out of the car.

Closing the door with a backhand, Yuan Yuan piggybacked Xiao Zhou all the way into the lift before putting her down.

Xiao Zhou supported herself on the handrail in the lift and praised Yuan Yuan with exaggeration. "Yuan Lao Da, you're more stable than Chen Dong Lan when piggybacking."
Yuan Yuan laughed. "How do you compare?"

Xiao Zhou carefully analysed it for him. "Your physiques are actually almost the same. He's slightly thinner, but it's not a big difference. The main point is, when he piggybacked me previously, he would never watch where he was going and almost bumped into the person in front a few times." She laughed.

"Come to think of it, it was strange. He was clearly looking straight ahead, but how could he walk like that? I don't know who he was looking at."

Yuan Yuan listened with divided interest. "Maybe the scenery was too nice."

Xiao Zhou waved her hand. "He wasn't looking at the side. I think he was looking at you. Weren't you walking in front of us then?" She said jokingly.

Yuan Yuan gave Xiao Zhou an indifferent smile, but inside his coat pocket, his fingers tightened unconsciously.

Reaching her floor, Yuan Yuan didn't piggyback Xiao Zhou again, instead supported her while she walked slowly. When she reached her door, Xiao Zhou didn't open it immediately.