Trafford's Trading Club

618: Chapter 31: Embers 618: Chapter 31: Embers In the bathroom, there was a large, low red plastic basin.

It was the kind you could see everywhere, filled with hot water.

When Da Zhe walked in, he could see the steam rising steadily.

He looked at the large basin on the floor, and there was no doubt that taking a hot bath in this cold weather was very tempting.

Da Zhe stared at this basin of hot water, lost in thought.

From the steamy basin, a ripple suddenly spread out… from the center, a small ripple dispersed, like rain falling on a calm water surface.

Circle after circle, the water in the basin began to churn violently.

It was already hot, and now it seemed to be boiling again!

The churning water suddenly splashed out of the basin, and a droplet splashed onto Da Zhe’s body instantly.

It was like being hit by a spark from burning firewood, a scorching pain made Da Zhe quickly pull back his arm.

He pressed himself against the bathroom wall, yet despite the cold weather, a trace of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound, and Da Zhe’s body instantly trembled… the boiling water had already returned to calm, and the splashing water droplets seemed never to have existed, leaving only the lingering mist.

It was like a hallucination.

At this moment, Luo Qiu’s voice came from outside the bathroom, “It might be dirty inside, didn’t have time to clean up, sorry.

I found some new towels, albeit stored for years, not really new, but probably unused, just make do for now.” “No, no problem…” Da Zhe responded from inside the bathroom in a muffled voice.

He took a deep breath to steady his voice and quickly replied, “I’m easygoing.”

Saying this, Da Zhe moved along the wall, sneaking around the large basin.

He quickly took off his clothes, fetched a towel, didn’t touch the hot water, just turned on the tap, and started wiping his body quickly with cold water.

In the cold weather and water, Da Zhe’s breathing became rapid, as if he was drowning, making it hard for him to breathe. …

When Da Zhe came out of the bathroom, the towel was casually draped over his shoulder.

He was holding his clothes, twisted into a bundle, in his hand and was only wearing a tank top and a jacket.

He saw Luo Qiu cleaning in the living room, some things had been pulled out from an old cupboard and placed on the coffee table.

Luo Qiu looked at Da Zhe and smiled, “The flowers in the courtyard should’ve bloomed recently.

I picked some to make hot tea, have a drink.” “Thank you.” Da Zhe instinctively nodded.

It was a strange feeling.

Although this guy had some relation to him, it was only before he divorced his ex-wife.

Now, it was completely unrelated—in fact, Da Zhe had only heard of such a relative in his ex-wife’s family but had little interaction.

Da Zhe wasn’t even sure if he had met this young man before… maybe during a family meal when visiting relatives for New Year, or maybe not.

The years were so long, he couldn’t recall many things clearly, let alone such a tenuous family connection. “Are you alright?” Luo Qiu asked, seeing Da Zhe dazed. “Oh… nothing.” Da Zhe shook his head, feeling an urge to drink that hot tea.

However, the idea of putting fresh osmanthus into hot water was something Da Zhe couldn’t grasp.

He always felt it was a woman’s pastime.

But, the taste was surprisingly good… really good, was Da Zhe’s most direct impression after taking a sip.

He held the ordinary glass cup in both hands, the warmth seemed just right, spreading from his palms, chasing away the cold from his cold-water wash, “This tea…” “I put some sugar in it, found in the kitchen,” Luo Qiu casually said, “Don’t like sweet flavors?” “No, no… it’s not that.” Da Zhe shook his head, “It’s good… really good, thank you.” “Does it feel uncomfortable?” Luo Qiu suddenly asked.

Da Zhe blinked, realizing that Luo Qiu was pointing to his own neck.

Da Zhe instinctively reached to touch his neck, feeling coarse skin with some raised areas—a scar extending from his chest.

Da Zhe shook his head, “No, nothing, it’s from a long time ago.” “That’s good.” Luo Qiu nodded and picked up a duster to continue sweeping a corner of the TV cabinet.

Luo Qiu’s focused demeanor made Da Zhe feel invisible.

Unable to help himself, he asked, “Um…” “Just call me Luo Qiu.”

Da Zhe hesitated, “Don’t you… want to know how I got this wound?”

Luo Qiu asked back, “Do you want to tell?”

Da Zhe opened his mouth slightly and took a sip of the osmanthus tea in his cup.

The light sweetness didn’t seem to come from honey, and he didn’t know what else could be found in this house for good sweetness.

The taste made him a bit infatuated.

Eventually, Da Zhe spoke, “When I was young, I was reckless and got slashed.

From the neck down to the stomach…”

Da Zhe shook his head, exhaled a long breath, leaned back on the long varnished wooden bench made of lychee wood, looked at Luo Qiu, and said with a bitter smile, “At that time, I was petrified, really thought I was going to die like that.

I must have been only seventeen, right?

Now when I think about it, so much time has passed, and I…

I’ve become more and more afraid.” “That was really dangerous,” Luo Qiu nodded, stopped his hands, and poured some more hot water for Da Zhe.

Da Zhe always felt that such hospitality was too luxurious for him.

Luxurious to the point that he… he didn’t know how to face it.

He could only hold the cup tightly with both hands, afraid it would suddenly slip from his grasp.

Da Zhe suddenly remembered something, “I remember your father seemed to be a police officer in a big city?” “He’s gone,” Luo Qiu looked at a black and white photo hanging in the corner of the living room…

It was the only family photo taken before he was born of his father as a child with his grandparents. “I think I’ve also heard about it…” Da Zhe nodded, “It hasn’t been easy for you either.”

Luo Qiu replied calmly, “It’s been okay.

Life goes on.”

Da Zhe hesitated, then suddenly asked, “As someone like you, the son of a police officer, don’t you have any opinion about someone like me, a former convict?”

Luo Qiu said casually, “But you’ve been released now, haven’t you?”

You’re out now, so you’re not a convict anymore.

You’re out now…

The words echoed repeatedly in Da Zhe’s mind, leaving him feeling blocked up inside. “I…

I’m tired.”

Da Zhe quickly stood up, avoiding Luo Qiu’s gaze, and hurriedly went upstairs, “Don’t worry, I’ll leave early in the morning, won’t disturb anyone…

Finally, thank you for the tea.”

Da Zhe subconsciously took the teacup with him as he left and placed it on the stairs.

Luo Qiu glanced at the ceiling, roughly where the storeroom was, and softly said: Good night.

After that, Luo Qiu gathered a pile of dust and headed towards the kitchen — there was a door in the kitchen leading to the backyard, where trash could be disposed of — that was roughly the structure.

As he passed the bathroom, Luo Qiu glanced at it… a basin full of hot water remained untouched. “Hmm…” … …

Before dawn, Da Zhe quietly left through the kitchen, climbed over the low wall of the courtyard, and left without a sound.

He took all his belongings with him — including the cardboard he used as a mat.

But he left behind a note: hoping Luo Qiu wouldn’t tell anyone he’d been there, and promising never to intrude into his home again.

As the first light broke, Luo Qiu opened the door of his childhood home.

He remembered one summer vacation when he came back, at dawn from here, you could directly see a field of rice ahead.

Back then, people were always waking up early, there weren’t rows of newly built houses along the village road like there are now.

Back then, people were always waking up as early as they do now, every house would have their doors open and you could always see people.

He walked towards Grandma Xiao Chun’s house and knocked on the door, which was opened by his uncle’s wife.

This aunt looked a bit panicked, as if she had been startled. “What happened?” “Luo Qiu…” The aunt hesitated and suddenly became nervous again, finally opening the door directly, “I don’t know how to say it, you should see for yourself.”

The aunt led Luo Qiu into the house, where his uncle was pacing back and forth in the hall, full of anxiety… the smell of smoked cigarettes filled the room.

At this moment, a small figure emerged from the kitchen — it was Grandma Xiao Chun.

Grandma Xiao Chun didn’t look pale at all, instead, she had a faint flush and seemed quite energetic.

Grandma Xiao Chun held a bowl with a big rooster pattern on it, smiling widely, “Come, come, I’ve made noodles, time for breakfast.”

She didn’t look anything like someone on the brink of dying.