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A lot happened in the following period. First, Lin Li's parents came to Shanghai and directly separated Tao Jun and Lin Li.

Heartbroken, Tao Jun is also facing the prospect of losing his job due to the demolition of his movie theater. He spends his days in a daze, like a walking corpse.

Suning, who was planning to buy a house, gave up at this time because if he bought a house now, Tao Jun would definitely cling to him for life.

With nowhere to go, Su Ning and Tao Jun busied themselves looking for a house, while Lu Qing wanted Su Ning to move in with her, since the two of them had already been together for a while.

Su Ning had no problem, but the main issue was that Tao Jun had lost his soul, and it would seem too heartless for him to ignore him.

"Another drink!" Tao Jun leaned over the bar counter.

He slammed his hand on the table, drunk, his shirt collar stained with wine and tears.

Su Ning pressed down on his swaying shoulders: "That's enough! You've had too much to drink. Even if you drink yourself to death, it won't bring Lin Li back."

"I might as well drink myself to death!" Tao Jun suddenly raised his voice, drawing stares from those around him. "The movie theater is gone! Lin Li is gone! What the hell is the point of me living?"

"We don't appreciate what we have until we lose it, and then we cry out in despair."

"..."

The farce that happened three days ago is still fresh in my mind—Lin Li’s parents suddenly rushed over from their hometown.

Pointing his finger at Tao Jun, he called him a "good-for-nothing projectionist," and then shoved the crying Lin Li into a taxi and took her away.

On the same day, the cinema received a formal notice of demolition.

"Get up! Let's go home." Su Ning helped the completely drunk Tao Jun up, but the latter slid down like a limp rag.

"Home? What home?" Tao Jun chuckled blankly. "The movie theater is my home... and now even my home is being torn down..."

His laughter gradually turned into sobs, "Fang Yuan, I have nothing left..."

Su Ning silently paid for the drinks and then half-dragged, half-carried Tao Jun out of the bar.

As the night wind blew, Tao Jun suddenly bent over and vomited all over the ground.

"Damn..." Tao Jun slumped onto the curb, tears and snot streaming down his face. "I can only throw up in the street... there's not even a toilet..."

Su Ning squatted down and roughly wiped his face with a tissue: "Cheer up, can't you act like a man?"

"Fang Yuan, I'm not like you!" Tao Jun suddenly became agitated. "You're so awesome! After my sister took Coco to America, you had Gao Yawen first, then Ma Shuer, and now even Lu Qing is devoted to you! What about me? I only have Lin Li... only that lousy movie theater..."

His voice grew softer and softer until it became a mumbled murmur, and he fell asleep with his head tilted to the side, resting on Su Ning's shoulder.

The streetlights cast long shadows of the two people.

Su Ning gazed at the distant cinema sign—"Starlight Cinema"—one of the lights was out, much like the man leaning on his shoulder at that moment, incomplete yet still stubbornly holding on.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Lu Qing: [Have you found a place yet? My cousin said we could talk.]

Su Ning glanced at the sleeping Tao Jun and replied: 【Let's meet tomorrow, bring your cousin along.】

……

"This dilapidated apartment costs three thousand a month?" Tao Jun sobered up a bit and stared wide-eyed as he looked around the old two-bedroom apartment. "The walls are all moldy! And there are even bunk beds in the room."

Lu Qing's cousin, Wang Liang, a middle-aged woman with exquisite makeup, curled her lip in disdain: "Take it or leave it! This location, this school district, the market price is at least seven thousand. The discount is only given because of Lu Qing."

Lu Qing quietly tugged at Su Ning's sleeve and whispered, "My cousin didn't want to rent it to a boy at first... I had a hard time persuading her."

Su Ning nodded knowingly and turned to Wang Liang: "We've rented it! One month's deposit and three months' rent in advance, right?"

Tao Jun pulled him to the balcony and whispered, "Fang Yuan, are you crazy? This price is enough to rent out Xujiahui!"

"Then go find something better?" Su Ning retorted. "Who was sleeping in the subway station yesterday and almost got taken away by the police? You wouldn't even get a place to stay in Xujiahui for this price, would you?"

Tao Jun deflated like a punctured balloon: "I...I can go back to my hometown..."

"Enough with the nonsense." Su Ning pulled out his wallet. "I'll pay half, you figure out the rest yourself."

Wang Liang impatiently banged on the table in the living room: "Have you figured it out yet? I have a card game this afternoon!"

"Rent!" Tao Jun suddenly roared, startling everyone. "I'm living here! Do you think this piece of junk will fall on my head?"

After signing the contract, Wang Liang walked away in her high heels, leaving behind a room full of pungent perfume.

Lu Qing stayed to help them clean, while Tao Jun slumped on the only relatively intact sofa, lost in thought.

"The kitchen faucet is broken," Lu Qing reported while wiping the cabinets. "The water heater takes ten minutes to produce hot water, and..."

"Teacher Lu," Tao Jun suddenly interjected, "why are you so good to Fang Yuan?"

Lu Qing stopped, her ears turning slightly red: "None of your business!"

"Because she's stupid." Su Ning came out of the bathroom carrying a mop. "She has so many talented young men out there, but she insists on having her eye on a second-hand man like me."

"You're the idiot!" Lu Qing threw a rag at him. "Ma Shu'er has already left with the child, and you still..."

“Lu Qing.” Su Ning’s voice suddenly turned cold.

Realizing she had misspoke, Lu Qing quickly changed the subject and stopped talking about it.

Suning personally repaired all the damaged parts in the room, quickly resolving all the problems.

At this moment, Lu Qing suddenly whispered to Tao Jun, "By the way! Tao Jun, give me your sister's email address."

Tao Jun looked up at Lu Qing warily: "What?"

"I... wanted to ask her a few questions about life abroad." Lu Qing blinked her innocent big eyes. "I have a student who might be going abroad to study."

"Really?"

"Really! What else can I do? Even if I assert my ownership of her, she won't pay any attention to me, right?"

"Okay! Listen carefully."

Tao Jun suspiciously recited a string of email addresses, which Lu Qing quickly wrote down on her phone, a sly smile playing on her lips.

……

One morning, Suning was repairing a leaky kitchen faucet when his phone suddenly rang from an unknown number.

"Hello?" He held the phone between his fingers, his wrench still moving.

"Fang Yuan!" A clear child's voice rang out from the receiver, "It's Coco! My mom told me to tell you that my flight to Pudong is at 3 pm tomorrow! You have to come pick me up!"

The wrench crashed into the pool.

Su Ning's mind went blank, and she repeated the name in disbelief: "Coco...Coco?"

"Yes!" the little girl's voice was full of energy. "Aunt Lu and Mom have been in contact for a long time! Mom said I can go back to China for summer vacation! Fang Yuan, are you happy?"

"Ahem! How rude! How can you call your father by his first name? You should call him Dad."

"Your original name was Fang Yuan!"

"You child!" Su Ning was now filled with utter disgust for that woman.

"Fang Yuan, I want to eat xiaolongbao! And that...that colorful cotton candy! Aunt Lu said you'd take me to Disneyland!"

"Okay! I'll take you with me." What else could Su Ning say at this point?

"Goodbye."

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning realized that Tao Jun and Lu Qing were already standing at the kitchen door.

One had a mischievous grin on his face, while the other pretended to look at the ceiling.

“Lu Qing.” Su Ning took a deep breath.

"exist!"

"Why the hell do you like to act on your own initiative so much?"

"What? Haven't you been missing Coco a lot?"

"Who told you that?"

"Huh? Isn't that right?"

“A heartless woman abducted my child, what do I have to think about?”

"This……"

"..." At this moment, Tao Jun, who was standing to the side, also felt ashamed. It was indeed his sister who was wrong in this matter.

Tao Jun deliberately changed the subject, looking at Su Ning in front of him and asking, "Fang Yuan, where will Coco stay now that she's back? This dilapidated house only has two bedrooms, and the other one belongs to that Wang Liang."

“You sleep on the top bed! Coco and I will sleep on the bottom bed,” Su Ning said without hesitation.

"Hey! Okay!"

At this moment, Lu Qing clapped her hands happily and said, "Great! I'll buy some stuffed animals for Coco later."

Seeing Lu Qing's animated gestures, Su Ning's gaze softened.

Whatever her motives, her sentiments are worth cherishing.

“Lu Qing,” he said softly, “thank you.”

Lu Qing suddenly fell silent, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "No need to thank me... it's just..."

She bit her lip and said, "I'm so happy to see you and Coco reunited."

Tao Jun keenly sensed the change in atmosphere and wisely slipped away to the balcony to "smoke".

"Um..." Lu Qing looked down and fiddled with the hem of her clothes, "Any news about Ma Shu'er?"

"She and Ma Jimo are doing well on Hong Kong Island and have found new jobs."

"Will you go to see her?" Lu Qing looked up, her eyes shining brightly. "After Coco arrives?"

Su Ning looked out the window, where an airplane was streaking across the clouds in the distance: "No! I have my own things to do."

Lu Qing suddenly stepped forward and gently hugged him: "Whatever decision you make, I will support you."

Her voice muffled against Su Ning's chest, "Really."

Su Ning didn't answer, but just patted her back gently.

Some gratitude cannot be expressed in words; some debts may never be repaid.

Tao Jun, who was on the balcony, secretly turned around and saw this scene. He shook his head and sighed, "What on earth is going on here..."

He took out his phone, hesitated for a long time, and then dialed that familiar number.

Of course, no one answered the phone.

Outside the window, the summer sun was scorching and blinding.

At this time tomorrow, he will see his niece whom he hasn't seen for many years; and his good brother Su Ning will become a father again. As for himself... Tao Jun touched the movie theater key in his pocket and gave a wry smile.

At least, in the last month before the demolition, he could still have a dream about the past in the familiar screening room.

……

With a click, Tao Jun locked the door of Starlight Cinema, his fingers tracing the worn brass key for a long time.

Through the glass door, you can see the empty hall inside. The walls that were once covered with classic movie posters are now just yellowed glue marks.

"Let's go! Stop being sad." Su Ning patted his shoulder and picked up the last suitcase.

Tao Jun suddenly pressed his forehead against the glass door: "Fang Yuan, I've worked here for twelve years. My first date with Lin Li was here, and we watched Titanic."

His voice choked with emotion, "Now even this is gone..."

Lu Qing, growing impatient, honked her car horn: "If you don't leave soon, I'm going to charge you extra cleaning fees!"

"You're urging me to hurry up!" Tao Jun shouted back, his eyes red, but he still obediently got into the car.

In the rearview mirror, the movie theater sign grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared around the corner.

Tao Jun slumped in the back seat, as if his bones had been removed: "What the hell makes me any different from a stray dog ​​now..."

“There’s a big difference.” Suning said without turning his head, “A stray dog ​​doesn’t have to pay rent.”

Lu Qing burst out laughing, while Tao Jun rolled his eyes in exasperation.

……

Wang Liang's apartment was more crowded than she had imagined.

The larger of the two bedrooms contained a bunk bed, while the smaller one was filled with Wang Liang's stockpiles.

It was simply because she owned a convenience store in a nearby neighborhood, and her home was stocked with snacks and daily necessities that were about to expire.

"You'll sleep in this room." Wang Liang pointed to the bunk beds with her bright red nail polish. "The monthly rent is three thousand, excluding utilities. Showers exceeding ten minutes will incur an extra five yuan per minute. Air conditioning..."

"Wait!" Tao Jun interrupted her, "You're timing your shower? Do you think this is a swimming pool?"

Wang Liang stood with her hands on her hips, not even lifting her eyelids: "Take it or leave it. This area, this school district..."

"I know, I know, the market price is seven thousand!" Tao Jun mimicked her tone, "I think it's more like the black market price!"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Lu Qing quickly tried to smooth things over: "Cousin! They just moved in, can you give them a discount?"

Wang Liang snorted, her gaze sweeping over Su Ning before she suddenly lowered her voice and said to Lu Qing, "This is the one you've got your eye on? She's alright looking, but she's got a burden on her shoulders..."

"Cousin!" Lu Qing stamped her foot anxiously.

Suning pretended not to hear and continued packing her luggage.

Tao Jun exploded: "Who are you calling a burden? Fang Yuan and I are relatives."

“Tao Jun.” Su Ning glared at him warningly.

Wang Liang pursed her lips, tossed a bunch of keys at her, and left.

Lu Qing stood there awkwardly: "Well... that's just how she is, she's not a bad person at heart..."

"Not a bad person?" Tao Jun gestured exaggeratedly. "Her heart is practically as black as coal!"

Suning threw his luggage onto the lower bunk: "I'll just have to make do. It's better than sleeping on the street."

Lu Qing glanced at her watch: "Ah! It's almost time to pick up Coco!"

She excitedly grabbed Su Ning's arm, "Let's go! Let's go! We can't be late for our first meeting!"

……

In the arrival hall of Pudong Airport, Lu Qing brushed off non-existent dust for Su Ning, appearing even more nervous and excited than Su Ning himself, the father.
"Relax! Your child will accept you as his stepmother."

"Hmph! That's an awful thing to say!"

"Flight BA038 from London to Shanghai has arrived..." came the airport announcement.

As the crowd began to pour out, suddenly, a lovely girl followed an airport staff member out.

Her small face was tense, making her look like a mini version of a domineering CEO.

"Coco!" Suning called out tentatively.

The girl glanced at him, her expression indifferent, clearly indicating that she no longer remembered him.

“Fang Keke!” Su Ning raised her voice, this time using English, “Over here!”
Coco then looked up, slowly walked over, and spoke in fluent British English: "You are my biological father? Mom said you would take me to Disneyland."

Lu Qing listened in stunned silence.

Su Ning naturally squatted down and replied in the same standard English, "That's right! But first, we need to talk about your attitude towards your father."

Coco's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting this "Chinese dad" to speak such good English. She pouted, "Mom said you're a male nanny."

“I used to be.” Su Ning took her suitcase. “Now I’m a freelancer. By the way, are you listening to Billie Eilish’s new song in your headphones? Good taste.”

Coco was completely shocked and muttered, "Mom didn't say you knew anything about this..."

Lu Qing finally found an opportunity to interject: "Hello, Coco! I'm Aunt Lu Qing, your father's girlfriend."

She extended her hand, and Coco shook it perfunctorily.

On the way back, Coco kept communicating with Suning in English, completely ignoring Lu Qing who was driving.

"So, where are we living?" Coco asked, gazing at the scenery rushing past the window.

“With my friend and a…landlady.” Su Ning answered truthfully.

Coco wrinkled her little nose: "I thought you'd have your own place."
“Life doesn’t always go as planned,” Suning shrugged. “But I promise you’ll have fun this summer.”
Lu Qing felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, unable to get a word in edgewise.

She secretly tugged at Su Ning's sleeve: "Ahem! Fang Yuan, I didn't expect your spoken English to be so good."

Coco suddenly turned to her and said in Chinese with a London accent, "Auntie, you have lipstick on your teeth."

"Ah..." Lu Qing hurriedly looked in the mirror, her face turning red to her ears.

……

Back at the apartment, Wang Liang saw Coco and her eyes immediately narrowed into slits: "Oh my! This is the little princess?"

She crouched down to pinch Coco's cheek, but Coco nimbly dodged.

“Madam, please don’t touch me,” Coco said seriously. “Personal space, please.”
Wang Liang stood up awkwardly and turned to Su Ning: "With one more person living here, the living expenses will have to increase by 1,500."

"What?" Tao Jun rushed out of the kitchen. "She's just a child! How much can she eat?"

"Don't we all need water, electricity, and gas?" Wang Liang said matter-of-factly. "Also, you took eighteen minutes to shower yesterday, so the extra eight minutes are charged at five yuan each, which makes it forty..."

Tao Jun was so angry his hair almost stood on end: "You're actually keeping track of time?"

"Cousin!" Lu Qing quickly pulled Wang Liang aside. "How much extra water and electricity can a child use? How about this, I'll make up for the extra amount for you?"

Wang Liang reluctantly agreed.

Coco looked around, her little face scrunched up: "Daddy, are we going to live in a place like this?"

Su Ning crouched down to look her in the eye: "It's temporary. If you don't like it, we can..."

"Never mind," Coco sighed, speaking in a mature tone, "Mom said I need to learn to adapt to different environments."

She pointed at Tao Jun and asked, "Why does that uncle look like a zombie?"

Tao Jun almost choked on his own saliva.

He is your uncle.

“Stupid.”

"..."

Dinner was Coca-Cola chicken wings and sweet and sour pork ribs, which Suning had made himself. Lu Qing had specifically looked up information and found that these were the most popular dishes among Chinese American children.

Coco took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up: "Not bad."
After dinner, Wang Liang took out a calculator and started doing the math, while Tao Jun went to the balcony to smoke.

Lu Qing wanted to help wash the dishes, but Coco stopped her: "Auntie, can I be alone with Dad for a while?"

Lu Qing forced a smile and tactfully left.

"Dad," Coco suddenly whispered after everyone had left, "is that auntie your girlfriend?"

Su Ning was wiping the table when she heard this and paused: "Why do you ask that?"

“The way she looks at you is like the way I look at a chocolate cake,” Coco said with an exaggerated expression. “And she’s been trying to please me.”

Su Ning couldn't help but laugh: "You're so clever for your age. Aunt Lu is indeed Dad's girlfriend, and she'll become your new mom in the future."

Coco nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly took an envelope out of her schoolbag: "Mom asked me to give this to you."

Inside the envelope was a photograph—a young Suning holding an infant Coco, his smile dazzlingly bright.

The back of the bag reads: "She's starting to look more and more like you."

Suning's eyes instantly reddened.

Coco looked at him curiously: "Daddy, why did you and Mommy separate?"

“Because Dad chose the wrong person,” Su Ning said softly.

"Like that time I accidentally ate the wrong pudding from the fridge?"

“It’s much more serious than that.” Su Ning ruffled her hair. “Alright, time to sleep. I’ll take you to eat real xiaolongbao tomorrow.”

Coco obediently went to wash up, but suddenly turned around at the bathroom door and said, "Dad, although this place is shabby, it's much better than the boarding school."

She flashed her first genuine smile, "At least I don't have to get up at six every day!"

That evening, when Suning was telling Keke a bedtime story, she discovered that Keke had already read the entire English version of Harry Potter on her own.

The little princess gradually fell asleep to his stories, her little hands still tightly clutching the hem of his clothes.

In the living room, Wang Liang and Tao Jun started arguing about the electricity bill again.

Lu Qing stood outside the children's room, listening to the conversation between the father and daughter inside, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She gently touched her lower abdomen and sighed silently.

Outside the window, the Shanghai night sky rarely has many stars to be seen.

In this crowded, noisy, yet strangely cozy shared apartment, everyone's life will undergo unexpected changes.

...(End of chapter)