"Uncle, how do you read this word?" Lv Shu read the Pinyin in his textbook.

"This word is read as 'Su'." The man had just returned from work, hung up his police uniform, and came over to guide him.

"So that's how the simplified character is written..." Lv Shu silently noted it down.

"Come, Little Tree, it's time for dinner." Half an hour later, the aroma of food wafted through the living room.

Lv Shu, who had been studying all day, immediately ran over to help the man with the bowls.

The man had helped so many people that he hadn't had time to manage his own marriage affairs and was always alone. Now with Lv Shu, the house finally felt more homely.

"I've been staying for several months. Uncle, when should I start looking for work?" Lv Shu felt embarrassed to eat and live for free.

But the man said, "You're not an adult yet, focus on your studies first."

"Oh." Lv Shu responded sullenly. Lately, he had been feeling a constant headache, as if something was blocked. But when he asked the man, he was told it was nothing.

"By the way, Little Tree, I bought you plum blossom cakes, they're on your desk. Later, come with me to the mall, summer is coming, I'll buy you a few shirts." The man said with a smile.

"You don't have to..." Lv Shu said in a low voice, he had already owed too much.

"A young guy can't wear my clothes, it's fine." The man waved his hand.

Suddenly, Lv Shu thought of something: "Uncle, do you know why my hair turned white?"

The man's eyes dimmed for a moment, then he quickly shook his head, "You know how those people in cartoons change their hair color? It's normal, don't worry about it."

Lv Shu nodded. Recently, the TV station had been airing "Balala the Fairies," which he couldn't figure out how to use the TV, so he just watched it. The protagonist indeed changed hair colors, so his white hair shouldn't be a big deal.

Lv Shu continued living there.

The once refined young gentleman who had never touched housework gradually learned to sweep, mop, wash dishes... except for cooking; after the man let him try once or twice, he was banned from the kitchen.

He gradually learned to use the "black box," understood what a "QR code" was, what "internet slang" was. He tasted the city's unique flavors: fried skewers, grilled corn, stinky tofu...

The man taught him to recognize characters, and in return, he taught the man tea art and classical literature. Occasionally, they would sit together and play games, simple brain games for the elderly, but they'd always end up laughing uncontrollably.

—He had already found peace and happiness.

He took some medicine, but for some reason, his health kept worsening...

The year Lv Shu turned eighteen, the two of them celebrated New Year's Eve dinner together. Their relationship by then was no longer distant, it was almost like father and son, and sometimes when Lv Shu made mistakes, the man would even scold him a bit.

"Uncle, why do you help people?" Lv Shu finally asked the question that had puzzled him for a long time. He always saw the man constantly helping others, even though the man himself had little money.

"I'm soft-hearted. When I see such things, I think since I have the ability to help them, I might as well do it. In the end, the more I help, the more there is to do, and it seems there are endless people in need of help in this world." The man sighed, "So, I figured I might as well keep on helping, after all, everyone has their difficulties."

"You're a good man, Uncle." Lv Shu said.

"Haha, a good man... many people say that." The man chuckled.

"The 'good man' in my heart is different from the 'good man' in their mouths." Lv Shu looked intently at the man, "Uncle, you're the second good man I've recognized."

"Oh? What's the difference?"

"The first 'good man' I recognized was my grandfather." Lv Shu said, "Grandpa told me that in this life, one should recognize three good men as guides at different stages of life. After Grandpa passed, you became the second 'good man' I recognized."

"Little Tree, that means you're left with two slots, are you sure using one on me is okay?" The man didn't think Lv Shu was saying anything strange, rather he deeply agreed with Lv Shu.

"It's fine, I'll carefully choose the last 'good man'." Lv Shu said, "Grandpa told me, when all three 'good men' have left me, it would mean I've become a complete person, and would no longer need guides. Besides, I don't think I chose incorrectly, you really are a good man."

The man remained silent for a long time, as the scent of fish and tofu soup wafted from the table.

Lv Shu brushed away the large amount of white hair that had fallen, suddenly hearing the man's voice.

"Little Tree." The man said, "Would you like to be my godson?"

Lv Shu's eyes widened.

"I want to be your family. Over the past half year living with you, I felt that you're a very good child, and the house has become so much more vibrant..." The man seemed to have pondered for a long time, cautiously asking, "Is that okay? Shall we continue living together, just like the past half year?"

Looking into the man's sincere eyes, Lv Shu felt as if he had truly stepped into a beautiful dream.

No one in this world loves him without reason. But... isn't there one right in front of him?

"Okay..."

He felt a warm sensation in his eyes, as if the boy who died on Taihua Mountain briefly lived again.

It turns out there really is someone who can love him unconditionally.

Even if his hands are empty, with nothing else to offer.

…

At the moment of the New Year's Eve vigil, watching the distant fireworks bloom at midnight, Lv Shu clapped his hands together and silently made a wish.

He hoped... this happiness would never end.

When he grows up a bit more, he would repay the man's kindness. Then he would practice his blade skills well, and seek an opportunity for revenge... that day would surely come.

He would be happy.

…

[—Have you forgotten who you are, kid from the Lv family? Do you want to bring trouble to that kind man?]

…

A month later, Lv Shu received a message.

He knew who it was from—an enemy.

They had been watching him suffer, waiting until he enjoyed this brief happiness, to take it away from him. Or perhaps, the sender of the message was kindly reminding him: the enemy had targeted the man, and if he didn't leave, the man would be in danger.

... What was he indulging in?

Those people had dared to hunt him down, what would stop them from harming an ordinary person in the city?

"..."

Lv Shu put away his phone, ate his meal silently, and quickly left.

The shirts and shorts the man bought for him, the Plants vs Zombies toys, the little potted plants, he dared not take any of them away. He was afraid that taking them would bring trouble to the man. He only took one thing—a photo booth picture taken with the man half a year ago while shopping, costing 15 yuan per set, the cheapest yet most precious item.

In the photo, the man had a bright smile, Lv Shu was shyly looking down. At that time, Lv Shu's temple hair had a bit of black in it, now it was completely white.

He put this photo into his inner pocket, close to his heart.

He didn't tell the man the truth. The man had a strong sense of justice, but an ordinary person's sense of justice is worthless under those heavy burdens. Even if he shouted with all his might, it would be covered soundlessly in the end. People only see what's in front of the camera, but the controller of the camera is not them.

Even if he told the man, what good would it do? The Ancient Martial Families hold overwhelming power, and a man's roar would only bring danger.

So, he just left a letter. It read:

[To my adoptive father:

Recently, my relatives contacted me, and I am going back to my hometown. Thank you for your support over the past six months. Please don't be discouraged, you really are a good man!

My hometown has mountains and rivers; it's a very nice place, you don't need to worry. My relatives are also good people; they bought new clothes and new books for me, and peers the same age as me are looking out for me.

Anyway, I will live happily, and all my needs will be taken care of! In a few years, I will come back to repay you! Please give my clothes and books to the next child!

— Little Tree]

...

The dream ended.

His life stopped growing at seventeen, but in the year he met the light, his wounds were healed by gentle hands, like a Qing Zhu emerging after the rain; he began to grow again. But it lasted only six months... growth stopped again.

Lv Shu placed the letter on the man's bedside cabinet, taking a last look at the man's sleeping face. This was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a square face, a broad forehead, and chin, slightly fierce-looking brows and eyes, yet he was a very good man.

... this was the last look.

Lv Shu bit his lip, recalling that he initially asked the man his name.

"Just call me Uncle Zhao," the man said.

"Is uncle's surname Zhao?"

"Yes. Many policemen have the surname Zhao, and those who will help you are not just named Zhao; Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li could all save you. There are many good people in this world, not just me."

"Mm."

...

"Goodbye, Uncle Zhao..." The door closed, leaving that warm little home; he finally cried aloud.

This was his last big cry. Even when the illness left him unable to walk, he hadn't cried out like this.

Holding that photo tightly, he spit blood again.

He actually guessed how severe his illness was, he recognized the word "cancer," and the medicine he was taking was getting more expensive, as was Uncle Zhao's increasing worry.

But there was an account easy to settle—a box of medication he took was enough for Uncle Zhao to help more people. So why should he still take that medicine?

Not taking that medicine, more people could be saved.

Uncle Zhao could also reap more gratitude from others, instead of pouring his limited salary into a bottomless pit.

Fearful of meeting Uncle Zhao, he left this city he had stayed in for a long time and headed to H City.

Upon reaching H City, he returned to the state of dirty clothes and empty hands, and his documents were frozen, likely by enemies. But he didn't dare to return to that warm city, afraid that if he looked back, good people would be harmed.

In this world, evil people often thrive, while good people live difficult lives.

Perhaps he was fated to live a battered life in this world.

On the street, he saw some familiar vendor stalls, smelled the aroma of baked sweet potatoes... and met people's disdainful looks.

"Xiao Wen, let's stay away from him; homeless people have diseases that might infect you..." An adult pulled a child away from him.

He stood in front of the trash can, silently watching.

— Now, on his body, that invisible "blight" had once again appeared.

...

Without documents, he could only do illegal work.

Mostly exhausting, high-intensity jobs, running errands, working as a construction site bricklayer, moving goods under the sweltering forty-degree heat, going into the sewer in minus ten degrees... Not knowing the law or recognizing all the words, anyone could dock his wages. To fight against these bullies, he gradually learned to speak harshly and curse.

No longer a noble son, he had to throw himself into the filth to survive, mingling with all types.

Yet despite this, his body couldn't withstand the fierce physical labor, soon he started spitting blood again. Bosses dared not hire him, fearing he'd die on the construction site one day.

Without a job, he returned to the bridge underpass, curled up against illness. Although in a different city, it seemed nothing changed.

However, he no longer always gazed at the sky, envying those his age. Instead, he repeatedly recalled... those brief happy six months.

The illness worsened quickly; he began experiencing frequent blackouts and memory decay, his mind always blocked by something, those cherished memories gradually forgotten... He copied that address onto his clothes to avoid forgetting, but dared not go there knowing enemies were watching.

Clearly in the same city, Lv Shu dared not approach that teenager.

— He was a "blight," a single glance would cause sickness, he mustn't infect others.

Later, he found a way to barely survive—teaching blade technique. By charging wealthy kids, he could barely afford some medicine; more would be impossible as no blade technique school would accept someone without documents.

In September, while out collecting garbage, he suddenly fell ill, collapsing by the roadside.

Across the street, a group of high school students was crossing. A black-haired teenager in a school uniform saw him. Clearly others detoured around, not wanting to approach a homeless man, yet the teenager ran towards him.

"Are you okay?" The black-haired teenager leaned down, dressed in clean white uniform, striking a contrast with the dirty homeless man.

Lv Shu kept his head lowered, afraid to let the teenager see his face. But he overthought it; his filthy white hair messily covered his brows and eyes, anyone looking at the dashing young gentleman from four years ago wouldn't think they were the same person.

"Hey, 120? At Qing Shan Road, near Red Flag Supermarket, someone is sick... Hey, where are you going?" The teenager barely spoke a few words before Lv Shu managed to stand, limping away.

Under the gray bleak sky, rain fell incessantly, Lv Shu wrapped in soaked clothes, staggered forward.

He didn't know where he was going or how long he'd live, but couldn't accept the teenager's goodwill nor implicate him.

— He seemed to be a struggling ant under an eagle's gaze, an invisible hand gripping his throat. Whenever he sought survival, it pressed him back under water.

Unbeknownst, the teenager followed.

"Uncle, your illness needs healing."

The teenager couldn't see Lv Shu's face, only glimpsed Lv Shu's exposed, pitted, bruised hands—like an old man's hands. So he called him Uncle.

Those fair, slender hands meant for tea art and blade work had long disappeared under the soaking of swill.

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