Chapter 36

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked that question," Lin Yihang said.

"It's okay! There's nothing you can't ask," Tong Xiaoyan replied unexpectedly calmly. "Before Lulu was born, her father had already passed away."

Tong Xiaoyan handed over a skewer of chicken wings.

The fragrant grilled chicken wings, skewered on an iron rod, were golden yellow, sprinkled with cumin powder, and looked very appetizing.

"Tong Jie, your skills are really great!"

Lin Yihang took a bite, chewing and praising. He changed the subject; the previous topic was too heavy.

"Hehe, then eat more. It's on me. I'll grill you a couple more. There are so many chicken wings left, and at this time, there probably won't be any more customers."

Tong Xiaoyan smiled and took another skewer of chicken wings, placing it on the iron plate.

The hot iron plate made the chicken wings sizzle and ooze oil.

In early April, the night breeze was quite cool. Sitting by the charcoal, grilling chicken wings, the atmosphere was quite pleasant.

Lin Yihang ate three skewers of chicken wings, nine wings in total, and felt warm and comfortable in his stomach.

After eating, he wiped his mouth with a napkin, hesitating slightly. Although Tong Jie said it was on her, considering her situation, she clearly needed money. Eating for free made him feel a bit guilty. If he paid, given her personality, she might be unhappy.

Just as he was thinking, Tong Jie had already sensed Lin Yihang's intention and her face turned serious.

"Just a few skewers, don't mention money! Otherwise, you're not treating me like a sister. If you hadn't appeared suddenly, that guy wouldn't have left so easily. In the end, I should thank you!"

Lin Yihang smiled bitterly, knowing she was talking about the creepy man. Indeed, if it weren't for him, that creepy guy might have continued to harass her.

It's hard for women to start a business, and even harder for beautiful women!

"No! If Tong Jie treats me, I won't be polite. I was just thinking, with such good skills, why don't you open a store! At least you wouldn't have to work so hard, and Lulu wouldn't have to suffer."

"That's not so easy! A prime location, even a small shop, would cost tens of thousands in rent alone. In a less central area, the rent is cheaper, but the foot traffic is low, and sales might not even cover the rent... Forget it, let's not talk about it. Life is tough, so you must study hard and get into college."

Tong Xiaoyan said this while tidying up.

Then, she bent down to pick up Lulu.

"I'll do it!" Lin Yihang stepped forward and picked up Lulu.

"Can we finally go home, Mom? Hmm? Uncle Yihang..."

The little girl mumbled a few words, her eyes barely opened before closing again, her face resting on Lin Yihang's shoulder.

"Ah!" Tong Xiaoyan sighed.

Clearly, she was uncomfortable with Lulu suffering.

Maybe I can help Tong Jie?

Lin Yihang thought, seeing how hard her life was.

Since moving into the small apartment, Tong Jie had been very caring to him, not charging a deposit, and now grilling him a few skewers of chicken wings... and other small details, making them more like siblings.

Although Lin Yihang had no money now, helping Tong Jie was not impossible.

However, he couldn't say anything yet since he hadn't done anything.

Lin Yihang carried the little girl, and Tong Jie pushed the food cart. The two walked back together.

The cool night breeze blew, and the dim streetlights cast their shadows, sometimes in front, sometimes behind, stretching and shortening...

After a few days of physical training, Lin Yihang's figure was still slim but had become somewhat stronger. Tong Xiaoyan's figure was perfectly curved, a perfect embodiment of feminine beauty. The two walking together looked very harmonious.

Lin Yihang felt a slight flutter in his heart, a strange feeling.

Before he transcended, Lin Yihang was not a strict ascetic. He occasionally joked with female cultivators and even enjoyed physical intimacy.

But such a flutter had never happened before.

Why now?

After the flutter, Lin Yihang first thought about the reason.

Merging with his predecessor's memories had influenced his personality, which was undeniable.

Moreover, encountering a great calamity in the secret realm, losing all his cultivation, and his Dao heart weakening, was the fundamental reason.

Understanding this, Lin Yihang was not overly alarmed but felt relieved.

The Dao heart, though seemingly intangible, is supported by cultivation. With high cultivation, the mind and body are less affected by external things.

In his previous life, Lin Yihang started cultivating from childhood, achieving some success in his youth, reaching the辟谷 (abstinence from grains) realm, where he could go without food or sleep, and his body had no desires. When considering things, he focused on benefits. Feeling a flutter was naturally difficult.

Now, having this experience, Lin Yihang found it fresh and enjoyable.

As for the Dao heart... with the improvement of cultivation, he would naturally regain it, or the trials of the mundane world would make it more solid.

This is the principle of cultivators entering the world to be tested.

...

Beside him, Tong Jie clearly felt the same atmosphere, her face slightly flushed.

As a single mother, she had to struggle on her own, facing all kinds of bullying. Now, walking with a young man, seeing Lulu sleeping soundly on Lin Yihang's shoulder, and thinking about the past when she had to wake Lulu up no matter how tired she was, making her walk drowsily beside her...

Maybe it's time to find a father for Lulu?

Her previous concerns were that Lulu might not adapt to a stepfather and that a man might not be good to her. But now, having a man around seemed like a normal part of life.

Neither of them spoke, walking quietly, but neither felt bored. The distance from here to the small apartment was not far. However, after turning into a small alley from Weiming Street, most of the streetlights were broken, and the road was poorly maintained, with uneven steps.

There was also a drunk man lying by the roadside, vomiting.

Tong Jie clearly showed fear and moved closer to Lin Yihang.

Lin Yihang sighed slightly, feeling pity for this woman. Today, he was with her, but usually, only Tong Jie and Lulu walked this road. How did they manage? How anxious were they?

"Phew!"

Entering the apartment and locking the main door, Tong Jie finally breathed a sigh of relief. Clearly, she had been very nervous.

The apartment had a garage with a roller shutter. Tong Jie opened it, pushed the food cart inside, and locked it again.

"The food cart has oil on it, and if left outside, it would attract rats. I specially repaired the garage to make it well-sealed, so rats can't get in."

"Oh!"

Lin Yihang nodded. No wonder he hadn't seen the food cart before.

"Hey? Whose electric scooter is this? Yours?" Under the light, Tong Jie noticed a brand new electric scooter in the corner of the yard.

"Yes!" Lin Yihang nodded.

"New, put it in the garage!"

Tong Jie said, reopening the garage door.

"No need." Lin Yihang waved his hand.

Although he liked the electric scooter, he didn't really care for it that much.

With his abilities, he was confident that in one or two months, he would turn things around, gaining wealth and status. If he still cared about the electric scooter after one or two months... that would truly be embarrassing for a cultivator.

Even if he used it heavily in the meantime, the electric scooter wouldn't wear out much. There was no need to maintain it.

"Don't be polite. I already have two keys, and I was planning to give one to Xiaoqing. Help her push her bicycle in too!"

Tong Jie was being very assertive.

Tong Jie was a good person. There was no agreement about the garage when renting, but now she was letting everyone use it for free and taking care of everyone in many ways.

"Okay!"

Lin Yihang didn't refuse further, as it would have been too pretentious.

"Only this..." Lin Yihang patted Lulu's small shoulder.

"Leave it to me!" Tong Jie went over to pick up Lulu.

As they got closer, Lin Yihang could hear her breathing. Her arm reached out, and as she hugged Lulu, her chest inevitably pressed against Lin Yihang's arm.

Lin Yihang's heart fluttered, and the softness made him want to rub against it more.

He immediately scolded himself for being an animal. Tong Jie was such a good person, and they were just having normal contact. How could he have such dirty thoughts?

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