Chapter 35: A Costly Treat

A few diners sat scattered around the small restaurant, its entrance blackened by smoke and cooking fumes.

Lu Xin slowly picked at the vegetable noodles before him with his chopsticks, his gaze drifting towards the counter inside.

Behind the greasy glass shield of the counter hung two plump chickens roasted to a glistening golden brown. Their contours practically pulsed with temptation, every inch sleek and oily as if the most primal desires seeped from their very pores. They seemed to tease Lu Xin relentlessly, stimulating inch by inch the irrepressible impulse that tormented his body and mind…

When was the last time he’d eaten meat?

Lu Xin could barely even recall.

Although many eateries sold some meat these days the prices were absurdly high.

Take these two roast chickens for example; one cost nearly seventy yuan, and just a single leg was twenty…

Twenty yuan!

Normally Lu Xin wouldn’t even glance their way but having recently earned a large sum he felt a bit flush.

So even as he mentally scolded himself not to think about such luxuries, he couldn’t quite suppress the hook tugging at his insides. His eyes kept darting towards the glass shield making the vegetable noodles before him seem utterly tasteless…

“Sigh…”

After more than ten minutes of internal struggle Lu Xin gave up resisting.

He finally rose slowly moved his stiff legs and walked to the glass shield.

“One chicken leg!”

He forced the words out.

Then for dignity’s sake he added, “A small one!”

“Coming right up…”

The boss behind the glass seemed to chuckle as if mocking Lu Xin for finally succumbing to the temptation, defeated by the two trump cards he’d laid out. He briskly weighed it on the grease-stained electronic scale then announced the price, “Seventeen fifty…”

Lu Xin returned to his seat clutching the chicken leg wrapped in oil paper and slowly dipped it into his vegetable noodles.

This way the broth and noodles could soak up some of the fatty juices too.

…

…

Lu Xin took a full half hour to finish the meal then walked out burdened by guilt.

Wincing at the expense he spent a coin on the bus which swayed and jolted its way to the Red Moon Elementary School in East City.

Seeing Lu Xin return so soon the old man in the security booth glanced at him but said nothing, lowering his head back to his newspaper. Lu Xin walked familiarly into the elementary school and approached the only classroom.

He peeked inside and saw a dozen or so children diligently copying the multiplication table written on the blackboard.

Lu Xin looked around but didn’t see Teacher Xiao Lu wondering what she was doing.

After a moment’s thought he pulled out the thick paper bag tucked in his coat and stuffed it into the rusty mailbox.

Afterward he glanced back saw the security guard wasn’t looking and quickly plucked a flower to place on top.

Then he breathed a sigh of relief his steps light as he prepared to leave.

“Lu Xin!”

Suddenly a soft clear voice called out from behind him.

Lu Xin froze pretending not to hear and quickened his pace towards the gate.

“Lu Xin stop!”

The voice behind him sounded anxious and was rapidly approaching.

Lu Xin immediately sped up walking faster and faster quickly exiting the school gate.

“Old Man Sun stop him…”

The voice behind shouted loudly but the old man in the security booth merely turned a page of his newspaper deliberately.

“Don’t run…”

The voice grew increasingly desperate.

But how could she possibly catch up to Lu Xin? The voice grew fainter and fainter.

“Ouch…”

Just then a cry of pain rang out followed by the sound of a wheelchair hitting something.

Startled Lu Xin quickly turned around.

He saw Teacher Xiao Lu sitting in her wheelchair yelling “Ouch!” while slapping the wheelchair to mimic the sound of a crash. A slightly smug smile played on her lips as she looked towards the turned Lu Xin.

The moment their eyes met Lu Xin knew he’d lost; he couldn’t run anymore.

Teacher Xiao Lu then rolled her wheels slowly coming to a stop in front of Lu Xin and looked up at him.

Lu Xin could only look back at her. Teacher Xiao Lu had a lovely oval face and soft hair tied back in a neat ponytail. She wore a pale yellow sweatshirt with a rolling cat printed on it paired with jeans and clean sneakers. Compared to the gloomy tones of this world she always seemed bright and warm.

“Are you bullying me because my two wheels can’t outrun your two legs?”

Reaching Lu Xin Teacher Xiao Lu shot him an annoyed glance her tone slightly exasperated.

“No no I didn’t hear you just now…”

Lu Xin could only smile awkwardly and explain trying to move behind her to push the wheelchair.

“So you’re saying my voice is too quiet?”

Teacher Xiao Lu grabbed Lu Xin’s hand pulling him back in front of her and continued to look up at him.

“No…”

Lu Xin scratched his head awkwardly pulling his hand back.

“Alright enough of that. Did you bring me money again?”

Teacher Xiao Lu glanced back towards the mailbox. “How much this time?”

“It’s not much…”

Lu Xin answered awkwardly clearly wanting to avoid the topic.

“It’s only been a few days since the last time you brought money. And why did you bring so much last time?”

Teacher Xiao Lu’s expression turned serious even stern as she looked into Lu Xin’s eyes asking in a low voice:

“Have you been doing something bad?”

…

“Hmm?”

It took Lu Xin a moment to understand why she was asking.

He quickly shook his head explaining “No no…”

Teacher Xiao Lu eyed him suspiciously looking him up and down her expression turning shocked. “Are your kidneys still there?”

“Of course they are both of them!”

Lu Xin was taken aback for a second quickly adding “I just found a part-time job recently! The boss is very generous gave me a bonus!”

Teacher Xiao Lu frowned. “Did that boss hit their head on a door? Giving you so much money!”

Lu Xin thought about Chen Jing’s attractive head which didn’t look like it had been hit by a door so he could only shake his head. “No you don’t need to worry. I really haven’t done anything bad. This part-time job pays really well and it’s super legitimate. The headquarters is in the Main City. My base salary alone is over five thousand a month plus lots of extra allowances. What I brought over is just a small part…”

Teacher Xiao Lu listened looking surprised then suddenly asked “Did you join an Outside-the-city Scavenging Team?”

Lu Xin quickly shook his head. “No don’t worry it’s very safe…”

He hesitated wanting to tell Teacher Xiao Lu about it but remembered the file said not to disclose information about the Special Pollution Cleanup Department to outsiders unless absolutely necessary to avoid causing unnecessary panic. Even people in Qin Ran’s company who got involved in special pollution incidents sometimes had their related memories erased.

Teacher Xiao Lu looked intently at Lu Xin’s face studying it carefully.

She couldn’t see anything particularly worrying in his expression.

Then she slowly nodded. “I believe you. But you absolutely must not do anything bad okay…”

Lu Xin nodded. “Definitely not. I remember what the old Director said!”

Teacher Xiao Lu fell silent for a moment then said “Alright then push me back!”

Lu Xin obediently moved behind her pushing her wheelchair slowly back towards the school. As they passed the security booth the old man inside chuckled softly turned another page of his newspaper and even deliberately raised it slightly hiding the smile on his face.