Although she had mentally prepared herself, when Deer Sis stood in front of the mailbox and withdrew the thick envelope, her expression changed immediately. She merely opened it a crack, glanced inside, and then quickly closed it, letting out a small gasp of surprise.<br>Then she turned around, looking at Lucas with a mix of caution and inquiry. Her voice was slightly tense, lowered as she asked, "You really didn't do anything bad?"<br>Lucas could only explain helplessly, "It's all legal income... and I've already paid taxes on it..."<br>"But it's... too much!" Deer Sis clutched the bag, her voice reflecting some chaos. "Actually... things here are quite fine already..."<br>"The little Miniature Spirit Animals can eat their fill every day, and they have warm clothes. Some kind folks have helped us find school materials, and I've been running to the City Council Office, hoping to get a proper qualification, so they can acquire identities and enter middle school in the future... Everything is going smoothly, we really don't need that much money..."<br>Listening to Deer Sis as she recounted these things, Lucas's mood also lifted, especially seeing her nervous manner. He felt like he had scored a small victory and cheerfully explained, "It's always good to have extra, buy them more meat, think about adding clothes when winter comes, and in the future, we'll need to move to a bigger place. Besides, your leg..."<br>He spoke slowly, looking at Deer Sis's leg. She was actually quite a tall girl, but she was always in a wheelchair.<br>At this time, small faces appeared at the window, eyes wide open as they stared at Lucas and Deer Sis. Some covered their mouths, giggling, while others whispered. One mischievous child made gestures with their hands imitating a kissing motion.<br>Lucas, watched by these little ones, couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.<br>Deer Sis suddenly raised her head and glared at them. "Whoosh" – all the little faces disappeared, obediently returning to their seats to copy their lessons.<br>Seated in her wheelchair, Deer Sis still appeared uneasy. She glanced around before stealthily pulling out a roll of money from the bag, stuffing it under her clothes, and then pushed the bag back into Lucas's hands. "You shouldn't leave it all here. If you give me too much, my little cabinet will be full soon. And what if it attracts wrongdoers?"<br>Lucas initially wanted to refuse, but hearing her, he had to hold onto the bag.<br>Deer Sis spoke earnestly, "Keep it yourself for now. If I need anything, I'll definitely find you!"<br>Lucas remained silent for a moment, then nodded gently.<br>"And..."<br>Deer Sis looked at Lucas seriously, reminding him, "I don't know exactly what kind of work you're doing, but if someone is giving you this much money, it must be either very exhausting or dangerous. At the very least, eat a bit more each day. Don't just have greens and tofu every day..."<br>"I do..."<br>Lucas took the money, smiling, "I eat chicken legs every day!"<br>"People who can afford chicken legs every day wouldn't only eat chicken legs every day..."<br>Deer Sis mercilessly exposed Lucas's lie and then let out a soft sigh.<br>Lucas didn't know how to continue the conversation, so the two of them sat by the window, in front of a bare flower bed, one sitting, one standing, somewhat silent.<br>Only the pale sunlight cast a dim glow over the world.<br>After a while, Lucas hesitated, "Deer Sis, about what happened back then..."<br>"What do you want to ask?"<br>Deer Sis turned her head, seeing Lucas look somewhat bewildered and hesitant.<br>She gazed at Lucas seriously, then smiled, speaking in a quiet tone, "Little Lucas, don't keep thinking about the past. 'Ask not how much sorrow one can bear.' Some things, it's a blessing not to remember..."<br>"..."<br>Lucas paused, then said, "Stop quoting old movies out of the blue, will you? I watched them too back then..."<br>"Bah, how uninteresting!"<br>Deer Sis changed the subject, "Come over for dumplings in a few days? We can add eggs to them now!"<br>Lucas's spirits lifted, and he nodded, "Sure!"<br>...<br>...<br>"What really happened at the Crimson Crescent Home back then?"<br>As Lucas left the Red Moon Elementary School, he was still silently contemplating this question. He vividly remembered everything from his time at the orphanage and some events after the incident. But the middle parts of his memories were always blurry. He constantly wanted to clarify what happened back then, so he would occasionally ask Deer Sis, but she refused to tell him, always dodging the question with poor jokes.<br>He even asked his family, but they were unwilling to say anything either.<br>So much time had passed, and sometimes he didn't even want to think about it anymore.<br>Often, he just tried his best to help Deer Sis because he felt rebuilding the Crimson Crescent Home was a task for both of them.<br>Since he had his family, he couldn't always help here, so he aimed to earn more money.<br>He used to feel that life was oppressive and endless, but now, he finally saw hope.<br>Is there anything better than working for oneself and making money?<br>Thinking this, he gradually felt better.<br>After walking a few stops, he boarded a bus and dropped a coin into the fare box.<br>When he was nearly home, he got off a stop early to visit a market gathered in the alleys.<br>Every evening, many people would gather here to sell various vegetables and even wild game. Many in the Satellite City would find any possible way to grow vegetables. Some opened gardens between ruined buildings, others filled rooftops with soil. Some even sneaked out of the city to farm in the fields beyond Qinggang City or hunted wild animals to sell.<br>The City Council Office generally turned a blind eye to this, sometimes even protecting it.<br>Lucas bought some items at the market, carrying bags large and small as he returned to his apartment building.<br>By now, night had fully fallen. The streetlights were sparse and far apart, casting a lonely darkness. As he went upstairs, the hallway was silent and unlit. This building was very old, and as the second Satellite City had more buildings than people, no residents had moved in. Some who did have gradually moved out.<br>The elevator remained unfixed, so Lucas took the stairs to the fourth floor.<br>Just as he turned the corner, he saw the warm light spilling from room 401 and his father's angry shouts.<br>"You brat, get back here. See if I don't skin you alive!"<br>His father stood at the door, face livid with anger, eyes blood-red as he shouted.<br>Meanwhile, his sister crawled back and forth on the hallway ceiling, retorting, "I won't. Come at me if you can..."<br>"If you come back, see if I don't chop you up..."<br>"Hehehehe, come out and hit me if you dare..."<br>Father raged, "Roar..."<br>Sister defiantly retorted, "Hiss..."<br>...<br>...<br>Lucas sighed, feeling the warmth of home as he slowly walked over.)
