Until Cen Dongsheng had moved half the luggage, An Zhizhen learned from him that his original purpose wasn't to help.
"I'm sorry!" Sister Zhi Zhen apologized hurriedly with her hands clasped together, "Dongsheng, I thought Aunt Wang had sent you..."
Aunt Wang worked for the neighborhood committee, and Cen Dongsheng was quite familiar with her. She arranged all the volunteer work in the community.
He was not a good man with a warm heart, and he had no interest in running errands and doing free labor for others, but if he hadn't volunteered, he never would have gotten a chance to get close to An Zhizhen.
Cen Dongsheng smiled and shook his head.
"It's okay, I don't mind. It's good that I came then I could lend a hand."
"Hmm..." An Zhizhen stared intently at Cen Dongsheng's face with a serious expression, and after a while, she revealed a pleasant smile, "Dongsheng, you really are a good person."
Today, Sister Zhi Zhen was dressed strikingly, a pure white tight sweater outlined her perfect, enticing figure, and the straight mini skirt was paired with black tights and high-top Martin boots that matched her mature elder sister aura while also highlighting a casual metropolitan beauty.
"Uh, thank you. But..."
Cen Dongsheng's gaze fell on the teardrop mole under her eye. Faced with An Zhizhen's praise, he felt somewhat conflicted.
In fact, according to his observation, the only real good person here was her.
He was aware that, in terms of moral standards and values, he was far from a "good person." At best, he had the minimum decency, but if the day came when he had to give up, he would abandon it without hesitation.
"Don't compliment me, I'll get embarrassed."
After regaining his senses, he replied half-jokingly.
"Hehe, I don't just compliment anyone; you're just too hard on yourself."
Sister Zhi Zhen deliberately used an old-fashioned tone to educate him.
"Young men as kindhearted as you are hard to find these days; now it's an era where everyone only looks out for themselves."
Although he was joking, because it was An Zhizhen who said it, Cen Dongsheng couldn't help but fantasize once again.
Yes, times have changed. A society's moral values could undergo a revolutionary change every decade; just like himself from eight years later, some thoughts seem out of place in this era.
"By the way, Dongsheng, since you didn't come to help, does that mean you actually needed to see me for something?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
Cen Dongsheng glanced at the old lady who was cleaning up in the bedroom and replied in a low voice:
"Let's find a place to talk after the hustle and bustle are over. It's not good if others hear this conversation."
"Oh..."
Sister Zhen stared at him, a light blush emerging on her cheeks as if she had thought of something.
"I...I understand, let's talk later."
...
Half an hour later, the packing was almost done.
Sister Zhi Zhen was cleaning the room, and Cen Dongsheng stuffed all the unwanted garbage into a burlap sack, planning to throw it away when they went downstairs later.
At this moment, he noticed that Granny was still in the inner room and hadn't come out.
He went over to check and found the old lady kneeling on a cushion, holding prayer beads in her hand and chanting with closed eyes.
The room was dimly lit, with two large red candles burning on a low table, the flickering faint flames lighting up the furnishings on the table: an incense burner emitting curling, green smoke and a black and white memorial portrait.
An Zhizhen walked up next to him and stood shoulder to shoulder with him at the front of the room, whispering.
"Granny Lin's husband passed away earlier this year; she fainted from grief at the funeral, and I was the one who took her to the hospital."
"...I see."
After the old lady came out, An Zhizhen asked her:
"Granny, you said you were moving, where are you planning to go?"
"What?"
Granny was a bit hard of hearing and asked several times before she understood the question.
"I plan to go to the monastery."
"Hadn't you said before that you were waiting for your grandson to return?"
"Yes, but he has already come, saying he's not planning to stay in the city. He and his friends are working elsewhere."
"He has already come?"
An Zhizhen blinked.
"Just a week ago. I remember Doctor An was also here. At that time, I forgot to introduce you two...haha, I actually planned to have you meet..."
The old lady's gaze fell on Cen Dongsheng and she smiled kindly.
"It seems I'm an old lady meddling too much, Doctor An, don't mind me."
"What are you talking about."
Sister Zhen chided.
...
Finally, once everything_was done, the old lady locked the door, and both of them helped carry the luggage down the stairs.
Cen Dongsheng and An Zhizhen accompanied her to the gate of the community where Sister Zhen had already called a taxi waiting there; they saw off the hobbling old lady as she got into the cab and left.
As the two stood side by side, Cen Dongsheng looked at Sister Zhen's profile, her face gentle with an ambiguous smile, making it hard to discern her thoughts.
He hesitated for a moment and said:
"Sister Zhen, you really do have a good heart..."
Even to this moment, he found it hard to believe.
In his mind, the ruthless big shot had transformed into a beautiful, cheerful, and kind-hearted neighborhood sister, making one wonder if it really was the same person.
But it couldn't be otherwise; after all, it was indeed the same face, and An Zhizhen had never changed her name.
"What? Now it's your turn to compliment me? Should I also learn to be as modest as you?"