Am I no longer an outsider?

Jin Bao'er looked quietly at Zhao Yuheng below through the rearview mirror.

He was gripping the thick rope, tightening and securing it again and again, walking back and forth on both sides of the carriage.

The people who were moving the goods had all left, leaving him all alone, busy with tasks all by himself.

Jin Bao'er watched for a while, but finally couldn't resist, pushed open the door and jumped out of the car.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"It's too hot outside, get in the car and sit down." Zhao Yuheng raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, his voice hoarse.

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and hurled the entire bundle of rope at the other side.

The rope end drew a solid arc in the air before landing steadily on the other side.

He immediately ran over and tied the knot.

Jin Bao'er silently followed.

Zhao Yuheng gripped the thick rope and pulled hard.

The cargo rubbed against the carriage intensely, his arms were taut, and the veins on his forehead bulged slightly.

Jin Bao'er reached out and firmly grasped the other end of the rope, then pulled together.

With his help, the rope moved much more smoothly in an instant.

"Hurry up and get up there, or you'll get heatstroke." Zhao Yuheng looked at him, his brows furrowed as he saw him covered in sweat.

"Hurry up and finish so you can get some rest," Jin Bao'er insisted.

Zhao Yuheng didn't chase him away anymore, but just kept his head down and continued working.

The two worked silently for another ten minutes or so before finally securing all the ropes and returning to the car one after the other.

As Jin Bao'er was about to climb the steps, she looked up and saw Zhao Yuheng standing below, one hand on his hip, quietly watching her.

"If you're going to help, then help. What are you standing there for?" Jin Bao'er glared at him irritably.

"Your leg is healed so quickly?" Zhao Yuheng's lips curled slightly, a rare hint of teasing in his voice.

Jin Bao'er: "..."

I haven't suffered in so many years.

I'd eat this again today for you.

But if you dare to betray me, I'll bite your neck off.

Jin Bao'er secretly swore angrily in her heart.

Before he could continue muttering, Zhao Yuheng stepped forward, his large hands firmly supporting his lower back and hips, and gently pushed him away.

Jin Bao'er easily climbed into the car.

The truck slowly entered the highway, its engine humming smoothly.

Jin Bao'er didn't dare disturb him while he was driving, so she sat quietly. She didn't know how long she sat there, but then waves of drowsiness washed over her.

My head bobbed up and down, and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Jinbao'er... Jinbao'er."

In his dazed state, someone gently tugged at his arm.

He opened his eyes and saw Zhao Yuheng looking at him with a soft gaze.

"what?"

"There's a bed in the back, go lie down for a while."

Jin Bao'er stretched, feeling uncomfortable all over from the hard seat.

He carefully crawled backward.

The car is more spacious than I expected. The small bed is narrow, but it's big enough for one person to lie down, like a single bed in a dormitory.

He frowned as soon as he lay down.

"Holy crap, Zhao Yuheng, how come your bed sheets are all yellowed like this?"

A faint smell, as if the clothes hadn't been washed in a long time, lingered in the air.

"It's so hot, and I'm out delivering goods every day. I don't have time to change anything." Zhao Yuheng kept his eyes on the road ahead and held the steering wheel steadily.

"So sloppy," Jin Bao'er said disdainfully. "You don't even bother to tidy yourself up. Who would want to be your wife if you didn't do something?"

"It's not for outsiders to see, why bother tidying up?"

Zhao Yuheng clenched his fists tighter, his gaze focused, but the tips of his ears turned slightly red.

"What do you mean?" Jin Bao'er suddenly peeked out from the edge of the bed, leaned close to his arm, and whispered in a soft, ticklish voice, "I'm not an outsider, I'm part of your family?"

Zhao Yuheng's arm stiffened, and while driving, he reached out and gently pushed his head back.

"Don't disturb me while I'm driving."

Jin Bao'er: "..."

It was quiet for a while.

"Don't you need to take regular breaks when you drive?"

"Twenty minutes of rest every four hours."

"Could we rest for another ten minutes?"

"No need, I'm not tired."

"Who cares about you?" Jin Bao'er immediately retorted, "I just want to lie down a little longer, is that not allowed?"

Zhao Yuheng listened and couldn't help but chuckle softly, a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.

I thought he was just being sentimental; I was just deluding myself.

Upon arriving at the service area, Zhao Yuheng first helped Jin Bao'er out of the car and led him into the service area restaurant.

He ordered a bowl of beef rice noodles.

Jin Bao'er was immediately shocked when she saw the price: "Wow, it's so expensive? Let's not eat it."

Normally, this money could buy three meals.

"You're a great writer, why are you so stingy with this little bit of money?" Zhao Yuheng chuckled and paid directly by scanning the QR code.

Jin Bao'er was taken aback, then suddenly looked up: "How did you know I'm a famous writer? Were you secretly following me?"

He deliberately tiptoed and leaned close to Zhao Yuheng's ear, his voice soft and sticky.

Zhao Yuheng froze for a moment when he was suddenly brought close to him.

Even the aunties passing by couldn't help but take a second look.

Jin Bao'er mischievously blew a breath gently into his ear.

Zhao Yuheng's right ear instantly turned bright red, the redness spreading all the way down to his neck.

Without saying a word, he picked up Jinbao'er's rice noodles and quickly walked to the table next to him to sit down.

Jin Bao'er secretly laughed to herself.

After not seeing you for several years, how come you've become so innocent?

He took two bites of rice noodles, then his brows furrowed immediately. He found it too difficult to swallow and put his chopsticks down.

"Eat quickly, or you'll be hungry later." Zhao Yuheng was already eating his instant noodles, and he had almost finished the soup.

"It doesn't taste good." Jin Bao'er crossed her arms, clearly not wanting to move.

Zhao Yuheng frowned slightly.

"Starting to be a picky eater now?"

He saw that Jin Bao'er seemed completely unmoved by reason.

In the end, she silently pulled the bowl in front of her and lowered her head to eat quietly.

The taste was actually alright, but this kid has been spoiled.

As agreed, they rested for another ten minutes.

Zhao Yuheng went to the restroom, and when he returned, Jin Bao'er had already packed her things and was urging him to leave.

"Take another ten minutes of rest," he said.

"Weren't you in a hurry? You've been resting for half an hour already."

"obedient."

Zhao Yuheng picked up a toothpick from the table and slowly picked his teeth.

I barely ate any meat, but it still got stuck in my teeth.

Jin Bao'er looked at it and secretly thought to herself: "I'm getting old, my teeth aren't working anymore."

He didn't say anything more; he was happy to rest anyway.

Before setting off, Zhao Yuheng suddenly ran to the convenience store and handed Jin Bao'er a bottle of orange juice when he returned.

"I haven't drunk this for a long time." Jin Bao'er pouted. "Still so domineering, buying it without even asking."

Now that I'm older, I don't really like drinking sweet drinks anymore.

He originally thought it would be at most a bottle of mineral water.

"Drink it or don't, it's up to you."

Zhao Yuheng was stubborn, but he was a little annoyed inside.

Good deeds go unrewarded.

Seeing his slightly sullen face, Jin Bao'er couldn't help but laugh and immediately snatched the bottle away.

"I'll drink it, okay?"

He tilted his head back and took a few sips. Zhao Yuheng watched, and the corners of his mouth subtly curved upwards, so quickly as to be almost imperceptible.

"What are you holding in your hand?" Zhao Yuheng suddenly noticed that he had an extra delivery bag-like object in his hand.

"Bed sheets," Jin Bao'er answered matter-of-factly, striding towards the truck.

"Why did you buy that?" Zhao Yuheng was taken aback. "I already have one at home, I'm just too lazy to replace it."

He watched Jin Bao'er walk forward with small, quick steps, and subconsciously quickened his pace to catch up.

"Now that I'm sleeping in your bed, of course I can do whatever makes me comfortable," Jin Bao'er said matter-of-factly.

Zhao Yuheng: "..."

Back in the car, Jin Bao'er immediately unpacked the package and started changing the sheets.

Zhao Yuheng didn't rush to drive; he just sat in the driver's seat and quietly watched from the side.

His original bed sheets were white, but they had long since turned yellow and stiff from being soaked in sweat.

Jin Bao'er changed into a blue bed with light patterns, like a clean sea, refreshing and pleasant.

It instantly softened the feel of the small space.

He lay on the bed, carefully tidying the corners. His small figure was quiet and unassuming, yet it brought a sense of peace.

A light, soft, and hot warmth slowly welled up from my heart.

For the first time in five years, he felt that this car, which he had been traveling around without any roots, was like a home.