It was just a coincidence that she thought of him.
I wonder how his injuries are doing?
She’d have to go see him tomorrow. Otherwise, that rascal would probably accuse her of being ungrateful.
She should think carefully about what gift to get him. Showing up empty-handed wouldn’t be very nice.
It wasn’t until Lu Shuangshuang realized what she’d done that she noticed she had written down half a page of things, all of which were things Xiao Xiang liked.
Lu Shuangshuang immediately felt a wave of unease wash over her. She spent half the night tossing and turning, trying to sort out her feelings, but the more she thought, the more confused she became, and it nearly drove her crazy.
The next day, Ye Zhiqiu was startled by Lu Shuangshuang’s haggard appearance. She assumed it was because she was upset about Lu Guangrong. “Shuangshuang, are you okay?”
Lu Shuangshuang waved her hand and let out a big yawn. “I’m fine, I’m fine. Just couldn’t sleep for some reason last night.”
“Oh, right. After work this afternoon, I want to go see Xiao Xiang and Xiao Wu. Zhiqiu, are you coming?”
Ye Zhiqiu nodded. “Yeah, I was planning to go over there anyway.”
In the evening, Lu Shuangshuang dragged Ye Zhiqiu to the supply and marketing cooperative near the martial arts school where He Bin and Ye Jiawu trained. They bought a whole bunch of things before heading over.
“Xiao Xiang, Xiao Wu, how are your injuries?”
Neither of them answered Lu Shuangshuang; they were both staring intently at the things loaded on hers and Ye Zhiqiu’s bicycles.
He Bin couldn’t help but ask, “Sis, are you two stocking up to set up a stall or something?”
Ye Zhiqiu glanced at Lu Shuangshuang and smiled. “Your Sister Shuangshuang bought all this for you two. If I hadn’t stopped her, she would have moved the entire supply and marketing cooperative here.”
“The kids are injured, after all.”
Lu Shuangshuang casually grabbed He Bin’s arm. “Don’t just stand there like a dummy, start unloading. I can’t hold the bike up much longer, this soda is way too heavy.”
She then remembered that both He Bin and Ye Jiawu had injured shoulders, so she quickly reached out to stop them. “Hey, don’t you two lift anything! You might make your injuries worse. Let me do it.”
Ye Zhiqiu stopped Lu Shuangshuang. “Shuangshuang, don’t either. Have you forgotten your wrist is still hurt? I’ll do it.”
“Senior apprentice brothers and junior apprentice brothers, there’s food!”
With He Bin’s shout, the kids who had been watching from the sidelines rushed over like a swarm to help.
“Just this once. Don’t buy so much next time. It’s not easy for you to earn money, so be a bit more frugal,” He Bin said quietly, standing next to Lu Shuangshuang.
Lu Shuangshuang raised her hand and lightly tapped the back of He Bin’s head. “You little rascal, telling me what to do now.”
“Although you’re right, it depends on whether the money needs to be spent. All this stuff is for you.”
He Bin pressed his lips together, trying not to show it too much, but his tone couldn’t help but sound cheerful. “You didn’t need to buy so much, though. You might as well have just given me the money.”
Lu Shuangshuang misunderstood. “Don’t worry, I won’t shortchange you.”
He Bin hurried to explain. “I’m not asking you for money, I meant…”
“Be a man, don’t be so fussy about money. Otherwise, it’ll be hard for you to find a wife later.” Lu Shuangshuang saw He Bin’s senior apprentice brother and waved to him. “Hey, Gao Feng!”
As He Bin watched Lu Shuangshuang bounce over, pull a high-quality pack of cigarettes from her pocket, stuff it into Gao Feng’s hand, and chat and laugh with him, he felt a strange, uncomfortable feeling in his chest.
After Gao Feng left, He Bin pulled Lu Shuangshuang aside. She shook off his hand, rubbed her injured wrist, furrowed her brows slightly, and said in a not-so-pleasant tone, “Xiao Xiang, what’s gotten into you?”
“You don’t like my senior apprentice brother, do you?” He Bin wasn’t one to hide his feelings and asked Lu Shuangshuang directly.
Lu Shuangshuang blinked, pointed at herself, then in the direction Gao Feng had gone. “What nonsense are you talking about? Me… liking Gao Feng?!”
“Just tell me if you like him or not,” He Bin insisted stubbornly, wanting an answer.
“I…”
Lu Shuangshuang caught herself, raised her chin, and said, “Why should I tell a little kid like you? What do you know, huh?”
“You little rascal!”
Lu Shuangshuang raised her hand to ruffle He Bin’s hair, but he caught her hand.
The boy’s hand was big and warm, and it was sweating a lot, whether from nervousness or something else.
He held her hand tightly, but with a careful gentleness, as if afraid of hurting her wrist.
Lu Shuangshuang’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively tried to pull her hand away from He Bin, but he quickly grabbed it with both hands. “I’m not a little kid.”
“Okay, okay, you’re not a little kid.”
Lu Shuangshuang tried to soothe He Bin. “Xiao Xiang, can you let go of me first, alright?”
“Shuangshuang, you still haven’t answered me. Do you like my senior apprentice brother or not?”
The persistence in He Bin’s eyes made Lu Shuangshuang a little scared, but she answered honestly anyway. “I don’t even know him that well. Why would I like him? I asked him to look after you and Xiao Wu, to not be too hard on you these days.”
“Really?”
“Really. I’d be a puppy if I were lying. Alright?”
He Bin couldn’t help but break into a bright, wide smile. “That’s great, that’s great.”
Lu Shuangshuang was momentarily dazzled by his smile and found herself smiling back.
He Bin stared at Lu Shuangshuang, a little foolishly, until she got embarrassed and lowered her head.
A breeze blew, and a strand of Lu Shuangshuang’s hair came loose. He Bin reached out and tucked it behind her ear. “Shuangshuang, you’re beautiful. I like you.”
Lu Shuangshuang’s head shot up, her eyes wide. “What did you say?!”
He Bin hadn’t expected to just blurt out his feelings like that, but he didn’t regret it. In fact, his gaze grew even more determined. “Shuangshuang, I said I like you.”
“No, no, no, you can’t like me. We’re too far apart in age. You’re still just a kid. I’ve always thought of you as a little brother.”
Lu Shuangshuang pulled her hand away with force, stepping back and waving her hands vigorously. “Xiao Xiang, you must be mistaken.”
He Bin followed her forward. “I’m not mistaken, I…”
“No! You are mistaken!” Lu Shuangshuang shouted.
“Shuangshuang, Xiao Xiang, what’s wrong?”
Ye Zhiqiu and Ye Jiawu had been talking on the other side. Hearing Lu Shuangshuang’s shout, she and Ye Jiawu ran over.
“Zhiqiu, let’s go.”
Lu Shuangshuang grabbed Ye Zhiqiu’s arm to leave, but He Bin ran in front of her, spreading his arms to block her way. “Shuangshuang, I’m serious. I know my own feelings. I don’t see you as a sister. I really like you.”
Ye Zhiqiu and Ye Jiawu were both stunned by this sudden turn of events.
“Sis, you can vouch for me,” He Bin said urgently, looking at Ye Zhiqiu.
Ye Zhiqiu looked at He Bin, then at Lu Shuangshuang. She saw the pleading in Lu Shuangshuang’s eyes; it was clear she was completely at a loss about the situation.
“Xiao Xiang, I can’t vouch for your feelings.”
“Stay right here. Don’t move!”
Ye Zhiqiu first pulled Lu Shuangshuang away. Once they were outside the main gate, she put her hands on Lu Shuangshuang’s shoulders and asked softly, “Shuangshuang, are you okay?”
Lu Shuangshuang shook her head gently. “I’m fine. Just… extremely shocked.”
“Wait here for me then. I’ll go have a talk with Xiao Xiang.”
