Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Orange juice…” Cheng Zhiyan helplessly looked down at the beverage that was shoved into his hands and shook his head. He didn’t want to put any more effort into explaining to Xiaotu that he didn’t like to drink orange juice.
“All right, Brother Orange Juice, let’s go home now.” Xiaotu rushed to her locker, picked up her backpack, and put it over her shoulder with self-assurance. Then she ran back toward Cheng Zhiyan and squeezed her soft little hand into his hand as she said, “My stomach is growling. I’m starving.”
Xia Feng, who’d been busy imitating a turtle crawling on the floor, had stood up when Cheng Zhiyan had entered. Now, he stood with both arms crossed in front of his chest as he said mirthfully, “Cheng Zhiyan, you’re here.”
“Xia Feng.” Cheng Zhiyan called his name indifferently, and then his eyes swept over him and Xiaotu, who was standing next to him. He asked, “You skipped the cleanup just so you could come pick up Xiaotu from preschool?”
“Yeah.” Xia Feng shrugged and then complained to Cheng Zhiyan. “You have no idea how difficult your girlfriend is to deal with. She’d already told the teacher that she knew me, but she wouldn’t leave with me. No matter how much I told her that I’d take her to go buy candy and beverages, she wouldn’t leave the classroom. She said that if she left, you’d be sad when you came to pick her up and couldn’t find her.”
Cheng Zhiyan lowered his head and glanced at Xiaotu, who was standing beside him with her fair-skinned, smooth little baby face raised up to him, as she batted her eyelashes, while carefully listening to his and Xia Feng’s conversation.
“I would be sad?” Cheng Zhiyan repeated the words in amusement.
“Yes.” Xiaotu nodded. “If you couldn’t find me, you’d definitely be sad.”
“Oh, so you’re certain of that?”
“Of course.” Xiaotu said with a smile, “Mommy said that little kids shouldn’t wander around because if they ever got lost, Mommy would be so sad. So if Brother Orange Juice couldn’t find me, he’d be sad as well.”
“Oh…” Xia Feng suddenly slowed down his words as he eyed Cheng Zhiyan and spoke derisively, “According to Xiaotu, you’re simply her nanny.”
“Get lost.” Cheng Zhiyan airily spit out these words to Xia Feng. After bidding good-bye to the teacher, he turned around and headed out of the classroom, leading Xiaotu by the hand.
“Ah, wait for me.” Xia Feng quickly grabbed his own backpack, then followed Cheng Zhiyan and Xiaotu as they all exited the classroom.
“Xiaotu, Xiaotu.” Xia Feng panted heavily as he ran out in front of Xiaotu and blocked her way. Then he asked while still out of breath, “Are you finished considering it?”
“Considering what?” Xiaotu stared at him in bewilderment.
“What do you think about letting me be your boyfriend too?” Xia Feng asked Xiaotu as he grinned at her.
“No.” Xiaotu curtly rejected his offer.
“Why?” Xia Feng was a little bit caught off guard since he hadn’t expected Xiaotu to turn him down so quickly.
“No interest.” Xiaotu said nonchalantly with her hands behind her back, obviously imitating Cheng Zhiyan’s mannerisms.
“…”
Xia Feng instantly felt overcome with confusion.
Goodness, for a split second, why did he get the feeling that he was asking Cheng Zhiyan out?
“Why don’t you have any interest in me?” Unwilling to take no for an answer, Xia Feng continued asking.
“When I say no interest, I mean no interest.” Xiaotu replied in a clear-cut manner.
“You learned that sentence from Cheng Zhiyan, didn’t you?” Xia Feng said, as he felt at a loss for words.
“Yeah.” Xiaotu nodded. “Brother Orange Juice says that sometimes. The phrase no interest can save you a lot of unnecessary trouble.”