"Where should we go first?" Gu Chong asked her where she was going next.

Xue Fu glanced at him sideways and replied matter-of-factly, "Let's go to your house first."

Gu Chong hummed softly, and Xue Fu could clearly feel that he was pedaling the bicycle faster and with greater force.

She found it amusing but didn't expose it.

They arrived at Qingtang Village at 6:30 p.m., when it was almost dark. There were few people wandering around on the road, and no one noticed the two people being affectionate on the bicycle.

Gu Fei was still inside the house, warming herself by the fire while waiting for her brother and sister-in-law to return.

He finally caught a commotion outside and got up without thinking to push open the door. Sure enough, it was his brother and sister.

Gu Fei shouted happily, "Brother! Sister! You're finally back!"

He was the most excited, running and jumping over to help.

Gu Chong helped Xue Fu out of the car, and Gu Fei kindly untied the suitcase that was tied to the back seat and carried it into the house.

"The food is still warm in the pot. I've finished eating, you guys go and eat."

Gu Fei was quite considerate.

Xue Fu gave him a thumbs up, "Well done!"

Gu Chong wanted to say something, but Xue Fu pulled him into the kitchen. Her eyes were still shining brightly under the kerosene lamp, and she seemed to be hungry and eager to eat.

Gu Chong swallowed the words, "I'll do something else."

Let's improve the meal another day.

The food was brought to the main room, where a brazier had been placed beforehand, making the whole room warm and cozy.

Gu Fei didn't go to sleep; he was still excitedly waiting for them to come over in the main room.

"Oh right," Xue Fu had just picked up her rice bowl and wasn't ready to eat yet when she remembered the gifts she had packed for them in her suitcase. So she put down her chopsticks, got up, and went to open the suitcase. "I'll go get the things."

Most of the local specialties and gifts she brought for them were sent by express delivery; her suitcase was filled with food and fragile, valuable items.

"Hmm? What did you bring back?" Gu Chong asked curiously.

"A gift!" Xue Fu chuckled twice and took out two oil paper packets from the box.

She placed two oil paper packages containing pastries on the table, then turned her head and gestured to Gu Fei to come and open them.

"Xiao Fei, quickly open it and try it, see if you like it."

Xue Fu had a small box in her hand, but it was much smaller than the two oil paper packages.

While Gu Fei's attention was focused on the pastries, she casually handed the small box to Gu Chong, whispering, "Here, this is your gift."

Behind her, the fox's tail held high, and it said with a hint of pride, "I picked it out myself, so you're not allowed to dislike it."

Gu Chong was stunned, a surge of immense joy welling up inside him. Before he could even exchange a few more sweet words with Xue Fu, Gu Fei noticed their interaction and saw what his brother was holding. He instinctively asked, "Sister Afu, is my gift just these two packets of pastries?"

Xue Fu immediately denied it: "Of course not!"

How could there only be two packets of pastries? She carried a whole bunch of bags to the post office.

She immediately turned to him and explained how much she had bought for him—food, toys, and entertainment.

"I bought a few picture books, and I also bought a kite. Didn't you say you wanted to fly it last time? I bought one shaped like an owl, it's so cute!"

"Really?!" Gu Fei exclaimed excitedly. "I love it! Thank you, sister!"

"Hehe, then wait two more days. Once the package arrives, have your brother pick it up. I bought a lot, and the amount I gave you is much more than the amount I gave your brother." She spoke the last sentence softly, but Gu Chong still heard it clearly.

He sat there, holding the unopened little box in his hand, his mood rather complicated.

To be honest, I am a little jealous.

She felt that she was treating Xiao Fei so well, while neglecting him, her real older brother.

But Gu Chong couldn't use this incident to his advantage, lest he appear petty and narrow-minded as a grown man.

After all, Xue Fu was good to his family, so it must be because she loved his family as well.

Gu Chong liked the phrase "love me, love my dog".

He silently composed himself, but after finishing his meal, he went to the kitchen alone to wash the dishes. Taking advantage of this time alone, he secretly opened the gift Xue Fu had given him, like a thief.

Just now in the main room, for some reason, he didn't dare to open it under Xue Fu's and his younger brother's noses.

Inside the box was a men's watch, carefully wrapped in a handkerchief, with a simple and elegant design.

It looks somewhat similar to the one he gave to Xue Fu.

He instantly understood her intention in choosing this one for him.

My heart immediately felt incredibly sweet, as if I were soaking in a jar of honey, and I felt lightheaded.

Although the number of gifts was not as many as the ones given to Xiao Fei, Gu Chong thought to himself, if the quantity is not enough, the quality will make up for it!

This is a watch!

Gu Chong also felt that his petty comparisons were too childish, but men in love are just unreasonable.

Gu Chong chuckled foolishly as he touched the watch strap and dial, wanting to put it on, but then hesitated, afraid of getting it scratched or rubbed.

He stared down at it for a while, originally intending to put the watch and the scarf in the closet and keep them safe.

But this time, he still raised his hand and put it on.

It's a couple's set!

You can't wear a scarf all year round, but you can wear a watch.

After he put it on, every time he looked down at the time, it reminded him to miss her more.

Besides, he figured she hadn't made the watch herself, so if it got damaged, he could just ask Xue Fu to buy him another one. But if the scarf got damaged, she'd have to knit it herself.

That would be troublesome.

What are you grinning about here for?

Seeing that he hadn't come out of the kitchen for a long time, Xue Fu went to find him. She discovered he was standing by the cupboard, grinning foolishly.

When she got closer and took a closer look, she realized what he was grinning like an idiot for.

"You opened it?" He lifted the shirt up to his forearm, revealing a wristwatch on his wrist—the one she had given him.

Do you like it?

She asked him questions while observing his expression.

However, she was also guessing in her heart that he probably liked it, because the corners of her lips were turned up in a silly smile.

His voice was a little tense: "I like it." It was rare for Xue Fu to detect a hint of shyness in his voice.

"That's good, as long as you like it."

"Yes, I like it very much."

"Okay!"

The two came out of the kitchen. Xue Fu said a few more words to Gu Fei, then closed the open suitcase and asked Gu Chong to carry it.

She had to go back to the educated youth settlement; it was getting late.