twenty one

"Hello...? Can you still hear me?" Xiao Jian noticed that after he said that, there was no sound from Li Muqing.

"Were you just chased by a pig?" After a long while, Li Muqing finally replied.

"Huh? No...no..." Xiao Jian felt completely bewildered. He didn't understand why Li Muqing was suddenly insulting him again.

"If you're not being chased by a pig, why are you playing at being sentimental? How am I supposed to accept it when a blockhead suddenly starts saying all these emotional things to me?"

"Oh..." Xiao Jian threw the small stones on the ground into the distance with his sword.

"Have you had dinner?" Li Muqing asked.

"I've already eaten..." Xiao Jian answered honestly.

"If you're not busy, get some rest. You've been very busy these past few days! Remember to drink plenty of water to avoid getting a sore throat. I won't scold you since something happened at your house today. You borrowed this phone from someone, right? Return it to them. We'll talk when you get back. That's all, I'm hanging up now, bye."

"Bye-Bye."

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Jian felt much better. At that moment, Shen Hai returned and handed him a bottle of water. Xiao Jian unscrewed the cap, drank half of the bottle in one gulp, and then returned the phone to Shen Hai.

"Did you call your girlfriend?" Shen Hai asked, taking the phone.

"Hehe, no, he's a good friend," Xiao Jian said, wiping his mouth.

"I thought it was your girlfriend, seeing how happy you are." Shen Hai patted Xiao Jian on the shoulder: "Then I'll head back first. Take good care of your mother. We'll keep in touch when we have time. This is my phone number."

Xiao Jian took Shen Hai's business card, watched him drive away, patted his behind, and went home.

"Jianjian, you're back?" After Xiao Jian entered the room, Aunt Zhang was already awake. She leaned against the headboard, looked at Xiao Jian, and said weakly.

"Hmm, Auntie, are you feeling any better?" Xiao Jian walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Much better, much better... Jianjian... Auntie has something on her mind, and it all depends on you. Can you promise Auntie?" Aunt Zhang held Xiao Jian's hand tightly.

“Auntie, please tell me, I will definitely agree.” Xiao Jian grasped Aunt Zhang’s aged hand and answered with certainty.

"My lifelong wish was to hold my grandson... Now Xiao Ning is gone... My dream of having a grandson... now it all depends on you. Can you promise me that?" After saying this, Aunt Zhang's tears fell again. Xiao Jian felt a pang of sadness and quickly comforted her, "Auntie, I... I'll get married as soon as I graduate, and I'll make sure you can hold your grandson as soon as possible, okay?"

"Good boy..."

That night, no one said another word. Xiao Jian, Xiao Jian's mother, Aunt Zhang, let time slowly pass in the somewhat crowded little house.

On Sunday night, Xiao Jian returned to his dormitory.

Just as I put down my luggage, Wang Youai pushed open the door and came in.

"Hey, Xiao Heizi, what's up? Everything's taken care of?"

"Yes, they're almost done." He took a deep breath and answered.

Wang Youai sat on her bed, flipping through a magazine, then suddenly looked up at Xiao Jian: "Hey buddy, Wang Ting's been looking for you these past couple of days, I wonder what it's about! Damn, you've been having a lot of romantic encounters lately, haven't you? Why don't I ever get any of these kinds of good luck? I got her number, why don't you give her a call?"

Xiao Jian took the number, walked to the phone, hesitated for a moment, and then pressed the button.

"Hello?"

"Hello... this is Xiao Jian. Is Wang Ting there?"

"That's me, haha. You've been so busy these past few days, I couldn't find you anywhere."

"Oh, something happened at home."

"Is everything resolved? Are you all right now?"

"Um."

"It's not too late yet, would it be convenient for you to come out for a bit?"

"OK."

"Let's meet at the pavilion by the small lake near the front gate at 8:30."

"good."

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Jian quickly changed out of his clothes that he hadn't washed in two days, took a shower, and rushed straight to the pavilion.

Upon arriving at the pavilion, Xiao Jian found Wang Ting already waiting for him. He quickly went over and said, "I'm sorry, I should have come earlier."

"It's nothing, I just arrived early. Have you finished eating?" Wang Ting smiled.

"I've already eaten," Xiao Jian answered honestly.

"Actually, the reason I called you out today is partly to apologize to you again. I really didn't expect what happened in Xining to turn out this way. And also, and also..."

Looking at Wang Ting's hair being blown by the wind and smelling the faint scent of perfume, Xiao Jian thought, "This must be the scent of a girl—soft, elegant, yet deeply moving."

"Xiao Jian, I like you." Those simple words carried a hint of shyness, sweetness, anticipation, and nervousness in Xiao Jian's voice.

"Can we... date?"

Xiao Jian remembered what Aunt Zhang had said before he left: find a partner sooner, and Aunt Wang could hold her grandson sooner, thus fulfilling her long-cherished wish. He thought about it and realized he should find a girlfriend. From childhood to adulthood, he had never been in a relationship. Before university, he spent his free time farming at home. After starting university, he sold pancakes whenever he had free time, and had no time to think about relationships. Now, it seemed that Wang Ting was a good match. She was unpretentious, gentle, and generous—everything about her was Xiao Jian's ideal partner. Although they hadn't known each other for long, Xiao Jian knew that there was only one thing he didn't deserve: "a beautiful flower stuck in a cow's lap." So, after careful consideration, Xiao Jian nodded.

Wang Ting took a deep breath, and she did seem to relax a lot. She stretched out her hand and placed it in front of Xiao Jian.

Xiao Jian looked at Wang Ting in surprise, wondering what she meant. Did she want to shake hands with him?

Wang Ting smiled as she looked at Xiao Jian's bewildered expression and explained, "Shouldn't couples hold hands?"

After Xiao Jian realized what was happening, his face slowly turned red, but he still reached out and gently took Wang Ting's hand.

Wang Ting's hands were soft and small, and Xiao Jian could hold them completely. The moment they held hands, Xiao Jian's palms were sweaty. This was the first time he had such close contact with a girl, and to be honest, it felt pretty good.

Wang Ting said she wanted to buy some fruit, so Xiao Jian pulled her out of the school gate. As soon as they stepped outside, Wang Ting saw a fruit stand, which was exactly where Xiao Jian usually set up his stall.

"Boss, give me a few apples." Wang Ting, who had been led by Xiao Jian the whole way, had a big smile on her face at this moment. A girl immersed in happiness always looks exceptionally charming and beautiful.

This is Li Muqing's first thought when she saw Wang Ting and Xiao Jian holding hands as she was about to close up shop.

“Li…Li Muqing?” The moment Xiao Jian saw Li Muqing, he suddenly let go of Wang Ting’s hand for some reason.

"Hehe, you two look quite happy. Consider the apples you picked out as a gift for you both. I'm packing up now." Li Muqing put down her PSP, stood up, and stretched. "Didn't you say you were worried that this precious stall would be taken by someone else these next few days? I happened to have nothing to do, so I came over to reserve a spot and sell fruit. Now that you're back, my mission is accomplished! Haha, hahaha."

Hearing Li Muqing's hearty laughter, Xiao Jian had a strange feeling that he had done something wrong. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what he had done wrong. Looking at Li Muqing's bright smile, Xiao Jian was certain that this must just be his imagination.

It must be.