Upon hearing about learning English, Li Jing frowned and said, "I wasn't good at English when I was in school, so I really don't have much confidence in this."

“If my brother can learn it, why can’t you? You don’t need to study those exam-related things. Don’t you have a tape recorder at home? Just listen to English songs and learn as much as you can.” Hua Kai understood the backwardness of rural children in English in this era, so she didn’t want her to learn too well, but knowing a little would be an advantage.

"Okay, I'll go home and find my English book. I can't do without your help; I'm not good enough on my own." Li Jing wanted to improve quickly, so she was determined to work hard.

"I believe in you." Hua Kai knew the drive and determination that rural children had after seeing the world; her older brother was a perfect example—he was incredibly hardworking. So she believed in Li Jing as well.

After finishing discussing the English topic, Li Jing whispered to Hua Kai, "Hua Kai, you're really amazing. Captain Ye is really rich too; this shop is huge."

"He is indeed rich. I don't know exactly how much money he has, but he never hesitates to spend money on anything that requires it." Hua Kai's lips unconsciously curled up as she talked about Ye Yifan. She was indeed very interested in this man.

"Didn't you ask?" Li Jing asked again.

Hua Kai shook her head: "Everyone has their own privacy. I don't like to ask too much. I respect other people's lives. If they want to talk about it, they will."

Li Jing, seemingly understanding but not quite, said, "I've learned something; I'm still too naive."

At this moment, Ye Yifan was unaware of Hua Kai's thoughts. If he had known that Hua Kai was thinking this way, he would have quickly told her everything about himself. He thought that Hua Kai was not interested in his affairs.

Ye Yifan was also very busy afterward because the store was opening and he had invited a few friends and people from Huakai's family, so he had booked a restaurant in advance.

When the weekend came, Hua Kai didn't go home; instead, she went to the shop to start painting murals.

Watching the flowers bloom, Ye Yifan painted with paint in her hands. When she bought drinks, she asked for a few straws.

When we got back, I opened a bottle of Jianlibao (a popular Chinese herbal tea brand), put a straw in it, and held it to Huakai's lips: "Have a sip of water to replenish your fluids."

Hua Kai looked at Ye Yifan and teased, "Is this service charged extra?"

Ye Yifan smiled: "If Miss Hua is willing, then I have no objection."

Hua Kai took a sip and said, "It tastes so good when someone serves you."

Ye Yifan said, "Then I'll take better care of you from now on."

Just as Hua Kai sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off, Gu Xiaoxue came in carrying fruit: "I knew you'd all be here, so I bought you some fruit."

Ye Yifan looked at Gu Xiaoxue and said, "I think you came here because you were planning to stay at the restaurant."

Gu Xiaoxue laughed: "Brother Fan, if you see through something, don't say it outright. Can't you give me some face?"

Hua Kai said to Gu Xiaoxue, "How do you think my painting is?"

Gu Xiaoxue looked at the plum blossoms and snow on the palace wall and nodded repeatedly: "Beautiful, it's painted so well. Flowers blooming, who exactly are you? How come you can do anything? You make me feel like I'm just wasting air by living."

Hua Kai smiled and said, "No, isn't it? Aren't you living to highlight my excellence?"

Ye Yifan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Gu Xiaoxue looked at the blooming flowers and said, "This is too humiliating."

After finishing her joke, Hua Kai stopped teasing and said, "You do a good job, you're a good person, and you have a good personality. You're so outstanding, why aren't you satisfied? Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Don't just look at other people's strengths, right?"

Gu Xiaoxue nodded: "You're the youngest, but you're the most insightful. By the way, I told my grandpa about opening a shop, and he supported me. He said it's good for young people to have more ideas, as long as it doesn't affect their work. My aunts are also here; they've both retired and are free now, so they told me they'd help out at the shop. I don't need to do it myself. My mom can also go over and keep an eye on things when she's free."

Hua Kai looked at Gu Xiaoxue with envy: "You're just showing off. Who else has such good relatives like you?"

Gu Xiaoxue laughed as well: "Don't even mention it, I'm really happy when it comes to family matters."

Hua Kai laughed and said, "You're just too lucky. You've seen my family; they all wanted to force me to drop out of school. Compared to me, how fortunate are you?"

Gu Xiaoxue looked at Hua Kai with some sympathy: "That's true. Your relatives really went too far. If you need anything in the future, I promise to do my best to help you."

Hua Kai said, "In the past, we were bullied because our family was powerless. Now it's different, so they can't bully us anymore. But if I need your help sometimes, I won't hesitate to ask."

Ye Yifan coughed and said, "I'm here for you if anything happens."

Hua Kai laughed and said, "If I had something to do, would I run away from you?"

Gu Xiaoxue's stomach rumbled at an inopportune moment: "I didn't eat breakfast this morning, shall we go eat?"

Hua Kai looked at the painting on the wall and said, "You guys go order your food first. I'll be finished in half an hour. Otherwise, the paint will be dry by the time I get back, and it will be a waste to wash it off."

Ye Yifan said to Gu Xiaoxue, "Go order the food. I'll stay here with Huakai and help her wash her paintbrushes later."

Gu Xiaoxue glanced at her watch: "Okay, I'll go order the food first, and we can start eating when you arrive."

With that, Gu Xiaoxue went out first.

Watching Gu Xiaoxue leave, Hua Kai resumed painting.

Ye Yifan took a few photos of her from behind with his camera. Hua Kai held a palette in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, wearing an apron and with her hair in a bun. The sunlight shone in, and the soft sunlight made her little face look like you could see her pores. Her little ears were half-transparent and pink, making her incredibly cute.

She turned to look at Ye Yifan: "What are you filming?"

Ye Yifan pressed the shutter: "Just taking a quick picture."

Hua Kai didn't think much of it and continued painting.

The painting is finished, and the two of them have tidied up. They will paint a few more paintings in the afternoon, trying to capture the style as much as possible, and using bold colors, but not too complicated, otherwise they won't have enough time.

While tidying up, Hua Kai talked to Ye Yifan about Meng Jing, because both Meng Jing and Gu Xiaoxue were indeed of marriageable age, and it would be good for Gu Xiaoxue to have a girlfriend, so that she could get out of Qiao Man's shadow.

Hearing what Hua Kai said about Meng Jing, Ye Yifan also felt that she was quite suitable for Gu Xiaoxue, and suggested that they have a meal together after the business opened so that they could get to know each other.

As they talked, they came to Meng Jing, whom they met through Meng Ming.

Before Ye Yifan could finish listening, her sour tone flared up: "Are you and Meng Ming on good terms?"

Hua Kai hesitated for a moment: "I can't say for sure. He's a rather special person. There are some things I might understand about him better, which is why Meng Jing thought of asking me for help."

"Special? What's so special about it?" someone asked with a sour tone.

"I can't say for sure. If you didn't know Meng Jing and Meng Ming, I might have said something, but now that Director Gu is involved, I really can't say for sure."

Ye Yifan stopped and looked at Hua Kai with a very serious expression: "What is it about him that attracts you?"