Chapter 23

At the dinner table, while eating, Zheng Xinxin mentioned what she had heard from the brigade aunt that afternoon.

As soon as Zheng Xinxin finished saying that the people from the neighboring brigade who ran a casino were going to be taken to shoot targets, everyone except He He showed a shocked expression.

Cheng Surin: "Really?"

Zheng Xinxin: "It should be true, I don't think it's fake. That aunt has no reason to lie to us. She wouldn't get anything out of lying to us. In a few days, this news should come from the next brigade."

Li Baiyun said, "The wicked get their just desserts; it's truly gratifying."

Sun Jiabao: "Damn, they're going to take him to be shot at. It seems really serious."

Zheng Xinxin said, "It's not serious at all. Just wait and see what happens."

After Zheng Xinxin finished speaking, everyone had almost finished eating, and people gradually left. Sun Jiabao, who was in charge of washing the dishes tonight, was waiting to collect the dishes.

He He and Zheng Xinxin returned to their dormitory together.

Chen Jingyi also returned, but she was called out by Chen Jingbai after only a short while.

Chen Jingyi followed Chen Jingbai to the big tree, which was some distance from the educated youth settlement.

Chen Jingbai handed over all the money he had earned that day to Chen Jingyi. “Today I went to the black market and sold the wild ginseng I dug up earlier. With other medicinal herbs, after deducting the round-trip fare to the county town, I made a total of three to seven yuan and fifty cents.”

Chen Jingyi looked at the thick wad of cash in her hand, some in small bills and some in large bills, and exclaimed in surprise, "So much!"

After her initial surprise, she looked at Chen Jingbai's somewhat tired face and asked with concern, "Was everything safe on the road?"

Chen Jingbai: "No problem."

Chen Jingyi felt relieved. She knew Chen Jingbai was a steady person. Although she was at ease, she couldn't help but worry sometimes.

Chen Jingyi then mentioned that she had earned eight yuan at the commune that day and had exchanged the remaining refined rice for grain coupons at the grain station, which she then sent home.

With what she earned today and what she earned before, Chen Jingyi was able to repay the fifty yuan she had borrowed from Cheng Surin. She was quite happy.

After they had some free time, Chen Jingyi started talking to Chen Jingbai about Cheng Surin: "Xiaobai, there's something I want to tell you. I talked to Cheng Surin a while ago."

Speaking of Cheng Sulin, Chen Jingyi blushed slightly. She didn't want to keep it a secret from her closest younger brother, so she told Chen Jingbai the whole story.

Chen Jingbai was slightly surprised. When did his sister and Cheng Sulin become interested in each other? How come he had never noticed this before?

However, he then recalled that every time Chen Jingyi borrowed money from Cheng Surin, Cheng Surin would lend it to her very readily.

Chen Jingbai realized that no matter how generous Cheng Sulin was, she wouldn't readily lend a large sum of money to others, but it would be different if that person was someone she liked.

Looking at the happy expression on Chen Jingyi's face, Chen Jingbai said, "Sister, I'm so happy that you met someone you like here. If Dad and Mom knew, they would be very happy too."

Chen Jingyi raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes, "Yes, I'll write to Dad and Mom another day."

A gentle breeze drifted by at night, bringing a touch of coolness to this sweltering summer.

Chen Jingyi went back first, while Chen Jingbai remained standing there, the wind blowing his black hair across his forehead.

He gazed at the girls' dormitory at the educated youth settlement, at the glass window that shone with an orange-yellow light, and pondered how to find an opportunity to ask He He.

Fate favors the determined. Chen Jingbai couldn't think of a way, but the person he wanted to see came out with a flashlight.

He followed her and said gently, "He He, are you going to the restroom too? I'll go with you."

He He was startled by the sudden sound behind her, and when she saw that it was Chen Jingbai, who had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding her, her body trembled even more.

Before He He could react, she blurted out, "Ah, okay."

Chen Jingbai lowered his eyes: "Were you frightened?"

He He: "Ah, no."

Chen Jingbai noticed He He's unease and said in a low voice, "You don't need to lie to me."

He He stared straight ahead, not daring to look at Chen Jingbai, and said in response to his words, "I was a little startled by your sudden appearance."

Chen Jingbai: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

He He was a little confused. She turned to look at Chen Jingbai, whose eyes were gentle and whose face was full of apology. "It's...it's okay."

He He felt a little guilty. She felt that meeting Chen Jingbai was definitely not a coincidence. How could it be such a coincidence that he happened to be in the toilet?

Her heart clenched painfully; her intuition told her that Chen Jingbai was looking for her because he hadn't received a reply from her yet.

The surroundings quieted down. Chen Jingbai didn't speak, and He He naturally didn't want to speak first, fearing that Chen Jingbai would press her for answers.

Before Chen Jingbai could speak, He He rushed into the nearby outhouse as if a raging flood was behind her.

Chen Jingbai, who was following behind, noticed He He's change. He frowned, wondering why He He seemed to be avoiding him.

Why? Was it because she didn't want to give him an answer? Or had she not made up her mind yet, but he didn't want to wait any longer?

Chen Jingbai was afraid that if things dragged on for too long, other unexpected things might happen.

He He finally came out after a long wait.

As soon as He He went out, she saw Chen Jingbai still standing not far away. She had been inside for a long time after she finished, enduring the nausea. Why hadn't Chen Jingbai left yet?

He He went over somewhat reluctantly, saying, "You're still waiting for me?"

Chen Jingbai frowned. He He was unhappy that he was waiting for him here. He knew that dragging it out would not end well. Now, in just one week, He He had changed.

Chen Jingbai: "Don't you want me to wait for you?"

He He didn't want to offend Chen Jingbai, after all, Chen Jingbai was going to be a big shot in the future. It was better to have more friends than more enemies, so she softened her voice and said, "Of course I'm not unhappy, it's just that it's been so long and I thought you had left. After all, it smells so bad here. I didn't expect you to be willing to wait for me for so long."

Chen Jingbai's expression softened. "I'm willing to wait for you no matter how long it takes."

"Mmm." He He was inevitably moved by Chen Jingbai's words, and her voice was very soft.

Chen Jingbai cut to the chase: "Have you thought it through?"

He He was still immersed in Chen Jingbai's gentle words when she looked up at Cheng Sulin, her face somewhat bewildered, "What are you considering?"

"Consider becoming my girlfriend." Chen Jingbai looked at He He very seriously. "Don't you like me?"

He He's eyes darted around, "I... I like you."

"No, I don't like you that much anymore. You're too fierce, and I don't like fierce people. I don't want to consider you as my boyfriend anymore." He He's tone became more and more certain as she spoke.

Chen Jingbai's face turned cold, the corners of his lips curled up, and a surge of anger gradually swelled in his chest, choking him and threatening to suffocate him.

He waited so long, and this was definitely not the answer he wanted.

He was very dissatisfied with He He's answer.

"You don't want to be my boyfriend anymore? If you think I'm mean, why didn't you think I was mean in the first place? Why are you only saying it now?"

He calmed down and said, "What do I need to do for you to think I'm not fierce? Just tell me, and I can change."

Chen Jingbai still maintained his usual gentle and measured voice, but He He could tell that he was unhappy.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at Chen Jingbai at all. "Don't be angry, okay? It's just that I think your face is too fierce, and sometimes it scares me."

Chen Jingbai has sharp and piercing features, and when he has a stern face and doesn't smile, he does look very fierce.

Chen Jingbai forced a smile, a smile that hid a coldness in it. "When you said you liked me and wanted me to be your boyfriend, why didn't you think I was fierce? Now you think I have a bad face?"

He raised his voice, "Or have you changed so quickly? He He, did you ever truly like me? Why can you be so fickle, changing so fast? You were just trying to appease me before, weren't you?"

She was making excuses, saying that his fierce face wouldn't intimidate him. To put it in the worst-case scenario, there was only one possibility: He He had never liked him from the beginning.

The thought that He He might just be a joke infuriated Chen Jingbai, yet he also hoped that He He didn't think that way.

He He felt like she was doomed. Chen Jingbai didn't believe her when she said he looked fierce, but if she admitted that she didn't like him, Chen Jingbai would probably be even angrier.

He He felt dizzy and wanted to close her eyes and curl up in bed to sleep. She forced herself to stay awake and slowly said, "You're very fierce right now, and I'm scared."

Chen Jingbai felt a surge of irritation: "I'm just afraid you don't like me. He He, did you ever like me at all?"

"I like it." He He stammered, her mind racing, but in the end she decided to say something Chen Jingbai would like to hear.

Chen Jingbai clenched his fist, his gaze shifting from He He's mouth to her entire face; her panic betrayed her.

Chen Jingbai pursed his lips, his expression not too good, but he quickly forced a smile: "If you like me, then you're willing to be my boyfriend, right?"

It doesn't matter, as long as he likes He He, that's enough. It doesn't matter if He He doesn't like him now, he will make He He like him.

Since his family suffered hardship when he was twelve, Chen Jingbai has never fought for anything. He couldn't even get his own things back after they were taken from him. But now, he wants to possess He He.

Chen Jingbai exuded a strong sense of pressure. He He's face turned pale, but she still mustered her courage and shook her head, "No, it's too fast now. I'm only twenty. It's too early to be dating."

As soon as she spoke, He He realized that this reason contradicted her previous actions in pursuing Chen Jingbai. The book she had read that afternoon gave her a flash of inspiration: "I, you... you are too cold. Last time I wanted to touch you, you dodged me. If we were really together, you wouldn't let me kiss you. Then there's no point in us dating. I just want to kiss my boyfriend."

Chen Jingbai smiled, "Is that so?"

He was giving He He room to refute, but He He nodded emphatically, affirming what he had just said.

"So this is what you like." Chen Jingbai approached He He, bowing his head. "How would you know if I'm willing if I don't try?"

He He looked up and met Chen Jingbai's deep eyes. When Chen Jingbai smiled, he could easily bewitch her.

Chen Jingbai: "Want to give it a try?"

On a whim, He He nodded. By the time Chen Jingbai leaned closer, it was too late for her to cover her mouth and refuse.

Chen Jingbai's warm lips approached her cheek, but unexpectedly, he didn't kiss her lips.

Chen Jingbai chuckled: "My girlfriend, what are you thinking? Did you think I was going to kiss you on the lips?"

He He blushed slightly, lowered her hand from her mouth, her heart pounding, and stubbornly said, "I'm not your boyfriend! You're so clueless about romance. In foreign movies, couples kiss on the lips. I don't want you to be my boyfriend."

Chen Jingbai was so different from what she had imagined. He always surprised her and kept her guessing. If Chen Jingbai really was her boyfriend, she would be quite happy. Chen Jingbai was really good-looking, but she was also inexplicably afraid.

Chen Jingbai leaned close to He He's ear, his voice low and husky: "Are you sure?"

Chen Jingbai imitated He He's favorite teasing gesture, and feeling the warm breath beside his ear, He He became somewhat annoyed.

He He thought Chen Jingbai was asking her if she was sure she didn't want him as her boyfriend, so she nodded slightly: "Sure."

She felt a gust of wind brush past her face, and then Chen Jingbai's warm lips landed on hers. The unfamiliar touch made He Heyuan's eyes widen, and she even stopped breathing.

They were so close, she could feel Chen Jingbai's soft breathing. She instinctively pursed her lips, but they were covered by Chen Jingbai's. Her lower lip was no longer hers, but Chen Jingbai's.

Chen Jingbai closed his eyes, thinking He He was responding to him, and imitated He He's actions, boldly pressing his lips against He He's. The soft touch was softer than anything else; even the feeling of her cheek when he kissed her earlier was not as soft.

He He blinked her clear black and white eyes, made a soft "hmm," and pushed Chen Jingbai away with both hands. "What are you doing!"

Chen Jingbai's face still held a tender and gentle expression.

Her lips were sweet, very sweet, even sweeter than he had imagined.

If He He says he doesn't like something again in the future, he has already found a solution: gag her so she can't speak anymore.

Chen Jingbai said innocently, "Didn't you promise me to kiss you?"

He He's face was still red, and she was speechless, choked with anger. "You!"

Chen Jingbai: "Would you like to come again? I like it very much too."

His words were very direct, so direct that He He wanted to find a hole to hide in. Her earlobes were burning hot, and her voice was soft, "Don't say anymore."

Chen Jingbai looked at He He with burning eyes, his face showing pleasure, and his voice was full of laughter: "Okay, I won't say anymore. Next time, just tell me what you want, and I will satisfy you."

He He bit her tongue, trying to clear her mind. Chen Jingbai was indeed not indifferent! He was incredibly enthusiastic! She regretted her irrelevant words.

The feeling of kissing was indeed wonderful, just like described in the book—soft and tingling all over. Chen Jingbai's action greatly satisfied her curiosity.

But! All of this happened so suddenly, she wasn't prepared at all.

Chen Jingbai looked at He He's still blushing face and couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheek with his fingertips.

-----------------------

Author's Note: The guy who successfully kissed said he needs everyone's nutrient solution to liven things up [hugs]