Chapter 9

He He nudged Cheng Sulin's arm. "Call her out alone to explain. What's the panic? Solve your own problems. I'm going back to my room. Remember to tell her."

After giving her instructions, He He walked forward. As she passed Chen Jingbai and Chen Jingyi, she greeted them with a smile, "Good evening, Jingyi. Cheng Surin needs to talk to you."

As she spoke, He He turned around and pointed at Cheng Surin, who was still standing there, saying that she had done her good deed to the end.

Chen Jingyi was puzzled as to why Cheng Surin wanted to talk to her after finishing his conversation with He He. However, despite her doubts, she nodded in agreement and walked towards Cheng Surin.

Chen Jingyi walked up to Cheng Surin and noticed that Cheng Surin seemed a little nervous, so she took the initiative to ask, "Comrade Surin, is there something you want to tell me?"

Actually, when He He called Chen Jingyi over, she was a little worried that Cheng Sulin wanted her to pay back the money in advance. She had promised Cheng Sulin that she would pay him back at the end of next month when she borrowed the money. After a moment of worry, she thought about it carefully and realized that Cheng Sulin had not called her over because of this matter. Cheng Sulin had not asked her to change the agreement between them.

Cheng Surin glanced at Chen Jingyi, then dared not look directly at her again.

Cheng Surin wasn't as bold as He He, who could easily say the word "like." Like most people, he was reserved and thought it was hard to express his feelings.

The moment he arrived in the countryside, he fell in love with the thoughtful, capable, and responsible girl in front of him. Over the past two years, he has taken the initiative to bring their relationship closer. However, Chen Jingyi seems to treat him no differently than other men. Cheng Surin is worried that his feelings might be too forward for Chen Jingyi.

But now He He is telling him to take the initiative, implying that other people like Chen Jingyi. Cheng Sulin is worried that someone will beat him to it, but he also wants to take the first step, at least to prevent Chen Jingyi from misunderstanding his relationship with He He.

Cheng Surin spoke up: "Comrade Jing Yi, I've known you for over two years and I've always admired you. You're kind, steady, bold, meticulous, and have countless other virtues. So I'd like to ask you, would you consider me? Or rather, would you be willing to form a revolutionary friendship with me?"

Chen Jingyi was startled by Cheng Surin's words. She swallowed hard. Did he mean to form a revolutionary friendship? Did Cheng Surin want to date her? But didn't he and He He like each other? Why was he suddenly confessing to her?

Chen Jingyi blinked, beginning to doubt if she had misheard, and hesitantly asked, "Comrade Su Lin, aren't you and He He a couple?"

"No, actually He He is my aunt, a real aunt. My grandfather and her mother are siblings." Cheng Sulin explained anxiously, sweat beading on her forehead.

Chen Jingyi had indeed misunderstood. He He, oh no, his aunt, was truly prescient. If his aunt hadn't reminded him, he would have foolishly thought that his feelings for Chen Jingyi were obvious.

His aunt was so good to him and even reminded him, but he was so ungrateful that he even misappropriated her money. Cheng Sulin vowed that he would treat his aunt even better in the future, and would never be unwilling again. He would treat his aunt wholeheartedly to be worthy of her sincere kindness.

From now on, he will never refuse his aunt's requests to do farm work again!

Chen Jingyi was stunned. She never expected that He He and Cheng Surin had this relationship. So she had misunderstood before. They were relatives and that's why they were close, not that they liked each other as she had guessed.

Chen Jingyi: "Then why don't you say you're relatives?"

"Um, well, it's because I don't like calling He He 'Auntie,' since she's the same age as me." Cheng Sulin paused for a moment, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chen Jingyi. "Jingyi, can you keep this a secret? I only want to tell you."

Chen Jingyi was delighted that Cheng Surin treated her with such seriousness, and he was willing to believe her, so she agreed without hesitation.

He He's side.

As soon as Chen Jingyi left, He He looked up and poked Chen Jingbai's arm. When Chen Jingbai looked at her, she asked, "Was the lotus flower cake delicious?"

Chen Jingbai's gaze fell on He He's opening and closing lips. "Delicious, thank you."

"I knew it was delicious. There's nothing better than lotus flower cakes. I'm sharing my favorite lotus flower cakes with you. Remember me when you have good things to do!"

For example, important events like the college entrance examination, and the opportunity to earn lots and lots of money after returning to the city, we can't forget about her.

If He He remembered correctly, Chen Jingbai and Chen Jingyi were also from the provincial capital. They could take her back to the city for the college entrance examination and then help her make a fortune!

He He tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with a lively light. Chen Jingbai couldn't help but think that He He's smile at him was because he could profit from it.

But he had nothing; what could He He possibly want?

Suddenly, Chen Jingbai recalled that before dinner, behind the house, He He had inexplicably touched his lips and praised him for being handsome. Right, he also had a face that He He could respect.

After He He praised his good looks and took advantage of him, she was just hanging out with Cheng Sulin again. Did she touch Cheng Sulin's lips and praise him for being good-looking?

Chen Jingbai stared at He He, trying to discern her true intentions from her seemingly harmless face. He He blinked her round almond-shaped eyes, appearing very obedient, but that was only an appearance.

Her lips were slightly parted, revealing a few sharp teeth, much like the sharp teeth of a small animal that could bite someone's skin at any moment. He He was wicked; after teasing him, she was pulling and tugging at Cheng Sulin.

Chen Jingbai withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at He He, and his tone became indifferent: "Oh."

It sounded like a response, yet also like a rejection. He He couldn't figure out what Chen Jingbai meant. Was he unwilling to help? Why was his attitude towards her even colder than it was in the afternoon after he ate her lotus flower cake?

It's strange, what's wrong with Chen Jingbai again? What did she say that offended him?

He He thought she had put on her best attitude when talking to Chen Jingbai, but what about Chen Jingbai? Who was he trying to impress with his cold face?

Having lost face with Chen Jingbai, she stopped talking. Since He He didn't speak, Chen Jingbai didn't initiate conversation either.

He He hated Chen Jingbai's attitude. Every time, she had to ask him a question before Chen Jingbai would deign to answer.

He He got angry and quickened her pace, leaving Chen Jingbai behind.

Chen Jingbai watched He He cross the threshold and enter the dining hall, her back seemingly throwing a tantrum.

Why is she throwing a tantrum? He wasn't throwing a tantrum when he was the one being played. So who's playing whom here?

He He entered the dining hall, pulled out the stool next to Zheng Xinxin, and the stool legs scraped the ground with a sharp, screeching sound. She sat down heavily on the chair.

Seeing He He like this, the educated youth present, who were no longer good at reading people, could all tell that she was in a bad mood, very bad, and her temper was extremely bad.

Everyone looked at each other.

Who offended He He? Her expression was fine when she pulled Cheng Sulin out just now.

Everyone recalled He He's state when she pulled Cheng Surin out. No, no, it seemed that He He's mood was just so-so when she left.

Everyone understands now, Cheng Surin must have upset He He again! Cheng Surin upset He He at noon, and by evening Cheng Surin hadn't behaved well, so He He's anger had to build up to its limit!

Everyone peeked out the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of Cheng Sulin, who had upset He He, but instead of Cheng Sulin, they saw Chen Jingbai, who looked rather grumpy.

As soon as Chen Jingbai stepped over the door frame, his entire body was covered in ink, his face so dark it looked like ink could drip from it.

A note from the author:

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Is anyone there? Is anyone there? [Facepalm peeking] [Please] [Please] [Good luck!]