Chapter 57

Xia Lanzheng got up very early today. As soon as the sky was light, he rushed into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and then brushed his teeth.

He ran downstairs, knocking on the door and calling out "Brother." No one in the room answered, no matter how many times he knocked.

Xia Lanzheng ran out and just as she reached the entrance of the yard, she saw Chu Linchuan sitting in his usual seat. Jiang Yuan, Jiang Nian and Zhong Hai were also there. She could smell the aroma of coffee beans from afar.

When he first came, he used three sausages to bribe Jiang Nian. How did Chu Linchuan do it!

"Wow," Jiang Nian said. What he was holding in his hand was not the sausage, but the math book that he hadn't finished last night. "Brother Xiao Chu! You are amazing! You can even solve such a difficult problem!"

Chu Linchuan smiled but said nothing. University student Zhong Hai took a look at him while holding his coffee and said, "No big deal, I can do that too."

Jiang Nian covered his homework with a "Pah" sound: "You only know how to yell and scream with Brother Xiao Xia, what kind of poet or singer are you?"

Zhong Hai was speechless and made a face behind her. Chu Linchuan put down the pencil he had just sharpened and became interested.

"What poet?"

"That night, when we were having a barbecue," the child said illogically, speaking whatever came to mind. "Mom asked us to skewer the barbecue. I skewered the steamed buns, Xiao Xia skewered the potato slices, and Xiao Zhong skewered the lotus root slices..."

The conversation ended there, because Xia Lanzheng rushed over and covered Jiang Nian's mouth: "Are potato chips delicious?"

"Delicious!" Jiang Nian raised his head and muttered, "Brother Xia! You got up so early today! I haven't even gone to school yet!"

Chu Linchuan was very considerate and didn't ask about the poet. "Does Brother Xia usually get up late?"

In fact, it was not very polite. Xia Lanzheng picked up a pencil and wanted to poke Chu Linchuan's arm, but Chu Linchuan stopped her with his hand.

He held Xia Lanzheng's hand tightly and said to Jiang Nian, "Actually, he usually gets up very early at home. He got up while you were still brushing your teeth."

Xia Lanzheng threw away her pencil and sat down next to Chu Linchuan. Chu Linchuan turned around and asked him, "Right, Brother Xia?"

Zhong Hai couldn't stand their child-coaxing tricks anymore, so he sat opposite them and looked around.

"Hey Xiaoxia, why do I feel like you're different today?"

Xia Lanzheng subconsciously glanced at Chu Linchuan: "What's different? I'm not like this every day."

Whether intentionally or not, Chu Linchuan touched his calf under the table.

Xia Lanzheng's suitcase couldn't hold much, so she only brought three sets of clothes for the trip. She washed one set, changed another, and today, aside from wearing an earring, she didn't dress up in any particular way.

Zhong Hai looked at it carefully and said, "I see, you tied your hair up. What is it called? A bun or a ponytail?"

Several people's eyes fell on Xia Lanzheng's curly hair. Just as they were about to find the earrings, he raised his right hand and hurriedly took off the hair tie.

His hair was loose, and he smoothed it down to the sides of his neck, covering his ears, and smoothed it down before stopping.

A cup of latte fell in front of him. Chu Linchuan said, "Drink it. Where should we go after we finish drinking it?"

Jiang Yuan heard this and turned on the faucet and continued, "There are no activities in the town today, but that's just as well. There are fewer tourists and the weather is good."

Xia Lanzheng raised her eyelids. Sister Jiang suspected that he owed debts yesterday, but today her attitude towards Chu Linchuan changed 180 degrees?

"What did you say to them?" he asked Chu Linchuan quietly.

Chu Linchuan shook his head inscrutable: "I won't tell you, it's a secret."

Xia Lanzheng imitated him and said "secret". After finishing her latte, she stood up and patted Chu Linchuan on the shoulder: "Let's go. I'll take you for a walk."

Chu Linchuan was amused by his tone: "Not bad, you've become a local now."

Zhong Hai came up again and said, "I want to go too. Can you take me with you?"

Jiang Yuan stuffed a schoolbag into Zhong Hai's hand, and then stuffed Jiang Nian in as well: "You can't go. You promised yesterday that you would help me take Nian Nian to school."

Zhong Hai's plan was interrupted before it even started, so the three adults and one child left the coffee shop, with Zhong Hai and Jiang Nian both in tears.

"We're going too. I'll take Jiang Nian to skip class."

Xia Lanzheng pretended to call Jiang Yuan, but Chu Linchuan pressed his ear and turned his head back: "I'll bring you some starch sausage tonight. Study hard."

Jiang Nian happily boarded the electric scooter, but Zhong Hai was the only one who was reluctant. He slammed his helmet against his chest with a clang, and cried out in pain.

"You've already mastered this trick," Xia Lanzheng said as they walked, "you can be considered half a local."

Chu Linchuan and he were walking side by side, and their hanging hands accidentally touched each other. Xia Lanzheng glanced at him and hid her hand in her coat pocket.

"Want some wontons?" Xia Lanzheng put her hands in her pockets and nodded towards the roadside. "That place's seaweed wontons are delicious."

The shop opened at six in the morning and was open until eight-thirty. Xia Lanzheng had only eaten there once. Chu Linchuan had already seen that he wanted to eat there, so he nodded in agreement.

Xia Lanzheng's face emerged from the rising mist, and she smiled at him with a mouthful of white teeth. Chu Linchuan curled his lips and mouthed "How silly" to him.

Two bowls of wontons were served, each covered in a plastic bag. Chu Linchuan was slightly puzzled, and Xia Lanzheng simply placed the spoon into his bowl.

"It's okay, brother," Xia Lanzheng coaxed, "You won't be poisoned if you only eat it once, trust me."

Chu Linchuan didn't say anything yet. He just thought the wontons were too small and doubted that Xia Lanzheng wouldn't be able to fill her stomach with just one bowl.

While the man stood up to look for vinegar, Chu Linchuan put a few more into his bowl.

It was still early after breakfast, and many shops were still closed. Fortunately, the weather was perfect, and the river breeze was quite comfortable. They walked slowly, which was just right for digesting their food.

"My stomach has shrunk," Xia Lanzheng said. "Last time, I had a pancake after dinner, and I feel so full today. Why?"

Chu Linchuan glanced at him sideways and pulled him back from the riverbank: "Yes, why?"

Xia Lanzheng smiled at him: "Yes, why?"

"I don't know," Chu Linchuan said, "I brought my game console from home."

Xia Lanzheng asked, "Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

"Why do you think that is?" Chu Linchuan said.

Xia Lanzheng stopped talking, sat on a chair by the river, and patted the empty seat next to her.

"Did you fall asleep yesterday?" Xia Lanzheng kicked the grass tip and turned to ask his brother, "I was half asleep."

So frank? Chu Linchuan raised his eyebrows: "I didn't sleep well either."

Xia Lanzheng glanced at him quietly: "Yeah, the B&B is too close to the roadside, it's a bit noisy."

"Yes," Chu Linchuan suppressed his laughter, "a little bit."

The two chatted back and forth like this. They had just kissed yesterday, and today was as calm as the calm river surface in front of them.

However, Chu Linchuan didn't specifically try to find a topic to talk about. As he sat there, his eyes were always crooked. The more natural Xia Lanzheng was, the more uncomfortable he felt.

It would be strange if someone who is usually too shy to hang up when making a phone call could be so natural. He must be deliberately covering it up.

As it got closer to noon, the surrounding area became a little more lively.

For lunch and dinner, Xia Lanzheng took Chu Linchuan to two random restaurants. Actually, they didn't do anything today; the whole day just passed like that.

"Brother!" Xia Lanzheng's eyelids drooped, and she reached out to touch it. "It seems to be raining!"

No one expected the weather to change suddenly. The rain fell very quickly, causing waves on the river surface.

They didn't bring an umbrella, and it was easy to catch a cold if they got caught in the rain in such a cold weather, so Chu Linchuan took off his coat and put it on Xia Lanzheng's head, then took his hand and took shelter under the eaves.

There were a few people standing behind the building complex. Xia Lanzheng jumped under the eaves. His coat got wet, so he had to hold it in his hands and use it as a human clothesline.

"Hair." Chu Linchuan's shoulders were splashed with raindrops, but he didn't notice it. He looked at the wet ends of Xia Lanzheng's hair and said, "Don't move. Tie it up first to prevent your clothes from getting soaked."

Xia Lanzheng was just about to say that she didn't bring her hair tie and left it in the store, but when she turned around, she saw Chu Linchuan holding the black rubber band she had brought with her this morning and tying up her hair.

"Just make do with it," Chu Linchuan smoothed his hair, "the rain won't last long. We'll go back when it stops."

Xia Lanzheng replied yes, and the rain was getting heavier and heavier. The raindrops fell along the roof like broken silver threads.

The heavy rain during the trip excited the tourists. Some took videos, some went out to get wet in the rain, and some sat on the ground and took out their mobile phones to play rock music.

Xia Lanzheng was unusually quiet, but when Chu Linchuan's hand touched his palm, he did not refuse.

Chu Linchuan rubbed his hands until they were warm before holding them. Although it was just a little bit warm, it was enough to warm his body.

"Brother." Xia Lanzheng said.

"Um?"

"Are you happy when I kiss you?"

Chu Linchuan wanted to say that that wasn't a kiss at all, but Xia Lanzheng was so nervous her hands were shaking. He was touched by her cuteness and pursed his lips and said, "Happy."

Xia Lanzheng kept looking at the falling raindrops: "I'm very happy too."

Something hit the ground along with the raindrops, making a crisp sound. Chu Linchuan came to his senses, but there was nothing in front of him. His own shadow was reflected in the small puddle.

Before he could reply, Xia Lanzheng turned and looked at him: "Can I tell you the answer tomorrow? I need to think about it carefully and be responsible to you."

Chu Linchuan didn't laugh, but held Xia Lanzheng's hand tightly and answered seriously, "Okay, I'll wait for you then."

The sleeves fell down, covering their clasped hands, and only when they were blown up by the wind could a little glimpse be seen.

Half an hour later the rain stopped and the sky darkened. The sky after the rain was pure blue, as if it had been washed clean.

No one spoke on the way back to the B&B. We held hands and walked all the way, only letting go when we saw the store sign.

"The clothes aren't dry yet," Xia Lanzheng said. "Sister Jiang has a dryer and a washing machine. I'll go wash them later."

Suddenly someone came running from the other side, jumping and dancing, and waved to everyone he saw.

They both recognized Zhong Hai, but didn't understand what he was so excited about. As they took a few steps closer, Zhong Hai waved his hands even more vigorously, as if to tell them to turn back.

"Did he get poisoned from eating mushrooms?" Chu Linchuan couldn't help but think.

"That's impossible," Xia Lanzheng hesitated, "He said he's allergic to fungi."

Chu Linchuan said: "Wouldn't that make it easier to get poisoned?"

Zhong Hai couldn't wait any longer, so he quickened his pace and ran over, bending over and supporting his knees, with sweat dripping down his face.

"Is it very hot?" Xia Lanzheng even felt a little cold.

"It's not the heat!" Zhong Hai finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm just anxious! I'm so anxious!"

Chu Linchuan said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Take your time."

"No, you can talk slowly. It's too late." Zhong Hai pointed in the direction of the B&B and suddenly hesitated, "Brother Xia, it seems like they really are here to collect debts this time."