Cheng Yaoyao's lips were kissed red, and he was let go only after he repeatedly promised that he would never use the spiritual spring water indiscriminately again.

A basket full of bright red strawberries with green leaves on top, the sweet fragrance makes people salivate. Cheng Yaoyao picked up the biggest one and passed it to Xie Zhao's mouth: "Ah——"

Xie Zhao opened his mouth and bit into nothing. Cheng Yaoyao brought the strawberry to his mouth and took a bite. The sweet and sour juice filled his mouth. He didn't know if it was the effect of the spiritual spring or something else, but the strawberry tasted particularly rich, sweet and sour, without a hint of astringency.

Cheng Yaoyao squinted his eyes in enjoyment, his pink lips were stained with strawberry juice, red and soft, with an alluring sweet fragrance: "Do you really want to eat it? This is for you."

Cheng Yaoyao took another strawberry and gave it to Xie Zhao. Xie Zhao grabbed her wrist, held the bitten strawberry, and swallowed it.

"… corny." Cheng Yaoyao added, "How can I explain this basket of strawberries to my grandma now?"

Xie Zhao said, "Now I know I'm worried. Why did I act so silly just now?"

Cheng Yaoyao pouted: "I know I was wrong. If you say it again, you won't be able to eat for a while!"

Xie Zhao gently pinched her mouth, and her red lips immediately turned into a duck beak.

As the two were arguing, Jianjian and Kunkun ran out of the house. Cheng Yaoyao smiled and waved, "Come here."

Jianjian braked suddenly, and peered over to observe from a distance, his eyes fixed on Strawberry. Meanwhile, the fat dog came running towards him on his short legs, sticking out his tongue.

Cheng Yaoyao grabbed its nape and his face turned pale: "I caught you! You guys dare to work together to steal strawberries? Let me see if I will beat you today!"

"Oh my, woof!" The fat little dog cried out because of being pinched. He closed his eyes and struggled with his four short legs. His tail was even tucked up. He looked very aggrieved.

Seeing this, Jianjian turned around and ran away.

Xie Zhao said, "It knows it's wrong. Sister, don't hit it."

"No! We must beat it today!" Cheng Yaoyao pressed the fat dog to the ground with its belly facing up and tortured it by pinching its belly.

The little fat dog stuck out his tongue and cried with laughter. His four paws were desperately trying to pull at Cheng Yaoyao's hands, thinking that Cheng Yaoyao was playing with him. His two black eyes were sparkling and watery, and he had no sense of being punished at all.

Cheng Yaoyao was so angry that he laughed: "You still have the nerve to laugh! Come, look at this strawberry, you can't eat it~"

Cheng Yaoyao held a strawberry stem and dangled the strawberry over the little fat dog's nose. The little fat dog rolled over and stood up, stretched his neck anxiously, and stood up again, clasping his short paws and praying.

The aroma of strawberries lingered around my nose, but I couldn't taste them. My mouth was watering. The little fat dog's ears and eyelids drooped, and he whimpered while praying.

Cheng Yaoyao smiled maliciously: "Little stupid dog, thank you~"

Xie Zhao grabbed Cheng Yaoyao's wrist and handed it to the little fat dog's mouth. Xie Xunxuan pursed his ears and bit the strawberry.

"Oh! Xie Zhao, you're so annoying!" Cheng Yaoyao turned around and started to scold Xie Zhao, "You only know how to help it!"

Xie Zhao smiled as she parried Cheng Yaoyao's grabbing that didn't hurt or itch, and she even held her waist and shouted in a timid voice, "Run."

The fat little dog had his mouth full of strawberry juice and was happily sticking out his tongue as he pounced on Cheng Yaoyao, wanting to join in the fight. Jianjian suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grabbed a strawberry and ran away.

Cheng Yaoyao shouted in disgust: "Xie Xunxun, you are so dirty, don't touch me! Xie Xunxun! Xie Zhao, quickly stop it..."

Grandma Xie heard the noise and came out to see: "What are you guys talking about? Hey, where did all these strawberries come from?"

Cheng Yaoyao immediately turned around and pretended to be dead. Xie Zhao said calmly, "I asked someone to bring it back from the city."

Grandma Xie wiped her hands quickly, came over and picked up the basket with excitement: "There are several kilograms of strawberries here, bigger than the ones we grow ourselves, and so fragrant! Xiao Fei, come and see, your brother brought back so many strawberries!"

Xie Fei was also surprised by the number of strawberries: "I saw some in the factory manager's office, and each person only had a small basket. How much would it cost to have so many?"

Xie Zhao glanced at Cheng Yaoyao and said, "It was given to me by an acquaintance. It's free."

Xie Zhao, who always went to the city to deliver vegetables, knew many people in the units. He often brought rare things home: small cakes, fresh colorful fabrics, pork jerky, canned food. Although this basket of fresh strawberries was rare, it was a local specialty in Xie's eyes and must not be expensive, so she didn't take it seriously.

Grandma Xie also took a few strawberries to feed Xun Xun, and Jian Jian also ran over to eat: "Grandma, feed me, come, Jian Jian wants to eat too, it's so delicious!"

While feeding the little fat dog, Grandma Xie also wiped the saliva from it and complained to Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Zhao: "Look at how greedy he is! How can you two raise a child?"

Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Zhao looked at each other and felt as if they had already started taking care of the child ahead of time.

Cheng Yaoyao picked a few strawberries and hurried into the kitchen to make a cake.

The cake base is a soft sponge cake. Cheng Yaoyao used eggs tied with fine bamboo strips to whip the egg whites, added low-gluten wheat flour and sugar, mixed well, and steamed it in a pot. The steamed cake is not as fragrant as the baked one, but the taste is more delicate and smooth, and it is not easy to get angry. The butter was obtained by Xie Zhao from the cake factory, and it was white and delicate after whipping.

Cheng Yaoyao cut the strawberries into even pieces, cut the cake base into four pieces, spread butter on each piece, put strawberry pieces on it, and then stacked another piece of cake base on top. Finally, spread butter and simple decoration evenly on the outer layer, and embellished it with bright red strawberries.

This cake only comes in two colors: snow-white and bright red, but it's beautiful enough.

Xie Zhao carried Xun Xun into the kitchen, and when he saw the cake, his eyes lit up.

Cheng Yaoyao was very proud: "Does it look good?"

Xie Zhao said: "My sister is pretty, and the cakes she made are pretty too."

Cheng Yaoyao hid the cake in the cupboard, and the remaining cream and egg yolk went to Kunhun and Jianjian.

Xie Zhao held the bowl and placed it next to the cat's den. The two little ones immediately jumped in and started eating.

Xie Fei was washing vegetables in the yard and couldn't help looking into the kitchen. Grandma Xie said happily, "Yaoyao said that the cake will be shown to you in the evening!"

Xie Fei blushed with excitement: "This is my first time having a birthday cake!"

Grandma Xie said, "This year is your seventeenth birthday, a big birthday, so of course you have to celebrate it well. After your birthday, you will be a big girl."

Cheng Yaoyao came out of the kitchen and heard this and asked, "Isn't Xiao Fei fifteen years old?"

Grandma Xie said, "We are counting our years as pseudo-years. Xiao Fei's birthday is early, so he is two years pseudo-years. Yaoyao's birthday is late, so he is one year pseudo-years."

Cheng Yaoyao waved his hands hurriedly: "I don't want it. I'm a year older for nothing. Xie Zhao, my waist is sore. I just beat the egg whites for too long."

Xie Zhao said, "Shall I get some medicinal wine and let Xiao Fei rub it on you?"

Grandma Xie scolded her: "What kind of waist can a child have! The dishes are ready, go and have a rest. I'll call you when dinner is ready in the evening."

Grandma Xie and Xie Fei washed and cut the meat and vegetables and prepared them. Grandma Xie washed her hands and went back to her room to rest. Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Zhao also went back to their room. Jianjian and Xun were chasing each other and making a scene in the yard.

Xie Fei took some dried chicken and coaxed them, "Zhuangjian, Xuxu, stop arguing. Your brothers and sisters are studying, and grandma is sleeping."

"Oh, oh, woof!" Xun Xun crawled into Xie Fei's hand and nibbled on the chicken jerky, drooling.

Xie Fei wiped the fat dog with a handkerchief and laughed, "Hunhun, you drool so much. No wonder Sister Yaoyao called you a drooling monster."

In the clean old house, a frail girl is smiling and holding a chubby puppy. Seeing this scene, one's mood can't help but soften.

The little fat dog raised its ears, suddenly turned around and barked at the gate of the courtyard.

Xie Fei looked over and saw Lu Qingtang standing outside the half-open gate. He was wearing an ordinary white shirt and trousers, with broad shoulders, which made him look particularly relaxed and fitted.

Xie Fei's first reaction was to run.

"Stop." Lu Qingtang leaned against the door and smiled, "It seems that you don't welcome me at all?"

Xie hugged the little fat dog nervously and whispered, "Why...what are you doing in my house? My brother is in there, he...he will beat you up!"

Lu Qingtang said, "Your brother hit me hard last time, and the injury has just healed."

Xie Fei said in a very low voice: "You deserve it!"

Lu Qingtang narrowed his eyes: "What did you say?"

Xie Fei was about to cry: "Go away, what are you doing in my house?"

Lu Qingtang was in no hurry to answer, but looked up to admire the furnishings in the house. The house was made of blue bricks and black tiles, with beams made of camphor wood, a well in the courtyard, and trees under the eaves. One could imagine how grand it once was.

Now it is well maintained, with a camphor tree growing vigorously in the yard, a lush vegetable garden, and a large pink crabapple tree. There are a dozen chickens crowded in the chicken coop, but the brick ground is clean.

A small fat orange and white cat ran over to Xie Fei and squatted down beside him, staring at him eagerly.

Xie Fei suddenly shouted, "Hurry!"

The little fat dog ran to Lu Qingtang's feet at some point, and started pulling at the laces of his military boots, chewing on them until the surface was covered with saliva.

Lu Qingtang raised his eyebrows, bent down, picked up the little fat dog and took a look at it: "Tsk, it's a little male dog."

Xie Fei's cheeks flushed: "You...you are a hooligan!"

Lu Qingtang smiled and turned around with the puppy in his arms: "If you want the dog back, come out with me. Or... do you want to invite me into the house?"

"..." Xie Fei twirled her fingers, looked back at Cheng Yaoyao's tightly closed door, then looked at the little fat dog sticking out his tongue in Lu Qingtang's hand, and followed him out reluctantly.

Jianjian also chased after him immediately, arching his back and breathing heavily at Lu Qingtang.

Outside the Xie family's courtyard wall, Xie Fei stared at Lu Qingtang anxiously and fearfully: "How did you find my house?"

Lu Qingtang teased the little fat dog and said with a smile: "You haven't been to the factory for so many days. I went to the archives to check your information."

Xie Fei was horrified: "You...you..."

Lu Qingtang asked: "Me what?"

"You know my family...my family is a landlord." Xie Fei's voice became smaller and smaller.

Lu Qingtang's eyes flashed with a hint of deep meaning, and he smiled nonchalantly and said, "I know it after seeing your house. It must have been very magnificent in the past."

Unexpectedly, Xie Fei's cheeks suddenly turned red, and he stamped his feet and said, "Now you know everything! Are you satisfied?"

Lu Qingtang asked: "What?"

Xie Fei raised her head and glared at him, her eyes red: "You have been bullying me, testing me, and always asking about my family. Now you see it, right? My family is a landlord, and our background is not good. Are you satisfied?"

Lu Qingtang looked at her like a little rabbit that had been pissed off. He covered his forehead for a long time and laughed happily: "Xie Fei, do you think I have been bullying you all the time?"

Lu Qingtang laughed enough and put his hands down, but there was no smile in his peach blossom eyes. The little fat dog was still clinging to his shoulders, happily chewing his jacket, and Xie Fei was terrified, really afraid that he would pinch it to death.

Lu Qingtang raised his hand, and Xie Fei screamed out. He just took out a box from his pocket: "I saw the information says that today is your birthday. Birthday present, are you willing to accept it?"

Xie Fei said: "No..."

Lu Qingtang interrupted her: "I'm taking the train back to Shanghai this afternoon."

Xie Fei's eyes widened: "You...you went back to Shanghai?"

"Yeah." Lu Qingtang looked at his watch, "I have to go back now."

Xie Fei carefully reached out her hand, pulled the fat dog back into her arms, and cautiously shrank back: "Hurry up and catch the train. It will be bad if you are late..."

Lu Qingtang's usual smile froze, and he almost gritted his teeth: "Xie, Fei, do you have anything else to say to me?"

Xie Fei felt as if the clouds had finally been cleared and the sun had finally come out. She couldn't help but say with joy: "I wish you a safe journey."

Lu Qingtang's face suddenly turned pale. He grabbed Xie Fei's hand and slapped the box into her palm: "Take it."

He lowered his head and approached Xie Fei, and said in a threatening tone that he had never used on a girl before, "If I know you threw it away, I will kiss you to death."

Xie Fei's deer eyes were instantly covered with mist.

Lu Qingtang looked at her thin and tender skin from a close distance, and thought maliciously: She is really suitable for being made to cry.

"Slurp", Lu Qingtang's face was wet and he stepped back suddenly. The little fat dog stuck out his tongue and stretched out his paw towards him happily.

Lu Qingtang felt a cool sensation on his face that smelled of milk, and his face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Xie Fei looked at his expression, hugged the little fat dog tightly and stepped back, unable to help wanting to laugh.

The well-brewed atmosphere was instantly broken.

Suddenly, a charming voice came from the yard: "Xiao Fei? Xiao Fei, where are you?"

Cheng Yaoyao poked her head out from the courtyard gate. Her long black hair was like a waterfall, and her stunning face made people's minds wander.

Xie Fei was startled: "Sister Yaoyao, I... I am..."

Xie Fei pushed Lu Qingtang away, took a few steps forward, and ran into Cheng Yaoyao.

Cheng Yaoyao glanced behind her and asked, "Who were you talking to just now?"

"No, no." Xie Fei was so scared that she froze. "I talked to Hun Hun and told him to stop biting random things."

Cheng Yaoyao clearly saw a figure flash by. She frowned, pulled Xie Fei and said, "Then let's go back."

The two returned to the yard, and Cheng Yaoyao locked the door directly.

Xie Fei said guiltily, "Sister Yaoyao, what do you want from me?"

Cheng Yaoyao stretched his back lazily: "Xie Zhao was reciting English, I came to wash some strawberries to eat, and saw that the gate was open and you were not there, I thought you were doing something outside."

Xie Fei said hurriedly: "You go back to your room and study, I'll go wash!"

Cheng Yaoyao said: "Okay, then wash more and we can eat together."

Cheng Yaoyao went back to the house. Xie Zhao sat at the desk, reading a book seriously. Even his half-worn shirt could not hide the smooth lines of his back muscles, and his profile was particularly handsome.

Cheng Yaoyao threw herself on his back. Xie Zhao seemed to have eyes on his back and grabbed her knees: "So fast?"

"Xiao Fei is washing." Cheng Yaoyao lay on Xie Zhao's warm back, saw the English book in his hand, and read: "How are you?"

Xie Zhao said: "I'm fine, just missed you."

The deep voice uttered words of love, and the unexpected love words made Cheng Yaoyao blush: "It's not written like this in the book, Xie Zhao, you will lose points."

"How many points will be deducted?"

"One point deducted." Cheng Yaoyao rubbed Xie Zhao's neck, "Only 99 points left."

Cheng Yaoyao was so overwhelmed by the sweetness that he forgot to tell Xie Fei that something was wrong just now.