Wanqing looked at Bai An with a smile, and felt more and more that Lu Demin was right. Bai An should not be trapped in this small village, let alone in her marriage. She should go and find her own future.

Bai An, with a confused look on her face, didn't understand why her mother kept looking at her. After Wanqing finished her meal, she got up and cleared the table.

So when Lu Jinan came out, Bai An was standing by the pool washing dishes.

"Bai An is so well behaved today."

Hearing Lu Jinan's praise, Bai An nodded with a little pride and washed even harder.

Seeing Bai An’s little gesture, Lu Jinan patted Bai An’s shoulder lovingly, and stood behind her watching her wash the dishes.

Under Lu Jinan's gaze, Bai An carefully scrubbed the bowls clean. After placing the last bowl in the cupboard, Bai An deliberately slowed down and glanced at Lu Jinan who was standing beside him.

Lu Jinan understood what he meant, rubbed Bai An's head and praised him, "Bai An is so amazing, he washes the dishes the cleanest in our family."

Bai An nodded, used his elbow to take Lu Jinan's hand off his head, and said proudly: "No need to say it, everyone knows this."

Lu Jinan watched Bai An wipe his hands and skip into the house, and shook his head lovingly.

...

...

Bai An did not enter his room immediately, but walked to Lu Jinan's door.

"What's wrong?" Lu Jinan asked Bai An who was standing at the door in a daze.

Bai An pointed to the room.

Lu Jinan nodded, "Go ahead if you want to, it's okay."

Only after hearing Lu Jinan's consent did Bai An walk in boldly and confidently.

Looking at the pile of books on the table, Bai An turned around and said to Lu Jinan, "I bought these books from an old lady. These books may be sold as waste. It's such a pity to be treated as waste."

"If the sun is shining brightly tomorrow, we can take them out to dry in the sun, and dry Dad's books as well."

Lu Jinan stared at the books on the table and thought for a while. He felt that what Bai An said made sense. "It should be sunny tomorrow, so we will dry the books tomorrow."

"You should go to bed as well." Lu Jinan supported Bai An's shoulders and sent her to the door of her room, and whispered, "I'll call you tomorrow."

Bai An nodded and said to Lu Jinan, "Good night."

"good evening."

The next morning, Bai An opened his eyes drowsily, looked at the bright light outside the window, frowned, and walked to the door in his pajamas.

As soon as I went out, I saw Lu Jinan sorting books in the yard.

"elder brother."

Hearing Bai An's voice, Lu Jinan turned around and looked at Bai An, who was wearing pajamas and still had sleepiness in the corners of his eyes, and asked, "Why are you awake? Go back to sleep."

Bai An did not go back to his room to sleep. He walked straight to Lu Jinan's side to help him organize his books, and said with some complaints: "Why didn't you call me?"

"It's just a small matter. Brother will sort it out right away. It's okay."

Seeing Lu Jinan's nonchalant look, Bai An looked up and saw the yard full of books neatly placed together. He didn't know how long he had taken to organize them.

"It's not a small matter at all. There are so many books here. How long will it take to sort them out?" Bai An tapped Lu Jinan's arm and said, "Next time something like this happens, you must ask me to help you."

Lu Jinan looked at Bai An and smiled dotingly, "Got it, then Bai An, go get your brother a glass of water."

Bai An nodded and said to Lu Jinan, "Then don't do it yet. We'll sort it out together after you finish drinking the water."

Lu Jinan nodded.

After seeing Lu Jinan’s reply, Bai An felt relieved and went to help him get water.

"Brother!" When Bai An came back, Lu Jinan had already sorted everything out. Looking at the neat and tidy yard, Bai An angrily handed him the water in his hand, "Why didn't you wait for me again?"

Lu Jinan took the water cup from Bai An's hand and said with a smile: "I will definitely ask you to come with me next time."

"Come on." Bai An walked beside Lu Jinan and whispered, "I don't believe you."

Lu Jinan didn't reply, drinking the water handed to him by Bai An, but he seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "Cui Ju was looking for you just now."

"Cui Ju is looking for me?" Bai An said doubtfully, "Then I'll change my clothes first and then go find her."

When Bai An changed her clothes, washed up, and was about to walk out with her schoolbag on her back, Lu Jinan grabbed her and put an egg, a bottle of milk, and an apple in her schoolbag, "You haven't had breakfast yet, take these to fill your stomach first."

Bai An looked at the milk in his backpack and looked up at Lu Jinan cautiously.

As soon as he saw Bai An's rolling eyes, Lu Jinan could guess what she wanted to do, "You must finish drinking the milk, so that you can grow taller."

Upon hearing this, Bai An bent down in frustration.

Lu Jinan patted her slumped back and said, "Don't hunch your back."

"Got it." Bai An packed up his small backpack, waved to Lu Jinan and said, "Then I'm leaving."

"Go ahead." Lu Jinan saw Bai An's back gradually disappearing at the intersection, then he turned around and walked into the house.

In a short while, Bai An arrived at Cui Ju's house. Looking at the closed door, he felt a little embarrassed. After all, the previous incident was quite a big deal. It would be quite embarrassing if he met Cui Ju's parents.

Before Cui Ju came out, Lin Zhixia came out first.

Lin Zhixia looked at Bai An, who was playing with stones at the door with his head down, and a smile appeared in her eyes.

"Aster."

When he heard Cui Ju's name, Bai An looked up suddenly, but did not see Cui Ju. Instead, he saw Lin Zhixia standing at the door, looking at him with her arms folded.

Knowing that he was tricked, Bai An did not get angry. He walked up to Lin Zhixia and said, "Can you help me get Cui Ju out?"

Lin Zhixia stood on the steps of a higher level, looking down at the girl in front of him. The morning light fell on Bai An's delicate face, which was whiter and tenderer than any porcelain he had ever seen. He wondered if it would turn red if he pinched it. Lin Zhixia silently wondered in his heart if he pinched Bai An's face, would she cry, and if she cried, how to comfort her.

Bai An didn't wait for Lin Zhixia's answer. He just saw him staring at him blankly. He touched his face following his gaze with some surprise.

"There's nothing dirty." Lin Zhixia turned sideways and said to Bai An, "Come in, I'll take you to find Cui Ju."

Bai An was about to go in through the gap in the door left by Lin Zhixia with some suspicion. Just as he passed by Lin Zhixia, Bai An felt something brushing his cheek.

Bai An was startled, covered his face vigilantly, looked at Lin Zhixia beside him and asked: "What are you doing?"

Lin Zhixia inadvertently turned her hands behind her back and rubbed her fingers slowly, as if recalling that softness.

"There was a mosquito next to your face just now, and I helped you get rid of it."

Bai An rubbed his face and said doubtfully, "Is this true?"

"real."