"Okay, Han Zhiqing. Han Zhiqing, do you have a handkerchief?" Xuemei said with a normal expression.
Han Chen lowered his head, looked at his shirt pocket where the handkerchief was, and said guiltily, "I forgot to take it today."
Han Chen felt bad after he finished speaking, and when he was about to make amends, he heard Xuemei say, "Then Han Zhiqing, why don't you use the handkerchief I just used to wipe it? It might be a little dirty."
"It's okay, I don't mind. ...Well, thank you, Comrade Xuemei." Han Chen said nervously.
Han Chen carefully wiped his hands dry with Xuemei's handkerchief. After wiping, Han Chen shook the handkerchief, folded it into a square and said, "Comrade Xuemei, I made your handkerchief dirty. How about I compensate you with another one?"
"No, no, Han Zhiqing, just give it to me." Xuemei said anxiously. Xuemei lent the handkerchief to Han Chen because he had just helped her. It would not be okay to give the handkerchief to him. After all, they were not a couple, and if someone accidentally saw it, it would be hard to explain.
Han Chen also realized what was happening and quickly handed the handkerchief to Xuemei, saying guiltily, "Comrade Xuemei, I was inconsiderate just now. I'm sorry."
Xuemei felt embarrassed and didn't look at him. She put her schoolbag on her back, pushed her bicycle, and said with her head down, "Han Zhiqing, it's okay. You didn't mean it. Besides, nothing happened. Let's go? It's getting dark now."
Upon hearing this, Han Chen followed Xuemei, carrying a backpack and a snakeskin bag. The two of them walked quietly for a hundred or two hundred meters, one in front of the other. Xuemei couldn't stand the strange and awkward atmosphere and said casually, "Han Zhiqing, you didn't go out with Zhou Zhiqing and the others today? I didn't see you at the supply and marketing cooperative."
Xuemei regretted it the moment she finished speaking. Why did she ask Han Chen about his private affairs? Was she crossing the line a bit? She had already expected that Han Chen would not tell her the truth.
Unexpectedly, Han Chen said seriously, "I went to the county town today. I first sent a package to my relatives and bought some things at the supply and marketing cooperative. Then I went to a few scrap yards and collected some bicycle parts."
"Bicycle parts?" Xuemei repeated in confusion.
"Well, bicycle parts. Bicycle tickets are so hard to get now. I happen to know a little about mechanics, so I want to collect bicycle parts. I'll give it a try and see if I can assemble a bicycle myself." Han Chen replied.
"Han Zhiqing, you can do it. You know my younger brother Feifei likes you very much. He said that you often read mechanics books whenever you have free time, so I think you might succeed!" Xuemei said encouragingly.
"Comrade Xuemei, that's not necessarily true. Most of the knowledge in the book is theoretical, although I have memorized it all. But practice is different from theory after all. I have never assembled a bicycle by myself." Han Chen told the truth.
"It's okay, just try a few more times. I believe in you. When you have assembled it, you must show it to me." Xuemei said casually.
"Okay, you must remember this when the time comes, Comrade Xuemei." Han Chen stopped and looked at the back of Xuemei's head and said.
Xuemei felt someone staring at her, and when she turned around, she saw Han Chen's dark eyes filled with anticipation. Xuemei's heart softened, and she nodded, "Okay!"
When Han Chen heard Xuemei's answer, he smiled happily at her. Xuemei looked forward uncomfortably.
Looking over, I realized I was only a little over a mile from the village entrance. I should separate from Han Zhiqing and head back to the village now, otherwise if the villagers accidentally saw me, there would be gossip. Besides, I got home more than twenty minutes later than usual today, so Ruirui or Feifei must be on their way to pick me up.
Xuemei glanced at Han Chen behind her in embarrassment. Han Chen immediately noticed Xuemei's concern and said gently, "Comrade Xuemei, we're not far from the village. Why don't you ride your bike home first? I'm worried someone might see us walking together, and it might reflect badly on you."
"Okay, Han Zhiqing. Then let me help you get some things?" Xuemei said kindly.
"No need, Comrade Xuemei, it's not heavy, it just looks like there are a lot of things." After Han Chen said this, he put his hands under the backpack and shook it, as if to prove to Xuemei that the backpack was really not heavy.
"Okay, Han Zhiqing, I'll go home first. Thank you for your help today. I'll thank you again when I'm free." Xuemei promised.
Han Chen smiled and nodded at Xuemei when he heard this.
Xuemei's chest pounded all the way home from Han Chen's smile. It also made her feel that Han Zhiqing's appearance was too deceptive, causing her to lose her composure. She decided to keep her distance from Han Zhiqing unless necessary.
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