As the sun began to set, several people carried baskets full of wild fruits and vegetables down the mountain.
Just as they rounded the mountain pass, they saw Lu Lin standing by the roadside pushing a bicycle with two empty bamboo baskets tied to the back seat.
"I figured you guys should be coming down by now, so I came to pick you up and put your things in the car to save some effort."
He smiled and took the basket from Gu Mingyue's hand, then casually hung up the cloth bag for Lu Wanwan as well.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked toward the family compound. Lu Wanwan was still telling Lu Lin about the fun she had seen on the mountain when she opened the door and was stunned.
He Xiao was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding an old book in his hand. When he saw them come in, he slowly closed the book and stood up. He still had that cold and aloof look, but his eyes were fixed on her.
Lu Wanwan's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to hide behind Gu Mingyue. She had only taken half a step when He Xiao grabbed her wrist.
His palm was warm, but his strength was steady, preventing her from retreating even an inch.
"Come with me to the beach, I have something to tell you."
He Xiao's voice was deep, his tone serious and brooking no refusal.
Seeing this, Gu Mingyue quietly tugged at Lu Lin's arm, and the two remained silent.
Looking into He Xiao's deep eyes, and then glancing at her brother and sister-in-law beside her, Lu Wanwan finally relaxed and let him pull her towards the sea.
Once they left the house, He Xiao let go of her hand, and the two walked one after the other without saying a word.
He Xiao stood beside her, gazing at the surging waves, and remained silent for a long while before speaking.
"I used to tease you a lot because I wanted you to pay more attention to me."
His voice was softer than usual, without its usual harshness. "My family proposed marriage to me, and I didn't object because I've liked you for a long time."
Lu Wanwan suddenly looked up at him, her cheeks instantly turning red, her fingers unconsciously gripping the hem of her clothes, her heart pounding.
She never imagined that this person, who was always cold and loved to argue with her, would say such a thing.
He Xiao turned his head, his gaze falling earnestly on her face: "I know you ran away because you didn't want to be tied down by your family's arrangements. I came to the island this time not to force you, but just to tell you my feelings in person."
He paused, then added, "Whether you like it or not, I respect your opinion. If you feel we're not a good match, I won't bother you anymore, and I'll explain things to my family."
The sea breeze lifted the hem of his clothes and ruffled Lu Wanwan's hair.
She gazed into He Xiao's deep eyes, her mind a jumble of emotions—surprise, panic, and a subtle flutter of excitement she herself hadn't even noticed.
The scenes of him making me cry and protecting me from the past now take on a different hue.
"I...I haven't decided yet," Lu Wanwan said softly, her voice barely audible.
Upon hearing this, He Xiao's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile, and the tension in his eyes eased considerably.
"It's okay, take your time to think about it, no need to rush."
The two stood on the beach, watching the sunset slowly sink into the sea.
After returning from the beach, Lu Wanwan retreated to her small room, closed the door behind her, and leaned against it, panting heavily.
He Xiao's words kept swirling in his mind, and the phrase "I've liked you for a long time" was like a small pebble, rippling across his heart.
She walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down, her fingers unconsciously rubbing her chest, her cheeks still burning.
Just as she was lost in thought, there was a soft knock on the door. Gu Mingyue knocked with a glass of warm water in her hand and came in after receiving a response.
"Just came back from the beach, caught a chill, and drank some water to warm up."
She handed the water glass to Lu Wanwan, sat down next to her on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and looked at her with gentle eyes.
Holding the warm water glass, Lu Wanwan muttered softly, "Sister-in-law, He Xiao... he told me he likes me."
Gu Mingyue wasn't surprised; she just smiled and patted the back of her hand: "I can tell. Although he seems cold, he cares about you."
As far as she knew, He Xiao rarely had holidays, so it wasn't easy for him to travel all the way from Beijing to the island to see her.
"Actually, when it comes to relationships, the most important thing is to follow your heart." Gu Mingyue picked up a hawthorn and weighed it in her hand.
“The family’s arrangements are one thing, but your own feelings are the most important. If you think he’s good, try to get along with him; if you really don’t feel anything, don’t force it. Your brother and I are on your side.”
Holding the water glass, Lu Wanwan felt her heart gradually brighten.
She used to think He Xiao was cold and aloof, but when she thought about it carefully, she realized that he would remember the sweet cakes she loved to eat, would silently protect her when she went on adventures, and even his confession was made with careful respect.
"I think I don't hate him as much anymore," Lu Wanwan said softly, a hint of shyness on her face.
Gu Mingyue smiled and ruffled her hair: "That's right. There's no need to rush to give an answer. Take your time getting to know each other. There's plenty of time."
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting shadows on the two figures. The air in the room was warm and cozy. Lu Wanwan's panic gradually subsided, leaving only a slowly growing, indescribable anticipation.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Lu Wanwan was busy in the kitchen with Gu Mingyue.
Gu Mingyue was washing rice and steaming it. She squatted in front of the stove adding firewood, and the flames licked the bottom of the pot, warming her cheeks.
As I was bending down to tend the firewood, I heard soft footsteps behind me.
Lu Wanwan turned around and saw He Xiao standing at the stove door, holding two fresh sea fish in his hands, their silvery scales still glistening with water droplets.
"Brother Lin said you guys are going to make fish soup today, it's fish that was just caught from the sea."
His voice remained low, but he didn't dare look directly at Lu Wanwan, instead handing the fish to Gu Mingyue.
Gu Mingyue smiled and accepted it: "What a coincidence, I was just worried about not having any fresh food."
He turned to Lu Wanwan and called out, "Go get a basin and keep the fish in the water."
Lu Wanwan stood up in response, and as she walked to He Xiao's side, she accidentally bumped into his arm.
She quickly took half a step back, blushing, and whispered, "I'm sorry."
He Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed, and he shook his head: "It's nothing."
His gaze fell on the tip of her nose, which was slightly red from the smoke of the firewood, then quickly moved away, his fingertips curling up slightly.
Lu Wanwan brought the basin back, and He Xiao had already helped put the fish into the water and was bending down to adjust the water level in the basin.
She stood to the side, looking at his cold, hard profile, and remembering what he had said by the sea, her heart raced even faster. She could only pretend to look at the fish in the basin and whisper, "Thank you for the fish."
"Of course." He Xiao straightened up, didn't linger, greeted Gu Mingyue, and turned to leave.
Lu Wanwan stared at his back until he was out of sight before turning her gaze away and touching her burning cheeks.
It was just a few simple words, but it was more unsettling than running all over the mountains to pick wild fruit.
Gu Mingyue saw this and smiled secretly. She added some firewood to the stove: "This fish is fresh. Once it's stewed, I'll call him over to eat with us."
Lu Wanwan didn't respond, but squatted back down in front of the stove, letting the flames make her cheeks even redder.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
