Chapter 58: The Youth’s True Nature
Yang Shikun originally wanted to suggest going to KTV for karaoke, but thought that Jiang Qiao, being a quiet girl, probably wouldn’t like such a noisy place. After much consideration, he wasn’t sure where to go.
Jiang Qiao was still holding the half-eaten bucket of popcorn. Xu Si looked at her holding it obediently and said, “Just throw it away if you’re not eating it.”
“I can still eat it. It would be wasteful to throw it away.”
Xu Si glanced at her, thinking this little traditionalist was quite frugal.
Yang Shikun asked Xu Si, “Si-ge, where should we go now? Should we get food?”
“Are you hungry?”
Jiang Qiao shook her head. They had eaten just after 3 PM, and she wasn’t hungry at all.
Yang Shikun immediately replied, “Si-ge, I’m not hungry either.”
Despite saying he wasn’t hungry, when Yang Shikun smelled the xiaoxian meat pastries being sold ahead, he immediately stopped in his tracks. He enthusiastically recommended to the three of them, “These are really delicious, I want you all to try them.”
Hao Ming called him out, “Just say you want to eat them yourself.”
“Big Head, don’t make things up, I don’t want to eat them.”
Yang Shikun then turned to Jiang Qiao and Xu Si, “Si-ge, Scholar Jiang, they’re really delicious, let’s try one.”
“Let’s try one, Si-ge.” “Let’s try one, Scholar Jiang.”
In the end, all four of them walked away holding a pastry each.
The old street became very lively at night. There were people selling flowers, snacks, toys, doing manicures, applying phone screen protectors… all sorts of vendors.
Yang Shikun spotted the balloon shooting game ahead and excitedly called out, “Si-ge, Si-ge, let’s go play that!”
Xu Si took the popcorn and unfinished milk tea from her hands, glanced at the pastry she was holding, and reminded her, “It’s getting cold.”
Only then did Jiang Qiao start taking small bites of her pastry. The vendor had thoughtfully given her a bag for the popcorn.
Yang Shikun spent twenty yuan, got 20 bullets, and hit 6 balloons. The shop owner gave him a small keychain.
Hao Ming sneered at him, “You’re really useless, Yang-dog.”
“Screw you, Big Head. You try it if you’re so capable.”
Hao Ming took the gun from his hands but missed the first shot.
Yang Shikun mocked from the side, “Oh my, who was just calling me useless? Look who missed their first shot, even worse than me.”
Hao Ming glared at him.
In the end, Hao Ming hit seven shots.
Yang Shikun said, “Don’t be so smug, you only hit one more than me.”
Hao Ming replied, “Still better than you.”
“Psh, what’s so great about that? Just one more hit than me, you’re just all talk.”
Hearing their conversation, Jiang Qiao couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes curving into crescents.
Xu Si asked her, “Want to try?”
Jiang Qiao was startled for a moment, then said, “I don’t know how.”
“It’s okay, just give it a try.”
Jiang Qiao put her half-eaten pastry on the nearby table and took the gun Xu Si handed her.
Xu Si had somehow moved behind her, his large hands gripping her arms: “Hold it like this.”
Jiang Qiao was enveloped by his cool presence, then heard his voice: “Aim here, try it.”
After speaking, Xu Si released her.
Jiang Qiao copied the position he had taught her, then pulled the trigger. The balloon popped immediately.
She turned her head to see the young man smile at her.
Yang Shikun couldn’t help but praise her: “Scholar Jiang is really skilled, hitting it on the first try!”
After his praise, Jiang Qiao missed her second shot.
But that was the only shot she missed.
“Scholar Jiang learns so fast, like a master sharpshooter, hitting almost every shot!”
Hearing Yang Shikun’s words, Jiang Qiao’s ear tips turned pink: “Thank you.”
The shop owner gave her a plush bear. Jiang Qiao hugged it and thanked him.
The owner laughed cheerfully: “Little sister, your boyfriend taught you well!”
Hearing this, Jiang Qiao’s ears reddened again. She explained, “He’s not my boyfriend.”
The owner looked at their matching-style clothes: “Not a couple? Siblings then?”
Before Jiang Qiao could speak, Xu Si said: “Let’s go, little sister.”
His eyes held a hint of amusement.
The owner laughed heartily: “You siblings have such a good relationship!”
Yang Shikun behind them could barely contain his grin.
After walking far enough, Jiang Qiao finally spoke: “Who’s your little sister?”
“Fine, you’re not my little sister,” Xu Si said with a light laugh. He checked his phone, “It’s getting late, let me take you home.”
Jiang Qiao hugged her bear: “Okay.”
Yang Shikun suddenly remembered something: “Scholar Jiang, we haven’t exchanged contact info yet. Let’s add each other on WeChat.”
Speaking of contacts, Jiang Qiao searched her pockets for a while before realizing her phone was missing.
Xu Si laughed and pulled her phone from his pocket: “I took your phone earlier and forgot to return it.”
Jiang Qiao then remembered that Xu Si had taken her phone when he wouldn’t let her pay earlier.
Xu Si watched as she pulled up her QR code for Yang Shikun to scan.
Hao Ming: “Let me add you too.”
Yang Shikun inexplicably felt a chill. Why did Si-ge’s expression seem cold when looking at him? Must be his imagination. Si-ge loves him.
Xu Si glanced at the bear in Jiang Qiao’s arms: “Are you taking a taxi, or should I give you a ride?”
“A ride?”
Yang Shikun excitedly said: “Si-ge came on his motorcycle. Si-ge’s motorcycle is so cool, I’ve been wanting to ride it!”
A few minutes later, Jiang Qiao stood in front of Xu Si’s motorcycle.
Xu Si looked at Jiang Qiao and asked, “Want to ride?”
Jiang Qiao nodded seriously.
Xu Si glanced at Yang Shikun and Hao Ming behind them: “I’ll take her home, you guys head back first.”
“Alright, Si-ge! Bye Si-ge, bye Scholar Jiang!”
“Goodbye.”
Jiang Qiao also waved to them.
Just as she was about to speak, Xu Si put the helmet on her head. He bent down to carefully check if the helmet was secure. Jiang Qiao looked up at him, saw his curved lips, then averted her gaze.
After securing her helmet, Xu Si gently patted it: “Wearing a helmet is safer.”
Jiang Qiao noticed he only had one helmet and asked, “What about you?”
Xu Si smiled lightly: “I’ll be fine.”
He then mounted the motorcycle and looked at Jiang Qiao: “Can you get on?”
“Yes.” Jiang Qiao, holding her things, got on the motorcycle and tugged at his clothes.
Xu Si turned to look at her, hung her things on the handlebars in front, and said, “Hold onto me if you get scared.”
Jiang Qiao nodded seriously.
From her angle, she could see the young man’s flowing hair, carefree and bold – this seemed to be his true nature.
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