Mrs. Liu watched Su Shui and her daughter sitting side by side. Both were so nervous they sat rigidly straight, neither daring to glance at the other.
After all, Su Shui—a total homebody—had almost zero experience chatting with girls. Even with Liu Shuang, whom he’d known forever, he still got jittery. With a stranger? He’d have bolted ages ago.
Liu Shuang, meanwhile, hated having a man this close. The awkwardness between them hung thick in the air.
Liu Shuang strained to reach the fried shrimp across the table. Mrs. Liu silently cheered her daughter on.
“Yes! Exactly! Pretend you can’t reach it even if you can! Create a chance to touch!”
Su Shui hadn’t planned to help Liu Shuang. His wife was right here watching him, after all.
But Liu Shuang’s arm stretched out, blocking his and Nan Surou’s chopsticks as they fought over the braised pork.
Seeing Nan Surou about to snatch the last piece, Su Shui stood and slid the whole plate of fried shrimp before Liu Shuang.
“Thanks~” Liu Shuang murmured softly, picking up a shrimp and nibbling it slowly.
“Oh dear~” Lin Ning pretended to reach for the braised pork on the far side. Su Shui jumped up and placed the entire plate before her before she could move.
Nan Surou, happily munching nearby, blinked as the meat vanished from her view.
She looked up to find Su Shui fawningly offering the dish to Lin Ning.
“Tch!” Nan Surou clicked her tongue, glaring at him.
Su Shui ignored her. His wife ate first.
Lin Ning took two pieces casually, then waved for him to take the plate away.
Once in Su Shui’s hands, that meat wasn’t returning to Nan Surou.
He pointed at Liu Shuang. “Want some?”
Liu Shuang took a piece and chewed it slowly.
He offered it to Mrs. Liu next. “Aunt Liu, try my cooking~”
“Delicious!”
Nan Surou watched Su Shui expectantly, waiting for the plate.
Instead, he glanced at her and dumped half the meat into his own bowl.
“What’re you waiting for~” Su Shui whispered, still sore from her earlier punch.
“Stingy!”
……
……
Full and satisfied, Lin Ning and the three girls lounged on the sofa while Su Shui scrubbed dishes alone in the kitchen.
Mrs. Liu nudged Liu Shuang’s elbow and whispered, “Go help him now~”
She shot Liu Shuang a meaningful look: hurry up.
No one wanted to move after eating—not even Liu Shuang. She sat stubbornly, dragging her feet.
After all, a cigarette post-meal feels like heaven. A nap beats sleeping pills.
“Move it!” Mrs. Liu hissed, exasperated. “This is prime time to bond! Must I spell it out?”
Pouting, Liu Shuang trudged to the kitchen to help wash up.
“Thanks for today~” she murmured to Su Shui.
“No trouble. You’ve looked after Little Ning at work forever~”
Liu Shuang paused mid-scrub. “You know why I hate blind dates?”
“Aren’t they just awful? I hate being dragged to them too~”
“Nope!” Liu Shuang met his eyes seriously. “I like Lin Ning too~”
“Haha, same here!” Su Shui zoned out, then jolted back. “Wait—what?!”
……
……
“Class, we have a new student today!”
A blonde, blue-eyed teacher stood at the front with a cute girl beside her.
The kids chattered below. The teacher frowned and tapped the blackboard.
“Quiet! Quiet!” Once silence fell, she continued, “Let our newcomer introduce herself~”
“Hi everyone~” A clear, bell-like voice rang out. “I’m Lin Ning, from China! Please take care of me~”
She bowed deeply.
The classroom froze—then exploded.
Middle school boys, hearts fluttering, went wild over adorable Lin Ning.
The girls smiled and chatted along, but jealousy, envy, and curiosity simmered beneath.
“Settle down!” The teacher pointed. “Lin Ning, sit beside Liu Shuang—you’re countrywomen.”
Lin Ning trotted over with her tiny backpack. “Hi, I’m Lin Ning~” She offered her hand.
Little Liu Shuang shook it stiffly. “Liu Shuang.”
Under bright sunshine, two lovely girls met for the first time.
……
……
“Who can answer this?” The teacher adjusted her glasses on the podium.
Every upturned head suddenly dipped low.
“Pfft~” A tiny snort cut through the silence. Liu Shuang watched her new deskmate hunched over, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
The teacher spotted it instantly. “Lin Ning—you answer~”
“Yes!”
Lin Ning jumped. She’d been texting Su Shui and had no clue.
All eyes locked on her.
Liu Shuang wanted to help—but Lin Ning was already at the board.
Chalk in her small hand, she scribbled swiftly. The answer appeared in seconds.
“Brilliant!” The teacher beamed. “Lin Ning solved this perfectly—”
*Ring ring ring~*
The bell cut her off. Boys swarmed Lin Ning the moment it rang.
“You aced that hard problem!” cried a studious kid.
“You’re gorgeous—be my girlfriend?” begged a precocious boy.
“Where’d you get that bag?” asked a fashion-obsessed girl.
“What yummy foods does China have?” drooled a chubby boy, sucking his finger…
Liu Shuang watched Lin Ning force a smile, handling the crowd that once flocked to her.
“Ugh!” She bit her lip. “This girl’s so annoying!”
