Chapter 9

Qiao Nuan gently shook her head, "It's nothing, just a little conflict with Aunt Zhang. There's no need to worry about it; let them resolve it themselves—I'll go get some food for the dog."

"It is still the same as before. Zilin seems to be quite busy lately; he sounds rather exhausted when he is on the phone. I also feel it is not appropriate to keep contacting him." Xie Qingyan's expression appeared somewhat gloomy

Well, you have spent eight days a week wasting your youth here with Wu Zilin, so of course you reminisce

Due to the holiday, when Qiao Nuan and the others arrived, there were no other customers in the store. The owner remembered them and greeted them warmly. Qiao Nuan and Xie Qingyan ordered milk tea and hazelnut chocolate cake, and sat down at a table by the window

Actually, the emphasis is on the latter part of the sentence—hey, don't really spill it, Qingyan, this is a new outfit, and you will have to compensate for the damage!

The class monitor nodded, "Yes, that's me. I am still in the same class as He Jue."

Mom Qiao looked over with interest, walked over, squatted down, and poked around a bit, "This little thing is quite cute—however, I can't take care of it."

About half an hour later, He Jue and the girl came out together. He Jue was holding a beautifully packaged box, while the hairpin on the girl's head had been replaced with another crystal butterfly design

Qiao Nuan thought carefully and suddenly realized: "Oh, class monitor! I remember, it was you who asked me to come over that day, right?"

No need, He Jue has already treated me to milk tea

Xie Qingyan chuckled softly, "Although He Jue is a bit younger, he is handsome and performs well academically, so his speed is not a point of reference for you. Don't worry, you will have it too, just don't rush."

After a brief quarrel, the two began to share their experiences since the start of the school year, and Qiao Nuan intermittently recounted matters concerning Gao Lang

That girl excitedly continued, "Sister Qiao, do you still remember me? I am the class monitor from Hejue Primary School!"

Thus, the two of them casually began to chat about another matter, deliberately averting their gaze, pretending not to notice He Jue and the girl walking in.

Qiao Nuan made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, "How are you and Wu Zilin?"

... ... Qiao Nuan, do you know that I particularly want to splash you with milk tea

Qiao Nuan smiled and said, "Can you bear to do it?"

The two individuals engaged in a debate while closely monitoring the movements of He Jue. It must be said that the nature of gossip is such that it cannot easily disappear, regardless of age.

Pomeranians are a very lively breed that requires companionship for playtime. They have a thick coat that sheds easily, which also requires time for grooming. Since Qiao's mother works all day and has little free time, it is not practical to leave the puppy at home alone.

I never intended to comfort you

"I know I can't take care of it, so I'll send it away in a few days," Qiao Nuan replied gloomily

Xie Qingyan could not help but exclaim, "Not simple ... ..."

Looking at He Jue sitting across from her, Qiao Nuan suddenly realized: "So he likes the lively, cheerful, warm, and generous type, which is completely opposite to him. Indeed, he is a reserved and passionate Capricorn."

Qiao Nuan was taken aback for a moment, and it took her a long time to respond, "Hiding is wonderful!"

Regardless of whom he pursues, you should not have any entanglements with him

Upon arriving at the veterinary hospital, Qiao Nuan and He Jue waited for approximately one hour before the puppy was brought out. The hair on its injured leg had been shaved off and was wrapped in bandages. Seeing its drooping ears and pitiful appearance, Qiao Nuan could not help but reach out to hold it, gently stroking its head in a comforting manner. With this little creature, Qiao Nuan lost all desire to continue wandering outside. Although He Jue was somewhat reluctant, he obediently drove both the person and the dog back home. With this little creature, Qiao Nuan lost all desire to continue wandering outside. Although He Jue was somewhat reluctant, he obediently drove both the person and the dog back home.

The next morning, Qiao Nuan received a call from Xie Qingyan, and the two arranged to meet at the milk tea shop next to their high school

Qiao Nuan nodded slightly, "It should be him"

Qiao Nuan, I really splashed you

Watching He Jue and Xu Yunyao leave, Qiao Nuan let out a sigh of relief, "Finally gone, this little sister is too enthusiastic for me to handle—let's sit for a while longer and then leave, my mom misses you and insists that you come to my house for lunch"

Before long, a girl dressed in a floral dress walked up to He Jue. She was half a head taller than He Jue, with her hair down and a pink hairpin adorning her head. The two of them seemed to exchange a few words before entering the gift shop together

After a long time, Qiao Nuan could no longer endure the atmosphere. She jumped up from the ground, brushed the dust off her clothes, and lightly coughed, saying, "There is no point in staying here any longer. Let's go and get something to eat." Saying this, she disregarded He Jue's resistance and pulled him up.

After sitting for a while, He Jue and the girl known as Xu Yun Yao finished their drinks and came over to say goodbye, "Sister Qiao, He Jue and I are leaving now, goodbye Sister Qiao!"

I understand, the deep affection for one's offspring

He Jue crouched down and looked under the chair, then immediately took off his shirt to wrap the object beneath the seat, and slowly brought it out. Qiao Nuan leaned in and saw that it was a very small Pomeranian, with an injured leg, its white fur covered in dirt, and the area around the wound stained with dried blood, the fur matted and tangled. It lay listlessly in He Jue's hands, glancing at Qiao Nuan with its round, bulging eyes, and then let out a few painful whimpers.

The morning sunlight was particularly pleasant, and Qiao Nuan rested her cheeks on her hands, feeling lazy and unwilling to speak

The waves of the Yangtze River push the previous waves forward—hey, they are coming this way, Qingyan, should we hide for a moment

As soon as she sat down, Qiao Nuan felt something nudging at her leg. Startled, she exclaimed, "Ah! What, what, what is it?!"

Qiao Nuan was immediately overwhelmed with affection, feeling an immense pity for this unfortunate little creature. She promptly took it from He Jue's hands and rushed it to the animal hospital.

When you see the child you raised fall in love one day, you will also feel a sense of loss.

At such times, Qiao Nuan could not find the words to offer comfort. A long-distance relationship is a game against time and space; until the very end, no one knows how it will conclude. She shifted the topic, discussing some amusing incidents around her, and then brought up He Jue and Xiao Liu.

did not feel comforted at all

Isn't it too precocious

How to say?

Exactly! I don't even have a boyfriend, okay!

I had no idea you paid attention to him in high school. To be honest, his reputation is not very good. I've heard that he is somewhat fickle in love, so it would be better for you not to get too close to him.

I... I was already here; this sentence should be me asking you, right

Oh, good, see you again

At this moment, Xie Qingyan, who had been observing quietly, joined this delicate situation and smiled at the girl, saying: "Sister, would you like to order a cake? I will treat you on behalf of your sister Qiao."

Oh, alright, Sister Qiao, you all take your time to sit down, we will come over!

He Jue, who was following her, immediately cast a glance over, frowning as he asked: "What are you doing here"

Given time, one will inevitably become a beast... ah, no, a saint of love

Xu Yun Yao, let us sit over there. After a long silence, He Jue finally spoke up

This milk tea shop has a small storefront, but it is decorated in a very cozy manner. Inside, there are eight small wooden tables, each adorned with small pots of succulent plants such as jade butterflies, wall ferns, and little jade dew. The space is separated by floral vines, and on the wall, which is covered with wood-patterned wallpaper, hangs a small lamp styled like a gaslight. The counter area is also filled with many ceramic toys, which the owner has brought back from various travels. The owner has a particularly cheerful disposition; although she is no longer young, her doll-like face makes her appear quite youthful. She and her husband have been married for five years, and their relationship is very harmonious, earning them the title of model couple among the people from the third middle school. As a result, this milk tea shop is very popular among couples.

Unknowingly, the two arrived at Longquan Bridge, with the residential area not far away. Seeing He Jue display a clear sense of resistance, Qiao Nuan hurriedly said, "How about we sit here for a while?" As she spoke, she pulled He Jue to sit down on a nearby bench

Qiao Nuan carefully placed the puppy on the ground, "I found it by the river."

Ultimately, He Jue decided to sit down on the other side of the store with the girl, and Qiao Nuan and Xie Qingyan both breathed a sigh of relief. They had originally thought they could take the opportunity to tease He Jue and see his embarrassed expression, but unexpectedly found themselves in a passive position instead

What a metaphor, how disgusting

As the discussion about Xiao Liu's situation came to a halt, Qiao Nuan suddenly noticed a familiar figure standing at the entrance of the gift shop across from the milk tea store. Seeing that Qiao Nuan had stopped speaking, Xie Qingyan followed her gaze and, after a moment, softly asked: "Xiao Jue?"

What is there to hesitate about when it comes to eliminating harm for the people

"Oh, really? If you want to eat anything else, just order it without hesitation, don't be polite." Xie Qingyan's smile began to falter. Indeed, the younger generation is like the waves of the Yangtze River pushing forward, and today's children are so straightforward, candid, and enthusiastic that it is hard to resist.

What are we hiding from? We are the parents. Have you ever seen parents hiding from their children who are in early romantic relationships?

"Well, that's really good. It's just right that acquaintances can look out for each other..." He Jue's expression grew increasingly gloomy, and Qiao Nuan felt more and more awkward, thinking that her role as a 'guardian' seemed a bit too pathetic.

In a few years, Zilin will have to bow down in submission.

Qiao Nuan bit a pearl and fell silent for a moment. "He is pursuing my roommate."

Finally, Qiao Nuan and He Jue walked slowly along the riverbank, each holding a bottle of orange soda. The wild grass reached their ankles, and there was a dry, crisp scent after the sun had blazed down. He Jue pushed his bicycle while Qiao Nuan chatted about various matters from the past month at university: the new clubs, roommates, instructors, new books, and class schedules, among other things. Their conversation was casual and meandering, mostly consisting of trivial details, with Qiao Nuan doing most of the talking while He Jue simply listened, occasionally responding with a word or two. Qiao Nuan kept an eye on He Jue's emotions, and only when she noticed his expression finally soften a bit did she let out a sigh of relief. Their conversation was casual and meandering, mostly consisting of trivial details, with Qiao Nuan doing most of the talking while He Jue simply listened, occasionally responding with a word or two. Qiao Nuan kept an eye on He Jue's emotions, and only when she noticed his expression finally soften a bit did she let out a sigh of relief.

Xie Qingyan listened, her brows unconsciously furrowing. After Qiao Nuan finished speaking, she said: "Actually, I feel that Gao Lang seems a bit... unreliable."

He Jue ordered black tea, while that girl ordered blueberry milk tea. Xie Qingyan and Qiao Nuan lowered their voices and secretly observed He Jue and the others. When they saw that girl holding her milk tea walking over to find a seat, Qiao Nuan immediately sat up straight and avoided looking sideways. To her surprise, the girl stopped right next to her and then exclaimed in delight: "Sister Qiao!"

I also miss my aunt very much, especially her culinary skills

Mother Qiao gently stroked the puppy's head while quietly asking, "How is He Jue?"

"That day" refers to an occasion during a major cleanup at Hejue Primary School when Hejue got into a fight with a boy from the class, who pushed him off the desk, nearly causing a fracture. At that time, it was this girl who ran to the high school section to find Qiao Nuan.

During dinner, the tense atmosphere between He Jue and He's mother eased somewhat. The name of the puppy was also decided. Qiao Nuan insisted on calling it Kalu, but both Qiao's mother and He Jue unanimously rejected this. In the end, Qiao Nuan humbly surrendered and accepted the name "Xiao Liu" proposed by Qiao's mother

When Qiao Nuan returned home, her parents and He Mama were watching television. Upon seeing He Jue come back, He Mama hurriedly stood up, wanting to call out to him, but despite opening her mouth, she was unable to say anything. He Jue glanced at her but did not say anything, turning to walk towards the bathroom. He Mama felt a bit awkward and noticed that Qiao Nuan was holding a package in her arms, so she quickly smiled and asked: "What is this?"

Xie Qingyan touched the leaves of the Guanyin lotus on the table with her fingertips and sighed, "How nostalgic this is"

Xie Qingyan chuckled softly, "Why do I feel that you have a tone of melancholy and loss."