After dinner, Shen’s mother fussed about wanting to buy some fruit and sent Shen Siyan on the errand.

While talking, she turned to Xu Zhilu and asked, “Are you in a hurry to go home and do homework? If not, why don’t you go with Shen Siyan?”

If Shen Siyan had asked, Xu Zhilu would have refused without hesitation, but since it was Shen’s mother, she couldn’t turn her down.

She nodded and asked politely, “Auntie Shen, what fruit would you like?”

Shen’s mother thought for a moment and exchanged a glance with the housekeeper, Aunt Chen. “There’s a new fruit store by the lake to the left of the community. You two can pick whatever looks good.”

“Okay.”

The two left under Shen’s mother’s watchful eyes.

The evening breeze was pleasantly cool, and Xu Zhilu walked quickly, clearly eager to finish the errand and return.

But Shen Siyan walked leisurely.

After a while, Xu Zhilu stopped and looked back at him. “Shen Siyan.”

He glanced at her.

Xu Zhilu said disgustedly: “Are you not physically strong?” ”

“?”

Shen Siyan looked at her, puzzled.

Xu Zhilu said bluntly, “You just went to the supermarket at the corner for a box of yogurt, and now you can’t keep up?”

Shen Siyan: “…”

Her sarcastic tone was not lost on him; she was complaining about his slow pace.

“I just had a big meal. Why rush?”

Xu Zhilu snorted, “I have homework to do.”

“Oh.” Shen Siyan still walked slowly. “Then do it tomorrow.”

Xu Zhilu rolled her eyes where he couldn’t see. “You think everyone’s like you.”

Shen Siyan glanced at her and said nothing, but his pace quickened slightly.

Xu Zhilu kept up.

But she felt like Shen Siyan was doing it on purpose. As soon as she mentioned his physical strength was not good, he started walking like he was in a race.

After speeding up for a while, Xu Zhilu got tired and slowed down.

Not hearing any movement behind him, Shen Siyan stopped and turned around.

Looking up, he saw Xu Zhilu far behind, walking slowly under the streetlight, her shadow stretching long.

Seeing Shen Siyan waiting for her, Xu Zhilu’s eyes flickered, but she said nothing.

Shen Siyan also remained silent, gave her a once-over, and then stepped aside to let her pass.

They kept a two-step distance from each other as they walked to the fruit store, not too far apart, their shadows overlapping.

The evening breeze was gentle, making Xu Zhilu, who had come back to life, feel that being with Shen Siyan could also be peaceful.

The fruit store was bustling with business at night, even holding some promotional activities when they arrived.

Shen Siyan glanced around and asked her, “What do you want to eat?”

Xu Zhilu was stunned and said, “Auntie Shen wants lychees and cherries.”

“Mm.” Shen Siyan grabbed two boxes of cherries and a box of lychees. “What else do you want?”

Xu Zhilu thought for a moment, “Auntie Shen also likes…”

Before she could finish, Shen Siyan impatiently interrupted her in a cold, indifferent tone, “I asked you, I didn’t ask her.”

Xu Zhilu: “…”

She let out an “oh” and pursed her lower lip: “Why are you asking me?” I’ll be home later. ”

Shen Siyan looked at her, and went to get two boxes of strawberries and a few bunches of grapes before giving up.

When they were done, Xu Zhilu reached out to take one of the bags, but was “cut off” by Shen Siyan halfway.

“No need.”

He said flatly, “I can carry them.”

Xu Zhilu looked at the pile of fruit and said quietly, “You can just carry the two boxes of cherries. I can handle this bag.”

Shen Siyan didn’t respond, letting the shopkeeper bag the cherries. He took one in each hand.

Xu Zhilu glanced at him, “Not too heavy?”

“Mm.”

Xu Zhilu murmured, “If it’s heavy, I can carry one.”

Shen Siyan looked up and said calmly, “If I can’t carry this, are you going to question my stamina again?”

“…”

Xu Zhilu choked on her words and looked away. “You really hold grudges.”

Shen Siyan hummed in agreement, indicating that’s just how he was.

–

The two chatted and arrived at the door of the house.

Xu Zhilu’s house was in the front building, and she stopped: “Then I’ll go back to the house first.”

“Wait.”

Shen Siyan put down the things he was carrying and sorted the two bags of fruit, handing one to her.

Xu Zhilu was stunned and looked at him in confusion. “What are you doing?”

She had a vague guess but didn’t dare to think too much.

Shen Siyan glanced at her and said, “Don’t you understand?”

“… No.” Xu Zhilu realized and said softly, “Didn’t Auntie Shen ask you to buy these?”

Shen Siyan pointed out, “Those are hers.”

Xu Zhilu’s lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but Shen Siyan cut her off impatiently. “Has your IQ gone on vacation?”

Xu Zhilu shut her mouth.

Looking at the fruits in front of her, she said quietly, “Thank you.”

Shen Siyan glanced at her, then at the dark house, and said indifferently, “Mm, go do your homework.”

“… Okay.”

Watching Shen Siyan walk to the house next door, Xu Zhilu carried the bag and went inside.

The people attending the party hadn’t returned yet. Xu Zhilu brought the fruit into the kitchen and was about to go upstairs but stopped again.

She squatted in front of the white plastic bag for a long time, looking at its contents.

Cherries, grapes, strawberries—these were all her favorite fruits.

Xu Zhilu stared at them for a while, then bent down to wash some.

Under the warm yellow light of the kitchen, the strawberries looked juicy, and the other fruits seemed very fresh.

Xu Zhilu tasted each one, finding them very sweet.

Each was much sweeter than any she’d bought before.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She checked it and saw a message from Shen Siyan.

Shen Siyan: Put the fruit in your room.