Chapter 27

Xu Xiaoxia looked at Xu Xiangdong in front of her and said sadly, “Brother Xiangdong, I’m going to the county the day after tomorrow.”

“Mhm, take care of yourself out there,” Xu Xiangdong reminded her.

“Brother Xiangdong, my mother wants me to find a colleague in the factory to marry,” Xu Xiaoxia hesitated, wanting to ask if he had feelings for her, but she was too afraid. If she asked and got the wrong answer, she might not even be able to talk to him again.

Xu Xiangdong frowned slightly and said, “Marriage is a big deal. You’re still young, you need to think carefully.”

“Brother Xiangdong, we’ve grown up together, you should…”

Before Xu Xiaoxia could finish her sentence, Aunt Xu San walked over.

“Xiaoxia, what are you talking to Xiangdong about?”

“Auntie,” Xu Xiaoxia greeted with a smile, “Nothing much.”

“Oh, Xiaoxia, you and your Brother Xiangdong grew up together, almost like siblings. Let me ask you, do you think that educated youth Gu and Xiangdong are a good match?” Aunt Xu San hooked her arm around Xu Xiaoxia’s.

“Educated youth Gu?” Xu Xiaoxia’s expression tensed as she looked at Xu Xiangdong. “Brother Xiangdong, do you like educated youth Gu?”

Xu Xiangdong’s face darkened, and he glared at Aunt Xu San. “Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? Don’t ruin educated youth Gu’s reputation.”

Seeing how much Xiangdong cared about Gu Yu, Xu Xiaoxia’s heart clenched in pain. She broke free from Aunt Xu San’s grip and ran away.

Xu Xiangdong frowned at his mother. “So it was you behind Gu Yu coming here all the time to help. Stop meddling in such meaningless things from now on.”

“Meaningless?” Aunt Xu San grabbed his arm. “You don’t like educated youth Gu?”

“Mom, if I like someone, I’ll pursue them myself. I don’t need your help,” Xu Xiangdong said irritably.

Aunt Xu San pinched him. “You should’ve said so earlier! Now what? Educated youth Gu clearly likes you.”

“You didn’t tell me either. In two days, I’ll be heading to work at the reservoir. While I’m gone, you should help Gu Yu keep her distance from me,” Xu Xiangdong said.

“Fine, that’s the only way. What kind of girl do you even like? You’re driving me crazy,” Aunt Xu San complained.

Xu Xiangdong gave her a look. “There’s no rush for things like this.”

Then he walked away, leaving Aunt Xu San fuming. After cursing for a while, she realized she was just scolding herself, so she stopped.

Xu Xiangdong left and went to the tool storage area.

Inside, Xu Xiaoxia was crying at her desk.

Xu Xiangdong knocked on the table. “Xiaoxia.”

Hearing his voice, Xu Xiaoxia immediately looked up. Seeing him, she turned away and wiped her tears.

“Xiaoxia, since you’re going to the county, find someone there. Once you leave, don’t come back to the village,” Xu Xiangdong said.

“You came to see me just to say that?” Xu Xiaoxia looked at him with deep resentment.

Xu Xiangdong lowered his gaze. “Xiaoxia, you deserve better.”

“I know what I deserve. I don’t need you to tell me. Just go take care of your educated youth Gu,” Xu Xiaoxia snapped.

“I have nothing with Gu Yu. It’s just my mother meddling,” Xu Xiangdong explained.

Xu Xiaoxia stood up and looked at him. “You tell me to find someone in the county, but then you explain that you have nothing with Gu Yu. What exactly do you mean?”

“I want the best for you, and I also don’t want to ruin Gu Yu’s reputation because of me,” Xu Xiangdong said.

“Enough, Xu Xiangdong. Let’s stop going in circles. Just tell me, do you have feelings for me? Do you like me?” Xu Xiaoxia asked directly.

Xu Xiangdong stared at her for a long time before finally saying, “We’re not suitable.”

Then he turned and left.

Watching him walk away, Xu Xiaoxia burst into tears again.

—-

At noon, when it was time to put away the tools, Xu Xiaoxia called out to Lu Lanlan.

“Come early at noon and help me register the tools.”

“Okay.”

She didn’t try to keep it a secret, so soon everyone knew that Xu Xiaoxia was going to work in the county and that Lu Lanlan would take over as the scorekeeper.

Gu Yu came over, looking envious. “Lanlan, why is your life so good?”

Lu Lanlan just smiled. It’s not about luck. She turned her head slightly and glanced at Fu Chunian.

Coincidentally, Fu Chunian was also looking at her. Their eyes met, and Lu Lanlan quickly looked away.

In the afternoon, Fu Chunian accompanied Lu Lanlan to work early.

Lu Lanlan didn’t want him to, but he retorted, “You’re overthinking again, aren’t you? Just because I do something, you think I like you?”

Lu Lanlan couldn’t argue with him and had to let him follow.

After a day and a half, Lu Lanlan learned the job quickly.

Two days after Xu Xiaoxia left for the county, Xu Xiangdong went to work at the reservoir.

Gu Yu came crying to Lu Lanlan, saying that Aunt Xu San had told her Xu Xiangdong would be staying at the reservoir for at least half a year.

Her budding romance was over before it even began.

Over the next few days, Gu Yu noticed that Aunt Xu San was no longer as enthusiastic toward her.

Every night, she went back to her room and cried to Lu Lanlan. Lu Lanlan eventually confronted Aunt Xu San.

Feeling guilty, Aunt Xu San admitted, “It’s my fault. I wanted to match her with Xiangdong, but Xiangdong isn’t looking for anyone right now. I just didn’t know how to tell her, so I avoided her.”

“You should just tell her the truth. Gu Yu isn’t the type to cling or cause trouble,” Lu Lanlan said.

“Alright, I’ll talk to her this afternoon.”

The love story that never even started was cut off completely. Gu Yu cried in Lu Lanlan’s arms for two hours.

But the next day, she acted as if nothing had happened, full of energy again.

Lu Lanlan admired her resilience.

Since Lu Lanlan was now the scorekeeper, she had to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. Fu Chunian insisted on staying with her, so Gu Yu had to walk home alone.

She did it once but refused to do it again. Instead, she insisted on waiting for Lu Lanlan every day.

This annoyed Fu Chunian. He finally had a chance to be alone with Lu Lanlan, but Gu Yu kept interfering.

“Did something happen?” Lu Lanlan asked.

Gu Yu nodded. “That creepy guy who suddenly took a bath last time is bothering me again.”

“Why did she go to the reservoir?” Lu Lanlan was confused.

“No idea. Maybe she was trying to escape that creep,” Gu Yu said.

“Either way, now that she’s gone, I’m the one in danger,” Gu Yu grumbled, feeling extremely unlucky.

Lu Lanlan sighed, feeling troubled for her as well. The worst part is, no one would believe her even if she spoke up.