Chapter 33: Returning to the Army?

Seeing him, Xu Jiaojiao remembered the morning when she said she would treat him to dinner.

“Shall we… go to the state-owned restaurant?”

She asked, a smile appearing on her face.

Qin Shuo nodded and stepped forward to take the bag from her hand.

But she dodged him.

“It’s not heavy, I can carry it myself.” Xu Jiaojiao said awkwardly.

The bag was full of things women use, how could she let him carry it?

Qin Shuo looked at her steadily, confirming that she really didn’t want him to, he frowned, but didn’t insist.

The two walked towards the state-owned restaurant, one in front of the other.

Like other couples on the street, they kept a proper distance, as if they hated to be within a street’s length of each other.

It was dinner time, and there were people everywhere.

This was her treat, so Xu Jiaojiao stood at the window to line up without hesitation.

But as soon as she stood up, she saw Qin Shuo standing behind her.

Xu Jiaojiao: …

He wouldn’t be trying to pay for her, would he?!

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t want to owe him anything, and secretly decided to be quick.

She had to be faster than him.

Soon, it was their turn.

“What do you want to eat?” Xu Jiaojiao said in a “you can order whatever you want” tone.

“You order.”

Xu Jiaojiao: …

Okay.

She turned around to order, but found that there weren’t many dishes.

They were all written on the daily supply blackboard.

In the end, Xu Jiaojiao ordered two dishes and a soup.

“One yuan and five jiao, plus two jin of ration coupons.”

Xu Jiaojiao took out the money and coupons from her pocket.

She flipped through the pile of colorful coupons, only to discover that there were no ration coupons!

This was embarrassing.

Even more embarrassing was that Qin Shuo next to her had already taken out the money and coupons and handed them to the window.

“Sorry, I’ll treat you next time.” Xu Jiaojiao whispered.

But she saw the man’s eyes were very complicated.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t understand, but she didn’t take it to heart.

While waiting for the food, the two stared at each other.

The atmosphere was so awkward that it made people want to scratch the floor.

“You… are you going back to the army?” Xu Jiaojiao felt that she should find something to talk about.

But their relationship was half-baked, she didn’t know what to talk about.

She seized on a topic and pretended to ask casually.

Who knew, as soon as she finished speaking, she saw the man’s eyes suddenly become strange.

Xu Jiaojiao: …

Was it impossible to ask this?

“If it’s not convenient, don’t say it.” Xu Jiaojiao had already mentally punched herself hard.

Why did you have to chat?

Even just staring at each other would be better than the current atmosphere.

“No.”

Qin Shuo said two words concisely.

His mind flashed back to the last life, when he returned to the army, she went south with someone.

Xu Jiaojiao felt the atmosphere getting colder, so she didn’t speak anymore.

This man was unpredictable and hard to guess.

If he hadn’t helped her, Xu Jiaojiao wouldn’t want to stick her neck out.

Fortunately, the food came soon.

Xu Jiaojiao, who hadn’t been to a restaurant for a long time, immediately forgot about everything else.

She picked up her bowl and started eating.

It had to be said, the chef at the state-owned restaurant was really good, the food was delicious.

Afraid of saying the wrong thing and stepping on a mine, Xu Jiaojiao didn’t try to talk to him anymore.

The two ate in silence.

Those who didn’t know them would think they were sitting together at the same table.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t care.

After a satisfying meal, she greeted Qin Shuo and left.

As for waiting for him?

No way.

Don’t look at Xu Jiaojiao’s usual cheerful smile, she actually holds a grudge.

She had been given the cold shoulder just now, and she didn’t want to talk to him now.

The tractor from the team was scheduled to meet at three o’clock.

It was still early, so Xu Jiaojiao went to the supply and marketing cooperative.

She stood in line for a long time, and when she came out, she had another full bag of things.

Estimating that it was almost three o’clock, she didn’t stay any longer and went directly to the meeting point.

There were only a few male educated youths at the meeting point.

The tall, fair-skinned one was particularly eye-catching.

“It’s Xu Jiaojiao.” Meng Wenyuan nudged Gu Qingbai’s arm.

But Gu Qingbai didn’t even lift his eyelids, he just stared quietly at the book in his hand.

Seeing that he didn’t react, Meng Wenyuan found it extremely boring.

When the figure got closer, he suddenly widened his eyes.

“How come Xu Jiaojiao is like a different person?” Actually, he wanted to say, how come she’s become prettier.

But her identity was not suitable for discussing such things, so he could only say it this way.

But after he said that, he saw that Gu Qingbai was still indifferent, and couldn’t help but sigh.

Forget it, watching his play was a dream!

Xu Jiaojiao wasn’t familiar with these educated youths, she just greeted them casually and found a stone to sit down.

She didn’t even try to talk to them.

With no play to watch, Meng Wenyuan also withdrew his gaze and focused on waiting for the car.

Not long after, they heard the sound of a tractor, and to their surprise, the tractor stopped next to Xu Jiaojiao.

At this time, there were still only a few of them at the meeting point.

Even Qin Shuo was nowhere to be seen.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t care, as soon as the car stopped, she put her things on it.

Then she grabbed the back of the truck and easily jumped onto the car.

Since there was no one else, she sat directly in the first seat.

As soon as she sat down, she heard a thud, and someone else got on.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t turn her head, she guessed it was one of the male educated youths.

Sure enough, the person sitting opposite her was none other than Gu Qingbai.

Seeing him frown, Xu Jiaojiao was speechless.

Are you jealous?

She withdrew her gaze and turned to look, but met another pair of deep eyes.

Xu Jiaojiao: …

Remembering his cold gaze at the restaurant, Xu Jiaojiao didn’t speak, and turned her head to the front again.

She even moved forward, as if she was afraid of touching him.

Soon, more people got on the car.

The female educated youths were chattering, looking very excited.

Xu Jiaojiao looked at Chen Qiaolian opposite her, and wished she could fly over and sit with her.

But Chen Qiaolian was a popular girl, several female educated youths were surrounding her and talking.

How could she possibly pay attention to her?

“Are all the people here? We’re going to leave!”

Liu Dawu sat in the driver’s seat and shouted to the back.

There were two empty seats on the car, and two female comrades hadn’t gotten on yet.

“Two people are still missing.” Meng Wenyuan shouted to the front, “Don’t drive yet.”

The others were unhappy.

They agreed to meet at three o’clock, why were those two so slow?

They were all waiting for them in a big car.

But Liu Dawu turned around and comforted everyone.

“It’s normal for female comrades to be late, don’t worry, let’s wait a little longer.”

The same old routine!

Everyone was angry but dared not speak.

When Li Wenxiu finally arrived at the meeting point, she found that everyone was looking at her with unfriendly eyes.

“Sorry, I’m late.” Li Wenxiu apologized straightforwardly.

Her expression was full of sincerity.

The male comrades all said it was okay.

But the female comrades’ faces were even darker.

“Didn’t you lose your money? Why are you buying so many things?”