Chapter 28: Childhood Encounter (Part 1)

He awkwardly stepped back, while Qin Muxue, realizing the unusual contact at her chest, quickly blushed with anger and glared at him.

Lin Beixiu awkwardly retreated, “Really, it wasn’t my fault, it was inevitable.”

“Heh.”

Qin Muxue coldly laughed, but didn’t really blame him. After numerous rounds and countless physical contacts, she felt Lin Beixiu’s hesitations. She had let him win more than once; otherwise, Lin Beixiu really couldn’t have beaten her.

Lin Beixiu only knew the basics and hadn’t practiced much.

“Continue.”

Lin Beixiu was stunned for a moment, clearly unable to believe it, before passing her the ball.

When Qin Muxue charged at him, Lin Beixiu merely put up a token resistance. Qin Muxue easily bypassed him, jumped, and scored a layup in one fluid motion.

“What happened?”

Lin Beixiu shrugged, “You win, I really can’t beat you.”

Qin Muxue knew he was apologizing for the earlier incident. Although she won, she didn’t feel much joy.

Humph, this guy.

“Let’s go, we should head back.”

Lin Beixiu returned the ball to the gym and left the court with her.

On the road.

Qin Muxue walked beside him, smiling, “Little brother Lin, you haven’t forgotten our bet, have you?”

“Mm.”

Lin Beixiu softly responded, his voice barely audible, turning his head away, his pace quickening.

Following behind, Qin Muxue could see his ears turning red, her smile growing more amused.

“Say it.”

“Sister,” Lin Beixiu finally said, then fell silent.

Qin Muxue blocked his path, smiling in front of him, “I didn’t hear clearly just now, say it again?”

Lin Beixiu: ……..

He couldn’t believe it.

“You’re doing this on purpose, right?”

“I really didn’t hear clearly.”

Lin Beixiu refused, “That doesn’t count, the bet was only for one call.”

“I didn’t hear it, so it doesn’t count.”

Lin Beixiu: …….

Unfortunately for him, Qin Muxue stood in his way, looking like she wouldn’t let him pass without another call.

Reluctantly, Lin Beixiu called out again, “Sister.”

“Mm, not bad, little brother Lin.”

It had been years since he could call her by that nickname again.

Hearing this, Lin Beixiu was stunned, this long-lost nickname…

He looked at Qin Muxue with a complicated expression, unable to see the shadow of that girl from his childhood in her. It shouldn’t… be possible.

For a moment, Lin Beixiu was confused, doubting himself.

“What’s wrong, little brother Lin?”

Qin Muxue curiously looked at him, internally wondering if Lin Beixiu had recognized her.

Shaking his head, Lin Beixiu said, “Let’s go back.”

Qin Muxue followed behind, feeling a bit disappointed but then came to terms with it. After all, considering the differences between boys and girls as they grow up, it was normal not to recognize each other.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

“Little brother Lin?”

Qin Muxue unabashedly teased Lin Beixiu.

Biting his lip, Lin Beixiu tensed up.

“Cough, I just want to know why you’re calling me little brother Lin again?”

“It sounds nice.”

Qin Muxue said matter-of-factly, “Anyway, whether it’s little brother Lin or little brother Beixiu, both sound nice.”

She didn’t hide her intentions at all.

Lin Beixiu let her be, and they both returned home, first to take a shower and wash off the sweat.

Dinner was prepared by Old Zhang, and Qin Muxue went to shower first, followed by Lin Beixiu.

“You go ahead, I’ll eat with the girl first.”

“Mm.” Lin Beixiu responded casually.

“Aren’t we waiting for Lin Beixiu?”

In just two days, Old Zhang noticed the change in Qin Muxue’s address and laughed, “Girl, don’t pity that brat. In our family, we eat first.”

Qin Muxue’s cheeks flushed, especially because Old Zhang was so straightforward.

“Grandpa, did you call Lin Beixiu little Lin when he was young?”

“Yes, little Lin is his nickname, given by his mother.”

Mentioning this, Old Zhang’s expression became somber, sighing at the thought that the dispute between the elders had hurt the child.

Qin Muxue felt uncomfortable knowing Lin Beixiu’s situation.

“Let’s not talk about this at dinner, let’s eat.”

Soon, Lin Beixiu came out of the bathroom.

“Grandpa, what delicious food did you make?”

“It’s all your favorites, your meal is ready.”

…

The night crept in quietly, and in a small house, three people ate and laughed together, dispelling the previous gloom.

At night, in Lin Beixiu’s room, he lay on his bed massaging his legs, looking helplessly at Qin Muxue sitting beside him.

“We’ve been playing all afternoon, aren’t you tired? Staying in my room.”

“It’s boring anyway, I want to hear your stories.”

Lin Beixiu turned away, “What stories do I have to tell?”

“Tell me about the most important person to you.”

Lin Beixiu paused, thinking back to his childhood experiences, murmuring, “There was someone.”

“Who?”

Qin Muxue asked eagerly, her heart slightly anxious.

“When I was little, I met a little girl, chubby and quite cute. I played with her all the time, and we had a lot of interesting adventures.”

“Do you remember her name?”

Qin Muxue could barely contain her excitement; his story matched their childhood exactly.

Shaking his head, Lin Beixiu said, “I don’t know, I always called her Sister Mu.”

Qin Muxue was so excited she almost jumped up but managed to restrain herself.

“Mm, keep going.”

But Lin Beixiu lay down, “Really, why are you so curious about my life?”

Pouting, Qin Muxue complained, “Keep talking, let me broaden my horizons.”

“No, go back to sleep.”

“Fine.”

Qin Muxue stood up, “Maybe next time, I’ll tell you about my life.”

“Who wants to hear your stories.”

Lin Beixiu watched the door close, murmured to himself, then turned over and covered himself with the blanket to sleep.

Lying in bed, Qin Muxue’s mind was filled with Lin Beixiu’s words, confirming that he was indeed the person she was looking for.

It was indeed a coincidence but a reality.

Qin Muxue fell asleep sweetly, dreaming about their childhood encounter.

Because of family and intelligence reasons, little Muxue didn’t attend kindergarten and had a home tutor. Loneliness led her to wander alone in the small park below their apartment complex.

That’s where she met Lin Beixiu, whose parents were dealing with a divorce at the time, oblivious to the young boy’s innocence.

Their first encounter remained vivid in Qin Muxue’s memory, with the young Lin Beixiu approaching her.

“Little sister, why are you alone here?”

Looking at the boy slightly shorter than her, Muxue retorted, “With your tiny stature, you should be calling me sister.”

Back then, Muxue was somewhat haughty, with a bit of a princess’s temper, but Lin Beixiu, in his innocence, insisted on playing with her no matter what she said.

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