Chapter 027

Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan walked side by side for a few steps.

She made an effort to speak, turning to him with genuine sincerity. “Thanks for helping me just now.”

If he hadn’t shown up when he did, who knows how much those three punks would’ve taken from her.

Without looking at her, Lin Xiaohan gave a curt response as he walked: “Mm.”

Chu Xia thought for a moment, then held out the peach crisps to him. “Want one?”

Lin Xiaohan replied, “Don’t eat sweets.”

“…Okay then.”

She lowered the peach crisps again.

They had only walked side by side for a few steps when she continued, “Then how do you want me to thank you?”

Although Lin Xiaohan had helped her of his own accord, he wasn’t the type to do good deeds without expecting something in return. He had a mental scale more precise than anyone else’s. So she knew she had to find a way to repay the favor.

Of course, even if he was the type to help without expecting anything, she’d still insist on thanking him. She wasn’t someone who liked to owe people.

Sure enough, Lin Xiaohan didn’t stand on ceremony and asked directly, “What do you have that’s worth thanking me with?”

Chu Xia thought about it seriously.

In times like these, when even getting enough to eat was a struggle, there really wasn’t much she could offer. Even when people visited relatives or friends, the best gifts were usually just dried noodles or sugar.

So after thinking it over, food was still the best option.

Among all the possible foods, the rarest and most valuable besides sweets was meat.

So Chu Xia said to him, “When we get paid, I’ll treat you to zhajiang noodles, how about that? I’m not particularly good at anything else, but I can cook. And my zhajiang noodles are my specialty.”

She still had some of the secret sauce she brought from home, and she also had enough flour and meat ration tickets.

Lin Xiaohan glanced at her and asked, “How good are we talking?”

Chu Xia said confidently, “Really, really good. Just the smell alone will make your mouth water. Didn’t you catch the aroma from what I made at the settlement? I made it for Han Ting once.”

At the sudden mention of Han Ting, Lin Xiaohan let out a cold laugh.

Then he said with a sarcastic tone, “I’m not blessed like your ‘Brother Ting’ from the capital.”

Chu Xia knew better than anyone how much Lin Xiaohan and Han Ting disliked each other—they were like oil and water.

She instantly regretted bringing Han Ting up, so she pretended she hadn’t mentioned him and asked again, “So… is that okay?”

Lin Xiaohan gave her a sideways glance, then said after a pause, “I suppose I can lower my standards and give it a try.”

Chu Xia ignored his smug, arrogant tone and smiled at him. “Great, it’s settled then.”

Now that she had figured out how to return the favor, she could finally relax a bit. Otherwise, she’d probably lose sleep worrying about when he might come to collect on that debt.

With that agreed, she felt more at ease. On the way back to the village, she walked alongside Lin Xiaohan and made small talk about what they’d bought at the market.

Turned out, he’d gotten pretty much the same things she had—vegetable seedlings, seeds, and chicks.

So Chu Xia smiled and said, “Let’s plant vegetables together this afternoon?”

But as soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted how quickly she had spoken. So she added with a sheepish smile, “Not trying to cling to you or anything—our fields are next to each other, so it just makes sense. Of course, we don’t have to go together.”

Seeing how hard she was trying to explain herself, Lin Xiaohan turned to look at her for a moment.

Then instead of responding directly, he suddenly said, “I really don’t get you people. You even go to the bathroom in groups. Can’t stand being alone that much?”

He’d thought she was more independent than the rest—bold enough to offend Han Ting and his entire group. But now, after all that, she still needed companionship. And apparently, he was the replacement she picked for Han Ting—to lean on, to fill some emotional void. When he distanced himself from her, she just sat by the stream, staring into the water like some pitiful figure.

Chu Xia didn’t understand why he suddenly said something like that.

She tried to carry on the conversation. “Well… humans are emotional, social creatures. Most people need companionship and connection—it’s normal…”

Lin Xiaohan said, “So what you’re saying is… I’m not normal?”

Chu Xia gave him a little smile, then couldn’t help but say—with some restraint—“Well… maybe just a little bit…”

Lin Xiaohan: “…”

He looked at her with a half-smile. “And yet you still want to be around me?”

Chu Xia suddenly found his smile a bit scary.

When he had his usual scowl, he was just unapproachable—but when he smiled, it was somehow more intimidating. Yesterday, he smiled like that just before dragging her into a corner.

So Chu Xia quietly put a bit more distance between them.

She forced a smile and said, “Actually, aside from being a little cold, arrogant, and sharp-tongued… the rest of you…”

As she spoke, she saw his expression gradually darken—and felt like crying.

She meant to compliment him—really, she did. How did it go so wrong?

But given the times, she knew better than to offend him, so she forced herself to keep going. “The rest is… pretty good…”

She thought he’d be mad.

But unexpectedly, he said calmly, “Setting everything else aside, I don’t think being cold, arrogant, or sharp with people is a bad thing.”

“…”

Chu Xia cleared her throat and nodded.

If you say it’s fine, then it’s fine.

Lin Xiaohan added, “Better to make others suffer than to suffer yourself.”

Chu Xia nodded again. “You’re right!”

And in her heart, she added silently: As long as I’m not the one suffering, we’re good.