Extra 4.5

The soft and fragrant little girl in his arms was his sister, whom he had watched grow up since birth. Every detail of her growth, every frown, and smile, was so clear to him from childhood to adulthood. The word “like” felt too light and shallow to carry this kind of emotion, but she asked about a boy’s feelings towards a girl.

A boy’s feelings for a girl…

Zhuzi stood frozen in place, not daring to move.

Xiao Tangyuan had also felt this way a few days ago when she realized that her feelings for Zhuzi were those of a girl liking a boy.

Xiao Tangyuan extended a finger and gently prodded Xiao Zhuzi’s chest, speaking softly: “Brother, it took me three days to understand my feelings, so I’ll give you three days as well. You need to decide within these seventy-two hours whether you feel for me the way a boy feels for a girl.

If you do, you will love me for the rest of my life, and I will be very happy. If not, I won’t be too sad, though I might feel a little regret. Mom said that love is often about meeting the right person at the right time. I believe we have always been the right people for each other. If this isn’t the right time, then I will wait seventy-two hours and ask again. If you still feel it’s not right after those seventy-two hours, I will ask again in a year, but no more than that.

Brother, you need to think carefully. I can’t bear to see you being kind to other girls. If you can accept seeing other boys being kind to me, I will learn to cope. Mom said that forcing love doesn’t make it sweet. I hope that we are both happy whether we end up together or apart.”

After saying this, Xiao Tangyuan stood on tiptoe and gave Zhuzi’s cheek a “smack” before releasing his waist and bouncing away on light steps.

The little girl’s mood was genuinely cheerful. Her family had well-educated her, and she was brave in expressing her feelings. Whether she succeeded or not, she would conclude this emotional chapter with a sense of completeness and without any regrets.

.

Zhuzi watched the lighthearted figure of the girl as his own blood flow returned from being frozen to circulating normally, slowly spreading back to his limbs, tingling at his fingertips, then gradually flowing back to his heart, ending in a delayed, dull pain.

Zhuzi touched the spot on his chest where his heart was, confirming that it was indeed heartache.

Everyone had pampered the little princess since she was small, but she wasn’t at all spoiled. Aunt Su had taught her very well; her personality and temper resembled Aunt Su’s—sunny, cheerful, polite, and gentle to everyone. No one didn’t like such a kind and beautiful girl.

Previously, when the little princess was still young, Zhuzi had never considered who she would marry in the future. But after his mother asked that question, he began to feel restless nonstop. Why should their beloved little princess be given away to some other boy? It wasn’t until the little girl bravely asked, “Brother, what do you think of me? Do you like me? Like how a boy likes a girl?” that Zhuzi’s heart, which had been troubled without knowing the reason, finally settled. If the affection that was ingrained in his bones without any blood relation wasn’t considered liking, then what was?

Zhuzi’s heart felt both sour and soft. He touched the cheek that Xiao Tangyuan had just kissed, and his eyes suddenly grew warm. This silly girl—he was the boy, and it was supposed to be his job to take this step. Yet, it was the pampered little princess who took the initiative. Zhuzi was such a smart person; he quickly got the answer to Xiao Tangyuan’s recent anxiety. She was such a brave little girl that it was almost heart-wrenching.

Zhuzi initially thought of running after her but decided to sort out his own emotions first. He wanted to face the little princess and their relationship in the best possible state.

When they arrived home, Zhang Hongtu, who had had a few more drinks, was in the yard with Grandpa Zhang, enjoying the cool evening air. The father and son were using a large sunflower fan to cool themselves while playing chess comfortably. The gentle Ya Li was busy making tea for them. When she saw Zhuzi returning early, Ya Li smiled and asked her son, “Why are you back so early today?”

It would be an understatement to say that Zhuzi was just half of Su Xiaoxiao’s son; he was at least two-thirds of her son. He spent more time at Su Xiaoxiao’s house than at his own. However, Ya Li and Zhang Hongtu were often away, and the old man enjoyed staying at Su Xiaoxiao’s house with his grandson.

Zhuzi walked back with a clear mind. He found a chair, sat down, cleared his throat, and said, “Grandpa, Mom, and Dad, I have something important to announce.”

Grandpa Zhang placed a black piece on the board, picked up another, and teased, “Is it good news? Will I soon be able to drink tea from a daughter-in-law and hold a great-grandchild?”

Zhuzi was already 25 years old this year, which was considered somewhat advanced for a young man in that era. Although his family wasn’t pressuring him to marry and would not rush him into it, the idea was occasionally brought up, given that men and women were expected to marry when they reached a certain age.

As Ya Li reflected on this, she thought of Xiao Tangyuan again. The more she thought about it, the more regretful she felt. She remarked casually, “Time flies so quickly. Even our Xiao Tangyuan is already eighteen years old. She’s so adorable, and Xiaoxiao has raised her so well. I wonder which boy will be lucky enough to be with her in the future. In my opinion, no one is better than Xiao Tangyuan. It would be wonderful if she could end up with our Zhuzi. Son, I would have hesitated to say this before, but now that Xiao Tangyuan is an adult, don’t you have any thoughts about her?”

Zhuzi was at a loss for words when Ya Li brought up this topic.

Zhang Hongtu said, “Our son is a good catch too. Who wouldn’t enjoy marrying into our family?”

This son was like a gift from heaven, always excellent since childhood and never causing them any trouble. As parents, they felt somewhat embarrassed.

Grandpa Zhang cheerfully said, “I also like Xiao Tangyuan. Grandson, why don’t you try chasing her? Maybe she’ll agree. It’s called chasing, right? Isn’t that what the young people call it?”

Zhuzi nodded and replied firmly, “It’s Xiao Tangyuan.”

The elders were still immersed in their delightful wishes, not realizing they might come true. Naturally, they didn’t pay much attention to Zhuzi’s tone.

Ya Li said as she poured tea for them: “Yes, I’m talking about Xiao Tangyuan.”

Zhuzi, feeling somewhat helpless, cleared his throat and stated seriously, “Grandpa, Mom, Dad, I’m saying that I plan to date Xiao Tangyuan.”

“Ding Dong…” The black piece in Grandpa Zhang’s hand fell into the chessboard and disrupted the game;

“Aiya…” Ya Li’s hand was scalded by the overflowing tea.

The only one who remained somewhat normal was Zhang Hongtu, who quickly took the teapot from his wife’s hand and blew on it, “Why are you so careless?”

How could Ya Li care about these trivial matters? She pulled back her hand and walked over to hold her son’s arm: “Son, what did you just say? Say it again.”

Zhuzi understood their feelings; he had taken a long time to process them himself. He embraced his mother’s shoulder and said, “It’s exactly as you heard. What I’m trying to say is that I plan to date Xiao Tangyuan.”

Ya Li immediately jumped with joy, her elegant demeanor disappearing as she bounced high and kissed her son repeatedly. Xiao Zhuzi had always been mature and hadn’t been kissed much by her since he was young.

“Xiao Tangyuan? Really Xiao Tangyuan? Do you really want to date Xiao Tangyuan? Well done, son. You’re amazing!”

Zhuzi grinned happily along with her. It was Xiao Tangyuan, really Xiao Tangyuan, and he was also very happy.

Grandpa Zhang laughed until his eyes disappeared, thanking the heavens and quickly instructing his son to offer incense to the ancestors, expressing gratitude for finding such a good daughter-in-law for the Zhang family.

Zhang Hongtu also looked delighted and ran off happily to offer incense to the ancestors.

Ya Li was the first to react, “Wait, son, has Xiao Tangyuan agreed?”

Zhuzi naturally did not mention that it was Xiao Tangyuan who had taken the initiative to break the glass and confess to him first. He also worried that their reaction might frighten Xiao Tangyuan, so he simply nodded and said, “Xiao Tangyuan agreed, and Aunt Su is aware of it as well, but Uncle Han and Fantuan probably don’t know yet. You mustn’t be too excited when you see Xiao Tangyuan, or it might scare her.”

Ya Li looked at her son disapprovingly. “Our Xiao Tangyuan is very brave, and you’re the only one who treats her like a fragile doll. If the flower bud you’ve been protecting since childhood had been picked by someone else when it finally bloomed, I would have felt very sorry for you.”

There’s no need to explicitly say, “Be good to Xiao Tangyuan in the future,” or, “Our whole family will be good to Xiao Tangyuan in the future.” These children are cherished by both families. They have been inseparable since they were young and are loved as if they were their own.

No one knew better than Ya Li how much Zhuzi cared for Xiao Tangyuan. However, since Xiao Tangyuan was still too young, and her son wasn’t enlightened, she and Su Xiaoxiao had tacitly avoided bringing this up in front of the children. They didn’t want the children’s relationship to become impure, nor did they want them to accept each other due to the elders’ influence. Such things should be understood and accepted by the children themselves as they grow up, not as a result of pressure from elders. Ya Li and Su Xiaoxiao hoped that no matter whether the relationship between the children was sibling love or romantic love, it would remain pure and untainted. This was an unspoken agreement between two great mothers.

When they were younger, it had been mentioned once, but later on, it was rarely discussed. When others brought it up, they just laughed it off and didn’t intervene too much.

Ya, Li was very touched. The children had grown up well, becoming their best selves, and had not missed each other. What could be better or purer than such a childhood love?

-o-o-o-o-o-

As for Xiao Tangyuan, she went home and shared with her mother, saying she felt very cool for confessing to Zhuzi and even sneaking a kiss, leaving him stunned.

Su Xiaoxiao was both amused and helpless. Strictly speaking, Zhuzi was also her child, and she could imagine Zhuzi’s dumbfounded expression at that moment.

She tapped her daughter’s head: “You…. Don’t scare your brother Zhuzi.”

Xiao Tangyuan hugged her mother and was very relaxed: “Mom, I think even if brother Zhuzi didn’t have any feelings for me, I wouldn’t be sad. I don’t know how to describe this feeling.”

Su Xiaoxiao stroked her daughter’s head and said, “Mom understands. You are both good kids. I’m proud of having such a brave daughter.” Understanding oneself as a woman is more important than anything else. If Xiao Tangyuan were the kind to be melancholic over falling flowers or romanticizing the moon, Su Xiaoxiao would have been upset, thinking her years of education had gone to waste. But this brave and open-minded Xiao Tangyuan was exactly the good daughter she had raised. She believed that no matter what happened in the future, her daughter would remain this brave.