Fell In Love With My Older Sister’s Friend - Chapter 20

Having eaten their fill, Xu Luzhi contentedly wiped her mouth and called out, “Boss, check, please!”

“Coming right up!” A neatly dressed middle-aged woman slowly emerged, smiling at Xu Luzhi, “Zhi Zhi, you’re back again!”

Xu Luzhi nodded obediently, pointing to Lin Qingyue across the table: “Yep, brought my Jie Jie (Older Sister) to try your food!”

Her tone was proud, like a child showing off a new toy.

The boss’s gaze followed, and she smiled gently: “Welcome. It’s a pity you came a bit late, though.”

Her words piqued Lin Qingyue’s curiosity. Tapping the table, she asked, “How is it late?”

The boss slowly explained, “We just got a net of wild meiziyu (plum fish) today, and coincidentally dug up some fresh biansun (bamboo shoots). I released the news in the early hours, and sure enough, people were waiting here even before we opened. They’ve only just finished eating now.”

Lin Qingyue looked closely, seeing the same large bowls on the next table, but the fish was snow-white and the bamboo shoots delicate, clearly different from what they had eaten.

A group of foodies slowly drank a mouthful of homemade rice wine, ate a mouthful of noodles, and savored the fresh fish, their eyes half-closed in comfort.

The fragrant aroma of the fresh food drifted across the tables and into their nostrils, a scent so delicious it made one jealous, yet unable to get angry.

After all, those people had waited before the store even opened, and they themselves had come late!

Xu Luzhi was so tempted that she licked her lips, complaining coquettishly, “I’ve been here so many times, and you didn’t even save me some!”

The boss laughed, “I thought about saving some for my regulars, but the thing is, all of these are regulars! There wasn’t even enough for one per person, I didn’t get to eat any myself!”

Xu Luzhi swallowed unwillingly but had no retort, only sighing, “Well, Boss, you must notify me next time. I’ll come the night before!”

The woman smiled warmly, with the simple elegance of a humble village woman: “Alright, I’ll definitely notify you next time.”

Her gaze naturally swept over Lin Qingyue, counting her as one of the people to notify.

Lin Qingyue couldn’t argue that she would be leaving in a few days and could only watch as Xu Luzhi cheerfully paid the bill.

Though it was a small eatery, the prices weren’t low. The cost for the two of them was comparable to a meal at a mid-range restaurant, but the taste lingered, leaving them with an endless aftertaste. Xu Luzhi paid the bill willingly.

Lin Qingyue felt a bit embarrassed. Licking her lips, she carefully offered, “Should I transfer the money to you?”

Xu Luzhi immediately opened her QR code. When Lin Qingyue scanned it, the network was a bit poor. After a long wait, the spinning circle didn’t bring up the payment page but the add friend page instead.

The profile picture was an anime drawing of a well-behaved little girl. As for the nickname…

Lin Qingyue looked up and read it out loud, word by word: “Zhi Zhi Doesn’t Go to Peking University.”

Her voice was soft, her smoky tone low and filled with a gentle smile. Xu Luzhi’s face turned red upon hearing it, and she immediately explained, “Ahem, it’s because people keep telling me to go to Peking University. I found it annoying, so…”

“And in reality?” Lin Qingyue asked.

“I think Tsinghua University is acceptable,” Xu Luzhi answered honestly.

Lin Qingyue: “…”

The young girl in front of her looked innocent, her eyes clear, with no hint of lying, sitting there confidently and frankly.

Lin Qingyue typed the payment amount into the dialog box and smiled casually, “Is that so? Then our little Zhi Zhi is quite impressive.”

Xu Luzhi’s face flushed a little, and she modestly waved her hand, “Just so-so.”

Just on the level of being among the top students nationwide, nowhere near as heart stirring as Jie Jie.

The red envelope was sent, but Xu Luzhi was slow to open it.

Lin Qingyue looked up: “Not taking it?”

Xu Luzhi nodded, looking very determined, and flipped her phone face down on the table, not even glancing at it.

Lin Qingyue was amused and annoyed: “Afraid I don’t have money?”

Xu Luzhi seriously shook her head and patiently explained, “I was going to accept it, but I just feel that Jie Jie is very pitiful, so I changed my mind.”

“Pitiful?” Lin Qingyue repeated the word softly, her heart tightening. “Where am I pitiful?”

Her tone grew colder. She scrutinized the girl opposite her, only to see her bright eyes and an open, honest expression.

“Isn’t Jie Jie leaving soon? You won’t get to eat the next batch of fresh small plum fish. So pitiful!” Xu Luzhi said with composure and a beaming smile.

As if to tempt Lin Qingyue’s craving, she lightly licked her lips. The girl’s cherry-red lips were moist, like a freshly washed strawberry, inviting a bite.

Lin Qingyue couldn’t deny her words for a moment but didn’t want to admit defeat either.

After all, the aroma wafting from the next table was rich and delicious, truly mouthwatering.

The thought of missing out on such a delicacy would make anyone feel discontent.

Lin Qingyue said, “I’ll have a chance to come back later.”

“Oh,” Xu Luzhi calmly pointed out, “If you don’t line up in advance, you won’t get to eat it.”

Lin Qingyue: “…”

She took a deep breath, gave up the argument, and leaned back in her chair, her eyelids drooping with a hint of fatigue.

Xu Luzhi sighed sympathetically, her words very sweet: “It’s okay. I’ll eat a bowl for Jie Jie in a few days and send you a photo.”

Lin Qingyue imagined the little girl eating two bowls of noodles by herself and then sending her a photo to gloat. It was both frustrating and amusing: “Thank you, but no need.”

“So, I won’t take Jie Jie’s money!” Xu Luzhi smiled brightly and stood up to hurry her, “Let’s go, Jie Jie!”

Lin Qingyue slowly followed suit. As she reached the doorway, she couldn’t help but look back and sighed inwardly.

A small, run-down little shop, yet it had the freshest seafood and the most honest craftsmanship, and she couldn’t eat the second batch of small plum fish that was right within reach.

Worse still, she didn’t know where she was going next, only that she couldn’t stay in Lincheng for long.

Lin Qingyue never liked owing favors, and staying longer in Lincheng meant owing Xu Luwei more.

And she would be tangled up with a troublesome kid.

Across the vast country, she was forced to drift from place to place with nowhere to go, all because of a certain person.

It was truly ironic to think about.

The weather was very hot. Even in the shade of the small parasol, Lin Qingyue felt a strange sense of frustration, unsure of what to do next.

Xu Luzhi, however, happily ran to the side of the road, and when she ran back, she had a coconut shell in her hand.

Holding the opened coconut, she looked up and smiled at Lin Qingyue, “Jie Jie, try some coconut water. It’s very sweet!”

The girl was too solicitous; the blue straw was already extended to her lips, leaving Lin Qingyue no time to think. She lowered her head and sipped.

Her red lips touched the plastic straw. With a gentle pull, the clear coconut water slowly flowed out of the shell. The sweet taste filled her mouth, dispelling most of the summer heat.

Lin Qingyue took a big gulp, feeling refreshed. The previous annoyance seemed to have disappeared, leaving only the sweetness of the coconut water.

It was strange. Why did the sight of the child’s smile and her clear eyes inexplicably soften her heart?