Chapter 15

1

"It's... " I hesitated and stuttered. What else is harder to say than what I just said? There is no answer. Since I've already started, as long as I'm determined, it shouldn't be difficult.

"Just say it directly! I won't do anything to you. And if you're afraid of rejection, then why did you say it now?"

"Because... after you licked me that time, I started paying attention to you. I don't know when I started liking you, but watching you every day and paying attention to your every move makes me happy. One day, I turned that attention into a daily habit. I remember all the funny, cute, and clumsy things you do every day. Even if you licked me seven years ago, it was just a small insignificant action when you were young, but... it had a big impact on me."

I closed my eyes and didn't look at Qiong, because not looking at her would allow me to speak my heart more directly.

"Although we still have seventy years of friendship, who can guarantee what changes will happen in those seventy years? Seven years, which is a short period of time, has already brought about many changes. Seventy years is not just ten times the change, but hundreds and thousands of times. I don't want to wait until then to regret. Maybe there will be better opportunities in the future to say this, but... I'm afraid there won't be another day like today!"

I turned around and wanted to leave quickly, because no matter how you look at it, it's a bit awkward.

"Yang, don't you want to know my answer? Don't you want me to be your girlfriend?"

"I... I want to, but..."

"If you want to, then come with me! Maybe I will give you an answer!"

"Actually... "

"Do you really not need an answer? Is that really how you feel? Ask your own heart before answering me!" Qiong looked at me with such serious eyes, as if she could see through my heart.

After deep thought, I made up my mind.

"Okay, I really want to know. I really want you to be my girlfriend. I really want to be able to see you every day... really..." I kept saying it, repeating it, each time louder than the previous, attracting the attention of everyone near the hospital entrance.

"Alright, alright! Stop it!" Qiong also felt a bit embarrassed. "So, are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming, and I don't care how long it takes!"

"Let's go!" Qiong hooked my arm and we ran out.

Qiong and I walked through the commercial street, casually wandering around. We stopped by a jewelry store, and Qiong kept looking at something in the display window with a longing in her eyes.

"Do you like it?" I could tell from Qiong's expression that there was something she wanted.

"No, I'm just looking. It's probably too expensive!" Qiong shook her head and pulled me away, but I remembered the thing she looked at.

We then passed by a game store and we both wildly played some arcade games. We also ate various snacks like octopus balls and lamb skewers, and we probably ate too much for dinner tonight.

We strolled along the streets, looking at the colorful buildings. Two hours went by in a flash, and we found ourselves in the city park, sitting on a bench, exhausted.

"Phew! I'm so worn out!" I sighed heavily.

"Are you really that weak?"

"I'm injured, okay! I should be treated differently!"

"Come on! A grown man can't be defeated by a few punches!"

"Well... about that..."

"Is it my answer?" Qiong sat there, looking at me.

"Can you tell me your answer now?" This was the most nervous moment in my life. It was even more uncomfortable than before. I considered all the possibilities in my mind, but one thing was certain: even if she rejected me, we would still be friends, there was no doubt about that.

"Meet me here after school tomorrow, and I'll give you the answer. Alright?"

"Tomorrow? Didn't you say you'd tell me after we took a walk?"

"Well, we can walk around and then I'll give you the answer! I haven't made up my mind yet! Give me some time, I don't want to regret it later!"

"Then let's go back home now! If we don't, it'll be too late!" I checked the time, it was already past nine. If we didn't go back now, our parents on both sides would be worried.

"I remember there's a cake shop nearby. Should we get one for Wenxin?"

"Yeah! I also want to go." Wenxin has always loved cream cakes. She's liked them since she was little.

2

"Click..." The door creaked open and I looked out sneakily. Well, there shouldn't be anyone on the first floor. I quietly took off my shoes and tiptoed into the kitchen, as if I was sneaking in. I opened the refrigerator.

"O~~~ni~~~~chan~~~"

Don't do that! It can be deadly~~~ Whenever this word is mentioned, nothing good comes out of it.

"Wenxin, why are you still awake when it's so late? Haven't you slept yet?" Wenxin, wearing a pure white nightgown and bunny slippers, stood behind me with disheveled hair, smiling somewhat eerily.

"I was waiting for you! I smelled the aroma of a feast~~"

"You have a nose like a dog! How can you smell it~~ Here you go!"

"Wow~~~ Cream cake!" I joyfully took the cake from her hand and examined it as if it were a work of art.

"After you finish eating, remember to brush your teeth. Don't cry when you get cavities." I picked up a cup and took out some orange juice from the fridge.

"Oh~~~" Wenxin suddenly put the cake down.

"Hmm?"

"Brother, are you going on a date with Qiong today!"

"Cough cough~~~~" Don't ask this question all of a sudden, I've been trying not to think about it: "Who told you this?!"

"Dad did! He said Yang and Qiong went on a date today. The kids have grown up, they know how to flirt with girls, and pretty girls like Qiong at that! Hmph~~~ He looked so satisfied!"

Why do you have the word "hmph" in your tone? It feels like you're not satisfied with something!

"It's nothing! We were just out for a stroll!" Indeed, we were just going out for a walk.

"So, you're dating Qiong!"

"Well, it's not entirely like that!"

"What do you mean? It's either yes or no!"

"I... I... we were just going out for a walk, there's no need for any other associations! Now go brush your teeth and go to sleep!"

"No! You must clarify tonight, umm~~~~" Wenxin pouted and kept shaking my arm.

"Ouch ouch ouch~~~~ If you keep shaking like this, my arm will break!" I rolled up my sleeve and showed her my watch: "See, it's now ten minutes past ten. If we don't go to sleep now, we won't be able to wake up tomorrow!"

Go to sleep quickly, the faster you sleep, the faster tomorrow will come, and then I'll know the answer.

"It's you who likes to sleep in, not me."

"So, you want me to be late tomorrow? Asking all kinds of questions is not a good habit, kid!"

"Umm~~~~" Wenxin pouted, very unhappy with my response.

"Just wait until you wake up Mom and Dad!"

"What were you two whispering about in the kitchen?"

"Mom!" Appearing at the door was my stepmother, Wenxin's mother.

"It's nothing, we're going to sleep soon! Mom, you go to bed first!" I pulled Wenxin's arm and signaled her to go to her room.

"Yang, did you buy a cake for Wenxin again?"

"Uh! I just happened to pass by and thought why not!"

"I know you love Wenxin, but you can't spoil her all the time."

"Mom, it's a waste if I don't eat the cake Yang bought!"

"All you know is eating cake. That day you ate so much and got fat, I bet there will be boys chasing after you!"

"No need to worry, I inherited Mom's good genes. No matter how much I eat, I won't get fat. Even if boys chase after me, they won't be able to keep up." Wenxin said proudly.

"Don't be so vain, finish your cake and go to sleep! It's not good for your growth if you're staying up so late!" My stepmother tapped Wenxin's head with her finger.

"I'm going to sleep first!" Taking advantage of my stepmother's words, I escaped back to my own room.

Seriously, I'm already tired from being beaten up today, and then I spent the whole night strolling with Qiong, I'm so tired~~~~

Wenxin, why have you been acting strange these past few years? Could this be what they call the teenage years?

It seems like my days are getting more and more miserable!

Lying in bed, looking at the ticking clock, I recalled what I said to Qiong. Although it was impulsive, I don't regret it. I admit that I'm weak, but I'm not a coward. Those bunch of jerks want me to stay away from Qiong, that's impossible.

Tomorrow, when tomorrow comes, will there be a turning point in my relationship with Qiong?