(1)
The lush leaves outside the window swayed in the evening glow, stirring up wave after wave of emerald wind.
Zhu Ying’s kitchen was brightly lit. Two girls sat on small stools, swaying as they listened to the song playing from the cassette player.
The singing wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exceptionally pleasant either. In many parts, you could hear slight off-key notes and pitch issues—probably due to lack of breath. When singing songs with long lyrics, she would lag behind by half a beat.
That’s right, the cassette was recorded by An Jing. Though there was some background noise, it was still Zhu Ying’s favorite tape.
“Xiao Ru, why are you copying me?”
“Huh? I just think Yingying looks really cheerful when you sway like that.”
“I like to sway when I’m bored—speaking of which, isn’t it baked yet? Did we set the time too long?”
“No, it’s exactly the same as the recipe. I even double-checked several times, the temperature and time are fine.”
“It’s been so long—Xiao Ru, do you think we’ll succeed on the first try?”
“In theory, since we followed the instructions, it should be fine, right?”
“If we have to do it again, I can’t handle it. Even though we have an egg beater, whipping the egg whites is still a pain!”
“People who bake cakes usually use electric ones.”
“Electric ones are expensive. I didn’t expect to make it so many times. I thought if it’s just once or twice, a manual beater would be fine, and it wouldn’t be a waste… phew…”
“Ding~!”
A pleasant sound rang out, and Zhu Ying, who was sitting on the small stool, immediately jumped up. “It’s done!”
“Yingying, be careful, it’s hot.”
“Where are the gloves? Gloves?”
“Let me do it. Even with gloves, it’s still very hot.”
“Okay, Xiao Ru, you do it.” Zhu Ying took two steps back, her eyes following Wang Xinru’s hands as they reached into the oven and then moved out with the baking tray.
It was a small green cake that, due to lack of a mold, had a somewhat crooked shape. Thankfully, it looked fairly fluffy—regardless of taste, at least it resembled a cake.
“How is it? Is this a success?”
Wang Xinru gently placed the steaming matcha cake on the table, used a fruit knife to cut off a small piece, blew on it hard for a while, then popped it into her mouth with an “ah-woom.”
“Mmm—mmm…”
“Xiao Ru, how is it really!”
“It’s a success!”
“Great!”
“But it feels a bit more like red date cake in texture… maybe it’ll change after it cools?”
“Let it cool a bit and then put it in the fridge! Let me have a taste too!”
“Okay, I’ll cut a piece for Yingying—”
“By the way, this kind of cake without cream shouldn’t spoil easily, right? If we put it in the fridge, maybe it’ll last two or three days?”
“I think… it should be fine?”
“Mm, mm… tomorrow I’ll bring some for Xiao Jing to taste…”
“Yingying is really good to An’an.”
“Huh? Really? I just made it because I was interested.” Zhu Ying chuckled and lifted her chin. “Besides, Xiao Jing is also good to me.”
“An’an is different from before too.”
“Different how?”
“More understanding of girls?”
“After all, she’s become a girl now!”
“Wahoo—!!!” At the seaside, An Jing grabbed the rear of the motorcycle with both hands and let out a strange yell. “There’s no one on this road, Zhou Chao—!”
“Haha, isn’t it great?”
“Awesome! The sea, the sea, Zhou Chao, I really love the sea!”
“Haha, after all, you grew up on an island!”
“Maybe so! So when I think about how after the Zhongkao we’ll be heading to the provincial capital, I feel a bit, a bit sad!”
“Haha, who just says ‘sad’ out loud like that?”
“Anyway, it’s that kind of feeling. The provincial capital is far from the sea, the biggest thing there is just a river, right?”
“Yeah, a river can’t compare to the sea.”
“When the time comes, it won’t be so easy to see the sea or relax by the beach. Sigh—whenever I feel upset, looking at the endless ocean somehow calms me down.”
“What, so you’ve been feeling upset recently?”
“Probably… a bit, I guess.”
“Just because of the Zhongkao?”
“Yeah… since there’s nothing else to worry about. After all, this is my first Zhongkao in life. I’m afraid something will go wrong during the exam. I even dreamed a few times that I was taking the exam, and halfway through I needed to go to the bathroom, but the proctor wouldn’t let me, so I had to hold it in. As a result, I couldn’t answer a single question. I held it in until the end of the exam, then rushed to the bathroom—”
“You didn’t wet the bed, did you?”
“Nonsense, every time I find the bathroom and then wake up startled!”
“Really?”
“Of course! Damn, I’m not a three-year-old, how could I wet the bed!”
“Haha—I’m just kidding—” Zhou Chao laughed loudly and slightly released the throttle. “Just watching from the shore? Want to go to the beach?”
“Forget it! I think just cruising like this is the most fun!”
“Motorcycles are strictly checked in the provincial capital. I’m afraid you won’t be able to ride as freely then.”
“Then you’ll definitely be miserable. You love riding motorcycles the most.”
“No problem, I’ll buy a good electric scooter then.”
“Speaking of which, are your parents really going to the provincial capital to do business? Isn’t the hometown good enough? No rent, and you’re just selling funeral supplies anyway.”
“Business is better in the provincial capital. Previously, my grandfather didn’t allow it because he thought my dad hadn’t mastered the craft and was afraid he’d bring shame to him if he went out.”
“I see…”
“Maybe I’ll need your dad’s protection then. Ha—has he been promoted to director yet?”
“Not yet. If he had, he would have driven back to celebrate.” An Jing tilted his head to look at the sunset half-submerged in the sea. “But it should be soon anyway, probably by the time I’m on summer break, he’ll be promoted.”
“Then you’ll be the director’s son… oh, or daughter, same damn thing. Look out for me then!”
“It’s not the Public Security Bureau…”
“It’s fine, whatever bureau your dad is in, it’s pretty impressive, right?”
“Transportation Bureau.”
“Can you get my demerit points waived when I violate traffic rules?”
“Hey, that kind of thing is probably not okay, right?”
“That won’t do? At least a director should have some power, right?”
“Abusing power is not okay!”
“Tch, cut me some slack! Maybe after you graduate from university, you’ll work under your dad!”
“Damn, it’s not hereditary, is it that simple?”
“It’s almost the same…”
“Bullshit!” An Jing slapped Zhou Chao on the back in annoyance. “By the way, are you still seeing that girl who’s about to graduate from high school?”
“Yeah, we’re seeing each other. Having a great time.”
“You… you’re something, really. I’m telling you, why not turn over a new leaf once you start high school? Is playing with women really that fun? Instead, it’ll give you a bad reputation.”
“Do I look like someone who cares about what others think?”
“No!” An Jing grabbed Zhou Chao’s shoulders. “Think about it, if everyone says you’re a scumbag who changes girlfriends often, do you think a good and decent girl would want to be with you? Isn’t that a vicious cycle? You definitely still want to meet someone who truly loves you, right?”
“Ha… I never thought you could think that deeply.”
“What the hell do you take me for?” An Jing’s eyes almost rolled to the sky.
“Maybe you’re right. The more I indulge myself, the more it becomes a vicious cycle.”
“Right, so that’s why, you should…”
“People, once they start, it’s hard to turn back. Sometimes, it’s really addictive…” Zhou Chao sighed. “It’s not easy to change, because once the bottom line is lost, the things you do become crazier and crazier.”
“Then find your bottom line again!”
“I told you, it’s not that easy…”
“Tch. I despise you. If you can’t even do this, what kind of man are you? Might as well be a woman for the rest of your life!”
“Pfft. Haha…”
“What are you laughing at?”
“The one who’s going to be a woman for life is sitting behind me, isn’t it?”
“You motherf—”
“Alright, alright, don’t get mad. I know you mean well, bro.” Zhou Chao shook his head with a smile. “Maybe, I can try to change, maybe.”
“You can definitely change. Otherwise, if this continues, you’ll lose yourself.”
“What kind of person am I really? Even I don’t understand.”
“You, let me tell you.” An Jing looked at Zhou Chao, who had parked the motorcycle by the roadside railing. “You’re definitely a loyal and brotherly guy, not a bad person at heart. You have a bottom line you hold onto, you know what can be done and what can’t—but you deliberately indulge yourself to take revenge for something bad that happened to you in the past. What’s the point? You’re not hurting anyone else, just yourself. And that incident wasn’t even your fault.”
“…An Jing.”
“What?”
“Thank you. It’s good to have a brother like you.”
“Don’t be so cheesy, okay? You’re making me think you’re so desperate you’ve taken an interest in me.”
“Damn, how could I be interested in someone like you with zero femininity? Besides, you’re my bro!”
“That’s for the best then.”
“Speaking of you, why would you think of that? You don’t seem like the type to misunderstand brotherhood.”
“Ahem…” An Jing jumped off the motorcycle and leaned against the roadside railing, looking at his own long shadow cast by the setting sun. “Of course it’s because of Xiao Ying… She always gets jealous of you, you know?”
“Pfft, haha… That was when I became a girl, right?”
“Now even when you’re still a guy, she mumbles and calls you a ‘fox spirit.'”
“Haha… She really feels threatened!”
“But, ever since… well, anyway, after that incident, it’s been much better. She still says that about you, but it’s more just teasing.” An Jing pulled out his Nokia phone from his pocket and turned the camera to the front. “The sunset is so beautiful, Zhou Chao, want to take a photo together?”
“Sure!”
“Beep beep…”
“Xiao Ru, a text.”
“The ringtone sounds like it’s from Xiao Jing.” Zhu Ying picked up the phone and saw a multimedia message with a photo. She opened the photo and stared at it for a while, then couldn’t help muttering under her breath, “Hmph… always standing so close to that fox spirit…”