Aside from bananas and apples, Brother Nan also had Zhou Li buy a few stalks of sugarcane.

On the way back to the dormitory, she walked while brandishing a piece of sugarcane as if oblivious to the world around her, even making her own sound effects. In her hands, the sugarcane seemed to have transformed into a weapon.

As a car drove by, the weapon transformed into a laser gun. She aimed the sugarcane at the car and fired off two "PEW PEW" shots.

Anyone who had passed the third grade in elementary school wouldn't do such a thing.

Zhou Li walked on with his head lowered, saying nothing.

Little Cousin followed behind with a small bag of strawberries, also ignoring Brother Nan's antics, immersed in her own small sense of satisfaction.

At the entrance gate to the dormitory, they actually ran into another guy trying to chat up Little Cousin.

These past few days, Baozi's popularity had soared. This was due to posts on school forums and bulletin boards such as 'Cai University Hotpot Video,' 'Hotpot Girl Sells Postcards Behind Qiu Yuan,' 'Postcard-Selling Hotpot Girl Chased Away by Security Guards,' 'Hotpot Girl Sets up Stall Again,' 'Hotpot Girl Continues to be Chased,' 'Hotpot Girl Insists on Setting Up Stall Despite Being Chased Away by Security Guards Three Times, How Stubborn Can One Be,' and 'Hotpot Girl's Little Fortune Cat.' While these posts brought business to her stall, her cute appearance and quiet personality also attracted the attention of many boys. Zhou Li and Brother Nan had even discussed whether Little Cousin could shed her single status through this.

However, they thought... probably not.

This guy was a bit smarter than the previous one. His reasons included 'wanting to buy more postcards,' 'wanting to be the first to see and pick new postcards, and to be able to buy them during the summer break,' and 'genuinely liking the photos Baozi took,' among others.

But Baozi found online shopping too troublesome—having to post pictures on social media or Moments and then mail them to people.

She much preferred sitting there playing Candy Crush. She enjoyed watching the postcards on her stall gradually disappear and the money in her account increase. Then, after either successfully clearing a level or failing it, she would pet Tuanzi.

However, because this guy was quite persistent, he eventually succeeded in getting Baozi's secondary QQ account for her photography business.

As for what happened after, Zhou Li wasn't optimistic.

As her cousin, he would send her a message from time to time. If he wasn't inviting her for a meal or bubble tea, she seldom replied. Her responses were usually just a brief word or two, making it virtually impossible to hold a conversation.

「Back at the dorm.」

Zhou Li passed a piece of sugarcane to Liu Zhengming, then sat down to turn on his computer and opened Google and Youdao Translate.

Suddenly, his phone pinged.

Ms. Ji had sent him a voice message.

He held it up to his ear and played it, only to hear Ms. Ji say, "I've found a good house in Chunming, not far from your uncle's place. Is your school still on lockdown, preventing you from going out?"

Zhou Li: Yes.

Zhou Li: But we'll be on vacation soon.

Mom: Okay.

After a while, she sent another message: "I brought them over."

Zhou Li: I won't be jealous.

Mom: You can be a little jealous.

Zhou Li: When I have time, I can see them.

Mom: A few days ago, I showed your sister your photo. She said you're very handsome and kept pestering me for your WeChat.

Zhou Li: Really?

Mom: Really.

Zhou Li: Does she use WeChat too?

Mom: Yes.

Zhou Li: How old is she?

Mom: 13.

After thinking for a while, Zhou Li typed and sent: "Tell her to add me."

Mom: Okay.

Mom: She can be quite annoying though.

Not long after, Zhou Li's English essay exam began, and almost simultaneously, he received a WeChat friend request.

The name was surprisingly in Chinese: Ji Xuan.

Zhou Li accepted it.

Ji Xuan: Hi.

Ji Xuan: Are you my brother?

Zhou Li clicked on her profile picture to take a look. It was indeed her own photo. She had features that suggested a mixed heritage and was, by all appearances, a very pretty little girl. The photo exuded cheerfulness, though her pose hinted at a degree of self-absorption.

From the tone of the messages, not very smart.

Zhou Li: Do you speak Chinese?

Ji Xuan: Better than a parrot.

Ji Xuan: Yin rain.

Ji Xuan: English.

Ji Xuan: I'm of Chinese nationality. My mother says the citizenship of this small country isn't worth much.

Ji Xuan: Our mother.

Zhou Li looked at his phone, his mood improving slightly. The little girl was really making an effort to close the distance between them.

He contemplated for a moment—

Zhou Li: How's your English?

Ji Xuan: I grew up and studied here. The language here is similar to that of a parrot.

Zhou Li: Let me test you.

He switched to the essay exam interface and long-pressed the title. Finding he couldn't copy it, he took a screenshot.

Zhou Li: [Image]

Zhou Li: Let's see your level.

Ji Xuan: It's quite simple.

Zhou Li picked up a piece of sugarcane lying next to him. CRUNCH! He took a bite and chewed. The sugarcane was juicy and sweet, very delicious. He then cut another piece with a small knife, handed it to Tuanzi beside him, and petted her head.

He turned his head to look back.

Liu Zhengming was struggling to cobble together 200 to 300 words.

Twenty minutes later, he submitted his essay.

Then, the little girl began asking him whether he had eaten, if university was fun, if he had a girlfriend, and other such typical conversation starters. Zhou Li, never one for idle chat, felt too lazy to reply several times and attempted to end the conversation with his silence. However, the girl showed a tenacious spirit. If he didn't reply, she kept asking, changing her questions.

Zhou Li: My phone's almost dead.

He turned off the sound and vibration, tossed the phone on the table, picked up an ancient book, and lay on the bed, holding Lord Dumpling. Perfect.

It was already evening when he picked up the cellphone again.

Ji Xuan had fifteen messages.

Zhou Li felt a headache just looking at them.

There were also a few messages from Baozi, as well as two missed calls from her.

He casually clicked on them.

Baozi: Brother Nan fell and got hurt.

Baozi: Why is nobody answering your phone?

Baozi: ?

Baozi: She's all bandaged up now.

Zhou Li was stunned for a moment. He hurriedly switched to the dialer, found Brother Nan's number, thought for a moment, and then switched to Baozi's.

The call was quickly answered.

"Hello?"

"Mm."

"What are you doing?"

"Setting up my stall. When are you bringing Lord Dumpling over?"

"And Brother Nan?"

"In the dorm. When are you bringing Lord Dumpling over?"

"What's wrong with her?"

"She fell and got hurt. When are you bringing Lord Dumpling over?"

"How did she get hurt?"

"She told me not to tell you." Baozi paused for a second. "When are you bringing Lord Dumpling over?"

"I'll treat you to hotpot."

"...Brother Nan treated me to barbecue and milk tea."

"Hotpot, barbecue, milk tea."

"Brother Nan will beat me."

"I'll add mushrooms, and milk tea every day until the exams are over." Zhou Li paused. "I know you have principles, but you should also know I've always treated you very well—exceptionally well."

"She said you'll laugh at her."

"I won't."

"Don't let her know it was me who told you." Baozi hesitated for a moment. "If I get beaten, I won't be able to run my stall."

"Got it."

"When your girlfriend was eating a banana, Mianmian happened to be watching a TV drama. Someone in the drama slipped on a banana peel, so she wanted to test if banana peels really are that slippery." Baozi paused. "You probably won't believe it, but it's true."

"I believe it."

"Why?"

"Is the injury serious?"

"Not serious."

"Hanging up."

After he hung up, Zhou Li saw Tuanzi had already perked up her ears. He tapped her forehead lightly and organized his thoughts several times before finally dialing Brother Nan's number.

"Hello?" Brother Nan's voice came from the phone. "What's up? Why the sudden call?"

"Let's go out for dinner," Zhou Li said.

"I'm playing games and don't feel like going out."

"Still need to eat, right?"

"My appetite's not good today."

"Then what would you like? I'll buy something for you and bring it over."

"I just asked Mianmian to bring me some congee from the cafeteria; I'm eating it while playing chess. You should get Huai Xu to bring you something to eat. Let's just eat separately tonight. Don't worry about me."

"So, are we going for a walk tonight?"

"Ahhh... I'm in the middle of a game..."

"But we used to go for a walk every day," Zhou Li said, pretending to be distressed. He was even recalling things he'd seen online, preparing to ask later whether the game was more important or he was.

"Ah, just taking a break for a day or two~~" Brother Nan said casually, her tone like she was cajoling a child. "Don't overthink it."

"The game is more import..."

"What are you doing?" Brother Nan's voice suddenly turned wary. "Are you laughing?"

"No, no!"

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm not laughing."

"Who ratted me out!? I knew it was strange that you suddenly called me! Was it Baozi?" Brother Nan demanded. "Fess up, what did you bribe her with?"

"..."

Zhou Li fell silent, suddenly unsure—Just what is it with this girl, clever or foolish?

To divert the conversation and protect Little Cousin, he had to soften his tone and then change the subject: "Is it serious? Did it hurt when you fell? Where did you hit?"

"...Act normal."

"I'm concerned about you."

"Concerned my ass!" Brother Nan retorted. "This isn't the first or second time. Just go ahead and laugh!"

"Sorry..."

Zhou Li couldn't help it; he covered the phone and laughed out loud.

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