An Nannan was already in the first year of junior high, twelve years old, the age Xu Musen was when he first saw An Nuannuan.
This age actually already vaguely knows what it means to like someone, as there are plenty of little boys who fight over girls.
"Pfft! What does that have to do with me? I just like being with my sister!"
An Nannan clung tightly to her sister's arm.
Xu Musen looked at the sisters and exchanged a meaningful glance with An Nuannuan, then smirked and said, "But your sister is bound to get married before you do, you can't always stick to her, right?"
An Nuannuan's pretty face flushed slightly; getting married and all... that still seemed a bit early.
"No, no! Wherever my sister goes, I go too, don't even think about separating me from her!"
Nannan nestled into An Nuannuan's embrace, squeezing her small face into the warm place, and her big eyes even threw a defiant glance at Xu Musen.
Xu Musen couldn't help but smile, thinking you reckon you're a dowry maid or something.
"Eh? Sister, why are you wearing the same clothes as him?"
It was then that An Nannan noticed that she and this guy were wearing the same down jackets.
"This is our school uniform, does it look nice?"
Xu Musen said nonchalantly, not blushing or skipping a beat.
An Nannan's gaze shifted between the two before cuddling back into her sister's arms, huffing, "You look hideous in it; my sister looks good."
"Of course, Nuannuan is the cutest."
Xu Musen gazed at An Nuannuan with an indulgent tone in his voice.
An Nuannuan felt a bit embarrassed, but she couldn't help her lips from curving upwards.
An Nannan didn't know what was happening, but why did the milk tea in her mouth suddenly taste sour?
When they arrived at An Nuannuan's home,
Xu Musen carried the groceries they had bought today, feeling a bit nervous.
After all, this was his first official visit as An Nuannuan's boyfriend.
However, Xu Musen steadied his emotions slightly, thinking he had nothing to fear, their relationship with Nuannuan was, after all, "founded upon affection and bound by propriety."
Walking into the inner courtyard, Xu Musen suddenly heard a whooshing sound.
An old yet strong voice rang out, and Xu Musen focused his eyes to see the old man in the backyard wielding a guandao, creating swishing sounds through the air.
Xu Musen started to greet him.
"You rogue! Take~this!"
But the old man had just chopped down, causing the nearby wooden stake to crack and retire on the spot!
The passing breeze chilled Xu Musen to the bone.
Xu Musen couldn't shake the feeling that the old man was doing this on purpose; there were so many stakes around, why chop the one right next to him?
"Oh, Xiaosen, you're here. I nearly didn't rein my blade in time when I didn't see you."
The old man sheathed his blade, stroked his goatee, and revealed a warm smile to Xu Musen.
"It's fine, Grandpa, you really are... sharp as ever."
Xu Musen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; he meant this sincerely.
Who else in their sixties or seventies could handle a heavy blade?
By the side, An Nuannuan, who had just come over, saw this scene, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.
"Hahaha, I'm just exercising my body; come on, let's go inside."
The old man laughed heartily, inviting them into the room.
The old lady had already brewed tea inside and was waiting.
"Xiaosen is here, it's cold out; come sit and have some tea first."
The old lady's smile was much more kindly.
Looking at Xu Musen, she had a bit more of the look one gives their own younger family members.
And she also noticed that Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were wearing the same outfits today.
Usually, Nuannuan's clothes were specially purchased by Xiao Xiang; this outfit definitely wasn't from home.
"Nuannuan's clothes, did you buy them together?"
In front of the old lady, Xu Musen wouldn't jokingly say it was a school uniform.
"With it being cold lately, we went shopping for clothes a few days ago."
"I see, it's been real trouble for you, looking after Nuannuan at school," the old lady nodded.
"Not at all," Xu Musen said, scratching his head, "Well, it's about dinnertime, I'll go cook."
An Nuannuan and Nannan both followed Xu Musen to the kitchen.
"These two kids, they must be dating now, right?"
The old lady suddenly sighed, feeling somewhat mixed emotions—an amalgam of contentment and a touch of reluctance.
They say a daughter will eventually marry off, but she couldn't bear to part with the girl she had raised.
Aunt Xiang nodded and said, "That's right, when I went to pick them up just now, the two of them were... they were holding hands."
"Holding hands, well, that's normal nowadays..."
The old lady shook her head and eventually smiled, "Nuannuan is sensible, they won't be too impulsive."
In a short while, Xu Musen finished cooking.
An Nannan had always been sore about Xu Musen 'stealing' her sister, and now she channeled her frustration into her appetite!
Her little stomach, in no time, gobbled up two small bowls of rice.
But at her age, it's the time to grow, and there's a saying that fits well: a half-grown kid can eat their parents out of house and home.
In junior and senior high, one can really pack it in, Xu Musen remembered he used to eat two huge porcelain bowls of rice at each meal and still have room for a potful of dishes.
And considering An Nuannuan's height and development, if An Nannan were to inherit such excellent genes, she truly needed to eat more, otherwise she wouldn't get enough nutrients.
At the dinner table, Xu Musen served An Nuannuan, An Nuannuan served Xu Musen, and An Nannan watched jealously, humming to herself.