"The furniture Uncle makes is particularly good."
"The cabinets in my home are incredibly practical."
Pei Yicheng’s lips seemed as though they were coated with honey.
Xu Nianhua looked at him in amazement and asked, "Yicheng, I remember when I first met you, you didn’t make a peep, just like a sulky bottle gourd."
"The first time I met you, you were a little girl who wasn’t afraid of pain. It wasn’t until later that I realized, you..." Pei Yicheng paused, then said, "are a match for Grandpa Du."
Xu Nianhua’s eyelids twitched as she inquired, "What do you mean?"
How could she be a match for Grandpa Du?
Nagging, fretting, the kind who has to repeat an instruction N times over.
However, when Pei Yicheng lifted his head and paused again, faced with her bright and sparkling eyes, he carefully chose his words in his heart and said, "You’re very caring."
Xu Nianhua grinned and instantly felt happy. She said, "Of course, we’re friends, so of course I should take care of you."
A red envelope was presented in front of Xu Nianhua.
"This is..." Xu Nianhua hesitated for a moment.
Pei Yicheng said, "I’m older than you, it’s New Year’s money."
"Yicheng," Xu Nianhua felt awkward for a moment. Pei Yicheng wasn’t much older than her, and it felt odd to receive a New Year’s red envelope from him.
It was okay when it came to her parents and brother, as no matter the age, parents and elder siblings always feel like seniors. She was very happy to accept New Year’s money from them.
But from Pei Yicheng...
"You call me Yicheng, so you should accept this New Year’s money. It’s not much," Pei Yicheng pushed the red envelope towards her.
"Thank you, Yicheng."
Xu Nianhua picked up the red envelope. If it wasn’t much, there was no harm in accepting it.
"Are you confident about the college entrance exam?" Pei Yicheng asked.
Xu Nianhua answered confidently, "I’m certain I can get into Beining University."
"I believe you can do it," Pei Yicheng liked seeing her so self-assured and radiant.
When she smiled, she was like a little sun, able to shine and give off heat, making people feel light, hope, and a sense of comfort and relaxation from within.
Wind began to pick up, carrying a chill.
"What’s wrong?" Xu Nianhua noticed Pei Yicheng continuously rubbing his eyes, which seemed to struggle to open fully.
"It might be the wind just now. Some sand got into my eye."
Pei Yicheng rubbed his eye, feeling extreme discomfort.
"Don’t rub it, be careful not to damage your eye."
Xu Nianhua quickly stood up, leaned forward, and her slender hand landed on his larger one. Her voice, gentle yet filled with concern, sounded in his ear as she said, "Don’t move, let me blow on it for you."
Xu Nianhua blew hard several times, and then asked, "How is it, any better?"
Being so close to her, he could sense her clean and natural scent, not the aroma of perfume, but a fragrance that was uniquely hers.
As he opened his eyes, he could see her delicate and fair face so close that he could even see the fine fuzz on her skin. Her dark eyes seemed as if they could suck him in.
Xu Nianhua looked at his eyes with concern; they were red and moist after being rubbed.
Pei Yicheng’s lips curved upward slightly.
Under the leafless persimmon tree, Pei Yicheng sat in his wheelchair, tilting his head up, just a few fist’s length away from Xu Nianhua. She squatted down but remained taller than him due to her standing position.
Their eyes locked, as if they were a couple deeply gazing into each other’s eyes.