When Xu Nianhua saw that familiar face, she trotted over, her eyes brimming with unhidden joy.
Xu Nian’an looked down at her and after a long moment, said, "You’ve gotten thinner, is the food not good at school?"
"Where have I gotten thinner?" Xu Nianhua touched her face, unable to resist saying, "I feel like I’ve gotten fatter."
"Definitely thinner."
Xu Nian’an was holding a peanut butter roll he had bought, similar to a cake but different from ordinary cakes. This was something he had heard from a classmate, and in Ningbei, these kinds of cakes were especially popular with girls.
Because of this, Xu Nian’an had specifically asked around for the place and had gone early that day to buy the cake.
"Peanut butter roll, I heard from a classmate that it’s really tasty," Xu Nian’an said with a smile, explaining as if encouraging Xu Nianhua to give it a try.
"Thank you, Second Brother."
The smile on Xu Nianhua’s face deepened as she and Pei Yining shared it. The rich aroma and lingering taste were a pleasant surprise; they didn’t have such delicious cake rolls back in her county.
"Delicious, Second Brother, why don’t you have a taste?"
Xu Nianhua passed the cake to Xu Nian’an, who shook his head and said, "Just looking at it, it seems too sweet."
"That’s what makes it tasty though," Xu Nianhua said, seeing his brows almost squeezing together, unable to resist urging, "Second Brother, just try it."
Xu Nianhua pinched off half a piece of cake and brought it to his lips.
Xu Nian’an had hardly opened his mouth when Xu Nianhua quickly stuffed the cake inside.
Xu Nian’an’s eyes went wide as he looked at her. The cake was delicious but sickeningly sweet.
"It’s really good," she insisted.
Xu Nianhua lifted the corners of her mouth into a wide smile, asking, "Isn’t it tasty?"
Xu Nian’an swallowed with some difficulty. He never had a taste for sweets.
Seeing Xu Nianhua approaching with more cake, Xu Nian’an quickly stepped back, "Little sister, you eat more, I don’t want any."
It was so sweet it was cloying; this was something that girls liked. He’d better not.
"Come on, Second Brother, try another piece," urged Pei Yining, her interest piqued upon seeing Xu Nian’an’s distaste.
Xu Nian’an hurried outside, saying, "Brother Cheng invited us to look around Ningbei and then have dinner together. Hurry up and get in the car."
As he spoke, Xu Nian’an quickened his steps toward the school gate.
His manner was akin to a headlong flight.
Pei Yining laughed heartily, saying, "Nianhua, your Second Brother is so funny."
"Seems like Second Brother really doesn’t like sweets." Xu Nianhua couldn’t help but remember their childhood when if there were any candies at home, both her eldest and Second Brother would save the tasty ones for her, telling her they didn’t like sweets.
As she grew up, she realized it wasn’t that they didn’t like them; they just couldn’t bear to eat them.
The peanut butter roll was delicious, and she wanted to delightful taste with her Second Brother, only...
Second Brother’s reaction seemed a bit exaggerated.
"Boys probably don’t like things that are too sweet. My brother doesn’t like them either," Pei Yining commented while pinching off another piece of the cream roll to eat. The sweet rich flavor was something she particularly enjoyed.
At the school gate, Pei Yicheng’s car was parked by the roadside, with Xu Nian’an seated in the passenger seat.
"Brother, how come you and Second Brother came together?" Pei Yining instinctively offered some of the cream roll.
Pei Yicheng refused outright, saying, "I just happened to be going that way, so I gave him a lift here."
Pei Yining glanced at Xu Nianhua beside her, muttering to herself, only a fool would believe it was just a coincidence.