Speaking of which, the first time she met the platoon leader Tongzi, she was so scared she couldn’t speak properly, yet this little girl dare to swindle someone out of twenty taels’ worth of food coupons with just two dumplings...
Well, "swindle" might not be the right word, it was more of a consensual transaction.
After hesitating for a moment, Yun Doudou mustered her courage and looked to Zhou Mikang, asking, "Platoon leader, did you fall for Chuxia the first time you laid eyes on her? In other words, it was love at first sight, right?"
"No," the platoon leader Tongzi flatly denied.
"Then how come you..." Seeing Zhou Hanliang continuously giving her meaningful glances, Yun Doudou stopped mid-sentence, unsure of how to proceed.
"Zhou Hanliang, got a twitch in your eye?" Zhou Mikang shot a glance at Zhou Hanliang, his expression softening, "If you all find love at first sight easier to accept, then let’s go with that."
"Psh!" Chuxia rolled her beautiful eyes, "I don’t believe in such daydreams. With someone like you, how could there be love at first sight? It’s just that my uniqueness caught your attention, and then, you fell into my tender trap."
Yun Doudou smacked her lips, at a loss for words. She hadn’t realized before just how thick-skinned Lin Chuxia was; her explanation was even more outrageous than love at first sight.
"And you call that a tender trap?" Zhou Mikang laughed shaking his head, "With claws so sharp yet tender, huh."
"I’m only sharp and clawed with you because you never talk or treat me properly." Chuxia, seeking validation, turned to Yun Doudou, "Doudou, am I not very gentle around you all?"
"It seems like..." Yun Doudou tried hard to remember for a moment and then nodded, "Yes!"
"See, Doudou says I’m gentle," Chuxia said with a proud smile, "Be proud, you’ve married a wife who is smart, beautiful, and gentle. You’re really lucky."
Looking at the three somewhat blank expressions in front of her, Chuxia helplessly held her forehead, "Oh no, I’ve completely charmed you, haven’t I? Is my charm too overwhelming?"
Zhou Mikang reached out to touch her forehead and stood up, "Hanliang, let’s go."
Once the two figures had disappeared, Yun Doudou looked at Chuxia with admiration, "You’ve managed to render the platoon leader speechless. I’m thoroughly convinced by you."
"It’s nothing," Chuxia waved it off nonchalantly, "I can’t always let him bully me, after all. Marrying me was just one of his little tricks, though now it’s clear he’s sincere about me, so I’ll forgive his little schemes. But I can’t let him get too pleased with himself, can I?"
"I think..." pausing for a moment, Yun Doudou said, "I think you’re like a mystery. I thought that after being with you for so long, I had come to understand you, but now I’ve realized that I don’t understand you at all. There are many aspects of your personality that are truly surprising."
"Although what you’re saying is a bit cryptic, I understand what you mean. You think that having grown up in a small village, I should be timid and overly honest. But in reality, I behave differently from the environment in which I was raised, right?"
"Yes," Yun Doudou nodded honestly, "I am an example myself. When I was very young, my parents sent me to live with my foster parents, who were just ordinary workers. So, even when I later returned to my own family, my behavior still resembled that of a worker’s child."
My mother was ashamed of this and specifically trained me, but unfortunately, no matter how much she tried, I was unable to fit into the so-called circles she spoke of.
You are different, your demeanor is more gracious and appropriate than some of the children from the so-called prestigious families I’ve seen. I don’t know why I’ve come to this conclusion, but I just feel it.
Just look at this, you and Luo Xiaoqiong come from the same place. When we play together, she’s always the most active, but when it comes to making decisions, it’s definitely you, and you’re also the one who remains calm.
You get what I mean. I don’t look down on the countryside or on ordinary families’ children, but speaking purely from how things are handled, there really is a difference. You’re the only exception among the people I know."
I’m from another time and space, so of course, I’m the exception..., thinking to herself, Chuxia responded with both pain (missing her previous life) and joy (grateful for the true love she found here—a love that includes family, friendship, and romance), "That’s because my parents were good to me. They never restrained me, so my personality ended up a little crooked."