"Is this Jade Pond?"
Qin Guanglin curiously gazed at the creek before him, "Where does it resemble a jade maiden?"
"You don’t worry about what it’s called, as long as it’s pretty, that’s enough."
He Fang walked a few steps forward, thinking of resting, but seeing too many people, hesitated. She pointed upstream, "Let’s go check out over there."
"Alright."
Qin Guanglin didn’t feel very tired; the murmuring of the creek mixed with birdsong was much more comforting than listening to cars honking all day in the city.
After walking upstream for about ten minutes, the area became less crowded. The slowly flowing water and the environment were even more comfortable than before.
"Over there," He Fang finally found a suitable spot, "Come on, let’s rest a bit."
It was a flat stone by the creek. Once she sat down, she could easily reach down to touch the water, washed her hands, and then pulled Qin Guanglin’s backpack, "Are you hungry?"
"Not hungry, you eat," Qin Guanglin shook his head, putting down the backpack for her to sift through more easily.
He Fang rifled through it and suddenly wasn’t hungry either, pulling out a pack of preserved plums to satisfy her craving.
"The first one’s for you." She finally remembered the rights she had when she first gave Qin Guanglin the title of boyfriend, picking out a plum and handing it to him.
"Mmm, it’s yummy."
Qin Guanglin complimented half-heartedly. In truth, he found the plum too sour to his taste, but he tried it begrudgingly because she had offered it.
Plumes of water splashed in the creek, and He Fang, munching on plums, excitedly pointed, "Look, so many fish!"
"There are quite a few."
Qin Guanglin lay down on the stone, comfortably resting his head on his hands, gazing at the sky and slipping into a Pseudo Sage mode.
This was life, he thought. Stuck inside painting all day was a waste of twenty-odd years.
If Xiao Yu were here, he would be over the moon—so many fish, just a couple of casts could net some.
"Having fun today?" He Fang sat on the edge of the stone, expertly spat out a clean plum pit, "Very!" Qin Guanglin sighed, rolling over to lie next to her, "We should come out more often."
"Sure."
He Fang agreed, then stretched out her hand to Qin Guanglin, "Pass me the keys."
"What keys?" Qin Guanglin was confused.
"The earpick, my ears are itching." She dug in her ear with her pinky, still feeling unsatisfied.
"Oh." Qin Guanglin handed her the keys, glancing around warily before cautiously leaning his head toward her.
"What are you doing?"
"My arm’s getting sore; let me rest it for a bit." Caught in his act, he stopped trying to be sneaky and simply lifted his head to rest it on her lap.
It was soft, warm, and carried a faint scent of her perfume. Qin Guanglin cozily nuzzled closer, a picture of satisfaction.
"Don’t move; I’m cleaning my ears." He Fang warned him but didn’t push him away.
"I won’t move," Qin Guanglin murmured, closing his eyes to enjoy the blissful moment.
A breeze, the water, birdsong, and a girlfriend.
A happiness unimaginable to the single.
Dingling, dingling...
A melody played, Qin Guanglin opened his eyes, and He Fang gestured for silence, answering her phone.
"Hello, what is it?"
"I’m out playing," she glanced down at Qin Guanglin, continuing, "with my boyfriend."
"It’s been a while, forgot to tell you... Stop prying, why are you calling?"
"Yeah, okay, we can talk later, I’m playing now."
Qin Guanglin watched her hang up, curiosity bubbling up, "Who was that?"
He Fang curved her lips at him, "My brother."
"My uncle?!" Qin Guanglin bolted up, "What did he say?"
"What do you mean your uncle, no shame." He Fang huffed, "I’m just your girlfriend right now."
"Close enough, close enough."
Qin Guanglin was a bit flustered, "How did he react after you told him?"
"He said..." He Fang drew out, watching him all tensed up and couldn’t help but laugh, "He didn’t say anything, just asked when we started dating."
"Anything else?"
"That’s all, what else?"
Qin Guanglin breathed a sigh of relief, "He didn’t seem opposed?"
"I’m dating my boyfriend, he has nothing to oppose." He Fang pulled him back onto her legs, continuing to clean her ears, "I’m not underage, even if it was, it isn’t his place to interfere."
"That’s also true." Qin Guanglin exhaled again, but then hesitated, "Still, it’s better if the family agrees..."
"Then impress them, make them like you too." He Fang cleaned her earpick, pinching his ear to check, "Let’s see if you have any wax."
"Don’t, I don’t need it."
He always felt nervous about others cleaning his ears, afraid that one sudden move could end badly.
"Stay still."
He Fang tugged at his ear and used some force to get a better look, slightly surprised, "Wow, there are several chunks, I’ll get them out for you."
"I’ll do it myself; don’t do that." Qin Guanglin felt uneasy hearing her tone and covered his ears in refusal.
"Listen!" He Fang held him down from moving, "It’s very comfortable."
"No, thanks."
"Yes, you will."
"No... ow, stop twisting." Qin Guanglin’s ear was twisted by her, reluctantly he dropped his hands.
"Try once, and you’ll beg me to do it again." Confident, He Fang pulled his ear, slowly inserting the earpick.
"..."
Qin Guanglin lay on her lap, daring not to move, only feeling the earpick circle inside his ear, instinctively tingling his scalp, a weirdly satisfying sensation.
"Look, such a big chunk." He Fang held the wax she had removed in front of him, then disgustedly tossed it away, "Ew~ disgusting."
Wiping her hand on his body, she continued cleaning.
Gradually, Qin Guanglin started feeling accustomed to it. The earpick moved inside, perfectly scratching where it itched, making him want to hum in pleasure.
"All done, other side," He Fang brushed off his ear, directing him to turn so she could continue.
Qin Guanglin obediently turned over, no longer resisting.
Such were the three fundamental truths of human nature, with ’real fragrant’ ranking first.
An afternoon of sunlight, breeze, water, birdsong, soft lap, scent, little hands, and ear cleaning.
This was the simple, mundane life with a girlfriend.