The candy from last time?
Had he given her candy before?
You gave me a handkerchief, I gave you candy.
What kind of relationship is that? Isn’t it obvious?
Aunt Zhang followed with a cheerful smile, her tone deliberately exaggerated in a cute way. “Oh my, Xiao Jian brought so many things!”
“I’ve seen so little in life, never even seen these before. Last time I even got to share some White Rabbit milk candy thanks to Qiqi.”
“So sweet!”
As she spoke, she glanced at the things Meng Ziping and Hao Yajie had brought.
“Oh? Who brought these?”
“They look rather shabby.”
“Not even a full dozen eggs—how unlucky.”
Lin Qiqi also looked over. At first, she thought she might as well accept them, but now they were truly disgusting.
She bent down, picked up the items they brought, and threw them straight at their faces.
She didn’t hold back—she threw them hard.
The eggs broke inside the net bag, splattering all over them.
“What are you doing?!” Hao Yajie glared at her.
Lin Qiqi ignored her and looked only at Meng Ziping. “Meng Ziping, from now on, don’t come to my house unless it’s to repay money.”
“And if we happen to run into each other on the street, pretend we don’t know each other.”
Sticky egg liquid covered Meng Ziping, but he didn’t notice.
The Lin Qiqi in front of him felt unfamiliar.
No tears, no expectation—only cold indifference.
It felt like he was about to lose her completely.
“Qiqi…” he called her again, his eyes pleading.
“Oh, right,” Lin Qiqi suddenly said, as if remembering something important.
“Don’t call me Qiqi anymore. If you really have to say something, call me Classmate Lin.”
“Otherwise my partner might hear it—and he won’t be happy.”
Partner?
Jian Yushu raised an eyebrow.
Did she really have a partner—or was she referring to him?
Lin Qiqi leaned slightly behind him and whispered, “Comrade, please help me to the end.”
Oh—she was using him as a shield.
Jian Yushu glanced at her. Those almond-shaped eyes carried a hint of pleading that made it hard to refuse.
“Mm,” he responded simply.
But in everyone else’s eyes, that was confirmation.
Lin Qiqi actually had such an outstanding partner.
She had kept it well hidden.
“Impossible!” Meng Ziping’s gaze moved back and forth between them. “I don’t believe it!”
“Qiqi, you’re lying to me, right? You’re just trying to make me angry?”
Lin Qiqi pushed Jian Yushu into the courtyard.
She paused for a moment and looked at Meng Ziping.
“Meng Ziping, everyone in the neighborhood has seen everything over the years.”
“You’ve never had a real mother. My mom treated you better than one. Everything you ate was saved from her own mouth.”
“The pen I earned from school awards and my notebooks—I couldn’t bear to use them. I gave them all to you, while I used a broken pencil and got my hands covered in graphite.”
“If it weren’t for our family, would you even have food or education?”
“A so-called top student—you probably wouldn’t even recognize all the characters.”
“And what about you?”
“When my mom got hurt, you didn’t visit once. For a watch, you ran off with someone else—and even brought her here to stab me in the heart.”
“A dog would have more conscience than you.”
Then she turned to Hao Yajie.
“And you—I treated you as a friend, always supporting you.”
“When Meng Ziping said explaining problems to you was a waste of time, I taught you again and again. One problem could take half an hour.”
“And you never once thanked me with anything.”
“If you like this ungrateful piece of trash, then keep him.” She pointed at Meng Ziping. “Bought with a watch—don’t let someone else trade him away with another one.”
“Take your shabby things and get out!”
This time, Meng Ziping truly lowered his head.
His ears rang, and it felt like laughter surrounded him.
A tug on his arm snapped him back.
Hao Yajie looked at him with concern, but deep in her eyes was something dark and obsessive.
She had traded a watch for him—she would hold onto him tightly.
No one else would take him away.
She smiled strangely. “It’s okay, Ziping. We’re already engaged. Let’s just live our lives well from now on.”
No matter who left whom—
After today, she would have him firmly in her grasp.
“That Meng boy is really ungrateful.”
“That Hao girl isn’t any better—perfect match.”
“Do you think that Xiao Jian is really a foreign guest, or Qiqi’s partner?”
“If he’s not her partner, why would he bring such good things? That malted milk powder alone costs enough to feed my family for a month.”
“Exactly, and that White Rabbit candy—we only buy a little during New Year. My kids love it so much they won’t even throw away the wrappers.”
“How did Lin Qiqi manage to get such a partner?”
“She’s pretty and kind—why wouldn’t she? Stop worrying about others.”
The crowd gradually dispersed.
Aunt Zhang had originally planned to have Lin Qiqi cook a few dishes to thank Jian Yushu.
But after all that, no one was in the mood.
“Thank you so much today,” Lin Qiqi said sincerely, holding her handkerchief.
Words of thanks felt pale, but she truly had nothing else to offer.
Even the coal for boiling water at home was borrowed from Aunt Zhang.
Jian Yushu said nothing, only nodded slightly.
After all, they likely wouldn’t cross paths again.
Today’s excitement would soon be replaced by something new.
In a few days, the onlookers would forget.
And Lin Qiqi and Jian Yushu would go back to being strangers on different paths.
As dusk fell, cooking smoke rose from every household.
The mingling smells of food made Jian Yushu uncomfortable.
His stomach churned slightly—he needed to leave soon.
Ignoring Aunt Zhang’s attempts to keep him, he nodded to Lin Qiqi and prepared to go.
At the courtyard entrance, he paused, took out a handful of milk candies from his bag, and placed them on the stone table.
“I heard sweets can improve your mood. These are for you.”
Before Lin Qiqi could refuse, he strode away.
With his long legs, he quickly disappeared—she couldn’t catch up even if she tried.
So she gave up.
Another favor owed.
She sighed.
When you owe too many debts, one more doesn’t matter.
She’d repay them all someday.
Lin Qiqi wanted to share the candy with Aunt Zhang, but Aunt Zhang only took one and joked about her family.
“I’ll just have one. Your uncle’s teeth are bad—might stick them out.”
“Go check on your mom.”
Jiang Yunling lay on the bed facing the wall, as if trying to disappear into it.
It was unclear whether she was asleep or awake.
Lin Qiqi walked over and asked softly, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
Usually, Jiang Yunling would ask to be helped up.
Even if she didn’t say much, she would listen carefully to everything her daughter said.
Since her injury, Lin Qiqi had been busy taking care of both her and the household.
Their chances to talk were rare—she cherished them.
But today, Jiang Yunling didn’t move.
Lin Qiqi waited for a while, then leaned closer and asked again, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
This time, the person on the bed shifted slightly and spoke softly:
“Qiqi… can you call me ‘Mom’?”
Her voice was muffled under the blanket.
Lin Qiqi didn’t hear clearly. “What?”
But Jiang Yunling didn’t repeat it.
Instead, she asked Lin Qiqi to help her sit up, adjusted her hair, and smiled gently.
“My daughter… Mom wants to drink some sugar water. Sweet—very sweet, okay?”