So before the New Year, Ji Zhuxin sought out Qin Du for another serious talk.
"Qin Du, I've told you before that Xixi is just like this. You need to be a bit firmer with her, understand?"
"If you keep spoiling her, she'll just take advantage of you even more. Look at you, doing the chores for your house and ours."
Ji Zhuxin advised earnestly. It wasn't that Ji Zhaoxi couldn't do the work; before Qin Du arrived, she did it all herself. It was just that the moment someone was there to back her up, she would slack off.
Truth be told, half of Ji Zhaoxi's temperament was spoiled by Ji Zhuxin herself, because she was afraid that when Ji Zhaoxi married into her future in-laws' family, she would foolishly work herself to the bone without any appreciation.
But Qin Du was obviously different; he had no ties of kinship to their family.
Qin Du didn't like to talk much, and Ji Zhuxin couldn't tell if he genuinely enjoyed helping Ji Zhaoxi with her chores, or if he only did it because he was too embarrassed to refuse.
They might have a good relationship, but they weren't family after all.
Qin Du listened and looked at Ji Zhuxin seriously. "Sister Zhuxin, I didn't do Xixi's chores for her. She did them all herself."
Ji Zhuxin was speechless.
Just then, the front door cracked open a tiny slit.
Ji Zhuxin sighed. "I'm old enough to know better, yet you two still try to fool me. But I've said what I needed to say. Don't come crying to me when she bullies you."
Ji Zhaoxi was well-behaved in front of outsiders, but she was a completely different story with those she was close to.
She glanced back. The culprit in question was eavesdropping at the door, and the moment their eyes met, she immediately bolted.
Qin Du fell silent for a moment before saying softly, "It's fine, Sister Zhuxin. I like being bullied by Xixi."
Ji Zhuxin, who had been watching Ji Zhaoxi's movements, was left speechless once again.
She stared at Qin Du in silence. She really couldn't understand young people these days.
Ji Zhuxin waved her hand. "Alright, alright, go find her."
Was her mindset really that outdated?
In all her years, she had never seen someone like him.
As soon as Qin Du stepped out, he saw Ji Zhaoxi hiding in the corner, looking at him guiltily.
Qin Du walked over, and the two of them hid there together.
"Brother Qin Du, was my sister scolding me?"
Ji Zhaoxi grabbed his clothes and asked in a low voice.
Qin Du lowered his head. Her breath brushed against his ear, making his throat tighten. He replied softly, "Sister Zhuxin seems to have found out."
Ji Zhaoxi couldn't stop sighing. "I didn't expect my sister to be so sharp."
Qin Du took her cold hands in his and murmured, "Then let's be more careful next time."
Thinking about what her sister had told her before made Ji Zhaoxi feel a bit guilty.
"Brother Qin Du, actually, my sister is right. I am bullying you."
"I take advantage of your kindness and make you do my chores. My hands don't actually hurt; I'm just too lazy to do it. I won't do this next time."
Qin Du's heart softened. He felt as though his heart was like the bottle of orange soda she had drank before.
The moment the cap was popped, all those sweet and sour little bubbles rushed upward, crashing straight into his chest.
Since meeting Ji Zhaoxi, he often felt this way.
When she was happy, when she bullied him, when she clung to him, his heart would fill with sweetness.
When she cried, when she was upset, when she ignored him, his heart would ache with a sourness so intense it made his teeth hurt.
Looking at Ji Zhaoxi chattering away in his arms, Qin Du suddenly wanted to ask her.
Could she only bully him from now on?
But saying that would be too selfish. Her future was so bright; he couldn't drag her down.
Hanging from the beams of the Ji family home was pork smoked with pine and cypress branches, prepared earlier by Ji Zhuxin.
During that time, Qin Du had brought meat to their house all day long, so much that they couldn't finish it, and now it was just right to eat.
Ji Zhuxin had also gone to the commune to trade for a few pounds of white flour. The three of them chopped meat filling under the light of a kerosene lamp, while Mother Qin lay on the bed, watching them happily.
Outside, the snow was falling heavier and heavier, and the stove fire inside burned brightly as they made dumplings together by the warmth.
"Aunt Qin, how about we make more pickled cabbage ones for you?" Ji Zhuxin smiled.
Mother Qin smiled and shook her head. "No need, no need. My teeth have almost all fallen out; I can't eat that much."
"It's fine, we'll just boil them until they're very soft."
Qin Du honestly and diligently wrapped the dumplings, making each one perfectly round and plump.
Ji Zhaoxi was beside him making weirdly shaped dumplings, causing the veins on Ji Zhuxin's forehead to throb. "Ji Zhaoxi, you're eating those ones you made yourself tomorrow."
"Fine, I'll eat them myself," Ji Zhaoxi talked back.
"Sister, you said you wouldn't scold me anymore after I finished my exams. You didn't keep your word. When I go off to college, you won't even be able to find me if you want to scold me."
Ji Zhuxin laughed out of anger. "If you're not at home, I'll finally have some peace and quiet. I can't wait."
Ji Zhaoxi looked at her in disbelief. "Sister, do you really want me to leave? I was just joking."
Her heart was about to break.
Ji Zhuxin didn't want to talk about these mushy things out in the open either.
"Alright, alright, just wrap your dumplings."
Ji Zhaoxi huffed, fell silent for a moment, and then whispered, "Sister, will you really not miss me? What if I miss you?"
Ji Zhuxin lowered her head, her eyes instantly turning red. She tried her best to hide it, pretending to be impatient as she said, "I'll miss you, alright? You're still acting like a child."
Lately, she had been doing her utmost to avoid thinking about this topic.
The Ji family had several children. Ji Zhaoxi was the youngest, and being a girl, she wasn't favored by their parents, so Ji Zhuxin had taken her out to raise her.
It could be said that since Ji Zhaoxi was born, apart from the two days of the college entrance exams, they had never been apart.
She was about to leave for college soon and wouldn't be able to come back more than a few times a year. At the thought of this, Ji Zhuxin felt as if a piece of her heart was being carved out.
As soon as this was brought up, the atmosphere in the room instantly cooled down, carrying a sense of melancholy.
Ji Zhaoxi glanced at Ji Zhuxin, who had remained silent.
"Sister, I'll bring you to live in the county town in the future. I'll take care of you in your old age, don't worry."
"And Brother Qin Du, and Aunt Qin, I'll bring you all to live together. What if I make a lot of money in the future?"
Ji Zhaoxi was full of expectations for her future.
She didn't think their relationship would fade after she went to college; everything would be better than it was now.
Qin Du hadn't said a word from the very beginning. He just silently wrapped dumplings, and by the end, his movements had become completely mechanical.
Mother Qin looked gently at Ji Zhaoxi. "Why has everyone gone quiet? Isn't it a wonderful thing that Xixi will be able to live a good life in the future? We should be happy."
Ji Zhuxin also cheered up and raised an eyebrow. "That's right. When the time comes, I'll be sticking to you. Even if you try to chase me away, I won't leave."
Ji Zhaoxi's eyes curved into a smile. "I'm not that heartless."
Mother Qin looked at Qin Du, who had been quietly wrapping dumplings all along, and sighed.
How could she not understand her son's feelings?
Xixi had such a sweet disposition and was so caring towards others; it was only natural to like her.
If Qin Du had managed to sign up successfully back then, perhaps they could have gone to college together.
But, the two of them simply didn't have that destiny.
