Sister, can I be a maid too?

Well, we agreed to finish it anyway, so I'll just give my portion to Xia Jianjian.

He thought this with a pleasant feeling.

After finishing breakfast, Jiang Yubai and her sister checked their documents and stationery one last time before going downstairs and getting into their father's car.

Looking at the three people sitting close together in the rearview mirror, Jiang Pinglan paused for two seconds before finally starting the car and speaking in a steady voice:

"Sit tight, let's go."

To be honest, it only takes a few minutes to walk from the entrance of Jinxiu New Village to Lin San Middle School, and driving there is more of a ritual.

Even driving slowly, it only took a little over a minute to reach the intersection near No. 3 Middle School.

Due to traffic restrictions during the college entrance examination period, the pick-up and drop-off vehicles can only go this far.

Qin Huiyi looked at the three little ones coming down, pursed her lips, and first looked at the two sisters before speaking:

"When you meet Xia Wanwan, remember not to be nervous. Just act as usual. You two will be fine."

"Don't lose your ID card or exam admission ticket, and after you finish the questions, be sure to check them again and again..."

Seeing the two sisters obediently nod, Qin Huiyi then looked at her son.

Jiang Yubai thought his mother would just give him a few casual instructions as usual, but she paused and softened her voice:

"Son, you too, be careful when doing the questions, don't panic, if there's still time, review them more..."

She seemed to want to say something more, but in the end, she just gave a bitter smile:

"When it comes to your studies, your dad and I... have never really helped you much. We always say things like 'it's almost time for college,' but that's just talk."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. We don't have high expectations for how you do on the exam—as long as you've done your best and are happy with what you've done, that's enough."

Although she usually lets her son run wild and is quite casual about disciplining him, when she actually sees her son grow up without her noticing, she feels a pang of sadness.

Qin Huiyi's rambling made Jiang Yubai a little uncomfortable.

He opened his mouth, deliberately responding in a joking tone:

"Mom, you're making me feel bad if I don't get a high score... Just wait and see, I still have my eye on that apartment near the university."

Qin Huiyi was amused by him and laughed:

"Okay, okay, I'll give you the key the day your score comes out."

"Alright, let's go in first."

"Eh."

The two sisters said goodbye to Qin Huiyi and Jiang Pinglan, and then followed Jiang Yubai into the house.

Qin Huiyi watched silently as the three disappeared into the crowd, then suddenly let out a long sigh:

"well........"

"Why are you sighing?" Jiang Pinglan turned her head to look. "Our son has grown up, and he hasn't gone astray. Isn't that good?"

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Qin Huiyi waved her hand. “I’m worried about the two young girls with him.”

"Meet Xia and Wanwan?" Jiang Pinglan thought for a moment and smiled, "Isn't that great? They're both good kids. If they really do develop feelings for each other in college, I won't have any objections to who it is."

But Qin Huiyi didn't answer when she heard this. She was silent for two seconds before suddenly saying:

Do you know why I paused for a moment before getting on the bus?

"Did you pause for a moment?" Jiang Pinglan looked at his wife with some surprise.

"I deliberately waited a bit and let the three of them get on the bus first."

Qin Huiyi explained:

"Logically speaking, boys and girls of this age, especially when their parents are present, should be more careful to avoid suspicion."

"The most normal way would be for our son to sit in the passenger seat and me to sit in the back with Xia and Wanwan."

Hearing this, Jiang Pinglan began to understand:

"so......"

“But before that, our son let Wanwan get on the bus first, and then he sat in the middle of the back row very naturally, without the two sisters showing any hesitation at all.”

Jiang Pinglan thought for a moment:

"You know what, they're actually quite close together..."

"So, these three kids must be used to it by now," Qin Huiyi sighed.

"What's there to sigh about?" Jiang Pinglan still didn't understand. "Isn't having a good relationship a good thing?"

Qin Huiyi glanced at him and snorted:

"Forget it, I can't explain it to you. I'm leaving."

"No, at least give me an explanation... Don't go, don't go."

-----------------

"Xia, you've turned back eight hundred times along the way. What are you looking at?"

Jiang Yubai asked with some curiosity,

"You'll miss my parents?"

Before even entering the school gate, Lin Jianxia walked slowly, turning her head every ten meters or so.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianxia glared at him, then subconsciously turned her head back.

Only after confirming that the couple had completely disappeared around the street corner did she breathe a slight sigh of relief. She grabbed her sister with one hand and pulled Jiang Yubai's sleeve with the other, dragging them to the side of the road.

Lin Tingwan looked at her older sister with some curiosity.

Jiang Yubai was also completely confused by her:

"What are you doing? What are you doing?"

Lin Jianxia glanced at him, didn't answer, but just pursed her lips and said:

"Hey, you two, put your hands out."

Lin Tingwan blinked and obediently stretched out her hand.

Jiang Yubai, on the contrary, couldn't help but ask:

"Left hand, right hand?"

"Anything is fine!"

Jiang Yubai extended his right hand, then thought for a moment and switched to his left.

Seeing that the two obediently stretched out their hands in front of her, Lin Jianxia gave a soft hum and began rummaging through her small bag.

After rummaging around for a while, she finally took it out—

Three thin red strings.

She carefully put the red string on her younger sister first. When it was Jiang Yubai's turn, the girl's ears turned slightly red, but she still kept her head down and carefully tied the red string to his wrist.

Her movements were very gentle; her fingertips occasionally brushed against the skin on his wrist, the touch soft and warm.

The scent of lavender lingered faintly in the air.

Looking at Lin Jianxia, ​​who had her head down and lips pursed, Jiang Yubai suddenly felt something stir in his heart.

After tying the red ropes around both of them, Lin Jianxia handed the last red rope straight to Jiang Yubai, saying matter-of-factly:

"Hey, tie him up."

Jiang Yubai was taken aback, while Lin Tingwan blinked her eyes.

After hesitating for two seconds, he still took the thin red string as instructed and gently grasped Lin Jianxia's outstretched wrist.

The girl's skin was silky smooth, like holding a piece of fine, warm jade.

Lin Jianxia's expression remained unchanged, but her ears turned slightly red.

Jiang Yubai lowered his head slightly and, imitating Lin Jianxia's earlier method, wrapped the red rope around twice and gently tied a knot.

During the process, he inadvertently raised his eyes—

He met Lin Jianxia's gaze, which she was secretly looking at.

The girl's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she quickly turned her face to the side, but her outstretched little hand remained obediently in his palm.

Because there were still students coming and going around, Jiang Yubai didn't hold hands for too long. He let go of her hand and asked curiously:

"This...you bought it?"

Lin Jianxia touched the red string on her wrist, making a soft, whining sound:

"I... I made it myself. It's a local custom to tie a red string before an important exam, to... to bring good luck and hope that all your wishes will come true."

She doesn't actually believe in these things.

She had once secretly prayed that there was some kind being in the world who could hear her wish and take her and her sister away from that perpetually rainy dusk.

But each time, all she received in response was her younger sister's increasingly lifeless face and the dire financial straits she faced.

The pressure of life was like a mountain, making it hard for her to breathe.

But one day, that long-sealed door... was suddenly pushed open.

A clean-cut young man stood behind the door, the light streaming in from behind him, so bright it was almost blinding.

She even wondered if all her previous misfortunes had been accumulating up, just for this moment.

So this time, she's willing to believe again.

If there truly is an entity in this world that can hear people's wishes...

Let's grant one more wish.

Just this one is fine.

Lin Jianxia pursed her lips, then suddenly reached out her right hand, first gently touching her sister's wrist, then Jiang Yubai's.

As if to bolster her own courage, she raised her head, her beautiful eyes filled with determination:

"Yes, it's possible...it definitely is."