The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

It was past 1 p.m. when the group came out of the store. Although there was no set time, the staff kept reminding them, and they really couldn't sit still any longer.

Before parting, Han Yang and Song Yunyun exchanged contact information.

Ye Shu saw it all and knew perfectly well that Han Yang, that old rascal, was so greedy, he must have taken a liking to her at first sight.

As for Song Yunyun's attitude towards Han Yang... Ye Shu glanced at the overly polite smile on her face, shook his head inwardly, and could only wish her good luck.

As soon as they stepped outside, Han Yang laboriously pulled two large bags of apples from the trunk of his beat-up little car and shoved them at them.

"Take them all! Help me reduce my inventory pressure."

Ye Shu didn't stand on ceremony, readily taking the heavy bag and replying:

"Little Han, remember to deliver the apples to my mansion on time from now on. If you're late, I won't give you any money."

"Get lost."

Han Yang cursed at him, then turned to Song Yunyun and said:

"Ms. Song, shall I take you home?"

Song Yunyun smiled, reached into the bag, took out an apple, and said:

"No need, I'm going to an event nearby in a bit, I can just take a taxi. It's not convenient for me to carry the apple, I'll just take one, you can appreciate the thought."

The four people split up in three groups right in front of the barbecue restaurant, each going home to their own mothers.

The streets seemed even more sluggish in the afternoon. A stray dog ​​lay on the sidewalk, sunbathing and napping, and it didn't even glance at Ye Shu and Xia Qing as they passed by.

The two walked side by side, with about half a person's distance between them. After walking for a while, Xia Qing suddenly turned her head, her gaze lingering on Ye Shu's profile for a moment, and asked as if in casual conversation:

"That Song Yunyun... was your first love?"

Ye Shu didn't react much when he heard this. He couldn't even be bothered to ask such a pointless question as "How did you know?" After spending so much time together, asking such a question would be incredibly silly.

He gave a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, and his answer was equally straightforward:

"I guess so, but it didn't work out. I had a one-sided crush for a while. I practically wore out the love letters in my hand, but I never dared to send them. When I finally decided to confess, someone stopped me."

At this point, he couldn't help but chuckle twice, as if he weren't talking about himself.

Xia Qing said "Oh," without stopping, her eyes fixed on the paving stones beneath her feet, and asked again:

"So, what are you doing now...?"

"I really have no idea."

Ye Shu answered without hesitation:

"We hadn't seen each other since graduating from high school. We just ran into each other a couple of days ago when we went back to our hometown. It was purely by chance, nothing more."

Xia Qing gave a soft snort, it was impossible to tell whether she believed it or not:

"Hmph, I bet that girl has feelings for you. Her eyes are practically spitting fire."

"If there's Mars, then let's go look for it on Mars."

Ye Shu's pun-based joke is indeed quite lame:

"We're really not on the same wavelength. Have you ever watched 'Bright Sword'? To paraphrase Li Yunlong, it's like saying, 'We can't pee in the same pot.'"

Xia Qing glanced at him slightly. When Ye Shu said this, his expression was very natural, and there was no lingering or regret in his eyes, only a clear-headedness that came with the passage of time.

The slight awkwardness that had been nagging at her ever since she saw Song Yunyun suddenly eased. But she still couldn't resist her habitual sharp tongue, saying something rather sarcastic:

"You two are completely incompatible, yet you liked her in the first place?"

Ye Shu chuckled, carrying the apples with his hands behind his back, looking like a little old man. He felt a little embarrassed by Xia Qing's comment, but mostly relieved.

"Hey, everyone goes through puberty, right? We didn't think about all that back then!"

Hearing this, Xia Qing couldn't help but smile slightly. She didn't reply, turned her head and continued walking, but her steps seemed a little lighter than before.

The two reached a crossroads and encountered a red light.

Ye Shu stood by the roadside, carrying a bag of apples, her eyes casually scanning the windows of the building across the street.

Xia Qing was standing next to him, quietly watching the red light. Suddenly, as if drawn by something, she turned her head slightly and glanced to the side.

The line of sight followed the street to its end, where the outline of a building shimmering in the sunlight could be vaguely seen. It was a landmark building built on the public beach by the sea.

She watched for a while, until the numbers on the red light started counting down, before suddenly speaking:

"Let's go to the beach."

She didn't look at Ye Shu, but kept staring in that direction; it was indeed a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Upon hearing this, Ye Shu also turned his head and glanced in that direction.

"Let's go."

The answer was given so readily, so naturally. There was no question of "why" or "I don't want to go," just two words: "Let's go."

Then, Ye Shu continued:

"Perfect timing. I ate a bit too much barbecue earlier, and I'm feeling a bit full now. I'll go for a walk on the beach to digest. As the old saying goes, 'A hundred steps after a meal keeps you healthy and strong...'"

"Okay, okay, stop!"

Xia Qing turned around, her eyebrows furrowed, and interrupted him before he could finish reciting his health tips with a look of disgust:

"Why are you acting like a little old man? Did one barbecue meal make you old? Get out of here."

She complained, but her actions didn't stop. Seeing that the green light across the way was about to flash, she couldn't be bothered to wait for the next round. She reached out and grabbed Ye Shu's left hand, which was behind his back.

It's not a touch of fingertips, nor is it linking arms; it's a real, tangible grasp.

Ye Shu felt a sudden tightening in her hand, and a warm sensation enveloped her. Before she could react, Xia Qing pulled her forward two steps.

"Hurry up, the light's green!"

Ye Shu was pulled along by her, and the two jogged across the zebra crossing. For a fleeting moment, his attention was completely focused on the hand she was holding.

Ye Shu had been held by this hand three times. It was the same hand, but the feeling was different each time.

Xiao Nuan held on rigidly, literally. Zhi Qiu, on the other hand, held on tightly, their fingers intertwined. Xia Qing, however, was decisive and direct, unlike her usual affectionate gestures; it was purely out of urgency.

But... she was pulling him.

As they crossed the road, Xia Qing seemed to realize that she was still holding his hand.

Her fingers loosened slightly, but not completely immediately. Instead, following the loosening force, her fingertips slid down and gently patted the back of his hand, making a soft "snap" sound, as if to say "follow up."

Then, she withdrew her hand, put it in the pocket of her trench coat, slowed her pace, looked straight ahead, and showed no sign of anything unusual on her face.

However, the hand she casually slipped into her trench coat pocket, the hand that had just held Ye Shu's, unconsciously tightened slightly where no one could see.

Her fingertips dug slightly into her palm, the lingering warmth of another person slowly burning her heart.

As she watched the buildings getting closer in the distance, Xia Qing pursed her lips slightly, the curve subtle yet conveying a sense of resolve.