Desk mate, your persona has crumbled.

Xu Mo now understood why no fishermen came here.

Around 11:30, a small boat carrying several people sailed from the river and moored at the bend.

They quickly boarded the sightseeing boats moored at the bay.

One by one, the boats turned amidst the roar of their oars and sped into the Huanjiang River.

The propeller at the stern churned the once calm waters of the bend, creating waves that spread out in layers, one after another, surging toward the shore.

The river water lapped against the mud and rocks on the bank, making a rushing sound.

Watching the sightseeing boats gradually disappear into the distance, Xu Mo subconsciously clicked his tongue:

"With all this noise, there won't be any fish for at least half an hour."

Old Xu nodded in deep agreement: "They've all run away in fear."

"Meat!"

Ms. Fang Yi said something, and the father and son immediately looked at the baking pan.

Oil droplets danced on the baking tray, and the aroma wafted through the air on the river breeze.

Xu Mo noticed that Song Shuyan was quietly gazing at the river.

Xu Mo followed her gaze to the river.

After the sightseeing boat departs, the ripples on the bay's surface, which had been shattered, begin to gather again, gently swaying with the current like tiny silver scales.

"Is it beautiful? You've never seen the Huanjiang River this close before, have you?"

Song Shuyan nodded: "Mm."

Xu Mo said with a smile, "Try to come out more often in the future. Although Yuedu isn't very big, there are still many fun places to visit."

The girl smiled and said, "Okay, let's go together."

Song Yunzhou immediately felt a jolt of alarm.

"So, where are you planning to go? Want to come along, big brother?"

Song Shuyan looked at Song Yunzhou and readily agreed, "Okay, but brother isn't usually in Yuedu."

"I have weekends too!"

"Then why didn't you come back before?"

(I'm a little unhappy.)

Xu Mo sensed the dissatisfaction in Song Shuyan's words and was about to speak up to remind him when he saw Song Yunzhou bring about his own downfall.

"Weekends are busy too; university isn't a place where you can completely rest on weekends."

As expected, as soon as Song Yunzhou finished speaking, Song Shuyan looked away.

"Then you go ahead and get busy."

(I'm unhappy.)

Xu Mo looked at the disgruntled Song Yunzhou and tried to suppress the corners of his mouth.

Brother, I can't save you from this emotional intelligence.

"Alright, Xu Mo, bring the plate."

"oh."

Xu Mo quickly took the plate and watched his mother put the barbecue into a disposable plate.

Ms. Fang Yi handed a large portion of roasted meat to Song Shuyan.

"Yan Yan, try this, it's roasted meat that Auntie marinated herself!"

Song Shuyan took the plate: "Thank you, Auntie."

Xu Mo handed over disposable chopsticks and dipping sauce: "Try it, my mom's barbecue is much better than the ones in restaurants. This seasoning is also her own recipe."

Song Shuyan nodded, picked up a small piece of roasted meat, carefully blew on it, and then put it in his mouth.

The meat juices, mixed with the aroma of Fang Yi's special marinade and dipping sauce, are perfectly balanced, savory, slightly sweet.

The girl's eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded vigorously at Fang Yi:

"Mmm! Delicious!"

Fang Yi immediately beamed: "I'm glad you like it!"

At this moment, Xu Mo picked up a lettuce leaf and handed it to Song Shuyan:

"Try wrapping it in this and eating it."

Song Shuyan took the lettuce leaves, somewhat bewildered.

Just then, Xu Mo's voice rang out beside him: "Hey, look at me."

The girl turned her head to look at Xu Mo.

The boy placed the lettuce leaf in his palm, put pieces of grilled meat on it, and then casually rolled up the lettuce and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Click."

The crisp sound of vegetable leaves rang out.

Xu Mo chewed on the food in his mouth and gestured for Song Shuyan to try it.

Just as Song Shuyan was carefully placing the pieces of grilled meat on lettuce leaves, imitating Xu Mo's actions...

Song Yunzhou handed her the neatly wrapped lettuce bag:

"Yan Yan, I've wrapped it up for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yunzhou even gave Xu Mo a smile.

(proud.)

Xu Mo did not respond, but simply smiled.

Song Shuyan looked at the vegetable bun her brother handed her and gently shook her head: "Brother, you eat it. I want to try it myself."

After saying that, the girl continued to focus on her vegetable leaves.

Song Yunzhou's smile froze on his face.

He silently withdrew his hand, stuffed the vegetable bun into his mouth, and chewed it with extra force.

Yang Muyun held her water glass, her gaze falling on the two people in the corner.

The girl was intently learning how to wrap grilled meat in lettuce leaves, while the boy watched attentively from the side.

The dappled shadows of the trees fell upon them, creating a quiet and harmonious scene.

She reached out and gently touched Fang Yi, who was flipping the grilled meat beside her, her voice tinged with laughter:

"Look at them, how naturally they get along. Sometimes I think to myself, if only they had met sooner."

Fang Yi followed her gaze, a hint of relief appearing in her eyes:

"That's right, if we'd known each other since we were kids—"

Yang Muyun laughed and replied, "Then shouldn't we call them childhood sweethearts?"

"Click."

The lettuce wrap in Song Shuyan's hand was gently bitten open.

The girl was oblivious to the whispers of her elders, focusing only on enjoying her food.

(happy.)

Xu Mo sensed the emotions in the girl's heart, and a smile naturally appeared on his face.

Fang Yi smiled and sighed softly, "When it comes to fate, it just comes when it's meant to."

Yang Muyun nodded: "Actually, Yan Yan and Xu Mo went up from elementary school and junior high school together, so you could say they are childhood sweethearts."

Yang Muyun looked at Xu Mo and asked with a smile, "Xu Mo, did you already know Yan Yan?"

Xu Mo nodded: "Yeah, I remember when we were in third or second grade, we were in the same class."

Upon hearing this, everyone except Xu Mo was surprised.

Even Fang Yi was surprised.

She genuinely had no recollection of it at all.

"Really?"

After everyone finished looking at Xu Mo, they all turned to look at Song Shuyan.

But the person involved was also very confused.

"Is there?"

Xu Mo nodded:

"Yes, but only for one semester."

"Back then, I was training with my aunt, but the homeroom teacher and my aunt didn't get along and she was always criticizing me. I didn't like it, so my aunt switched my class."

Xu Mo turned to look at the girl's bewildered expression:

"Back then, you ignored everyone all the time. How many of your classmates' names did you even remember?"

Upon hearing this, Song Shuyan's ears turned slightly hot.

She truly doesn't remember any of them.

The girl muttered softly, "Maybe."

Upon hearing this, Song Yunzhou's eyebrows twitched.

This kid actually had his eye on my sister back in elementary school?!

But what made Song Yunzhou even more uneasy was that his mother suddenly laughed.

"So, in that case, you two really can be considered childhood sweethearts."

Song Yunzhou suddenly turned around and looked at his mother.

I do not approve of this childhood sweetheart relationship!

But Song Yunzhou's opposition was clearly ineffective.

Song Shuyan was stunned.

Childhood sweethearts?

Xu Mo and I are childhood sweethearts?!

In an instant, Xu Mo's words echoed in the girl's mind.

Song Shuyan's heart suddenly raced, and a burning heat spread rapidly from the base of her ears, instantly turning her earlobes a bright crimson.

(Super shy!)

The girl hurriedly lowered her head.

The burning sensation not only turned his ears red, but also gave his neck a faint pink hue.

She felt as if she were being steamed alive by this sudden definition.

As for Xu Mo on the other side, he also felt a little awkward when he noticed Song Shuyan's emotions.

The boy subconsciously raised his hand to touch the back of his neck, his fingertips touching a warm spot.

"Is...is that so?"

Xu Mo scratched his chin, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

The air beneath the tree shadows seemed to freeze for a moment.

The invisible veil between the two was gently lifted by the phrase "childhood sweethearts".

Fang Yi and Yang Muyun looked at the young couple in front of them, their eyes filled with undisguised smiles.

Song Yunzhou looked at his younger sister's completely unfamiliar shy appearance, and then glanced at the dark-skinned boy next to him who couldn't hide his silly grin.

He subconsciously turned to look at his father.

Hey, your little darling is gone.

Upon receiving a look from his son, Song Jianghuai immediately turned his gaze to his daughter.

Thoughtful.