The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

Because Qi Yu was forced to stay in bed due to a back injury, the group moved the dining table into Qi Yu's bedroom, intending to have dinner there.

The table was very simple, with only a few light vegetable dishes and the only half-meat dish being scrambled eggs with tomatoes, which were red and yellow.

To entertain the two who had come from afar, Zhao Lin almost slaughtered an old hen that was laying eggs, but fortunately Xu Xi discovered it and stopped her in time.

She and her brother had no shortage of good food and drink in the city, but resources were scarce in the mountains, and they had to rely on themselves for all their food.

Eating this chicken will mean laying far fewer eggs.

Although the dishes were very simple, the group ate with great relish.

"Brother, try this, it's delicious."

Xu Xi put a few green beans into Xu Nian's bowl.

Xu Nian nodded repeatedly after eating.

"Linlin, I feel that the vegetables you grow are different from those you buy outside."

Xu Xi's mouth was stuffed full of rice, her cheeks bulging out like a little hamster stealing food.

"The dish has a strong, fragrant flavor and a unique taste."

Zhao Lin was sitting on the edge of the bed, feeding Qi Yu spoonful by spoonful.

Hearing the praise, she smiled slightly and brushed a stray hair from her forehead.

"There aren't many seasonings in the mountains, so we can only try our best to grow better vegetables."

"Actually, it's also related to the climate here. There's a lot of rain and plenty of sunshine, so the food tastes great."

"The vegetables I grew in the Northwest a couple of years ago were very dry and had a slightly bitter taste."

"Oh...I see, no wonder."

Xu Xi nodded thoughtfully.

Everything in the mountains is very simple: a large iron pot on a wood-fired stove, the stir-fried dishes are full of wok hei (the smoky aroma imparted by a hot wok).

Aside from being a bit troublesome, it has no drawbacks.

Even the vegetables are the freshest, picked from the field and served in no more than two hours – a taste you can't find in the city.

After the meal, Xu Xi and Zhao Lin busied themselves clearing away the dishes.

Xu Nian picked up her books and reviewed what she had learned that day under the lamplight.

After all, having a teacher lying next to you for one-on-one tutoring is a very rare learning opportunity.

The girls carried their bowls and chopsticks to the stream in the village.

As dusk fell, the place remained brightly lit under the glow of the electrified searchlights.

In the distance, a few children could be vaguely seen chasing and playing along the stream, their laughter carried by the wind and quickly dissipating into the night.

Zhao Lin casually coiled her long hair behind her head, squatted down, and used the flowing stream water to wash the dishes and chopsticks.

Xu Xi followed her example, rolling up her long skirt above her knees and squatting down beside her to help.

The stream water was a bit chilly at night, and Xu Xi couldn't help but shiver as soon as her fingertips touched the surface.

"Just leave it there, I'll wash it."

Zhao Lin said.

"It's okay."

Xu Xi shook her head, her fingertips slowly adjusting to the temperature of the stream water, and little by little, she imitated Zhao Lin's manner, gently wiping the bowls and chopsticks.

The rain had just stopped, the night sky was exceptionally clear, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky, its reflection falling on the water and swaying gently with the flow of the stream.

Under the moonlight, Zhao Lin wore a floral cotton-padded jacket, her bare face bearing the marks of time.

Xu Xi looked at her and felt a pang of pain in her heart.

She still remembers that Zhao Lin used to be a wealthy heiress who loved to dress up and have fun, with a flamboyant and beautiful look in her eyes.

But now, her face no longer has exquisite makeup, and her clothes are no longer fashionable; all that remains is the roughness and tranquility left by her life in the mountains.

She had asked Zhao Lin to work at her company more than once, but Zhao Lin refused again and again, resolutely following Qi Yu into the mountains.

Thinking of this, Xu Xi couldn't help but sigh softly.

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Lin noticed her dejection, stopped what she was doing, and asked softly.

"It's nothing," Xu Xi gently shook her head.

After a long silence, she couldn't help but whisper, "Linlin, do you regret it?"

Zhao Lin was slightly taken aback, then realized what Xu Xi meant.

She smiled faintly: "I'll follow him wherever he goes, whether I'm a chicken or a dog. I have no regrets. I love Ayu, and I'll go wherever he goes."

"Married?" Xu Nian's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in disbelief. "You...you're already married?"

Zhao Lin smiled and nodded, a hint of shyness in her eyes.

"Yes, we've already registered our marriage, but we haven't had a wedding ceremony yet."

"Wow, such a big thing, and I didn't even know!"

Xu Xi playfully pinched his waist, and the latter scratched his head shyly.

"Just as I expected, the feelings have faded."

......

The dishes were quickly washed and cleaned, and the two of them carried them back home.

The streetlights cast a soft glow. Xu Xi walked ahead, carrying an iron pot. Her two pigtails bounced with each step, and her long white dress fluttered gently in the evening breeze, making her look like a fairy who had fallen to earth.

However, the gray stain at the hem of the skirt was particularly noticeable, ruining its exquisite appearance.

"Xu Xi, your clothes are dirty?" Zhao Lin reminded her.

"Huh?" Xu Xi hurriedly stopped and lowered her head to lift the hem of her skirt.

Looking at the stain soaked by sewage, like a drop of ink on rice paper, it became more and more conspicuous the more I looked at it, and I panicked instantly.

This was a dress she had specially chosen, thinking she would dress up nicely and leave a good impression on her brother, but now it was all dirty.

She quickly poured some water from the bucket next to her and vigorously scrubbed the stain with her little hands.

The harder you try, the more the stain spreads and the darker the color becomes.

"You have to take it off and wash it; you can't rub it off like this."

Seeing her flustered state, Zhao Lin thought for a moment and said...

"I'll go get you some of my clothes, you can change into them first."

"Okay, sure."

Even though she was extremely reluctant to take off the pretty little dress, Xu Xi could only sniffle and nod helplessly as she looked at the increasingly large stain.

Back inside, Zhao Lin led Xu Xi to the wardrobe and opened the door.

The wardrobe was neatly folded with all sorts of colorful cotton-padded jackets—red, green, blue, yellow, and dark-colored—a dazzling array, but not a single fashionable garment.

Zhao Lin took out the smallest size item from the top and handed it to Xu Xi.

"Life in the mountains is inconvenient, and clothes inevitably get dirty. A floral cotton-padded jacket is durable and doesn't show stains easily. I didn't buy any nice clothes, so please don't mind."

Zhao Lin said somewhat shyly.

"I don't mind, how could I mind?" Xu Xi quickly shook her head, suddenly realizing.

No wonder Zhao Lin always wears floral cotton-padded jackets; it turns out she has long prioritized practicality, just like her brother used to always wear military overcoats, which were convenient and durable.

She took off her white dress, carefully folded it and put it aside, then awkwardly put on her floral cotton-padded jacket.

This was already the smallest size in Zhao Lin's wardrobe, but it was still ridiculously large on Xu Xi.

The pants were so long they almost reached his chest, barely keeping the hem from dragging on the ground; his two little hands were hidden in the long sleeves, and even when he tried to lift his arms, his fingertips were not visible. He looked like a child who had been forcibly dressed in adult clothes, which was quite comical.