A Young Woman's Heart

Anyway, the ingredients I put in are all the kind that cook very quickly, so I don't have to worry about not cooking long enough and eating raw food.

"Squad leader, the braised beef noodles without beef are here—!" Mo Xueyao brought out a large bowl of noodles first, "Here, this bowl is yours."

"Thank you."

Instant noodles are quite tasty if you only eat them occasionally.

It's just that you might feel a bit greasy after eating it.

Instant noodles boiled in water will taste slightly worse, but they won't be as greasy after eating them.

Mo Xueyao drank all the noodle soup, then let out a long, comfortable sigh: "Whew—it's so warm and cozy, so refreshing."

"Xiaoyao's way of using words is always very boyish."

"Oh, really? Cough cough, it's just that I was being a bit casual," Mo Xueyao said with a dry laugh.

"Can I take a shower at Xiaoyao's house?" Li Wanyan asked while clearing away the dishes.

"Sure, but there's no water heater. You'll have to boil water and then mix it with cold water to wash. After a while, you should be able to go to a public bathhouse, though it might not be open yet," Mo Xueyao replied.

"I'll wash the dishes, Xiaoyao, can you boil some water for me?"

"Hmm... I'll wash it."

"Let me do it. It's your house, so I should do something, right? Don't be shy, you said it yourself, didn't you?"

"Uh... okay." Seeing Li Wanyan's insistence, Mo Xueyao agreed and started boiling water in the kettle. "There's still a thermos full of water in the thermos. Boiling another kettle should be enough."

As she spoke, she filled the teapot with water and placed it on the stove.

We don't even have a basic electric kettle at home; we've always used this kind of gas-fired teapot.

That's why someone has to be there to watch over it, otherwise it will overflow.

Although water makes a 'whooshing' sound when it boils, it can be easily missed if you're not paying attention.

Mo Xueyao waited until the water boiled, then placed it at the bathroom door and urged, "Wanyan, you can take a shower now, otherwise the water will get cold. Just bring the kettle in with you."

"it is good."

Li Wanyan took the thermos and kettle into the bathroom and closed the dilapidated wooden door, which was moldy at the bottom.

Actually, if you lie down, you can see inside the bathroom through the gaps in the rotten wooden door...

"How is it? Can I wash it?"

“Yes, I can wash it,” Li Wanyan replied, then asked, “Xiaoyao, which towel can I use?”

"Use mine, the light blue one is fine."

"Ok."

The sound of a shower coming from the bathroom would have made Mo Xueyao's heart race in the past.

But now...

He'd already showered with the girl, so the slightest sound of water couldn't possibly give her any bad fantasies.

Not long after, Li Wanyan's voice came again: "Xiaoyao... I... I forgot my clothes were in my bag."

"Huh? Uh... then wear mine?"

"I don't know if I can fit into it." Li Wanyan was considerably taller than Mo Xueyao.

"Let me see if I can help you look... I remember I have some loose-fitting clothes..." Many men's clothes are relatively loose-fitting, and Mo Xueyao has a few pieces in her wardrobe.

She immediately ran into the bedroom and started rummaging through it, then slipped a set of oversized men's clothing through the crack in the door.

Before long, Li Wanyan came out, steaming.

The oversized men's casual clothes looked surprisingly dashing on her, at least a bit more handsome than when Mo Xueyao wore them.

"I always feel like Xiaoyao wears more men's clothes than women's clothes," Li Wanyan said, tossing her still slightly damp long hair.

"Ah... because I don't really like wearing girls' clothes."

"why?"

"I feel that loose clothes are more comfortable to wear," Mo Xueyao said, trying to explain herself.

"Is that so? Haruka's hobby is quite unique."

"It's alright...?" Mo Xueyao smiled awkwardly, secretly relieved.

……

Chapter Seventy-Four: The Official Opening of the Fruit Shop

The date was Sunday, May 24, 1999.

Today, the sky was cloudless and clear, with a bright sun shining down. The weather, which had already felt a bit chilly, was warmed up considerably by the bright sunshine.

Pedestrians wearing only thin short sleeves reappeared on the streets.

Some people, however, were already wearing down jackets, making it seem as if they were in a different season.

Today is the opening day of the fruit shop, and even my mother canceled her work for the day, going to the shop with my father early in the morning.

Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan got up a little later, but they still boarded the bus to their destination at seven o'clock.

Early in the morning, the entrance of the fruit shop was filled with all kinds of tall flower baskets, with similar congratulatory messages written on them and similar flower arrangement techniques, making people wonder if they were bought from the same shop.

"The flower arranging technique seems pretty average..." Mo Xueyao muttered as she stood in front of the shop.

"Ahem, I did all of it." Her father glared at Mo Xueyao. "I think it's alright, isn't it?"

"...Will they really sell?" Mo Xueyao pursed her lips.

Actually, she was deliberately trying to put her father down. Although her level of skill was a bit lacking, it was still passable.

If they were to sell them, they wouldn't necessarily be unable to find buyers.

Moreover, as time goes by, one's flower arranging skills will definitely improve.

This kind of thing is improved gradually.

The fruit shop looked much more full than yesterday, with different kinds of fruit displayed on each counter, a wide variety and complete selection.

On the left, against the wall, hangs a bunch of cone-shaped plastic buckets filled with all kinds of flowers.

There were many people Mo Xueyao had never even met.

"what is this?"

"This is baby's breath."

"What about this one?"

"That's a red palm."

“This looks like a fake flower…” Mo Xueyao pinched the red leaf. “It’s so hard.”

"This is what the flower is like."

"And this?" Mo Xueyao pointed to a large bunch of white flowers at the top.

"That's a lily! Don't you recognize it?"

"I haven't seen them much!" Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes. "You'll be able to recognize them all later."

"It smells so good here," Li Wanyan said, standing next to Mo Xueyao. "It's all the scent of flowers."

"Haha, would you like one?" The father laughed as he picked through the flowers on the stand. "Hmm, I'll give you a lily, since lilies symbolize pure young girls."

"Ah."

"Don't rush, let me wrap it for you." The father said, picking up a piece of plastic sheeting specifically for wrapping flowers from the table next to him. He rolled it up a few times rather clumsily, stuffed some pretty grass inside as decoration, and then put the lilies inside.

"Here, this water lily is for you."

"Thank you."

"Does Xiaoyao want it?" the father asked, looking at Mo Xueyao.

"I'm not interested in this kind of thing." Mo Xueyao practically had "I'm a boy, that's why I don't like this kind of thing" written all over her face.

Of course, only those who know she was originally a boy can understand her expression at this moment.

"Fine, fine, whatever." The father rolled his eyes and saw a Santana parked in front of the fruit shop.

"Ali! This shop looks pretty good!" Yu Liang got out of the car by himself. Since there weren't many cars around, he parked the car on the side of the road and walked casually to his father, patting him on the shoulder.

"It's alright," the father nodded.

The friends who were supposed to come to celebrate hadn't arrived yet, but the tall flower baskets were already on display.

This is probably the advantage of opening a flower and fruit shop; you can make your own flower baskets to celebrate the opening.

It can save you a lot of money.

"Looks like I'm the first one here?"

"Well, the others will be here a little while longer." The father said, taking out a pack of hard-pack Liqun cigarettes from his pocket and handing one to Yu Liang.

Yu Liang took it from his father and borrowed some firewood to light it.

"No wonder he's going to be a boss, even his cigarettes are high-end now, huh?"

"Oh, not at all. It's rare for me to draw one; it's mainly for sharing."

"Sharing cigarettes with Liqun? That's not a bad idea." Yu Liang thought for a moment, then turned around and took out a carton of Zhonghua cigarettes from his car. "Someone gave them to me, you can take them and share them."

"Wow, the boss is impressive."

"No, I'm just a civil servant working for someone else. You're the boss."

"Nobody gives me any gifts."

"Then I'll give it to you, won't I?" Yu Liang laughed, shifting his gaze to Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan. "Are these Xiaoyao's classmates?"

"Yes, they're staying with us temporarily." The father said, introducing Li Wanyan, "Wanyan, this is Xiaoyao's godfather."

"Hello, Uncle." Li Wanyan greeted him politely.