Chapter One Little Girl

  An Zhī's face turned red, and then her neck started to feel hot. Her body became tense and slightly stiff. She opened her mouth, stuttering as she tried to explain, but couldn't get the words out. She even forgot to let go of Li Ruyu's sleeve.

  She was flustered and didn't dare to look at people, as if she had done something shameful. She felt misunderstood and a bit resentful. Why did these people always assume the worst when they saw a boy and girl together?

  "This is our class monitor, I shaved my head and affected the class image, she came to supervise me buying a wig, so we just strolled around." Li Luyu explained with a smile to the shop owner, he knew that An Zhi Shui was particularly sensitive in this regard, like a hedgehog.

  "Right, right, we're not that kind of relationship." An Zhi Shui lowered her head, her toes scratching the ground, and her simple sneakers with small flowers drew a circle on the ground. She sneaked a peek at the store owner, saw her smiling, and quickly added: "Really isn't."

  The shop owner chuckled and shook his head, "In this day and age, it's really rare to see a girl as shy and conservative as you. For university students, isn't holding hands and opening a room together just a normal thing?"

  An Zhishui explained it this way, but isn't that just making things worse? Li Luyu shook his head and didn't say anything else. He casually picked up a wig and put it on An Zhishui's head: "How's this?"

  An Zhishui didn't dare to speak, afraid that he would make some movement or say something and be misunderstood by the boss again. He just looked up at him and couldn't help but let out a "heh" of laughter: "You're wearing it backwards."

  He put on a wig backwards, looking like a watermelon head, similar to the men in Hong Kong movies from the 70s and 80s. An Zhishui stretched out his hand to take his wig.

  "You're so tall, crouch down a bit." An Zhi Shui took off the wig and saw that Li Lu You was clumsy, couldn't even wear a wig properly, and was about to put it on for him.

  Li Luoyu half-squatted down, An Zhi looked at the wig in front and back, carefully pressing it onto his head.

  Li Rouyu was about to get up when An Zhi Shui hastily shouted: "Don't move."

  Li Rouyu remained still, obediently like a pet receiving affection, allowing An Zhi Shui to fuss over his hair.

  "Alright." An Zhi Shui held the comb and combed it back and forth, very satisfied with her work.

  "He's indeed quite handsome, Li Luyu still looks better with hair, being bald is a bit scary." The shop owner smiled, she thought Li Luyu was a great person. In the past when Li Luyu came here, her child was doing homework and Li Luyu often helped to solve problems. Her child was attending an Olympic math class, those questions were too difficult for her as a mother to do.

  An Zhishui hastily put down the comb, just now being teased by Li Luyu and laughing, she forgot that there were still people watching beside her. An Zhishui pulled the plastic strip filled with small toys and quietly walked to one side, making it seem like she had nothing to do with Li Luyu, and it wasn't as if she was combing Li Luyu's hair just now either.

  "Does it look good?" Li Luyu asked An Zhi Shui.

  "What's it to you? As long as it's not a bald head, that's all." An Zhi Shui had an expression that seemed unrelated to her, as if the girl who had just combed Li Luoyu's hair was not her at all.

  The shop owner smiled and said, "That's good, I think this one will do."

  "How much?" Li Luyu asked.

  "Old customer, 30% off as usual."

  The boss's price was very reasonable. Li Luyu took out his wallet to pay, but An Zhi Shui blocked him and said "Fifty!"

  Li Rouyou ignored her, counted out 70 yuan to the shop owner, who smiled and accepted it: "Your girlfriend is quite good at spending money, nowadays many girls just let their boyfriends pay the bills and don't care about anything."

  "I'm not his girlfriend." Although it was a compliment, An Zhi Shui was misunderstood and felt a little embarrassed and unhappy, so she said softly.

  Li Luyu was still smiling, and most of the time, as long as he wasn't in a bad mood, there would be a smile on his face. He thought that whether it's a serious face or a smiling face, it's just one expression, so why not choose a smiling face?

  An Zhishui saw him smile, but with a straight face asked Li Luyu: "Are you feeling quite pleased with yourself?"

  "What am I proud of?" Li Luoyu was taken aback.

  "When I see people misunderstanding that you're my girlfriend, it's hilarious." An Zhi Shui walked ahead of Li Luoyu, turning around at the exit of the underground shopping mall to look at him, as if she wouldn't leave until things were clear.

  The afternoon sunlight shone down at an angle, casting a warm glow on An Zhi Shui's slender body, as if she were embedded in a golden oil painting. The leaves rustled behind her, and the concrete road stretched out before her. The girl stood there, her expression unclear, but Li Luoyu felt an inexplicable sense of joy when he looked at her. He didn't feel like taking a step closer to her, content with simply being near her in such a simple way.

  "It should be me who's being laughed at." Li Luoyu walked over and nudged An Zhishui's shoulder.

  An Zhishui didn't know what was going on and stood there motionless, when Li Luyu suddenly pointed at the bus coming from afar and shouted: "Hurry up, or we'll have to wait another 20 minutes!"

  An Zhishui had no choice but to follow him, panting and running all the way. The bus just stopped, An Zhishui followed him up, standing behind Li Luyu, his face red and puffed, staring at him: "What did you say? Why should it be you who's being laughed at?"

  An Zhi got angrier as she thought about the implication of his words. Did he feel embarrassed being misunderstood as her boyfriend?

  "Because no one would think you're my girlfriend, they were just joking. That guy is so foolish, standing next to such a beautiful girl and not even making a move to pursue her, isn't it laughable? Li Rouyu explained that if it were someone else, maybe due to their recent frequent interactions with An Zhi Shui, they might have had feelings for her, but Li Rouyu wouldn't. A girl like An Zhi Shui is definitely not the type to accept a relationship just because she has some feelings."

  To make a girl like An Zhishui your girlfriend, the first thing to do is not to make her have a good impression of you, but to confirm if she's ready for romance, otherwise any pursuit would be in vain.

  So Li Luyu won't be like that, he thinks he's not suitable to be An Zhi Shui's boyfriend. When girls fall in love, especially university students with a lot of free time, all they think about is spending more time with their boyfriends. Li Luyu obviously can't do that - he has to make money, support his family, and prioritize his sister's life and future. His household also includes a princess who might cause him trouble at any moment, so he doesn't know how much time he can spare for his girlfriend.

  An Zhishui felt a bit embarrassed when Li Luyu praised her, but she also felt a little shy. As a pretty girl, An Zhishui was often praised, mostly by elders, and some parents' friends' children would say such things, which made An Zhishui dislike them... But Li Luyu was somewhat different because his eyes had no intentional sincerity or hidden vulgarity, just like when he led the applause at the beginning of freshman year, always naturally treating everything with great friendliness and enthusiasm.

  What's most important is that Li Rouyu said he wouldn't take the initiative to pursue her, which made An Zhi Shui feel at ease all of a sudden. What she feared the most was this - she didn't like it when boys pursued her, and not every girl enjoyed the feeling of being chased by boys.

  "You're just talking nonsense, the shop owner isn't like what you said." An Zhi Shui stared out of the window, not letting Li Lu You see that her thoughts had changed a bit.

  "They're doing business, I'm the customer. She wants to please me, but instead she says, 'Oh, Li Luyu, this girl must not be your girlfriend, right?' Li Luyu threw up his hands, 'Even if you aren't my girlfriend, I'd still be unhappy about it. Isn't she basically saying that I'm not good enough for you? Ridiculing me, does she want to do business or not?'"

  An Zhishui thought about it and felt happy, with a forgiving expression towards Li Luyu.

  After a while, when I got off the bus at school, An Zhi Shui was worried again. What kind of relationship did she and Li Luoyu have now? Were they friends? They should be, right? Then if he invites me to dinner again, should I agree?

  An Zhishui didn't think clearly and felt very annoyed. Actually, at first, she just wanted to do a good job as the class monitor.

  After school in the afternoon, An Zhi Shui no longer considered the troubles brought to her by Li Lu You, and excitedly took a taxi home. A woman wearing a green dress and long coat was already waiting in front of the warehouse.

  "Miss, I've arranged for two cars to be sent over from Qingkou store. Will that be enough?" The woman wasn't particularly good-looking, but dressed in a light-colored long gown, she had a calm and composed demeanor, giving the impression of being very sharp and capable at handling matters.

  "Tang Yi, thank you, let them all get on."

  Anqi put the books she brought back on the grass in front of the warehouse, then ran to the doghouse, hugged the big St. Bernard that was much heavier than her, and pulled it over to watch the workers move things.

  "Be careful, don't damage it... Try to pack it well in the box, or else you won't be able to sell it for a good price." An Zhishui reminded them.

  "Be careful, if you can't sell it for a good price, I'll have to deduct it from your wages." Tang Ayi said with a smile.

  "Don't worry, miss. If you can't bargain, we'll take care of it later." The workers said enthusiastically. Although they were just doing the moving work, after all, they were in an electrical appliance store and knew the prices well.

  "No need, I'll negotiate with him myself. He's very tough, you guys can't handle it." An Zhi Shui waved his hand dismissively, not taking them seriously.

  Tang Yi shook her head behind An Zhi's back and pointed at the big St. Bernard, "Want to take the kitten over?"

  "Don't bring it, Aunt Tang, you go prepare the car, we'll take your 500 over." An Zhi Shui untied the leash of the Great St. Bernard dog, "Little cat, go play by yourself, tonight when we come back we'll do the flying disc homework."

  A Saint Bernard named Little Cat walked away with a dejected look, shaking its head and swaying from side to side. Normally at this time it would be playing ball or frisbee with its owner.

  I hope everyone enjoys reading and has their own opinions. There's no need to argue, as it won't lead to any conclusion anyway. Let's just be happy!