Chuan City.
Liang Nuo and Xiao Ling walked hand in hand down the bustling street. People passed them from time to time, all struck by their matching couple outfits. Their down jackets each had a photo of the other printed on them, as though announcing to everyone that they were a couple.
So sweet!
But with that uniquely adolescent touch of over-the-top cheesiness!
Still, whatever anyone thought of them, Xiao Ling and Liang Nuo paid no attention. They were immersed in a world that belonged to just the two of them...
Stopping here, looking there...
"Brother Xiao Ling, I want some candied hawthorn~"
Liang Nuo reached out her little hand and pointed at a stall a short distance ahead.
Xiao Ling led her over by the hand. The stall owner was a woman who looked about thirty, and one glance at their distinctive matching outfits told her what their relationship was.
"Dating, huh? You're still students, aren't you? How many skewers?"
Liang Nuo's little face flushed at her words. Clearly, she understood, and her hand tightened around his without her realizing it. She looked at Xiao Ling with her beautiful eyes brimming with love.
Noticing the change in his girlfriend, Xiao Ling gently squeezed her little hand, cool and smooth as jade. He turned to her with a warm smile and said,
"Xiao Nuo, which one would you like?"
"Th-the one with black dates."
"Okay." Xiao Ling followed his girlfriend's pointing hand and saw a row of hawthorn-and-black-date skewers inside the glass case. He pointed at one and asked the owner, "Ma'am, that one, please. How much?"
The pretty stall owner smiled. "Six yuan, but five will do for you two."
As she spoke, she opened the glass case, pulled out the mixed skewer, wrapped the bamboo stick in tissue,