"Woof?"
Everything went black before Peach's eyes, and she began to squirm and struggle.
"Shh..."
The little girl covered Peach's eyes with both hands. Her voice was low, but utterly serious. "You can't look. You're making Brother-in-law and your sister feel awkward. They won't take you along next time they go out."
"Woof?"
Peach gradually settled down.
A little while later—
The little girl stood in the doorway, basking in the sun with a cup of water in her hands.
Peach lowered her head to a small bowl, her tongue darting out as she lapped up water.
In the courtyard, the two still nestled together on the Swing, chatting quietly.
"Chen Banxia went to help Zhang Suannai revise her thesis and said it was really good. Even her advisor was shocked," Chen Shu told Ning Qing.
"Her thesis really was excellent." Ning Qing kept her eyes on her phone. Then she shifted, slipped one hand under Chen Shu's arm, and held it as she leaned against him. Still holding her phone, she went on, "I had a look. The formatting was a mess, but the content was good."
"Who knew she had it in her?"
"She's always been a genius at Swordsmanship and combat."
"Did you buy any?"
"I did."
"How many plants?"
"Two."
"Then why are you still looking..."
"I'm looking at the others."
"The weather's getting warmer."
"So?"
"You can wear shorts and skirts again."
"..."
"Oh, right! I'll ask Chen Banxia what she's doing!" Chen Shu suddenly pulled out his phone.
Ning Qing tilted her head slightly to look at his screen.
He had set a different chat background for everyone close to him. The photo of Chen Banxia had been taken years ago—during the spring of their entrance-exam year, if Ning Qing remembered right. They had