NOVPUBThe two of them chased each other down the street for quite a while, almost back to Lianhua Courtyard, before Xu Qingfan grabbed Xia Xiaoxiao’s clothes again.
"Why are you running?" He asked breathlessly, annoyed.
"Would I run if you weren’t chasing me?" Xia Xiaoxiao wasn’t much better off, her face flushed from the cold wind blowing in the winter, her slightly developed chest heaving.
"Would I chase if you didn’t run?"
"Would I run if you didn’t chase?" Xia Xiaoxiao countered again.
Xu Qingfan: ...
After their exercise, both of them stopped, their bodies warm, standing in the middle of the street, staring at each other for a long time. Finally, Xia Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh, and Xu Qingfan rolled his eyes at the girl before laughing along.
"Dumb dog," they both said at the same time, annoyed.
"You’re the dumb dog."
"You?"
Again, they spoke in unison.
"You," Xu Qingfan pointed at her.
Xia Xiaoxiao grabbed his index finger and pushed it down, raising her eyebrows and emphasizing, "You!"
Her hand, freshly cold from running, felt icy. Xu Qingfan, reversing his hand, grasped her small hand and pulled her away. "Why are your hands still so cold, is it kidney deficiency?"
Being held by the "stinky dog," Xia Xiaoxiao instantly became obedient, even forgetting to argue back about the kidney deficiency remark.
Xia Xiaoxiao tried to recall the last time she held hands with this "stinky dog" while walking down the street; in her blurry memory, it seemed to have occurred back when they were in the second or third grade.
Since attending the physiology and hygiene class in the fourth grade and understanding the differences between boys and girls, she had not been as close to Xu Qingfan as she was just now.
And sleeping together—if you don’t count that one accidental time—the last time they had slept together was also back in the second grade.
That time only she and Xu Qingfan participated in the Hua Luogeng National Competition. The blankets in the hotel were not warm at all, so she ran over to Xu Qingfan’s bed to sleep.
Thinking back now, it was indeed a wonderful experience—putting her cold feet on the "stinky dog’s" warm legs for warmth, inhaling his nice scent, and falling asleep quickly to the rhythm of his breathing. It was incredibly comfortable. 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
It’s a pity that, as they grew up, they could no longer sleep together like that.
Walking along the familiar streets, holding Xu Qingfan’s hand, Xia Xiaoxiao felt the streets seemed more beautiful than usual.
She curiously asked, "Can girls have that too?"
"Have what?" Xu Qingfan blinked and looked back at her.
"Kidney deficiency."
"Of course. Do you think you don’t have kidneys? Both boys and girls can have kidney deficiency. Cold hands and feet are a sign of kidney-yang deficiency, and it can even lead to infertility if severe." Xu Qingfan explained knowledgeably.
Don’t ask why he knew so much; it was all told to him by a friend.
"Ah?" Xia Xiaoxiao was a bit scared, the thought of not being able to have babies was terrifying.
"But I... isn’t it like tired cows... ouch, why did you hit me?"
"Stop reading nonsense. Kidney deficiency is also related to lifestyle habits. Lamb is good for replenishing kidney yang and nourishing yin and qi. Eat more at lunch." He rolled his eyes at her.
"Okay." Xia Xiaoxiao obediently didn’t argue, planning in her heart to eat more lamb kidneys at lunch!
As they approached Lianhua Courtyard, Xu Qingfan let go of Xia Xiaoxiao’s hand. After growing up, they couldn’t hold hands like when they were kids without causing misunderstandings.
If someone said he was only warming her hands?
Yes, yes, warming hands, sure.
The more you try to explain, the more the other person would laugh wickedly—it’s impossible to justify.
Xia Xiaoxiao put her hand back into her pocket. She felt a vague, self-unacknowledged sense of loss. If only they could continue holding hands without hiding...
As they reached the third floor, Lin Jing was sitting at the doorway basking in the sun, holding a cup of hot tea, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Good morning, Auntie."
"It’s almost noon, not morning anymore. What did Qingfan buy?" Lin Jing glanced at her daughter and asked with a smile.
"Xiaoxiao wants to eat lamb. We’re having hot pot for lunch." He lifted the lamb he was holding.
"Then I’ll just sit here and enjoy, let Xiaoxiao help you."
"Come on, Auntie, I consider you half my mother. How is taking care of my second mom just enjoying? It’s about love as grass, repaid by the spring sunlight."
"Alright, enough. People might think you’re the Chinese teacher." Lin Jing smiled broadly at his words, who wouldn’t like hearing flattering things?
"Hehe~ Auntie, Xiaoxiao and I will go cook now." Xu Qingfan saluted like a young pioneer and pulled Xia Xiaoxiao away.
Watching them leave, Lin Jing showed a rare motherly smile. She was very satisfied with Xu Qingfan, though he had too many female classmates around him.
But she had confidence in her daughter, believing that their childhood friendship and daily companionship gave them an advantage over others.
[Let the kids work it out themselves...] Lin Jing stopped overthinking and continued enjoying the sun and her tea.
Cooking lamb didn’t take long; cooking too long would make it tough. After blanching, it was stir-fried in an iron pot, making the broth white almost immediately.
After transferring it to a clay pot, ginger slices, white pepper, dates, angelica, and sugar cane were added. It simmered on low heat for about forty minutes.
About ten minutes before eating, white radish slices were added. This was a standard dish in Hong Kong households: clear lamb soup.
Before long, the aroma of white pepper and lamb filled the house. Xu Aiguo and Yao Jiping woke up around noon.
"Good morning, Xiaoxiao, what smells so good?"
"Son, when is lunch? I’m hungry."
"Good morning, Uncle and Auntie. We’re simmering lamb for hot pot, almost ready." Xia Xiaoxiao replied, preparing dipping sauces for the hot pot.
"Xiaoxiao is so sensible."
Xu Qingfan rolled his eyes at his parents. How come Xiaoxiao got all the praise, while it was mostly his work?!
[Next time, he’d wake them up earlier and show Old Deng who rules the roost—whatever that means!]
At noon, both families gathered at the table for lunch.
The induction cooker heated the freshly simmered lamb soup, the rich white pepper scent warming everyone up with each sip.
Xia Xiaoxiao, still focused on the lamb kidneys she had bought earlier, discreetly picked pieces of lamb to hide them each time.
Since they were cleaned thoroughly, they didn’t taste gamey, and dipped, they were quite delicious.
Just as Xia Xiaoxiao happily found another kidney, Lin Jing suddenly said, "Oh, Xiaoxiao, your grandpa called this morning. He wants you to visit for the New Year, your grandma’s not well."
Moments ago, Xia Xiaoxiao had been delighted to find another kidney, but her smile froze at Lin Jing’s words.
"Mom, are you going too?" she asked.
Lin Jing shook her head. "No, I’ll stay here. Uncle Xu will take you."
"Then I’ll..." Xia Xiaoxiao wanted to say she wouldn’t go if her mom wasn’t, but thinking about her grandma’s health, she reconsidered.
"Why doesn’t Qingfan accompany Xiaoxiao if she doesn’t want to go alone? This boy just plays games at home."
Xia Xiaoxiao glanced at Xu Qingfan, thought for a bit, then nodded. "Alright, I’ll listen to Auntie."
Xu Qingfan: ???
