Chapter 52: Encounter
Su Yu carried the cake, his right arm aching slightly. He switched the cake to his left hand and shook his right arm, relieving the soreness in his joints.
The girl seemed to have been cooped up in her dorm for a long time, running around tirelessly. Su Yu seemed to have become her shield, allowing her to venture out. Her timid nature had been suppressed, and she dragged Su Yu around, looking at everything, even daring to ask the shopkeepers for prices.
“How long have you been cooped up in your dorm?” Su Yu followed behind her and couldn’t help but ask.
“Not long. I’ve been out twice since coming to Qingchuan. This is the second time.”
An Zhi didn’t look at Su Yu, fiddling with the mug in her hand. It had a cute Pikachu on it, its round eyes as big as her own.
“Is this nice?” The girl smiled and held up the mug for Su Yu to see, her eyes shining with a dazzling light, looking innocent and romantic. “I looked for a long time and still think this one is the best.”
“As long as you like it.” Su Yu’s gaze lingered on An Zhi’s face for a moment, then he looked away. “Do you need to buy any daily necessities?”
An Zhi frowned and thought for a moment. “Huh? I think my dorm has been missing a doormat. Why don’t we buy one this time?”
“Let’s go then. I need to buy some things too. We can go back after we’re done.”
“Go back? It’s still so early… and I’ll be alone if I go back.”
The light in An Zhi’s eyes dimmed, her voice low, a hint of disappointment in her tone.
“It’s not like this is your only chance to go out. We can do it next time.”
“Can we? Next time then!”
Su Yu looked at the girl’s cheerful expression and nodded. “Yeah, next time.”
“Okay, it’s a deal then.”
An Zhi nodded vigorously, as if afraid Su Yu would go back on his word. Shopping alone… she never wanted to do that again.
This person is quite nice, An Zhi thought to herself. She lowered her head and gently bit her straw, her eyebrows furrowed as she struggled with the taro ball stuck in the straw. Finally, she managed to get it, and her eyebrows relaxed into a beautiful arch.
She held the Pikachu mug and picked up another one with a Spongebob Squarepants pattern from the shelf. She shook it at Su Yu, her eyes crinkling into a smile. “Hehe, here’s one for you.”
…
The department store for daily necessities was in the basement. With National Day approaching, the mall was having a sale, and discount signs were everywhere. The entrance was packed with people carrying large and small bags.
Su Yu looked at the cake in his hand. It wouldn’t fit in the storage locker, and he was afraid of crushing it if he took it into the mall.
“An Zhi, why don’t you… go in and buy your things? I’ll wait for you outside. It’s inconvenient with the cake.”
“Okay.” An Zhi nodded obediently. “What do you need to buy?”
“My razor is broken. I’ll send you the brand later. Can you get one for me? Thanks.”
“Okay, leave it to me.”
An Zhi waved her hand, her expression confident, as if she were saying “don’t worry.” She bounced into the crowd, her small figure disappearing like a rabbit into a bush.
…
“Razor… razor, where is it?”
An Zhi held the doormat she had just bought and walked through the aisles, carefully searching for the razor aisle.
She searched for a long time, her round, deer-like eyes wide, but she still couldn’t find the place Su Yu had described. She regretted taking on the task so readily. For someone with a terrible sense of direction, finding a place based on a written description was almost impossible. But the supermarket was crowded, and she couldn’t find a salesclerk to ask.
An Zhi’s small steps were hurried. She was worried that Su Yu would get impatient waiting outside. The red ribbons hanging from the air vents fluttered. The crowded supermarket was a bit stuffy, and her forehead was beaded with sweat, her face flushed.
Turning a corner, An Zhi’s eyes lit up. She saw a salesclerk standing in front of a shelf, stocking goods. She forgot about being shy and quickly walked over, asking sweetly, “Auntie, do you know where I can find men’s razors?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, An Zhi regretted them. The salesclerk had her back to her, her hair in a simple ponytail, and she was wearing a mask. But when she turned around, she was a girl who looked about the same age as her.
“I’m… I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”
An Zhi immediately bowed her head in apology. The girl had been pampered by her family since she was young. Instead of being arrogant, she was timid and afraid of causing trouble. Apologizing was a skill she had mastered. She was always worried that her clumsiness would upset others.
“It’s okay.”
The girl’s eyes crinkled into a smile. She didn’t mind. She asked, “Are you looking for a manual or an electric one?”
“Huh? Let me see. I think it’s electric.”
An Zhi frowned and thought for a moment, then took out her phone to confirm. The girl in front of her spoke softly and gently, giving her a warm impression. She scrolled through her phone without any reservations in front of the girl. “See, it’s this one.”
The girl leaned closer. An Zhi inadvertently smelled the girl’s scent, a pleasant fragrance of gardenias. Her big eyes were filled with envy. Her skin is so fair, her eyes so watery. She must be very beautiful, she thought. “This brand, come with me.” The girl’s gaze lingered on the chat history for a moment, her eyes squinting slightly, her voice still gentle. “I’ll take you there now.”
An Zhi nodded eagerly and smiled happily. “Okay, thank you so much.”
The girl led An Zhi through the aisles she had just been circling for a long time and finally found the razor aisle in a corner.
“Wow, thank you so much! I’ve been looking for a long time and couldn’t find it. You’re amazing, you can remember where everything is.” An Zhi’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
“It’s nothing.” The girl found the razor on the shelf and handed it to An Zhi, her eyes crinkling into a smile. “You’re very cute.”
“Hehe, you’re so pretty too, sister. How old are you? You’re already working?” An Zhi smiled shyly, but being praised by a pretty girl made her very happy.
“Are you from Qingchuan University? Me too, freshman.”
“Huh? So you’re here for a part-time job?” An Zhi’s eyes widened in surprise. “I was thinking of trying to get some experience too, but besides studying, I’m not good at anything else. I was afraid people would think I’m too clumsy and wouldn’t hire me.”
“Yeah, I come here for a part-time job when I don’t have class. If you want… you can try too. I can ask the manager for you.”
“Okay, okay.” An Zhi smiled and took out her phone. “Sister, let’s exchange contact information. My name is…”
An Zhi’s voice suddenly stopped. She looked at the girl in front of her, who had taken off her mask. She stared blankly. The girl was really beautiful, and… vaguely familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
“Sister, have we met somewhere before?”
“Maybe. You haven’t told me your name yet.”
The girl’s thin lips were a delicate pink, accentuating the fairness of her skin. Her eyes sparkled, like Xizi by the lake, fragile… and endearing.
“Huh? An Zhi, my name is An Zhi. What about you, sister?”
“A beautiful name. My name is…” The girl’s clear, black and white pupils reflected An Zhi’s innocent and naive expression. “Xia Qian Ge.”
