You Must Be Good 105p2

Chapter 105 p2

After that chance encounter, Bai Rui had become a solid “friend” of Qiao Xiaoxiao’s.

Every time the sun set, this tanned little girl would appear on the beach, skipping. Her little hands were always holding some strange tools… a spatula carved from a discarded boat plank, a simple level made of fishing net line, and even a decorative mold inlaid with shells. These were all scraps she had picked up at the fishing boat repair shop, polished bit by bit with a rusty little knife.

“Look at this!” She took out a strangely shaped little shovel from her pocket as if she were showing off a treasure. The handle was carved from a broken oar, and the surface still had the marks of the waves. The shovel head was half a piece of rusty iron, the edges polished bright. “I polished it for three whole days,” she said proudly, shaking it. “It’s much faster than digging with your hands!”

She just didn’t have money. If she had money, Bai Rui would have given her new partner a very good set of sand-digging toys.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had been a boss before and had an eye for talent. She knew what Bai Rui was thinking and couldn’t help but say, “You’re not selling many coconuts. The competition on the island is so big. Why don’t you sell handmade products?”

Bai Rui was silent for a moment and looked at Qiao Xiaoxiao. Although she didn’t speak, her eyes clearly said.

—What does a fool like you know?

Qiao Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and didn’t stoop to her level. She pointed at Chu Xinrou beside her. “This mute sister of yours, she can draw. You can make all sorts of things, and then have her help you color them.”

“Really?”

The moment Chu Xinrou was mentioned, Bai Rui’s attitude clearly changed immediately. She was so eager to get up that she even stepped on and collapsed Qiao Xiaoxiao’s new sand hot pot.

Qiao Xiaoxiao: …

Some people are just like that.

Even if they don’t say a word, they can still be fascinating.

Bai Rui showed a natural closeness to Chu Xinrou. She was holding a faded cloth bag and cautiously approached Chu Xinrou’s side. In the cloth bag were her most precious “treasures”—a wind chime made of shells, a bracelet woven from fishing net line, and a box of 24-color watercolors that she had saved up for half a year to buy.

Qiao Xiaoxiao nervously clutched the hem of her clothes. She was both worried that her sister would suddenly shrink back into her own world and afraid that the little girl’s enthusiasm would be met with a wall. Moreover, those cheap watercolors were too simple compared to the professional painting tools Chu Xinrou had once used.

She held her breath and stared at her sister.

However, to her surprise, Chu Xinrou slowly raised her hand and took the small wooden conch that Bai Rui had handed her. The sunlight filtered through her slender fingertips, casting a dappled shadow on the shell. She stared for a long time, then suddenly pointed to the blue watercolor in the paint box.

Bai Rui’s eyes lit up at once. She eagerly took out the blue watercolor and looked at Chu Xinrou with expectation.

Chu Xinrou’s slender fingers gently held the watercolor. The tip of the brush hovered over the paper for a moment. The sea breeze blew through her hair, which had a soft halo. Suddenly, her wrist turned slightly, and the blue lines began to flow on the wood. At first, they were just a few hesitant marks. Gradually, the lines became smooth and confident.

She was drawing the curves of the waves, layer upon layer, as if you could hear the sound of the tide.

Bai Rui held her breath, her little face very close. She watched as the ordinary blue watercolor in Chu Xinrou’s hand seemed to have been enchanted, the simple lines actually outlining the soul of the sea.

Soon, Chu Xinrou had finished painting the conch. She handed it to Bai Rui, her gaze falling on her side again.

Bai Rui immediately handed over her wind chime, and Chu Xinrou took it again.

Qiao Xiaoxiao’s eyes grew a little hot. This was the first time in this month that she had seen her sister pick up a brush again, even if it was just a child’s watercolor.

She hadn’t brought many things to the island, but she had brought her sister’s drawing board and brushes.

She remembered that in the past, whenever Chu Xinrou was in a low mood, she would always vent her pain on the canvas with gloomy color blocks and twisted lines. Those paintings had always made her heart tremble, but she had also been secretly glad that her sister was at least still willing to express herself.

But this time was completely different.

Chu Xinrou was like a sculpture from which the soul had been sucked out, staring at the sea level in a daze all day. If it weren’t for Qiao Xiaoxiao insisting on dragging her out of bed every day, she would probably have curled up in a dark corner forever. She had cut off all contact with the outside world, and even her most instinctive creative desire had disappeared, just like the Little Dragon Girl in the ancient tomb who had cut off all her emotions.

Qiao Xiaoxiao didn’t dare to make a sound, afraid of disturbing this hard-won miracle.

…

That night, the crowd on the beach gradually grew. The shouts of various vendors were endless, and the colorful lights decorated the beach like a fallen galaxy.

Qiao Xiaoxiao held Chu Xinrou’s hand and stood not far away, watching quietly. Bai Rui’s little stall was deserted. She sat awkwardly beside a pile of coconuts, peeking at the skilled hawking techniques of the stall owner next door from time to time. Tourists hurried past, all thinking that she was just an ordinary little vendor selling coconuts.

Chu Xinrou watched in silence for a long time, then turned to look at Qiao Xiaoxiao.

With just this one glance, Qiao Xiaoxiao understood. A doting smile appeared on her lips, and her heart was filled with a wild joy for her sister’s change.

Who was Qiao Xiaoxiao?

She was the number one worker!

She quickly walked to the stall next door, bought a few strings of children’s glowing light bulbs, and also bought a hand drum. Her slender fingers flew in the light, and the iron wire in her fingers seemed to have a life of its own. Those were the skilled hands that had once woven thousands of red strings. This little thing was a piece of cake for her.

“Watch closely,” Qiao Xiaoxiao placed the finished sign in front of Bai Rui, a cunning light in her eyes. “Learn from a fool.”

Before Bai Rui could react, she heard Qiao Xiaoxiao’s clear voice cut through the night sky. “Pure handmade island souvenirs! Unique beach art!”

As she spoke, she was also beating the drum, shouting rhythmically, and looking at the tourists around with a smile.

Bai Rui was so ashamed that her whole being shrank behind the stall, her cheeks burning red. She wished she could dig a sand pit and bury herself.

But it had to be said.

Brave and thick-skinned people always get to enjoy the world first.

This handmade product was originally painted by Chu Xinrou herself and carefully made by Bai Rui. It was exquisite and completely different from the small goods wholesaled on Pinduoduo. A discerning tourist immediately stopped.

This business, what it liked was a crowd. Soon, a crowd had gathered at the stall.

Bai Rui’s price was twenty yuan for a small item. She had originally wanted to set it at fifteen, but after all, it was painted by Chu Xinrou one by one. She was too embarrassed to set it too low.

Qiao Xiaoxiao shouted at the top of her lungs, “Factory closing down clearance sale! Thirty for one, fifty for two! Limited sale, first come, first served!”

Bai Rui crawled out from under the table. She walked to Chu Xinrou’s side and stared in disbelief.

Chu Xinrou was watching Qiao Xiaoxiao with her. In the past, on such occasions, it was mostly Yang Feitang who would accompany Xiaoxiao. She rarely went, so she had rarely seen this side of Qiao Xiaoxiao.

“Look at this conch,” Qiao Xiaoxiao gently held up an exquisite shell, her fingertips stroking the texture. “We call it the ‘Forever Together Conch.’ Look at this natural spiral pattern, how much it looks like the red thread of the old man under the moon, winding people who are destined to be together, one circle after another.”

Seeing a girl pick up a red string bracelet, her eyes lit up. “Oh my, you really have a discerning eye! This was woven by our boss’s wife herself. Every knot carries a blessing.” She lowered her voice. “If you buy it and wear it today, maybe you’ll receive a confession from your secret crush tomorrow.”

She coaxed the little girl until she was grinning from ear to ear.

Bai Rui licked her lips and looked at Chu Xinrou. After a long while, she said slowly in disbelief, “So, she’s not a fool. Then… then she—”

She knew Chu Xinrou wouldn’t speak, but she also wouldn’t sign. She scratched her head awkwardly.

Chu Xinrou stared at her and said softly, “She’s not.”

Ah!

Bai Rui was startled. She was extremely shocked. “Jiejie, so you’re not mute either!”

Chu Xinrou nodded calmly, her gaze following Qiao Xiaoxiao.

Bai Rui was a little confused. She scratched her head. “How come she’s so happy every day…”

She even looked silly when she smiled.

Chu Xinrou explained softly, “She didn’t play when she was a child.”

Bai Rui understood. “Oh.” She looked at Chu Xinrou. “Then what about you? Jiejie, why didn’t you speak before?”

Chu Xinrou pointed to her chest and said seriously, “This was sick.”

Bai Rui nodded. She understood again. It turned out that her sister was not mute, but had a heart problem.

After Bai Rui’s little head had spun around, it had turned into a hundred thousand whys. “Then, Jiejie, are you real sisters or good friends? You’re both so beautiful. I’ve only ever seen such beautiful people on TV. And Sister Xiaoxiao, she has such a good figure. The day before yesterday, Brother A Fa was secretly looking at her for a long time. When Grandma A caught him, he blushed so much.”

She was chattering with a child’s gossip. “Brother A Fa is the most handsome boy on our island.”

Brother A Fa was a lifeguard on the island. He had a very good figure, with eight-pack abs. He also had a good personality, sunny and cheerful. Most importantly, everyone said he looked like Chow Yun-fat.

Chu Xinrou’s gaze suddenly became focused. She slowly turned to Bai Rui, her voice very soft but unusually clear. “She is mine.”

The sea breeze suddenly stopped for a moment.

“Huh?” Bai Rui was stunned, thinking she had misheard.

Chu Xinrou looked at the little girl calmly and said, one word at a time, “Go and tell Brother Fa Gao, she is my lover.”

【Author’s Note】

Chu Xinrou: Although I’m sick, I’m still very clear about what can’t be touched. Qiao Xiaoxiao, you just wait.

Xiaoxiao: ???…