Qin Guanglin discovered that getting a girlfriend really brought a lot of trouble.
"Lin, is this your girlfriend? She's really pretty."
"When did the Qin family's boy start dating?"
"Where are you going, Qin? Hey, who's this girl?"
It was just holding He Fang's hand and going to the market to buy vegetables, but the familiar uncles and aunts in the neighborhood acted as if they had discovered something new.
Couldn't they just greet like usual? Why did their attention always go to He Fang?
He pretended to be natural as he dealt with those people, feeling very anxious inside. Indeed, the progress was too fast; suddenly appearing in front of acquaintances did feel fresh.
He Fang faced it all calmly, occasionally smiling and nodding, looking not the least bit intimidated. Whenever Qin Guanglin seemed about to let go of her hand, she would grip his hand tighter and give him a warning glance.
Qin Guanglin had no choice but to quicken their pace, wanting to end this awkward situation quickly.
"Follow me and carry the bags," He Fang said when they reached the market, with her hands behind her back. It was no longer appropriate to hold hands.
Qin Guanglin wasn't used to buying vegetables, so he followed behind quietly, as a tool, watching He Fang skillfully selecting and examining produce at the stalls. She even gently pinched to test the freshness occasionally.
"Grab a few more potatoes and carrots, and some green peppers... hand me the bag."
"Put this cucumber in too..."
"Do we still have pickled vegetables at home? Forget it, let's buy some, and you go have the owner get a black fish over there."
"Sugar and vinegar cabbage is something you all like, here, carry it properly."
"I'll get a radish for you to pickle some veggies, something to eat with porridge when you don't have an appetite in the morning."
"Seems like that's about it. For three people, let's add some garlic sprouts; we still have dried fungus at home."
Qin Guanglin was as quiet as a chicken throughout, but couldn't help asking towards the end, "How do you know so much?"
Their family's taste was quite peculiar; apart from fish and chicken, they didn't like any other meat, favoring vegetable stir-fries hard to find elsewhere, especially garlic sprouts, which others typically cooked with meat or eggs. No one else sizzled them with fungus yet.
"Teacher He is extraordinary," He Fang proudly lifted her chin. "You have a connection between water and wood elements in your eight characters, clear and uncontaminated, giving power to the hurt officer star; the day master is strong and supported. You're clearly a vegetarian."
The tool had no idea but sensed the greatness. "Are you a believer in superstition?"
"You only need to know that I can calculate and predict, so behave and listen to me." He Fang raised her hand to pat Qin Guanglin's head with a kind smile. "Because my mouth has been enlightened."
Seeing her turn to walk in the direction of the house, Qin Guanglin hurried to catch up with the vegetables in both hands. "Then... were you serious when you said face-reading the first time we met?"
"For real."
"Did you see from my face that we would... be together?"
"Yes, I saw it the first time."
"What else did you see?"
"I also saw you'd win the lottery."
"Really?"
"Not really."
Qin Guanglin felt stuck but couldn't help being curious about this magical thing. "Can you really do it?"
He Fang smiled and turned around, walking backward for a few steps before turning back, wiggling her small fingers in a chaotic pinch. "You've never bought a lottery ticket."
"True."
"You've never smoked."
"Nonsense."
"You have a scar on your right foot from being cut by a broken bowl when you were little."
Qin Guanglin widened his eyes in amazement. "Yes, yes, yes!"
"You have a mole on your upper thigh."
"..." Qin Guanglin was speechless. "You, you..."
"Now, do you believe me?" He Fang turned to look at him again. "Remember to listen to me."
"Are you a fox spirit in disguise?" Qin Guanglin took a step back; he had heard many fox and willow fairies often possessed people to tell fortunes.
"Absolutely not," He Fang turned back and continued walking. "It's authentic Huaxia traditional culture, Qimen Dunjia. Impressive, right?"
"A bit scary," Qin Guanglin felt he had discovered her secret. "Did you find me following some Dunjia technique?"
"Heaven's secrets must not be revealed. Open the door," she stopped at Qin Guanglin's house door.
"The key is in my pocket," Qin Guanglin gestured with the vegetables in both hands. "You take it out."
"Left pocket or right pocket?" She approached, lightly patting both pockets, "Here it is, found it."
"The middle key," he had three keys on his keyring.
"Got it." He Fang opened the door a crack, then returned to him, reaching out to take a bag of vegetables from Qin Guanglin. "Give me one bag."
"Why? I can carry it." Qin Guanglin dodged a bit. "Quick, go inside."
"You need to obey me, Classmate Qin." She forcefully took a bag. "It wouldn't look good going in empty-handed."
"You're right..." Qin Guanglin sweated, finding He Fang very considerate.
He walked in behind her with the vegetables, while Qin's Mom was busy with the tarovine in the living room. Hearing the movement, she turned to see He Fang immediately.
"He Fang, you're here! Why did you buy so many groceries?" Qin's Mom quickly set her things down and moved to take the vegetables from He Fang's hands. "Aren't you tired? Lin still has one hand free."
"I can do it, Auntie, no need to trouble yourself." He Fang turned a bit and took the vegetables into the kitchen. "Guanglin said it was his birthday and insisted on buying some groceries to have dinner together; we won't be a bother, will we?"
"Of course not, how could you be a bother?" Qin's Mom glanced at Qin Guanglin, who seemed to be getting more sensible. Earlier, he said he wouldn't come back for dinner, now happily bringing He Fang over.
Qin Guanglin quietly took the blame.
Once the groceries were set down, Qin's Mom turned joyfully to prepare to rinse the rice. "You two go play; I'll start cooking the rice."
"Auntie, why don't you rest? Guanglin and I will make dinner," He Fang said while taking down an apron from the wall to tie around her waist.
"That won't do, I can't let you," Qin's Mom refused. "I already felt regretful last time for letting you help. Listen to Auntie, you two go play."
"He just said he wanted to try my cooking while we were buying groceries," He Fang shyly touched on the subject, not pausing with the apron.
"This brat, don't listen to him." Qin's Mom glared at Qin Guanglin, "Where's the etiquette in inviting someone for dinner and having them cook? Utterly clueless."
He Fang also shot a covert glare at Qin Guanglin. Sensing the cue, he quickly helped Qin's Mom out of the kitchen, "Mom, just take a break and let us cook you a good meal."
"Can you even... can you cook?" Qin's Mom gave him a light smack, "Wouldn't it still be He Fang cooking?"
Qin Guanglin only pushed her into the living room, "I can help wash vegetables, even pass the salt."
"You just wait for dinner, Auntie," He Fang chimed in from the kitchen.
Qin Guanglin escorted Qin's Mom to the living room and then returned to the kitchen, where He Fang was already rinsing the rice. He looked around, picked up a potato, and prepared to peel it.
"You wash the fish first, there's no rush for the potato," He Fang directed from the side.
"Oh," he replied, pulling out the dressed fish from the bag and whispering, "What made you decide to cook today?"
"Once isn't much, but twice becomes a habit," He Fang whispered back with a smile. "Once it's a habit, I can often cook for you."
"..."
Qin Guanglin felt that even if she sprouted a furry tail now and said she wanted to eat him, he wouldn't resist.