"This, it's a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding," Lin Yu licked his lips, feeling quite embarrassed.
"You're annoying, despicable, I—I..." Liu Xiaoyan was both embarrassed and angry. Her first kiss had been unexpectedly taken away like this. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. In her imagination, if something were to happen with this slightly mischievous guy before her, it would be in a romantic setting bathed in moonlight or candlelight. But today, just as he returned and they met, before anything could even happen, her first kiss was taken away. What was this? It was too embarrassing and far from what she had imagined.
For a moment, she was both embarrassed and angry, kicking her straight little legs, crying uncontrollably. However, even when she cried with all her might, this neighbor girl remained soft-spoken. It was as if a girl from a poetic boudoir was crying in solitude, evoking a tenderness that was hard to resist.
"Alright, why cry about it? It was just an accidental kiss, nothing serious. Neither of us did it on purpose. Let's consider it as holding hands; no harm done. Let's just forget about it, shall we?" Lin Yu always feared her tears from childhood. Once she started crying, it was like the rainy season—persistent and unstoppable. He didn't know if she had changed as she grew up. If she remained the same as in her childhood, it would be troublesome to pacify her.
"It's not like that, it's not, it's not…" Liu Xiaoyan continued wiping her tears like a little girl who couldn't get her favorite dress for the New Year. It seemed she hadn't changed at all.
Having no choice, Lin Yu resorted to an old trick from his childhood, "Keep crying, Old Wang's dog will come and bite you."
Old Wang's house was where Lin Yu had seen Mrs. Wang this morning. Over a decade ago, they had a little Pekingese that once bit Liu Xiaoyan. Since then, she had been most afraid of dogs. If Lin Yu really wanted to stop her tears, just mentioning it was enough.
Sure enough, this trick worked. Liu Xiaoyan's crying abruptly stopped. She loosened her grip, and her teary face was filled with a nervous look. "Where? Where is it?"
"Ha, you little girl, you're still as afraid of Old Wang's dog as you were in your childhood. It seems this trick still works." Lin Yu poked Liu Xiaoyan's nose and laughed heartily.
"You, you're just as mischievous as you were in childhood," Liu Xiaoyan finally realized that Lin Yu had fooled her. She bit her lip and rolled her eyes coquettishly.
Teenage girls were not fully mature, especially reserved girls like Liu Xiaoyan, who had no idea about seduction. However, this non-seductive yet almost seductive look from her eyes instantly made Lin Yu feel weak in the knees. This kind of indirect flirtation was more irresistible than the overt charms of an experienced woman.
"Gee, this girl, if she matures a bit more in a year or two, she'll bewitch countless men," Lin Yu pressed his thumping heart and shook his head inwardly.
On the other side, Liu Xiaoyan, biting her lip, covered her face, seemingly shy to face him—this action was the same as in her childhood, appearing angry and shy at the same time. Nevertheless, it was an endearing sight.
Lin Yu ignored her and simply smiled, continuing to place her feet on his knee, gently massaging them. Liu Xiaoyan felt a warmth spread over her foot and felt much better afterwards. She wasn't sure if it was a sensation due to Lin Yu's massage or if it was indeed effective.
"How does it feel now? Does it feel better?" Lin Yu asked with a smile while pressing, and his intuitive massage technique seemed more professional than the doctors in the hospital's orthopedic department. It surprised Liu Xiaoyan, a medical professional herself. She had never heard that Lin Yu had specialized in this area. Could it be something he learned during his years away? What exactly had he been doing during these years?
Gossip is inherent in women. At that moment, Liu Xiaoyan became curious about Lin Yu's experiences over the past few years.
"Well, it feels better. Xiaoyu, where have you been all these years? Could you tell me? I'm really worried... um, I mean, I'm really curious." Liu Xiaoyan covered her face and asked softly, blushing as she spoke.
As Lin Yu raised his head, he saw the girl quickly close the gaps between her fingers as if those spring onion-like fingers could really hide her.
Shaking his head with a smile, "I've been wandering around these past few years, because my parents passed away suddenly, I was a bit troubled. So, I wandered around a bit, and people might have formed some opinions about me. It's alright; it's all normal." He nonchalantly answered the question, steering the conversation away.
"No, actually, I think no matter who goes through so much, it won't be much better than you. You're just overly sad," Liu Xiaoyan earnestly defended him, her eyes peeking through her fingers.
"Is that so? Then why are you still covering your face? Don't want to see me?" Lin Yu joked, laughing heartily.
"I, my face got stung by the wind just now, it hurts... Stop it, don't always tease me, okay?" Liu Xiaoyan was so angry that she kept kicking her little legs. Those two straight little legs were like dragonflies skimming the surface of a lake, causing ripples in Lin Yu's heart.
"I wasn't teasing you; I just feel you're as innocent and cute as you were in childhood." Lin Yu smiled slightly, and this statement came straight from his heart.
Being able to return to his hometown, to have undergone trials in life, and to see familiar faces again, it felt really good.
"Really?" Liu Xiaoyan's eyes lit up, her fingers opening a bit wider, a mix of happiness and surprise in her voice.
"Of course. But you still have the habit of crying nose, though," Lin Yu affectionately patted her head, helping her put on her shoes. "Alright, stand up and take a few steps. I guarantee it won't hurt anymore."
Liu Xiaoyan felt a warm rush inside and stood up while covering her face. Glancing at him with a pout, she said, "Don't pat my head; I'm not a child anymore."
"Alright, alright, you're a big girl now, okay?" Lin Yu laughed and shook his head.
"Wow, it's amazing. It really doesn't hurt anymore. My goodness, you're incredible! You're more amazing than Zhang Zhang, the orthopedic doctor in our local hospital. You're like a divine physician, pardon me, pardon me." Liu Xiaoyan took a few steps in place and indeed felt no pain, expressing her joy and surprise.