"Sell it?"
Shen Lang was even more surprised, thinking, "What kind of rural girl from the past has she time-traveled from?" He thought Li Liusu might want to use the bottle for some art project or to grow plants, but it turned out she just wanted to sell it for money?
A single bottle is worth at most a few cents. How many bottles would she have to collect to buy an unopened soda?
Perhaps sensing that her instinctive action had shocked Shen Lang, Li Liusu stood there clutching the bottle, looking like a child who had done something wrong.
**1: Exclaim in surprise: "Are you serious? You're a girl digging through trash for bottles—don't you find that disgusting?"**
**2: Boast proudly: "Silly girl, how much is this bottle worth? Clean up, dress nicely, and I'll treat you to a steak dinner tonight!"**
**3: Collect all the empty bottles from your room and give them to her, saying gently: "You can have all my bottles from now on."**
"Wait here a second," Shen Lang said, choosing option three without hesitation. This option would not only preserve Li Liusu's dignity but also give him a reason to continue interacting with her in the future.
He went back to his apartment and collected all the bottles he had left in the corner, stuffing them into a garbage bag. Returning to Li Liusu's room, he handed her the full bag.
"I'm usually too lazy to gather and sell these bottles, so you can have them now," Shen Lang said with a smile. "But remember, after selling them, buy me a soda with the money."
Li Liusu stared at the bag of bottles in a daze for a long time, her eyes slowly welling up with tears. She bowed slightly to Shen Lang, her voice trembling with emotion, "Th-thank you!"
**Ding! Li Liusu's favorability towards the host has increased by 5 points, currently at 10 points. Keep it up!**
"There's no need to thank me!"
In a way, Shen Lang was deeply moved. It was 2024, yet someone was so poor that she would bow in gratitude for a few empty bottles?
After saying goodbye to Li Liusu, Shen Lang headed to building three and rang Xia Shuyi's doorbell.
"Mengmeng, go open the door. Mommy is busy."
"Okay!"
A sweet, childish voice approached, and the door slowly opened. A little girl peeked out and looked up at Shen Lang. Recognizing him, she broke into a joyful smile.
"Mommy, it's Brother Xiao Shen! Brother Xiao Shen is here!"
Xia Shuyi was doing yoga on a mat on the balcony. Hearing that Shen Lang had arrived, she paused her yoga session and stood up to greet him, a pleased smile on her face.
It was clear both mother and daughter liked this tall young man very much.
Standing at the door, Shen Lang watched the approaching mother and daughter, feeling an inexplicable sense of stepping into a fatherly role. It felt as if they were a small family, and he was the husband returning home from a long business trip, surprising his wife and daughter.
"Brother Xiao Shen, what have you been up to lately? You haven't come to play with Mengmeng in a long time!" the little girl said, hugging Shen Lang's leg and looking up expectantly.
"Oh, Brother Xiao Shen has been busy with some things," Shen Lang said, bending down to lift the little girl into his arms and playfully nuzzling her nose. "Hey, has Mengmeng gotten chubbier? Hmm?"
"Hee hee hee, no way!" Mengmeng shook her head, showing her pearly white baby teeth.
Xia Shuyi watched the two with a happy smile. "Xiao Shen, stay for lunch. I just bought some groceries."
"Thank you, Sister Xia," Shen Lang agreed, his eyes inadvertently drifting to Xia Shuyi's yoga outfit.
Standing barefoot on the living room carpet, her black hair tied back, Xia Shuyi wore a light yellow tank top and white yoga pants. Her fair, smooth waist and seductive figure were perfectly showcased by her tight-fitting yoga clothes.
Due to the exercise, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and a thin layer of sweat covered her forehead, giving her an irresistible charm. Despite her age and having a child, her skin remained as smooth and youthful as a girl's.
Xia Shuyi felt a mix of embarrassment and pride under Shen Lang's gaze. It was flattering to see a young man so mesmerized by her figure, indicating she still maintained her allure.
"You rascal," Xia Shuyi said playfully, rolling her eyes at him before returning to her bedroom to put on a coat. With Mengmeng still around, she was worried Shen Lang might lose control like last time.
When she returned, Shen Lang was sitting with Mengmeng on his lap, watching cartoons on the TV.
Sitting next to them, Xia Shuyi pinched her daughter's soft cheek and asked curiously, "Why did you come over so early today? Aren't you supposed to be writing?"
"Well, I wanted to tell you about something that happened earlier," Shen Lang said, recounting his encounter with Li Liusu. "I haven't seen such a frugal girl since I was a kid in my grandma's rural village."
Xia Shuyi sighed, "That girl has had a tough life."
"She lost her parents when she was very young and has lived with her grandmother on welfare ever since. She finally got into college, but her grandmother had a stroke and was hospitalized, which costs a lot of money daily."
"She works part-time at a restaurant while caring for her grandmother and attending classes. Life is very hard for her."
"I see," Shen Lang nodded, understanding Li Liusu's frugality. With the expenses of college and her grandmother's medical bills, she had no choice but to save every penny.
"But, Sister Xia, how do you know all this? She just moved in today," Shen Lang asked, puzzled.
"She told me yesterday when she came to look at the room," Xia Shuyi replied with a bitter smile. "Can you believe it? It's rare to see such a straightforward girl these days. She answered everything I asked honestly."
"Xiao Shen, since you live across from her, please look out for her when you can," Xia Shuyi said earnestly. "And if possible, try to guide her a bit. With her personality, she'll definitely meet the wrong people when she enters society."