Chapter 14: As If Brushed by a Feather

“What are you doing here?” Lin Xiyu’s ears flushed red. She took two steps back and stammered magnificently.

“I came to tell you some wonderful news…” Gu Bin drawled, casting the bait with a languid air. He deliberately twisted the handlebar as if about to leave. “But since someone doesn’t seem interested, I suppose I’ll go.”

“Hey, wait, don’t go!” As expected, Lin Xiyu’s curiosity was piqued. She reached out and grabbed his sleeve. “What’s this good news? Tell me!”

“Do you really want to know?” Gu Bin glanced down at the fair, delicate hand clutching his shirt. His heartstrings quivered as if brushed by a feather—tingling and a little itchy.

“Yes, yes!” Lin Xiyu, unaware of his inner turmoil, nodded earnestly.

“I’ll tell you, but on one condition,” Gu Bin’s eyes flashed with a hint of mischief as he set his terms. “Tell me why people in your courtyard got into another fight. Answer me, and I’ll tell you the good news.”

“Well…” Lin Xiyu’s eyes flickered with hesitation. Family troubles were not to be broadcast carelessly. She didn’t feel close enough to him to confide all her family’s difficulties.

“If you won’t tell me, I’m leaving,” Gu Bin feigned annoyance. “Ten thousand yuan as payment—someone doesn’t care, so never mind.”

“Payment for what?”

Lin Xiyu’s breath caught, her beautiful eyes wide with surprise.

“For the documentary,” Gu Bin teased, “Don’t tell me you planned to work for free and never thought about receiving proper compensation?”

“Uh…” Lin Xiyu was embarrassed, her confidence waning. “There’s a payment for being in a documentary? I thought just being on TV was already a huge honor.”

“I knew it…” Gu Bin shook his head and patted her on the head, exasperated. “If no one keeps an eye on you, silly girl, you’ll be swindled away someday.”

Lin Xiyu was speechless. You talk as if you own me. Whether I get swindled away or not—what’s it to you?

—

Miss Stubborn, unwilling to bend for a mere handful of rice, hesitated for a long time before finally explaining her family’s predicament.

Gu Bin patted her head again, an unspoken tenderness flashing through his eyes.

“Stop that, you’re messing up my hair,” Lin Xiyu’s ears burned. She was still unaccustomed to his overly familiar gestures.

“Let’s go, to the TV station,” Gu Bin said with a helpless smile, finally withdrawing his hand.

“Right now?” Lin Xiyu looked apologetic. “My uncle’s busy with Old Huang’s funeral and took my bicycle. I have no way to get there.”

“Hop on, I’ll give you a ride,” Gu Bin said without concern, gesturing behind him.

“That… isn’t really proper, is it?” Lin Xiyu’s ears turned red again. “The TV station is far. Won’t you get tired carrying me?”

Gu Bin raised an eyebrow, teasing her deliberately. “Are you heavy?”

“You’re the one who’s heavy!” Girls hate being called fat; Lin Xiyu bristled, glaring at him.

“As long as you’re not, it’s fine.” Gu Bin shrugged and pulled her behind him. “Come on, hurry up. If we’re any later, it’ll be lunchtime and there’ll be no one there.”

“If I leave, there’ll be no one to watch the phone booth,” Lin Xiyu hesitated. “And it’s not really appropriate for me to ride with you. What if people misunderstand and start gossiping?”

“Misunderstand what?” Gu Bin narrowed his eyes, feigning ignorance.

“You know… that…” Lin Xiyu’s gaze drifted, and after much hemming and hawing, she finally mumbled, “Puppy love.”

“What goes on in that little head of yours?” When Gu Bin heard those words, his heart skipped a beat, but his face didn’t show it. Instead, he teased her. “Is giving someone a ride on a bicycle considered puppy love? By your logic, if classmates run into each other on the way to school and ride together for a bit, that’s all puppy love, too?”