Xu Yan nodded in a daze: "I see."
Ye Jin looked earnest: "Yes, and the business at the shop has never been this good. So many people coming today must be because of the good luck you've brought, Yan Yan."
Xu Yan felt a little embarrassed, saying: "How could I be that lucky..." She recalled the way Ye Jin addressed her, and her little face started to blush. "And why does the boss call me that?"
Ye Jin looked puzzled: "What's wrong? Can't I call you Yan Yan? I just think the name sounds nice."
Xu Yan shook her head while chastising herself for overthinking, "No, the boss can call me whatever he wants."
Ye Jin couldn't help but smile: "Then Yan Yan shouldn't keep calling me boss anymore. You can call me by my name."
Xu Yan blinked: "Ye Jin?"
Ye Jin blinked back: "Yeah."
The two gazed at each other, unable to stop giggling.
Xu Yan stood up with her little bag: "Alright! I should get ready to go home now, or my brother will scold me again. And... I have classes tomorrow, so I probably can't come here."
Ye Jin stood up with her: "Is your home far from here? Let me walk you back."
Xu Yan waved her hands hurriedly: "Not far, just a few turns away. I can walk back myself."
Ye Jin smiled gently: "Then let me walk with you. Girls should be careful when out."
Xu Yan agreed on a whim: "Okay, thank you boss!... Ye Jin!"
Ye Jin smiled helplessly, taking her bag from Xu Yan's hands: "Let's go."
The street lamps were on outside. Although it rained heavily last night, the ground was already mostly dry now.
Xu Yan walked along, occasionally jumping and kicking a small pebble.
Ye Jin followed her at a leisurely pace, gazing tenderly at her back.
After walking for a while, Xu Yan suddenly turned and waved with a smile: "Ye Jin, walk faster!"
Ye Jin walked up to her side in large strides: "What is it?"
Xu Yan grinned: "Do you think we knew each other in our previous life?"
Ye Jin's heart skipped a beat. Regaining his composure, he smiled: "Why do you say that?"
To be honest, he didn't want his Yan Yan to remember those years. She was happy now, and that was good enough.
Even if she did remember... she would also remember him...
Xu Yan bit her fingertip, pondering: "I don't know why I feel this way. I just feel like I can't guard against you. No matter what you say, I feel like I'll believe you."
She concluded: "You must have treated me really well in our previous life."
Ye Jin laughed wryly: "Then would you like to requite my kindness?"
Xu Yan stuck out her tongue but didn't say anything, running ahead a few steps.
Ye Jin didn't expect Xu Yan to agree to his request. He just didn't want her to mention the previous life again.
But unexpectedly, Xu Yan turned back and called from afar: "Ye Jin! If anyone should requite anyone, it should be you requite me!"
After saying that, probably feeling embarrassed, she covered her face and ran into the neighborhood ahead.
Ye Jin was stunned for a while before coming to his senses. He stood there, unable to stop smiling.
What a silly child!
He watched Xu Yan skip into her home, making sure she was safe before turning back to the tavern.
When Xu Yan got home, Bai Hua and the others had just finished dinner.
Xu Mo was looking at his phone when he suddenly heard noises from the door. Looking up, he saw his sister beaming happily, bouncing through the door.
"What are you up to? Why so happy?"
Xu Yan wagged her finger mysteriously: "Can't reveal the secrets."
Xu Mo looked thoughtful: "I see... Then would you care to explain why you didn't reply to my messages again today?"
Xu Yan froze, then slapped her forehead: "Ah! I had my phone on silent today and didn't hear it."
Xu Mo thought his sister must have been studying at the library, so he didn't ask much: "Alright, alright, did you eat dinner?"
Xu Yan sat down beside him: "Yep, I ate!"
Bai Hua brought over a plate of fruit: "Ah Yan, you're back? Have some fruit and go to bed early."
Xu Yan grabbed a handful of grapes, ready to go upstairs: "Mom, Dad, I'm going up now. I have classes in the morning."
Xu Yi waved to his daughter: "Okay, let Dad know if you need money at school!"
Xu Yan bounced along, waving: "Got it!"
The next day
During class, Xu Yan inexplicably started daydreaming, propping her chin.
After the morning of torture, she yawned as she left the classroom, wondering if she should go mooch food from Ye Jin or just go home to eat.
But after a few steps, a crowd of people blocked her path. A bunch of her classmates seemed to be chattering about something, and Xu Yan could hear words like "so handsome," "tall," "long legs," and the like.
She sighed and lowered her head, trying to squeeze through. But as she walked, the path ahead suddenly cleared.
Xu Yan looked up puzzled...
"Ye Jin? What are you doing here?"
Ye Jin smiled warmly: "I forgot to give you your bag yesterday, so I brought it over since the shop is closed today."
Xu Yan felt the gazes of her classmates and suddenly realized what was happening. She immediately covered her face with one hand and pulled Ye Jin with the other: "Let's talk later, let's go first."
Ye Jin was dragged along by her, following her helplessly as she ran.
They didn't stop until they reached a secluded corner, where Xu Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She lectured Ye Jin sternly: "Don't go to crowded places next time, okay? You could cause a traffic jam!"
Ye Jin looked puzzled: "Huh? Why?"
Xu Yan tried to explain: "It's just... Oh never mind, you wouldn't understand. Let's just find a place to eat, I'm starving."
Ye Jin never refused Xu Yan: "Okay, what do you want to eat? Should we go to the tavern? I'll cook for you."
Xu Yan's eyes lit up: "Yes! Your cooking is so delicious!"
Ye Jin poked her forehead: "You only think about food!"
Xu Yan didn't feel guilty at all: "Isn't that the whole point of living in this world? To eat?"
Ye Jin took the books from Xu Yan's arms and carried them himself: "Yes, yes, Yan Yan is right."
Xu Yan walked cheerfully beside him: "Don't forget to give me my book this afternoon, I have classes!"
Ye Jin smiled and nodded: "Sure, I'll remember. Do you want me to pick you up after school this afternoon?"
Xu Yan thought for a moment: "No need, I'm afraid my brother Xu Mo might come to pick me up on his way."
Ye Jin didn't insist, after all, he hadn't yet won over his beloved Xu Yan, so it wasn't appropriate to meet Xu Mo and the others.
