"Is your online class fun?" Zhu Shuang asked.
"No, it's not," Zhou Li answered.
"Sa for us. It's so annoying!" Zhu Shuang shook her head. "It's Sunday today. Shall we go out and play?"
"Where to?"
"The flowers on Ziku Mountain are in full bloom. I've also heard there's a place outside the city where the peach blossoms are beautiful. How about we go on a spring outing?" After Zhu Shuang finished speaking, she looked at Zhou Li expectantly. "Brother, where would you like to go?"
"Aren't you going shopping with your little sisters?"
"I'm afraid they might have the virus..."
"What little sisters?" Zhu Bing, standing nearby, asked curiously, glancing between Zhou Li and her twin brother.
"Friends, just friends," Zhu Shuang said quickly, then asked Zhou Li again, "So, are we going?"
"I've already made plans with Brother Nan."
"Wow!"
Zhu Shuang's eyes widened in amazent. "You're finally admitting to your relationship with Brother Nan!"
Zhou Li felt montarily flustered.
Then Zhu Shuang added, "Where are you and Brother Nan going? Could you take us with you?"
"I'll ask her."
"Great!!"
"Why are you so excited?"
"Am I?"
"Weren't there two exclamation marks after your 'Great!'?"
"Uh..."
Zhou Li went to the dining table and sat down. He picked up a pan-fried dumpling, popped it into his mouth, and simultaneously sent a ssage to Brother Nan on his phone.
Zhou Li: Zhu Shuang said they want to go with us.
Li Daimao: To where?
Zhou Li: To see the peach blossoms.
Li Daimao: I haven't said I'm going yet.
Zhou Li: Co on.
Li Daimao: I'm a bit shy.
Zhou Li: You? Shy?
Li Daimao: [Emoji]
Zhou Li: Sorry.
Li Daimao: [Hmph]
Zhou Li: Haven't you t them before?
Li Daimao: It's different now.
Zhou Li couldn't help but smile when he saw this ssage. Realizing he was at the dining table, he quickly suppressed his smile, stuffing another pan-fried dumpling into his mouth to hide it. He didn't dare look at the others, afraid soone was watching him.
If they couldn't see, it wouldn't be awkward.
Zhou Li: We have to et them eventually. They're just my younger brother and his sister, not like we're eting parents.
Li Daimao: Set off after so good wine?
Zhou Li: You lush...
Li Daimao: I'm asking you.
Zhou Li: In the morning?
Li Daimao: When will we be back?
Zhou Li: In the afternoon?
Li Daimao: Settled.
Li Daimao: I rember we should have a picnic blanket in the car. I'll go out and buy so things later. What do you want to eat?
Li Daimao: Huai Xu is going too, right? What does he want to eat?
Li Daimao: Speak.
Zhou Li: You type too fast.
Li Daimao: And?
Zhou Li: He wants pizza.
Li Daimao: And you?
Zhou Li: Anything's fine with .
Li Daimao: "Anything's fine" usually ans picky.
Zhou Li: No, really, anything is fine.
Li Daimao: Why don't you ask your brother and sister?
Zhou Li: Okay.
Li Daimao: What about Tuanzi?
Zhou Li: You'd better not ask.
Li Daimao: Okay, let's plan on leaving around ten. Co pick up at my place. My ho, not the shop.
Zhou Li: Got it.
Zhou Li thought for a mont, then added: Huai Xu is in her female form today. Zhu Shuang and the others haven't seen her like this, so don't call her Huai Xu. We'll just say she's your high school classmate. As for what to call her, 'Hey' should be fine.
After typing this long ssage, he imdiately put down his phone—it wasn't polite to keep playing with his phone at the dining table.
「It was nine forty.」
Zhou Li lay in bed, holding a book.
Huai Xu sat at the desk, writing in yesterday's diary. Today, she had taken on the appearance of a woman Zhou Li had only seen a few tis: tall, with well-defined features and a rather dashing air.
She said she was in Zhou Li's form from Monday to Friday and had grown tired of it, so she had to change into a girl on weekends.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Let's go!" Zhu Shuang yelled.
"Wait a mont."
"Hurry up."
"You should head over to Brother Nan's place," Zhou Li said to Huai Xu. "She bought you a pizza."
"I'm not done writing yet."
"Then I'm leaving first."
Zhou Li put the ancient book into his backpack, put on his shoes, grabbed his bag, and walked out.
Aunt Jiang knew they were going out and had prepared so food for them. It seed to be more than enough for three people. Zhou Li glanced at Zhu Shuang, who looked away evasively. Then the three of them and one cat left the house.
Brother Nan and Huai Xu were waiting outside her gate, laden with bags. When the trio arrived, Brother Nan loaded their things into the trunk, then pulled Zhou Li out of the driver's seat. She gave him a playful punch and told him to sit in the back. Huai Xu then took the passenger seat.
Zhu Shuang, suddenly timid, greeted her softly, "Hello, Brother Nan."
"Hello, Brother Nan," Zhu Bing echoed the greeting. She had heard tales of Brother Nan's "glorious deeds" from Zhu Shuang, which had painted Brother Nan as a veritable Demon King in her mind.
"Hello to you both."
Brother Nan kept her eyes on the road, seemingly focused on driving.
Zhou Li couldn't help but chuckle silently. In his experience, Brother Nan rarely got flustered.
The Peach Blossom Forest wasn't far from the city. It was a vast area, and as they approached, they saw that even the roadsides were lined with blooming peach trees. Due to the pandemic, there were few tourists; in previous years, people would travel great distances to see them.
"Beautiful!" Brother Nan exclaid.
"Yes!" Zhu Shuang chid in.
"Mhm, mhm!" Zhu Bing nodded repeatedly.
Zhou Li stifled a laugh.
Besides, Brother Nan was driving at the ti.
「Ten minutes later—」
THUMP!
Brother Nan retracted her fist and said to the group, "Grab so things from the trunk. I'll go find a pri spot for our picnic."
With that, she jogged up the mountain. Being tall with long legs, she reached the top of a rise in just a few bounds. Gazing out, the entire mountain forest was a tapestry of mottled pink, a truly soul-refreshing sight.
"WOOOW!"
By the ti she ca down, everyone had already grabbed their share of the items.
Brother Nan then led the way, guiding them as they ambled through the pink hues of the Peach Blossom Forest, all of them looking left and right.
It had rained for several days prior, so the ground was still a bit damp and scattered with fallen peach petals. The air was filled with a moist, sweet fragrance. They found a flat, dry spot, spread out the picnic blanket, and eagerly began taking photos.
Zhu Shuang, ever the narcissist, took various selfies, constantly changing angles.
Zhu Bing was more artistically inclined. She enjoyed photographing still lifes; the dark, gnarled branches and peach buds still holding glistening dewdrops created a harmonious image. Every shot captured the essence of spring's beauty.
"Want to take a photo of you two?" Huai Xu asked Zhou Li and Brother Nan. "Look, everyone else is."
"It's fine, don't let us keep you from eating."
"He's right."
Both politely declined.
Huai Xu didn't mind either way and promptly sat down to feast.
Zhou Li put Tuanzi down, claiming his arms were tired from holding her. He then glanced at a small path and said to Brother Nan, "Shall we go for a walk over there, Brother Nan?"
"Let's go!"
And so, the two of them strolled along the path, chatting idly as they ventured deeper into the peach blossoms.
The valley was tranquil. Dew still clung to the narrow path, dampening the cuffs of their pants. The faint chirping of birds seed to wash away all worldly cares.
This entire mountainside was open to the public. There might have been other visitors, but they didn't encounter anyone, nor did they see any trace of recent passersby. Gradually, the voices of Zhu Shuang and Zhu Bing faded into the distance.
"If you'd told earlier, I would've brought a grill. We could be having a barbecue right now," Brother Nan said. "That would've been so much more fun!"
"We'll barbecue next year."
"Hmm... Co a bit closer."
"What is it?"
"Closer."
"Oh."
Zhou Li moved a bit closer to her.
Brother Nan glanced back, and seeing that Zhu Shuang and Zhu Bing were out of sight, she casually slung her arm over Zhou Li's shoulder. Though she was a tad shorter than him, it felt surprisingly natural.
"I've seen other couples do this," she said.
"Is-is that so?"
"Yeah! You haven't?"
"Well, I've seen it..."
"What's wrong? You look like you want to say sothing but are holding back."
"No..."
Zhou Li quickly shook his head. He then glanced to the side where Brother Nan's hand rested on his shoulder, and he reached up to hold it.
"Wouldn't it be a bit awkward if Zhu Shuang and Zhu Bing saw us like this?" he asked.
"Then let's walk faster," Brother Nan suggested after a mont's thought.
"Good idea."
The two of them quickened their pace, breaking into a light jog.
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