novelraw Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Little Xia Ying waved her small hand as she left, looking forward to tomorrow's meeting with great anticipation.
After that, roughly another week passed. During this week, little Xia Ying came looking for Liu Wenjie almost every day at eight o'clock sharp in the morning to play.
Though they called it playing, it was really just staying together. When Liu Wenjie watched TV, she would accompany him and discuss the plot.
When Liu Wenjie read books, she would sit quietly to one side without saying a word and read along with him, even though she definitely couldn't understand those books, yet she never tired of it.
Often Lin Xiaoli would join in as well, playing together with little Xia Ying.
Whenever Liu Wenjie saw how happily Mom and Xia Ying chatted, he couldn't help feeling that Mom seemed to be treating Xia Ying as someone special.
But seriously, Mom? This little girl is still so young.
Today was the weekend, and Dad wasn't working. It seemed he and Mom had already discussed it; the couple said they wanted to take Liu Wenjie to Grandpa's house for a visit.
At that moment, little Xia Ying happened to knock on the door.
Liu Wenjie had already finished packing under Mom's urging. He opened the door and explained to little Xia Ying who was knocking: "We're going out today to visit Grandma and Grandpa, we won't be back until evening. You'll have to play by yourself at home today."
Little Xia Ying was still very sensible. Being unable to play together due to external factors wouldn't make her unhappy: "Okay, then Older Brother Wenjie, I'll come find you tomorrow. Goodbye, Older Brother Wenjie!"
Liu Wenjie watched little Xia Ying wave and head home, suddenly wondering when this girl had started calling him Older Brother Wenjie?
Before, hadn't she always called him by his full name?
Now it was Older Brother Wenjie this and Older Brother Wenjie that all day long, and he'd even been dragged into it himself.
"Xiaojie~ Has little Xia Ying gone back? Then shall we set off?" Lin Xiaoli called from inside the house.
Liu Wenjie responded: "She's gone back, let's go."
The family got into the Small Car and drove slowly toward the neighboring city.
Since Grandpa's house wasn't too far from the Small Town, just in the next city, the whole journey was still relaxed and comfortable.
Liu Wenjie watched the scenery receding outside the window. Hearing Mom and Dad chatting about work, he casually asked: "Dad, how much is your monthly salary?"
Liu Yingjun replied with a smile: "Over ten thousand, around fourteen or fifteen thousand."
"That much?" Liu Wenjie hadn't expected that Dad, just an ordinary Civil Servant in a Small Town, earned that much—he'd thought it was only a few thousand.
Dad laughed heartily: "After all, I graduated from a famous university. Though I wasn't a top student, I could still manage to hover around the middle. In this era, the better you study, the more money you earn."
Lin Xiaoli said with a smile: "Our Xiaojie's future prospects are limitless too. Your performance in kindergarten—teachers often call Mom to tell me about it. Our Xiaojie is amazing~"
Liu Wenjie felt it was true—this world placed too much importance on studying, it was practically paving the way for this genius teenager.
Before long they arrived at Grandpa's house. Though Grandpa lived in the city proper, it was on the edge in a village.
After entering the house and greeting Grandma and Grandpa, Liu Wenjie sat to one side eating fruit. He couldn't really join in the conversation between his parents and grandparents.
Before long an elderly Grandpa entered the house—seemingly here to visit. From the conversation, it appeared he was Grandpa's old war comrade.
"Mom, I'm going to the restroom." Liu Wenjie excused himself and left the house. After finishing, he washed his hands in the courtyard.
He happened to notice a dog bowl in the courtyard, along with a small doghouse made from a box.
When had Grandpa's family gotten a dog? Judging by the size of the doghouse, the puppy was probably only about a month old.
So where was the dog?
From outside the courtyard came barking: "Woof woof~"—the voice of an immature puppy.
Following the sound, Liu Wenjie walked out of the courtyard, only to see a long-haired little girl standing by the wall, with Grandpa's puppy right in front of her.
Wagging its tail, it yipped in a milky voice.
The little girl looked about Liu Wenjie's age, wearing black short sleeves and shorts, her long unbound hair draped over her shoulders.
Her eyes were especially beautiful—perfectly standard phoenix eyes, with what seemed to be a small mole at the corner.
She would definitely grow up to be a cool and beautiful young woman.
Right now though, the puppy had her cornered against the wall, and those pretty yet somewhat aloof eyes held a trace of fear.
Liu Wenjie thought to himself that this era really did have quite a few pretty little girls, and quite a few who were afraid of dogs...
Even though it was such a small dog.
The little girl also saw Liu Wenjie and called out in a desperate voice: "Help... save me."
Liu Wenjie: "...."
He walked over and easily picked up the puppy: "This should be my Grandpa's dog. Sorry it got out."
The little girl, still pale, said with lingering fear: "It's... it's fine, please keep it away from me, thank you."
Liu Wenjie was speechless: "Alright, you're welcome."
The little girl circled around, avoiding the puppy in Liu Wenjie's hands, and walked toward Grandpa's house under Liu Wenjie's puzzled gaze.
Curious, he put the puppy into the cardboard box and also entered the house.
Only then did he realize this seemed to be the granddaughter of the visiting Grandpa.
Grandma's tone was identical to Mom's: "Oh, Xiaoxue is here? Perfect timing. Let me introduce you—by the door is my grandson Xiaojie. Do you know what your relationship is?"
The cool little girl named Xiaoxue looked toward Liu Wenjie and shook her head.
Grandpa laughed heartily: "Your Grandpa and I agreed some time ago—when you two grow up, if fate allows, you'll get married."
Mom, who was drinking water on the sofa, nearly sprayed it out.
Liu Wenjie and Dad also blinked stupidly to one side.
Lin Xiaoli covered her mouth and swallowed the water, wearing an indescribable smile: "Dad, what are you saying? Xiaojie is still so young—this is way too early, isn't he?" My little Xia Ying~
Grandpa looked unconcerned: "What's the big deal? Though arranged marriages for children aren't popular in this era, childhood sweethearts are very trendy, aren't they? Maybe these two kids really are fated—what do you think, Xiaoxue? Would you be willing to marry my grandson Xiaojie when you grow up? See if you fancy him."
The girl turned back to look at Liu Wenjie. After a moment she nodded: "Okay."
Liu Wenjie was stunned.
Huh? Does this little girl even know what she's saying?!
Grandpa and the girl's Grandpa burst into laughter at her straightforward answer.
It seemed like a joke, yet not quite like one.
At noon the little girl and her Grandpa left, not staying for lunch. This little girl didn't seem to like talking much, just like Xia Ying—future cool girls were like this.
Before leaving, the little girl turned back for another look at Liu Wenjie.
Liu Wenjie met her gaze, bewildered.
She said nothing, took her Grandpa's hand, and left.
Nothing new happened for the rest of the day. Another half month passed, and summer vacation finally ended.
School was finally starting.
Of course, during these two months, it wasn't just Xia Ying who had improved—there was also a certain twin-ponytailed tsundere little girl.
Through the summer vacation she had completely mastered eighteen martial arts, determined to make a certain guy taste defeat in elementary school!
On the first day of school, Xu Feifei, all dressed up in her most beautiful clothes, said to her reflection: "Liu Wenjie, this time I'll definitely make you see how amazing I, Xu Feifei, am! I'll make you regret your previous decision!"