Chapter 634
The Best Age
The feeling of white cotton socks against his feet made Xue Ruisheng sigh with despair.
The little girl is the type who admits her mistakes, but never corrects them.
In a way, he's a lot like the poor students who sit in the back row of the class;
They understand the big principles, but never put them into practice.
Xue Rui stared at Lin Ruoxi's face, but he didn't say anything. He just looked quietly into Lin Ruoxi's eyes, a faint smile on his lips.
Lin Ruoxi guiltily looked away; she knew what Xue Rui wanted to say.
However, Lin Ruoxi has no intention of changing it.
Lin Ruoxi felt that since she was Xue Rui's girlfriend, it was her responsibility to take care of him.
As for how to take care of them, that's their own business.
So, before Xue Rui could speak, Lin Ruoxi spoke up:
"Oh dear, your feet are so cold! I'll go get some hot water."
Lin Ruoxi hurriedly got up and disappeared through the bathroom door amidst the clattering of slippers.
At that moment, Xue Rui was tilting his head, staring blankly at the bathroom door.
Lin Ruoxi has actually learned to "talk about other things while avoiding the main point".
Suddenly, a strand of hair peeked out from the bathroom doorway, followed by a pair of bright eyes.
The instant their eyes met, her almond-shaped eyes widened, then quickly disappeared behind the doorframe...
However, not long after, those eyes quietly peeked out again.
Xue Rui quickly came to his senses. The little girl was inviting him to play a game called "Hide and Seek".
Xue Rui decided to be a good adult and not spoil the fun. He slowly turned his head, keeping an eye on Lin Ruoxi's direction out of the corner of his eye. The moment he saw Lin Ruoxi peeking out, he suddenly turned around and shot her back.
The moment she turned her head, Lin Ruoxi shrank back instantly.
Xue Rui didn't actually understand the game, but he noticed that the little girl was laughing very happily.
Strangely enough, seeing Lin Ruoxi's smile, Xue Rui suddenly took a liking to the game.
Perhaps this is what it feels like to raise a child.
When those beautiful eyes didn't look away, but instead gently curved into crescent shapes, Xue Rui knew the game was over.
Actually, if the foot bath water hadn't been prepared, Lin Ruoxi would have liked to continue playing.
The moment the basin hit the ground, Xue Rui habitually looked down and noticed a layer of rose petals floating in the water.
Xue Rui paused for a moment, not immediately putting his foot in. Something in his DNA stirred, giving him a vague feeling of walking into a foot massage parlor.
Seeing that Xue Rui hadn't moved for a long time, Lin Ruoxi tilted her head and winked at him: "What's wrong?"
"Where did these flowers come from?" Xue Rui asked.
Speaking of which, giving roses during the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a good idea, as it symbolizes a happy and complete life.
But he didn't buy any flowers this year, so how come there are flowers in his house?
"Hmm, I don't know who put it on my desk. I thought it would be a waste to throw it away, so I brought it back for you to soak your feet."
After explaining, Lin Ruoxi secretly observed Xue Rui's reaction and timidly asked:
"No, don't you like it? I see foot massage parlors use flower petals."
"I like it, of course I like it."
Xue Rui laughed, thinking to himself that he wondered which sycophant sent the flowers, which ended up in his foot bath.
Speaking of which, Lin Ruoxi's ability to release flower petals is also related to the time Xue Rui took her to the foot massage parlor.
Thinking of this, Xue Rui suddenly remembered something and muttered to himself:
"I still have a lot of money in my membership card, I'll have to spend it when I go back home for the Chinese New Year."
The moment he finished speaking, Xue Rui suddenly felt a force on his foot; Lin Ruoxi was gripping his foot tightly.
Xue Rui's heart skipped a beat, and he nervously watched Lin Ruoxi's expression.
At this moment, Lin Ruoxi's head was drooping, and Xue Rui couldn't see her expression, only the slightly downturned corners of her mouth.
Oh no, is the little girl angry?
That makes sense, what girl could accept her boyfriend going to a place like that?
Lin Ruoxi was naive and inexperienced in the ways of the foot massage parlor before, but now it's hard to say.
"Xixi, I meant I'd take you with me."
Xue Rui quickly added another sentence, meaning that he wanted Lin Ruoxi to keep an eye on him.
Lin Ruoxi raised her head, her expression hesitant.
Actually, Lin Ruoxi didn't think that much about it. In her naive mind, if they went to a foot massage parlor, Xue Rui's feet would be touched by other girls, which made her very uncomfortable.
Lin Ruoxi glanced at Xue Rui tentatively and asked weakly, "Is it okay if we don't go?"
Xue Rui frowned. He didn't quite understand what Lin Ruoxi meant. He remembered having a lot of fun with Lin Ruoxi last time.
"The money in your membership card is non-refundable, so you'll lose out if you don't go," Xue Rui patiently persuaded.
After all, what the little girl can't stand the most is "waste".
"I... I don't want you to go to that kind of place. How about we give you to someone else?" Lin Ruoxi asked softly.
Xue Rui didn't deny it. He rubbed his chin, pondering who to give it to.
For Lao Xue?
No, no, even if Lao Xue uses it for social occasions, what if Mom finds fault with it? Wouldn't I become the scapegoat then?
Sending it to Old Gu is even more impossible...
Just as Xue Rui was struggling with his decision, a soft, sweet voice came from beside him: "You, you still want to go?"
Xue Rui was struck dumb, thinking to himself, "I was only silent for a few seconds, how could you put such a big label on me?"
"Xi Xi, I absolutely didn't!" Xue Rui hurriedly denied loudly.
Lin Ruoxi was startled, her shoulders trembled, and she didn't understand why Xue Rui was reacting so strongly.
But upon closer reflection, Xue Rui was probably afraid that he might misunderstand something.
After all, in TV dramas, going to or from those kinds of places is considered bad.
This shows that Xue Rui cares a lot about his own opinions.
"Okay, I understand."
Lin Ruoxi was very happy and gently massaged Xue Rui's feet.
Since Xue Rui's life has changed because of me, I should make it up to Xue Rui.
Isn't a foot bath just about washing feet, massaging feet, and cleaning ears?
I happen to possess all of these skills.
So, after drying Xue Rui's feet, Lin Ruoxi held Xue Rui's ankles, turned him around, and, recalling her experience at the foot massage parlor, clumsily patted the tops of his feet.
Xue Rui instantly understood: the little girl wouldn't let him go to the foot massage parlor, but she brought all the foot massage parlor services home.
"XiXi, is it some new game again?" Xue Rui teased.
"Sir, is the force just right?"
Lin Ruoxi smiled slightly; Xue Rui was playing the role of a customer today.
Hearing the familiar words, Xue Rui's long-dormant memories began to stir again, and he continued speaking according to the nationally standardized script:
"Little girl, how old are you this year?"
Lin Ruoxi replied without hesitation, "I'm twenty."
"Xixi, you will always be eighteen."
Xue Rui blinked and habitually uttered a sweet nothing.
Lin Ruoxi shook her head vigorously, "But, but I am twenty years old."
Xue Rui was speechless for a moment. This girl was too honest and didn't understand his sweet talk at all.
"Eighteen is the best age for a girl, isn't it?" Xue Rui countered.
Lin Ruoxi thought about it for a moment, and realized that having Xue Rui by her side at eighteen was indeed a wonderful age.
But if we're talking about the best, then it definitely isn't.
"No." Lin Ruoxi shook her head decisively.
"Why?" Xue Rui asked, completely puzzled. He couldn't follow Lin Ruoxi's train of thought.
"In our country, the legal marriage age for women is 20."
Lin Ruoxi's voice grew softer and softer until finally a blush rose on her cheeks, and her tone became hesitant and stammering:
"I, I'll wait for you..." Xue Rui knew the conversation was going nowhere and he had to quickly change the subject!
"Young lady, what made you decide to do this? You should be in school at your age."
Lin Ruoxi paused for a moment:
"Well, I've finished all my schoolwork, so I don't need to go to school."
Xue Rui smacked his lips, thinking that this tasted wrong.
In such situations, the technician will usually fabricate a tragic backstory, which serves as both a fig leaf and a protective shell.
Lin Ruoxi closed her eyes and tried to recall her previous experience. The technician seemed to have fabricated a tragic backstory. Now that she thought about it, they were all lying.
Although Lin Ruoxi didn't know why, she was determined to play her role well today.
“My family was poor. My mother died early, my father was a gambler, and my grandmother was in poor health…”
Xue Rui felt increasingly uneasy as he listened, and finally sat up abruptly, pulling Lin Ruoxi into his arms and gently stroking the back of her head.
"What's wrong?" Lin Ruoxi asked, looking surprised.
"This game isn't fun."
Xue Rui felt he was a complete jerk for playing this game when he was bored.
He treated the stories of the foot massage therapists as mere entertainment to pass the time, as if he wouldn't feel right if he didn't hear them.
The little girl's story wasn't a story; it was an accident.
"Then, let's not play anymore."
Lin Ruoxi snuggled closer to Xue Rui, pressing herself even closer to him, and buried her face in his chest, taking a deep breath with a satisfied smile.
The two embraced quietly for a while, while the sound of rain pattering against the living room window drifted through the glass.
Xue Rui sighed, "It's either cloudy or rainy during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and we can never see the moon. Heaven must be blind, Xi Xi, don't you think?"
"It's just that the weather wasn't cooperating," Lin Ruoxi said in a muffled voice, nestled in Xue Rui's arms.
Xue Rui was speechless. Was that an insult?
You're making me seem very uncultured.
"What I mean is, I want you to curse God a couple of times with me," Xue Rui urged.
“It’s bad to swear. There’s an old saying that the moon is obscured by clouds on the fifteenth of August. That’s how the weather is in the north. The moon is fullest on the sixteenth, and tomorrow’s moon will be even more beautiful.”
Lin Ruoxi comforted her.
Xue Rui was speechless for a moment. The little girl not only didn't complain, but also explained some agricultural proverbs to him. Her manners need to be improved.
"Really..."
Xue Rui reached out and tapped Lin Ruoxi's head lightly, making a crisp sound.
Lin Ruoxi looked up, blinked her eyes innocently, as if to say: Why did you knock on me?
Faced with Lin Ruoxi's questioning, Xue Rui was stunned for a moment. He didn't know why he had acted so impulsively.
After hesitating for a moment, Xue Rui reached out and tapped Lin Ruoxi on the forehead again, causing Lin Ruoxi to curl up into a ball and wriggle in Xue Rui's arms, her smile growing even stronger.
Seeing the little girl's happy expression, Xue Rui's lips curled up slightly; he had found the answer.
No matter how much he misbehaves, Lin Ruoxi always responds, and always with positive emotions.
Xue Rui really wanted to say: Xi Xi, Xi Xi, it's hard for me not to bully you when you're like this.
Xue Rui didn't stand on ceremony and started tickling Lin Ruoxi, whose silvery laughter echoed in the living room.
Suddenly, a WeChat voice message rang out, and Xue Rui's movements abruptly stopped, while Lin Ruoxi's laughter also abruptly ceased.
The two glanced at the phone on the coffee table, where Gu Muxue's profile picture was prominently displayed.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees instantly, and the atmosphere became cold.
Xue Rui glanced at Lin Ruoxi subconsciously and noticed that Lin Ruoxi's lips were downturned, and she seemed to be feeling somewhat disappointed.
Lin Ruoxi noticed Xue Rui's gaze, quickly composed herself, and gave him a doting smile:
"Ask Mu Xue if you can see the moon back in your hometown."
Xue Rui gave Lin Ruoxi a light kiss on the forehead. The little girl is still so well-behaved.
When a pleasant moment is interrupted, not only do you not get angry, but you also take care of your own feelings.
"Okay, I'll ask her."
Xue Rui gave Lin Ruoxi a deep kiss on the forehead to express his gratitude to the little girl, then got up to get his phone.
However, Lin Ruoxi took the phone before Xue Rui could.
Xue Rui blinked in confusion, only to see Lin Ruoxi extend a finger and poke her fair cheek.
The meaning is very clear: one kiss is not enough.
Xue Rui felt strange, but he still followed Lin Ruoxi's instructions and kissed her on the cheek. Only then did Lin Ruoxi hand over the phone with both hands.
"Is that enough?" Xue Rui said with a smile.
"Quick, answer it!"
Lin Ruoxi pressed the answer button and held the phone to Xue Rui's ear.
Although Lin Ruoxi showed a rare little temper, she was more concerned about Gu Muxue's feelings.
Gu Muxue is a very good girl; we shouldn't let her worry.
Xue Rui took the phone and pressed the speakerphone button:
"Mu Xue, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Can you see the moon from home? It's raining here."
Through the loudspeaker, Gu Muxue said angrily:
"It's raining at home too. God really doesn't understand human feelings at all. It's like this every year."
"It's just that the weather isn't cooperating. As the old saying goes, the moon is obscured by clouds on the fifteenth of August. That's how the climate is in the north. The moon is fullest on the sixteenth, and tomorrow's moon will be even more beautiful."
Xue Rui, putting his newfound knowledge to use, shamelessly repeated Lin Ruoxi's words.
"Wow~ My little Rui can say such insightful things? I thought you only knew how to curse God."
Gu Muxue said sarcastically.
Xue Rui shamelessly said, "Mu Xue, your manners need improvement. Why did you start by swearing?"
Lin Ruoxi stared wide-eyed at the two of them, thinking how well-matched they were. Even though they weren't together, they seemed to know what the other was thinking, their thoughts remarkably in sync.
But what about her? Xue Rui just told her to curse God, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it...
Xue Rui and Gu Muxue would talk on the phone for a long time, and they would chat for a long time. Every phone call was very enjoyable.
What about yourself?
When she talked to Xue Rui on the phone, they would only talk about what they ate. She couldn't keep up with the topics Xue Rui brought up. She would just stare blankly as time passed by, enjoying that sense of peace.
However, she never considered whether Xue Rui, who was being chatted with by her, would get annoyed.
She was a boring girl, so timid that she couldn't even swear. Just now, Xue Rui smacked his own head because he was annoyed that he couldn't curse God.
Lin Ruoxi looked at Xue Rui's phone with envy, wishing she could be like Gu Muxue.
Lin Ruoxi stood by the window, staring blankly at the water droplets slowly falling on the glass outside. She wanted to change things, but she didn't know how.
Looking at Lin Ruoxi's somewhat lonely figure, Xue Rui couldn't help but feel a little worried.
The little girl seemed very sad, just like the weather outside the window.
Xue Rui walked to Lin Ruoxi's side, put his arm around her shoulder, and patted her gently.
Lin Ruoxi stared at the dark sky, her gaze becoming increasingly focused.
She opened the window, letting the cold wind blow against her cheeks, her slender white finger pointing straight up at the sky.
Xue Rui assumed Lin Ruoxi wanted him to look at something, but after looking for a long time, he couldn't find anything in the sky.
In the end, Lin Ruoxi's chest heaved with anxiety, but Xue Rui still couldn't find anything.
Xue Rui felt that perhaps he was looking at it from the wrong angle and should look from Lin Ruoxi's direction, so he pressed his face close to hers.
The moment I put it on, Lin Ruoxi's voice echoed in my mind. It wasn't loud, but it had a lingering resonance.
"Fool!"
"Fool……"
"Egg..." (End of Chapter)