Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 25

The light at 5:30 PM was no longer scorching, but it was still warm, leaving people damp with sweat.

The entrance to No. 3 Middle School was crowded. The ringing of bicycle bells and the blare of horns mingled together, adding to the summer’s frenzy.

The school was playing the song “Tonghua” (Fairy Tale) as students left, and Xia Wanshuang couldn’t help but hum along.

Her tricycle was parked quite far back; she was new, and the best spots were already taken by earlier vendors. The smell of grilled gluten wafted all the way to her location.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t bring too much with her. She set up her table, arranged her ingredients on top, and placed the ice jelly bowls underneath, covered with plastic wrap.

A large sign made of cardboard announced “Handmade Ice Jelly,” with the prices listed below.

Xia Wanshuang began to call out enthusiastically to attract customers.

This peculiar little stall drew the attention of passersby. A parent picking up their child bought a bowl of ice jelly and chatted casually with Xia Wanshuang while eating.

The small talk was always the same: questions about her parents, the reason she was selling, and teasing.

Zhou Qinglang stood by, extremely unwilling to participate. Her small face was dark, and she remained silent, thinking these people were so insensitive. If their parents were alive, their family was well-off, and their life was happy, why would they have to do this? Every question and every answer was like a stab in her sister’s heart.

Zhou Qinglang knew her anger was unjustified—they didn’t know their situation, they were just gossiping or sympathizing—but she still felt deeply uncomfortable.

Xia Wanshuang felt fine. Her parents had died a long time ago. She had grieved, and now her heart was a calm lake when she spoke of them. The original owner’s parents certainly couldn’t make her sad. She merely felt like she was managing the body and had no emotional attachment or closeness to the body’s parents, especially since one was dead and the other missing.

When Xu Cheng walked out, arm-in-arm with her best friend, she was already rambling about getting a bowl of ice jelly that evening. Spotting Xia Wanshuang and Zhou Qinglang, her eyes widened. She pulled her friend along and walked up.

“You really came! That’s awesome! Give me a large bowl. No raisins, but lots of red beans and watermelon, please! Thank you, little sister.” Xu Cheng spoke eagerly, also pulling her friend closer.

“Is this the ice jelly you kept going on about?” Her friend looked curiously, and seeing the fresh fruit displayed on the table, she gained an appetite.

“I’ll take a large one too. I want strawberries.”

“Okay, please wait a moment, sisters. They’ll be ready soon.”

Xia Wanshuang filled the ice jelly bowls and spooned in the requested toppings. Zhao Tianhang and Zhou Qinglang were responsible for collecting the money.

Xu Cheng was very popular in her grade. Many people greeted her as they walked by. Xu Cheng then called them over, and they also bought a bowl of ice jelly. Those on bikes who couldn’t eat on the road grabbed a take-out portion. The three children were swamped.

The traffic flow at the school gate after school was much higher than in the residential area. Combined with the novelty of the stall and the unusual sight of the young owners, it attracted a lot of attention.

Many people crowded around the stall, naturally drawing the curiosity of those on the periphery who wanted to see what good thing had everyone gathered.

Xia Wanshuang worked quickly, Zhou Qinglang handed out bowls and memorized the orders, and Zhao Tianhang, with his good math skills, handled the cash and change. The three children worked in perfect sync, which was entertaining for the waiting crowd.

After getting their ice jelly, Xu Cheng and her friend went to the boutique shop near the gate. When they came out and saw so many people surrounding the ice jelly stall, they were a little stunned.

“I told you they should come here. Business must be great.”

“This is perfect for summer. When I get back, I’ll tell my little brother and see if I should bring him one tomorrow.” The two girls laughed and walked away, and the reputation spread by word of mouth.

By the time most people had left, Xia Wanshuang’s arms were aching.

“Shuangshuang, we definitely made a lot of money today.” Zhao Tianhang happily counted the cash, his eyes crescent-shaped with delight.

“I’ll give you a share later,” Xia Wanshuang said with a smile. The little boy had helped a lot.

“No need, no need. It’s only right for a brother to help his sisters.”

“But I’m the boss now, and you’re my assistant, so you deserve a bonus. You don’t have to tell Aunt Jiang. This is your own money.”

“My own money?” Zhao Tianhang pointed to himself, a little confused but also filled with a strange joy.

“That’s right. I’ll give it to you tonight.”

“Okay, Boss!” Zhao Tianhang gave a mock salute, which made Xia Wanshuang laugh heartily.

Zhou Qinglang pouted nearby. Zhao Tianhang’s smile was so silly.

“Langlang also gets a share.”

“Sister doesn’t need to give me money. Everything I have is yours, all of it.” Zhou Qinglang shot a glance at Zhao Tianhang, hoping her friend would know his place. She was the one closest to her sister.

“Did Langlang secretly eat a piece of candy earlier? Why are your words so sweet?” Xia Wanshuang pinched the little girl’s cheek and laughed as Zhou Qinglang puffed out her mouth like a goldfish.

Zhao Tianhang laughed too when he saw Zhou Qinglang’s expression, but was immediately glared at fiercely by Zhou Qinglang.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t go home right away. There was still a little ice jelly left, and three more scattered customers came by. Only when it was almost sold out did she decide to pack up.

A person stopped beside the tricycle. He was a thin boy, about fifteen or sixteen, with messy hair.

“Do you want ice jelly, Brother?” Xia Wanshuang stopped joking, and Zhou Qinglang got ready to hand him a bowl.

The boy mumbled an affirmative. Xia Wanshuang found him strange and unconsciously dropped her smile. Just as she was about to put the toppings on, she noticed the boy looking at the cash box.

The cash box was a shoe box Xia Wanshuang used, placed next to Zhao Tianhang.

Xia Wanshuang wanted to reach out and put the cash box in front of her, but the person suddenly lunged forward, snatching the box from beside Zhao Tianhang. He pulled the two children forward as he yanked the box, causing the entire tricycle to wobble.

“Robbery!” Xia Wanshuang reacted the fastest and immediately shouted, chasing after the person.

Now that most people were gone, only two girls and a few women were nearby, and they were stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Xia Wanshuang rushed forward, but someone’s movements were faster than hers. Zhou Qinglang charged out like a small cannonball, slamming violently into the person.

The person stumbled, tried to keep running, but was held tightly by Zhou Qinglang.

“Get off!” The person kicked Zhou Qinglang. Xia Wanshuang saw it clearly, and her blood surged. For the first time in her life, she felt the urge to hit someone.

“Give my sister back her money!” Zhou Qinglang held on stubbornly. She didn’t let go even when kicked, her dark eyes filled with malice. She opened her mouth and bit the person’s leg.

In pain, the person kicked her again.

Zhao Tianhang ran faster than Xia Wanshuang. He came over and headbutted the person, his face red with anger.

“Give us back the money! Don’t you dare hit my sister!”

Xia Wanshuang was already physically weak, and the days of hard work had exhausted her. By the time she reached the person, she was panting and pale.

Xia Wanshuang hugged the cash box, trying to snatch the money back. The thief was quite strong and kept moving his legs, dragging Zhao Tianhang and Zhou Qinglang. With a hard shove, he pushed Xia Wanshuang to the ground.

There were stones and sand nearby. Xia Wanshuang fell hard, scraping her forehead.

“Shuangshuang!”

“Sister!” Zhou Qinglang bit down harder, wanting to tear off a piece of flesh. Her eyes were red.

The children’s strength was still small. The person shoved the just-standing-up Xia Wanshuang again, kicked Zhao Tianhang away, and dragged the tightly-clinging Zhou Qinglang forward, hitting her head with his hand.

“Langlang!” Xia Wanshuang’s hands and feet went cold, and she was furious. She found a discarded chair next to a trash can and lunged, smashing it hard against the person. Due to her height, she could only hit his waist.

The cash box fell to the ground, scattering a few bills. Xia Wanshuang ignored them, her eyes fixed on Zhou Qinglang, terrified she was hurt.

Zhao Tianhang quickly rushed over, picked up the money, closed the lid, and hugged the box tightly.

Seeing this, Zhou Qinglang finally let go and was helped up by Xia Wanshuang.

“Langlang, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Sister! We got the money back!” Xia Wanshuang’s eyes were red-rimmed. She touched Zhou Qinglang’s head and felt no lump, which eased her slightly. Hearing Zhou Qinglang’s words, she nearly burst into tears.

“Is anything hurting? Are you dizzy? Does your stomach hurt?”

“I’m not dizzy. Don’t cry, Sister.” Zhou Qinglang raised her hand and wiped away Xia Wanshuang’s tears.

The person, seeing he couldn’t get the money, limped forward to run. A motorcycle zoomed past Xia Wanshuang, braked abruptly, and the rider dismounted, kicking the robber to the ground.

“Stealing money from little kids? Have you no conscience?” The rider, a passing stranger, had seen the whole thing and rushed over to help.

“Exactly, shameless!”

“Heartless!”

“Scumbag!” The elderly and women who had witnessed the event cursed, spitting in disgust.

“I’ve already called the police. They’ll be here soon.” Someone spoke up. The person heard and tried to move to run, but the passerby kicked him again and pinned him down completely.

“Little girls, are you alright?”

“Where are your parents? Call their parents.”

Xia Wanshuang didn’t know if Jiang Wan was off work yet. She was consumed by self-blame.

I didn’t watch Langlang or Tianhang properly.

“You should go to a clinic later. Your forehead is swelling.” Someone told Xia Wanshuang, pointing to her head.

Xia Wanshuang nodded. They should go. Langlang had been kicked a few times, and Tianhang had been shoved, too.

The police arrived quickly. After clarifying the situation, they handcuffed the person, their brows furrowed. They then waved the three children over.

Xia Wanshuang asked an auntie to push the tricycle back to the residential area. She held Zhou Qinglang and Zhao Tianhang’s hands and got into the police car. Zhao Tianhang clung tightly to the cash box even as he got in.

When Jiang Wan received the call from the police, she was terrified out of her mind. She rushed off work and hurried to the police station. Only when she saw the three children sitting obediently in chairs, seemingly unharmed, did she breathe a sigh of relief. She spoke with the police to understand the situation.

The robbing boy was sixteen, a student at No. 3 Middle School. He was known for skipping class to play video games and was often found in internet cafes. His parents had cut him off financially to stop him from going online, and he had resorted to opportunistically robbing the children.

The boy’s parents soon arrived and apologized to Jiang Wan.

“Do apologies help? Not sparing children this young—that’s a crime, you know!”

“Aunt Jiang, Langlang was hit on the head and kicked in the stomach. Tianhang was also kicked. Can we go get them checked out? The medical expenses should be paid by them, right?” Xia Wanshuang spoke up abruptly, still worried. She knew children were fragile. If something was wrong, or a long-term problem was created, Xia Wanshuang would never forgive herself.

“Yes, we’ll go to the hospital right away.”

“Your children look perfectly fine! You want to go to the hospital and get X-rays?” The parents immediately objected. X-rays at the hospital would cost a lot of money, and they didn’t want to pay for it unnecessarily.

“How do you know they’re fine? Look at these three kids—two are ten, one is six—they were pushed and kicked by your son. If anything is wrong with them, I will not let this go!” Jiang Wan was usually gentle, but she was fearless when protecting the children. Her willow brows shot up, and she nearly yelled at them.

The couple tried to argue, but a police officer slammed a hand on the table, startling them into agreement. They grudgingly accepted their fate.

••••

On the way to the hospital, Jiang Wan caressed and hugged each child, her heart aching.

Xia Wanshuang explained the whole story, her face full of self-reproach.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Jiang. I took them there, and I didn’t protect them.”

“Shuangshuang, this is not your fault. Why are you apologizing?” Jiang Wan touched the bump on Xia Wanshuang’s head, her expression sinking when she heard Xia Wanshuang’s words.

“Auntie knows you want to be self-reliant. I won’t criticize you for that. We’ve talked about this before. I want you to stay home. I can support you and Langlang, but you are unwilling, and I respect your feelings. I’m actually very proud of you. You don’t need to apologize,” Jiang Wan said seriously, then turned to her son, “Hanghang.”

“Yes, Mom, I’m here.”

“Mom wants to praise you today. You protected your two sisters. You are a real little man.”

Zhao Tianhang rubbed his head, smiling shyly.

“Actually, Langlang was the really brave one. She held that bad guy down right away.” Zhao Tianhang looked admiringly at Zhou Qinglang. Sister Langlang was truly amazing, much braver than he was.

“Langlang is certainly very capable, too.” After praising them, Jiang Wan’s face became serious.

“Now that I’ve praised you, I have to criticize you. When something like this happens, you should not take matters into your own hands! You can ask adults nearby for help, or call the police. Money can be replaced. Your safety is the most important thing! Do you know how scared I was when I got that call?”

“It won’t happen again next time.” Xia Wanshuang was also terrified in hindsight. She realized that as a non-adult, her small body could not protect them.

Xia Wanshuang felt completely useless and deflated.

“Shuangshuang, don’t blame yourself too much. The only one at fault is the bad guy. Even if it hadn’t happened at the school, it could have happened in the residential area. Danger is always there. I just want to tell you that some things can be abandoned when necessary. Your own safety is more important.”

The three children nodded, promising to remember.

Even though Jiang Wan said this, Xia Wanshuang couldn’t shake the feeling of self-reproach.

She had realized her predicament: the mismatch between her soul and her body meant a disconnect between her knowledge and her actual ability.

She told Zhou Qinglang she could find a way, but this wasn’t her previous life. She had no connections. She thought she could protect the two children, but when danger came, she was the weakest one.

Xia Wanshuang never considered herself to be a great person. She thought of herself as average, with no special qualities, just a normal person who never did anything against her conscience.

She tried to do what she could, but did others see her efforts as just being reckless?

Like the neighborhood gossips said: She’s still a child herself, but she’s trying to raise another child and cause trouble for Jiang Wan.

But she was trying so hard not to bother anyone! If she took Zhou Qinglang to Jiang Wan’s for dinner, people would gossip, calling her a burden. If she didn’t go, Jiang Wan would feel she was being cold and distant.

Xia Wanshuang initially thought she didn’t care about the gossip. She even told Zhou Qinglang not to worry about what others thought, that knowing what to do herself was what mattered most. She was balancing her relationship with Jiang Wan, being close to her, and taking care of Zhao Tianhang. Then she suddenly realized that she deeply cared about being labeled a burden. She was already planning to give Jiang Wan money for utilities, internet, and food next month.

[System]: Shuangshuang, I think you’ve done incredibly well, considering you’re only ten years old right now.

[Xia Wanshuang]: I’m neither willing to surrender to my physical age nor capable of doing what someone my real age should do. I’m truly useless.

Xia Wanshuang was smart, but not always first in her grade. She knew many skills but wasn’t a master of any. She didn’t like to show off or socialize widely. She didn’t check lottery numbers. Her computer skills stopped at creating spreadsheets.

Coming to this world, she couldn’t invest to get rich, nor could she create groundbreaking software or computer programs. She didn’t understand medicine or biology to contribute to humanity. She wasn’t an acting talent who could become a child star. She didn’t even want to touch that chaotic industry, preferring to stick to simple things.

[Xia Wanshuang]: System, see? I’m not cool at all. I can’t do anything special. If you had chosen a better Host, it definitely wouldn’t be me.

[System]: Shuangshuang, don’t feel guilty or discouraged. Just like you said before, there’s no need to care about those things. Those people just talk. I think you’re amazing, and you did great. You’re like a potion bottle!

The system knew it hadn’t chosen the wrong person. How many people could be so kind, rational, and forgiving?

[Xia Wanshuang]: A potion bottle?

[System]: Yes, the kind that can restore health with one sip.

[Xia Wanshuang]: That’s a strange comparison. Then I need to heal myself.

Xia Wanshuang’s mood brightened slightly due to the system’s odd comfort. After taking Zhao Tianhang and Zhou Qinglang to the hospital for X-rays and confirming there was no serious injury, she felt much better.

The parents were extremely reluctant to pay, muttering to themselves for a long time.

Jiang Wan rolled her eyes, not wanting to deal with them. Parents who could raise a child like that were certainly not good parents.

••••

When Xia Wanshuang returned home, Grandpa Zhang came over to check on them. Most of the grandpas at the park knew whose tricycle it was, and seeing it being pushed back by a stranger, they naturally came to ask.

“It’s good that you’re okay. People’s intentions are so malicious nowadays.” Grandpa Zhang confirmed the children were fine and left, shaking his fan.

Zhao Tianhang was the least injured, with nothing wrong. Xia Wanshuang had a lump on her forehead. Zhou Qinglang was the most seriously hurt, with a bruise on her abdomen.

After bathing, Xia Wanshuang sat on the bed, silently applying medicine to Zhou Qinglang.

“Sister, are you unhappy?”

Xia Wanshuang didn’t speak, continuing to apply the ointment.

“Sister, look at me. Look at me, please.” The child stretched out her voice. Xia Wanshuang looked up and was met with a funny face, which made her giggle.

“That’s right! Sister is most beautiful when she smiles.”

“You’re just sweet-talking me. You have to listen to what Aunt Jiang said today. Don’t be so impulsive next time. Don’t rush ahead of me. If he tries to hurt you, you must run away immediately, got it?”

“But that was the money we worked so hard for! And he pushed you!” Zhou Qinglang was angry just talking about it, only regretting that she hadn’t performed better and bitten the person harder. That was the result of all their hard work. Her sister had been busy for so long for those earnings. What was even worse was that the person had pushed her sister down twice!

“If the money is gone, we can earn more. If something happened to you, did you think about me?” Zhou Qinglang fiddled with the corner of her clothes, nodding sullenly. She winced as Xia Wanshuang rubbed the bruise, her face contorted in pain.

If something happened to her, her sister would definitely cry and be sad.

She didn’t want her sister to cry.

Xia Wanshuang finished applying the medicine and kissed Zhou Qinglang’s forehead.

“Sleep well.”

Xia Wanshuang put the medicine away. She expected Zhou Qinglang to be lying down, but she was still sitting bolt upright.

“What’s wrong, Langlang? Are you still uncomfortable somewhere?”

Zhou Qinglang immediately shook her head and lay down in bed, her face flushed all the way to her neck, even her earlobes burning.

Sister just kissed her.

The soft touch seemed to linger on her forehead. The implied care and preciousness made her heart pound.

She really, really loved her sister.

Sister is the best in the world!

••••

Gossip always travels fast. The next day, when Xia Wanshuang set up her stall at the entrance of No. 3 Middle School, many students knew about the incident.

Xu Cheng came specifically to check on her, bought a bowl of ice jelly with her friend, and cursed the bad guy while they ate.

It was almost the weekend, and the students were ready for their break. They weren’t in the mood to linger at the school gate for long, so today, Xia Wanshuang hadn’t sold all the ice jelly when the crowd dispersed. She and Zhou Qinglang pushed the tricycle, selling along the street. Zhao Tianhang wanted to come along today, but Xia Wanshuang stopped him, telling him to stay home and do his homework.

By the time they walked back to the residential area, they had sold almost everything.

Someone came to buy a bowl just as the last one was sold, looking extremely disappointed.

“Little bosses, can you make more next time? Ever since you started selling at No. 3 Middle School, we haven’t been able to enjoy it here in the community.”

“Okay, we’ll remember to make more tomorrow afternoon.”

Xia Wanshuang and Zhou Qinglang went home and washed all the containers. Xia Wanshuang then cooked more red beans and restocked the raisins. After that, she started doing her homework in the living room.

After finishing her homework as quickly as possible, Xia Wanshuang began teaching Zhou Qinglang to read and write.

“Sister, are we not making ice jelly tonight?”

“We’ll make it tomorrow.”

Ice jelly was best when fresh, and storing it in the refrigerator for too long wasn’t ideal. Xia Wanshuang planned to take Zhou Qinglang out to play tomorrow, so she decided not to make it today.

Zhou Qinglang didn’t know about the outing until she woke up the next morning and was called out. She lost control of her facial expressions, maintaining a state of high excitement.

Xia Wanshuang had planned to take Zhao Tianhang along, too, but Jiang Wan had been invited to a colleague’s gathering and took Zhao Tianhang with her.

Lin Qiushui’s car was already waiting at the entrance of the residential area. When Lin Qiushui saw Xia Wanshuang come out, he waved to her.

“Didn’t you say your brother was coming, too?”

“He went out to play.”

“Okay, then let’s go. We’ll buy the study guides first, and then we’ll go play.”

“Sounds good.” Xia Wanshuang observed the car and realized Lin Qiushui’s family must be quite wealthy.

However, her expression didn’t change. She led Zhou Qinglang into the car and sat down.

It was Zhou Qinglang’s first time in such a car. She was very cautious, not touching or moving around much, afraid of breaking something. She looked incredibly well-behaved.

Lin Qiushui talked non-stop, seemingly very excited. Xia Wanshuang occasionally responded, but since the two were not very close and due to the difference in their mental ages, Lin Qiushui fell silent after a while.

“Your sister looks so well-behaved. My cousin is nothing like that.” Lin Qiushui couldn’t help but start chatting again. He glanced at Zhou Qinglang, who hadn’t said much since getting in the car, and was a little envious of Xia Wanshuang.

“You have a younger sister?”

“Yeah, my uncle’s daughter. She cries so much, it’s terrifying. I don’t like playing with her at all.” Lin Qiushui made an exaggerated expression to show the psychological trauma his cousin had caused him.

“My sister is very well-behaved.” Xia Wanshuang held the soft little hand, feeling a sense of unique pride.

She was incredibly obedient, very sensible, smart, and eager to learn—a once-in-a-lifetime great sister.

They first went to the bookstore to buy the study guides, then headed to the amusement park. The distance wasn’t too far, and they arrived quickly. The driver parked the car outside, and the group got out to buy tickets.

The grand opening promotion—low prices and half-price for children—had attracted many visitors, and the entrance was chaotic.

“You must hold my hand tightly,” Xia Wanshuang warned, afraid Zhou Qinglang would be pushed out and lost in the crowd.

“Mhm!” The driver, a kind uncle, escorted the three children inside, carefully maneuvering around the crowd.

A children’s roller coaster, a carousel, a swing ride… Xia Wanshuang, who had seen all these attractions in the future, was completely unfazed. Zhou Qinglang, however, was full of interest, looking everywhere but never letting go of Xia Wanshuang’s hand.

The first ride Xia Wanshuang chose was the carousel. Lin Qiushui, who considered himself a real man, refused to ride and watched Xia Wanshuang and Zhou Qinglang go on.

Zhou Qinglang was diagonally in front of Xia Wanshuang. The equipment whirred, the colored lights flashed, and music played.

Zhou Qinglang giggled, her eyelashes fluttering as she looked in Xia Wanshuang’s direction.

After the carousel, Lin Qiushui immediately dragged them to the roller coaster. Since it was the children’s version, the track wasn’t high and the speed wasn’t fast, but it was exciting enough for the children. Zhou Qinglang’s cheeks were flushed when she got off.

There was a cotton candy vendor in the amusement park, with various colors. Xia Wanshuang bought one, and Lin Qiushui bought one, too.

Xia Wanshuang preferred the smell of cotton candy being made over eating it.

Sweet, warm, and soft—it smelled like happiness.

Zhou Qinglang watched curiously, and inhaling the sweet scent inexplicably reminded her of the kiss Xia Wanshuang had placed on her forehead last night.

Even without eating the candy, her tongue started to feel sweet.

The cotton candy was fluffy and soft, like a cloud in the sky. Zhou Qinglang opened her mouth to take a big bite, but it felt like biting into empty air. The candy melted instantly, leaving only a faint sweetness.

Lin Qiushui burst out laughing, shaking the candy in his hand at Zhou Qinglang.

“Let me show you the correct way to eat cotton candy!” Lin Qiushui pulled the cotton candy off the stick, quickly kneaded it into a small ball, and popped it into his mouth, giving Zhou Qinglang a triumphant look.

Zhou Qinglang: This person is such a simpleton.

Zhou Qinglang decided to eat hers in small bites. She even offered some to Xia Wanshuang. Seeing Xia Wanshuang take a bite and eat along the part where she had taken it, Zhou Qinglang was even happier.

After finishing, Zhou Qinglang’s face was sticky.

Xia Wanshuang helped wipe off the sugar threads. Zhou Qinglang casually put Xia Wanshuang’s finger in her mouth and licked it.

“Sister is sweet.”

“That’s the sugar thread. Langlang is sweet, too. But fingers are dirty and have a lot of germs, so don’t bite them next time.” Xia Wanshuang washed her hands and wiped Zhou Qinglang’s face with water.

Zhou Qinglang nodded, but she still felt Xia Wanshuang tasted sweet.

The amusement park didn’t have many unique attractions. They played all afternoon until they were too tired to walk.

Lin Qiushui was panting, licking his ice cream cone while sharing his thoughts on the rides with Xia Wanshuang.

Xia Wanshuang remained calm and collected on all the rides, which further increased Lin Qiushui’s admiration.

“Let’s go out and eat. I’m boiling hot.” Lin Qiushui wiped his fingers with a tissue and looked at Xia Wanshuang.

“Okay.”

There were still many people when they left the park.

“We can hang out again sometime. Do you want that chocolate again? I still have some at home.” Lin Qiushui had already decided Xia Wanshuang was his friend and chatted enthusiastically.

“That sounds nice. I’ll bring you something to eat next time, too.” Xia Wanshuang sensed Lin Qiushui’s friendliness and reciprocated.

The park was busy, and the parking lot was full. The driver told them to wait while he went to bring the car around.

Lin Qiushui continued to describe the excitement of the roller coaster to Xia Wanshuang when someone suddenly called his name.

They were standing directly across from the crosswalk. Lin Qiushui saw the person on the other side and gasped in surprise.

“My cousin actually came, too! I see my aunt! I’m not seeing things.”

Xia Wanshuang remembered Lin Qiushui’s description of his “crybaby” cousin and saw the little girl waving from across the road.

Compared to Lin Qiushui’s shock, the little girl looked very excited.

Just as the light turned green, the little girl let go of her parent’s hand and ran toward them. Her colorful dress made her look like a little butterfly.

Xia Wanshuang looked to the side and her eyes widened.

A car clearly intended to rush through the light in the last few seconds of red. It sped forward, realized the light had changed, and even with the brakes slammed, it would skid forward. The little girl was definitely going to be hit.

The parent across the street screamed. Xia Wanshuang rushed forward without thinking, grabbed the little girl, and rolled on the spot. The underside of the car scraped past them, generating a rush of heat, followed by the screech of brakes.

The driver quickly got out of the car. He bent down, saw the two children were unharmed, and breathed a huge sigh of relief, reaching out to help them up.

“An’an!” The woman across the street rushed over, hugging Xia Wanshuang and her daughter together, her hands and feet shaking.

Lin Qiushui and Zhou Qinglang were also stunned. The system was almost frantic.

[System]: Host! What are you doing?! Do you know how dangerous that was?!

[System]: Under normal circumstances, if you died, the mission would fail, and we could restart! But we can’t contact the Head System! What if you die and we can’t get out of here?!

[Xia Wanshuang]: Sorry, it was instinct…

The system was on the verge of data collapse. It had no experience dealing with this kind of situation, and the manual had never mentioned the possibility of the system losing contact.

Since the green light only lasted a dozen seconds, the parent picked up the little girl and grabbed Xia Wanshuang’s hand, hurrying across to the other side.

The driver got back in his car and sped away when the light turned green.

“He actually drove off! I’m so angry!” Lin Qiushui’s aunt, Zhuo Tong, was shaking with rage. She quickly comforted her daughter.

Lin An’an seemed to be in shock. She was unresponsive for a long time, just staring blankly, and then she burst into loud tears.

Zhou Qinglang tightly held Xia Wanshuang’s hand, her eyes red as she looked at Xia Wanshuang.

“Sister, why did you…” Before she could finish her question, Zhou Qinglang also started to cry.

This was the first time Xia Wanshuang had seen Zhou Qinglang cry like this. It felt like the sky was falling.

“I’m fine, see? I’m perfectly okay.” Xia Wanshuang quickly wiped her tears away. The lingering danger of the near-miss was immediately pushed down, replaced entirely by worry for the little girl’s tears.

Zhuo Tong comforted her daughter. Once she calmed down, she pulled out her phone and messaged her husband, explaining what had happened. Then, she looked at Xia Wanshuang with deep gratitude.

“Thank you! I’m so glad you were here. Otherwise, An’an would have…” Zhuo Tong had difficulty conceiving and carried the child after seeing doctors and undergoing treatment for a long time. She had nearly died from a hemorrhage during childbirth. She cherished her hard-won daughter deeply. If An’an had been hurt today, Zhuo Tong felt she wouldn’t want to live.

Zhuo Tong had been completely frozen with fear. While comforting her daughter, she was consumed by dread.

“Qiushui, is this your friend? Auntie wants to treat you to dinner. Where are your parents? I must thank them properly. I’m truly grateful.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Auntie. It’s enough that your daughter is safe. Um… my parents are no longer around.” Xia Wanshuang saw no need to hide the truth. Her reaction was still calm. She only cared about stopping Langlang from crying, giving her an aura of having already faced life and death.

Zhuo Tong felt an even greater sympathy for Xia Wanshuang. She insisted on taking Xia Wanshuang and Zhou Qinglang home for a proper meal, even becoming slightly incoherent with emotion.

Lin Qiushui’s driver drove the group to Zhuo Tong’s house.

Zhuo Tong’s husband was at work, but after receiving a tearful phone call from his wife, he immediately rushed home to confirm his daughter’s safety.

Lin An’an, seeing her father, trembled and burrowed into his embrace.

After hearing about Xia Wanshuang’s family situation, he felt both gratitude and deep sympathy.

“Little Sister Xia, you are our family’s savior. You can tell us anything you need. We’ll help in any way we can.”

Xia Wanshuang was about to say she didn’t need anything when a thought flashed through her mind.

“Uncle Lin, I might actually need your help with something… This is my sister, Zhou Qinglang, but she has never been registered on a hukou. Since my mother is not here, it’s difficult for her to be registered in our house…”

“That’s easy to handle! She can join our family. Your sister and our An’an look a little alike, too! This must be fate.” Zhuo Tong quickly responded, looking at Zhou Qinglang, then at her own daughter. The more she looked, the more similarities she saw. She grew fond of the two children. Since they were with her nephew, the connection felt even stronger.

“Thank you, Auntie. If that’s really possible, you would be helping us greatly. We absolutely won’t ask you to care for my sister. Just a name on the register is enough. My sister will still live with me. We won’t separate, and we won’t cause any trouble.”

“No problem, no problem at all! This is nothing compared to saving An’an’s life. An’an is a treasure to me and her father, and we are truly grateful.” Zhuo Tong wiped her tears. Xia Wanshuang’s earnestness resonated with her. She looked at her husband, who also nodded his agreement.

If Xia Wanshuang could have known the original plot, she would have marveled at the magic of fate.

Because Zhuo Tong’s husband, Lin Zhuo (Lin Qiushui’s uncle), was the very kind person who helped Zhou Qinglang in the original plot.

In the original plot, Lin Qiushui was also out playing that day and met Zhuo Tong and Lin An’an, but without Xia Wanshuang’s intervention, Lin An’an was hit and killed in front of Zhuo Tong, and Zhuo Tong suffered a nervous breakdown.

Later, Lin Zhuo encountered the wandering Zhou Qinglang on the street. He continuously left food for her for several days. He was then surprised to find that Zhou Qinglang’s features resembled his deceased daughter’s. After cleaning her up, the resemblance became even more striking, like a grown version of his daughter. Grief-stricken, he adopted her, providing her with education and schooling.

The Lin Zhuo family was grateful to Xia Wanshuang, but Xia Wanshuang was also thankful to them for solving a major problem.

The Lin Zhuo family seemed like intellectuals, well-off, and genuinely kind. Given the life-saving grace, Xia Wanshuang trusted them. Such a family would definitely not use the legal relationship to coerce Zhou Qinglang or cause future problems.

Perfect. No need to worry about the future trip to the orthopedic ward, and the plot can still hold on.

Zhou Qinglang, who had heard the whole conversation, was sullen. Her chest felt heavy, and she was extremely uncomfortable.

Sister had secured her hukou, but Sister had risked her life for it.

Xia Wanshuang, who was talking to Zhuo Tong, had no idea what Zhou Qinglang was thinking, nor how far her thoughts had strayed. If she had known, she would have corrected her.

This was an act of courage that was repaid.

••••

Jiang Wan, who had returned home after a day of working and socializing, was told the whole story by Xia Wanshuang and was very shaken.

Regarding the hukou issue, Jiang Wan was quiet after hearing the news.

“Shuangshuang, didn’t we agree that Langlang would join our family? Why did you suddenly go back on that? Do you trust strangers more than you trust me?” Jiang Wan didn’t mean to use such harsh words, but she simply couldn’t understand. The thought that Xia Wanshuang didn’t trust her made her feel cold in the summer heat.

Xia Wanshuang knew that if she didn’t explain this clearly, their relationship would become very strained.

“Aunt Jiang, it’s just…” Xia Wanshuang hesitated, looking a little embarrassed.

“My mom and dad grew up together. My dad said that’s called ‘childhood sweethearts.’” Xia Wanshuang started to make up a story, since the original owner’s dad was gone anyway.

“I think Langlang and Brother Tianhang get along very well, just like my mom and dad did. So… so I don’t think they should… oh, never mind…”

“Because of that?” Jiang Wan looked bewildered.

Xia Wanshuang nodded seriously.

“You’re saying it’s really because of that?” Jiang Wan repeated the question in disbelief.

Xia Wanshuang nodded.

“What is that little brain of yours thinking about all day long?” Jiang Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and then her shoulders started shaking with laughter.

“…” Xia Wanshuang didn’t know what to say. Please, Auntie, stop laughing. She was being serious about the plot!

---

Author’s Note:

Aunt Jiang secretly wants to adopt Shuangshuang as her future daughter-in-law.

Shuangshuang: The male and female leads are childhood sweethearts!

Aunt Jiang: Shuangshuang and Tianhang are childhood sweethearts!

Langlang: Sister and I are destined!

Tianhang: Munching on a watermelon slice.