Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 41

“Hmm?” Xia Wanshuang looked at the white short dress in her hand, thinking there was nothing wrong with it.

“Sister, look. The sun is so strong outside today. If you wear a dress like that, it’ll be easy to get your legs tanned.” Zhou Qinglang looked at the sun outside the window, using it as an excuse.

“Since we’re out having fun, getting tanned is inevitable. Besides, I didn’t bring any long pants.” Xia Wanshuang felt the main goal of traveling was enjoyment. While sun protection was ideal, if getting tanned was unavoidable, the fun they had was the most important thing.

“Then wear shorts. I think this pair looks great.” Zhou Qinglang pulled out a pair of denim shorts from the suitcase and held them up in front of Xia Wanshuang.

“Is there a difference in length between this and the dress…?” Xia Wanshuang looked at the shorts, then at her dress. In terms of length, the two garments were very similar. It was unlikely that a dress would cause tanning but shorts wouldn’t.

“Skirts can ride up easily, and there are so many people outside. Sister, please wear the shorts.”

“Fine.” Xia Wanshuang bent down to grab a T-shirt. She could wear anything, as long as it wasn’t too long. She wasn’t afraid of the heat, but lessons learned from past experience.

Xia Wanshuang was born inland in her previous life. The first time she went to the seaside, she went alone. She had no experience and was very curious about the ocean. She wore overall long pants and didn’t buy slippers. She took off her sneakers on the beach and walked barefoot in the cool seawater.

She placed her shoes on the sand, next to a buoy, and made sure they were a little far from the water.

However, she completely underestimated the tide.

After only a short time playing, she suddenly saw very familiar shoes floating in the water.

Xia Wanshuang rushed to retrieve her shoes. Coupled with a speed boat ride, Xia Wanshuang ended up returning to the hotel soaked, with her feet covered in sand, wearing soggy shoes.

Past events were as clear as yesterday. Thinking of her embarrassed self back then, Xia Wanshuang’s lips curved into a slight smile.

Zhou Qinglang just thought Xia Wanshuang was happy about going to the beach.

After Xia Wanshuang picked out her clothes, Zhou Qinglang also pulled out what she planned to wear the next day.

There were hangers in the hotel closet. Xia Wanshuang hung up their clothes for the next day, took out her pajamas from the suitcase, and prepared to shower. It was still early, only a little after seven in the evening, but after the long trip, she felt sticky and uncomfortable from the sweat.

••••

Before she could even step into the bathroom, Lin Qiushui was knocking loudly on the door.

“Shuangshuang! Let’s go out and eat! The pretty sister just called and told us there’s a snack street near here! Let’s go quickly, I’m starving!”

“Okay.” Xia Wanshuang replied, placing her pajamas on the bed. It was good Lin Qiushui called when he did. Otherwise, she would have washed, gone to the snack street to pick up the smell of food, and probably had to shower again later that night.

The four of them left the hotel and headed straight for the snack street. Lin Qiushui stood on the far left, and Zhao Tianhang stood on the far right. Like bodyguards, they shielded Zhou Qinglang and Xia Wanshuang in the middle.

Zhou Qinglang still remembered what Lin Qiushui said before entering the room. She reached out and pinched Lin Qiushui’s arm. Lin Qiushui immediately whined an apology and started bickering with Zhou Qinglang.

Zhao Tianhang, however, was quiet, even a little distracted.

“What’s wrong, Tianhang? You seem a little down.” Xia Wanshuang turned her head, looking at her boy with concern.

“Maybe just a little tired,” Zhao Tianhang shook his head slightly, his hands in his pockets, concealing the faint gloom in his eyes.

“Then after we eat, go back, take a shower, and get some good rest. We’ll go out and have fun tomorrow when you’ve recovered your energy.”

“Mhm, okay.” Zhao Tianhang nodded, forcing a smile to look relaxed.

While the atmosphere was harmonious between Xia Wanshuang and Zhao Tianhang, things were heating up between Lin Qiushui and Zhou Qinglang.

“Lin Qiushui, if you dare to say something like that again, you’ll regret it.” Zhou Qinglang smiled without sincerity, her eyes full of threat.

“Wuwuwu, I’m so scared! You’re threatening me!”

“Lin! Qiu! Shui!”

“Fine, fine, my bad, my bad. But I’ll do it again next time.”

“Lin Qiushui, for these three years of high school, you can do your homework yourself.” Zhou Qinglang wasn’t truly angry; the two of them sounded like a comedy duo.

“I still have Old Zhao! Right, Brother Tianhang?” Lin Qiushui grinned mischievously, but Zhao Tianhang’s fists in his pockets involuntarily tightened.

“Zhao Tianhang, you’re not allowed to give it to him either.”

“Mhm. I won’t give it to him.” Zhao Tianhang replied, his eyes lowered, concealing all emotion.

“Zhao Tianhang! How can you do this? We’re brothers!” Lin Qiushui was aghast. This was the lifeline of the top student in their grade!

Xia Wanshuang, however, nodded in secret approval. As expected of the Male Lead! Doting on his wife! Very doting on his wife!

Zhao Tianhang walked forward noncommittally. Lin Qiushui eagerly changed positions, wanting to reason with Zhao Tianhang.

Zhao Tianhang took a step forward, and the snack street was right in front of them. Lin Qiushui was already starving. Seeing the food, he forgot what he wanted to say.

In his mind, Zhao Tianhang was his best buddy, and he wouldn’t actually refuse to let him copy his homework just because of the little vinegar pot. He dismissed it as a joke between friends.

“Sister, what do you want to eat?” Zhou Qinglang looked left and right. This place was different from Tongli. There were many local specialties, and since it was near the sea, there was plenty of seafood.

“Want to eat grilled squid? Let’s get some squid!”

“Sure.” Zhou Qinglang pulled Xia Wanshuang along. Zhao Tianhang followed closely behind them, looking at Zhou Qinglang sticking close to Xia Wanshuang with a hint of not-so-obvious envy.

It wasn’t until they were waiting for the grilled squid that Xia Wanshuang noticed Zhao Tianhang wasn’t buying anything, but was simply waiting there. She was touched by her boy’s wife-protecting spirit. The snack street was crowded. Zhao Tianhang stood right next to Zhou Qinglang, shielding her from the crowd.

Good! Very good!

Xia Wanshuang felt immensely gratified, thinking that if the System were to rise from the dead now, it would also be pleased.

However, Zhao Tianhang was just daydreaming.

Lin Qiushui rushed ahead, eating as he waved to Xia Wanshuang and the others.

“Shuangshuang, over here! This grilled shrimp looks delicious!”

“Coming right up!” Xia Wanshuang took the grilled squid and walked forward while eating.

The stall had good business because their seafood was fresh. The grilled shrimp were taken directly from a bucket, skewered, and grilled on the spot. Zhao Tianhang queued first and got four skewers, distributing one to each of his companions.

“Hot, hot, hot!” Lin Qiushui was a dope. Of course, the freshly grilled shrimp would be hot. Since they were cooked on the spot, the moisture was sealed inside the meat, and Lin Qiushui biting down like that was bound to burn his mouth.

“Water.” Zhao Tianhang handed his newly bought bottle of water to Lin Qiushui and took the skewer from his hand. Lin Qiushui immediately twisted the cap and gulped down a few mouthfuls, sticking out his tongue in annoyance.

“Of course, it’s hot when it’s just grilled. You should at least blow on it before eating.” Xia Wanshuang handed him a tissue for Zhao Tianhang to wipe his mouth.

“I was too hungry, so I rushed it.” Lin Qiushui took his grilled shrimp back and blew on it this time before eating.

The snack street offered everything: the standard grilled meat skewers, oyster pancakes, meat burgers, cold noodles, clam noodles, snail noodles, stinky tofu, tofu pudding…

In short, by the time they reached the end, Xia Wanshuang was stuffed.

Xia Wanshuang already had a preference for seafood, and Haicheng’s specialty was seafood, so she happily ate at various stalls.

Usually self-restrained, she let loose.

By the time they left the snack street, she couldn’t drink a drop of water.

Lin Qiushui still held a skewer of duck intestines, asking Xia Wanshuang if she wanted another one.

“No more, no more, I really can’t eat anymore.” Xia Wanshuang shook her head, rubbing her stomach and feeling the food up to her throat.

“Sister, I’ll rub it for you.” Zhou Qinglang stopped in front of Xia Wanshuang and rubbed her stomach clockwise to aid digestion.

“Look at the little vinegar pot, she’s rubbing you like a baby,” Lin Qiushui commented while eating his duck intestines, tossing the trash into a nearby bin.

“Eating can’t even shut your mouth.” Zhou Qinglang couldn’t be bothered to look at Lin Qiushui, continuing to rub Xia Wanshuang’s stomach.

“Let’s walk along this street to digest a bit before heading back to the hotel,” Xia Wanshuang suggested, holding Zhou Qinglang’s hand and signaling her to stop.

“Great! We can also check if there’s any food further ahead.” Lin Qiushui nodded, wiping his hands and mouth clean with a tissue.

“Eat, eat, eat. Why don’t you just eat yourself to death? We just came out of the snack street!” Zhou Qinglang was puzzled. Lin Qiushui didn’t look fat, he had a lean and tall physique, yet she didn’t know how he could eat so much.

“I was watching out for Zhao Tianhang. He barely ate anything just now.” Although Lin Qiushui was busy eating and drinking, he didn’t forget to pay attention to his friends.

Zhao Tianhang didn’t buy many things to eat.

Some of the food he ate was only when Lin Qiushui forced it into his hands.

This didn’t match Zhao Tianhang’s usual appetite at all.

“No need, I’m not hungry.” Zhao Tianhang shook his head, his gaze vaguely fixed on the distance.

“Are you carsick? You seem a little down ever since we arrived at the hotel this afternoon.”

“Maybe a slight acclimatization issue.”

“Then if you still don’t feel well tomorrow, we’ll go to a pharmacy and get some medicine.” After Xia Wanshuang finished speaking, Zhao Tianhang nodded.

The four walked forward, suddenly falling into a comfortable silence. No one spoke. The summer evening breeze brought a slight coolness, rustling the leaves on the roadside trees, their shadows swaying under the streetlights.

“Have you guys thought about which university and what major you want to pursue after high school?” Such a night was perfect for talking about life. Xia Wanshuang, holding the girl’s hand, asked.

“Haven’t thought about it,” Lin Qiushui confessed. He had no life plan, choosing to take things one step at a time.

“Whatever major Sister studies, I’ll study that one.” Zhou Qinglang’s thought process was also simple. There was nothing she felt compelled to do or particularly loved.

“Clingy girl,” Lin Qiushui whispered, thinking Zhou Qinglang was an extreme sister-con.

“Langlang, this is your life. You have to make your own choices, not just use me as your baseline.”

“But Sister is my baseline. I don’t want to think that much. I just want to be with Sister forever.”