Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 7

Xia Wanshuang couldn’t resist eating a strawberry herself. It was sweet and sour, and quite large. She narrowed her eyes in delight.

 

She plugged in the juicer and started pouring in the strawberries.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Juicing. It’s turning this into juice. It tastes really good.”

 

Xia Wanshuang didn’t put all the strawberries in at once. That would make it a concentrated juice, and she wouldn’t be able to sell it. Besides, each strawberry was a different level of sweetness, and a very sour one would taste bad.

 

Xia Wanshuang bent down, took out the white sugar from a cabinet, and added water and an appropriate amount of sugar. She closed the lid and started juicing.

 

Zhou Qinglang watched the juicer spin, quite curious.

 

“Langlang, how old are you this year?”

 

“Almost seven.”

 

Zhou Qinglang remembered it very clearly because her grandmother would celebrate her birthday every year. The birthday was on the day she found her. Even though they didn’t have much, on that day, Grandma would always take out her savings to buy her a treat. Even just a lollipop was enough to make her happy.

 

“Then I’m three years older than you. I’m ten. I’m a pig, and you’re a tiger.”

 

Zhou Qinglang looked at Xia Wanshuang, her eyes calm, and she really did feel a bit like a little tiger.

 

To the buzzing sound of the juicer, Xia Wanshuang swayed her head and hummed the tune of “Two Tigers.”

 

The strawberries were juiced in two batches. After passing through a filter, the strawberry juice in the bowl was clear and bright red. It looked refreshing.

 

Xia Wanshuang took a spoonful and found the taste was quite good. She didn’t know if all the fruit in Tongli City was like this, but the strawberries she bought were perfectly sweet and sour. Juicing them after they had been chilled made them taste even better.

 

Xia Wanshuang got a bowl, poured a small serving for Zhou Qinglang, and told her to hold it. She then poured the rest of the juice into the clean big bottles.

 

She did the same with the oranges, pouring a small bowl for Zhou Qinglang and putting the rest in a large bottle.

 

When she was done, Xia Wanshuang put the bottles back in the fridge to chill. She then heard the sound of water in the kitchen. She turned her head and saw Zhou Qinglang standing on a stool, seriously washing the bowl. Her earnestness made Xia Wanshuang’s heart melt.

 

Oh my god, my baby is so well-behaved.

 

The system, which read the host’s thoughts, was speechless.

 

[System]: Shuangshuang, snap out of it! That’s your love rival! Your love rival!

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: So what? She’s also my adorable baby!

 

Xia Wanshuang wasn’t going to get attached to the boy like the original owner and have a crush on him when they grew up.

 

[System]: Then when it’s time to act, you’ll be stealing your daughter’s man! Host, calm down!

 

What kind of absurd statement was that?!

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: Little comrade, your thinking is very dangerous. I suggest you shut down.

 

[System]: I’m just telling the truth! But Shuangshuang, don’t get too attached. We will have to leave someday.

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: All good things must come to an end, so you have to cherish the process even more.

 

Xia Wanshuang stopped bickering with the system. She put the fried noodles and water in the fridge and took the homework out of her backpack, placing it on the coffee table.

 

The exercises were for a third grader, which was no challenge at all for an adult like Xia Wanshuang.

 

“Langlang, can you read?”

 

“Only a little.”

 

Zhou Qinglang actually loved learning. She would ask people to teach her how to write her name and would pick up used textbooks to read. A broken dictionary that Grandma had found for her was her most cherished possession.

 

“Come on, I’ll teach you.”

 

The original owner’s father liked to collect books, so her first- and second-grade textbooks were still on the bookshelf. Xia Wanshuang ran and grabbed them from the study, her teaching enthusiasm soaring.

 

Xia Wanshuang was surprised to find that Zhou Qinglang’s foundation was actually quite good. She knew most of the Pinyin and even recognized many characters.

 

“Langlang, did you study before?”

 

“I had a dictionary. I taught myself every day.”

 

Zhou Qinglang had never been praised for her studies before. Her grandmother wasn’t very literate either, but she never told her that learning was useless. When she was scavenging for junk, she would make a point of finding books for her. On one birthday, she brought home a notebook and a pen, which was the best gift Zhou Qinglang had ever received.

 

“That’s amazing.”

 

Xia Wanshuang was generous with her praise and affirmations, which boosted the child’s confidence.

 

It took a full hour and a half to teach Zhou Qinglang the basics of Pinyin and make sure she had mastered it through repetition.

 

Teacher Xia was very happy to be teaching because her student was so diligent. Zhou Qinglang was not even seven yet and had been through a lot, but she was able to memorize all the Pinyin and use it in such a short amount of time, which was very rare.

 

“Let’s take a break. Have some water. I’m going to look for some scissors to trim your hair.”

 

Zhou Qinglang’s hair was of varying lengths and looked messy, with her bangs covering part of her face.

 

Xia Wanshuang found a pair of scissors in the bedroom, cut a piece of paper to test their sharpness, and found they were good enough. She then moved a small stool and had Zhou Qinglang sit on the balcony.

 

“Because of the length, I might have to give you a bob cut. Is that okay? We can grow it out later if you want.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Xia Tony Wanshuang combed Zhou Qinglang’s hair and had her hold a mirror while she started snipping away.

 

Xia Wanshuang wasn’t a professional hairstylist, but she was good enough to give it a simple, clean cut.

 

The sun at four in the afternoon was no longer scorching. The warmth on her body seemed to penetrate her bones, making her entire body feel warm.

 

Zhou Qinglang looked at herself in the mirror and then at Xia Wanshuang’s focused expression.

 

The golden light on Xia Wanshuang’s face made her look serene, giving her an air of tranquility that was beyond her years.

 

“I’m going to cut your bangs now. Put the mirror down and close your eyes.”

 

Zhou Qinglang did as she was told. She felt Xia Wanshuang’s fingers brush across her forehead, and her eyelashes fluttered.

 

After she finished, Xia Wanshuang looked at her work with satisfaction and brushed away the loose hairs from Zhou Qinglang’s face.

 

“All done. Open your eyes and take a look.”

 

Zhou Qinglang opened her eyes, first looking at Xia Wanshuang’s face and then at the mirror.

 

The person in the mirror was a stranger: short hair, a clean face, and a stiff expression.

 

Zhou Qinglang pulled at the corners of her mouth, and the person in the mirror did the same, looking like a smile.

 

“It’s not bad. You can go look in the big mirror in the bathroom and wash your face. The loose hair might be itchy.”

 

Zhou Qinglang put the mirror on the coffee table and went to the bathroom.

 

Zhou Qinglang washed her face and, as Xia Wanshuang had shown her, washed the towel and wrung it out before putting it back on the rack.

 

She looked at herself in the mirror from all sides, touched her face, and gave another stiff smile.

 

“Why is it different?”

 

Zhou Qinglang murmured, patting her face.

 

Her smile looked nothing like Xia Wanshuang’s. It was so ugly.

 

Zhou Qinglang puffed out her cheeks, deciding she wouldn’t smile anymore.

 

When Zhou Qinglang came out of the bathroom, Xia Wanshuang had already put away the homework and textbooks on the coffee table.

 

“Langlang, come watch cartoons.”

 

Xia Wanshuang had already turned on the TV, and Lazy Goat was stroking his belly and eating grass.

 

Zhou Qinglang sat down next to Xia Wanshuang and watched the cartoon. She looked at Lazy Goat’s hairstyle, and her expression was hard to describe, but she still didn’t say, “That sheep’s hair looks like a pile of poop.”

 

Pleasant Goat was still a fun show for kids, especially when Big Big Wolf failed and yelled, “I’ll be back!”

 

Xia Wanshuang saw Zhou Qinglang’s relaxed expression and secretly gave a thumbs-up. Suddenly, a zapping sound came from her head, startling her.

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: System, are you okay???

 

[System]: Hehehehhehe I’m fine. I just laughed so hard. Big Big Wolf is so silly.

 

He laughed so hard he got the hiccups?

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: System, have you never watched a cartoon before?

 

This system doesn’t seem very smart.

 

But considering it’s been disconnected, she let it go.

 

[System]: No. I was born into job training, and after passing the test, I was allowed to be a host.

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: Do you get paid for your job?

 

[System]: …

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: Health insurance and retirement benefits?

 

[System]: …

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: A pension?

 

[System]: Waaaah This Big Big Wolf is not funny at all!

 

The system stopped laughing and went to lick its wounds.

 

Just as Xia Wanshuang was about to say something to comfort it, Big Big Wolf failed again while disguised as an old sheep, and the zapping sound came from her head again.

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: Hiccups again?

 

[System]: Hahahahehehehahahahaha

 

If the system had a physical body, it would have seen the look of genuine concern for an idiot on Xia Wanshuang’s face.

 

At six o’clock, Jiang Wan knocked on the door and asked Xia Wanshuang to bring Zhou Qinglang over for dinner.

 

Xia Wanshuang agreed, took Zhou Qinglang’s hand, and they both went to the house next door in their slippers.

 

[System]: Oh no, I’m a little nervous. The male and female leads are about to meet. Do you think it will be love at first sight?

 

[Xia Wanshuang]: Be a decent human being. They’re just kids.

 

Love at first sight was impossible, but Zhao Tianhang was indeed quite interested in the little sister he had never met.

 

“Shuangshuang, who is she?”

 

“She’s my sister, Langlang. Langlang, this is my brother, Tianhang.”

 

Zhou Qinglang hid behind Xia Wanshuang and nodded at Zhao Tianhang.

 

“Hello, sister Langlang. Here, have a candy. Shuangshuang, you have one too.”

 

Zhao Tianhang pulled two milk candies out of his pocket and held them out to Xia Wanshuang.

 

Zhou Qinglang didn’t reach out. She looked at Xia Wanshuang, and only when Xia Wanshuang nodded did she take the candy and quietly say “thank you.”

 

“Tianhang, why don’t you take your sisters and go play? The food will be ready soon.”

 

“Okay,” Zhao Tianhang replied. He took Xia Wanshuang’s hand. “Shuangshuang, come with me! Sister Langlang, you too! I want to show you my new toy cars!”

 

Zhou Qinglang watched Zhao Tianhang run off, holding Xia Wanshuang’s hand. She felt a little unhappy for some reason and quickly followed them.