"Forget it," Cheng Ying found it quite comforting. "Come on, if you still say that after you get married, then I'll believe you."

Chi Wu was dismissive. "If I marry someone, of course, my eyes will only be for my wife. If it's not you, then who else could it be?"

Then she pursed her lips. Yingzi was wonderful in every way, except her emotional antenna was so dull. She had made herself so clear, yet Yingzi hadn't grasped it. She wondered when this agonizing ambiguity would end.

However, for Chi Wu to state it clearly, she dared not. She feared Yingzi would laugh at her. And punish her.

Moreover, deep down, Chi Wu felt that when it came to this matter with Yingzi, the best approach was soft persistence. It had always worked that way growing up.

Chi Wu said, "If you're not busy, why don't you knit me another vest? The one I have is getting a little tight."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu's current build. "It's just a little tight, and you still wear it?"

Chi Wu looked sheepish. "Isn't it the one you knitted? Otherwise, why would I wear it so close to my skin? Uh, I’m used to it. It’s form-fitting, and it supports my lower back."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu, feeling a pang of pity. How could her grandmother be so unobservant? Her own grandson didn't even have clothes that fit properly, and she didn't notice. He was already a grown man, yet he was out in the wind and dust daily, constantly tearing up. She looked at Chi Wu’s ill-fitting clothes. "That thing is from when you were in your teens; it’s long past fitting. Hey, why didn't you say so sooner? I'm so busy with my studies now, I can barely keep up. And now I have to knit a vest for you? I’ll go see if I have any more wool left. The yarn I buy isn't as good as what we process ourselves."

With that, she went out, needing to find a private place to check her spatial stash for yarn.

Chi Wu watched Cheng Ying, whose actions were swift despite her verbal reluctance. Her heart swelled with satisfaction. If anyone cared for Cheng Ying as much as Cheng Ying cared for her, well, just look. She didn't believe this person wouldn't become her wife.

Thinking back to when they sheared the sheep and washed the wool, Chi Wu didn't feel any of it was hard work—those were cherished memories, shared memories. The corners of her mouth curved slightly upward.

However, where exactly did Cheng Ying hide the wool? She and the old lady had been tidying up recently, but she hadn't seen any of it. Chi Wu frowned. If she had known, she would have bought the materials herself to save Cheng Ying from rummaging through everything. Now she and Grandma would have to clean up the mess.

By the time Cheng Ying returned to the west room, she was carrying not just two large balls of yarn but also a ready set of knitting needles.

Chi Wu thought dazedly, Cheng Ying was truly skilled at hiding things; she had never managed to find any of them.

Cheng Ying circled Chi Wu. "How about this? Let me measure you. I don't even know how wide your waist is now."

Chi Wu’s heart pounded with excitement. This was an invitation for an embrace!

Cheng Ying pulled Chi Wu to stand up, then held a length of yarn, wrapping it around Chi Wu’s waist.

Chi Wu swallowed hard; her heart rate quickened. She wondered if, in this position with Cheng Ying, she dared to hug her tightly. Would Cheng Ying bite her to death, or kick her? Chi Wu calculated the possibilities. Cheng Ying spent so much time roaming the mountains; whether biting or kicking, she would certainly pack a punch. Could she withstand it?

But Chi Wu was genuinely eager to try. This opportunity was too rare. Chi Wu extended her arms, clenched her fists, and then closed her eyes. She was going for it.

Let her bite me, she thought, echoing Cheng Ying’s earlier words: Taking advantage when it’s easy is what counts. Only the shameless can conquer the world.

Chi Wu had finished her mental preparation, but Cheng Ying had already finished taking the measurement and let go. She stood to the side, picking up the needles to start knitting Chi Wu’s vest.

Chi Wu was left hugging empty air, looking at Cheng Ying with lingering resentment. Why so fast with the action? Couldn't you let me savor the moment a little longer?

Chi Wu regretted it as she flopped onto the kang. No wonder Cheng Ying had said, Hesitate when you should act decisively, and you suffer the consequences. Next time there was an opening, she definitely wouldn't let it slip.

Chi Wu lay tilted on the kang, looking at Cheng Ying. "Where did you hide this yarn? I didn't see it when Grandma and I were cleaning the room the other day."

Cheng Ying paused her knitting. This nosy kid pays attention to the wrong things. Why does she care about this? "That's none of your business. If I hid something, why should you see it? If you see it, does it even count as something I hid?"

Chi Wu scoffed. "Hmph. This house is so small. I just wasn't paying attention when I looked. Next time, just watch; I’ll definitely find it for you."

Cheng Ying felt a sense of danger. The child was growing up and was quickly becoming harder to manage. Perhaps with this secret space she possessed, she wasn't suited for marriage and children. Someone guarding a secret like this... alas, perhaps solitary living was her destiny.

Cheng Ying felt a little lost, a little annoyed, and a touch melancholic. Was she fated for a lonely end? Did this life have no prospects?

Chi Wu watched Cheng Ying remain still for a long time. "Why are you so slow? Hurry up! I’m waiting to wear it."

Cheng Ying looked at the hapless child and resignedly began knitting the vest. First, serve the child. In the worst-case scenario, raise one child first, and then someone would be there to care for her in her old age.

Since the old lady was busy with her own chores and ignoring her, Cheng Ying figured she should find something to do too.

Chi Wu sat up, took out her books, and began reading nearby.

Cheng Ying felt a twinge in her heart. "Why do you get to read while I have to serve you? We’re both in high school; our studies are equally demanding, aren't they?" Even as she said this, her hands never stopped knitting.

Chi Wu didn't even look up. "Am I not preparing for a competition? Besides, if I study well, that means you studied well too. If I bring honor to the family, that means you bring honor to the family. What’s the difference? Taking good care of me is better than anything else."

After saying this, Chi Wu glanced at Cheng Ying. My bringing honor is your bringing honor,—Chi Wu left that part unsaid; it was too obvious.

Cheng Ying reflected that, since childhood, she had always taken care of Chi Wu in minute ways. Chi Wu saying she was bringing honor wasn't wrong; after all, she had contributed. Did Chi Wu have it easy with her studies? Didn't she provide the advanced review materials? Didn't she impart effective study methods? She had been a top student herself once. It was just that she was lazy now, seeking comfort, and her memory had slightly deteriorated. Overall, she was still quite good. Wasn't the current study environment relatively relaxed? Didn't everyone have some degree of inertia?

Seeing that Cheng Ying didn't object, Chi Wu’s eyes sparkled with smugness, as if she had received Cheng Ying’s endorsement.

Time flew quickly. October 1st had passed, and the exams were not far off. Cheng Ying's winter break would be short, and Chi Wu's competition was scheduled after the break. They were careful not to let high school students miss regular class time. Schools were always prudent when scheduling these events, taking normal class schedules into account.

Cheng Ying's grades were good, but never surpassed Chi Wu’s. In Chi Wu’s words, "You don't even look at books every day, yet you still score this well; it's already impressive. If you scored better than me, how would you face me, who carries books around daily?"

Cheng Ying stopped fussing. Her grades were good enough to satisfy Grandma; at least she had report cards. As for Chi Wu, she had taught her, so half the honor belonged to her.

When Cheng Ying walked onto the assembly stage to receive her award, many classmates saw the rumored student—the one said to be in poor health but academically superior, carrying an air of mystery.

Cheng Ying was wearing a blue padded jacket that day, paired with denim trousers painstakingly made by Grandma from labor cloth she had specifically sourced. Her shoes were snow boots; it wasn't that Cheng Ying disliked the traditional cloth-soled shoes, but it had started snowing. Grandma was worried the cloth soles wouldn't be waterproof and had insisted Cheng Ying change her footwear. It was cold in winter, so Cheng Ying’s hair was down, but the bangs were pinned back with a clip, making her look neat and clean. Her look was unique; in the 80s, people's standard for hair accessories was still hairbands. Cheng Ying’s style was crisp, enduring, and uncommon. Combined with her fair skin, she looked particularly striking.

Many students below whispered, "So this girl doesn't look so plain when she dresses up." Then came the quiet follow-up: "She's actually quite pretty." Girls are naturally jealous and reluctant to admit another girl is beautiful. Boys, naturally shy, wouldn't easily say a girl was pretty. Thus, Cheng Ying earned the single commentary: "She’s not plain after all."

Cheng Ying didn't know what the others were saying, but receiving the report card made her happy. Her grandmother only cared about academic achievements; this proved she had studied diligently.

Cheng Ying held the certificate, bowed to the teacher and classmates, and then stepped down.

Chi Wu watched Cheng Ying walk down, hearing the hushed comments of her classmates, her expression darkening. Cheng Ying was inherently outstanding, but by keeping a low profile at school, she avoided much attention. She hadn't realized that in the summer, dressed lightly, people hadn't noticed Cheng Ying's good figure. Now, bundled up in winter, people were finally getting a proper look.

Chi Wu felt deeply displeased. She regretted making Cheng Ying take off her floral padded coat. Why did I have to be nosy and make her wear that big blue coat? She regretted it immensely.

On the way home, Cheng Ying and Chi Wu walked. Grandma said that since it was snowing and the roads were slippery, walking was safer than driving. Besides, since the holiday had started, there was no need to rush; they could take their time and save gas.

Walking side-by-side, they were a striking sight on campus, turning heads among both boys and girls.

Cheng Ying beamed. "I told you I shouldn't wear the floral coat. See? Even without the floral outer layer, I still have market value!"

Chi Wu maintained a stern face, adopting an air of keeping others at a distance. "Are you happy for people to look at you?"

Cheng Ying glanced at the child beside her, genuinely unimpressed by the local crowd. "Oh, maybe I should just keep wearing it. It’s just a floral coat, it has its own character. I’ll wait until someone appreciates my inner beauty. These kids have no taste at all." Then Cheng Ying frowned. "But why is Grandma so insistent on me wearing those flowery tops?"

Chi Wu said, "Your figure, your looks—they just match those floral tops perfectly. I think you look best in the floral coats."

Cheng Ying wasn't so easily fooled now. Cheng Ming’s words had misled her greatly in the past. "Are you looking me in the eye when you say that?"

Chi Wu turned and looked at Cheng Ying seriously. "When I look at you, you are the most beautiful."

That was true, but she hadn't explicitly said the floral top was the most beautiful.

Cheng Ying was no longer shy. "That's right! I think I'm the most beautiful, too."

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