1 I Want to Marry You

It was a hot July in midsummer. There wasn't a single cloud in sight in the royal blue sky, and the dazzlingly bright sun streamed over the earth. In the air, a sweet scent of ice cream and watermelon lingered pleasantly.

Three-year-old Bai Xiaotu had just moved for the first time in her young life. Now, she held tightly onto her mother's hand as she obediently followed her on a visit to their new neighbor.

In fact, their new neighbor, Zhou Yue, was someone who was already known to Bai Xiaotu's mother, Zhou Ling. The two of them had been best friends all during their high school years, and because they had the same surname, people had always mistaken them for sisters.

At this moment, Bai Xiaotu watched as her mother chatted animatedly with Auntie Zhou. She was really bored as she sat on the sofa with a banana, an apple, and a yummy snack and tried to figure out which of these she should eat first.

Before she'd had time to make a decision about what to bite into, she heard PING PING PONG, and then THUMP! It seemed as if some heavy object had fallen down over their heads.

Everyone sitting on the sofa had felt it shake along with the loud sounds.

Auntie Zhou looked dazed for a second, and then she laughed somewhat awkwardly, "It seems as if Yan Yan has woken up from his nap."

As soon as she'd finished speaking, a young boy in a white shirt came walking down the stairs. He was holding onto his forehead with one hand, and gripping the stairway railing with his other hand as he said exasperatedly, "Mom...why did you put the easel by my bedside again?"

"Ah...hee, hee, hee, sorry. I forgot there's no room for it there. I promise I'll move it later." Auntie Zhou smiled apologetically at the young boy.

"Oh, hi. I didn't know we had guests." The young boy descended the stairs slowly. He carried himself with a graceful air, as if he was taking a leisurely walk on the beach. He seemed to be about ten years old, and he had a fair, fine-featured face with skin that was as smooth and delicate as jade porcelain. His dark eyes flickered with a light that resembled bright stars, and his long lashes fluttered. His pink lips were curled up into a welcoming smile.

The dazzling sunlight that poured through the windows seemed to be casting an illuminating glow upon him.

He looked...so strikingly handsome!

Bai Xiaotu stared at him with a dazed expression as she thought how she had never seen anyone this good-looking before.

"Yan Yan, come over here, so I can introduce you." Auntie Zhou beamed as she waved the young boy over. She pointed to Bai Xiaotu. "This is younger sister Xiaotu. This is your auntie. Her surname is Zhou as well."

"Hello, Auntie." The young boy politely greeted Bai Xiaotu's mother with a smile, and then he proceeded to look Xiaotu up and down.

"This is my son, Cheng Zhiyan." Auntie Zhou had one hand on Cheng Zhiyan's shoulder as she smiled and introduced him to Bai Xiaotu.

"Orange juice...salt…??" These were the words that came into her mind when she heard his name.

Xiaotu seemed confused, and she wondered if orange juice with salt in it tasted good.

"Xiaotu, greet the older brother," Xiaotu's mother said as she patted her daughter on the head and urged her to remember her manners.

"Greetings, older brother!" Xiaotu obediently flashed a cheery smile at Cheng Zhiyan, and her big bright eyes sparkled when she smiled.

Cheng Zhiyan was caught off guard a bit by her enthusiasm, but then the corners of his mouth curled up too as he also broke out into a jolly smile.

Even though it was only for a fleeting moment, Xiaotu felt as if she had seen countless gorgeous flowers burst into bloom all at once.