Chapter 12 Vaccination

She was afraid of being beaten because she was afraid of pain, not because she was afraid of him! With such an insult thrown her way, if she continued to be a shrinking turtle, she wouldn't be able to respect herself!

"Since you've already eavesdropped, don't look for those pointless excuses. Weren't my words clear enough just now? I'm willing to marry you because of Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun, because of Meiying, oh no, because of Xiaoqiong. You think it's because of you? Keep dreaming!"

At that moment, Chuxia was like a little kitten with its fur standing on end, her big eyes round and almost brimming with tears, her pale little face flushed with an unhealthy red from excitement... Such a sight of her, she seemed even more stunning, not to mention Luo Hongqi, even Luo Xiaoqiong was transfixed.

"Chuxia, my mother is right, you really are a beauty. If you can take care of yourself properly, you'll be even more beautiful," after a moment, Luo Xiaoqiong sincerely praised.

Chuxia smiled bitterly. This body was indeed beautiful; she remembered being mesmerized when she first looked in the mirror, unable to snap out of it for quite a while. But what of it? In this era, what could she do?!

"Tsk!" Luo Hongqi scoffed disdainfully, "Xiaoqiong, whether a girl is beautiful should not just be judged by her looks. What's the use of marrying someone like her? To worship her like a goddess? Besides, in my opinion, she's far worse than you, far worse... than many girls in the village. Could it be that you think she has nothing else to commend, so you always spoil her like this?

Yes, our parents did wrong by Uncle Baohe and Aunt Yulan in the past, but that doesn't mean we owe their family for a lifetime. These years, the best food, we gave to her; the best clothes, also to her. What was owed has by now been mostly repaid!"

Chuxia stood up, "I'm tired and going home to sleep, Xiaoqiong, I'm leaving."

Shouldn't she be so angry that her fur would explode? Her current reaction was too strange! Even if not bashing Luo Hongqi, she should at least have scolded him!

It wasn't until Lin Chuxia pushed Luo Hongqi out the door that Luo Xiaoqiong came back to her senses, hurriedly slipped on her shoes and got off the kang: "Chuxia, Chuxia, wait for me..." At the doorway, seeing Luo Hongqi still standing there dumbfounded, she pushed him angrily, "Just wait for our parents to beat you!"

Only when his sister's figure had run out of the yard did Luo Hongqi come back to his senses. He had watched Lin Chuxia grow up, but why did he feel that he understood her less and less, especially in the past six months? She was so different from the wilful, sharp-tongued person she used to be, they seemed like two different people!

Could it really be that she had grown up and become sensible? Reflecting on his words just now, he felt they were indeed too excessive. Thinking this, a twinge of guilt washed over him, and he silently decided to observe her for a few more days. If she had truly become sensible, he would treat her better.

But to marry her... his mood dampened again...

When Luo Xiaoqiong caught up with Chuxia, she quickly grabbed her: "Chuxia, don't be sulking. If you're angry, let it out. Otherwise, hit me, I'm Luo Hongqi's own sister, it's only right I take a beating for him. Hit me..."

"I'm not sulking," Chuxia's voice carried a cheerful tone, "Besides, everyone should pay their own debts. Why should you pay for Luo Hongqi?"

She genuinely felt happy. Luo Hongqi's attitude made it clear she had made the right move; getting out of this situation in the future would definitely not be troublesome. So, hehe...

"Really..." Luo Xiaoqiong almost pressed her face close, examining her, "You're not angry?"

"Do I need to pretend with you?" Chuxia smiled at her and shoved her back gently, "It's still cold outside, you better go back inside quickly. We'll talk more tomorrow."

"Chuxia..."

Luo Xiaoqiong wanted to say something more, but couldn't sort out precisely what, hesitated for a moment and then stopped walking, "I'll go back then, I'll come find you tomorrow."

"Hmm," Chuxia waved her hand and walked towards her own home.

Watching the frail figure disappear into the night, Luo Xiaoqiong felt an inexplicable sense of irritation. Why did she feel that Chuxia had changed so much that she was becoming unrecognizable and, moreover, seemed to be drifting further away from her? Could it be that one mistake really meant there was no going back?

...

"Baohe, Yulan, let's head back."

"I'll have Hongqi send Chuxia back later. You don't need to worry—just go back."

Fat Auntie and Uncle Baohe were fussing over their goodbyes outside the courtyard gate,

Witnessing this scene, a smile unconsciously curled up on Chuxia's lips.

The warmth and closeness between people in this era was something she, a child who had grown up in the city, had never experienced. At first, she thought it was a bit pretentious. After all, they were just neighbors who saw each other every day. Why make such a fuss about popping in as if it were a long-awaited reunion?

Over time, she came to understand that this was their way of expressing affection—it seemed that only through such gestures could they make their feelings clear to others.

"Why didn't you hang out with Meiying a little longer?" Fat Auntie was the first to spot Chuxia and hurried over to grab her arm, "Hongqi should have escorted you. I'll scold him when I get back. He's about to get married and still so thoughtless."

"It's just a few steps, I can walk back safely on my own." Though her face couldn't be seen in the dark, her cheerful voice was evident, and Fat Auntie let out a sigh of relief, "Baohe, Yulan, Chuxia is back too. You all better hurry inside."

"Exactly, quickly go back inside. Chuxia is frail and shouldn't catch a cold and end up with a headache again."

As he spoke, Uncle Gangshun strode towards his house, followed by a few more pieces of nagging from Fat Auntie before she hurried after him.

Once inside the house, Baohe and Yulan stared intently at Chuxia's face, making her feel uncomfortable, "Dad, Mom, what's wrong? Don't you recognize me?" she asked uneasily.

"Chuxia, aren't you angry?" Yulan cautiously asked, "It's so dark, and Hongqi didn't walk you home. Aren't you really angry?"

Chuxia pouted, "What's there to be angry about? It's not like he and I haven't been at odds for just a day. If he suddenly changed his ways today, I'd be scared."

"Ah, I'm going out for a walk."

Knowing that Baohe was upset by Hongqi's attitude, Chuxia quickly grabbed him, "Dad, Mom just said, maybe when Hongqi is a bit older, he'll know how to care for others. Besides, I can't just suddenly start to like him. It's good this way. Both of us need time to adapt. If we feel it's right in the future, we'll get married; if not, we'll see what happens." Having said this, Chuxia let go of Baohe and stepped back, looking earnestly at her parents, "But, if it really doesn't work out between us, Dad and Mom, you can't force me."

Even though Hongqi's attitude had eased her heart a lot, she had to prepare Baohe and Yulan in advance just in case they, along with Fat Auntie, would pressure her into marrying Hongqi.