Reboot the heyday

"Okay, I'll let you go."

Snowball's "threat" was obviously a half-joking remark, and the two ended up just laughing and joking around in the living room like two carefree big kids.

After causing enough trouble, Snowball reverted to being the obedient girl she always was, at least on the surface. Yeah, you know what I mean.

Snowball helped Wang Taika clean up the remaining food and even washed the cups. After finishing his own tasks, Wang Taika turned to watch her work. He wasn't trying to slack off, but he did lean against the kitchen door frame, watching her busy figure, and felt a sense of peace.

Wang Taika finally relaxed completely, as if he had returned to a simple moment when he didn't need to calculate or weigh things.

"Luckily, they were all pre-packaged. Next time, I won't even take the boxes," Snowball muttered.

Wang Taika looked at her amusedly: "Who told you to buy so much and eat it so voraciously?"

"Because I'm happy to eat with you!" Snowball said matter-of-factly, her eyes curving into crescents. "And seeing you eat so heartily makes me even more hungry."

Wang Taika said, "Alright, leave the rest to me."

"Aigu, there's nothing more to say now, isn't it a bit late to say this?" Snowball pouted, exposing the truth without hesitation.

Wang Taika genuinely didn't do it on purpose, so he explained, "No, it was just a commotion."

"Haha, don't explain. Wait a minute." Snowball suddenly remembered something, and ran barefoot into the living room. A moment later, she brought out two cups of fruit tea.

"Here, this is to cut through the richness. I bought some, but I forgot to take it." She shoved one cup into Wang Taika's hand, holding the other one for herself: "I heard you've been staying up late a lot lately, this is good for your health."

Wang Taika took the cup, and a refreshing aroma mixed with the sweetness of honey wafted up. Looking up again, he saw Xueqiu in front of him, like a little dragon guarding a treasure, holding the cup with both hands, sipping it slowly, her face filled with simple satisfaction. He felt as if his heart was being soothed by the cup of hot tea.

but.
"Banana flavored?" Wang Taika grinned.

“Yeah, I know you don’t like banana flavor, so I bought it especially for you,” Snowball said.

"What? Wait a minute."

Wang Taika looked around, somewhat uncertainly, and went to find the fourth wall, wanting to ask the author or screenwriter hiding behind it if there were any typos in this passage.

If there were no typos, what would it mean to say "I know you don't like banana flavor, so I bought it especially for you"? That's definitely a typo.

Snowball grinned mischievously. "Teacher, I'm finding that the older I get, the better I understand you. No wonder you insisted on calling Unnie cilantro 'cilantro'. I understand that feeling now. I know you just like bananas as a fruit, but hate anything banana-flavored. But I still want to sell you this, okay?"

What a terrible personality trait! Who did you learn it from?
Oh, I'm her teacher, I almost forgot.

"So I was really that awful," Wang Taika chuckled. "But you clearly haven't learned it properly. I'm awful because I have the means to be. As for you, your awful behavior will be severely punished by me."

Snowball wasn't afraid at all and stared directly into Wang Taika's eyes: "Come on, I was afraid you wouldn't be willing."

Looking at Xueqiu's confident and carefree demeanor, Wang Taika was struck right at the heart by her words, "I'm afraid you won't be willing to part with it."

Okay, you see if I'm willing to part with it.

"You!" Wang Taika shook his head in defeat, picked up the cup of fruit tea that smelled strongly of banana flavoring, and took a sip with a death-defying air.

As expected, that extremely unpleasant, cloying sweetness from artificial flavoring instantly filled my mouth. "Oh my, you really drank it?" Snowball was startled, realizing it was a prank. She then took out another cup she had hidden: "This one is for you, the banana one. I bought it just to tease you."

Wang Taika turned around and spat it out, saying, "It really tastes awful."

"Then why did you drink it?" Snowball asked, somewhat puzzled, then squinted and asked, "You're not saying that even if it were poison, you would drink it if I gave it to you, are you?"

Wang Taika frowned: "Am I that dramatic?"

Okay, I used to be able to say that, but I definitely wouldn't now. People have changed. Both myself and the people I'm dealing with have changed.

Snowball secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If Wang Taika had actually said those words, she would not have felt touched at all; instead, she would have felt terrible.

Wang Taika said, "Although I've changed my fussy ways, there's one thing I'm afraid I can't change: my stubbornness. I knew from a young age that I didn't like banana-flavored things. But after so many years, when I encounter them again, I still can't help but want to challenge myself."

Snowball smiled; she liked the answer. Actually, no matter how Wang Taika answered, it wouldn't affect her liking for him. But every single one of Wang Taika's answers perfectly hit the mark she wanted.

A person needs the courage to keep trying. This is Wang Taika's weakness, but also his strength. Xueqiu happens to lack this courage.

"Teacher, have I grasped the essence of your teachings?"

Wang Taika looked at Xueqiu; under the light, her skin was fair and radiant, her smile pure, with a hint of mischievous slyness, vibrant and lively. So, his tone carried a hint of indulgence he himself didn't realize: "Who told you to be my student? This is called the student surpassing the master."

"Of course!" Snowball raised its little face, like a proud cat.

Wang Taika followed up by saying, "You've learned very well, but don't learn it anymore."

"Don't worry, teacher." Snowball's tone suddenly softened, carrying a serious promise: "My meanness is only for you."

"Um, thank you." Although he could sense that this was a unique favor and promise, Wang Taika still couldn't help but complain: "Actually, it's fine if we're not close."

It was getting late, and Snowball seemed a little sleepy. Her voice gradually became nasal, almost like she was pouting. She yawned slightly and rubbed her eyes.

"Rest if you're tired. We have a schedule tomorrow," Wang Taika said, glancing at the time.

Snowball mimicked Wang Taika's earlier actions, looking around and asking, "Where should we rest?"

"Don't worry!" Wang Taika was righteous at first, but what he said next was outrageous: "Now that you're here, I never intended to send you away."

"Bad teacher." Snowball clung to Wang Taika's arm, lazily not wanting to move. "But I'll be alone if I go back, so I'll just stay here."

The multiple armbands were actually quite heavy. But seeing how dependent she seemed, Wang Taika's heart softened, and he let her have them.

He dimmed the living room lights, leaving only a warm wall lamp. The two chatted casually, about everything from the most mundane topics to the most trivial things, in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Then, without realizing it, the more they chatted, the less clothing they wore, probably because the room was getting a bit warm. Then they felt a little cold, so they hugged each other.

That's just how it is, believe it or not. (End of Chapter)