We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"Chen Qiuhe's father, who is also my uncle, is a..."

"Cousin, we're out of chocolate sauce. The order should say, 'Happy 18th birthday to our dear daughter xx.'" Chen Qiuhe suddenly poked her head out from the kitchen, abruptly interrupting Chen Yushan.

"That's all? I just bought a whole one last week."

"Cousin, come and see, I really can't find it."

"Alright, Xiao Shu and Xiao Bai, I'll go get busy now." Chen Yushan stood up, gave the two of them an apologetic smile, and turned to go into the kitchen.

I have a feeling that Chen Qiuhe deliberately interrupted her cousin, and Chen Yushan... why did she tell them these things? This is someone else's family matter, and even if she is outgoing, she wouldn't reveal it to two "strangers".

Considering that Chen Qiuhe had missed the first evening self-study session after the May Day holiday, Li Mubai secretly speculated that something might have happened recently.

What should we do now? We've finished the cake and desserts, should we leave?

He had just looked up when he met Xie Shu's gaze, which was fixed on him.

"W-what's wrong?"

"Your brows are furrowed every now and then, are you thinking about Chen Qiuhe?"

Chen Qiuhe was a person who was good at hiding himself. If anyone in the whole school knew Chen Qiuhe best, it would probably be Li Mubai, who happened to witness their argument after the parent-teacher conference.

"Yes."

He was unsure whether to tell Xie Shu, since it was Chen Qiuhe's matter, and he preferred to keep it a secret for others.

"Judging from her cousin's tone, it doesn't seem to be anything good."

Li Mubai nodded.

"Haha, what a coincidence! We must be able to eat ten pounds of chocolate to meet here."

Does Chen Qiuhe have a split personality? Just a moment ago she was being coy and hesitant to acknowledge him, but now she's carrying a tray, smiling naturally, and walking over quickly.

"I was worried about bringing the jasmine matcha mousse cake, but I didn't expect you guys to come knocking on my door... uh, I mean, to come knocking on my door."

She placed two identical mousse cakes on the table, the top layer of which was decorated with white chocolate petals and sprinkled with fine green chocolate shavings.

"Qiuhe, are you busy?" Xie Shu asked, looking at her.

"Not busy at all, you can see there aren't many people in the store."

"Then sit down and eat together."

"Actually, it's still quite busy. There are many orders to be fulfilled that can't be seen with the naked eye." Chen Qiuhe gestured exaggeratedly with her fingers.

"Let's eat together. I just ate a cake, so I might not be able to finish this one," Xie Shu added.

"We can give it to Li Mubai," Chen Qiuhe said immediately.

"I have a small appetite, I'll be full even if I eat one more."

Although it's unclear why Xie Shu wanted to keep Chen Qiuhe, he definitely took sides unconditionally.

"Uh—" Under Xie Shujing's quiet gaze, Chen Qiuhe finally gave in, "Okay, okay, as long as you don't mind me eating yours."

She pulled up a chair and sat down.

Xie Shu didn't eat much of the jasmine mousse; she only took a small bite before handing it to Chen Qiuhe.

Looking at Chen Qiuhe, who was quite pleased with her skills, Xie Shu spoke softly:

"Qiuhe, your cousin said your parents...have they encountered some difficulties?"

"Ah~" Chen Qiuhe pretended to be relaxed, "It's just a small matter."

Is it a small matter? Li Mubai didn't think so, but Chen Qiuhe was too good at hiding it; rather, she didn't want to trouble anyone.

"As your class monitor, if you encounter any difficulties, you can communicate with me and Li Mubai."

"Haha, thanks for your concern."

Xie Shuru said the same thing as Li Mubai, and Chen Qiuhe laughed and skipped the topic. As if she had thought of something, she asked:

"By the way, Xie Shu and Li Mubai, what are you doing here?"

"I've come to buy seal carving tools," Li Mubai said.

"I bought the seal carving tools yesterday. During art class, I'll carve the eight characters 'By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous,' and then I'll issue an imperial decree for your marriage, hehe."

"Don't talk nonsense." Li Mubai secretly glanced at Xie Shu, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that her expression was normal. Marriage was still too far away...

"Qiuhe, it's almost three o'clock, isn't it time to go back to school?" Chen Yushan came out of the kitchen, carrying a bag in her hand.

"Cousin, is the birthday cake ready?"

"Okay, we'll just wait for the delivery rider to pick it up."

"Okay." Chen Qiuhe turned to look at Li Mubai and Xie Shu, "Let's go!"

Chen Qiuhe was always so sunny and cheerful, but who knew how much darkness was hidden beneath that sunny face?

Xie Shu wanted to pay the bill, but Chen Yushan said it wasn't necessary and that it was on her and Li Mubai's behalf.

Ding! The customer has paid sixty yuan.

Li Mubai secretly observed the price list, paid the money, and Chen Yushan could only helplessly say that she would treat them next time.

"Don't forget your schoolbag and the art supplies I bought yesterday." She tossed the schoolbag and a bag to Chen Qiuhe.

"Cousin, what's this?" Chen Qiuhe opened it and saw a bag full of desserts.

"For your two classmates."

"Oh, thank you, cousin."

Seeing that Chen Qiuhe was about to leave with them, Chen Yushan suddenly called out to her again:

"Xiao Shu and Xiao Bai, you must be Qiu He's class monitors, right? Please take good care of her at school."

"What? Cousin, I'm not a three-year-old! I'm eighteen! According to seniority, they all have to call me Sister Chen!" Chen Qiuhe puffed out her cheeks.

"I think you have the youngest mental age."

"I don't know what mental age is." Chen Qiuhe waved her hand, grabbed Xie Shu's wrist, and said, "Let's go, let's go, it'll be too late if we don't leave now. I'll come see you again next week, cousin."

"goodbye."

It seems that Qiuhe has a good relationship with her two younger siblings, which puts Chen Yushan at ease. She just feels that life is too hard and that Qiuhe is very stubborn. She hopes that Qiuhe can also have a good time at school.

Speaking of which, it seems no one cares that Qiuhe is turning eighteen this year. Looking at the cake she was carrying, Chen Yushan felt guilty.

On her way back to school, Chen Qiuhe chatted and laughed, regaining her usual cheerful demeanor at school...

Li Mubai pushed open the door and entered the dormitory. He was late; he was the last person to return.

He put his schoolbag on the table, looked up, and found everyone staring at him with strange looks in their eyes.

"Why are you looking at me? Do I have something on me?" Li Mubai asked, puzzled.

The boys in the dormitory remained silent, none of them knowing how to start a conversation.

"No, Lao Bai, it's just that you haven't heard anything bad this week?" Yang Kun broke the silence and asked tentatively.

"Not good? No." Li Mubai shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing.

"Um—it's about you and XS."

"No." Li Mubai's doubt deepened. "Did someone say so?"

Yang Kun nodded slowly.

"What did you say?" Li Mubai asked, seemingly unconcerned, while continuing to unpack the luggage he had brought from home.

"I told you I'm with XS."

"oh."

This doesn't seem like a big deal; anyone who isn't blind should be able to see that their relationship is ambiguous.

"There are even harsher things they say, I hope you won't be angry when you hear them. They say... that you come from a poor family, that you're a gigolo, that you're a beautiful flower... and cow dung."

As Yang Kun spoke, he observed Li Mubai's expression. He saw that the latter's face gradually darkened and his hands stopped moving.