I save a pathological girl with a twisted love story.

"Your mother is looking for you, so you'd better wear a hat to cover your face."

Xia Wuzhao spoke coldly, causing the smile on Asahi Aoi's face to vanish instantly.

Her expression changed, but she ultimately remained silent and said, "I understand."

Natsugiri Kai casually recounted Yajima Risa's words to Asahi Aoi.

Aoi simply nodded, indicating that she understood.

She tilted her little face up and said to Xia Wuzhao, "I will refuse her again, I will definitely refuse her."

"However, it's not for Risa Yajima."

That's what the girl said.

That's good.

Xia Wuzhao responded and prepared to turn and leave.

"Are you just leaving like that?" Aoi Asahi called out to Natsugiri Kai.

“Yes,” Xia Wuzhao said. “Is there anything else?”

"Me? I'm probably fine." Asahi ran her fingers through her hair, leaving white flour residue on her dark strands.

It's too eye-catching.

She said, "Won't you chat with your mother-in-law a little longer?"

Xia Wuzhao simply waved her hand, said something to her mother-in-law, and left.

Watching his departing figure, Aoi Asahi felt utterly powerless and could only let out a small sigh.

After a while, the mother-in-law slowly stood up and walked into the store.

She said, "That guy A-Zhao is really something. He has such a good girl like you, yet he didn't stay longer. It's really something."

The mother-in-law shook her head.

But she said to Aoi, "Aoi, you should also work hard."

The girl blushed slightly, and felt a little sad.

“Mother-in-law, my relationship with him isn’t very good.”

"No way," the mother-in-law shook her head and said, "Look at what you're saying. If the relationship wasn't good, would he have gone out of his way to give you a gift?"

"This is just a prop." Aoi Asahi wanted to touch the sun hat, but then stopped because her hands were covered in flour.

"This is the gift, Xiao Kui." Grandma said warmly, "Xiao Kui, you are cute and have a great figure."

"What boy wouldn't like you? Ah-Zhao just can't say it. He's such an awkward kid. I don't know if it's because of that old man's upbringing."

Her mother-in-law patted her on the shoulder and said, "So he feels like he's lost if he speaks up. That's when you need to take the initiative."

Aoi was a little shy, but after thinking about it, she finally said shyly, "Grandma, I've already been very proactive."

“But that’s not enough, A-Kui.” Grandma said with a smile, “Happiness is something you have to hold onto tightly and never let go for a moment.”

"Only by fighting tooth and nail can one possibly achieve happiness."

The mother-in-law said, "Back then, I also used a secret weapon to finally grasp happiness."

"Secret weapon?"

Sunflower was very curious.

"Yes, that's right. It's a secret weapon, Xiao Kui." Grandma said, "If Xiao Kui wants it, I'll take it out and give it to you."

Aoi hesitated, wavering.

"If that's the case, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting it?"

"But Keiko is searching for herself. She's constantly searching for herself. By the time the vacation ends, will she really be able to handle everything perfectly?"

Keiko's situation was like a sword hanging over his head, making Asahi Aoi feel anxious and panicked.

She hesitated for a long time before finally nodding and saying, "Mother-in-law, I want it."

The mother-in-law smiled broadly: "Ah-Zhao is a very responsible person, so don't worry."

She found a bottle of rice wine in the corner; the rice wine looked to be quite old.

There was also a handwritten label on the bottle indicating which year it was left to air dry.

"Grandma, is this the secret weapon?" Asahi asked in surprise.

“That’s right, that’s the secret weapon.” The mother-in-law said with a smile, “Back then, I found happiness with just a bottle of wine.”

The old woman placed the bottle into Asahi's hand.

Asahima felt as if she were holding a burning red-hot charcoal just by holding the bottle.

Their burning cheeks were bright red.

She stammered, "Mother-in-law, do we really have to do this?"

"It's up to you to choose."

My mother-in-law said, "Girls are so lucky. Sometimes, just one act of courage is enough to find happiness."

Asahi Aoi felt her cheeks flush red and her head spin.

Her fingers were trembling, and she quickly put the bottle aside.

She said to her mother-in-law, "Mother-in-law, we are still high school students. We can't drink alcohol."

Seeing Sunflower's shy expression, the old woman, speaking from experience, said, "Then just treat it as rice juice, okay?"

Chapter 80 The Bloom Lasts Only for a Fleeting Moment [2/5]

Aoi accepted the rice juice her mother-in-law gave her, even though she still felt a little ashamed and uneasy.

But what other choice do we have but to do this?

She didn't want the fireworks display to happen again.

"Even now, we still can't go back to the relationship we had before the fireworks festival."

Even now, I still can't call him by his name.

"So this time, I must succeed."

"I—can no longer bear it, so I'll take this opportunity to express all my feelings."

"Even if I fail, it's okay. I have my reasons and excuses. I won't ruin the relationship that we've worked so hard to improve."

The girl made up her mind in the afternoon.

She asked her mother-in-law for leave in advance, and her mother-in-law said to her kindly, "Go on, good luck, Xiao Kui."

Sunflower was extremely shy; the old man's jokes always left the young people feeling awkward.

She washed the flour off her hands, tied the wine bottle with a rope, and carried it as she accepted the wages her mother-in-law handed her.

After thanking her grandmother again, the girl ran out, clutching her sun hat.

She needs to go to the supermarket to buy groceries first.

In the afternoon, the crowds thinned out considerably.

It's probably because it's so hot at this time of day. The crowds only pick up again in the evening when it cools down a bit.

The girl's steps were both cheerful and light.

Because that happiness seems so attainable, as if one could grasp it simply by trying.

She bought some vegetables and some sauce.

Only then did he carry the bag home.

"I am back."

As soon as she called out, she instinctively put the keys in the bowl next to her.

"My mother-in-law gave me some juice today."

Asahi, leaning against the wall, kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot on the floor.

She said she'd like me to bring some for you to try.

However, the girl did not put the rice juice on the table, but on the kitchen counter.

She was going to change to a different bottle.

Xia Wuzhao said, "The money for the groceries is already on the counter; you can just take it yourself."

Aoi looked around and found a banknote at the bottom of the bag.

"That's a bit too much."

“Then consider it payment for labor,” Xia Wuzhao said. “After all, you can’t find people these days without paying them.”

Aoi said somewhat angrily, "So, I'm the cook?"

"Why not just treat it as a temporary part-time job?" Xia Wuzhao said while doing practice problems. "You have nothing else to do anyway, don't you?"

"Hmph." Aoi grumbled in dissatisfaction, but didn't say anything more.

This time, it doesn't need to be so lavish.

I steamed rice, fried a few fish, and then made miso soup again.

The vegetables were made into a salad, and there was also fried food.

But it was already dusk, and I didn't know if this counted as lunch or dinner.

Asahi packed the rice wine into a fruit can jar and carefully hid the jar in the cupboard.

After serving everything, Xia Wuzhao put down her book and brought the food to the dining table.

The two sat facing each other, keeping to themselves and not interfering with each other's business.

It's as if there's an invisible barrier between us.

But Asahi placed the bottle of rice juice on the table and said, "This is the juice that Grandma gave us."

Xia Wuzhao glanced at the object, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Is this juice?"

"Mmm." Aoi nodded and smiled, "Grandma said it's juice, so this is probably juice."

I don't think so.

"But this was given to me by my mother-in-law. If it wasn't juice, what could it be?" Asahi Aoi pretended not to know.

After glancing at the girl, Xia Wuzhao stopped worrying about whether it was juice or not.

Aoi gave a sly smile and picked up two small cups.

After pouring Xia Wuzhao a glass of juice, he poured himself a glass of juice as well.

"Grandma wants you to try it."

The girl urged him on, pretending not to care.

Xia Wuzhao finally picked up the cup and took a small sip.

It's slightly sweet, and really does taste like fruit juice.

After seeing Xia Wuzhao drink it, the girl's anxiety, which had been pounding in her heart, gradually subsided.

She also took a small sip.

"It's a little sweet."

The girl drank it all without worry and then continued eating.

Perhaps because it was summer, she felt a bit hot.

I felt a little cooler after taking off my cardigan.

But her cheeks still involuntarily flushed red.

Xia Wuzhao, however, remained unfazed.

The girl grew bolder and said, "Can you tell me about your grandfather?"

"he?"