My childhood sweetheart, who was reborn with me, ended up as a loser.

Chapter 22 Xiao Fan is a Little Angel

Things buried in your heart are like a thorn; the longer you keep them hidden, the deeper they pierce.

To maintain her facade of strength, Zhang Chunxue never told these things to outsiders.

She didn't want outsiders to see her vulnerable side, and she especially didn't want Yi Yi to see her break down.

Xu Qingfan's identity as a child gave Zhang Chunxue the opportunity to lower her guard, and his words about wanting to help Yi Yi touched the soft spot in Zhang Chunxue's heart.

The two squatted under the eaves of the abandoned house. Zhang Chunxue cried her eyes out, and Xu Qingfan, as if by magic, pulled out a pack of tissues from his pocket and handed them to Aunt Zhang one by one.

They cried for a long time, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on their foreheads and backs.

Zhang Chunxue used the last tissue to wipe her snot from her nose and sat on the ground without any regard for her image.

"Xiao Fan is a little angel." Zhang Chunxue said with a smile in her eyes, pinching his cheek.

After a good, carefree cry, Zhang Chunxue hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.

"It's good that I can help Auntie. My mom usually calls me Bone-Melting Dragon." Xu Qingfan shrugged helplessly.

"Hehehe..." Zhang Chunxue burst into laughter through her tears, opened her arms and hugged him tightly.

Although it was very hot, the pretty auntie's hug smelled so good that it petrified Xu Qingfan, this innocent little boy.

Zhang Chunxue hugged him tighter and continued, "Yiyi and my lover were buried in the ground for a day and a night. When they were rescued... sob... my lover was already... already..."

"Yi-Yi was already unconscious at the time. She was taken to the hospital and treated for a long time. After she woke up, Yi-Yi became very shy and stopped talking."

"The doctor said this is acquired aphasia caused by severe trauma, and it will get better after a while."

"I've been by Yi Yi's side for the past three years, and I want to hear her call me 'Mom'..."

Xu Qingfan gently stroked Zhang Chunxue's back, tears welling up in his own eyes.

"If we compare Yi Yi's illness to leveling up in a game, then Auntie's three years of companionship have definitely leveled her up to level 99. For the last level, Wan Ning, Ruan Wen, Xiao Xiao, and I will all help Yi Yi."

"Yes... Auntie knows, Auntie is especially grateful to you, thank you so much, really."

"Okay, okay, Auntie, why do you cry even more than a child? I'm out of tissues!"

Zhang Chunxue chuckled, lightly tapped his head, and retorted, "Which eye of yours saw Auntie cry? There was just some sand in her eye."

"Yes, yes, Aunt Sha, let me take you to find well water to wash your face."

Zhang Chunxue glared at him, then got up and helped him brush the dust off his bottom.

Xu Qingfan also wanted to reciprocate, but he wasn't as quick as Aunt Zhang, who had already taken the photos herself.

There are many abandoned wells in the countryside. In the past, several families would pool their money to drill a well in front of their house for convenient water use. Later, when new buildings were built and tap water was connected, the wells were naturally abandoned.

People only remember it when the water and electricity are cut off.

Xu Qingfan hauled the water up with a thud, and Zhang Chunxue scooped up some well water and splashed it on her face, instantly restoring her radiant appearance.

Although her eyes and nose were still a little red, she gave off a sense of relaxation, like a strong woman letting her guard down.

After washing her face, Zhang Chunxue wet her hands again and helped Xu Qingfan wipe his sweat.

As he wiped the fabric from her forehead down to her lower abdomen, Xu Qingfan cautiously tightened his pants.

"Hehehe~ Auntie has seen everything, why is Xiao Fan still shy?" Zhang Chunxue giggled, in a very peculiar state.

Relaxed, carefree, leisurely, and at ease.

Xu Qingfan blushed deeply, took off his shoes, rolled up his trousers, poured the cold well water onto his thighs, and couldn't help but hum softly in comfort.

They put the manhole cover back on and returned hand in hand the way they came.

"Xiao Fan, did you have any inspiration to write a poem today?"

"When my aunt was crying just now, a song came to mind."

"Oh? Really? Quickly, read it to Auntie!"

Zhang Chunxue had only asked casually, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

"People are like trees. While shedding tears, they are also watering themselves. When the tears are all gone, you have grown up."

"Wow, that's well said!"

Zhang Chunxue was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth. Suddenly she understood Lin Jing's "bragging" that morning. It turned out she really could speak poetry on the spot!

[Would you consider this a poem Xiaofan wrote for me?]

"Was this poem written by Xiaofan for Auntie?" Zhang Chunxue asked as soon as she thought of it.

"That's right!" Since that's what they asked, how could Xu Qingfan possibly say no?

"I really like it, thank you Xiaofan!" Zhang Chunxue ruffled his hair wildly with her big hands; the buzz cut just felt so good.

...

When the two returned home, everyone was already awake.

Under Lin Wanning's leadership, a game called "Finding the Missing Brother Qingfan" is underway.

"Brother Qingfan!" Lin Wanning suddenly poked his head out from under the sofa, startling Xu Qingfan and Zhang Chunxue who had just entered the room.

"Wanning, why are you crawling under the sofa? Are you playing hide-and-seek?" Xu Qingfan stepped forward and helped her up. Fortunately, her grandmother was very clean, and the area under the sofa was spotless.

Lin Wanning didn't answer him immediately, but instead shouted at the top of her lungs, "Ningning found Brother Qingfan! Ningning found Brother Qingfan!"

The next second, Xiao Ruanwen, Zhang Yiyi, and Xia Xiaoxiao rushed back from all directions.

"Xiao Fan, where did you go? We woke up and found you were gone," Xiao Ruanwen asked first.

"I just walked around the village, hoping to find some stray cats to pick up, but I didn't see any." Xu Qingfan's lies came out so easily that even Zhang Chunxue was slightly surprised.

[Xiao Fan, this should be considered a white lie, right...? Absolutely!]

"Meow meow meow~" Lin Wanning put her little hands on her head, the cute little wildcat was on duty online.

"Little wildcats catch mice, you know. Does Wan Ning want to catch mice too?"

"Ah, no, no, no!" Upon hearing that he was going to catch a mouse, Lin Wanning immediately stopped acting cute and shook his head at lightning speed.

Everyone smiled knowingly. Xiao Ruanwen found a family photo from somewhere, held it up, and asked, "Xiao Fan, is this you?"

She pointed to the baby still in swaddling clothes.

"This is my cousin, and this is my mom. I wasn't even born yet at this time."

Zhang Chunxue curiously came over to watch.

"What are you looking at? Why didn't you wake me up after everyone woke up?"

"Godmother!"

"Aunt Lin Jing!"

Lin Jing stretched and came in through the door, immediately diverting everyone's attention.

"Ha, so this is the photo. I took it." Lin Jing perked up immediately after seeing the photo that they were all looking at.

"Godmother, you could afford a camera back then?"

"No, that day was my junior high graduation. I rented a camera to take pictures, and I still had a few rolls of film left, so I took a picture of Ah Ping's whole body..."

Upon seeing her grandfather return from outside, Lin Jing immediately hid the photo behind her back.

"Grandpa, why are you still busy in this sun?"

"Hehehe, I'm used to being a workaholic. Everyone stay for dinner tonight, and I'll go kill another goose."

"Grandpa, we'll be going back soon, no need to kill the goose."

"We're leaving soon, so I'll kill a goose for you to take back with you."

Goose:???

......