"Coincid..." Du Kang was dazed for two seconds before recognizing that this was the underclassman who often followed Gu Qiumian around. "Oh, oh, hello..."
He looked first at this familiar-acting underclassman, then at Zhang Shutong, quickly reacting:
"What are you following him for?"
"Shh!" Xu Zhiruo hurriedly shushed him. "Don't slander people! This is a chance encounter, a chance encounter! I definitely wasn't tracking him!"
"Do you take the two of us for fools?" Du Kang was amused. "Who needs to cover their whole face with a hat when riding a bus? What is it if not tracking? Spill it honestly!"
"Then aren't you two tracking him as well? And to think the three of you are good friends!"
"I..." Du Kang choked, thinking to himself, can a good brother's business be called tracking? That's called caring. He acted quick on his feet: "We have serious business today. How about you guess what the two of us are doing?"
"You two look to me like dog thieves!" The little secretary pointed her finger.
"Don't let her run circles around you," Qingyi interrupted, looking at the young girl. "The two of us can clarify face-to-face with Shutong at any time. How about you?"
"I..." Xu Zhiruo's aggressive demeanor instantly weakened.
"Have mercy, good heroes!" She stuck out her tongue.
"Acting cute won't work," the two said in unison.
"This matter really is a long story. Can you let me explain?" The young girl slapped her forehead.
A few minutes later, inside the bus, on the connected seats with their backs to the window, the three of them squeezed together.
"...And that's how it is," Xu Zhiruo shrugged. "I just came back by boat from the city, and happened to take the bus toward the urban district. In the end, after just a few stops, I saw blockhead... Senior Zhang lead a girl onto the bus. If you want to get technical, I was already sitting on the bus first. How can it be called tracking?"
"Then why did you cover your face?" Du Kang asked suspiciously.
"Oh, I just submitted a little report a few days ago. I felt a bit guilty and didn't dare let him discover me."
"Hey, hey, don't say that so righteously."
"Then you could have waited in your seat completely fine. What were you doing standing in the aisle?" Qingyi asked again.
"I was about to get off soon, so I was preparing in advance."
"It's that simple?"
"It's that simple." Xu Zhiruo blinked innocently. "By the way, by the way, how should I address you seniors?"
"Just call me Du Kang. This is Meng Qingyi."
"Hello Senior Du, hello Senior Meng." The young girl nodded obediently. "How should I address that senior sister over there?"
"Hello, hello." Du Kang scratched his head and smiled, suddenly feeling this underclassman was quite cute. "Though we don't know that girl either. Hey, Qingyi, say something too."
"You'd count the money for her even if you were sold by her," Qingyi said speechlessly. "Are you saying the two of them got on the bus from the previous stop?"
Xu Zhiruo nodded.
"This is strange then," Qingyi habitually rested his chin. "Du Kang, when you saw Shutong, he was also getting on the bus. Meaning across just one stop, they got off the bus at least twice, and both times were in the suburbs..."
Before he could finish his words, Xu Zhiruo pressed:
"You guys don't know what he's doing either? Is it a date?"
"A date?" Du Kang hesitated. "Probably not?"
Although he had also thought in this direction at the very beginning, after calming down, he really couldn't connect the word "Shutong" with the word "date." Besides, if it were really a date, it shouldn't be with a girl he just met.
"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and the day after is Christmas Day. How does it not look like one?" Xu Zhiruo asked calmly. "And the two of them have been sitting together the whole time?"
The three secretly turned their heads back again, but this time they made a new discovery—they saw the long-haired girl pick up the card camera on her chest, aim it out the window full of novelty, and after a few clicks, she lowered her eyelids and browsed the freshly taken photos with complete satisfaction.
"I understand." Qingyi was lost in thought.
"What?"
"Taking photos, right? No wonder we haven't seen that person before. She should be a tourist from outside the island, and Shutong seems to be guest-starring as a tour guide. They got off in the suburbs to shoot scenery."
"I understand too!" Du Kang slapped his thigh. "I kept saying why she looked familiar to me—isn't that the older sister from before? Do you remember, that time in the tunnel, Ruoping said this older sister took a photo of her?"
"Oh, her." Qingyi recalled as well. "I even introduced your family's restaurant to her."
Today, the young girl wore a white bucket hat, hiding that soft long hair inside, no wonder they didn't recognize her at first glance.
"Though how did the two of them get to know each other? She seems to be a high school student from the city," Du Kang wondered. "Now that you mention it, I suddenly remembered that day this older sister ate at our place. Not long after their table left, Shutong came running over panting. I was wondering back then why he was in such a hurry. Could it be that they've known each other for a long time?"
"How long ago?" Someone raised a hand to ask.
"Uh, why are you so excited?" Du Kang had a bit of a headache dealing with this noisy underclassman. "Alright, the truth can be considered revealed. It should be that she came to the island to play, and Shutong acted as a tour guide for once."
"Take a word of advice from a senior, don't make wild guesses."
Du Kang patted his chest to guarantee:
"I've known him for so many years. I guarantee with my character, it can't possibly be a date."
"Oh..." Xu Zhiruo's eyes darted around, who knew what she was thinking.
"Almost at the stop." Qingyi turned back. "Prepare to get off. Be careful not to expose ourselves."
"Got it."
The two put on their down jacket hoods properly again and walked briskly to the rear door of the bus.
"Though I'm still curious about one thing: how come I've never heard Shutong mention this senior sister's matter?"
Du Kang couldn't help asking in a quiet voice.
"Talk after getting down." Qingyi nudged him with his arm. "Watch the dog. Shutong knows Zorro too."
Soon the speed of the bus slowed down. The two held their breath, waiting for the bus to come to a steady stop. Although the truth was mostly clear, following a good brother for so long over a blunder was still somewhat embarrassing. Both felt their faces burning slightly, only wanting to rush out the door.
"Next stop, Beiyi Mall has arrived. Please take your belongings and get off..."
A sweet female voice broadcast echoed beside their ears.
"Quite a coincidence." Du Kang said with delayed realization. "Just right to go in and find something to eat?"
Qingyi nodded.
At the same time, the bus doors opened. Just as Du Kang took one step out, cold sweat slid down from his forehead:
"Wait, wait, wait, why did Shutong move as well?"
In the corner of his eye, Zhang Shutong and the senior sister wearing the bucket hat stood up together.
"Is... isn't this a bit too coincidental?" Du Kang was tongue-tied.
"Cut the nonsense, get down first."
Qingyi hurriedly pulled him, and the two quickly walked behind the bus stop sign. Just as they hid properly, they saw the other two get off the bus.
"Are the two of them really planning to stroll around the mall?" Du Kang was dazed, thinking to himself that his character seemed to be very worthless.
"Mm... possible." Qingyi shot a sideways glance.
"Clearly it's a certainty."
The two turned their heads at the same time, unable to hold back the urge to roast:
"Why are you still here!"
Xu Zhiruo poked her head out from behind the bus stop sign:
"Qiumian and I made an appointment to come to the mall for lunch at noon. Didn't I mention it just now?"
"Gu Qiumian is coming too?" Du Kang's head buzzed. He looked at Zhang Shutong's receding figure, then at Xu Zhiruo, subconsciously pulling out his phone.
"Don't even think about tipping off!"
Xu Zhiruo shouted sharply. The cute little underclassman was gone; revealing her tiger teeth, she sneered endlessly:
"Turns out Brother Blockhead still has the potential to be a scumbag. I actually couldn't tell before."
"What's a scumbag?"
"A word that recently became popular on the internet, referring to overly affectionate, two-timing men," Xu Zhiruo said offhandedly. She also picked up her phone and shook it seriously. "As for me, I'm actually not very willing to submit reports. It makes me look like a gossipmonger, otherwise I would have made contact on the bus long ago. But as you seniors saw just now, caught red-handed with the evidence. Who told me to stand on Qiumian's side?"
"Wait a moment first," Du Kang broke out in a cold sweat. He naturally knew the relationship between Zhang Shutong and Gu Qiumian was extraordinary; this indeed had the suspicion of being two-timing. "But it really might not be a date, right? Didn't we say acting as a tour guide? She hasn't been to our island's mall, taking her to visit a bit isn't allowed?"
Xu Zhiruo sneered:
"If our island had a cinema, would they go visit inside the cinema later too?"
Du Kang had no choice but to say that where there's a will to frame, there's a way. He winked frantically: "Qingyi, say a few words too."
"Is it very serious?" Qingyi was confused.
"Very serious!" The two said at the same time.
"Then let's follow up to check first?" Qingyi thought for a bit. "I don't think it looks like a date either. It won't be good if a misunderstanding arises."
"Forget it." Xu Zhiruo let out a sigh and put away her phone. "You guys are older, so we'll listen to you then. I'm really unwilling to speak ill of people behind their backs. Let's go, let's go. It just so happens there's still a period of time before lunch, but even if I don't make a phone call later, Qiumian herself will come anyway."
Saying this, she took the lead to step out. The two boys looked at each other and hurriedly followed.
Before the three walked into the mall, they were startled by the scene in front of the doors—
How was this place still like its usual deserted state? Colorful balloons floated overhead, and a temporary market was set up beside the main entrance. White plastic snow fragments were spread on the red carpet stall of the market, and staff members dressed as Santa Claus walked back and forth holding free small gifts.
The festive atmosphere was exceptionally thick. Blame it on how this year's Christmas Day was on Tuesday, while today was Sunday, precisely when foot traffic was at its peak. Come nightfall, when the light strips on the mall lit up, combining with that massive Christmas tree at the mall entrance, who knew how many times livelier it would get.
"Hey, seniors, help me hold my bag! I want to buy an ice cream to eat." Xu Zhiruo bounced around.
"Aren't you tracking them?" Du Kang asked in confusion.
"Only when tracking do you need to eat ice cream! Otherwise, what if I get furious later? Besides, they headed into the market too."
The two boys really couldn't understand her train of thought, so they could only follow silently.
This temporary market was entirely composed of eating, drinking, and entertainment stalls. The food consisted of those same old snacks from before, while the entertainment was a bit richer—such as balloon shooting, ring toss, bumper cars, and baked gel painting. Although they were all simple entertainment projects, opportunities to see them were not frequent, happening only from Christmas to New Year's Day, and those few days during the Spring Festival.
Xu Zhiruo was quite generous, not forgetting to buy one for each of them when buying ice cream, even grabbing a waffle cone for the dog. She bent down:
"Eat, eat. In the future, if you can't get by, Big Sister will cover for you."
Can you not abduct my dog? Du Kang thought speechlessly. He hurriedly reminded:
"Look, the two of them headed in the direction of Santa Claus."
The three people and one dog instantly stopped their mouths.
After saying that, Du Kang just wanted to slap himself. He thought to himself, didn't I follow along to help cover for Shutong? How did it become actively exposing him? This time it really went bad...
While thinking like this, he saw that senior sister wearing the bucket hat hand the card camera to Shutong, while standing next to Santa Claus herself.
The young girl would narrow her eyes when smiling, while Shutong on the side reluctantly... seemed to have taken a few photos without reluctance.
Xu Zhiruo turned back:
"Say it yourselves, does this count or not?"
"Doesn't count!" Du Kang firmly insisted. "It wasn't a group photo. The two of us are even helping you hold your bag."
"Heh, continue."
Next, the two went in front of a small stall selling candied haws. Zhang Shutong counted out change and actively bought a stick of candied tangerines, handing it into the young girl's hand.
Xu Zhiruo licked her ice cream:
"Senior Zhang is quite thoughtful."
"Didn't you also treat us to two ice creams? Even the dog got a share!"
"I..." Xu Zhiruo's action paused, and she gritted her teeth. "Fine, look further!"
Du Kang nervously stared at Zhang Shutong, deeply afraid the two would finish that stick of candied haws together. If they got a bit more cloying, maybe they'd feed each other... Fortunately, the anticipated event didn't happen, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
After buying the candied haws, the two seemed to lose interest in this market, turning around to walk toward the mall. The trio also hurriedly followed.
The mall at noon was crowded with people. They were seen going up the escalator talking and laughing.
Don't go to eat, don't go to eat.
Du Kang chanted silently in his heart. That would truly make it impossible to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
Fortunately, the two turned around and went to the second floor.
However, in this way, Du Kang also couldn't quite understand:
"Analyze it a bit, what are the two of them actually planning to do?"
"Isn't it just shopping?" Qingyi asked in confusion.
"Shopping is precisely what I'm afraid of!" Du Kang said in a quiet voice. "Can we forcibly find a reason to smooth things over later?"
"How to smooth it over?"
"Spout a bit of incomprehensible words to fool her." Du Kang secretly pointed at Xu Zhiruo. "Just say Shutong is actually far-sighted, and coming out to shop is merely a part of the plan."
"Understood." Qingyi made a gesture of leaving it to him.
The two turned into a bookstore.
The three tailed rapidly.
They hid behind a bookshelf, four heads quietly poking out, arranged in a row from high to low:
"Don't squeeze forward, Senior!" The lowest head said.
"This is a part of the plan." The second to last head.
"Big brother, it's not like this to force it!" The third head said. "Besides, I'm holding the dog on my head!"
"Woof!" Naturally, the fourth head.
"So isn't it very normal right now?" Du Kang said guiltily. "Reading books together doesn't necessarily mean it's a date. Whose date runs to a bookstore..."
"Out of date, Senior." Xu Zhiruo spoke eloquently. "Dates nowadays haven't been popular in cinemas, amusement parks, or aquariums for a long time. Girls all like artistic places—bookstores, cafes, as well as pottery studios, sand painting studios, and even escape rooms. Everyone goes to these kinds of places. One look and I can tell you're single."
"Is that so..." Du Kang suddenly felt a bit sad.
"They're preparing to leave." Qingyi chimed in.
The three hurriedly cast their gazes over. They saw Zhang Shutong say something to the senior sister. He picked up two hardcover books, seemingly struggling to decide. In the end, the young girl extended her finger and tapped on one of them. Only then did Zhang Shutong make a decision, and the two went to the front desk to settle the bill. Seeing this, Xu Zhiruo revealed her tiger teeth:
"Yo, starting to prepare Christmas presents in advance already?"
"Maybe Shutong wants to read it himself?" Qingyi speculated.
"Reading it himself, who buys this kind of collector's hardcover book? So expensive, several dozen yuan a book! Also, why would it be specifically wrapped?"
Sure enough, besides buying the books, Zhang Shutong looked at the wrapping bags behind the counter for a while. In the end, he asked for a red paper box printed with a reindeer, had the clerk wrap it properly, and even tied a bow on top.
This time, even Qingyi realized something was wrong.
"Let's go. I want to see what else Brother Blockhead plans to do."
Xu Zhiruo stretched her back, and the two boys had no choice but to follow quickly.
They originally thought the two would go directly to the third floor to eat, but not long after leaving the bookstore, they walked into an accessory shop.
An accessory shop—as the name implied—was a kind of shop generally only girls would browse.
"Could it be that the senior sister herself wants to buy something?" Du Kang said weakly.
In their field of vision, Zhang Shutong picked up a bell hanging on the shelf.
That seemed to be a product specially released for Christmas. The bell was made of brass. He shook it twice, the sound very crisp. Zhang Shutong looked at the young girl beside him again, as if seeking her agreement. The young girl nodded in satisfaction, and they wrapped up the bell as well.
"Still preparing to buy?" Even Xu Zhiruo was surprised.
Du Kang asked:
"Buying books just now I could still understand, but what is buying a bell for again?"
"Naturally to decorate a Christmas tree! There's a very classic song: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way~" Saying this, the young girl hummed in a cheerful voice, then knitted her brows. "I kept saying it's a Christmas present, and I really guessed it right! No, can't wait any longer!"
Saying this, she was about to pull out her phone. Du Kang hurriedly said, "Calm down, calm down! Today isn't Christmas Day, who gives presents in advance?"
Xu Zhiruo, however, looked at him like he was an idiot:
"Didn't you guys say just now? That girl goes to school in the city. Christmas is on Tuesday, and school doesn't give a day off. Whatever she wants to give can only be done taking advantage of today."
For a time, Du Kang was left speechless. It seemed it really was this logic. He only planned to secretly send a text message to Zhang Shutong when Xu Zhiruo wasn't paying attention, telling him to take the senior sister and retreat quickly, which would count as fulfilling righteousness to the utmost.
Only what they didn't expect was that buying the bell wasn't enough; the two stopped before a music box again.
"Three items." Xu Zhiruo turned her head to speak to Zorro. "Oh, wrong. Counting the candied haws, it's four. Help Big Sister remember."
The small dog barked four times in a row.
Du Kang was already numb.
The two had the music box packaged and wrapped up as well.
"I'm not watching anymore." The corner of Du Kang's eye twitched continuously. "It's my first time discovering that Shutong opening his mind is this terrifying. Giving just one item isn't enough; he's buying presents like snacks."
Calculating it, they had only strolled to the second shop. If they walked all the way to the third floor, it was estimated their hands would be filled with gift bags of all sizes.
"Thought of an excuse, brother?"
"Not yet." Qingyi said thoughtfully.
Zhang Shutong and the senior sister finally walked out of the accessory shop.
By this time, he was already holding three bags in his hands.
"Could it be that a Christmas event is being held in that senior sister's school?" Du Kang tested the waters. "She's responsible for coming out to procure items. Actually, the presents aren't bought for her, but prepared by her for others?"
"Then why let Senior pay?"
Du Kang was struck speechless.
Under the admiring gazes of the crowd—the other party resolutely plunged into the third shop.
A few minutes later, Zhang Shutong walked out holding a new gift bag.
"The fifth one."
"Umm, how about still not counting the candied haws in?"
"Not short of this one," Xu Zhiruo crossed her arms. "There'll definitely be a sixth one in a bit."
Du Kang couldn't bear it and closed his eyes.
"I understand." Qingyi said suddenly.
"What?" The two turned their heads instantly. It was truly because Qingyi's discoveries were hard to ignore every time. Xu Zhiruo looked suspicious, while Du Kang was secretly excited.
Right, that's it! Exactly right! He thought to himself, good brother, I knew you were the most reliable.
"Actually..." Qingyi said slowly, "Shutong still has a younger brother?"
"..."
"..."
"Just kidding," Qingyi said calmly. "Don't you think giving this many presents at once is too abnormal? Even if Shutong has the heart, an average girl wouldn't accept them."
"I kept saying there was hidden details," Du Kang nodded repeatedly. "Then what's the reason?"
"The answer is—" Qingyi revealed the answer, "This is a part of the plan."
Du Kang covered his face.
"What plan?"
"Shutong's plan for today." Qingyi said calmly.
Xu Zhiruo carefully sized Qingyi up for a few glances. Finding his face didn't change color, she said uncertainly:
"How so?"
"When you were on the bus earlier, you said you submitted a little report a few days ago. Did you mean that night at the mall?"
"Senior, you actually know?"
"Don't care about how I know first. Did you see a short-haired girl beside Shutong?"
"Mm..."
"What was the result?"
Xu Zhiruo instantly felt a bit guilty:
"Later Qiumian told me that you guys were busy with serious business that day..."
"Correct." Qingyi nodded. "The action at the mall that day was a part of the plan, and today, it is likewise so."
"What, what?" Xu Zhiruo was dazed.
"No comment." Qingyi said poker-faced.
"Right, this really isn't convenient to tell you." Du Kang hurriedly took over the conversation. "We really are busy with serious business. You only need to know that this matter isn't as simple as it appears on the surface, and that's enough."
Speaking up to here, he looked back, finding that Zhang Shutong and the senior sister had found a bench to sit down, looking as if they were tired from shopping:
"Look, have they done a single intimate move today? When normal people come out on a date, wouldn't they hold hands?"
"Seems it really is..."
"Not seems, but precisely so," Du Kang emphasized. "Otherwise, why do you think we're following Shutong? Are Senior Meng and I this free? Underclassman, now I can tell you responsibly..."
He held Zorro in his hands up high:
"Even it is a part of the plan."
Xu Zhiruo was already dumbfounded.
"Alright, alright." Du Kang waved his hand in fake impatience. "Once you understand, hurry up and go eat. We still have other things to be busy with, no time to accompany you."
"Then..."
Xu Zhiruo took one last look at Zhang Shutong, finding that the two were indeed merely talking softly, completely lacking any moves normal couples should do.
"I'm sorry!" She bowed abruptly. "Caused trouble for you seniors!"
"Acting pitiful won't work either!" The two said in unison.
"Underclassman, I know you're doing it for Classmate Gu Qiumian, but sometimes having too much suspicion isn't a good thing either. Look, besides sitting together and buying a few items, did the two of them do anything else? Can only say you're still too young."
Du Kang turned around, grinning grimly:
"If you still don't believe it, might as well accompany me up to ask."
"I believe it, I believe it... really no need." Xu Zhiruo trembled.
"Oh, right, almost forgot to give you the prepared present."
The noisy mall quieted down in this split second.
Surroundings fell completely silent.
The three people and one dog turned their heads back incredulously, only to see the young girl take off that bucket hat for the first time. She gently shook her long hair, pulled out a gift box from her handbag, and handed it into Zhang Shutong's hands with a light smile:
"Don't let her discover it."
"Is it really that necessary?"
"Very necessary, Junior." The senior sister was all smiles.