“Hmm? Sure.”
Su Xin nodded and agreed readily.
This was the first time her best friend had invited her over to her house.
“Hmm?…”
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoxiao, who was gently patting the little loli’s head beside her, seemed to have noticed something.
She felt there was something off about the president, but couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
After a brief conversation, they parted ways at the School Gate, while Su Xiaoxiao and Xiao Li separated at the Sha County Snacks.
Xiao Li was surprised to learn she lived nearby too.
[Xiaoxiao]: Yao-jie, is there anything fun in the Pet Shop?
After returning to her small room, Su Xiaoxiao picked up her phone and sent a message.
But the other person didn’t elaborate, only saying she’d know when she got there.
Then Su Xiaoxiao also sent a ‘I’ll be there before seven’ message to Yu Xueqin.
“Ah, it’s almost six already.”
After checking the time on her phone screen, the girl immediately left the house and quickened her pace toward her destination.
“Huu..”
Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit tired and saw someone in a white dress outside the Pet Shop.
“I’m here.”
Just like last time, she could tell it was Yao-jie just from the pretty silhouette.
“You came, hey.”
Yu Yao turned around and saw the person she’d been waiting for, joy lighting up her face.
“Let’s go in and take a look.”
“Mm… Are you planning to keep a pet, jiejie?”
Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit nervous, not sure why she’d been called here.
Pet shops aren’t fun—playing with a pretty sister is fun.
“You’ll know when you see, Xiaoxiao.”
Yu Yao led her inside, heading in a certain direction.
What greeted her eyes were all sorts of cute puppies and kittens, all seemingly still young.
“Xiaoxiao, look, this little white dog.”
Yu Yao excitedly pointed at a pet inside a cage.
This was the one she’d fallen for at first sight last week.
“Oh, it’s pretty cute.”
The white-haired girl also crouched down in front of the cage and looked at it.
The little white dog lifted its head to gaze at the girl, its eyes sparkling as if stars shone within them.
Like a kitten, it was only as big as her two palms, its fur pure white.
“Yao-jie, do you want to keep her?”
Su Xiaoxiao also looked up from the floor at the black-haired sister in a long dress beside her.
“Mm, yes.”
Yu Yao spoke dreamily.
“Xiaoxiao, do you know why I like her so much?”
“Why?”
Su Xiaoxiao followed along.
“Because she’s cute?”
“Close, but actually it’s because she reminds me of you, Xiaoxiao.”
Yu Yao smiled dotingly at her.
“I see… Huh?”
Su Xiaoxiao tilted her head at the older girl, her eyes full of confusion.
How could anyone say she resembled a dog?
“Because she’s white too, and somehow just gives off the same feeling, also very cute.”
Yu Yao didn’t notice her own phrasing, so different from her usual professional tone.
Now she looked as happy and innocent as a girl not yet grown up.
“Mm… I get it.”
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t want to argue.
“Um, I’ll take this one.”
Yu Yao called to the shop owner in the back.
She’d already asked about the details last week.
After a bit of discussion, the little white dog officially belonged to Yao-jie.
Su Xiaoxiao watched the whole process from the side as the dog, just released, ran all over the place.
It looked small, cute, and a little silly.
“Xiaoxiao.”
After settling everything, Yu Yao immediately came to her side and hooked her arm.
“I want to ask you a favor for a few days. Is that okay?”
“Mm, sure.”
Su Xiaoxiao agreed without much thought.
“Can you keep this dog at your place for a while? I’ll take her back on Friday or Saturday, and I’ll pay for the care.”
Yu Yao followed the original script.
She needed something to connect their relationship.
“Eh…”
Su Xiaoxiao paused after hearing this and looked down at the dog in Yao-jie’s arms.
The little creature curled up and blinked pitifully, as if begging the girl to take her in.
“Okay, no problem. Just call me when you want her back, Yao-jie. After exams, I’m basically home all day.”
Su Xiaoxiao agreed at once.
“Hehe, thank you.”
Yu Yao silently made a ‘Yay’ gesture in her heart at the girl’s reply.
She slowly placed the little white dog in the arms of her beloved girl.
“Right, since you bought her with me, you should name her, Xiaoxiao.”
Yu Yao thought this dog would mark their beginning, and since the courage to buy it came from the girl, it was only right for her to choose the name.
Su Xiaoxiao gently stroked the little one in her arms, feeling its softness.
“You want me to name her…? Then, how about Xia Xia? It’s summer now, and you said she looks like me. My name is Xiaoxiao too.”
Actually, another reason was that she’d thought of Xia Bingrou just now.
“Mm.”
Yu Yao was very satisfied with the name the girl chose and felt happy.
“By the way, Xiaoxiao, you’re not wearing the clothes I mentioned today. Was it uncomfortable?”
Yu Yao began to observe her.
“But this is good too.”
“I just got out of school and didn’t have time to change… Should I go back and change before we go? Do you still want to play, Yao-jie?”
Su Xiaoxiao only remembered this now and felt a bit guilty.
“Sure, let’s go.”
Yu Yao’s expression brightened.
“Actually, I wanted to visit your place too.”
Great.
Originally, she was wondering how to trick the girl into her little room, but now she didn’t have to.
Maybe later she could try the “forceful advance” her little sister mentioned.
“!?”
But as soon as the white-haired girl spoke and took a few steps, she froze in place.
“Xiaoxiao, why aren’t you moving? Are you feeling unwell?”
Yu Yao came over, concerned.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go to my place.”
Su Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment.
Yao-jie was so sincere—lying to her again didn’t feel right.
“Mm.”
Yu Yao was secretly delighted inside.
Time to meet the in-laws.
***
“What? You don’t have parents?”
The mood shifted drastically.
After entering the house, Yu Yao stared in shock at the girl before her.
She didn’t care about being deceived—what hurt was learning about the girl’s life.
Following her along the way, she’d thought Xiaoxiao was just a bit poor, something she could help with later.
But this?…
“Mm, I don’t…”
Su Xiaoxiao walked over to an old cabinet, her slender, delicate hands rummaging through clothes inside.
“Then why didn’t you tell me? Why hide it?”
Yu Yao couldn’t hold back and grabbed the girl’s hand, her tone not so gentle.
“It’s hard to say something like that… We haven’t known each other long…”
Su Xiaoxiao lowered her head.
She never expected Yao-jie to get this angry.
If she’d known, she would have kept lying and said her parents were away on business.
“How is it hard? If you told me, I could give you money.”
Yu Yao was anxious.
“With no parents to support you, I could…”
Halfway through, she stopped and calmed down.