Sending you a little peach heart.

Chapter 08: No Heart That Cannot Be Won

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When you have something to look forward to, time flies. Qiao He couldn't even figure out what she had been busy with over the past few days, but the weekend had already arrived.

On Friday evening, the dopamine in Qiao He's brain surged to its peak. Unable to focus in the workshop, she grabbed her iPad and started browsing guides on how to explore a museum.

Yun Lin walked past her from behind, caught a glimpse of her screen, and looked as if he'd been struck by lightning.

Qiao He wasn't the only one acting oddly. There was also Zou Xiaodao, who had run back and forth to the Cheng family house four times in just half an hour. He didn't say a word each time, just poked his head in to look at Qiao He before turning and leaving, his face always expressionless.

Helpless, Qiao He grabbed Zou Xiaodao by the collar, plopped him onto the stone table in the courtyard, and made him sit still and eat some watermelon.

As the sun set, its warm hues bathed the surroundings. Old folks fanned themselves lazily, children ran and played, and the day began to wind down into its most tranquil hours.

Qiao He propped her chin on her hand, gazing at the sky and the sunset. Suddenly inspired, she took a photo of the view with her phone, opened her chat with Huo Tinglan, and sent it to him along with a short message:

"Morning clouds, evening skies."

It was a line from a poem by Tang Yin. The next verse read:
"Thinking of you when I walk, thinking of you when I sit."

It was a confession both subtle and tender, full of warmth and feeling.

Her phone pinged, but Qiao He didn't rush to check it. She took a sip of her Bi Luo Chun tea from the crimson-painted teacup. As the delicate fragrance of the tea surrounded her, she finally read Huo Tinglan's reply:

"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

There was a faint sweetness on her tongue, like freshly made maple syrup.

Qiao He rested her chin in her palm, her eyes curving into crescent moons with her smile.

Zou Xiaodao reached out and lightly poked the corner of Qiao He's mouth, which had curled up into a grin. He said, with an air of authority, "Falling in love, huh?"

Qiao He flicked his forehead. "Nonsense!"

Zou Xiaodao clicked his tongue. "Why are you embarrassed? Aren't you a grown-up? Let me tell you, if I had been born twenty years earlier, no random guys out there would have even dared to come near you. Too bad, wrong era."

He ended with a long sigh.

Qiao He didn't even know where to start being shocked. She poked his forehead again and said, "You know so many idioms now, huh? Let's see how your Chinese grades turn out at the end of the term!"

Zou Xiaodao hugged his half-eaten watermelon and got up to leave.

Can't take a joke? Just say so. No need to threaten me with exams.

To make sure she was well-rested for the next day, Qiao He went to bed early. Before sleeping, she posted on her social media:

"Dad and Mom are going to work, and I'm going to the museum. See you tomorrow!"

Even through the screen, her excitement was palpable.

She went to bed early, so by 6:30 a.m., Qiao He was already awake. She watered the flowers and plants in the yard, fed the fish, and then grabbed breakfast to wake Zou Xiaodao.