Barely three minutes later, Jiang Li lost her patience. “Big Nephew, I’ll give you ten more seconds at most. If you don’t let go by then, I’m going to hit you.”
The reason Tong Yi still hadn’t recovered was probably because he kept dwelling on the experience in the haunted house. If she gave him a good beating to distract him, he might snap out of it sooner!
After giving the initial warning, Jiang Li began counting right away. When she got to nine, Tong Yi abruptly released his grip, his ears turning slightly red.
“Are you really that scared of ghosts?” She asked.
Tong Yi nonchalantly replied, “Who told you I’m afraid of ghosts? I was just comforting you!”
Jiang Li: “…” Alright, this big nephew was just being stubborn, and she was simply too magnanimous to expose him.
“Jiang Xiao Li, should we go on the roller coaster next?”
“No,” she refused without hesitation.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s too childish,” Jiang Li used the same excuse as before.
Tong Yi raised an eyebrow, “Weren’t you the one who said it’s fine to play childish games while you’re out with your nephew?”
Jiang Li nodded and righteously said, “Yeah, we can do some childish things, but not all of them. Even an aunt should not overly spoil her nephew, don’t you know?”
Tong Yi was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, “Jiang Xiao Li, could it be that you’re afraid of heights?”
Jiang Li nodded again, “Yes, I’m afraid of heights. Didn’t I tell you before?”
“And you’re admitting it so easily?” Tong Yi looked half puzzled, half skeptical.
Jiang Li responded with a bright smile, “Yes, if I’m afraid of something, I definitely won’t do it. Unlike a certain stubborn duck who is clearly scared to death but won’t admit it.”
Tong Yi: “…”
Alright, since Jiang Xiao Li refused to ride the roller coaster, they would just play something else. It was all the same anyway.
After thinking for a few seconds, he suggested, “There’s a lotus pond on the back of the park. Why don’t we go boating and pick some lotus pods?”
Jiang Li was tempted but also a bit hesitant, “But I don’t know how to row a boat.”
“I’ll do the rowing. You can focus on picking lotus pods,” Tong Yi replied in a very easygoing manner.
Jiang Li nodded immediately, “Alright.”
So they approached a staff member to borrow a boat and a basket, which Tong Yi then rowed towards the center of the lake. Jiang Li had never rowed before, so even though the boat was very stable, she still felt a slight sway. As she stood on the boat, she moved and swayed with it, which she found enjoyable.
The pond covered a large area, and while there weren’t actually many lotus plants, Jiang Li spotted a few boats in the vicinity, where people were also having fun and collecting lotus pods. Fortunately, Tong Yi was skilled at rowing, so there was no risk of collisions.
Jiang Li collected some lotus pods and put them in the basket. Then she became interested in rowing, so she asked Tong Yi to teach her.
Even though Jiang Li was a quick learner, she was still a novice, and it wasn’t long before her boat collided with another small boat. Just as Jiang Li was about to apologize, she heard a familiar voice, “Jiang Li, are you here to play too?”
Only then did Jiang Li realize that the person on the opposite boat was Wang Simin. She immediately smiled and replied, “Yes, I had some free time this afternoon, so I came here to play.”
Wang Simin jumped from her boat onto theirs, causing the boat to rock violently. Jiang Li almost lost her balance, and Tong Yi reached out to steady her before quickly withdrawing his hand.
Wang Simin glanced at Tong Yi, then turned to Jiang Li with a mischievous grin, “Hmm, I see~ You’re having a good time with your big nephew, huh?”
She dragged out the word ‘nephew’ in a particularly teasing tone, making it sound extremely suggestive.
Jiang Li looked at the young man on the opposite boat and asked, “What about you? Who are you out here with?”
“My brother, he’s two years older than us and a third-year uni student this term.” Wang Simin replied casually.
The young man introduced himself with a smile, “Hello, I’m Wang Siqi. I’ve heard a lot about you from Minmin. She always says you’re smart and beautiful, the most outstanding girl she’s ever met. Meeting you today, I can see she wasn’t exaggerating.”
Tong Yi immediately nudged Jiang Li lightly with his elbow and said, “He’s complimenting you on being outstanding.”
Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, “Outstanding?”
Tong Yi nodded, “The first time you met, you crashed into his boat. It must be that you’re outstanding, not that you crashed outstandingly.”
Jiang Li responded expressionlessly: “Big Nephew, if you’re looking for a beating, just say so directly. There’s no need to be so subtle about it.”
Tong Yi quickly put on a playful grin, “I was just joking. Our Jiang Xiao Li is so outstanding, she wouldn’t hold a grudge against me, right?”
As he spoke, he reached out to ruffle Jiang Li’s bun, acting all affectionate with her.
“…” She was starting to feel like she couldn’t take the word ‘outstanding’ seriously anymore!
Because of Tong Yi’s interruption, Jiang Li’s conversation with Wang Siqi was cut short, so she turned to Wang Simin, “Has your start date been set?” Wang Simin had secured a guaranteed admission to Huaxia University in the second semester of her sophomore year. Although she also took the college entrance exam, the score didn’t matter much to her.
“It’s a week earlier than your uni, with military training beforehand, so we won’t be departing together.” Wang Simin replied with some regret.
Jiang Li nodded, “Then you will start soon. But our campuses aren’t far apart, so we can still meet up once the term starts.”
Wang Simin immediately said, “Why wait until school starts? We can hang out now. After we finish boating, let’s go for a barbecue. My brother is really good at grilling, and you’ll be in for a treat.”
So, the two-person boating trip turned into a four-person outing. By the time they finished, Jiang Li had finally gotten used to the slight rocking of the boat, and her rowing skills had improved significantly.
Tong Yi didn’t hesitate to praise her, “Not bad, you’ve surpassed me, your teacher.”
Jiang Li tilted her head at him, “Isn’t that only natural?”
After that, the group went to a buffet barbecue. Jiang Li and Tong Yi were in charge of selecting ingredients, while Wang Siqi and Wang Simin handled the grilling.
As Jiang Li and Tong Yi walked off, Wang Siqi glanced at their backs, then turned to his sister and quietly asked, “Jiang Li and Tong Yi, are they really aunt and nephew?”
Wang Simin immediately shook her head, “They have no blood relation whatsoever. Can’t you tell that Tong Yi is pursuing Jiang Li?”
Wang Siqi nodded, “I can see it, but I’m not entirely sure. Jiang Li doesn’t seem to have romantic feelings toward Tong Yi.”
“Well, she indeed doesn’t have such a feeling for him, but she’s definitely even less interested in you,” Wang Simin bluntly crushed her brother’s confidence.
Wang Siqi looked helpless, “Did you forget that I’m your brother?”
“Of course I didn’t forget, that’s why I’m advising you to give up early. Countless guys are trying to pursue Jiang Li, but none have succeeded. Ordinary guys can’t win her over,” Wang Simin explained.
Wang Siqi was silent for a few seconds before suddenly smiling, “Maybe it’s just that the right time hasn’t come yet.”
Wang Simin nodded, “Yeah, I think so too. Maybe when the time comes, Jiang Li will stop calling Tong Yi ‘Big Nephew.’”
Sensing her brother’s death glare, Wang Simin stuck out her tongue and whispered, “Actually, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but don’t you think Tong Yi and Jiang Li really look like a perfect match?”
“…” Wang Siqi suddenly didn’t want to talk with his sister anymore.
Just then, Jiang Li and Tong Yi brought back the ingredients and joined the siblings, but since it was her first time grilling, she couldn’t quite control the heat and quickly burned the skewers.
Looking at the charred meat skewers, Jiang Li was about to throw them away when Tong Yi took them. “If you won’t eat them, I will.”
“Is this even edible?” She frowned.
“It’s definitely still edible. You can eat the ones I grilled.” He nodded, handing the skewers he grilled to her. “Try them and see how they taste.”
Jiang Li wasn’t very confident in his grilling skills, but she still took a bite tentatively, and her eyes immediately lit up. “Not bad, Big Nephew.”
Tong Yi looked like a peacock whose tail was about to spread out with pride. “Of course! Who do you think I am?”
As he said this, he placed the crab he had grilled into her bowl.
Seeing this, Wang Siqi also handed his own grilled lamb skewers to Jiang Li. “Try these, they taste pretty good.”
Tong Yi looked at Wang Siqi with a smile, “Jiang Xiao Li never eats lamb—just give them to me!”
At the same time, he grabbed the two lamb skewers, tasted a bite, and then seriously commented, “The taste is pretty good, just a bit too much seasoning. Jiang Xiao Li, you don’t like flavors that are too strong, don’t you? I’ve got your preference covered, so just stick to what I cook on the grill.”
Jiang Li nodded, “Okay, I want winter melon and lotus root slices next. Grill some more for me.”
“No problem.” Tong Yi responded while skillfully getting to work.
Wang Siqi frowned in silence. For some reason, he got the impression of a green tea man1 in action from Tong Yi—it was as if no matter what he said or did, he couldn’t integrate into their little duo!
Wang Siqi turned to look at his sister, but Wang Simin was only focused on the food and even said, “Brother, everything you grilled suits my taste perfectly. How about you grill some more for me?”
Wang Siqi: “…” This little sister of his, she always grumbled about keeping in shape, but she also had no restraint when it comes to eating. There’s no hope for her!
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- In China, when a woman portrays herself as sweet, innocent, and kind to attract men she sees as advantageous, particularly for financial or social gain, she is referred to as a “Lu Cha,” which translates to “green tea girl.” Despite this outward demeanor, these individuals are often calculating, with their supposed virtues being nothing more than a façade to entice their targets.