Learning

At four in the afternoon, it was time for school to let out.

Ye Shuang stood at the school gate, waiting for Bai Yuyou to finish class. Before long, he spotted the girl walking out—surrounded by a few boys who seemed to be inviting her to hang out after school.

Bai Yuyou paid them no mind. Beneath her gently swaying bangs, her delicate face remained expressionless.

Seeing this stark contrast from the day before, Ye Shuang wasn’t the least bit surprised.

This was a world that judged by appearances. Though people often claimed inner beauty was what truly mattered, no one bothered to look past an unappealing exterior to understand someone’s soul.

Such was reality.

"Kinda reminds me of when I was young and got swarmed by girls after school," Ye Shuang mused, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette—only to find a small box of gum instead.

"Withdrawal’s a bitch," he muttered, popping a piece into his mouth and chewing.

Just then, Bai Yuyou noticed the figure by the school gate slipping on a helmet. Her eyes lit up, and she dashed over.

To the stunned gazes of the boys nearby, she threw herself straight into Ye Shuang’s arms!

"You’re too close. You always struggle with personal space," Ye Shuang said, patting her head as she clung to him.

"Missed you," Bai Yuyou murmured, lifting her face to look at him.

She didn’t fully understand romance, but she expressed her feelings with unfiltered honesty.

"Let’s go grocery shopping," Ye Shuang said, pinching her soft cheek before handing her a helmet.

His gaze briefly flickered to the boys still frozen in place nearby. A few seconds later, he looked away and revved up the motorcycle.

Leaving the school behind, the two rode down the highway—not toward the local market, but to a large chain supermarket specializing in fresh produce.

After parking the bike in the underground lot, they headed to the elevators. Ignoring the odd looks from other shoppers, Ye Shuang explained how elevators worked and how to select the right floor.

Bai Yuyou was a quick learner; she grasped it after one explanation. But her lack of life skills meant Ye Shuang would have to expose her to more experiences.

Honestly, it wasn’t just her—plenty of young people today didn’t know how to navigate trains or planes. Not because they couldn’t learn, but simply because they’d never had the chance.

Bai Yuyou was like a blank slate. If the neighborhood rumors were true, her years locked away in an attic had robbed her of even the most basic knowledge.

At the very least, she needed a proper moral compass first.

"Does this make me her guardian?" Ye Shuang wondered, glancing at the girl clutching his hand as they walked.

Then again, he realized she trusted him far too much. If he ever tried to sell her off, she’d probably help him count the cash.

"At stores like this, always check expiration dates and prices," Ye Shuang said, picking up an item from the shelf.

Bai Yuyou nodded, but her eyes soon drifted back to him.

"Why keep staring at me?"

"I don’t know."

"Pay attention," Ye Shuang said, lightly knocking her head.

Next, he led her to the meat section.

"See this pork?" Ye Shuang pulled a package from the fridge and showed her the label. "What’s the date?"

"Today’s," Bai Yuyou answered after reading it.

"Even if it says today, meat’s a bit different," Ye Shuang explained.

"Places like this, if the pork doesn’t sell by the end of the day, they’ll rip open the packaging, sniff it to see if it’s spoiled, then repackage it with a new date if it doesn’t stink. That’s how they trick customers."

Bai Yuyou frowned. "Tricking customers… is bad."

"Yep. But plenty of people sell their morals for profit," Ye Shuang said with a wry smile. "Though this is just an example—I’m saying it could happen."

"So try to avoid buying meat at stores like this."

He’d had too many experiences buying "fresh" pork from his local RT-Mart, only to be hit with a foul stench upon opening it. It was like gambling with meat—hardly a pleasant experience.

That said, larger chains with strict freshness standards could still be trusted.

Bai Yuyou nodded in understanding.

Just then, her attention shifted to a passing couple, arms linked and clearly intimate.

She glanced at her own hand holding Ye Shuang’s.

Letting go, she copied the couple’s pose—sliding her arm through his and pressing close.

"What’s up?" Ye Shuang stiffened slightly at the sudden softness against his arm.

"They… did this," she said, nodding toward the couple.

Ye Shuang followed her gaze. "That’s something couples or married people do."

"We… will be married. You said married people live together forever," Bai Yuyou stated.

Ye Shuang: "…"

How was he supposed to explain marriage to her?

"Never mind. She won’t get it yet. She’ll figure it out when she meets a boy she likes," he thought, resigning himself to her clinging to his arm—though the warmth was dangerously distracting.

After grabbing groceries and essentials, they headed to checkout.

"That’ll be 79 yuan," the cashier said.

Ye Shuang turned to Bai Yuyou. "Your turn to pay."

The cashier’s expression twisted in confusion. Since when did adults make students foot the bill?

Fumbling slightly, Bai Yuyou tapped her phone until the payment QR code finally appeared.

Beep. Payment complete.

"Got it? You’re handling payments from now on," Ye Shuang said. With all their cash now digital, she needed to master mobile payments.

Holy shit, this guy’s a freeloader?!

The cashier’s eyes darted between them, though she kept her professional smile intact.

Bags in hand, they walked toward the elevators—where they crossed paths with the same couple again.

This time, the pair shared a quick peck on the lips, smiling at each other afterward.

Bai Yuyou watched, then slowly turned her head toward Ye Shuang.