Win-Win or Lose-Lose

As soon as school was out, Shen Nian left the classroom with his backpack, alongside Xia Yanchun.

Their shadows were split into three by the streetlights. Xia Yanchun walked ahead, hands clasped behind her back, humming a little tune, each step landing squarely on the head of Shen Nian's shadow.

She was petite, and her backpack was a small, girly style that strained to hold a water bottle, an umbrella, and a few books. Nowadays, Shen Nian was the one carrying her water bottle.

"Hurry up, it's freezing," Xia Yanchun turned around, walking backwards, and called out softly.

"What's the rush?" Shen Nian caught up in a few strides, pulling a half-empty bottle of Pepsi from his bag and shaking it. "There's still some left, want a sip?"

"Wait until we're off school grounds."

"I thought you were going to scold me again."

"Why would I scold you? It's not that I don't let you drink it, I just want you to drink less."

"I don't drink it often now, only once in a while. I'll make you some brown sugar ginger tea tomorrow."

"Mhm, actually, luohanguo tea would work too."

"We just happen to have brown sugar at home."

A gust of wind, laced with chill, swept by. A withered leaf spiraled down, light as a sigh, landing right on top of Xia Yanchun's head.

Shen Nian gently plucked it off for her, glancing at the bare branches of the school trees. This gust seemed to have carried away the last remnants of warmth.

After the mock exams came December, and winter break and the Spring Festival weren't far off.

"You're pretty lucky," Shen Nian chuckled.

"What do you mean?"

"A leaf just happened to land on your head. You're gonna step in dog poop next time you go out."

"How on earth is that lucky..." Xia Yanchun was utterly speechless.

The half-bottle of cola had been shaken until the plastic was rigid. Xia Yanchun carefully unscrewed the cap, letting all the fizz escape. Dark bubbles fizzed up, and she gulped the whole thing down in one go.

Xia Yanchun let out a small burp and shoved the empty bottle into Shen Nian's hand.

"By the way, can you drink cold stuff during your period?"

"I'm on my period, not dead..."

"Right, right." Shen Nian nudged her with his elbow, tilting his chin towards a street vendor. "Want some candied hawthorn?"

"Not really. Those things are ridiculously expensive now."

"Prices go up on everything. I'll go get the bike, you buy me one."

"You're impossible."

Xia Yanchun walked over to the roadside stall. It had been a while since she'd had candied hawthorn, and she discovered they now used grapes as a base too.

She'd only ever had the small or large hawthorn berries before.

Felt a bit nostalgic.

Xia Yanchun had always loved these sweet treats. Whenever she got the chance, she'd ask her family to bring one back, sharing it with Shen Nian, two berries each.

Even though Shen Nian was stubborn and had held a grudge against her since they were little, the moment snacks were involved, he'd sell his soul, choosing to indulge his taste buds first.

Little Shen Nian was quite honest, really.

To get candied hawthorn, he'd call her 'sis' in a soft, sweet voice. The moment he finished eating, he'd flip instantly, calling her a lunatic.

Xia Yanchun felt that back then, anyone who bought little Shen Nian a stick of candied hawthorn could get him to call them 'sis'.

Thinking of those less pleasant memories, Xia Yanchun puffed out her cheeks. But after a moment of silence, she didn't even know what she was sulking about. It was pretty childish, holding a grudge against a kid from ten years ago.

"Uncle, one stick of the hawthorn kind, please."

"Coming right up! Almost packing up, just give me six yuan." Hearing the girl call him 'uncle', the candied hawthorn vendor felt his mood lift a little.

"Thank you."

Xia Yanchun took the candied hawthorn. Six yuan for six hawthorn berries—actually not that expensive.

Winter really calls for candied hawthorn.

Tucking her hair behind her ear, Xia Yanchun bit off one berry. The sweet sugar coating mixed with the sour tang of the hawthorn melted in her mouth, making her eyes squint from the tartness.

"Hey, how come you're eating it already?" Shen Nian rode over on his bike, stabilizing it with his long legs.

"I paid for it, why can't I eat it?"

"If you wanted some, you could've just bought another stick."

"I'll just have two. Buying two sticks is wasteful."

"Fine, fine, whatever you say. Hurry up and get on, it's freezing."

Xia Yanchun took her time, handing him the candied hawthorn. "Here, have a bite."

"..."

Shen Nian grinned, taking the sugar-coated berry into his mouth and chewing. Darn it, they didn't even remove the seed.

But gotta say, it still tasted pretty good.

"What's with that face?"

"Mmm... nothing. Let's go." Xia Yanchun's eyes curved into crescents as she steadied herself on Shen Nian's shoulder to get on the bike.

She held onto the candied hawthorn while Shen Nian focused on riding.

By the time they reached their neighborhood, only two berries were left on the stick.

Xia Yanchun covered her mouth. "One fell off just now."

"I saw it in the rearview mirror! Sneaking a bite and not owning up to it. Should've just bought another stick."

"Alright, alright, here."

Shen Nian took it generously. The last two berries were devoured in a couple of bites, gone before they even reached the elevator. He tossed the stick casually into some bushes.

In the elevator, Xia Yanchun twirled a strand of hair around her finger, glancing up at Shen Nian now and then, then down at her own toes.

"Oh yeah, I won this afternoon, you know. After you left, I made the next shot right away," Shen Nian suddenly spoke up.

"What nonsense! I didn't see it, and the teacher was already gathering everyone by then. Definitely doesn't count."

Shen Nian pointed a finger at her like an accusing Husky. "You bailed after missing your own shot, and now you run when it's my turn? I said chickening out counts as a loss for you."

"Well, you can't prove you made that third shot either. Let's call it a draw."

"A draw? Is that a double win or a double loss?" Shen Nian nudged her with his elbow.

"...Huh?"

Ding.

The elevator doors opened. Before Xia Yanchun could process the thought, she had already stepped out instinctively, realizing a moment later.

Double win or double loss...?

Double win would mean Shen Nian had to call her 'Chun-jie' or 'sis' for a couple of days, and she'd have to let Shen Nian kiss her a few times?

Double loss would mean nothing counts?

Is that really how a draw works?

Xia Yanchun blinked, looking down as she fished out her house keys, murmuring softly, "I don't want you to kiss me. Let's make it a double loss."

Shen Nian scratched his head, about to say something, when Xia Yanchun added another line.

"I just bought you candied hawthorn, you know."

"What about it? You want me to pay you back? I misjudged you, Xia Yanchun."

"What would I do with six yuan from you?" Xia Yanchun twirled her hair, not looking at him. "Hmph, shouldn't you show a little appreciation?"

"?"

Shen Nian stroked his chin, thinking for a good while but still not getting it.

He hated riddlers the most.

For dealing with such riddlers, Shen Nian had a set of high-EQ social discernment skills:

"What are you mumbling about? Let's see those legs."

"Get lost!"

"So what exactly do you want to say? If you don't tell me, send me a couple leg pics."

Xia Yanchun was both angry and flustered, feeling like her period might just get cured from the irritation. If Shen Nian didn't make her brown sugar ginger tea tomorrow, she'd save today's socks unwashed and stuff them in his mouth.

Her face flushed, she poked Shen Nian's chest with her index finger:

"You've changed, Shen Nian. What did you used to call me when I gave you candied hawthorn? And what do you call me now?"

"Sis?"

"!!"

Shen Nian's sudden "sis" made the little flowers in Xia Yanchun's heart bloom. Her almond-shaped eyes flickered, reflecting Shen Nian's image, her messy heart tinged with threads of sweet nectar.

Until Shen Nian leaned his forehead against hers, smiling softly, "Chun-bao..."

"Mmm...?"

He was pressing his forehead against hers again.

Xia Yanchun blinked, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. Her stiff little hand intertwined with Shen Nian's larger one as it reached for hers.

"..."

"...Ha..."

Xia Yanchun gently lowered her heels, hastily brushed her lips, and turned her flushed face away, whispering softly.

"One... one more time, please..."

"Once was enough. No more. Go back to your room and sleep."

Shen Nian turned around to fish out his keys and open the door, otherwise, he'd be the one feeling awkward.

Xia Yanchun twirled her hair around her finger, her heart racing unbearably fast, and slowly made her way back to her own room.

While showering, she actually found herself pondering whether it was a win-win or a lose-lose situation...

That one word, "sister," had truly melted her heart ♡

Yan Xi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for over three million daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other providers.