Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”Sure.” Ji Chuan agreed readily.

”Here. This Nine Linked Rings is for you and Yan Huan. As for me, I’ll play with the Rubik’s Cube myself.” Xia Lin cheerfully took possession of the Rubik’s Cube.

”The Rubik’s Cube should be for Yan Huan to play. How about the two of us play with the Nine Linked Rings?” Ji Chuan took the Rubik’s Cube from Xia Lin’s hand, ”I heard that playing the Nine Linked Rings is fun with two people.”

”Who did you hear that from?” Xia Lin picked up the string of Nine Linked Rings and asked.

”Dream of the Red Chamber.” Ji Chuan’s mouth curled into a smile, ”Didn’t you see Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu happily playing the Nine Linked Rings?”

Xia Lin laughed heartily: ”I don’t want to be Lin Daiyu. And you’re not Jia Baoyu.”

”It’s just a metaphor.” Ji Chuan smiled, his beautiful eyes gleaming mischievously, ”Come, Yan Huan, here’s the Rubik’s Cube for you.”

Without a word, he stuffed the Rubik’s Cube into Yan Huan’s hand and leaned in next to Xia Lin to play with the Nine Linked Rings.

Yan Huan took the Rubik’s Cube, twisting it a couple of times in agitation, her eyes couldn’t help but glance at Ji Chuan, seeing his beaming smile, his eyes tenderly observing Xia Lin’s slender fingers.

The two of them huddled together, heads close, playing with the Nine Linked Rings.

”This... why can’t I solve it?” Xia Lin, while playing and observing, after much effort, discovered she couldn’t solve it.

”You need to first solve this part.” Ji Chuan occasionally gave a hint, lending a hand, the two cooperated and enjoyed solving the puzzle.

Yan Huan frowned, feeling a pang of jealousy and discomfort.

Only now did she clearly realize she was feeling jealous.

”Ji Chuan, I can’t manage this side. Can you help me?” Yan Huan, annoyed, shoved the Rubik’s Cube in front of Ji Chuan.

”Okay.” Ji Chuan took the Rubik’s Cube and quickly restored a side, handing it back to Yan Huan, ”Take your time. This kind of thing can’t be taught; you have to figure it out yourself.”

While saying this, Ji Chuan’s eyes never left Xia Lin.

The usually attentive Ji Chuan, at this moment, seemed to have no room for her in his eyes, which made Yan Huan very uncomfortable, feeling neglected and deceived.

She suppressed her anger, bowing her head to twist the Rubik’s Cube.

Meng Qingmei came out with the prepared dishes, noticing immediately Yan Huan’s sulky demeanor.

She chuckled inwardly, saying nothing, and set the dishes down.

”Aunt! Let me help you.” Yan Huan sat annoyed, wanting to burst into anger, to ask Ji Chuan what he meant.

But, on second thought, she had never made any promises to Ji Chuan.

She wanted to disrupt, but felt doing so would be unfair to Ji Chuan’s parents.

She strained to suppress her rising anger, but found it increasingly hard to control.

Finally, she decided to help out in the kitchen, figuring out of sight, out of mind.

”No need. No need! Just sit and play. Guests shouldn’t work in the kitchen.” Meng Qingmei refused repeatedly.

”Aunt, I’m not a guest. I’m Ji Chuan’s friend, we’ve known each other for so long that being here feels like home to me.” Yan Huan raised her voice intentionally to remind the pair engrossed in the Nine Linked Rings.

Upon hearing Yan Huan’s raised voice, Xia Lin finally snapped out of the game.

Seeing Yan Huan helping Meng Qingmei with the dishes, she hurriedly followed along.