When Aunt Wang heard Ling Chuxi randomly choosing a name like Ling Cat or Ling Ping for Lan Xinyu, she could not take it and reproached her, “Miss, how can you bully Xinyu like this?”
“Aunt Wang, I want to eat braised pork balls in brown sauce for lunch!” said Ling Chuxi, smiling widely as she avoided the topic.
“Alright, sure. I will go and buy the necessary ingredients right away.” Immediately nodding her head, Aunt Wang picked up her grocery basket and went out the door in a hurry.
Ling Chuxi looked at Lan Xinyu and suddenly said, “Hey. You’re going to end up stuffing the snacks into your nostrils instead of your mouth. Why are you in a daze? How wasteful. If you’re not going to eat it, then don’t take it!”
A surprised Lan Xinyu snapped back to reality. Seeing Ling Chuxi’s disdainful expression, she smiled. Suddenly, she said seriously, “I finally understand something.”
“Oh? What do you understand?” asked Ling Chuxi offhandedly, taking snacks from the plate and quietly bringing it to her side.
“Friends should be equal.” Lan Xinyu let out a breath. “I thought that I treated Qianqian very well and that she was my best friend. But when I lost our sparring match, she let someone under the ring say those words to put me in a difficult situation. I could not understand why my best friend stabbed me in the back during such a time.”
“Oh. Then, what about now?”
Taking a bite of the snack, Ling Chuxi very naturally gestured to Ling Yichen, pointing to the teapot in a silent indication that he was to pour her a cup. He helplessly got up and poured one for her, resigned to his fate. However, there was a barely noticeable hint of affection in his eyes.
“It turns out that I have never treated Qianqian and Yuanfeng as equals. I always acted proud and almighty, standing from above, instructing them left and right. Real friends aren’t like that.” Lan Xinyu smiled bitterly. “At first, I could not understand why Yuanfeng was so easily able to forgive Qianqian’s actions. Now, I finally understand. Actually, the problem had always been with me.”
“Mm, looks like you’re teachable after all.” Ling Chuxi nodded her head, picked up a snack, and put it into Lan Xinyu’s hand. “This reward is for you. Congratulations on taking your first step towards growing.”
Lan Xinyu stared at the snack in her palm in a daze. Then, she raised her head and saw Ling Chuxi’s brilliant smile. At that moment, her heart suddenly felt very, very warm.
‘Ling Chuxi, you’ve taught me how to treat and interact with other people as equals. Thank you for teaching me my first true lesson in life. I will grow, grow to the point that I can shoulder the entire Lan family!’
“Then, with us being like this, can we be considered friends?” asked Lan Xinyu with a smile, taking a bite of the snack.
Ling Chuxi snorted. “You are not qualified enough! You are still too green. Stupid as a pig. To be friends with you would dishonor my reputation! Wait till your IQ has increased, then we can talk about this!”
The courtyard was filled with the sound of Lan Xinyu’s roar. “Ling Chuxi! How dare you look down on me! I’ll kill you!”
“Come on! I’ll beat you up till your grandfather can’t even recognize you!” said Ling Chuxi, her tone full of indifference.
Once again, the two of them started going at it in the courtyard, sending stones and sand flying as they fought seriously. Ling Yichen calmly sat at his own place, eating snacks and drinking tea while he watched them fight it out.
They were more or less on equal standing. Although they were fighting, there was a hint of a smile on both their faces.
‘Is their friendship built on fights?’ Ling Yichen frowned lightly, seriously pondering this question.