Chapter 6: Peach Sparkling Water
After the first class of the afternoon, Gu Qinghuan was chatting with Jiang Chuchu about setting up a “human dog bed” while also filling out the class committee intention form.
The form, uniformly designed by Mingde High, listed every committee position on the front, with job descriptions on the back. You just had to tick your choice and write a reason.
At the bottom was a non-mandatory section: “Recommend a candidate for class monitor and state why.”
Although Gu Qinghuan had added everyone’s WeChat, she wasn’t familiar enough yet to judge who could be class monitor, so she left it blank.
As for herself, she decisively chose life committee member.
She’d been the life committee member in middle school and had enjoyed managing class funds—plus, most importantly, it gave her a legitimate reason to slip out of school to buy things.
Once finished, she handed the form to Yu Xin, who glanced at it in mild surprise, “Gu Qinghuan, you want to be life committee member?”
“Yep. I can use the class fund to buy things.” Gu Qinghuan spoke openly.
Jiang Chuchu looked up from her phone, “I can tell—you really are good at buying things.”
This human dog bed she was looking at looked so comfy! She had to pick a fluffy one.
Gu Qinghuan lifted her chin proudly, “Qinghuan Selects—quality guaranteed!”
The first day of school passed quickly. Mingde didn’t have evening self-study, probably because with the students’ family backgrounds, most would have private tutors anyway.
Still, Mingde had clubs, and tomorrow would start a three-day club fair. Once military training ended next week, regular club activities would begin.
When the dismissal bell rang, students slowly made their way toward the school gates.
Gu Qinghuan had taken the bus that morning and planned to take it home again. Her father didn’t get off work until six; now it was only 3:30. She figured he wouldn’t be home yet, so she turned to Yu Xin, “Are you in a hurry to get home? If not, want to go buy stationery together?”
Yu Xin had already decided to start practicing calligraphy and planned to get a fountain pen, as Jiang Chuchu suggested. She nodded, “Sure, let’s go together.”
After all… that morning, her older brother had driven her and her “sister” to school, and told her their father wouldn’t be home tonight. He’d given her two hundred yuan to get dinner herself before returning.
Jiang Chuchu was packing her bag and overheard. She turned instantly, “Going to buy a fountain pen? I’m coming too!”
“You going to Qiansheng Plaza?” Qin Yue piped up, “Count me in. My pre-ordered sneakers are ready for pickup.”
Qiansheng Plaza, opened last year, was the city’s hottest commercial district, a mix of culture, entertainment, and popular internet-famous shops. Jiang Chuchu and Qin Yue often went there.
Jiang Chuchu frowned, “Why are you, a guy, always tagging along with us girls?”
“Because your brother begged my brother to look after you,” Qin Yue said matter-of-factly.
Jiang Chuchu nearly exploded, “Jiang Yuxuan is worse than my mom!”
In the end, the four of them headed to Qiansheng Plaza together, riding in a car from Jiang Chuchu’s family.
Gu Qinghuan knew nothing about cars. She sat in the back with Yu Xin and Jiang Chuchu—surprisingly roomy—while Qin Yue took the front passenger seat.
Jiang Chuchu pulled two bottles of sparkling water from the car fridge and handed them to Gu Qinghuan and Yu Xin, “Here, have a drink.”
Gu Qinghuan didn’t recognize the brand—it wasn’t in English—but saw a grape picture on the label, “This grape-flavored?”
“Mm. You don’t like grape?” Jiang Chuchu asked.
“I like orange and tangerine.”
Jiang Chuchu swapped the grape one back, found an orange-flavored bottle, and handed it over.
Gu Qinghuan thanked her, then noticed Yu Xin holding a peach-labeled bottle without opening it.
“Yu Xin, do you prefer a different flavor?”
“No, I like peach,” Yu Xin said quickly. “It’s just… I’ve never had it before.”
In truth, she’d seen these in her home fridge, but the last time she reached for one, she’d been scolded and asked why she was taking her “sister’s” things. Since then, she’d never dared touch any drink in the fridge, drinking only plain water at home.
Gu Qinghuan had already twisted her cap open and taken a big gulp, “Then try it now. It’s really good.”
Jiang Chuchu nodded, “Yeah, and it’s low-calorie—no need to worry about gaining weight.”
Yu Xin unscrewed the cap slowly.
A soft pshh sounded as it opened, fine bubbles dancing inside the translucent bottle but not overflowing. Sweet, fresh peach aroma drifted from the small mouth of the bottle, slipping into her nose and pulling up a memory—
When she was little, still living in the village, one summer day she’d been so hungry she picked up a peach that had fallen from someone else’s tree. It was overripe, split where it hit the ground, ants crawling over it. She’d brushed them away, tucked the fruit into her shirt, run to the river to wash it clean, then bitten into it, skin and all.
So sweet it was almost mushy, juice running down her hands, sticky and cloying.
That was the day she fell in love with peaches.
Yu Xin took a cautious sip and immediately squinted in delight, “Delicious.”
Jiang Chuchu beamed, “Right? You like peach flavor? I’ll stock up for you next time.”
From the front, Qin Yue shouted shamelessly, “What about me? I want watermelon flavor!”
“Shut up! Get your own after we get out!” Jiang Chuchu ignored him.
The four arrived noisily at Qiansheng Plaza. Gu Qinghuan and Yu Xin didn’t know their way around, but that was fine—Jiang Chuchu, the young lady, dragged them straight to a high-end fountain pen counter on the fourth floor.
Yu Xin tested a few and picked one that felt comfortable and looked nice. At checkout, she finally noticed the price and was startled, “So expensive!”
The two hundred yuan from her brother wasn’t enough. She had no extra money in her bag.
Jiang Chuchu grabbed her wrist, “You’re short on money, huh?”
Her lips curled into a sly smile as she shoved her own card into the salesgirl’s hand, “Quick! Swipe mine! Right now!”
The salesgirl hid her amusement and processed the payment. Yu Xin tried to stop her, but she wasn’t as strong.
Gu Qinghuan laughed so hard she could barely breathe while Yu Xin’s face flushed red, “Gu Qinghuan! Help me!”
Gu Qinghuan patted her shoulder, “Just let her pay. You can pay her back later.”
Her casual tone calmed Yu Xin, who solemnly told Jiang Chuchu, “I’ll pay you back when I have the money.”
Jiang Chuchu waved it off without comment.
By the time Qin Yue came over with his shoe box, the girls had settled the matter, “Still shopping?”
“Of course!” Gu Qinghuan waved. “That store we passed earlier—the cute stationery one. I’m going!”
The three girls headed off, Jiang Chuchu tossing Yu Xin’s fountain pen to Qin Yue.
Resigned to being the bag boy, he followed along until his phone rang. Putting on his Bluetooth earpiece, he answered, “Hey, bro?”
“School’s out?” Qin Min’s voice asked.
“Yeah. I’m just trailing behind three girls at Qiansheng. I’m basically their pack mule.” Qin Yue complained.
Qin Min chuckled, “Chuchu, and the Yu Xin and Gu Qinghuan you mentioned?”
“Yep. Chuchu just bought Yu Xin a fountain pen. Yu Xin didn’t have enough money, so she jumped in to pay—Yu Xin’s face turned red, the salesgirl was trying not to laugh.” Qin Yue still found it funny.
“Gu Qinghuan didn’t help?” Qin Min asked.
“She just watched and said Yu Xin could pay her back later. But honestly, Chuchu won’t take the money.”
“When the time comes, Gu Qinghuan will find a way to mediate.” Qin Min sounded certain.
Qin Yue raised a brow, “Wow, you think highly of her.”
“I do. At least more than you.” Qin Min didn’t hold back.
Stung, Qin Yue hung up, then sidled up to Gu Qinghuan, “My brother just called me.”
“Huh?” She looked puzzled. “What’s that got to do with me?”
“He said I’m unreliable.” He lowered his brows and put on a pitiful face.
Gu Qinghuan thought for a moment, “So if you’re unreliable, he won’t love you anymore?”
The word love made Qin Yue jolt, “Ugh! Gross!” He rubbed his arms, but followed her train of thought anyway.
Sure, his parents always said he wasn’t as good as Qin Min, and Qin Min teased him plenty, but his brother had always looked out for him. Even in college, they kept in touch, and those sneakers he was holding were thanks to Qin Min’s connections.
The more he thought about it, the more moved he felt. He pulled out his phone and messaged:
[Bro, I may be unreliable, but having you as my brother is great.]
A moment later, Qin Min replied: [Why are you being so cheesy?]
Qin Yue’s face fell. Just as he was about to complain to Gu Qinghuan, another message came through— [¥10,000. Please accept payment.]
[Stop being a bag boy. Go buy yourself something nice.]
Qin Yue was stunned. Turns out… Gu Qinghuan really was reliable.
