Matcha milk tea, 30% sugar with red beans.
"Lizi? Why are you here?"
The little dog couldn't speak. He sat obediently in front of Ji Shuhe, grinning with his tongue out, staring at her with a silly expression.
Ji Shuhe had been crying for so long that her mind was sluggish. She blinked her dry eyes and finally thought to look for Wen Shaoyu. But after scanning the surroundings and seeing no sign of him, she asked in confusion, stroking Lizi's warm head, "Did Wen Shaoyu bring you out? Where is he?"
Lizi let out a low bark, stood up, approached Ji Shuhe, then jumped up, placing his front paws on her knees, leaning in to lick her as if begging for affection or offering comfort.
Ji Shuhe froze, but her hands still held back the restless puppy's head: "Are you trying to comfort me?"
"Woof!" Whether Lizi truly understood or was just pretending, he barked again in response to Ji Shuhe's words.
Ji Shuhe finally smiled: "It's okay. I've always been good at adjusting my mindset. Just stay here with me a little longer, and I'll be fine."
Lizi wagged his tail and rested his big fluffy head on Ji Shuhe's lap. Ji Shuhe hugged the puppy's head, stroking his sleek, shiny fur.
Lizi had all his gear on. For him to be here at this time, Wen Shaoyu must have taken him out for a walk. Thinking of Wen Shaoyu, who was nowhere to be seen, Ji Shuhe couldn't help asking again.
"Did you get separated from Wen Shaoyu while out on a walk? That guy didn't even check the leash. What if you got lost?"
"Little Lizi, you need to remember the way home. If you become a stray dog again, I don't know if you'll find someone kind enough to take you in. You're a big dog now; it's dangerous out there on the streets. And that Wen Shaoyu, he's so unreliable. When I get home, I'll scold him for you."
Lizi whimpered and burrowed into Ji Shuhe's arms. Ji Shuhe struggled to hold him; at four or five months old, he was twice his previous size, and Ji Shuhe was no match for him in strength.
"Scolding me again? I really have to plead innocent."
As the girl and dog were playing, Wen Shaoyu's voice suddenly reached her ears. Ji Shuhe turned toward the sound, and her cheek was suddenly pressed against a warm cup of milk tea.
"Matcha milk tea, 30% sugar with red beans."
Ji Shuhe looked up in surprise and instinctively pulled back under Wen Shaoyu's downward gaze, which caught her in the act.
Wen Shaoyu didn't mind. He sat down beside Ji Shuhe, pierced the straw into the cup, and handed the milk tea to her: "I was kind enough to buy you milk tea, but the moment I arrive, I hear you gossiping about me. No good deed goes unpunished. I won't dare do it again."
Ji Shuhe had been sitting for a while and was a bit cold. She took the cup frankly, holding it in her hands, and muttered softly, "It's your fault for showing up at a bad time."
"So now it's my fault?" Wen Shaoyu was exasperated into laughter.
Ji Shuhe knew she was being unreasonable, so she simply fell silent, lowered her head, and drank her tea. She preferred sweets that were less sugary, such as matcha over chocolate. The slight bitterness and astringency at first taste were neutralized by the milk, and with the honey-steeped red beans, it was delicious without being cloying. A warmth flowed down her throat to her stomach, soothing the hunger that made it ache.
Wen Shaoyu watched her: "When I was ordering, I hesitated between hot cocoa and matcha. Now it seems I didn't choose wrong."
Ji Shuhe released the straw she was biting: "Why are you treating me to milk tea?"
Wen Shaoyu didn't answer immediately. He leaned slightly to the side, raised his hand, and waved it above Ji Shuhe's head: "Do you see it?"
Ji Shuhe touched the top of her head, following his gesture, and shook her head.
"It's normal that you can't see it," Wen Shaoyu said slowly. "After all, it's growing on the top of your head. Look, the two leaves of Xiao Miaomiao are almost wilted from crying. I had to buy you something green to replenish."
Maybe experiencing things repeatedly became a habit; always showing her most embarrassing side in front of Wen Shaoyu, Ji Shuhe no longer felt the same embarrassment or awkwardness.
"There's no wilting sprout. Keep talking nonsense and I won't talk to you." The threat was weak from her dejection. Ji Shuhe bit the straw again, lowered her head, and said nothing.
Wen Shaoyu naturally didn't care about Ji Shuhe's kitten-like threats. He observed her carefully and said softly, "Didn't you go see your mom? Why are you hiding here all alone crying?"
At the mention of this, Ji Shuhe's barely suppressed grievances surged up again. A sour feeling pushed tears up into her nose, and for a moment, she couldn't speak at all.
Wen Shaoyu kept watching. When he saw something sparkling fall from Ji Shuhe's face, pattering onto the milk tea packaging, he dared not move.
"Wen Shaoyu."
"Hmm?"
Ji Shuhe's voice was muffled, but the ending trembled upward, a sob she tried to control but couldn't.
"I have to stay in Xinhai. I can't go home for the New Year."
The pale streetlight illuminated Ji Shuhe's face. Her almond eyes were swollen, the rims red. The lower half of her face was hidden under a thick scarf, but the exposed part was crisscrossed with tear tracks, making her look utterly pitiful.
Wen Shaoyu was out walking the dog, fully equipped. He fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a pack of tissues, and handed one to Ji Shuhe: "I thought it was something serious. Isn't it good to stay in Xinhai for the New Year?"
"Xinhai has me and your brother. If Ji Shulang knew you were staying for New Year, he'd be happy to let you ride him like a horse."
Yes, Xinhai was good. Grandparents, uncle, aunt, and brother—this New Year would be much livelier than the previous Spring Festivals, which were just the three of them sitting across from each other in silence.
But this wasn't her home.
No matter how good they were to her, no matter how lively the atmosphere, it still didn't change the fact that she was an outsider. She had to be tense, polite, read the room, and make sure no one except herself felt uncomfortable because of her.
This considerate sensitivity kept adding pressure to Ji Shuhe. She was like a balloon that wasn't inflated properly, only filling and holding, never releasing.
Perhaps there was still the hope of going home for winter break. But now that hope was dashed, hitting her harder than mere disappointment.
So at this moment, Ji Shuhe couldn't hold it in anymore. She wanted to go home. Desperately wanted to return to her own home in Yuanjing.
"No!"
"I want to go home! Back to my home in Yuanjing!"
Ji Shuhe retorted loudly, but immediately regretted it. What was the use of venting her emotions at Wen Shaoyu? He couldn't understand her pain and helplessness.
No one would understand.
The tears fell faster, large drops following the tear tracks onto her scarf, quickly darkening the edge of it.
Wen Shaoyu fumbled to catch her tears. They usually bickered and argued; he had never seen Ji Shuhe cry so sadly.