Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts
Chapter 760 514: Be a Man Who Takes Responsibility

"What's so difficult about it? I just need to bend down."

Just as Xu Qingfan bent his knees slightly, Zhang Chunxue grabbed his shirt and pulled him up.

She said, "A real man can lose his head or shed blood, but can't bend his waist, you know?"

Xu Qingfan thought: The reason I'm able to stand upright as a person, isn't it because you, Auntie, are there to shield me from the wind and rain?

"Why can't I bend my waist? What's wrong with me bending down for my own mom?" he said righteously.

"Pff... you're such a brat," Zhang Chunxue lost her composure in a second and tugged playfully at his ear.

Seeing they were about to reach the supermarket entrance, Xu Qingfan stopped fooling around, picked up a shopping basket, and entered the supermarket with Zhang Chunxue.

"Let's pick out the vegetables first, and buy the shrimp last, otherwise, they'll die in the bag before we get back." He said.

"Hmm, I want to eat the one with long stems that you can't eat," Zhang Chunxue described using her fingers.

"Long stems that you can't eat?" Xu Qingfan pondered for a moment, "Auntie, are you talking about sweet potato leaves?"

"Not sweet potato leaves, the leaves aren't that big, like... never mind, we'll figure it out when we find it," Zhang Chunxue couldn't recall the name of the vegetable and said.

Seeing his aunt's troubled expression, Xu Qingfan found it amusing. His aunt, who was savvy in business, seemed so clueless in everyday life.

"Xiao Fan, this is it, it's called Emperor Veggie!" Once she'd spotted the vegetable she wanted, Zhang Chunxue pulled him along.

"Auntie, the stems are edible; you just need to cut off the tops," Xu Qingfan looked at her speechlessly.

Zhang Chunxue pretended not to hear him and ignored him. After picking a bunch of good-looking Emperor Veggies, she dragged Xu Qingfan onward.

...

The two quickly bought all the ingredients they needed for cooking and headed home.

On the way back, Xu Qingfan muttered, "Orleans baked chicken wings, soup with Emperor Veggies, braised shrimp, and tomato salad..."

"By the way, Xiao Fan." Zhang Chunxue suddenly interrupted him.

"Hmm?"

"What's up, Auntie?" Xu Qingfan looked into Zhang Chunxue's eyes and asked.

Zhang Chunxue withdrew her gaze and casually asked, "Didn't you say in middle school that Wanning always squeezed into your bed, now that she's in high school, does she still do that?"

"Uh..." Xu Qingfan was completely unprepared for that question from his aunt, his brain momentarily froze.

"And about Xiao Xiao, after you all made up in middle school, did anyone have any disagreements later?" Zhang Chunxue continued to ask.

"Hehehe..." Xu Qingfan laughed awkwardly and organized his words to reply, "We haven't fought again; after that time in middle school, maybe everyone cherishes our friendship more, so we've been getting along well."

"Just friendship?" Zhang Chunxue redirected her gaze onto him.

Without giving Xu Qingfan a chance to explain, she continued, "Do you remember what I said to you back then, Xiao Fan?"

"What did you say?" Xu Qingfan instinctively asked back.

Zhang Chunxue posed as if thinking: "How did I say it back then... Oh right!"

"Xiao Fan, don't you think that right now everyone's life revolves around you, apart from studies? You're so smart, think about it carefully."

Zhang Chunxue reminisced about the tone she used back then and repeated it.

"That's it, I've always remembered it. So in high school, everyone got randomly assigned classes, now everyone has made new friends. When we're at school, we only have an hour during lunch and over an hour after evening study to meet. Everyone has made new friends, yes."

As if to cover up his unease, Xu Qingfan said a lot.

"But why do I feel everyone is increasingly relying on Xiao Fan? Just like earlier when we were leaving, Wanning was holding onto your arm saying she wouldn't let you go."

Zhang Chunxue didn't have any other thoughts; she was just genuinely curious about the progression of the kids' emotions, lest she suddenly finds herself a grandma without noticing.

Besides, she also wanted to enjoy some gossip!

"Wanning, she... she's always been like that since she was little, I'm used to it." In the dead of winter, Xu Qingfan felt sweat forming on his forehead.

"But I see Yi Yi seems to rely on Xiao Fan quite a lot too, and also Xiao Yu. They probably rely on Xiao Fan quite a bit too." Zhang Chunxue suddenly stopped walking and just quietly looked at him.

[Oh no, has Auntie discovered my secret?!]

Xu Qingfan couldn't understand why Zhang Chunxue suddenly brought this up, so he had to play it by ear. He said, "Everyone's just used to relying on me. Actually, they can handle things well even when I'm not around; they're just used to depending on me when I'm here."

Zhang Chunxue tapped her finger on his forehead three times and said, "Qingfan is so smart, you clearly know I don't mean relying on you."

After she finished speaking, she took Xu Qingfan's hand and continued walking, leaving the "dog man" behind, sweating profusely.

"Auntie... are you trying to say that they might like me?" Xu Qingfan tentatively asked.

"Mhm." Zhang Chunxue lazily shrugged. "I don't spend much time with you all, but I can still tell that Wanning, Xiao Xiao, Xiao Yu, and Dian Dian all like Qingfan, don't they?"

"Ruan Wen probably has a good impression of Qingfan too, don't you think?" Auntie revealed directly.

Xu Qingfan's Adam's apple bobbed. What should he say?

Say what? That he's planning to sweep Ruan Wen into it too and achieve a five-kill grand achievement?

"I can more or less feel that everyone likes me... Auntie, to be honest with you, I've always been troubled by this. No matter who I choose, I'm afraid it will ruin the friendship we've had since childhood."

Xu Qingfan couldn't treat Auntie like he did with Xiao Ruawen, so he had to speak half-truths.

Zhang Chunxue cast a look of approval at Xu Qingfan for his honesty. She said, "Although Qingfan and I are not related by blood, I've always considered Qingfan as my own child, just like Dian Dian."

"From a mother's perspective, of course, I hope Qingfan can be with Dian Dian and call me 'mom' with his own voice."

"But as I just said, Qingfan is also Auntie's child, so I still prefer to respect Qingfan's own thoughts."

Xu Qingfan's eyes welled up with tears, genuinely moved by Zhang Chunxue's heartfelt words.

[Damn, and here I was thinking of being a scumbag. I'm truly not a decent person!]

"Auntie, I'm sorry... I..."

For a moment, Xu Qingfan truly wanted to confess all his wrongdoings. But his survival instinct stopped him.

"I really don't know who I actually like. I think I like Wanning, like Dian Dian, like Xiao Yu, like Xiao Xiao, and also like Ruan Wen, but I can't distinguish whether my feelings for them are familial or romantic."

"I know it's wrong to be like this, but I don't know what to do."

Xu Qingfan poured out his heart, imagining Zhang Chunxue's possible reactions: maybe stunned, maybe angry, maybe shocked.

But.

What the heck is with this ridiculous expression!

[Hahaha~ finally admitted it, I knew Qingfan harbored these thoughts, otherwise, why ask me back in middle school!]

[No wonder you joked about wanting to marry five wives last time!]

"Auntie?" Xu Qingfan cautiously tested.

"Ahem... well, people's emotions aren't something that can be willed away. In this regard, Auntie can't really give you any advice. Qingfan, your intention to not damage friendships is correct, but..."

"But... nevermind, no but, let's go back and cook dinner."

Zhang Chunxue couldn't exactly encourage Xu Qingfan to be a scumbag. She thought of saying something about being faithful but feared it'd make him hesitant if she did, so she chose to say nothing.

"Oh, come on, Auntie, what is it? Please tell me." Xu Qingfan caught up and pressed her for an answer.

"Auntie~"

"Mom!"

Seeing how persistent he was, Zhang Chunxue had no choice but to stop and pat his shoulder earnestly: "But ultimately, Qingfan, you need to be a man of responsibility, okay?"

Xu Qingfan, full of respect, promised: "Auntie, I will follow your advice and be a man of responsibility."

Zhang Chunxue straightened his collar and nodded in satisfaction: "That's the spirit. Let's go back and cook; Wanning and Dian Dian must be waiting impatiently."

"Alrighty!"

...

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