Sweet Oxygen - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 – Entrust

A young girl’s thoughts were all hidden in her fingertips

——

“Guangming Public Bathhouse? Special service?”

Zhang Yuqing suddenly laughed, “Little girl, what are you thinking?”

Qin Han quickly changed her angle of view and finally saw the sign Zhang Yuqing was actually pointing at—Yaonan Alley First Kindergarten.

To be honest, it was even less noticeable than “Guangming Public Bathhouse.”

Qin Han didn’t believe that Zhang Yuqing had only a kindergarten-level education.

After all, just now at the window, he had casually used a sophisticated idiom like “hidden and stored away.”

Qin Han thought, even if he really only had a kindergarten education, he must have been an outstanding kindergarten graduate who read quite a few books.

Since she was only pretending to buy old books, Qin Han didn’t stay long in Zhang Yuqing’s shop. She chatted briefly before leaving.

She acted as if she was just passing by, casually stopping in to say hello.

After Qin Han left, Luo Shijin leaned back in a chair with his legs crossed.

Stroking his chin, he looked in the direction Qin Han had walked away and said, “Qing-ge, I think this girl Qin Han definitely likes you.”

“No way.”

“How can you say that?!”

Luo Shijin pointed at the small cactus on the windowsill, “Last time she came, I wanted to say it already. That pile of things she brought—they were all for you! If she didn’t like you, why would she buy you so much?”

Zhang Yuqing was wiping a tattoo machine in his hands and didn’t even lift his head. “I accidentally helped her out a few times. She’s just a thin-skinned girl trying to return the favor.”

“No way!” Luo Shijin argued passionately. “I’ve helped my neighbor Li Meili many times, but she’s never bought me anything! Not only that, every time she comes to my fruit stall, she even takes a watermelon. And after eating it, she complains I didn’t pick the sweetest one for her!”

Zhang Yuqing glanced at him. “Are you showing off your relationship?”

Luo Shijin’s neck instantly turned red, and he shouted, “Show off what?! Li Meili and I—we have a completely proper friendship!”

“Oh? And you’re actually proud of that?”

Luo Shijin choked for a moment but still finished his point, “Qin Han definitely has a crush on you.” He got so excited that he even used a sophisticated phrase, “A secret admiration.”

Realizing this, he applauded himself. “Damn, I’m amazing! Do I sound cultured or what?”

The truly kindergarten-educated Luo Shijin was still basking in the glory of using an idiom when he suddenly heard Zhang Yuqing’s calm voice call his name.

“Luo Shijin.”

“Huh? What is it, Qing-ge?”

Zhang Yuqing frowned slightly. “She’s a minor.”

“Huh? So what if she’s a minor?”

“So, don’t talk nonsense.” Zhang Yuqing shot him a warning look. “It’s not good for her.”

Luo Shijin sighed and muttered, “I’m just worried about you. You already have enough pressure. That Qin Han girl looks spoiled—if she clings to you, wouldn’t that be another burden?”

“No way,” Zhang Yuqing repeated the same two words.

The girl had just stepped out of high school—she was someone who couldn’t even tell when a boy had a crush on her and who had been tricked into buying second-hand books for 60 yuan at an old book market.

“Liking me? That’s nonsense.”

But that day, when Qin Han rushed toward him and then backed away in a panic, the flicker of hesitation in her eyes…

Could she really…?

Zhang Yuqing chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Ridiculous. He was really bored enough to start guessing whether a teenage girl had a crush on him.

The three great delusions in life.

My phone was vibrating.

Someone was calling me.

She liked me.

Tsk.

Qin Han had already repaid her favors. She also now knew the old book market was full of swindlers.

Zhang Yuqing figured she wouldn’t be coming back to Yaonan Alley again.

But just a few days later, not only did Qin Han return—she also had a small golden retriever puppy following her.

The little puppy panted with its tongue out, wagging its tail so fast that it was almost a blur, like a tiny shadow trailing behind her.

The moment Qin Han stepped into Zhang Yuqing’s shop, she looked at him as if she had found her savior. “Zhang Yuqing!”

Qin Han had baked some biscuits. This time, after trying them herself, she found them quite good—rich and milky in flavor.

She felt the need to bring them to Zhang Yuqing to prove herself.

Using this as an excuse, she returned to Yaonan Alley.

But as soon as she got off the bus, a small golden retriever puppy started following her.

At first, she found it amusing and even took out a mini fish sausage from her bag to feed it. But after finishing the treat, the little golden retriever didn’t leave—it kept following her.

When Qin Han walked, it walked. When she stopped, it stopped.

It was probably an abandoned or lost puppy.

Qin Han had no choice but to bring it to Zhang Yuqing’s shop.

Qin Han had some sweat hidden in the strands of hair on her forehead. Zhang Yuqing stood in front of the refrigerator, opened the door, and took out a disposable cup, pouring a glass of ice water for her.

His refrigerator, like this street, was somewhat old. When the door opened, it made a buzzing sound.

Halfway through handing over the water, Zhang Yuqing paused, “Can you drink cold water?”

“I can.” Qin Han took the cup.

Zhang Yuqing glanced down at the little golden retriever clinging to his shoe. It was quite cute—just a bit dirty, with a piece of chewing gum stuck to its butt.

A light breeze stirred outside, rustling the leaves. Qin Han, wearing a light denim suspender skirt and carrying a backpack, sat by the table.

After drinking half the cup of water, she caught her breath and explained how she had encountered the little golden retriever.

She had been sweating earlier, and a few strands of hair at her temples curled slightly as if permed.

Zhang Yuqing passed her a box of tissues. “What do you plan to do?”

She couldn’t take the little golden retriever home—her mother was allergic to pet hair.

But honestly, Qin Han felt a bit relieved that she couldn’t keep the dog.

She wanted to leave it at Zhang Yuqing’s shop. That way, she wouldn’t have to keep coming up with excuses to visit.

This kind of little scheme was new to her, and just thinking about it made her nervous.

She gripped the water cup, tracing the rim with her fingers to calm herself, and cautiously suggested, “I want to… I want to make a notice and put it up outside your shop, in case the owner sees it…”

Zhang Yuqing silently observed her. She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, fingers restlessly picking at the glass cup.

A young girl’s thoughts were all hidden in her fingertips.

Zhang Yuqing looked away, lost in thought.

Qin Han didn’t get a response and asked hesitantly, “Is it… inconvenient?”

“It’s fine, put it up,” Zhang Yuqing smiled. “What about the dog? Are you taking it home or leaving it here?”

“My mom is allergic to dog hair.” It was a fact, but saying it made Qin Han feel guilty, her voice trailing off.

Zhang Yuqing agreed easily, his eyes carrying his usual amusement as if he hadn’t noticed anything. He even prepared an A4 sheet and a pen for her. “You write the notice, and I’ll put it up later.”

Qin Han took the paper and pen, her scalp tingling.

She wasn’t good at drawing.

In elementary school art class, she once drew seaweed, but her classmates thought it was a snake.

But she had already troubled Zhang Yuqing enough today; she couldn’t possibly ask him to draw it for her.

After much hesitation, she pulled out her phone, searched for a simple sketch of a puppy, and copied it.

When she finally finished, she wrote in large words: “Who lost this adorable golden retriever? Please contact me.”

Should she leave Zhang Yuqing’s number?

After all, the dog would be staying at his shop.

She turned to look at him—Zhang Yuqing was casually sitting on the floor, trimming the dog’s fur.

Qin Han’s home had spotless floors, yet her mother still insisted on wearing slippers and following countless rules about cleanliness.

Zhang Yuqing had a carefree attitude that went against to everything she had been taught.

Qin Han knew about the chewing gum stuck to the dog’s fur but had no idea how to deal with it. She had even planned to take it to a pet hospital.

Yet Zhang Yuqing’s hands were gentle as he worked, and the little golden retriever, resting its chin on his leg, looked like it was about to doze off.

She squatted beside him, cautiously asking, “Would it be better to leave your phone number here?”

Zhang Yuqing snipped off a chunk of gum-covered fur, then suddenly turned his head and smiled. “Don’t you already have my number?”

The sudden movement caught Qin Han off guard, and her gaze crashed into his.

The close distance left nowhere for her tiny scheme to hide. Flustered, she quickly used the A4 sheet to shield herself and scooted back, ending up sitting on the floor.

Zhang Yuqing chuckled, “Get up, the floor is dirty.”

Qin Han thought—But you’re sitting on the floor too!

Zhang Yuqing stood up and casually grabbed her arm, lifting her off the ground with ease.

As she steadied herself, she heard Zhang Yuqing reciting a string of numbers.

He had called her once before when she left her backpack and socks at his shop, so she could’ve found his number in her call history. She wasn’t sure why she even asked again.

Maybe it was just an attempt to cover up her real intentions.

That evening, Luo Shijin walked in through the back door, carrying a big watermelon, and immediately spotted the golden retriever wagging its tail in the front of the shop.

Zhang Yuqing leaned against the table, holding his phone up to take a picture of the dog.

“Qing-ge? Where’d this dog come from?” Luo Shijin set the watermelon on the table and asked.

“Picked it up,” Zhang Yuqing replied, handing his phone over. “Record a video for me.”

Luo Shijin took the phone and aimed it at him, watching as Zhang Yuqing tossed a toy ball, which the golden retriever eagerly chased after.

After recording, he handed the phone back and asked, confused, “This dog looks good, but aren’t you busy enough already? Why keep it?”

“It followed Qin Han around, and she didn’t know what to do, so she brought it here. The notice is up outside—who knows if the owner will show up.”

Luo Shijin frowned. “Qing-ge, seriously, you really don’t think Qin Han likes you, even a little?”