I Like You So Much - Chapter 39
Chapter 39
October 1st marks the birthday of the motherland, and the entire nation celebrates together. In South City, as this time of year approaches, both sides of the streets are adorned with vibrant little national flags.
This year is different. The National Day celebrations are more grand than ever before, as 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the motherland’s founding. The whole country is placing special importance on this occasion.
In South City, there was even an all-night citywide cleanup last night. Not only were small red flags hung on the street lamps, but the flowers in the flowerbeds were also arranged to resemble the national flag.
The green grass and trees have all been washed, looking lush and vibrant, standing tall towards the sun, showing their most energetic side in celebration of our motherland’s birthday.
Looking around, the scene is bright and cheerful, filling one with a sense of pride. It feels as though this symbolizes the bright and unstoppable future of the nation!
This year, patriotic feelings seem to be particularly strong.
Just last night, all the residents in Li Jiao’s neighborhood started hanging small red flags from their windows. The property management even bought a large batch to hand out to residents at the entrance.
At Li Jiao’s house, the flag was hung up this morning by Li Hang—a large five-star red flag that mother Li had specially purchased.
Early in the morning, mother Li could be heard giving instructions.
“Move it over a bit, over a bit more.”
“It’s crooked; it’s crooked; the flag must be hung straight.”
Li Hang stood on a stool, half of his body leaning out, holding onto the window frame as he hung the flag. Because the flag was so large, it covered him entirely, and all he could see was bright red.
“Hey, Mom, is it okay now?”
“Yes, yes, it’s fine now; you can come down. Be careful, don’t fall.”
“Even though our guardrail is newly installed, there’s no need for you to personally test its safety.”
Li Jiao, wearing yellow Pikachu pajamas, came out of her room, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
“Mom, what are you doing so early in the morning?”
Turning around, mother Li saw her daughter and said, “You’re awake? There’s breakfast on the table; warm it up yourself. Today’s National Day, the 70th anniversary, so I thought we should hang up a big national flag to celebrate!”
Hearing this, Li Jiao looked at the window and was suddenly wide-eyed.
Oh my, what is that giant flag that looks like a curtain?
The sunlight streamed in, casting a bright red hue throughout the room.
What is this?
The light of the righteous path (party) shining upon me?
Oh my god, Li Jiao twirled around on her tiptoes, holding the hem of her pajamas.
She instantly felt enlightened!
Li Hang jumped down from the stool, grinning broadly with an annoyingly bright smile on his face.
He walked over and ruffled Li Jiao’s hair roughly.
“Ah, rub a pig’s head for good luck in the Year of the Pig!”
Li Jiao’s hair instantly became frizzy, looking like a spiky sea urchin, with two long strands sticking out, turning her into a little crazy woman.
Time seemed to freeze for about three seconds. Li Hang only saw his older sister lowering her head, slowly clenching her fists, as the air around them grew colder, resembling a villain charging up in a TV drama.
“Three, two, one…”
He counted in his head, then quickly turned and ran!
“Li Hang!!!”
“I’m not going to start killing spree this early in the morning!!!”
As Li Hang sped away, he turned his head to look.
When he glanced back, Li Jiao’s slippers were flying toward him at lightning speed, aimed right at his behind with a murderous intent!
“Oh no, Jiao Jiao, are you trying to kill me?”
Saying this, he picked up speed and ran even faster.
Li Jiao chased after him relentlessly, shouting.
“Li Hang, today I’m going to add some color to the red flag with your blood!!”
“Mom, help! Mom,” Li Hang ran around the house, yelling, “Your daughter is going to kill your son!!”
“Li Hang, if you’re brave, don’t run!!”
“I’m not brave!!! That’s why I’m running!!!!!!”
“Stop right there!!!!!!”
“Li Jiao, are you brainless? If I stop, you’ll beat me to death, right?!”
Watching her son being chased around the house by her daughter, mother Li felt nothing but calm as she untied her apron and said.
“I’m going out later to buy some things with your aunt.”
“Jiao Jiao, make sure you eat breakfast, and Hang Hang, get your homework done; don’t play games.”
By now, Li Jiao had caught Li Hang, grabbing the back of his shirt, while Li Hang struggled desperately like an octopus, flailing his arms.
Li Jiao gritted her teeth and said.
“Don’t worry, Mom, I will—definitely—keep—a close—eye on—him!”
“Help, Mom, don’t leave! If you leave, Jiao Jiao will kill me!”
“Mom, save me; don’t leave…Kajima!!!”
(T/N: korean word= don’t leave/don’t go)
This sibling battle ended only when Li Jiao threatened Li Hang with his game console, forcing him to surrender completely.
Father Li had left for a business trip, catching a flight at 5 a.m., and with one person missing, the house felt emptier.
After finishing breakfast, Li Jiao realized it was still early, only 7 a.m. She had arranged to meet Zhang Jiuling at 9 a.m., so she had some time to get ready.
She spent nearly half an hour changing clothes repeatedly before finally deciding on a butter-green dress with ruffled sleeves that ended just above her knees. It looked fresh, lively, and perfectly matched her temperament.
She braided her shoulder-length hair into two little pigtails, adding a touch of playfulness. When she smiled, her pink lips curved slightly, revealing two small dimples, combining serenity and liveliness.
She was the kind of girl who looked beautiful at first glance.
After getting ready and leaving the house, it was only 8 a.m., so she thought it would be good to arrive early.
Carrying a small bag and the hat she was returning, Li Jiao set out.
“Li Hang, I’m leaving! Let Mom know when she gets back.”
“It’s National Day, where are you going? The market has plenty of pork today.”
“Go to hell!”
“Oh, so you’re going to die, huh?”
This morning, a light drizzle had fallen, gently nourishing everything and refreshing the landscape. The air had a distinct, fresh scent.
A faint fragrance of unknown flowers and grasses lingered.
By the time Li Jiao left, the rain had stopped, but the sky was still a bit overcast. A cool breeze blew, sending a chill down her spine, and she immediately regretted wearing a dress.
However, going back to change would make her late, so she reluctantly headed to the meeting place.
Shangnan Road wasn’t far from Li Jiao’s neighborhood; just two streets away.
Perhaps due to the National Day holiday, many people in South City had left the city overnight, heading to tourist spots.
The usually bustling streets were suddenly quiet.
Along the way, only a few buses and taxis wandered the streets.
Li Jiao strolled over, worried that Zhang Jiuling might not find her, so she stood by a blue street sign, holding a bag with the hat inside, looking around anxiously.
Hmm, how would the instructor come over—walking? Driving? Which direction would he come from?
About seven or eight minutes later, a military green jeep suddenly appeared in her line of sight, coming from the other side of the intersection.
Hmm? This car looks a bit familiar.
Li Jiao kept her eyes on the vehicle, and eventually, it slowly came to a stop in front of her.
The driver’s side door opened, and out stepped Zhang Jiuling, wearing a light military green jacket. Around his neck was a black cord necklace with a small silver bullet pendant. He wore black combat boots, looking sharp and imposing.
As he walked over, his boots made soft, steady footsteps on the ground.
His short black hair was neat and tidy, with sharp eyebrows extending into his clean-cut sideburns. His long, narrow eyes, slightly slanted at the corners, had a cold and deep blackness, giving his features a striking, spirited look, exuding a naturally imposing aura.
In the past, Li Jiao would have been too intimidated to approach someone with such a powerful presence.
But…
Upon seeing Zhang Jiuling, Li Jiao immediately broke into a bright smile, dimples showing, and greeted him happily.
“Instructor.”
Her joy was almost tangible, as if it could burst out from the top of her head.
Zhang Jiuling walked over, quietly observing her. The little girl seemed particularly delighted; the moment she saw him, she beamed like a radiant little flower. Dressed in a green dress with two braids, she looked lively and playful.
Afraid he wouldn’t find her, she had even stood under the street sign, holding the bag, waiting obediently, like a child waiting to be picked up.
The coldness in his eyes softened a bit, and his voice, though low and clear, had a gentle tone to it.
“How long have you been waiting?”
Li Jiao smiled and shook her head, “Not long, just a little while.”
She then handed over the bag she was holding.
“Instructor, your hat. I washed it for you.”
Zhang Jiuling glanced at the light green bag with a white rabbit on it.
He didn’t say anything or take the bag.
Ah, why did she return the hat right away?
If she returned it now, wouldn’t that mean there was nothing left to do afterward? Would the instructor just leave after taking the hat?
Li Jiao, couldn’t you think things through?! You’re about to waste such a good chance to spend more time with the instructor!
Oh no, have you been infected by Li Hang’s low IQ?!!
Li Jiao mentally berated herself, worried that if Zhang Jiuling took the hat, he would leave. But she was also concerned that it would be awkward if he didn’t take it.
After a brief moment, she heard him say, “Hold onto it for me for now.”
“Okay… okay.”
Li Jiao nodded, a little embarrassed, and pulled her hand back.
Phew~
What a relief.
Zhang Jiuling didn’t miss the little expression on her face. When he asked her to hold onto the hat for a bit longer, did the girl actually look relieved?
He slightly raised an eyebrow and asked, “Have you had breakfast?”
This time, with foresight, Li Jiao was smart. She definitely wouldn’t miss any chance to spend more time with the instructor!
She hadn’t eaten breakfast, no, she hadn’t!
If she said she hadn’t eaten, she could go have breakfast with the instructor and spend more time with him!
So, she declared firmly, “No, I haven’t!”
When she said this, she completely forgot about the crab roe soup dumplings and large bowl of soy milk she had devoured that morning!
Who ate that?
No idea, but it definitely wasn’t her.
Zhang Jiuling glanced at the nearby shops, recalling a good breakfast spot nearby. Coincidentally, he had just driven some comrades back to the military base earlier this morning and hadn’t had breakfast himself.
“Let’s go, get in the car.”
Get in the car…?
Li Jiao looked over at the military jeep, which was about one and a half times her height, feeling a bit intimidated.
For the first time, she felt as small as a groundhog.
Even the lowest step was higher than her knees.
She could get into the car, but she was wearing a skirt that just barely covered her knees. If she tried to get in, she would definitely flash someone.
Li Jiao stared at the Jeep, eyes full of hesitation. Did she really have to climb up?
Seeing her hesitate, Zhang Jiuling thought she didn’t want to go.
Taking another look, he noticed she was wearing a green dress that barely covered her thighs. Her long, smooth legs were as white as jade, delicate and soft, gleaming like polished porcelain.
That smooth white jade exposed to the air was almost blinding.
Some say that to judge a woman’s sensuality, you don’t look at her face, but her legs.
The temperature wasn’t high today, and it had rained in the morning. The girl’s exposed legs had a faint purplish hue, likely from the cold.
Who knows how long she had been standing there or how many people had passed by, seeing her like this.
Zhang Jiuling’s narrow eyes squinted slightly, his mood suddenly darkening.
He took off his jacket and handed it to her, his tone cold and slightly stiff.
“Tie it around your waist.”
Li Jiao dumbly accepted the jacket, looked at Zhang Jiuling, and saw that his expression had darkened a bit. She thought it was because she was wearing a skirt and causing trouble, making him unhappy.
She didn’t dare say anything, quickly draping the jacket over her legs and tying the sleeves around her waist.
Zhang Jiuling opened the car door for her, and she quickly climbed up, sitting properly in the passenger seat, hands on her knees, sitting obediently.
“Bang!”
Zhang Jiuling returned to the driver’s seat and casually pulled the door shut, making a loud “bang.”
Li Jiao shrank back slightly, glancing nervously at him. Even from the side, the instructor looked really handsome. From this angle, she could see his chiseled jawline, high nose bridge, and sharp sideburns.
At this moment, his brows were slightly furrowed, his expression a bit stern.
Is the instructor… angry?
Ah~ If only I hadn’t worn a dress…
