Chapter 38 Choosing a Life Live the Life You Want…

Chapter 38: Choosing a Life: Live the Life You Want

After breakfast, Yu Kui joined her grandfather in the orchard, happily exploring and gathering an abundance of fresh fruit.

At noon, she prepared several yogurt parfaits in the kitchen. When neighborhood children arrived to play, Yu Kui invited them to sit, customizing each parfait with fruit to their liking.

"Sister Kui, I want strawberries," a little girl chirped, her legs swinging, eyes wide with eager anticipation.

"Of course," Yu Kui said, tucking a strawberry into the girl's hand before distributing the yogurt bowls. "Eat up, and then we'll watch cartoons."

"Yay!" A little boy beside her smiled shyly. "My uncle is coming to see me at lunchtime and bringing cake. I'll share some with you, Sister Kui."

Yu Kui had heard about this "little uncle"—a young man who owned a bakery in town, known for his gentle demeanor and for supporting local fruit farmers.

Yu Kui hadn't been playing with the children for long when their parents arrived to take them home for lunch.

"Uncle! Uncle!" The little boy flung open the courtyard gate, rushing excitedly towards a young man in a white shirt standing outside. With an exceptionally refined face, the man appeared to be in his early twenties, yet exuded a youthful charm, reminiscent of a gentle supporting character from a manga.

"Sister Kui, this is my uncle," the boy announced, turning to Yu Kui. "He came just to see me today!"

"Hello," Yu Kui greeted the man.

"Hello, I'm Xu Xi. Thank you for looking after him today."

"It was no trouble at all," Yu Kui replied, shaking her head. "Dongdong and Ningning were both very well-behaved."

"Uncle, did you bring the cake?" the little boy asked impatiently. "I want to share it with Sister Kui."

"Of course I did," Xu Xi said with a faint smile in his voice, turning to Yu Kui. "Please wait a moment; I'll go get the cake."

"Oh, there's no need," Yu Kui, not particularly fond of sweets, politely declined. "It's almost lunchtime. You should head back."

"It won't take long," Xu Xi said, his peach-blossom eyes seeming to twinkle when he looked at her. "You worked hard looking after them today."

Unable to refuse again, Yu Kui waited in the courtyard. Soon, Xu Xi returned with the cake. "I wasn't sure what flavor you'd like, so I brought a selection."

Yu Kui looked at the plate in his hands, laden with exquisitely arranged fresh fruit cakes—cherry, grape, and plum—all looking incredibly appetizing.

"Thank you," she said. Though she hadn't interacted much with people in town, her first impression of Xu Xi was very positive. "Did you make these yourself?"

"Not entirely," Xu Xi explained. "I have two assistants at the shop who handle most of the preparations."

"That's still very impressive." Yu Kui knew little about baking but held a deep respect for skills she didn't possess.

"Are you back for summer vacation?" Xu Xi asked gently.

"Yes, I just finished the *gaokao*," Yu Kui replied, handing him some fruit she had picked that morning. "I plan to stay here for a while."

"If you have time, please visit the bakery on Chunhua Street. I'd love to treat you to some new desserts I've been developing."

"Okay."

Watching Xu Xi depart, Yu Kui closed the door.

Over the next few days, Yu Kui heard that the lotus flowers in a nearby town were in bloom. She took a motor-rickshaw to explore, occasionally sending photos to her mother to show how much fun she was having.

Sun Shuya also frequently sent Yu Kui pictures. She had traveled to Xinjiang with her classmates, where the sky was vast, the sun brilliant, the rivers crystal clear, and the grasslands a vibrant, picturesque green.

"I've tried so many unique foods here and even learned to ride a horse and roast lamb. It's such a shame you couldn't come."

Yu Kui smiled as she replied, "Have fun, and take lots of pictures of yourself."

"Got it, got it."

Sun Shuya added, "Are you still in touch with Xie Xingzhi? I asked him earlier if he wanted to join us, but he completely ignored me. So annoying."

Yu Kui hadn't spoken to Xie Xingzhi in a long time either. Perhaps because he had witnessed her at her most vulnerable, her feelings towards him were somewhat complex.

When she was traveling with her parents, Xie Xingzhi had messaged her, but Yu Kui's replies remained consistently polite. Sensing her distance, Xie Xingzhi had stopped contacting her.

With the *gaokao* over, he must be feeling relieved now, she thought.

Yu Kui walked along the lake's embankment. Just as she was about to find a spot to rest, a gentle voice called from behind her: "Is that Yu Kui?"

Yu Kui turned around. Xu Xi was approaching from a nearby farmhouse, carrying a basket of beautiful lotus flowers, making him look as if he had stepped out of a painting.

Yu Kui instinctively stood up, unsure how to address him given his youthful appearance.

"Just call me by my name," Xu Xi said, walking closer with a smile. "Did you come here specifically to visit?"

"Yes," Yu Kui replied. Though popular with her classmates, her social interactions outside of school were still quite unpolished. "Are you here to get ingredients?"

"Yes," Xu Xi explained, his eyes always holding a faint smile. "It's lotus season, and I'm planning to develop some seasonal lotus-themed pastries."

He stood at a comfortable distance, yet Yu Kui could detect a sweet, delicate fragrance emanating from him—not of lotuses, but the subtle aroma of desserts that seemed to cling to him.

"That's wonderful," Yu Kui said, unsure how to continue the conversation. "If I get the chance, I'll visit your shop for some bread."

"You can come today," Xu Xi offered. "We have new pastries. Would you like to come with me?"

He gazed at Yu Kui, smiling as he extended the invitation.

Having explored most of the area, Yu Kui hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Xu Xi led her to a car parked near the farmhouse entrance. "Wait in the car for a bit. I still need to pick up some produce."

"I'll come with you," Yu Kui said, following him. "Do you usually source your ingredients from around here?"

"It depends on what I need," Xu Xi replied, picking up several plastic bags with a smile. "For fresh lotus flowers and seed pods, I come here. For fruits and vegetables, I buy them from neighbors. As long as the quality is good, the source doesn't make much difference."

Yu Kui had heard her grandparents speak of Xu Xi; he had bought fruit from their orchard before and was known for his kindness. Her impression of him was very positive.

"Why did you decide to open a bakery in this town?" Yu Kui asked, feeling that someone with his apparent education would typically pursue a career in a city.

"You could say I don't have grand ambitions," Xu Xi said, placing the items in the trunk and then taking the basket from Yu Kui. "I enjoy a free-spirited life, so I came back."

Far from looking down on him, Yu Kui felt a touch of admiration for his independent spirit.

"Choosing the life you want for yourself—that's truly wonderful."

Xu Xi looked at her face—fair-skinned, with clear eyes, and a tone full of sincerity.

He chuckled softly. "You, too, can choose the life you want someday."

Thinking of the future, Yu Kui's heart filled with anticipation: "After I graduate from university, I want to do work I love and live in a city I like."

"That's great," Xu Xi said. "Do you have a university in mind?"

Yu Kui paused, hesitating to respond.

She had initially planned to apply to a local university to stay close to her parents, but after reading that book, she was filled with conflicting thoughts.

In the book, she and Qin You were admitted to the same university, while Tao Jiang enrolled in a nearby school. To spite them, she constantly intruded into Qin You's life, eventually leading to public exposure and becoming a ridiculed figure on campus.

Yu Kui resolved that she would not attend the same university as Qin You. She wanted to keep her distance from both of them and avoid any future involvement in their affairs.

"I plan to apply to Yanning University," she said softly, looking up.

Hearing her mention Yanning University, Xu Xi knew she must be an exceptional student with excellent grades.

"Choosing to apply to Yanning University indicates a very bright future for you," Xu Xi said with a smile. "Hats off to the academic prodigy."

"I'm not a prodigy," Yu Kui replied, a little embarrassed. "I'm just a diligent student who pays attention in class."

"But that doesn't negate your intelligence and hard work, does it?"

Yu Kui: "......"

Xu Xi parked the car across from the cake shop and led Yu Kui into the charmingly decorated store. The clear display window offered a full view of the tempting array of pastries inside, drawing passersby to stop and admire.

Even in a small town, Xu Xi's bakery was incredibly popular. It was the first place people thought of when ordering a cake.

Yu Kui searched for the bakery online and discovered it was a "must-visit" internet-famous spot for anyone passing through town. No wonder Xu Xi needed two assistants; he ran a very successful business.

"Please find a comfortable seat," Xu Xi said, guiding Yu Kui to a table. "Take a look at the menu and see if there's anything else you'd like to try."

Yu Kui glanced at the adorable menu, which featured not only pictures of each dessert but also listed ingredients and suggested drink pairings.

Not overly particular, Yu Kui ordered two signature items. "Grape juice and taro mille-feuille, please?" she asked.

"Of course," Xu Xi replied. "We also have freshly baked egg tarts. Would you like some?"

"Two, please."

"Sure." Xu Xi turned and went into the back. Yu Kui sat by the window, watching the people pass by outside and inhaling the sweet, comforting aroma of baking from the shop. Unconsciously, her mood began to relax.

She took out her earphones, put on a gentle, mellow song, and felt as if the unsettling storylines that had troubled her were slowly fading away.

Before long, Xu Xi returned with the desserts. "Try my creations."

He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat across from Yu Kui. "Whenever I have free time, I sit here and read. It always helps me find peace—I really enjoy that feeling."

Yu Kui picked up a silver spoon and began with the lotus flower pudding Xu Xi had prepared. It was not only visually appealing but also exceptionally refreshing to taste.