Chapter 40: Every Single Stitch

“Just admit it, Little Duo. Honesty is the best policy!” Ye Liu looked like he was educating a child.

She turned away proudly, ignoring him. She stood and pulled her bench to the other side, beside Ling, pretending Ye Liu was nothing but air.

Then she spoke fervently to Ye Ling, “Ling, what’s that you’re mending?”

“Insoles for the shoes. Makes them more comfortable to walk in,” he responded with good temper. His voice was calm and gentle, able to make people feel good instantly.

“Oh.”

It was only a few layers of coarse cloth, neatly sewn together by rows and rows of thread.

She observed Ye Ling’s actions. It looked easy enough that she was tempted to try. She had never sewn insoles before.

“Ling, let me try.”

“Alright, but don’t prick yourself, or it’s going to hurt,” he passed the tools to her.

“Relax, I’m not stupid enough to prick myself,” she took over in a rush.

Needle in hand, Liu Duo got to work excitedly. The needle managed to pierce through the cloth, but only halfway. It was just too think. Her spirit dropped.

How did Ling make it look so easy, yet she was having a tough time?

With great effort Liu Duo tried again and managed to pierce through it entirely, and then she sewed a few more times. Soon, she had had enough.

“Hey, you can have it. I’m done.” She did not prick herself, but because she was not familiar with the technique, her fingers were swelling.

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“Yikes, that’s an ugly piece of work,” Ye Liu snuck a peek and could not resist picking on her.

Ye Ling had intended on sewing a smooth and straight line, but Liu Duo messed it up quite conspicuously. This was why she gave up.

“Don’t look if it’s ugly then. I didn’t even tell you to. Geez!” She said unhappily, very unhappily. She was not skilled, so this should be totally normal!

“It’s not ugly. This is Duo Er’s token of goodwill,” Ling consoled her. He used to be just as bad. But this was sewn from the goodness of the heart. Every single stitch.

Upon hearing this, a smile immediately hung on her pretty face. She held onto Ye Ling’s arm, craned her neck at Ye Liu and lifted her chin. “Hear that? Ugly is my token of goodwill, hmmph! Ling’s the best.”

“Sure, sure, sure, Ling’s the best, and I’m the worst. I get it!” He would follow whatever Liu Duo said for now, as long as she was happy. He loved seeing her smile.

“Glad you do!”

The three of them sat under the roof, chatting happily. Ye Liu talked the most. He often worked in town, so he got in touch with all walks of life. He spoke humorously, which made Liu Duo laugh so hard. Ye Ling would chime in every now and then. It was a harmonious moment.

Then, the door to their yard opened, and Ye Mo entered with a basketful of firewood on his back, an axe in one hand, and another bundle in the other.

He saw the three of them chatting away happily under the roof. Liu Duo was smiling particularly brightly. He had never ever seen any woman laughing so uncontrollably.

But it was especially attractive, not pretentious at all, in fact very natural and poised. Her clear and tender facial features, beauty mark, and dimples hanging on either corner of her mouth added to her beauty regardless.

For one moment he stood at the door, stunned.

The group of three had long spotted him.

Liu Duo realised he had been staring at her. What had she done to provoke him again? There was no reason, so she broke the line of vision.

“I say, Mo, if you plan to be a gatekeeper, kindly face outwards! What kind of guardian faces towards the house anyway? I’m telling you, don’t come scaring our Little Duo,” Ye Liu muttered at him, his anger not completely gone yet.

He came to at the sound of Ye Liu’s voice. His mouth twitched. He closed the door and placed the firewood aside.