The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er looked at Sun Jiaming. His expression was very serious.

In the sunlight, his body seemed to be coated in a layer of gold, making her squint. She found it a little dazzling.

’What have I ever done to deserve Sun Jiaming being so good to me?’

"How about I teach you to ride? This bike is a bit big, so you can’t learn without someone holding on at first. The road here is pretty wide, want to give it a try?"

Sun Jiaming had brought Gu’er here precisely because it was a good place to practice.

His tone was gentle, a suggestion, but one that was impossible to refuse.

Gu’er felt it would be petty to refuse again. He had already bought the bike and was now enthusiastically offering to teach her. If she stubbornly said no, it would definitely hurt Sun Jiaming’s feelings.

"Okay."

Gu’er nodded.

She already knew how to ride a bicycle. In her past life, she had no money, and a bicycle had been her best mode of transport.

But this bicycle was indeed quite large, not particularly suited for a woman to ride.

Gu’er took the handlebars from Sun Jiaming and listened as he explained how to ride and what to pay attention to.

Gu’er listened very attentively. Whether she knew how or not, she listened with focus.

When Sun Jiaming finished his explanation, he held the back of the seat and told Gu’er to try.

Gu’er glanced back.

There was a bundle tied to the rear rack. She didn’t know what was inside. Sun Jiaming hadn’t mentioned it, and she hadn’t asked.

"Yes, yes, just like that. Grip the handlebars, keep your balance, don’t wobble."

Sun Jiaming said continuously from behind her.

Gu’er did wobble a bit. The bike was a little too big for her, and she wasn’t used to it.

Sun Jiaming kept a firm hold on the back of the seat, helping Gu’er maintain her balance. He was afraid she would fall.

Gu’er slowly got the feel of it, experimenting. Since she already had the basics down, she didn’t fall.

Gu’er swung her leg over the crossbar and got on the bike.

"Don’t be scared, don’t be scared. Hold the handlebars tight. I won’t let go, I won’t let you fall."

Sun Jiaming held on tightly, continuing to comfort Gu’er.

"That’s it, that’s it, just like that. Eyes forward..."

Sun Jiaming spoke without stopping, his hand never leaving the bike.

Gu’er got the hang of it quickly and started riding smoothly.

Seeing that Gu’er was riding quite well, Sun Jiaming let go for a moment. By the time he realized and wanted to grab the seat again, Gu’er had already ridden some distance away.

’Sun Jiaming was dumbfounded. How is Gu’er so nimble? It took me way longer than this to learn. How did she pick it up so easily? Looking at her, it seems like she rides even better than I do. Is she a genius?’

Gu’er rode a full circle and came back, squeezing the handbrakes in front of Sun Jiaming. She swung her leg back over the bike to dismount, looking completely at ease.

Riding a bike felt so good. With this, it would be much easier for her to go to the city, sell popsicles, and do other things in the future.

At this thought, she couldn’t contain her joy, and it lit up her entire face.

Gu’er’s smiling face dazzled Sun Jiaming.

Her smile was like a flower blooming in his heart, filling him with delight as well.

"How did you learn so fast? I was afraid you wouldn’t get it even after two days. I was prepared to teach you for a few days, but now it looks like you ride even smoother than I do. You don’t need me anymore. I was planning to practice with you for a few days, but now there’s nothing for me to do."

Sun Jiaming muttered to himself. ’Now that Gu’er knows how, I don’t need to teach her anymore. I should hurry up and build that box for her.’

Gu’er burst out laughing.

She couldn’t very well tell Sun Jiaming that she had been riding a bicycle for twenty-odd years, could she?

"I don’t know either. I just listened to what you told me, held the handlebars tight, kept my balance, and it just worked."

Gu’er felt so cheerful. ’So this is what it’s like after leaving the Zhou family. My mood can be this light, and my days can be this happy.’

As she thought this, she flicked the bicycle’s bell.

A crisp ring echoed out. The RING-RING-RING landed in her heart, so clear and bright it made one’s own spirits lift.

"Since you’ve got it, let’s head back. Oh, right, these are some clothes I bought for you. Try them on for size when you get back. If they don’t fit, let me know."

Sun Jiaming pointed to the bundle on the rear rack.

’Clothes? For me?’

Gu’er’s heart felt as if it had been smoothed over with a warm iron—soothed and warm.

’He thought of everything for me. So he went to the city today all because of me. Buying the bicycle, buying clothes—it was all for me.’

Gu’er looked toward Sun Jiaming.

Sun Jiaming happened to be looking at Gu’er at that exact moment. Their eyes met, and Gu’er’s face turned red.

This was the first time. The first time Gu’er felt she didn’t dare to look directly at Sun Jiaming. She was a little afraid of his gaze.

Before, Gu’er had always looked at Sun Jiaming openly, her gaze never wavering, because she held no other special feelings for him in her heart.

’But now?’

’That day when Sun Jiaming appeared, rescued me, and stood up for me... he must have walked into my heart then.’

Gu’er clutched the bundle on the rear rack. She didn’t open it. No matter what the clothes inside looked like, they were a token of Sun Jiaming’s thoughtfulness.

"Brother Jia Ming, do you want me to give you a ride for a bit?"

Gu’er was very grateful to Sun Jiaming, but she didn’t know how to best express it. The sudden thought of giving him a ride popped into her head.

Gu’er knew how to carry a passenger. She used to carry her children. Later, when she went out with Zhou Mazi, she was the one who rode the bike, carrying Zhou Mazi and her grown-up daughter. She had the skill and the experience.

"It’s better if I give you a ride. You just learned today, and I’m heavy. It’ll be no joke if you fall."

Sun Jiaming smiled. ’If Gu’er was willing to ride with him, he’d want to give her a ride every single day.’

In fact, Gu’er had blushed a little after she said it. When carrying a passenger, the person on the back, afraid of being unstable, would either have to grab the seat tightly or hold onto the waist of the person in front.

Since she and Sun Jiaming were both young and unmarried, giving him a ride wasn’t entirely proper.

Sun Jiaming’s refusal made her sigh in relief, but then he offered to give her a ride instead. ’Should I accept?’

Looking at Sun Jiaming’s somewhat fiery and expectant gaze, Gu’er steeled her heart. ’I’ll do it. I’m not afraid even if people see us. It’s just a bike ride, who cares what anyone says.’

"Okay."

Gu’er nodded at Sun Jiaming, her expression resolute.

The smile flowed from Sun Jiaming’s eyes, causing Gu’er’s lips to curve upwards as well.

Sun Jiaming told Gu’er to get on first, but Gu’er insisted that he get on and start riding first.

Once Sun Jiaming was on the bike, Gu’er took a couple of running steps to catch up, then leaped lightly and settled securely on the rear rack.

Sun Jiaming felt the weight on the back of the bike. He gripped the handlebars tighter, steadying himself even more. He was carrying the girl he liked; he couldn’t let her fall.

Sun Jiaming rode with Gu’er in two circles at the village entrance.

"Should we head back?"

Sun Jiaming asked in a low voice. He couldn’t see Gu’er’s expression and didn’t know if she was willing to let him give her a ride back.

"Okay. Let’s go back."

Gu’er answered quickly. She wanted to go back too.

"Then let’s go!"

Sun Jiaming’s spirits soared, and he pedaled furiously. Gu’er held onto the rear seat tightly with both hands, her feet stretched out slightly, her mood soaring along with the speed of the bike.

——————————

Thank you to Haifeng sea·breeze for the sachet, thank you to cjy080837 for the monthly ticket, and thank you all for your support.