SFTD -Chapter 166 Cried Myself Hungry

Holding onto the two bewildered girls, Zhou Hai used his coat to shield them from the wind. He quickly led them out of the narrow path and toward a grand building. After handing over their tickets, the three of them stepped inside.

Lu Xi stared blankly at the surroundings. Earlier, Zhou Hai had led them through old, winding paths. She only knew they were near the seaside, and she had been half-blindfolded along the way. She hadn’t expected it to be a church.

Seeing the surprised delight on Lu Xi’s face, Zhou Hai knew he had made the right choice. He patted the little loli on the head.

“Go play on your own for a bit.”

The little loli huffed and ran off to take photos. The ancient building was full of charm, and she rushed toward the organ steps in a few quick strides.

Zhou Hai held Lu Xi’s hand and walked along the central aisle of the church. Every word echoed softly, and in the spacious silence, it felt as if the noisy world had suddenly disappeared—leaving only the two of them.

“This is Saint Michael’s Church. It’s one of the few memories I have of Dongnan. Such an ancient history… I don’t know how many people’s love stories it has witnessed. I brought you here today because I want to tell you I’m serious. I don’t really know how to say sweet words, and I’ve never learned romance, so I can only show you my sincerity. I’m someone without family. I’m very grateful that you’ve come into my life. I hope that one day I can stand here holding your hand and putting a ring on your finger.”

Lu Xi kept smiling, but tears still fell. She gently touched Zhou Hai’s face, looking at him with deep tenderness.

“Your sweet words already meet IELTS standards! I’m so happy. I hope we come here every Valentine’s Day, and I hope we become a blessed couple.”

As she spoke, Lu Xi hooked her arms around Zhou Hai’s neck, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips directly.

In that instant, it felt as if fireworks exploded in Zhou Hai’s mind. He wrapped his arm around her waist and deepened the kiss.

No one knew how long it lasted before a light cough pulled the two back to reality.

“Ahem… Zhou Zhou, there are tourists who can’t get through.”

Zhou Hai jumped in shock and quickly separated from Lu Xi. The little loli didn’t know when she had squatted on a nearby bench, licking a lollipop. Beside her, several people were staring straight at them.

Zhou Hai hurriedly sat Lu Xi down on a bench and nodded apologetically to the bystanders. Seeing Lu Xi’s ears burning red, he felt like laughing.

He tapped the little loli on the head.

“When did you get here?”

The little loli pouted, crossed her arms, and rolled her eyes at him.

“In America, people kiss in public everywhere. What’s there to be shy about? You two even studied abroad—why are you so old-fashioned? So—so—”

She paused, turning to Lu Xi.

“What was that word again, Xi Xi?”

Lu Xi rolled her eyes at her. Zhou Hai finally understood. These two girls were the same type—too easily influencing each other. He might need to intervene.

“Alright, let’s go eat. Oh right, I forgot to tell you—the little dragon necklace counts as your birthday gift.”

This sudden twist almost made the little loli choke on her lollipop. She quickly pulled it out and looked at Zhou Hai with deep resentment.

“Zhou Zhou, that’s too much! That’s a Valentine’s Day gift! How can you count it as a birthday gift?! I already heard from Lu Xi—if we go by the traditional Chinese calendar, I still have another birthday! I’m not being unreasonable like you, so how can you just change your mind like that?”

Zhou Hai looked slightly confused. She was mixing Chinese and English, making it hard to follow at first. Lu Xi, whose blush had faded somewhat, lifted her head and poked Zhou Hai’s chest.

“She’s talking about the lunar calendar. Based on the birth date in her passport, I calculated her lunar birthday—it’s actually quite big. The twentieth day of the first lunar month!”

“See! I’m very reasonable! I didn’t ask you for two birthday gifts! But you? You’re bullying a child!”

Zhou Hai looked at the pouting little loli and found it amusing. It felt like their relationship had become closer today. He reached out and poked her cheek.

“Besides your height, where exactly are you a child? When it comes to romance, the two of us could even call you our teacher.”

The little loli lifted her chin proudly, but her mood quickly sank again.

“Lu Xi told me Chinese girls my age are often over 170 cm… girls like me who are so small are rare. Do I… have dwarfism?”

Zhou Hai rubbed her head.

“Don’t overthink it. Just exercise more and stop staying at home binge-watching dramas. You’ll grow soon. I was only 170 cm when I went abroad at 18, and I still grew over ten more centimeters later. And don’t worry about your height—I’m a doctor, remember?”

The little loli rolled her eyes.

“You’re a forensic doctor, not a real doctor!”

Zhou Hai narrowed his eyes.

“Who said that? I have dual master’s degrees—in clinical medicine and forensic science.”

Lu Xi and the little loli both looked at him in shock.

“No way… why would you study two master’s degrees?”

Zhou Hai looked into the distance at the stained-glass window on the church roof.

“My father was a police officer, my mother was a famous surgeon. One wanted me to become a forensic doctor, the other wanted me to become an excellent clinician. They never reached a conclusion… and then they both died in a car accident. So I discussed it with my mentor John and ended up taking both master’s degrees.”

The little loli pouted, her eyes turning slightly red.

“I don’t have parents either. I don’t know what they expected of me. I only have Old John—and now he even dislikes me and just handed me over to you…”

“Waaah…”

Zhou Hai hesitated, his hand freezing in midair. Lu Xi pushed him from behind, and only then did he pull the little loli into his arms.

“Be good, don’t cry anymore. You’re Zhou Luoluo now, and I’m Zhou Hai. Even if we aren’t blood-related, we are truly a family. Don’t forget—we even have a legally recognized guardianship relationship under both Chinese and American law. Besides, your parents must have hoped you’d succeed, do well in school, and find someone you can spend your life with. That’s easy to guess. They definitely wouldn’t want you to be a little girl who only watches dramas all day and cries over soap operas.”

The little loli pushed him away, still teary-eyed but now also laughing.

“Why are you like this? I’m sad, and you’re teasing me!”

Zhou Hai looked innocent.

“If Lu Xi and I don’t comfort you, are we supposed to cry with you instead? Today is Valentine’s Day—are we going to spend it crying?”

The little loli thought about it and felt he had a point. She took Lu Xi’s tissue and wiped her tears.

“Let’s go eat.”

“I cried myself hungry.”