Chapter 15: Ear Cleaning
Having obtained the intelligence he wanted, Gu Qing contentedly returned home carrying two cups of mango pomelo sago.
When he got home, Lu Qianqian was already watching TV by the sofa. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she was first alert, until she heard Gu Qing outside the door say “it’s me,” then she let out a long breath and hurried to the door, like a little dog waiting for its owner to return home.
Though the comparison was strange, her expression really was like that – full of anticipation and especially joyful. Gu Qing handed her the cup of mango pomelo sago with less ice, hearing her ask softly, “Where did you go?”
“To catch up with a friend and ask about some things.” Gu Qing answered softly, then naturally went to the sofa to lean back. Lu Qianqian sat beside him with her mango pomelo sago, kicked off her slippers, and curled up on the sofa.
At home she wore loose pajama pants. Under the pajama pants, her tender little feet wore white socks with lace edge designs that were slightly transparent, while her ankles were just the right amount of slender and delicate. Gu Qing glanced over, his gaze lingering for a moment, and Lu Qianqian happened to catch this moment. She then lifted her tender little legs, suspending them in mid-air as if generously showing them to Gu Qing.
“Such cute socks.”
“Ehehe, I really like this pair too.”
Lu Qianqian’s voice was no longer as soft and timid as before due to shyness and unfamiliarity. It seemed that because of these days of getting along with Gu Qing, she had gradually become more lively. After showing Gu Qing her cute little socks, she quickly tucked her tender little feet back under the blanket.
Today was the first day of the lunar new year.
In the past when wandering, the period from the first to eighth day of the new year was the most difficult to endure, because restaurants were almost all closed. Last year at this time Gu Qing was desperately swallowing compressed crackers with water, and occasionally at night he’d go to nightclubs to card surf, pretending to be a customer from a nearby table to toast and mooch fruit platters. When drunk people casually provoked him a bit, he couldn’t help but compete in drinking with them. With this trick, Gu Qing could always con quite a bit of alcohol.
But now the refrigerator was stocked with lots of ingredients that could easily become delicious dishes with just a little effort, and he didn’t even have to wash dishes. If he cooked well, there would also be a cute girl with bright eyes looking at him with admiration. This kind of heavenly life made Gu Qing suddenly feel a bit carried away.
Lu Qianqian watched TV and suddenly asked him, “Do you want your ears cleaned?”
“Hm?” Gu Qing was stunned. Lu Qianqian had a pink ear pick in her hand. After hesitating slightly, Gu Qing nodded, then asked her, “How do we do this?”
Lu Qianqian lifted the small blanket, put her legs together, then gently patted her soft, slender thighs, saying softly, “Lie down here.”
Gu Qing was slightly stunned again, then naturally lay down. He showed no embarrassment or shame, completely at ease. Only Lu Qianqian said softly again, “Lie on your side.”
Gu Qing obediently adjusted, turning to lie with his left cheek pillowed on the girl’s tender, soft thighs. Lu Qianqian carefully held the ear pick, pulled out tissues, and seriously began cleaning his ears.
After quite a while, Lu Qianqian gently stroked his face, indicating he should turn over. Gu Qing obediently switched to the other side and lay properly. These pajama pants weren’t very thick – as if through this one layer of fabric, he could still sense the warmth of the girl’s skin. Gu Qing felt like he was being wrapped in a ball of soft cotton. Though Lu Qianqian was even younger than him, she inexplicably had a gentle quality that made him feel at peace.
She also had a light fragrance about her, smelling sweet and delicious just from the scent, like soft cake dotted with cream.
“All done!” Lu Qianqian’s hand gently stroked his cheek. Gu Qing instinctively nuzzled against her legs, mumbling, “So soft.”
“Eh… I’m not fat.”
“I know, I said so soft.” Gu Qing said unclearly, the corners of his mouth seeming to smile foolishly. Lu Qianqian reached out and gently pinched his face – very soft – saying softly, “Then lie down properly and I’ll massage your head too?”
Gu Qing didn’t hesitate at all, obediently lying properly, letting Lu Qianqian’s scallion-white slender fingers massage all over his head. It was so comfortable he almost fell asleep.

When Gu Qing got up from Lu Qianqian’s legs, he still felt a bit lightheaded, his head somewhat dizzy. Until Lu Qianqian reached out and poked his face with her finger, Gu Qing turned to look at her.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lu Qianqian’s voice was soft.
“So comfortable, almost fell asleep.”
“I used to massage mom often, so I got skilled through practice, ehehe.” Lu Qianqian curled her legs back up on the sofa. Her fingertips lightly adjusted the edge of her sock tops. She suddenly thought of something and said softly, “These socks feel really nice to touch. Do you want to feel them?”
But Gu Qing instinctively shrank back. “Hm? Seduction? What’s your agenda?”
Lu Qianqian was first startled, then her cheeks were dyed with a blush. Her clearly pale and clean little face suddenly turned pink all the way to her earlobes, and her voice trembled slightly. “H-how is this seduction? Only perverts would think touching socks counts as seduction, right…?”
The girl’s cute little feet wrapped in white socks unconsciously wiggled their toes slightly. Her eyes looked at Gu Qing with both reproach and shyness, then full of wariness. “Could you be one of those perverts from online who get excited seeing girls’ socks?”
“No such thing.” Gu Qing grabbed her tender little foot, his fingertip gently stroking the top of her foot. It really did feel silky smooth, soft and slippery. But such touching instinctively made Lu Qianqian’s toes curl up slightly, like flower buds about to bloom.
Fortunately Gu Qing quickly let go and stood up. “Alright, I’m going to cook!”

Gu Qing stewed winter melon and pork rib soup. The ribs were stewed until tender, and after he and Lu Qianqian finished eating, they both contentedly drank big bowls of soup. Lu Qianqian took out a box of Chinese chess from somewhere and looked at Gu Qing. “Do you know how to play?”
Gu Qing thought about it. “I do.”
“I’m really good at Chinese chess too.” Lu Qianqian’s eyes rarely showed a trace of small pride.
“How good?” Gu Qing smiled helplessly.
“All the grandpas in my old residential complex couldn’t beat me.”
“Really? Then I need to give it a good try.” Gu Qing and she sat cross-legged on the sofa with the chess board between them. Before starting, Lu Qianqian suddenly thought of something. “Should we bet