"Aunt Du, I can't accept this. My whole family is very fond of Grandpa Du, and he's already given us a lot of things recently."
Mr. Du added from the side, "It wasn't anything much, just some snacks for the children."
Du Liya was quite insistent, placing the box directly into Qin Jiao's bicycle basket. She said, "My father isn't in the best of health, and I can't thank you enough for helping to look after him occasionally. Besides, my Xiao Yi doesn't really have any friends. I'm so happy that you're willing to be his friend, and that he's receptive to it."
Qin Jiao was taken aback.
'I'm not! It's not like that!'
'How did I become Shen Yi's friend?'
Qin Jiao turned to look at the boy beside her. When she saw he made no move to deny it, she was suddenly overcome with complicated feelings.
In the end, she couldn't bring herself to refuse. She just said, "It's getting late, I have to get home. Could Shen Yi walk me?"
"Go on," Mr. Du said, nodding amiably.
