Ernest really didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her words. How could such a girl come up with such bizarre things to say? It was hard not to laugh.
"You know that wasn't my intention," he said with a smile.
"Yeah, I know you're not doing it for the turtles," Leah said, "but I'll be the one in charge of them, thank you very much. They're going to be mine, and so I'll buy it and raise them myself."
Ernest had no choice but to respect her wishes. "Well, I won't force you then."
"Thank you." She smiled and turned to ask the stall owner, "Boss, what's the gender of these turtles? I want to buy them as a couple."
The stall owner turned the turtle over and gave it a look. Whether it was his many years of experience of selling turtle or his innate talent, he was able to directly identify them. "These two turtles are male."
"Are you sure?" Leah was very surprised. "Boss, how can you tell if they're male?"
"This is from experience. I'm very sure that both of them are male," the stall owner assured.
"Then that means they won't be able to give birth to a child, right?" Leah asked again as if she was uncertain about the answer.
"Yes, how can two males have children?" The stall owner laughed and said, "Have you been studying so much that you've forgotten everything?"
Leah finally exclaimed. "That's great! Now we don't have to pay for birth control."
The boss was at a loss for words.
Ernest dusted his nose and was equally surprised. Leah nodded her head assertively and took out her wallet to pay.
The boss looked at Leah in surprise, "Didn't you want your pair of turtles to be a couple?"
"That's right." Leah nodded her head earnestly.
Seeing how the boss couldn't comprehend her answer, she retorted seriously, "Who said two males can't become a couple?"
The stall owner was baffled as if he had heard the most strange thing. He looked at Leah in disbelief. Behind Leah, Ernest also laughed helplessly. He could probably understand the stall owner's confusion.
"Can a guy and a guy be a couple?" The boss murmured, feeling very embarrassed.
Leah saw the stall owner's turmoil and laughed again, "Yes, men can collide and become partners, that's how you enter the gateways of becoming a BL fan."
"I don't think I quite understand you." The boss shook his head.
"Then that means you're too out- of- date." Leah smiled. "It's alright boss, no need to waste your energy, you can just give me the box. This stone of yours isn't bad either, I want it."
When she finished paying, she saw a twitch in the corner of Ernest's lips. She couldn't help but roll her eyes and said, "If you want to laugh, just laugh.
I really don't care."
"It's fine." Ernest said as he stubbornly held back his laughter.
"Okay, I hear you." Leah said with a sly smile, "Did you agree with what I said just now?"
"I did." Ernest couldn't help laughing again. "The way you think makes it hard for people to keep up with your pace."
"Yeah, the mind of an author has a rhythm of its own," Leah said. "Come help me carry this stuff, young master."
Ernest reached out and grabbed the heaviest one.
And so, Ernest handed her the stone as she grabbed the box and they brought it back to the car in the parking lot.
"Are you still going to do some more shopping?" Ernest asked her.
Leah glanced at Ernest. "Aren't you leaving tomorrow? Don't you have to go back and pack up your things?"
"I'm already done packing," he said nonchalantly. "I have plenty of time today. If you still want to a little more shopping, I could come along with you."
"Really?" She looked at him with bewilderment.
"Yeah." Ernest nodded as casually as he could be.
"That's great!" Leah said openly. "I want to buy a lot more things, so I'm probably going to head to the supermarket. Want to come with me?"
Hearing her enthusiasm, Ernest nodded and said, "Sure."
"What a bargain." Leah let out a pleased laugh. "Come on, let's stroll around this downtown market for a little while longer before going to the supermarket."
"Okay." Ernest nodded with an easy-going attitude.
Leah noticed just how amiable Ernest's personality was. He was so gentle and patient, and she was falling even deeper.
The more they hung out together, the more they discovered the little traits of each other's personality. Truthfully, Leah wanted to see just how patient Ernest could be when she purposely talked about going to the supermarket.
She thought that an ordinary boy would probably hate going shopping, but Ernest never showed any irritation.
As soon as he saw her laughing, he realized that he had been pranked couldn't hold back his laughter
The two of them smiled at each other and continued strolling along the downtown market.
Ernest was by her side, ever so patient.
As Leah walked ahead, she happened to find a stall that sold seal stamps. She walked over and saw an old man with a white beard sculpting on a stone.
"His handiwork is not too bad." Leah said.
Ernest smiled and thought anything this girl sets her eyes on would be beautiful to her. "Why, you want to carve a seal too?"
"I need to carve it myself in order for it to have its own artistic meaning."
"You can sculpt?" Ernest was astounded as he stared at Leah.
Leah only gave him a smile. She didn't confirm nor deny and left him hanging as she walked away.
In the end, Ernest never asked if she really could do it.
They strolled for more than two hours and bought nothing, but they were content. "Let's head to the supermarket now."
During the trip at the supermarket, Ernest found out just how energetic she could be, and they ended up staying there for two whole hours.
Ernest helped her push the shopping cart. It was filled to the brim and it looked like it was about to overflow.
"Is there anything else you need to buy?" asked Ernest.
"Yeah, I'm going to buy ingredients for dinner,"
Leah said. "Look, it's getting dark. I can't let you go back with an empty stomach, now can I? How about I treat you to some dinner?"
Ernest did start feeling hungry. He had consumed more energy this entire afternoon than when he hiked up that mountain.
"You're not allowed to decline." Leah jumped in and made the decision for him. "We can buy the ingredients now, and then we'll have a big meal before you leave."
"Alright, I won't decline." He found that he was quite delighted.
"It's settled then!"
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