Unlike the liveliness at Xue Yang’s place, Yang Xiaozhi dragged his tired body ho only to find his family—his father, mother, and three younger sisters—enjoying dinner together happily.
Seeing him return, the four of them were stunned. Xue Yuanxia was the first to react, but what she blurted out was, "Xiao Zhi, why are you back?"
Yang Xiaozhi glanced at the table, where the al was almost finished, and said coldly, "Didn’t I say I would be back today? Did you not know, or were you pretending not to know?"
Xue Yuanxia chuckled awkwardly. "We thought you’d have dinner at your uncle’s place before coming back."
Yang Xiaozhi flared up. "Why would I eat at my uncle’s house?"
"I saw Grandma send your aunt out to buy groceries early this morning. She said that to welco Xue Yang back, the entire family might as well eat together today. What, they didn’t ask you to stay for dinner? That can’t be right."
Xue Yuanxia looked unconvinced. After all, Xiao Zhi had gone back with them; how could he possibly not have been offered a al?
"Mom, you said it yourself—that al was made to welco Xue Yang. So, what does it have to do with ?"
"It’s all still food. What’s the big deal about one extra pair of chopsticks? I’ll go ask them."
"Ask what? Grandma asked to stay, but I insisted on leaving. I’ve already eaten. I don’t want any more."
Yang Xiaozhi angrily carried his things upstairs. As he went up, he deliberately stomped his feet loudly, as if protesting his dissatisfaction.
Go and ask? Ask what? Is she trying to embarrass even more? If I had known, I would have just taken a taxi ho. It’s my own fault. I knew my parents weren’t reliable, so why did I still trust them? The humiliation today was even worse than when I first heard Xue Yang had gotten into Yanbei University. I’m too ashad to show my face.
Xue Yuanxia and Yang Bing looked at each other, not understanding why Xiao Zhi was acting so strange upon returning ho. They had thought that going out to work would have made him grow up, beco more sensible, and understand their hardships. But now, it seed not much had changed.
Yang Bing took out a pack of Shuangxi cigarettes, lit one, and took several strong puffs. After a while, he finally spoke. "I’ll go make the kid a bowl of noodles."
After saying this, Yang Bing walked to the kitchen.
His bus arrived after 10:00, then he went to pick up Xue Yang, and got back so late... How could he possibly be full? Sothing else must have happened.
"Alright, I’ll go over to my mom’s house and see what’s going on. Suzhen, you three sisters clean up the table and wash the dishes."
"Oh."
Having quickly given these instructions, Xue Yuanxia headed toward her natal ho. This was probably one of the advantages of marrying close by—being able to walk right over if sothing ca up.
Ten minutes later, she arrived at Xue Yang’s ho. From afar, she could hear lively laughter and chatter coming from their house. Xue Yuanxia hesitated for a mont but still put on a smile and walked in.
"I could hear you all laughing from a distance. Was there a funny joke? Let your auntie hear it too."
Seeing Xue Yuanxia arrive, Zhong Hailan hurriedly got up and ca over. "Big Sister, have you eaten? Perfect, we’ve only just started. Why don’t you join us?"
"No, I’ve already eaten. I just heard Xiao Yang was back, so I ca over specially to see him."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yang put down his bowl and chopsticks and walked toward Xue Yuanxia.
Looking at the tall, handso young man approaching her, Xue Yuanxia asked with uncertainty, "You are... Xiao Yang?"
With a smile, Xue Yang greeted her, "Hello, Auntie."
Facing such a polite and handso young man, no one could muster any anger. Xue Yuanxia stared at Xue Yang, speechless for a long ti. She could never have imagined that the unruly brat once shunned even by dogs could transform into soone who defied belief. If soone had told her a celebrity had co to their ho, she would have believed it.
"Auntie, would you like to co in and sit for a while?"
Xue Yuanxia seed to snap back to her senses. She let out a dry laugh and said, "No need, I just ca to see you. It’s good that you’re back. I’ll head ho now."
After speaking, she left as if fleeing.
Back at her house, Yang Bing had just finished cooking the noodles and was about to bring them up to Yang Xiaozhi.
"I’ll take them. You’re not good with words; don’t make your son feel even worse."
Xue Yuanxia took the bowl of noodles, and Yang Bing casually asked, "Didn’t you go to Xue Yang’s ho? How did it go?"
"From now on, try not to ntion Xue Yang in front of Xiao Zhi."
"What happened?"
Xue Yuanxia sighed and told Yang Bing everything she had seen and heard at Xue Yang’s ho.
After listening, Yang Bing clasped his hands behind his back and sat down at the doorway. Feeling as if sothing was missing, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a pack of Shuangxi cigarettes, and started puffing away.
Xue Yuanxia didn’t bother with him any longer and, carrying the noodles, went upstairs to Yang Xiaozhi’s room.
At Xue Yang’s place, Xue Yuanxia’s arrival and departure did not dampen their spirits. The al lasted for over an hour and was thoroughly enjoyable for both guests and hosts. Eventually, out of consideration for Xue Yang, who had just returned, they didn’t keep him chatting any longer and all headed back to their respective hos.
Xue Xing, who didn’t want to go ho, was dragged away by his father. "Your brother is tired, and you’re still pestering him. We’ll have plenty of ti to see him later. Go on, get ho."
In the end, only the Second Aunt and Fourth Aunt stayed behind to help clean up.
"Xiao Yang rarely cos back. You go spend ti with him," the Second Aunt said, pushing Zhong Hailan away as she tried to help.
"It’s all the sa if I wash the dishes before I go," Zhong Hailan replied.
"Oh, don’t worry about it. Every family has things co up. When our family had problems, didn’t you help us? This ti, it’s just our turn to help you."
"Second Sister-in-law..."
The Fourth Aunt also chid in, "Go on, go."
"Okay then." Zhong Hailan didn’t insist any longer. After all, if she argued further, the dishes would be clean by the ti she finished.
Xue Yang carried his luggage to the second floor.
Usually, only he lived on the second floor; his parents lived on the first and seldom ca up. Back when he lived at ho, this place was his own personal paradise.
During the half-year he was away, Xue Yang often reminisced about the nights he spent burning the midnight oil while studying alone on the second floor. Fortunately, all that was in the past.
Not only had he been admitted to Yanbei University, but he had also t the person he truly loved and now had his own business venture. He was completely self-sufficient.
However, Xue Yang did not plan to tell his parents or anyone else about everything that had happened in Yancheng. He especially intended to keep his business a secret for now to avoid unnecessary trouble. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his family, but their expectations of him seed a bit too high. Furthermore, he was still young. Even if he told them he was starting a business, they probably wouldn’t believe him and might even think he was just spending money recklessly or ssing around. The best strategy was to maintain the appearance of a proper college student.
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