EHTM - 71

The wind outside was strong, making the windows rattle.

Cheng Wanyue had only worn her pajamas to go out and pick up the slipper, so she was tinged with a chill from head to toe. Every time she woke up, a few strands of her hair would be messy and sticking up.

She squeezed into Qing Hang’s arms, and her unruly hair also bothered him, from his chin to his neck.

The slight itchiness disturbed his sleep, and he couldn’t pretend anymore.

“The slipper’s back, now hurry and sneak back,” Cheng Wanyue poked his waist. “Second Uncle will be up soon too. If he finds out you slept in my room, we’ll both get scolded.”

Qing Hang closed his eyes again. “Will he scold you too?”

“Of course. Ayi and Cheng Yuzhou always lived separately before they got their marriage certificate. Are you going to the hospital?”

“Yes, for a pre-employment physical.”

“I’m taking Meiqiu for vaccinations today.”

“Alone?”

“Second Aunt is coming with me. She needs to buy some baby products, and I’ll also pick up some things for Ayi. Pregnancy is so tiring; mothers are truly great.”

“Are Uncle Cheng and the others also coming to Nanjing for New Year’s Eve?”

“Yes.”

Qing Hang’s clothes were in the room. Cheng Wanyue waited for him to finish washing up before opening the door. She looked out first, ensuring the hallway was empty before letting him out.

The family members generally turned a blind eye unless they happened to run into them; otherwise, they wouldn’t interfere.

Cheng Yuzhou driving Zhou Yu to work indicated that he had compromised and given in. The weather was cold, so Cheng Wanyue let Qing Hang hitch a ride with him.

As he was leaving, Cheng Yuzhou looked back at Cheng Wanyue standing in the courtyard and teased, “You two made up quite quickly. All bark and no bite, so you’re not breaking up anymore?”

Cheng Wanyue nudged a pebble with her toe, murmuring, “I wasn’t the one who suggested breaking up.”

Zhou Yu spoke up for her, “Don’t tease Wanyue. It’s good that you’ve made up. Wanyue has been feeling weak these past few days, I was worried...”

Suddenly remembering Qing Hang was still nearby, she swallowed her words and quickly changed them. “Worried she wasn’t eating or sleeping well.”

Cheng Yuzhou understood. “I’ve already set a time with Director Zhao. She’ll have a check-up after the New Year.”

Not far away, Cheng Wanyue pushed Qing Hang into the car. She leaned against the car door, saying something indiscernible.

Every year before her hospital check-ups, everyone was nervous, but Cheng Wanyue herself was carefree, enjoying herself without any delay.

During the period of her treatment, there wasn’t much she could eat, and she couldn’t leave the hospital. So, in recent years, her family never restrained her. She did whatever she wanted. After the college entrance exam, everyone thought she wanted to go abroad or come to Nanjing, but she stayed obediently by her parents’ side for four years.

Qing Hang’s onboarding went smoothly. New Year’s Day was a Friday, and Cheng Guoan’s family only arrived in Nanjing in the evening. They wanted to wait for Cheng Wanyue’s check-up results before returning, so they took an extra week of leave. As soon as Qing Hang entered the courtyard, he heard a lively atmosphere inside the house.

Cheng Wanyue told him not to bring gifts, so he arrived empty-handed. On the way, he saw someone selling kumquat trees and bought a potted one.

Nobody treated him like a guest. When he walked in, it was like Cheng Yuzhou coming home from work. He used to spend holidays alone, but now the sofa was crowded.

Cheng Wanyue found Cheng Yanqing annoying, so when he got up to pick a kumquat, she pulled Qing Hang over. She lay down, taking up an extra spot, and Cheng Yanqing conveniently squeezed next to Huo Zhi.

The scent of kumquat peel spread through the air. Cheng Wanyue asked him, “Is it sweet?”

“Especially sweet,” Cheng Yanqing said without changing his expression, popping another segment into his mouth. “It tastes similar to sugar kumquats.”

Qing Hang immediately saw through Cheng Yanqing’s intentions. He pinched Cheng Wanyue’s face. “This is an ornamental kumquat; it’s not good to eat. Don’t listen to him.”

Cheng Wanyue turned her head inward and winked at Qing Hang where others couldn’t see, and Qing Hang fell silent.

She deliberately struggled to sit up. “It looks like it should be quite sweet and juicy.”

“Could I lie to you?” Cheng Yanqing picked two more, peeled them, and popped them whole into his mouth. “It’s really sweet. I could eat this whole tree in minutes.”

Huo Zhi handed him a tissue. “Wipe your tears first.”

Cheng Yanqing: “...”

Cheng Wanyue laughed so hard her stomach hurt. Her hair rubbed against Qing Hang’s clothes, building up static electricity, and soon looked like it had been electrocuted. Cheng Yanqing seized the opportunity to take photos with his phone. Cheng Wanyue pounced to grab it, but after seeing the pictures, she abandoned the idea of destroying the evidence.

She was wearing a loose orange sweater, and Qing Hang was dressed entirely in black. The sofa’s color was similar to the flowerpot. In the photos, the color scheme of her and Qing Hang’s clothes closely resembled the kumquat tree beside them.

Cheng Wanyue sent all the burst photos to her phone.

After dinner, the others went upstairs one by one to change clothes to go out for New Year’s Eve. Cheng Wanyue was still lying down, and Qing Hang didn’t move either.

“Qing Hang, when you got angry last time, was it just because of Chi Yue? Are you only jealous of Chi Yue, or do other men count too?”

Her being alone with Chi Yue and Chi Yue answering her phone were just triggers. The essence of Qing Hang’s anger was that he felt she didn’t love him as much.

He didn’t speak, just lowered his head and kissed her.

It was as if Cheng Wanyue had eaten the sour kumquats; she felt weak all over. Meiqiu first stepped on her leg, squeezing between her and Qing Hang. Nuomi also sat by her feet.

Footsteps grew closer, and Qing Hang straightened up.

Cheng Wanyue was still resting her head on his lap, her lips a natural red. He gently wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb, then leaned down to kiss her again.

“You need security, and I’ll give it to you,” Cheng Wanyue took her phone and fiddled with it for a while.

She went upstairs to get something, leaving her phone on the sofa, its screen lit up. Qing Hang saw a moment she had just posted.

“The last hour of this year, spent with the person I love most.”

Two sentences, four photos.

Huo Zhi had taught Cheng Yanqing how to take photos, so his instinct when opening the camera was to find the most suitable angle. Cheng Wanyue wasn’t wearing makeup, her hair was messy from static, and the background was very ordinary, yet she looked beautiful. In every photo, she was as vibrant as the thriving kumquat tree.

Forty minutes later, on stage, she was as passionate as a fiery red rose.

Qing Hang held her phone. The likes and comments on her moment kept increasing, and messages sent directly to her barely stopped, vibrating every now and then.

Because Zhou Yu was pregnant, they didn’t choose an environment with loud music and many people.

On stage, there was an electronic screen counting down to the New Year, with five minutes left.

When the music started, Qing Hang saw Cheng Wanyue sit in front of the microphone. She said she would take two minutes to sing a song.

Cheng Yanqing led the applause, almost ready to pull out banners and light sticks. Qing Hang had seen her unrestrained joy while playing the drums and heard her sing love songs.

The surrounding lights dimmed, with only a single beam shining on her.

“Let yesterday be void, now you are before me. I want to love, please give me a chance.”

“If I’m wrong, I’ll bear it. I’ve decided you’re the answer. I’m not afraid of anyone mocking my extremism.”

“Trust your instincts, persistent people don’t complain of tiredness. I’ve fallen for you, I’m not retreating.”