OS - 8

After seeing off the last friend, Cheng Wanyue went inside to take her cake out of the refrigerator, along with the ten or so boxes of sparklers. She brought them all to the courtyard.

Qing Hang arrived at the red gate precisely at 11:50 PM, and Cheng Wanyue called him in.

The grandmother had finished playing chess and was staying over at a neighbor’s house. Cheng Yanqing, too lazy to go home, helped Cheng Yuzhou clean up the house before heading off to shower.

The courtyard lights were turned off, and the sparks from the lit sparklers stood out brightly against the dark night.

Cheng Yuzhou glanced out the second-floor window. The flickering fire illuminated Cheng Wanyue’s face, making her look like a proud mountain bandit. The boy holding the sparkler and singing her a birthday song had his back to him, but it was clear he was doing it reluctantly.

“Are you not going down to keep an eye on them?”

Cheng Yanqing gave him a confused look. “Keep an eye on who?”

Cheng Yuzhou didn’t know Qing Hang and wasn’t sure what kind of person he was. “She’s alone late at night with a guy. Aren’t you worried something might happen?”

“Hah! If she doesn’t bully others, we should thank heaven. Others bullying her? They’ll have to wait for their next life. If we’re around, she won’t hold back—she’ll even order us to pin the guy down. I’m not doing that. If you can handle it, go ahead—I’m not.”

After saying this, Cheng Yuzhou considered for two seconds and chose to draw the curtains.

There were bathrooms upstairs and downstairs. Cheng Yanqing hadn’t brought pajamas, so he wore Cheng Yuzhou’s. The air conditioner in the other spare room was broken and hadn’t been fixed yet, so they decided to share a room.

Cheng Yanqing leaned against the headboard replying to messages. Many people had sent him birthday greetings.

When he was about to turn off the light and sleep, he noticed Cheng Yuzhou was still awake. “Still not sleeping? Got something on your mind?”

Cheng Yuzhou’s tone was calm. “What could I possibly have on my mind?”

Cheng Yanqing cautiously asked, “Uncle isn’t seeing someone on the side, is he?”

Cheng Yuzhou kicked him. “Watch your words!”

“I’m just guessing. Uncle and Auntie have had such a good relationship all these years—why would they suddenly want a divorce? It’s abnormal,” Cheng Yanqing wasn’t good at comforting others. “Don’t worry too much.”

“I’m not worried. They won’t divorce.”

Cheng Yanqing thought for a moment. “True. Dividing marital property would be a headache.”

Cheng Yuzhou: “… “

The couple who got married the day after reaching legal age argued and fought, but in the end, neither wanted to part ways.

His return for the college entrance exam wasn’t directly related to his parents’ issues. One reason was policy; the other was that the grandmother, living alone, had grown weaker since Grandpa passed away. His presence might distract her and make her feel better.

“What’s the relationship between the two people sitting next to me tonight?”

The topic jumped so fast that Cheng Yanqing took a while to respond. “Yan Ci and Zhou Yu? Why are you suddenly interested in them?”

Cheng Yuzhou said, “They were sitting right next to me—it’s hard not to notice.”

Cheng Yanqing thought, indeed, Yan Ci was now very unsociable.

“Sigh, their story is complicated. Don’t underestimate the drama in small places. You’re only staying for a year to take the exam—you’ll leave afterward. It’s best not to get involved.”

“Just asking casually.”

“We’ll talk later if you’re curious. I’m sleepy—I’m going to bed.”

Cheng Yanqing could fall asleep instantly. He rolled over and was out. Cheng Yuzhou listened to his shallow breathing, wide awake.

He had done something quite foolish today.

Zhou Yu returned home with Liu Fen. That horror movie she watched for only five minutes had upset her stomach due to the spiciness. On the way back, she didn’t think about the movie.

Cheng Yuzhou had drunk half a cup of the concoction with more additives—he wondered if he felt unwell.

Zhou Yu couldn’t sleep until morning, so she got up. Her room was stuffy, probably because it was about to rain. The clothes washed yesterday were still drying in the yard. She poured herself a glass of water and went outside to collect the laundry. But after taking two steps forward, she retreated and stared at the trash bin for ten minutes.

Liu Fen was cooking. Zhou Yu folded the clothes she had collected and put them in the wardrobe, then went to the kitchen to help.

“Did Grandma take her medicine yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“And you?”

“Yes.”

Zhou Yu still asked, “Then what’s with the medicine in the trash?”

Liu Fen added water to the pot. “I accidentally dropped it when I picked it up, so I threw it away.”

“Oh.” Zhou Yu didn’t press further. “Dr. Wang’s son is getting married in a few days. How much should we give as a gift?”

“You decide.”

“Then I’ll ask Uncle Zhao and match what his family gives.”

Zhou Yu drank a bowl of porridge and went to work. In the morning, many people came to the supermarket to buy groceries, and she often encountered teachers and classmates.

Every time a boy in a white T-shirt walked into the supermarket to buy drinks, she instinctively thought it was Cheng Yuzhou.

But it wasn’t.

…

The courier delivered two large boxes of packages. Cheng Yuzhou’s mother had packed and sent his clothes and shoes back, one box full of brand-new items.

Cheng Wanyue demanded her first ice cream stick, but he pretended not to hear and went inside to change.

“If you dress so extravagantly, people will suspect my dad is a corrupt official, and my mom will also come under suspicion.”

This was already the cheapest outfit in his wardrobe.

“I’m not Uncle’s son.”

“But you’re his nephew.”

“You rank last every year, yet no one questions Uncle’s intelligence or work ability,” Cheng Yuzhou added, “You’re his biological daughter.”

Cheng Wanyue, failing to send him on errands and being retorted instead, exclaimed, “Cheng Yuzhou, have you been eating firecrackers these days?”

Even so, he was more tolerable than Cheng Yanqing. If it were Cheng Yanqing, they’d argue whenever she mentioned wanting ice cream.

“Could it be a breakup?”

Cheng Yuzhou stopped, standing on the stairs and looking down at her. “A breakup? Me?”

“Yes. Two years ago during National Day, Auntie came back to visit Grandma and mentioned attending a parent-teacher meeting at your school. Someone encouraged a girl to call her ‘Mother-in-law.’ She was a child star who acted in something—I forgot what—but there was such an incident. I didn’t make it up. You can ask Grandma if you don’t believe me.”

“So why am I the one heartbroken?”

Cheng Wanyue analyzed, “Maybe you’re a masochist. When someone pursued you, you ignored them, but once they gave up, you fell for them. You tried to play hard to get to gain attention, but they didn’t care at all. Haha, did I hit the nail on the head? I’ve always said that after hurting so many girls’ hearts, you’d eventually taste the bitterness of love. Go buy me an ice cream now, and I’ll consider giving you some advice. Girls understand girls best—I guarantee results. By the way, go to the supermarket where Zhou Yu works part-time. She knows which kind I like.”

Cheng Yuzhou told her to eat air.

She was actually going to a banquet.

Dr. Wang’s son worked in her father’s department and was getting married today. Both her parents were on business trips, so the grandmother went to give a gift.

Madam Qian was a very refined old lady. No matter where she went, her half-white hair was always neatly combed. “Boy, come along. You haven’t seen our local wedding customs, have you?”

Cheng Yuzhou helped the grandmother carry her bag. “No, I haven’t.”

“Go see something new.” Madam Qian heard Cheng Wanyue call for Yan Ci and turned around to see him standing at the gate. “Xiao Yan, what’s the matter? Come in.”

Cheng Yuzhou glanced over and nodded as a greeting.

Yan Ci took out a red envelope and handed it to the grandmother with both hands. “I’d like you to help me deliver this gift to Dr. Wang.”

Dr. Wang had once treated Yan Ci’s parents.

Madam Qian accepted the envelope. “Alright, I’ll help you deliver it.”

Cheng Wanyue chimed in, “Yan Ci, come to the banquet with us.”

Yan Ci replied indifferently, “I won’t go.”

Before Cheng Wanyue could ask if he was going to hang out again, the grandmother lightly tapped her. “Pack a plate of the buns I steamed this morning. Let Xiao Yan take them home to try.”

“No need.”

“They’re nothing special—just homemade. Take them home, freeze them, and heat a couple for breakfast. Yueyue, pack a few more.”

“Got it.”

The grandmother held Yan Ci’s hand and waited until Cheng Wanyue brought out the buns before letting him go.

Yan Ci looked at the large plate of buns in his hand and said, “Thank you.”