Chapter 76

  New semester, new place, new people, new things, new life, new things to do, and before she knew it, the year was almost over. Her mother had been calling her nonstop, so Yucai could only buy a big pile of local specialties and rush back home.

  When she got home, Yu Cai felt completely drained, barely exchanged a few words with her family members, and fell asleep as soon as she lay down. When she woke up, it was exactly 5:30 the next morning. For half a year now, Yu Cai had maintained this good habit of waking up early at the dot.

  The house was quiet, it was winter now, and her parents wouldn't get up so early either. Yu Cai hugged the quilt and quietly read a book for a while, only getting up to dress when she heard her father and mother get up.

  After having breakfast, Yu Zai carefully asked about Yu Xian's study situation and remembered that he could barely recall the high school entrance exam essay questions from Yu Xian's year, so he started thinking of ways to help Yu Xian cheat.

  When Yu Cai was telling her mother about the interesting things in Xiamen and her school, He Qi sent a text message asking if she had arrived home.

  For half a year, Yu Cai only sent an email to Qi Shi Zhi on time to ask about his recent situation. Qi Shi Zhi's reply was generally very brief, and the two were in contact with each other like this. However, her contact with He Qi was quite frequent. After considering various factors, Yu Cai chose a major with He Qi, and the two had many common topics to talk about.

  Yu Cai replied with a text message, complaining again about the hardships of the journey and how cold it was at home, at least twenty degrees lower than in Xiamen.

  He Qizhen replied with a critical letter about Beijing's weather, sighing that it's still better at home!

  At that time, He Qizhen was playing cards with Xia Yuyun at home. Xia Yuyun saw his phone vibrating non-stop and he had to keep sending text messages while playing cards, which made her unhappy, so she asked him to stop sending text messages immediately.

  "Who are you sending this to, so passionate, a new girlfriend?"

  He gave him a white look, "It's Yu Cai, she just arrived home yesterday".

  "Has Xiao Cai returned?" asked Xi Shu Fan, who was watching from the side.

  "Yes, she said it's much colder at home than at school. When she gets married, she'll take her parents with her and never come back."

  "Does Xiaocai have a boyfriend now?"

  "She said that she hadn't expected it, but the male law students were all sharp-tongued and clever with words, reminding her of the legendary 'eight aunties', which really didn't agree with her stomach."

  "If I'm not mistaken, you're studying law, right?"

  How furious, "What's the use of being proud, female law students are so petty and rude, they have to rely on their femininity, every one of them is at the level of destroying their teachers, and still have the face to say we men".

  Everyone burst out laughing, and He Mu smiled, "It's been a long time since we've seen Xiao Cai, let's invite her to our home for a playdate someday."

  "New Year's greetings are over, she doesn't even bother to respond, and instead says something like 'it's better to cherish the memory of meeting than to meet in person', I think she's always been the most insincere one, what do you think, Ah Shi?"

  He continued to watch the cards, ignoring him.

  "How annoying, 'A Shi, I didn't agree with you studying that useless archaeology from the start. Look, every day facing a pile of dead objects, no wonder your temperament has become even more gloomy.'"

  Qizhi didn't bother to explain, and just smiled, saying, "Yu Cai is still quite interesting. In the past half year, she hasn't been idle, and I don't know where she dug up all sorts of strange things to send over."

  He Qidong suddenly became angry, "She sent you things? How come she never sent me anything?"

  Xia Yunyun gave him a white eye, "Because you are not as likable as others".

  "Xia Yunyun, I'm warning you, don't mess with anyone, especially not the law students, or you'll end up losing everything!"

  Xia Yunyun pouted, "Indeed, it reminds me of the legendary Eight Aunties".

  "Say that again and I'll sue you for slander!"

  Xia Yunyun ignored him, "Try to guess, is studying ancient history fun or not?"

  He nodded in appreciation, enjoying the piles of historical relics and pondering their past ups and downs.

  "What are you all studying?"

  "History".

  "Are you having a good friend over there?"

  He thought for a moment and shook his head.

  Xia Yunyun put down her guard and smiled at him with a bright face.

  He shook his shoulders and said, "A Shi, this is where you're wrong. No matter what, having more brothers always has its benefits."

  Qizhi still didn't react, but Qishu Fan felt that the aura around his son seemed to have grown even colder, and his heart couldn't help but tighten.

  "Let me off, I have time to go to Yunnan to find you, okay?"

  Qí shì zhī yáo tóu, "wǒmen hěn máng".

  Translation:

  Ji shook his head, "We are very busy."

  "Then call me when you're not busy."

  Ji Shi nodded in response, and Xia Yunyun smiled again.

  He Qi Chong smiled at her, but Xia Yun Yun turned a deaf ear and ignored him.

  Qishu suddenly sighed, Xia Yunyun, he also liked it very much, if Qishi could accept it, he would be happy to see it happen, but looking at this situation, his own son seemed not to understand yet!

  He Mu saw it and also smiled secretly, "He Qi, is there a good girl at school? One day bring a girlfriend back to let me see, I'm not that old-fashioned".

  He Qiu said somewhat annoyed, "Mom, other parents all tell their children not to rush into romance, what are you talking about!"

  "What a boy! He's got to have his romance before he can settle down!"

  "Really?"

  "You'll know once you try it, but whatever you do, don't let it affect your studies."

  He raised his head and fell into deep thought, He Mu saw this and couldn't help but laugh, "Have you already chosen someone in your heart?"

  He Qi hurriedly denied it, but during the halftime break, he pulled Mo Fei aside and asked in a low voice, "When my mom mentioned the candidate just now, I immediately thought of Yu Cai. Am I really into her?"

  "Perhaps it's a deep meaning in Mo Fei's smile, 'Generally speaking, but you, I'm not sure'".

  "Why can't I say it accurately?"

  "Because I'm unsure if you've grown up yet."

  "How dare you! You're still not grown up!"

  He shrugged and said, "Believe it or not."

  "What's your take on this, Ah Shi?"

  He took a glance at him and calmly spat out three words, "Little punk".

  How infuriating! These people are simply trying to drive him to death with anger!

  He Qí was entangled in his thoughts about Yuè Zǐ's problem. Jī Shū asked, "He Qí, what are you thinking?"

  "There's nothing," He Qi shook his head, suddenly remembering a question, "By the way, Yu Cai usually doesn't come to my house normally, why didn't she go to your place either?"

  Qishu Fan couldn't help but smile wryly, "I guess I unintentionally offended her".

  "Impossible! Why would she be angry with you?"

  Qishu Fan shrugged, "Don't worry about it, Xiaoyi is a narrow-minded person. Don't take it to heart, after such a long time, she must have calmed down too. You just make a phone call and she will definitely agree."

  Qishu Fan continued to shrug, while He Qi was eager to clarify his feelings for Yu Cai. He took out his phone and dialed Yu Cai's number, handing it to Qishu Fan, "You talk to her."

  The phone was answered, and Yu Cai shouted on the other end of the line, "He Qi, this is a long-distance call with roaming charges! If you don't give me a reason to waste my phone bill, you're going to die!"

  Yu Cai shouted this sentence very loudly, and several people in the room heard it. They looked at He Qi with a mixture of surprise and amusement. He Qi's face turned red with embarrassment. He snatched the phone from Xi Shu Fan's hand and shouted back, "Yu Cai, I'm also on roaming, I only called you because I was giving you face! Do you think I enjoy listening to your nonsense?"

  Yu Cai immediately retorted, "Please don't give me face, your face is too expensive, two yuan per minute, I can't afford it! Moreover, you must have water in your brain to use your own mobile phone to make a call, don't tell me that your family doesn't even have a landline!"

  "Yu Cai, please be gentle, if you continue to be so fierce, I guarantee that you will never get married in the future."

  "Don't bother yourself with this anymore, if you just want to discuss whether I can get married or not, I'm going to hang up."

  "Hey, wait, Uncle Qi wants to talk to you."

  Yu Cai fell silent, still sorting out her emotions. On the other end, a gentle and pleasant male voice spoke up, "Xiao Cai, I'm Qi Shu Fan".

  In an instant, the pent-up thoughts of half a year burst forth like a flood that had breached its dam, and no matter how hard she tried to hold them back, she couldn't. She hastily covered her mouth with her hand, barely managing to stifle the sob that was rising to her lips.

  Qibook saw Yucai had no response and added another sentence, "Xiaocai, can you hear me?"

  "Ah, long time no see, how have you been lately?"

  "Same old, Xiao Cai, what else? Everyone misses you, when are you free to come over and play?"

  "No, I just got back yesterday and was too tired, so didn't go."

  "Xiao Cai——"

  "Uh, my mom is calling me, let's chat again sometime, I'll hang up first, you guys have fun!" Yu Cai hastily hung up the phone and rushed into her room, covering her face with a pillow as silent tears fell.

  On the other side, Ji Shu Fan handed the phone back to He Qi, "She won't come."

  He Qi immediately cast his eyes on Ji Shi and said, "A Shi, you try?"

  "Look at him," said Qi Shi, "what do you want to do?"

  He Qi pretended to be nonchalant and said, "A Shi, you're not very considerate, are you? Yu Cai is your cousin, and you haven't seen her in half a year. Don't you miss her?"

  The silence of Jiexi, how can he be so persistent? "Axiu, Yuzai has always listened to you, if you let her come, she will definitely come."

  "She is unwilling."

  "Maybe she's just afraid of troubling you, I think it's been half a year since she saw you and Uncle Qi, she must be missing you guys too."

  After a moment of silence, he took out his phone and dialed Yucai's number.

  Yu Cai answered the phone as calmly as possible, "Ashi."

  "Come and play."

  "Axi, I don't want to go."

  I want to see you.

  Yu Cai fell silent, and Yu Xi's response was also silence. After a while, he spoke again, "I want to see you".

  Yu Cai let out a soft sigh, "Alright, I'll probably arrive at one o'clock this afternoon."

  He murmured an "uh-huh" and hung up the phone.

  "Did she agree?"

  Qī shì zhī diǎn tóu, hé qí xīng fèn dào, "wǒ jiù shuō tā zuì tīng nǐ de huà ma!"

  Translation:

  Jiexi nodded and excitedly said, “I told you she listens to you the most!”

  Qī shì zhi lěng lěng kàn zhe tā, "nǐ shǎo dǎ tā de zhǔ yì".

  Translation:

  Ji Shi coldly stared at him, "You'd better not have any ideas about hitting her."

  "How embarrassing! I glanced at the people present and said, 'What can I do to her? Ah Shi, I didn't expect you to learn how to tell jokes too'."

  Qishu Fan looked at He Qi with a thought, this kid seemed too enthusiastic...