Chapter 92

  Time always gives Yu Cai an unreal feeling, a year's time can wash away the greenness on her face, but it cannot wash away the memories in her heart, the courtyard, rooftop, flowers and trees, swing, things are still there, why can't people be?

  Looking at the warm and sincere smile of Qishu Fan in front of her, Yu Cai discovered that even though a year had passed since she thought it was all light and easy, her heart would still beat faster, her heart would still ache secretly, and her thoughts would still be in turmoil...

  "My little adopted child has grown up."

  Yu Cai shook her head and threw away the inexplicable sourness in her heart. "Shouldn't you change your words to call me Da Cai now?"

  Qishu Fan lost his smile and said, "You can't be bigger than me no matter how big you get."

  Yes, she grew up, but he is getting old, and there will always be an insurmountable gap of eighteen years between them...

  In the morning, when Yu Cai went downstairs, Qi Shu Fan and Qi Shi Zhi were already waiting at the dinner table.

  Yu Cai smiled and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

  "Uh, I'm really tired after sitting on the train for a whole day and night."

  "Next time I'll come back by plane, the train is too slow."

  Yu Cai touched her chest, "I don't like that feeling of being suspended in mid-air".

  "Is it your fragile heart again?"

  Yu Cai laughed, "My fragile heart can be said to have been tempered into something indestructible over the past two years, but it seems like my poor nerves are acting up again. I'm afraid of choking on water, afraid of choking on food, and afraid of crashing when flying."

  Qishu Fan couldn't help but laugh, "Xiao Cai, you still look good when you smile like that. Yesterday, I was startled by the way you looked at me with that kind of gaze."

  Yu Cai's smile stiffened, "Dear uncle, I'm afraid that would disappoint you. Yesterday was my true self. You have no idea how hard it is for me to put on a smile every day just to please you."

  "Xiao Cai——"

  Yu Cai interrupted him, "A Shi, what are your plans for summer vacation?"

  "How about you?"

  "Uh, if I said I wanted to continue being a rice worm, would you look down on me?"

  Qishou was very powerless, Qishu laughed and said, "You can't call that a windfall, how much manuscript fee did you get for that book last summer vacation? Are you considering treating me to dinner?"

  Yu Cai made a warning gesture, "That little manuscript fee is not even enough to cover the wear and tear on my computer. I would never do something as stupid as treating you to dinner!"

  Qishu Fang smiled brightly, "Right, He Xia invited us to her home today, and it just so happens that He Qi returned yesterday."

  "Uh, Aunt He also transferred to the provincial capital?"

  "Uh, but she asked for a transfer herself and switched to a relatively more relaxed position. You guys can go visit her often when you're free."

  Yu Cai sighed endlessly, "It turns out that He Auntie also has a day to ask for retirement".

  "She's been in poor health these years and is a housewife, so working so hard doesn't make sense."

  "What's the point?" Yu Cai raised an eyebrow and smiled, "What point is there? Sometimes I think, this life really has no point at all."

  "Xiao Cai, this is not a sigh that a girl of your age should have."

  Yu Cai shrugged and stood up, "I'll go get the luggage."

  When he arrived at He's home, He Qi hadn't gotten out of bed yet. He had arrived last night after 7 o'clock and was probably very tired.

  He Mu wanted to wake up He Qi, but was stopped by Yu Cai. She went to the study room to surf the internet. Yu Cai turned on the TV and picked up a magazine, browsing through it absent-mindedly. Qi Shu Fan and He Mu chatted idly on one side.

  The TV show was boring, the magazine was also boring. Yu Cai felt sleepy as she read on and on. Qi Shu Fan patted her, "You're sleepy, go to Aunt He's room to take a nap."

  Yu Cai forced herself to straighten up and said, "Never mind, I'll go wash my face."

  Yu Cai came out again, and had already changed into a spirited and refreshed appearance. He Mu smiled and said, "Little Cai has grown up to be a big girl, does she have a boyfriend?"

  Yu Cai shrugged, "Aunt He, to be honest with you, I feel like a complete failure. Last year, I spent the whole year chasing after a boy, but until now, I still haven't caught up."

  He Mu smiled, "Is that boy excellent?"

  "The key is that he's not even excellent, his appearance is ordinary, his studies are ordinary, his family background is ordinary, his abilities are ordinary, I just can't find anything outstanding about him."

  "Then our Xiaocai still fancies him?"

  "Hmm, I think he meets all the conditions of my ideal boyfriend. I've always wanted to find someone like him. But it's a tragedy... I put in so much effort, even learning taekwondo, and almost died from exhaustion..."

  Yu Cai hadn't finished speaking when He Qi's door burst open. "Yu Cai, what were you just saying?"

  "Uh—" Yu Cai looked at He Qihua, whose clothes were disheveled and hair was styled in a strange way.

  He didn't seem to realize his own fashion disaster and asked again, "Yu Cai, who did you say was being pursued relentlessly for a whole year?"

  Yu Cai glanced at the corner of her mouth with a hint of a smile, and she couldn't help but want to rush up and sew that guy's mouth shut. "Uh, he's my senior."

  He originally only vaguely heard a bit, but once Yu Zai confirmed it, he got angry and said, "Why didn't you tell me?"

  Yu Cai felt even more embarrassed, a pillow was thrown over, "You're not my mom, why do I have to tell you? Can't you just have some dignity and put on some proper clothes before coming out?"

  "What does it have to do with her?" "Yu Cai, you must make things clear today!"

  Yu Cai also got angry, "If you don't go and put on your clothes now, I'll report you for affecting the city's appearance!"

  "What's wrong? Say it slowly, go change your clothes first and then come back after washing your face."

  He glared at Yu Cai with a menacing gaze, then turned around and went back into his room, slamming the door shut.

  He Mu finally burst out laughing, "Xiao Cai, He Qi is just this kind of reckless son, don't mind him".

  "Auntie, don't misunderstand, I'm just angry that he doesn't listen to me, there's no other meaning."

  He Mu nodded, "That's just how it is, don't think too much about it."

  Yu Cai looked at He Mu's clever appearance, her intestines were regretful, originally wanted to take this opportunity to thoroughly dispel Qi Shu Fan's suspicion, did not think that a sudden interruption came, now it is really not worth the gain.

  "What did the boy study, where is his home, and what do his parents do?"

  "I studied physical education, I'm from Northeast China, my parents are farmers, and I have a younger brother at home."

  His mother disagreed and said, "Xiao Cai, his family has a younger brother who is a burden, you will definitely suffer in the future."

  "Uh, it seems too early to say this now, besides, she hasn't accepted me yet."

  "That's just right, I'm curious, with a cousin like you, you actually took a liking to such an ordinary boy."

  "Uh, actually he's very good at talking and taking care of people, such guys are rare nowadays."

  "What mother said was right, 'those who are eloquent are untrustworthy, especially those oily-tongued boys'."

  Yu Cai didn't know how to respond, and He Qi came out with a clean face, his face darkening as he said, "Yu Cai, you'd better explain yourself clearly!"

  Yu Cai Xiang had an urge to slap him to death, "Hey, big brother, such a shameful thing, can't I keep some **?"

  "Aren't you ashamed?"

  "Isn't that a miscalculation on my part? I knew he was a formidable opponent, and even if you killed me, I wouldn't dare charge forward."

  "Do you like him?"

  "Uh, none of your business?"

  "Yu Cai, don't go too far!"

  "How have I overstepped? Must I report to you every single thing I do? And as for saying I'm hiding things from you, don't you also hide things from me?"

  "What am I hiding from you?"

  Yu Cai hooked up the corner of her mouth and asked, "He Da Shuai Ge, may I ask, is the school flower of your Chinese department really more beautiful than Xia Yunyun?"

  He was speechless and let out an angry humph.

  He Mu glanced at the two of them and smiled as she asked, "He Qi, do you have a girlfriend in school?"

  He Qiu weakly cried out, "Ma——"

  "As expected, when children grow up, they don't listen to their mothers anymore. They even hide things from me and bring them back for me to see one day."

  "What makes you think so?"

  "There's nothing that can't be said to others, we're not young anymore, dating is very normal. What are you hiding and sneaking around for? If I had a boyfriend who was a Chinese language major, I'd take him everywhere with me every day."

  He Qi was on the verge of a rampage, and Ji Shi walked out of the study, patted his shoulder, "Congratulations".

  "What's wrong with you, Ah Shi? Are you also joining in on the excitement?"

  Ji Shi no longer cared about others and sat down beside Yu Cai, who hastily handed over grapes with both hands. The two of them ignored He Qi and started eating.

  "What's wrong with Yuyun and the others? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

  "Is Xia Yu coming too?"

  "Ah, right, He Qi, are you hungry? Do you want me to go get something for you to eat?"

  He Qi irritably glared at Yu Cai, "Today I'm the host, you just eat properly!" After finishing speaking, he turned around and went to the kitchen, took a piece of bread and started nibbling on it. Before he could even take a few bites, the doorbell rang, Xia's mother and daughter arrived, accompanied by Song Zhiyuan.

  The He family suddenly became lively, with voices of greetings and inquiries everywhere. After finally finishing the polite conversation, several people started playing cards. Yu Zai still sat beside Qi Shi to watch the game, while Qi Shu Fan sat beside Xia Yunyun to direct.

  Several people's card skills were not bad, and the only one who was not good was Xia Yunyun, who also had a powerful military advisor. The atmosphere at the card table became tense, and Yu Zai felt very resistant to this kind of card-playing atmosphere, which was like ancient people playing chess. She got up to go to the bathroom, and when she came back, she leaned on the sofa, eating melon seeds from a bag in an intermittent manner.

  "What's wrong? Why aren't you looking at the cards anymore? Bored?"

  "Uh, no, they're too good at it, it's mind-boggling."

  He Qi rolled her eyes and said, "Yu Cai, you're so lazy!"

  Qishu was about to leave when Xia Yun shouted, "Uncle Qishu, you mustn't go! I'll pay the bill!"

  When Yu Fang sat down, U Chai's mobile phone rang. It was Shi Chengyu calling because of the signed book. The two maintained a polite distance from each other due to this reason. Shi Chengyu didn't have anything important to say and called to ask if U Chai had arrived, also mentioning that he had returned home and inviting her to visit his house when she's free. They hung up shortly after.

  "What mother smiled and said, "Is it that boy who hit you?"

  "No, it's Shi Chengyu, have you arrived in the provincial city?"

  "What made you so familiar with Shi Chengyu?"

  "Uh, not really familiar, just occasionally make a phone call to ask about each other..." Yu Cai's words were left unfinished as her mobile phone rang again. This time she quickly walked out onto the balcony and didn't return until half an hour later, with a few more smiles in her eyes.

  "Was it your boyfriend who called?"

  "Hmm, he can't be considered my boyfriend yet, besides, he never calls me, it's always me who calls him."

  "Who is that?"

  "Perhaps, invite us over when we're free."

  "What about Mo Fei now?"

  "Same old same old—" Yu Cai awkwardly waved her phone.

  "Heh, you're quite busy now."

  Yu Cai retreated to the edge of the sofa to answer the phone, and after a while, she shouted loudly, "A Shi, Jian Xun said that there will be a Taekwondo exchange meeting four days later, and they are all about our age, are you going or not?"

  Ji Xie nodded, Yu Cai spoke a few more words into the phone and hung up. Ji Shu Fan asked, "Xiao Cai, are you still studying?"

  "It's no use if we don't learn, our seniors respect those who are better at fighting than them. I'm too stupid, it's only now that I've managed to get a yellow belt, while others have already gotten their blue belts."

  Xia Yunyun admired and said, "It turns out that Ji Jie is still a Taekwondo master!"

  Qishu Fan laughed, "Yunyun is also a master of the Dance Forest!"

  "Xiao Cai, girls at home learn Taekwondo, go with Yunyun to learn dance, and later the figure will be good-looking too."

  Yu Cai worriedly said, "Aunt Xia, my foundation is here. Even if I learn to dance for a hundred years, my posture will never look good."

  "This girl is too modest, this version is not bad at all. Yunyun is currently learning Latin dance, and it's really flavorful when she dances."

  Yu Cai smiled and didn't answer, He Qi asked, "By the way, what are your summer vacation plans?"

  "Xia Yun said, 'I want to learn dance and prepare for the CET-6 exam'."

  Yu Cai shrugged her shoulders, "I'm fine, just staying at home reading books, I guess A Shi is probably the same".

  "What's wrong with you all? Doesn't anyone want to go for an internship? Yu Cai, especially you, we're studying law and need experience, or else no one will hire us."

  "Let's talk about it later, didn't you just say to enjoy the winter and summer vacations while studying well, and when working, there will be none."

  "But I want to go for an internship."

  "Then you can go."

  "You come with me, I've already found a company."

  Yu Cai was very straightforward, "Not going".

  "Yu Cai, go out, staying at home and reading books every day is not good. A female strong person in the legal profession can't be achieved just by reading books."

  Yu Cai continued shaking her head, He Qi wanted to say more, but Ji Shu Fan spoke up, "He Qi, Xiao Cai still has things to write, she doesn't have that much energy."

  "What's wrong with you? You're always writing something, why don't you go learn Chinese properly instead of running around our law school?"

  Yu Cai smiled and ignored him, leaning on the sofa to play with her phone.