Chapter Twenty: Longing

  8 o'clock in the evening, at the Ouyang's home.

  Ouyang once again recalled the scene at that time, Xu Yuejie's awkward smile, and at that time, he didn't say anything. Then not long after, everyone dispersed, Ouyang didn't know if Xu Yuejie had heard what he said to Mu Yuhan or not. In the evening, after Ouyang returned home, his mother took the family out for dinner and gave him a gift of a shirt that she had liked for a long time. Maisui gave Ouyang a basketball because the one they played with in elementary school was too old. However, Ouyang didn't care about these things at all, and after eating dinner absent-mindedly, he returned home and finally had some free time to think about explaining things to Xu Yuejie. But then he thought again, the more he explained, the more unclear it would be, so he just let it go. The more he thought, the more depressed he became, and after a while, around 9 o'clock, his mother called him to the kitchen to eat cake. Ouyang only then remembered that at the restaurant, he said he was full, so Maisui brought the cake back home. Feng Hongyan inserted thirteen candles into the cake, and as soon as Ouyang entered the kitchen, she smiled and said: "Come on, make a wish, son." Ouyang looked at the thirteen candles, but didn't have any feelings, closed his eyes, thought for a moment, then opened them again. His mother asked him what he wished for, but Ouyang just said that if you say your wishes out loud, they won't come true, and then started cutting the cake. As soon as it was mentioned that they were going to eat cake, Maisui came over from his room with his computer. Ouyang wasn't in the mood, ate two slices, and then went to wash up. Feng Hongyan asked Maisui what was wrong, but Maisui just shook his head and said that since he came back in the afternoon, he had been like this. Feng Hongyan also didn't understand. That night, Ouyang slept very early.

  Earlier, 5 pm, C District Station.

  "We're here, let's get off, Yu Jie, Yu Huan." Xiao Yang Chen called out to her two friends who were both lost in thought, pulling them off the bus. She looked at the two of them, unsure what was going on as they both had expressionless faces, and said: "Let's go have dinner together, anyway our homes are all close by." Mu Yu Huan shook his head, saying: "I feel a bit cold, I didn't wear enough today, I should head home or else I'll catch a cold. You two go eat." After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked towards the Le Fang residential area. Xiao Yang Chen turned her head to look at Xu Yue Jie on the other side, suddenly startled, as Xu Yue Jie was staring at Mu Yu Huan's back with an angry gaze, but only for a second, then smiled at Xiao Yang Chen saying: "Let's go, what do you want to eat?"

  Two people came to the ramen shop that three people used to go to. Xu Yuejie and Mu Yuhuan both had a special liking for noodles. Xu Yuejie didn't have an appetite, only eating half a bowl of noodles before putting down her chopsticks. After a few seconds, Xu Yuejie suddenly asked Xiao Yangchen: "Do you think I'm suitable as Ouyang Chenxi's girlfriend or is she?" Xiao Yangchen was taken aback and said: "Who is that?" Xu Yuejie hummed and said: "Don't say you didn't notice, we three have been together since childhood, there's nothing we can't talk about." Xiao Yangchen heard Xu Yuejie's words and sighed, saying: "Yes, I did notice, but I think you two are overthinking it. I think Ouyang is just an idiot, maybe he doesn't even know what a girlfriend is. I suggest if you really want to find someone, don't look for someone like him, he's not suitable for you." Xu Yuejie listened and fell silent for a long time, saying: "Maybe, but I won't give up. I didn't expect her to be this kind of person. On New Year's Day, she said she had no time, but it turned out she went to play with Ouyang instead." Xiao Yangchen also finished eating and put down his chopsticks, saying: "She might just want to make a friend. You two have been different personalities since elementary school, but you've always been the center of attention. I think you should let her go." Xu Yuejie shook her head and said loudly: "I won't let anyone take my things, even if it's just for fun. I don't want someone to steal my toys." Xiao Yangchen didn't speak anymore, knowing that Xu Yuejie was really angry.

  Manting walked alone on the way home, wearing a skirt, she still felt that although it was before the New Year, there were many clothes inside her, but it was very cold. Was it the cold from the wind blowing on her body or the cold coming from her heart? Thinking of this, she quickened her pace.

  The mobile phone rang with an SMS tone, it was Ouyang.

  "Have you arrived home? Nothing happened, right?"

  Mantian smiled and replied, "It's nothing, I'm almost home. Ouyang, those words I said to you before, just pretend you didn't hear them, I've figured it out, let's be best friends forever, how about that."

  "Okay, but don't suddenly play and leave like you did with me at the same table."

  "That's impossible, my home is just here, where can I run to? Alright, I'm already home and won't talk to you anymore."

  Put down the phone, Mu Yuhan felt very relaxed. She was very clear that Xu Yuejie would not be serious with Ouyang, and it was better to give up than to make things worse with Xu Yuejie. After observing for some time, Mu Yuhan found that Ouyang Chenxi was just a simple-minded person, the same type as herself. As Xiao Yangchen had said, when two people of the same type got together, all sorts of problems would arise. Mu Yuhan attributed her good impression of Ouyang to a momentary impulse. On the other hand, if she and Ouyang became close friends, it could also reduce some harm that Ouyang might suffer at Xu Yuejie's hands. After all, she had grown up with Xu Yuejie since childhood and knew what kind of person this good friend was. Thinking of this, she sent a text message to Xu Yuejie.

  "Yu Jie, sorry about this. It's my fault, I won't look for Ouyang again. I was just momentarily impulsive, and I found out he's not my type. He's still okay as a buddy, you wouldn't be mad at me because of him, would you?"

  At this time, Xu Yu Jie was on her way home with Xiao Yang Chen. After receiving the message, she smiled and replied.

  "Of course, we're old friends, how could a fool hurt our friendship? Let's go out and have some fun after the new year, I'll pick out a skirt for you again." Seeing Mu Yuhan's response of "get lost", Xu Yuejie laughed even more happily. On the side, Xiao Yangchen probably guessed it too, and also let out a sigh of relief.

  Here is the translation:

  After Ou Yang's birthday, there were less than 10 days left until Chinese New Year. Everyone was busy preparing for the holiday, and the Ou Yang family was no exception. This time, everyone would be gathering at their house, so they had to prepare more things. Ou Yang and Mai Si went to the warehouse to buy drinks and beer. Ou Yang carried a box of Coke and a box of Sprite up to the sixth floor, which was exhausting. Mai Si also carried two boxes of beer upstairs.

  The task of buying vegetables naturally fell to Grandma Feng Qinglian. According to his mother, women were better at choosing good vegetables because they paid attention to details. However, older people often prioritized cheap and practical options, which made them unpopular among vegetable vendors. But in Ou Yang's impression, Grandma had a good relationship with the vendors.

  Feng Hongyan was busy decorating the house and doing a thorough cleaning. Mai Si and Ou Yang didn't help much, just sorting out their dirty clothes and putting them in the washing machine, and wiping down surfaces. Feng Hongyan cleaned every room thoroughly, not missing any corners. Ou Yang thought that his mother's cleaning this time was more thorough than usual.

  Two days before Chinese New Year, Ou Yang's aunt and older brother arrived with vegetables and fruit. Mai Si was very happy to see his older brother, Feng Xiaodong, who was seven or eight years older than him. Ou Yang didn't know the exact age difference but knew that Mai Si and Xiaodong had a great relationship.

  This year, Xiaodong had just started his first year of college, so Mai Si kept asking him to tell stories about interesting things that happened there. Ou Yang wasn't very interested because if he heard the stories, they wouldn't seem as interesting when he experienced them himself. So he went to play computer games in his room.

  His aunt and mother chatted for a while, then left with Xiaodong. Outside, Ou Yang heard the sound of firecrackers exploding twice. He truly felt that the atmosphere was getting more festive.

  On the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, Mother forcibly took Mais and Ouyang out to get their hair cut because according to custom, it's not allowed to cut hair in the first lunar month, or else one's uncle will die. Mother told Ouyang that she had three uncles, so she didn't allow Ouyang to get a haircut in the first month. Mais also had many uncles, so the two of them went to the barber shop and waited for almost an hour before they finally got their hair cut. After returning home, Mother started preparing things needed for tomorrow's New Year's Eve dinner. Ouyang returned to his room to play on the computer. Just as Mais was about to sit down next to Ouyang to take a look, he heard a sigh coming from the living room.

  "Alas, another year has passed."

  Mais quietly walked into the house, and the one speaking was Grandma Feng Qinglian. Mais could clearly feel that Feng Qinglian was heartbroken.

  "Old partner, you just left me like this and went away. This whole family of people, you just threw them at me like this. What am I supposed to do?"

  Maisie knew that her grandmother was thinking of her grandfather, and she couldn't help but think of him too. Her aunt had said that for a few years after an elderly person passes away, it's not allowed to set off firecrackers. Maisie thought about how she used to quarrel with her grandfather and make him angry, and she burst into tears. She slowly left the room and walked to the kitchen, where she saw Feng Hongyan busy at work and said: "Aunt, when are we going to burn incense for my grandfather?"

  Feng Hongyan put down the work in her hand and said expressionlessly, "I'll go later, I've bought everything, it's on the balcony, your brother doesn't need to bring anything, just the two of us will do."

  "Wait, I'm going too." The voice came from behind Mais, it was Feng Qinglian's.

  "Mom, don't go, your body isn't well either." Feng Hongyan persuaded her mother.

  "This is non-negotiable." Feng Qinglian said, turning around and entering the house.