Chapter 74

The two of them stayed glued to each other in the hotel for quite a while after that. Really, it was mostly Yu Nianyi clinging on—sweet-talking, shamelessly affectionate, and always sticking close to Xi Yu and showering her with compliments. After hearing what Xi Yu had just said, she was so happy her chin practically tipped toward the sky; she was over the moon. After that, she deliberately kept raising her voice a little and asking her to praise her. Once she got what she wanted, she spent the whole morning grinning to herself.

In the afternoon, though, one of her married older female cousins was coming over to the house to pay New Year’s greetings, so they had to hurry back and get ready.

Yu Nianyi sat in the car, looking left and right. She could faintly tell the interior was a little different from what it had been back in Jiayang. After watching for a while, and glancing at the people passing by on the roadside, she broke into another grin.

“Xi Yu-jie is still having lunch at home, right?” Yu Nianyi asked with a smile.

Xi Yu nodded. “Yes.”

“My mom has lots of dishes you still haven’t tried,” Yu Nianyi said proudly. “What we had yesterday was only part of it. Today you’ll get to eat your fill.”

Xi Yu looked ahead, thought for a moment, then asked, “Do we still need to buy anything for the house? We can pick some up on the way.”

Yu Nianyi immediately shook her head. “Nope. Everything that needed buying is already bought. Xi Yu-jie is the guest; once you get home, you just have to eat. I’ll take good care of you.”

Xi Yu smiled, turned her head to look at her, and said okay.

Lincheng wasn’t a big city. In less than twenty minutes of driving, they were already back at the residential complex.

As soon as Xi Yu turned off the engine, her phone rang. She glanced down at the screen, then said to Yu Nianyi, “NianNian, wait a moment. I need to take this call.”

Yu Nianyi unfastened her seat belt and sat obediently in her seat, watching Xi Yu.

“...Mm, I know.” Xi Yu held the phone in one hand, her body angled slightly toward Yu Nianyi.

Yu Nianyi tilted her head and gave Xi Yu a playful blink.

Xi Yu’s eyes curved too; even her tone seemed a little lighter. “There’s something going on in Lincheng. I’ll go back tomorrow.”

Yu Nianyi straightened a little and leaned toward Xi Yu, her ear almost pressing against her.

Xi Yu smiled at the sight of her leaning in and gave a soft mm. “A private matter.”

“No,” Xi Yu suddenly said, her voice cooling down. Her relaxed brows furrowed right after. No one knew what the person on the other end had said, but Xi Yu’s expression only grew colder, and she instinctively looked toward Yu Nianyi, who was sitting beside her.

Yu Nianyi blinked and mouthed, Are you okay?

Xi Yu’s expression softened a little, and she shook her head, mouthing back, I’m fine. Then she said into the phone that she understood and hung up.

“Sorry.” Xi Yu paused, then reached out to brush the golden hair at Yu Nianyi’s shoulder, letting her fingers naturally sweep up to touch Yu Nianyi’s ear.

Yu Nianyi tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in comfort.

“There’s an urgent matter at home that needs me to go back and handle it,” Xi Yu said quietly, studying Yu Nianyi’s face. The golden sunlight made her hair even brighter, dazzling and radiant; her features looked clean and pure. Xi Yu lowered her voice and said slowly, “I might not be able to go home with you.”

Yu Nianyi let out a small ah. She had already vaguely heard that it seemed to be Uncle Xi’s voice, though she couldn’t make out the details. She looked up. Xi Yu’s gaze was steady, and it seemed as if Yu Nianyi’s own reflection was trapped in her pupils.

“I’ll video call you later,” Xi Yu said after a moment.

Yu Nianyi lowered her head and nodded. “Okay.”

It wasn’t really unexpected. This wasn’t the first time; before, Xi Yu had also had emergencies to deal with at work. Yu Nianyi idly fiddled with her fingers, a little fidgety now, and wasn’t in a rush to get out of the car.

Xi Yu leaned her upper body over directly, her right index finger lightly touching the back of Yu Nianyi’s hand. She lowered her head to look at her and said, “I’ll take you upstairs.”

Yu Nianyi’s heart instantly softened into mush. She made a perfunctory hmph, jumped out of the car herself, and Xi Yu, very observant, walked over to take her hand.

A smile tugged at Yu Nianyi’s mouth. She followed Xi Yu toward the elevator and still put on an act as she said, “Actually, you didn’t need to walk me up. If Xi Yu-jie comes up, you still have to go back down yourself. What a waste of time...”

Xi Yu’s expression loosened at once. She turned her head to look at Yu Nianyi and, under Yu Nianyi’s bright, expectant gaze, said, “It’s not a waste of time.”

Yu Nianyi finally laughed out loud.

By the time they reached the door, Yu Lan had already opened it as if she’d been expecting them. Xi Yu politely greeted her, and the two of them went in together.

“You’re finally back; the house is busy cooking right now!” Yu Lan welcomed Xi Yu inside, then came closer and asked, “Xi Yu, take a rest. Your other cousin is coming over later, and I’ll introduce you properly. We’ll have dinner together.”

Xi Yu smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Auntie. No need to trouble yourselves. Something urgent came up in Jiayang, so I was just bringing NianNian upstairs. I have to go now.”

Yu Lan let out a little oh, surprised. “That urgent? Stay for dinner before you go.”

“No, it really is urgent.” Xi Yu smiled. “When I have the chance next time, I’ll come especially to visit you and learn some cooking from you.”

Yu Lan immediately lifted her brows, her eyes lighting up. “You’re being far too modest, child. Then Auntie won’t force you to stay. Next time you come, don’t bring anything; Auntie will make you lots of delicious dishes!”

As soon as she said that, Yu Lan magically produced a thick red envelope from the pocket of her apron and stuffed it straight into Xi Yu’s hand.

Xi Yu looked down at it, then back up at Yu Lan.

Yu Lan smiled. “I should’ve given this to you yesterday. You came all the way to Lincheng, and the trip was so tiring. Just seeing it makes Auntie feel sorry for you.”

Xi Yu gave a quiet mm and nodded respectfully before saying, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Yu Nianyi’s eyes curved with a grin as she looked left at Xi Yu and right at Yu Lan; the more she looked, the more she felt there was a real family atmosphere here. So warm, so happy, so complete.

Xi Yu said she should go. She exchanged a symbolic greeting with Zhang Ning in the house, then looked toward Yu Nianyi by the door.

Yu Nianyi still hadn’t changed her shoes. She stared at Xi Yu with big eyes. “Be careful on the road, Xi Yu-jie.”

Xi Yu looked at her deeply, then pursed her lips and gave a quiet mm.

Yu Lan lightly slapped Yu Nianyi’s arm. “Hurry up and see Xi Yu out. What are you standing there for?”

Yu Nianyi took the hint and stepped out, leaning forward. Xi Yu reached out at just the right moment and took her hand. Xi Yu smiled. “It’s fine, Auntie. No need to be polite.”

Yu Lan glanced at the two of them and didn’t say anything else. Mumbling to herself, she said she was going back to cook.

The door was left open a sliver, and Yu Nianyi and Xi Yu stood at the entrance in a half-embrace.

Yu Nianyi took the opportunity to press against Xi Yu’s body, resting her head lightly against Xi Yu’s neck and wrapping her arms around her. Xi Yu’s jasmine scent drifted into her nose again, and Yu Nianyi let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to let Xi Yu-jie go.”

Xi Yu didn’t move at all, just stood there straight-backed. She lifted a hand and loosely rested it on Yu Nianyi’s waist; then she lowered her eyes, her chin touching the shell of Yu Nianyi’s ear as she gently brushed against it.

-

After Xi Yu left, time at home seemed to drag on especially long.

They waited for the cousin and cousin-in-law to come over and pay New Year’s greetings, then the whole family sat down together for a reunion meal. Yu Nianyi glanced at her phone; two hours had passed since Xi Yu left.

After the meal, while helping clean up the dishes and standing at the counter as water rushed loudly from the tap, Yu Nianyi sighed. Zhang Ning paused in the middle of washing a bowl and looked over. “Why are you sighing on New Year’s?”

Yu Nianyi said, “Xi Yu-jie has been gone for four hours.”

Zhang Ning froze for a couple of seconds, then turned back around and ignored Yu Nianyi again.

In the afternoon, when everyone was playing cards, Yu Nianyi was distracted and checked her phone again. That was when she saw a new message.

[Xi Yu: I’m home.]

Yu Nianyi set down the card in her hand, and everyone around her turned to look in unison.

[Yu Nianyi: Okay, I’m playing cards right now.]

[Xi Yu: Okay. I need to talk about some things at home; you go ahead and have fun.]

Yu Nianyi held her phone and giggled to herself.

[Yu Nianyi: Okay [kiss].]

One of the cousins and her husband asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

Zhang Ning took a deep breath. “Don’t mind her. This counts as love-sickness syndrome.”

After seeing the cousins and relatives off and just finishing tidying up, Yu Nianyi’s phone rang with Xi Yao’s call. Yu Nianyi glanced at the screen and answered quickly, only to hear Xi Yao’s unusually excited voice from the other end.

“Long time no see! What are you doing right now?”

Yu Nianyi leaned on the sofa with her phone in hand, eyes closed as she pretended to be asleep. “Nothing. I just saw the relatives off and am resting.”

Xi Yao clicked her tongue, excitement barely contained in her voice. “I’ve got a surprise for you! You’re definitely going to be moved!”

There was a burst of noise over the receiver. Yu Nianyi strained to listen and subconsciously opened her eyes.

Xi Yao laughed for a long time on the other end. “Didn’t expect that, did you! Luo Luo and I came to Lincheng! Come downstairs to welcome us!”

Yu Nianyi’s mouth twitched. “You’re kidding, right?”

Xi Yao shouted, “Nope! Hurry up, hurry up! We’re right downstairs at your place!”

As soon as she said that, Luo Yiran’s voice came through. “It’s true. We came to Lincheng to find you.”

Yu Nianyi hurriedly stood up, greeted Yu Lan inside the house, and ran downstairs at once.

The moment she opened the door again, she saw two very familiar figures. Not far away, Xi Yao was waving both arms with a bright smile, while Luo Yiran stood beside her with a faint smile.

Yu Nianyi quickly walked over, looking at the two lively, radiant women. “I really didn’t expect this. You actually came in the afternoon.”

Xi Yao lifted a brow. “Moved yet? We crossed a thousand miles to find you, just to have one glimpse...”

Yu Nianyi laughed and chimed in, “I’m super moved. You’re both so good to me.”

Luo Yiran smiled. “Happy New Year.”

Xi Yao let out an oh, then smiled at Yu Nianyi as well. “Happy New Year.”

Yu Nianyi said it too, then asked, “Want to come up to my place for a bit?”

Xi Yao shook her head. “No need. We just finished tidying up; how can we go upstairs again? Luo Luo and I can just walk around Lincheng. You can be our guide, okay?”

Yu Nianyi agreed with a smile and walked out of the complex with them.

Lincheng really was much smaller than Jiayang. Whether it was attractions or places to have fun, a few dozen people could fill the whole place, and most of the entertainment was old stuff from years ago, nothing new.

But there were lots of people coming and going on the streets, which made it feel very festive for the New Year.

“This is probably the happiest New Year I’ve ever had,” Xi Yao said brightly as she walked in the middle. “Luo Luo’s mom and dad are so gentle; being with them feels like seeing friends I haven’t met in ages. And the little kid in the family was surprisingly mature too; she even asked whether Luo Luo and I were each other’s lovers, hahaha.”

Luo Yiran pressed her lips together and smiled, then looked at Xi Yao. “They said I was amazing.”

At that, Xi Yao also laughed. Yu Nianyi was puzzled, and then heard Luo Yiran continue, “They said I actually managed to chase down such an energetic, handsome, and smart older sister.”

Xi Yao walked in front with her arms folded, mysterious. “After all, I’m capable of anything.”

Yu Nianyi cooperated by nodding. “Looks like your image is pretty towering.”

Xi Yao lifted her nose. “Exactly.”

Luo Yiran snorted with laughter. Xi Yao’s gaze drifted away; she glanced at Luo Yiran, then walked back to stand between the two of them.

“Actually, the two younger girls at home didn’t know how to play the electric keyboard. So I played them a song and taught them for a long time. That’s why they admired me so much,” Luo Yiran explained softly.

Yu Nianyi nodded in understanding. “So that’s how it was.”

The three of them strolled around casually for a while, looking at whatever came their way. When they went farther out, Yu Nianyi had to keep checking the navigation, so she simply led them back. As they walked, the streets became more and more familiar. She glanced at the shop across the road. “We just happen to be passing by my childhood friend’s shop. Want to go in and take a look?”

Xi Yao followed her gaze and immediately became interested. She answered at once, then followed Yu Nianyi across.