Chen Yi didn’t get physical with Zhou Yuan. Strictly speaking, he never even intended to. The words he said to Zhou Yuan were because he saw through Zhou Yuan’s cowardice and timidity, and he used his words to first crush the dark side in Zhou Yuan’s heart.
Perhaps he did love Lin Jiahui, but before loving Lin Jiahui, he loved himself more. He felt guilty for leaving Lin Jiahui without saying goodbye, but this guilt was not enough to make him give up everything he had now for Lin Jiahui’s sake.
His self-righteous deep affection could only deceive himself. If he really wanted to win her back, Lin Jiahui and he had so many mutual friends, her parents, and even her hometown – any one of these could have become a clue for him to search for her. There was no need to stubbornly guard this small place.
However, Chen Yi still did something not very peaceful. He used his connections and had his friends check Zhou Yuan’s information. Like a bully, he revealed what he knew bit by bit, and then threatened Zhou Yuan not to come here again, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to make it in B City.
It’s unknown whether these words had an effect, but Zhou Yuan didn’t say a word at the time, his face pale as he entered the elevator.
At this moment, Chen Yi stood at the bathroom door. Thinking of Zhou Yuan’s appearance before leaving, he found it even more amusing. This person was really easy to fool.
Not allowing him to make it in B City, he actually believed such a bluff.
He laughed mockingly. Ruan Mian beside him looked at him, “What are you laughing at?”
Chen Yi still had that righteous look. His brows and eyes slowly relaxed, and his mocking smile turned gentle, “Nothing.”
Ruan Mian imperceptibly pouted, “I already made your bed for you. I have an early flight tomorrow, so I’m going to sleep.”
“Okay, I’ll send you to the airport then.”
Chen Yi needed to go back to his grandparents’ place tomorrow and would return to Pingcheng a day later.
“Then good night?”
“Yeah.”
He rubbed her head, “Good night.”
Ruan Mian shuffled back to her room in slippers. When she turned off the lights and lay in bed, she could still hear Chen Yi’s movements outside, not too loud or too soft, but not annoying. Instead, there was a warm feeling.
It was as if the two of them were not just cohabiting, but truly had a home, the home she had longed for and fantasized about countless times.
Accompanied by Chen Yi’s intermittent movements, Ruan Mian gradually felt sleepy. Half-asleep, she vaguely heard the sound of the door being pushed open.
Before she was fully awake, the empty space beside her sank down with a sudden weight. The man’s body carried the dampness after showering, and water droplets from his body dripped onto the side of her neck. The coolness woke Ruan Mian completely.
She raised her eyes and saw Chen Yi’s face close at hand. Her voice was sleepy, with a hint of laughter at the end of her words, “Did you walk into the wrong room?”
“Hmm.”
He lay down and pinched the back of her neck a couple times, solemnly saying, “I’m particular about beds and am more familiar with this one.”
Ruan Mian laughed out loud. Sleepiness overcame everything. Just before falling asleep, she muttered, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have made your bed.”
Chen Yi lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then patted her back on and off as if coaxing a child, urging, “Go to sleep.”
Early the next morning, Chen Yi sent Ruan Mian to the airport. The two delayed a bit in the parking lot and almost missed the flight. Ruan Mian was so angry that she ignored him all day.
In the evening, after having dinner at home, Ruan Mian accompanied Zhou Xiujun for a walk downstairs. When she returned, she learned that Ruan Mingke and Chen Shuyou had made plans for Chen Yi’s family to come over for a meal tomorrow.
Ruan Mingke hung up the phone and asked Ruan Mian what Chen Yi liked to eat so he could have the auntie buy it tomorrow.
She shook her head, “I don’t know.”
This was the truth. After getting together, they automatically entered a slow and steady phase. They had few opportunities to spend time together usually. When eating out, she would occasionally learn what the other disliked, but rarely paid attention to what he liked.
Ruan Mingke: “Then ask him.”
“Oh.”
Ruan Mian went back to her room to get her phone. She had just typed a few words when she remembered that she was still sulking at him, so she deleted the words she had typed.
But soon, she received a WeChat message from Chen Yi.
CY: Hm?
Ruan Mian: ?
CY: Weren’t you about to send me a message just now?
Ruan Mian didn’t know how he knew, but she still stubbornly refused to admit it at this time, just like she wouldn’t admit that she was no longer angry.
But soon, she had to admit it, because Chen Yi sent over a screenshot of their chat page.
However, in the upper left corner, her status had changed to “The other person is typing…”, which was hard evidence that Ruan Mian couldn’t refute. But she was drawn to something else.
She glanced at the upper left corner of her and Chen Yi’s chat page. Since adding his WeChat, she had never changed his name, always using his own WeChat nickname.
Ruan Mian was a little curious about what Chen Yi had nicknamed her, but it wasn’t appropriate to ask directly. She chatted with him about random things for a while, forgetting about the main matter.
It was only later when Ruan Mingke reminded her that she remembered. But by then it was already very late, so she just casually listed a few dish names.
After hearing it, Ruan Mingke figured out something was off and teased, “Are these dishes that Chen Yi likes or that you like?”
Ruan Mian dragged out an “ah” sound and said guiltily, “Same thing.”
The father and daughter rarely had free time and sat down to chat for a while.
Ruan Mingke started brewing tea again. Ruan Mian sat there, watching the steam wafting in the air. For a moment, it seemed like she was transported back to a summer night after her high school graduation. She had sat in the same spot, talking to Ruan Mingke about Chen Yi.
At that time, she thought her ending with Chen Yi was already set in stone. Her words were filled with regret, never imagining that years later, they would reunite and have a new story and conclusion.
Early the next morning, Ruan Mian was still asleep when Zhou Xiujun woke her up. The autumn morning was misty and a bit chilly.
She washed her face with cold water, dispelling some of her drowsiness. She sat in the living room and listened to Zhou Xiujun and Ruan Mingke discussing how much of a red envelope they should give Chen Yi for his first visit1.
She suddenly had a surreal feeling that persisted until Chen Yi’s family arrived.
Chen Shuyu and Song Jing were around the same age as Ruan Mingke, but Song Jing was well-maintained. She wore an elegantly plain long dress with her hair coiled up, her figure slender and tall. She looked a few years younger than the two fathers.
Ruan Mian greeted them as Uncle and Auntie. Song Jing and Chen Shuyu smiled and responded, their expressions gentle. Upon closer look, they somewhat resembled each other.
Ruan Mingke welcomed them, “Come in and have a seat.”
Ruan Mian held the door open. After Song Jing and Chen Shuyu entered, she squeezed out some space to talk to Chen Yi. “When did you get to Pingcheng last night?”
“A little past four.”
Chen Yi took a step inside. The living room and entryway formed a blind corner, invisible from both inside and out. He was holding gifts in both hands when he unexpectedly bent down and gave her a quick kiss.
Ruan Mian was startled and shoved him away. She hissed, “What are you doing!”
She turned to peek inside, afraid the adults had seen their actions just now. Luckily, they were all busy chatting and didn’t notice.
Her face slightly flushed, she threatened, “Stay away from me today.”
Chen Yi was gleeful, finding the shy and angry Ruan Mian even cuter. But he didn’t add fuel to the fire, nodding agreeably. “I’ll try my best.”
The two didn’t linger long at the door before entering the living room. Chen Yi greeted Zhou Xiujun, “Hello Grandma, I’m Chen Yi.”
Zhou Xiujun responded with a smile, fine wrinkles fanning out from the corners of her eyes.
The elders chatted while the two youngsters sat to the side listening. Only when occasionally asked something did they chime in with a response.
Ruan Mian was still thinking about what Chen Yi did earlier. As she listened to them talk, she kept a wary eye on Chen Yi, afraid he would try something again any second.
But all the way until lunch, Chen Yi didn’t act overly intimate with her. Ruan Mian gradually let down her guard.
The auntie had fried beef meatballs for lunch. Ruan Mian hadn’t eaten them before, so she picked one up. Taking a bite, she tasted the onion in the filling and couldn’t help frowning. But she didn’t spit it out, swallowing it whole without chewing.
Chen Yi noticed her expression and tilted his face slightly towards her. “What’s wrong?”
Ruan Mian put down the half-eaten meatball and chopsticks. As she reached for some water, she explained, “There’s onion in this.”
“Give it to me then.”
Chen Yi naturally picked up the meatball from her bowl. Ruan Mian didn’t even have time to react before realizing the chatter at the table seemed to pause for a few seconds.
She froze in place, not daring to look up at the four elders sitting across from her. She could only step on Chen Yi’s foot under the table.
Chen Yi ate nonchalantly, scooting his leg to the side beneath the table.
After the meal, Song Jing and Chen Shuyu stayed a while longer. Ruan Mingke took out his prized tea leaves and busied himself with brewing.
Ruan Mian and Chen Yi sat in the living room, each fiddling on their phones. The fragrance of tea gradually wafted over with the flow of air.
Chen Yi took a light sniff.
Hearing the sound, Ruan Mian looked up at him. “Can you tell what kind of tea it is?”
Chen Yi turned his face. Ruan Mian was now on high alert and instinctively scooted away. He quirked his lips. “No, I’m not a bloodhound.”
She moved her stool, putting some distance between them. But when she looked up and saw his red eyes, her heart softened. “Do you want to go to the bedroom and nap for a bit?”
“It’s fine.”
Chen Yi rubbed the corner of his eye with a fingertip. “We’ll probably have to leave soon.”
“Oh.”
Just then, Chen Yi’s phone screen lit up. He picked it up and it unlocked upon recognizing his face, jumping directly to the screen before it went dark – his WeChat conversation list.
Ruan Mian was sitting very close to him. At a glance, she saw her own WeChat avatar was his pinned chat. She also saw Chen Yi’s note for her WeChat.
It wasn’t a proper full name like she imagined, nor a cutesy pet name common between couples, and definitely not just her unaltered WeChat nickname like she lazily used.
His note for her was very simple, three characters she never would have guessed.
Ruan mian mian2.
She tugged on her earlobe and leaned in to ask, “Why do you have me saved as this? Because of my name?”
“Hmm? Ruan mian mian?”
Chen Yi turned his head. “No.”
“Then why?”
“Because…” He looked at her, their faces very close. Reaching out, he pinched her cheek and chuckled. “You feel soft and squishy when pinched.”
Ruan Mian couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed his arm and pinched him hard, nearly flipping the table in anger.
Chen Yi grimaced in pain but didn’t stop her. He was a bit curious what her note for him was though. “What do you have me saved as?”
Ruan Mian side-eyed him. Two words seemed to squeeze out from between her teeth…
“Stinky. Hooligan.”
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