Chapter 134: Unexpected
“Shuang Shuang, I was wrong!”
“Hehe, no problem, you keep roasting, continue roasting!”
“Listen to my quibbling for a bit…”
“Temporary hearing loss, I can’t hear.”
They really were a pair of joyful rivals; clearly it was a sweet and affectionate confession scene, yet the two turned it into the vibe of rolling up sleeves for a fight.
Caught in the middle seeing the situation about to spiral out of control again, Su Ning broke free from her tightly gripped hand and deliberately provoked.
“Fine, I can see you two really aren’t suitable. Might as well call it quits before you even officially start dating!”
“Where aren’t we suitable?”
“We’re perfectly suitable!”
One question in return, one affirmation.
The two who tacitly opened their mouths to retort at the same time exchanged a glance, then shyly dodged away, but their faces finally showed the proper shy and sweet smiles.
“Had enough fun? Still quarreling?”
“Hehe, no more, no more. Isn’t it just that I haven’t switched into the role yet? Shuang Shuang, don’t be mad. Next time I subconsciously roast you, give me a big slap!”
“Hmph, your face is so thick, I’m afraid my hand will hurt.”
Saying such disdainful words, yet the upturned corners of her mouth couldn’t be pressed down no matter what.
Meeting her friend’s slightly teasing gaze, Luo Shuangshuang’s cheeks couldn’t help but flush even hotter. She took a big step, looped her arm around hers again, and dragged her toward the kitchen. “Ning Bao Gai, come on, I’ll help you cook.”
“Hey, slow down and wait for me! I’m coming too!”
Fu Jiaming, who had been standing there grinning foolishly for a few seconds, hurried to catch up upon seeing this.
Joking around, his fresh-out-of-the-oven partner—he hadn’t had enough of her yet, of course he had to stick to her every moment!
With this pair of live treasures around, the small kitchen instantly became bustling and lively.
After finishing the meal, they called over Gao Fen and her daughter who had been too embarrassed to squeeze in and help, and for the first time the dining table was fully packed.
The few dishes were still at normal performance level, with perfect color, aroma, and taste.
But somehow, seeing Fu Jiaming and Luo Shuangshuang you-pick-a-bite-for-me-I-pick-for-you with chopsticks, occasionally exchanging affectionate glances and smiles, it inexplicably made one feel unable to eat more—full!
……
Crisp autumn weather, sky blue and clear without a trace of gray or white.
The two-colored vines on the yard wall were nearly past their flowering period, with some faintly yellow leaves among the lush green branches.
Slanted sunlight filtered through the roof, covering half of the front yard.
The few people resting in the front yard after the meal enjoyed this rare leisurely moment, gazing at the scenery before them and inevitably feeling delighted in body and mind.
“The day before yesterday I went to Duyan Commune and traded for some wild chrysanthemums. I tried making some cooling detox tea—give it a taste and see how it is.”
The dried small white-and-yellow chrysanthemum blooms, after steeping, blossomed again in the cup; just looking at them was pleasing to the eye.
Luo Shuangshuang eagerly picked up a cup first, took a gentle sip, and her eyes lit up. “It has a faint sweet fragrance. Pretty and delicious.”
Su Ning smiled slightly and picked up the other two enamel cups, handing them to the two.
After they each reached out to take a cup, as if she had only just come back to her senses after a long daze, she held her own cup with both hands and sat down on the swing bench right next to Luo Shuangshuang.
“What’s wrong?”
Yan Bei couldn’t help asking. If he wasn’t mistaken, after their fingertips accidentally brushed just now, the smile vanished from her face, and there was a subtle expression in her eyes.
“Nothing, I just suddenly remembered something.”
Was that really it?
A big question mark arose in his mind, but Yan Bei chose not to press further and nodded at her understandingly.
Using the motion of lowering her head to drink tea, Su Ning dropped her gaze to conceal the bit of panic and confusion inside.
Why had the Yan Family matter come early?
Clearly last time in Shanghai City, there had still been several months’ buffer from the future she had glimpsed.
How could it… happen early?
Was it because she had intervened to save Yan Bei, causing his affairs to deviate from the original trajectory and creating an unpredictable situation?
Even if she disregarded everything and warned him now, it was probably too late.
She couldn’t help looking at Yan Bei, not missing the care for her that flickered in his eyes at that moment.
Thinking of the scene she had just seen, she couldn’t help feeling sad for the person before her who was always like a clear breeze and bright moon no matter the time.
Was there really no way to change it?
Suddenly, Su Ning thought of her maternal grandfather’s friend, Grandpa Zhao and his wife whom she had met on her coming-of-age ceremony day.
Last time in Shanghai City she had meant to visit them, but unluckily two emergencies had come up.
If she remembered correctly, though Grandpa Zhao and Grandma Xin were both retired, their children both held pivotal positions in Shanghai City.
“I need to go out to the post office to make a phone call. Xi You, you all sit at home first. I’ll go quick and come back quick.”
Standing up and placing the tea cup in her hand on the low table, Su Ning looked at the others with urgency on her face.
Without a word, Yan Bei who stood up right after also quickly put down the enamel cup. “I’ll go with you.”
“No need, I can go by myself…”
“I’ll ride the bike to take you there faster. Once at the post office, I’ll wait for you at the door and not go in.”
The words were already said by him. Thinking of the urgent situation, she no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement.
Until the two pushed the bike out the gate, Luo Shuangshuang looked at Fu Jiaming with a confused and puzzled expression. “What happened?”
“I don’t know either… Ah, maybe it’s because of what happened at the factory gate this morning?”
Thinking about it, besides that matter this morning, they had all been together since then. Was there any special situation they wouldn’t know about?
Fu Jiaming felt that Su Ning was so anxiously rushing to the post office, so it must be that she remembered something related to that Ying Ying woman and needed to call back to Beijing City.
“Factory gate this morning—is that your textile factory? What happened? You all know? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Nothing big, just suddenly some friend of Su Ning popped up out of nowhere, all disheveled and crying in front of her, insisting she go see someone.”
“Su Ning’s friend? A woman who doesn’t look great, starts crying after not even saying two sentences, called He Yue?”
“Huh? Shuang Shuang, you know her too?”
Luo Shuangshuang nodded affirmatively, unable to resist squinting her eyes. “Seen her once, impression’s deep.”
……
Knowing she was anxious, Yan Bei pedaled the bicycle to its speed limit. The over ten-minute journey was shortened by him to just a few minutes.
Even with his strong physique, when the bike stopped steadily at the post office door, he couldn’t help but be drenched in sweat and panting heavily.
“You go make the phone call. I’ll wait here for you.”
“Okay.”
Su Ning, who was wearing a long skirt and could only sit sideways, let go of the hand grabbing his clothes corner and lightly jumped off the bike.
Just as her foot stepped onto the steps, as if remembering something, she quickly turned back around.
In her haste, she forgot to bring money or take a bag to cover. This outfit didn’t even have a pocket. She couldn’t just take it out from the space in front of others.
“Does Yan Bei have money on him? I forgot to take some.”
With one long straight leg on the ground propping up the bicycle, Yan Bei took a wallet out from his pants pocket and handed it entirely to her without any reservation.
Su Ning took it casually without thinking much, grabbed the wallet in a hurry, turned around, and jogged into the post office door.
First having the operator dial that number engraved in her heart, only when the familiar voice came through did she joyfully speak up. “Grandpa Fu!”
“Ning Yatou, hahaha, how come you’re thinking of calling me at this time? How have you been lately? Not sick, no one bullying you? Did you receive the package I sent for Mid-Autumn Festival?”
Not even waiting for her to explain, Old Master Fu on the other end, upon knowing it was her, launched into a long string of caring questions.
“Wait, Grandpa Fu, I’ll call you back later tonight to tell you about those. I have something urgent to ask you now.”
“Okay, okay, no rush Ning Yatou. Tell me, what is it?”
“Do you know Grandpa Zhao’s phone number? I want to contact him as soon as possible.”
“Old Zhao? Wait a bit Ning Yatou, I’ll call you back in a moment.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Su Ning knew Grandpa Fu was probably calling the neighborhood committee in Qinghe Lane to have Ying Ying and Tingzi, the siblings at home, help look it up.
With these back-and-forths, it would probably take a while to wait.
Subconsciously rubbing her fingers, only upon touching the soft leather did she remember she was now holding Yan Bei’s wallet.
This kind of men’s wallet sold at the department store wasn’t cheaper than women’s bags.
Not sure if she should say he had a big heart or didn’t care. He actually gave her the entire wallet.
“Hm?”
The brown-gray wallet had a bit of conspicuous white, like a note that wasn’t clipped properly.
