Chapter 63 Peach Blossom Spring

There was no trace of emotion on Xu Xize's face.

Xu Maosen, lying on the hospital bed, said nothing. Only when one lies immobile in this hospital bed can one truly see things clearly. He had spoiled his two children too much.

Zong Chi finished speaking and turned around. Despite Yu Xiaohan's private scolding of Zong Chi, her heart, swollen like a simmering saltwater, finally settled down after he came over today. She knew it must have been Xixi who called him, and his presence was already a complete honor for Yu Xiaohan. And that wasn't all. He had gone to greet the surgeon, posing as a son-in-law, to discuss the specific date and details of the surgery. After that trip, he returned. As Yu Xiaohan poured him tea, Zong Chi put his arm around her shoulder and reassured her, "It's okay. It's a minor operation. Xixi and I are here for you."

For the first time, Yu Xiaohan wiped away her tears in front of Zong Chi. He laughed, "Ms. Yu, please don't cry. Next time you use the Tianmen Formation on me, I'll break it."

Yu Xiaohan spat at him, Zong Sang will only be Zong Sang for the rest of his life.

Zong Sang comforted her, "Xixi said you were most afraid of coming to the hospital. If you were afraid, you should have informed us immediately next time. You know your daughter. She always wants to be first. She even got upset with me for days when she found out I was promoted behind you. Tell me, if you didn't inform her immediately about something, she would be worried. You know how sensitive she is."

Right now, Yu Xiaohan was very obedient. She let Zong Chi show off his power. Over the years, she had endured the hardships of the Xu family's twin children. Those who could see pretended not to know, and those who knew were powerless to do anything. Only the lamp knew the tears Yu Xiaohan shed.

Zong Chi walked back to the table, picked up the apple that he had almost peeled, cut off the last piece of skin, divided the flesh into two, and gave half to Yu Xiaohan, who signaled her to take it with his eyes; for the other half, the young master attentively and briskly delivered it to Xu Maosen's bedside.

Xu Maosen had a pair of eyes, with panic written on the left side and fear jumping on the right side.

Zong Chi didn't care. He just wanted to tell the old thief that he got half of it today because someone still remembered your kindness. "Xixi told me that when my mother-in-law was sick, you personally scraped the apple puree for her to eat. I don't know how to do that, so you just have to bear the pain and bite it yourself."

After the assignment, Zong Chi toyed with his Swiss Army knife and walked back to Boss Xu. He remained silent, yet he didn't have the nerve to turn around and walk away. Zong Chi huffed, "You know, otherwise you wouldn't have come. You regretted it a long time ago, otherwise you wouldn't have offered her the job. You treated her well, but you're disappointed. How could a single bully not bring her back?"

Xu Xize had always looked down on Zong Chi. He was simply lucky, his ancestors starting out as wealthy merchants, emboldened by their wealth and a strong character. As an only child, he could get whatever he wanted. If his father had been more diligent or had had a few illegitimate children, Young Master Zong would have had a harder time than anyone else, and would have simply tucked his tail between his legs and obediently accepted the marriage.

Even so, he was still constrained by his old man for several years.

"Zongchi, is Sangtian Dao fun? You're someone who loves to play the game of confinement, so what qualifications do you have to criticize others?"

The next second, the blade was against the joker's face.

The cool steel, tinged with a sweet scent, patted Xu Xize's face several times. Zong Chi could almost see through people's minds, "You're dying of curiosity, aren't you? You don't think that even though I'm such a jerk, she's willing to come back. Why is she still so resentful of your bullying back then? Huh?

"Yeah, I'm a fucking bastard. But even though I'm a bastard, she's still willing to come back. Do you know why? Because she likes me. Because when she was feeling wronged, I never looked down on her. I treated her like a treasure, and she knows it very well. If anyone of you bullies her, I'll stand up for her and stay for her. God knows how wronged and miserable she was when she ran to the swimming pool to find me alone. You guys teamed up to bully her just because your dad has a crush on her mom. Xu Xize, as a man, listen to this, isn't this a joke?"

"Tell me, tell me how you bullied her. Return her exactly as she was, and our score will be settled. I don't have time to waste on you."

Xu Xize was being held at knifepoint by Zong Chi. He dodged as the knife approached, but no one in the ward spoke up to stop him. Finally, Xu Xize gave up, letting his attacker slaughter him. "Didn't you already come back, Zong Chi? You've been away from her for years, and she's had spies everywhere. You saw me find her a job, otherwise you wouldn't have rushed back."

"Stop being so narcissistic. What's your business? You deserve to run with her a few more times. You stopped her mother from becoming your stepmother. If you lose a few more business losses, just think of it as an early share of her inheritance."

"Zongchi, you are such a mean person."

"Ah. But don't worry, my patience is limited and has a price. I said, once you and your whiny sister pay off your debts, I'll move on."

As he was about to finish his words, someone hurried to the door of the ward.

He Dongli had her coat draped over her arm, looking busy and tired from the long commute. When she came in, she saw this tense and shocking scene. Without even having time to think, she threw her coat and bag on the sofa and went straight over to snatch the knife from Zong Chi's hand.

In front of everyone in the ward, she scolded him harshly, "You know what this place is! Ah!

"Zongchi, today is my birthday, you promised me something. What are you up to?"

*

He Dongli put away the Swiss Army knife, Zong Chi spread his hands, and Yu Xiaohan came over like watching a show, wanting to explain something to Xiaochi and Xixi. Xixi still had a stern face, blaming his mother for not trying to persuade him.

Yu Xiaohan muttered softly, "Who am I? Who will listen to me? Humph."

Xu Xize saw the dagger, which was not really a threat, withdraw. He took off his glasses and wiped the dust off his hair with his tie. There were two red marks on the bridge of his nose before he looked up and said something to the person celebrating his birthday.

He Dongli brushed past him. She went to the bedside, asking questions and showing concern for the family with all her sincerity. She even helped Xu Maosen turn sideways and checked the injuries before she felt relieved. She reassured Uncle Xu that it was okay, that she had asked her colleagues to make arrangements, that it was a minimally invasive surgery, and that he could be discharged in two days and go home to recuperate.

Yu Xiaohan walked over to support Old Xu, and did not forget to tell Xixi, "Xiao Chi had already taken care of all these when he came this afternoon. He has been waiting here for several hours."

He Dongli's face was still unhappy for a moment. Yu Xiaohan was not afraid of Xu Maosen. She said to her daughter sarcastically, "Don't be ungrateful. He is doing this for you. I am watching him. Besides him, who else here is truly on your side?"

He Dongli's angry mother let Zong Chi act recklessly.

Unexpectedly, Xu Maosen had the strength to turn over to the side, but now it was too uncomfortable to lie down flat again. Yu Xiaohan deliberately wanted Xixi to see it, so she shouted to Xiaochi to come over and help.

Someone will respond.

Finally, He Dongli became an outsider. She simply walked to the sofa, sat down, and peeled an orange to eat.

She hadn't glanced at Xu Xize the entire time, but his presence was necessary. He Dongli sat there, slowly peeling the oranges, and said to Xu Xize in a consultative manner, "When my mother called me this morning and said that none of you came, I felt a little upset for her. She's not Uncle Xu's spouse, and even if she were, you, as his children, should be present. There's nothing to dispute. I'm making this clear in front of Uncle Xu and you today: as long as my mother's relationship with him lasts one day, I won't shirk any of my responsibilities and obligations. Don't worry, I remember the Xu family's kindness, and this doesn't require my mother's approval. However, please also keep in mind your responsibilities and obligations with Xu Xilin. Otherwise, I think you know better than I do whose obligations cannot be escaped and whose obligations can be waived."

Zong Chi listened to Wu Wu Fu singing and sat down next to her, and did not forget to remind her, "You are sitting on my clothes."

He Dongli didn't move either, and finally stuffed the uneaten orange into his mouth. "He Dongli, are you okay? It's so sour, give it all to me."

"You bought the sour food too." He Dongli stood up and asked his mother what Uncle Xu wanted to eat tonight.

Yu Xiaohan understood and said, "Aunt Lu will go back and make it. Or you can accompany me to the cafeteria to see if there is any sick soup."

He Dongli nodded. She picked up her phone and wallet and asked Zong Chi to stay here for a while. They would be back soon.

The moment their eyes met, Zong Chi understood her. The child in the fog had come out. The apology from that year was meaningless to her. Some people did not need to be reconciled, forgiven, or even left with any trace.

He Dongli and her mother went to take the elevator. Xu Xize followed them. When he pressed the button, he found that the car had just closed and opened again. He Dongli was standing at the front of the packed compartment. She looked at him with misty eyes and said, "It's full. Take the next one."

Xu Xize stood there, watching her sink as the compartment door slowly closed, just like when she was hit and had a big piece of skin broken on her back. She stood there, looking up at them angrily, and finally nailed him with a thorn and drowned.

*

Buying soup is fake.

The mother and daughter were casually browsing in the supermarket downstairs when Xixi asked her mother to buy her a bag of plums. Yu Xiaohan's stereotype of a traditional woman came to her mind, "Why do you suddenly want to eat plums?" As she spoke, she looked at Xixi's belly.

He Dongli picked up a can of plums and turned it around to show her mother, "There's nothing on it saying 'for pregnant women only.' Thank you."

Oh. It would be a lie if Yu Xiaohan wasn't disappointed.

He Dongli was puzzled. "Don't you always look down on those who get pregnant before marriage?"

"How can it be the same? You two are already talking about marriage, and that old man upstairs is almost calling my mother-in-law sick. If you two don't work out, I can't afford to lose face."

In the end, the mother and daughter only bought a can of plums and went for a walk in the small garden outside. Yu Xiaohan said something unexpected to Xixi, "I think what Xiaochi meant today is that the Xu family's eldest brother..."

"It's none of my business." Xixi interrupted her mother.

Yu Xiaohan was shocked to realize for the first time that Xixi had known all along. "I was indeed sorry for what happened back then."

He Dongli didn't want to hear any of this nonsense. She only cared about one thing: "Mom, you actually like Uncle Xu too, right?"

"I'm already this old, what's there to like? I can't just walk away the moment he does something."

"You can't leave because you like me." He Dongli said on behalf of his mother.

Yu Xiaohan blamed Xixi for expressing her attitude towards the Xu family in that way today.

He Dongli didn't want her mother to be vague for her. "Don't worry. Your son-in-law is a very capable person. He has a team of lawyers."

Yu Xiaohan suddenly looked at Xixi with red eyes.

He Dongli grabbed his mother's hand and spoke frankly, "I was very selfish back then. I didn't want you to marry Uncle Xu. It seemed like if you married him, you would really let Dad down. Now that I think about it, cause and effect always come in cycles. Xu Xize and the others didn't want Uncle Xu to marry you back then, and now, look, you've been strangled by that bastard Zong Chi."

Yu Xiaohan nodded heavily. She wasn't as good-tempered and well-mannered as Xixi. She whispered to Xixi, "Xiao Chi knows what's going on. He used that knife to scare Boss Xu. I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, I just feel relieved. Those two siblings always come to my place, even more pompous than Xiao Chi. I serve them food and drinks, but they never look polite. Look, Boss Xu didn't say a word this time. He's seen it all. Filial piety is bullshit."

"Mom, there's nothing shameful about liking someone. I don't care whether you've gotten married or not. I just want you to be happy. Don't worry about his children, and don't worry about us. Zong Chi has that kind of temper. Do you think the Xu family can take advantage of him? Just keep in touch with him. He's been waiting for you to invite him to dinner. It would be best if you could bring the two Xu family members with you so we can show off."

Yu Xiaohan chuckled, "He's like this today, who would dare to eat at the same table with him?"

"That's great. They can't always win, we should win once too."

Yu Xiaohan nodded childishly.

He Dongli's final words of advice were also blessings, "You and Uncle Xu are doing well. That's more important than anything else."

*

When the mother and daughter came back, Yu Xiaohan complained that the soup in the hospital was terrible. The duck was just dipped in the soup and then taken out of the pot without any harm.

It just so happened that Aunt Lu had already delivered the hospital meal, and Xu Maosen even asked Xixi and the others if they wanted to eat together.

Yu Xiaohan scolded him for being old and confused. It was his birthday, and he had been busy all this time for you. Let them go back quickly. After saying that, he hurried them away.

Zong Chi said he had booked a restaurant and asked Ms. Yu what she wanted to eat, and they would deliver it later.

Yu Xiaohan said she didn't want anything, "Xixi hasn't had a proper birthday in all these years. I know she wants to celebrate it with you, so go ahead."

He Dongli ate a plum and let them quarrel.

Coming out of the ward building, Zong Chi asked them what they talked about downstairs. He Dongli praised someone for having eagle eyes, and finally told him frankly, "Long live the freedom of conversation."

When they went to the parking lot together, He Dongli asked him if he had driven here. Zong Chi shook his head. The car was driven away by his secretary, and he was sure that she would come to pick him up in the evening.

He Dongli threw the car keys to him and asked him to drive, as she was a little tired.

Zong Chi asked her, then are we still going to the restaurant?

He Dongli nodded and went ahead.

Zong Chi drove and paid the parking fee before coming out. He turned on the navigation and He Dongli saw how far the restaurant was.

“What’s so special about this restaurant?”

"Their pastry chef made the orange cake taste just like I remember it."

He Dongli was determined to go, and even stabbing could not stop her.

Unexpectedly, the driver received a phone call in the middle of the journey and didn't have time to look at the navigation carefully. He Dongli just closed his eyes for a while, and when he opened his eyes again, he looked around outside and asked him where he was going.

Zong Chi apologized, and soon they all saw the familiar ancient temple.

Next to it is their best public high school, which is also their alma mater.

Zong Chi immediately parked the car at the school gate. He Dongli asked him in confusion, "What are you doing here?"

"I said I took the wrong road, do you believe me?"

So, the two of them got off the car happily, as if they had accidentally entered a paradise.

Zong Chi went to the access control post and negotiated for a long time, but the security guard still refused to let him in. In the end, he was allowed to pass through after a phone call. He Dongli wanted to laugh. Even if he donated scholarships to the school, it would be useless. Some people still had to go back in disgrace to get their ID cards.

Zong Chi left his passport and He Dongli's ID card at the door before they were allowed in. As he filled in the visitor log, the security guard asked them, "Are you all alumni?"

"Yes, she is my schoolmate and also my wife."

*

Zong Chi led the silent group from the clock tower in front all the way to the football track. At this time, there were still students attending evening self-study. He Dongli was thinking about her former class teacher and wanted to go and see if she was there.

Zong Chi blamed good students for being so troublesome. It's so late, and you're here empty-handed. How about coming back to visit the teacher sometime during the bright spring weather?

The cold wind was so strong that He Dongli swallowed his breath and gave up the idea.

The two of them walked around the playground in a full circle. He Dongli even dragged Zong Chi's hand to watch how she had gotten into the swimming pool through the dilapidated fence. But now it had been repaired and reinforced, so she couldn't get through.

Zong Chi tucked her hand into the pocket of his windbreaker. He said that that day was also a paradise for him. He didn't expect her to come, and he didn't expect her to fire the starting gun at him. He dived into the water and told himself not to go up, not to go up, because she would definitely humiliate you again, and she didn't like you at all.

But when he saw her turn around, Zong Chi almost dived to the shore and got out immediately.

It really proves the saying, for you, thousands and thousands of times.

They had been together for four years at the Affiliated High School and No. 1 High School, as classmates and alumni, but not true lovers. Zong Chi had said that he championed her reputation more than anyone else, and the biggest lie he'd ever spread about her was that she'd tried to keep him.

He Dongli is suspected of actively pursuing Zong Chi.

So, he spread rumors and then clarified them. He Dongli steadily and steadily brought him to four A's. As many people hated him as they laughed at him. Because He Dongli didn't seem to have any feelings for Zong Chi beyond teaching and poverty alleviation.

Zong Chi also thought she was a fool at that time.

But she is very affectionate, and will pull you back when you are slacking off. She will say "Bless you" in a dry and humorous way after you sneeze unexpectedly.

Zong Chi asked her, what else?

She then switched to Chinese and said what her mother often said, "A hundred years old."

At that moment, Zong Chi wanted to come up to her and kiss her, and swallow all her strange words that always attracted him.

*

Tonight he finally got what he wanted. They kissed passionately in the vast darkness of the winter night on campus.

"Happy birthday, classmate He."

"Thank you. I want to eat the orange cake soon, Xiaochi."

-

Note:

In the Blackberry phone, He Dongli first saved a song called "Suddenly" on a whim.

One day, she accidentally opened it and saw a song called "Close to You" in the player.

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The author has something to say:-

Suddenly / Karen Mok;

Close to You/Carpenters

These two songs are exactly the beginning of the emotional journey of two people. Tips: If the plot needs to be quoted, please do not mention any fictitious names under the original song. Thank you.

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This is the end of the main text.

The last two chapters are special releases.