Chapter 67. I love you, Xia Chan.

"Chanchan?!"

It turned out to be Aunt Chao.

Upon seeing Xia Chan, Aunt Chao's dazed state vanished instantly. She looked Xia Chan up and down, "Chan girl? When did you get back? You—"

She glanced to the side and saw Chen Zhoudu next to Xia Chan. She was even more surprised, staring at him for a long time before exclaiming in astonishment, "Zhoudu?!"

"You're Zhou Du? It really is Zhou Du?! Zhou Du! Zhou—"

"Speak louder," Xia Chan chuckled, "so the whole neighborhood can hear."

"Aunt Chao," Chen Zhoudu greeted her with a smile.

Aunt Chao was overjoyed and quickly opened the door to let them in.

Aunt Chao's house is simply decorated. It is about 80 square meters, with two bedrooms and a living room. The walls are painted white and the furniture is very basic. It is kept very clean.

As soon as the two entered the house, Aunt Chao quickly called out to Uncle Chao.

Uncle Chao was probably repairing something in the bedroom when he heard the noise. He came out with a screwdriver in hand, and when he saw them, he quickly put down his tools and started working.

"Uncle Chao and Aunt Chao, please don't bother. We'll just sit for a while and then leave. Why don't you stay and chat with us?"

Uncle Chao and Aunt Chao poured tea, brought them fruit, and kept asking if they had eaten.

If you haven't eaten yet, you should roll up your sleeves and get to work now.

Xia Chan smiled helplessly, pulled them both back and forced them to sit on the sofa. Only then did Uncle Chao and Aunt Chao reluctantly stop and start chatting with them about everyday things.

When did you get back?

“It’s been four or five days. I just went to see my grandma.”

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand!" Aunt Chao slapped her thigh. "If I had known you were coming back, I would have had your uncle pick you up! You wouldn't have had to go through all that trouble and could have prepared some food. There's nothing at home right now. I'll have your uncle go downstairs and buy a fat fish to clean in a bit!"

"We weren't planning to stay long anyway, and we didn't mean to trouble you, but..." Xia Chan glanced at Chen Zhoudu beside her and smiled knowingly, "We were in a hurry and bothered you. We didn't bring any gifts, but we'll make it up to you next time. Please forgive us this time."

"What are you saying! You've become so distant after only half a year!" Aunt Chao gave her a reproachful look.

Aunt Chao then turned her gaze to Chen Zhoudu, looking him over carefully several times, her eyes filled with affection and fondness. "Zhoudu, let Auntie take a look..."

"Wow, you're so handsome! You've grown up, even more handsome than before, even more handsome than on TV! No wonder all those girls are so smitten with you..."

Uncle Chao said that although Chen Zhoudu lost contact with the Chao family after he left, Aunt Chao had actually been keeping an eye on him from time to time over the years.

Sometimes, when Aunt Chao sees his posters or standees on the roadside, she will stop to look at them and take pictures.

Even when I go to the supermarket to buy milk, I only buy the one endorsed by Chen Zhoudu.

This made Aunt Chao embarrassed, so she covered her face and hit Uncle Chao. Xia Chan and Shen Zhoudu couldn't help but laugh.

“Auntie, it’s my fault. I haven’t come back to see you all these years.” Chen Zhoudu said apologetically, “I was too busy with work before, and then Shanfeng Lane was demolished… What do you like? Whether it’s the milk I endorse, cosmetics, or mobile phones, I’ll send you a few of them later.”

Aunt Chao repeatedly declined, saying she appreciated the gesture but her face was beaming with joy. She then asked, "Chanchan, Zhoudu, I just heard you say... you just came back from the cemetery?"

"Um."

Mentioning Grandma Xia made the group's spirits lower slightly.

"Okay, okay..." Aunt Chao nodded repeatedly, saying that Grandma Xia would be very happy to see Zhou Du this time. As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she lowered her head to wipe away her tears.

"Look at this wonderful day, why are you crying!" Uncle Chao playfully shoved her, repeatedly telling Chen Zhoudu not to blame her for being so easily moved to tears. Aunt Chao angrily punched Uncle Chao.

"I'm happy, isn't that enough! You're just like me in every way, cold-blooded and heartless..."

The couple started bickering again, which made Xia Chan and Shen Zhoudu exchange a light smile.

When Aunt Chao saw Xia Chan and Shen Zhoudu appear today, she felt that the atmosphere between the two of them was a bit subtle. After the atmosphere completely relaxed, she tentatively asked gossipy, "Chanchan, what are you two doing now...?"

Xia Chan glanced at Chen Zhoudu, seemingly unsure of what to say, but Chen Zhoudu smiled frankly and resolutely took her hand.

They held hands tightly in front of them.

"Oh my!" Aunt Chao was even more overjoyed and slapped her thigh again, saying happily, "You two children... good, good, really good! You're a perfect match!"

"Back then, you two caused me so much trouble... As soon as Aunt Xia passed away, one of you insisted that I keep it a secret, even refusing to hold the funeral at home; the other was also pestering me, asking, 'What exactly happened? Where is Xia Chan?' I was caught in the middle, it was so hard to do either way, I was so worried... But now it's all good, it's finally all good!"

Speaking of the past, Aunt Chao's words were filled with sighs and accusations. The two of them couldn't help but feel ashamed and smiled secretly, lowering their eyes.

Xia Chan said, "Auntie, we were young and ignorant back then, which made things difficult for you. Thank you for your understanding and forgiveness."

Xia Chan and Shen Zhoudu stayed at Aunt Chao's place for dinner that night. Aunt Chao asked about Lala and Pang Hu's situation in Shanghai in detail and told Xia Chan to be more tolerant and take care of Lala and Pang Hu.

As the stars and moon twinkled in the night, Xia Chan led Chen Zhou back to her room.

Xia Chan's resettlement house was not far from Aunt Chao's house, just in the next building. However, the scene in front of Chen Zhoudu the moment he turned on the light after entering the house left him stunned.

Chenzhoudu had actually imagined that Xia Chan would be in Shanghai when Shanfeng Lane was demolished and relocated, and that there probably wouldn't be enough time to decorate or furnish the resettlement house in Qingshui, but he never expected it to be so tragic.

The walls were plain white, with only a rough base coat applied; the floor labels hadn't been removed, and the electrical wires for the switches on the walls were still exposed.

The entire room consisted of only two bedrooms with three beds, two tables, and several wardrobes.

Her accommodations were hastily arranged; bedding was haphazardly spread on the bed, her suitcase lay open beside it, and a few paper cups, a kettle, a hairdryer, and other items sat on the table next to her. She was practically penniless, her minimalist style resembling a refuge.

She must have left in a hurry this morning and didn't have time to throw away the trash; there were two empty instant noodle boxes in the trash can.

Upon seeing the instant noodle box, Chen Zhoudu's brow twitched instantly, and he asked incredulously, "You eat this?"

"It was just an emergency. I usually order takeout." Xia Chan smiled as she took the kettle to boil water for him. "It's raining today, so takeout couldn't be delivered. This was just a temporary fix."

Chen Zhoudu surveyed his surroundings, his brows furrowed, unable to relax. Xia Chan, upon returning and seeing his expression, naturally understood what was going on and couldn't help but laugh, "Young Master, this is all the conditions I have here. When this house was first built, none of us were around, and no one had time to properly tidy it up. We only come back to stay for a few days during the New Year. If you want to stay here, you'll have to make do, or you'll have to stay in a hotel."

Shen Zhoudu's brow twitched slightly, but he refused to go to the hotel by himself and insisted on going with her.

"Me?" Xia Chan laughed in surprise, "Are you crazy, bro! This isn't some big hotel in your Shanghai with any confidentiality agreement. If I go with you, we'll be trending on social media tomorrow!"

Chen Zhoudu pursed his lips and smiled mysteriously. Without saying a word, he told her to take her ID card and dragged her out the door.

To Xia Chan's surprise, Qing Shui actually opened a hotel in Ya Hai.

The hotel is named "Yahai Tianli," and it's a budget hotel under the brand name, but it's sufficient.

Chen Zhoudu made two phone calls at the entrance, and soon a well-dressed man hurriedly came out of the hotel. Judging from his attire, he should be the manager of the Ya Hai Tian Li Hotel.

He said respectfully to Shen Zhoudu, "Oh! Mr. Shen, it's a pleasure to meet you! How come you didn't have time to let us know you were coming? We could have sent a car to pick you up..."

"Manager Qu, please forgive my sudden arrival." Chen Zhoudu interacted with him with ease. "I didn't want too many people to know about my trip this time, so I didn't tell you in advance. I can only trouble you for the next two days."

"No, no! Don't worry, our hotel staff have all been instructed not to say anything. This way, please..."

He led them through the hotel's secluded back door, and upon catching a glimpse of Xia Chan beside Chen Zhoudu, he couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, who is this...?"

“This is my girlfriend, Xia Chan,” Chen Zhoudu said directly.

Xia Chan was startled and instinctively patted him lightly. Manager Qu seemed even more surprised. Chen Zhoudu calmly said, "Manager Qu, because my identity is somewhat special, there are some things..."

"Understood, understood! Mr. Shen, rest assured, we won't say a word, and we've prepared everything for you. Mr. Shen, Ms. Xia, this way please."

Manager Qu arranged for them to stay in the best suite at Tianli Hotel, located on the top floor with a view overlooking a large part of Qingshui Town.

After entering the house, Xia Chan changed her shoes and subconsciously looked around the room first.

The hotel in Qingshui, regardless of room size and furnishings, is naturally incomparable to those in Shanghai, but it has already surpassed the standard of ordinary hotels in Qingshui.

The entire room was decorated in the same signature gold and blue as Ya Hai, the mirrored tabletop was spotless, the sheets and carpets were laid out without a single wrinkle, and the vase on the bedside table was filled with the most vibrant fresh flowers.

Chen Zhoudu suddenly hugged her from behind and chuckled, "What's wrong? Manager Xia, are you having an occupational hazard?"

"Yeah, as soon as I entered this scene, I couldn't help but want to check it out." Xia Chan couldn't help but turn her head to look at his face, ruffle his hair, and smile.

He rested his chin on her shoulder and gently kissed her neck, his warm breath gently caressing her skin, sending a tingling sensation through her.

Her voice floated in my ear like a soft breeze, "I should have told them just now that you're the manager of the Tianze store in Shencheng, and that the leaders coming down for an inspection would scare them to death!"

Xia Chan couldn't help but laugh and tilted her head to avoid the tickling sensation near her ear, but he pulled her back without saying a word, turned her body around, and pinned the back of her head into a deep, lingering kiss.

A light rain fell again at night, pattering against the window and isolating the world into just this small corner.

Inside the suite, the lovemaking continued in the dim light, with two bodies pressed tightly together.

As Chen Zhoudu drew closer, his taut shoulders and back were covered in a thin layer of sweat, and his breath was hot and labored.

Xia Chan's fair skin gradually turned red, and her fingertips gripped the bedsheet tightly. Chen Zhoudu cupped her slender waist in his hands, his voice already hoarse, "Does it hurt?"

She shook her head, her sweaty arms lightly wrapping around his sweaty back.

Then my body sank, sinking once again into a swaying sea.

When the rain was heavy at night, thunder roared in the sky with a loud bang, and lightning flashed brightly.

A blinding white light shone in, and Xia Chan instantly saw her clearly. Her face was covered in a mixture of sweat and tears, and her dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, a fusion of love and desire.

Shen Zhoudu gently covered her ears with his hands, his back slightly arched as he leaned forward, and whispered with his last bit of tenderness, "Xia Chan, I love you."