Chapter 120: Hidden Meaning in the Words

Chapter 120: Hidden Meaning in the Words

This was the first time the four siblings had eaten together, and since the next day was Saturday, they could eat and chat at their leisure.

Considering her two underage brothers and Cheng Junjun who is a lightweight, Cheng Xiaoxiao only prepared drinks, using cola instead of alcohol. Her toasts ranged from wishing her a successful graduation and a great victory in the college entrance examination to wishing her good health, smooth work, and safe travels. They were sincere and heartfelt, yet incredibly corny. If she had continued, she might have wished that all the pots and pans in the house would have been well taken care of.

Cheng Junjun gradually began to doubt life, complaining, "When I had a dorm get-together before, no one said such things when raising their glasses."

Cheng Xiaoxiao asked, "Is it the social event with the boys' dormitories that you mentioned to me?"

"Um."

"You mentioned before that there are many professional fields?"

“There are many, such as horticulture and landscaping, civil engineering, and some other majors that are traditionally a perfect match for us.” Cheng Junjun maintained her smile.

Cheng Xiaoxiao smiled and asked, "Did you meet any decent guys?"

"No," Cheng Junjun said expressionlessly.

"Why not? What about other occasions? You're almost a senior, haven't you run into a single one in the past three years?"

Cheng Junjun paused for two seconds, then decisively turned her gaze to Cheng Bing: "Did any girls confess their feelings to you when you graduated?"

Fang Yuenian choked on the cola in her throat.

Cheng Bing calmly shook her head: "No."

"Why not? You didn't receive a single love letter in three whole years of high school?" Cheng Junjun, not content with just showing off what she had learned, added, "I don't believe it, sis, do you?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao looked at Fang Yuenian: "You must know, right? Has he ever accepted it?"

Fang Yuenian: "...Huh?"

Cheng Junjun said, "Asking him is pointless. He might be the one who accepts more. I've heard that there's a strong culture of early romance at No. 1 High School. Early romance plus academic excellence is a traditional combination."

Cheng Bing said, "I heard it's even more serious at No. 2 Middle School."

Cheng Xiaoxiao was overjoyed. "Indeed," she glanced at Cheng Junjun suggestively, "it's terrifying."

Upon receiving the signal, Fang Yuenian quickly relayed it downwards, asking Cheng Junjun, "Sister Jun, have you ever received a love letter?"

"You've received a lot, how about it?"

"Did you start dating early?"

"No."

"real?"

"Of course it's true—what about you? Tell the truth, have you been in a relationship yet?"

Fang Yue Nian was taken aback, “...Me?”

His pause was a bad sign. Cheng Junjun had only been joking, but seeing his reaction, she was taken aback: "What are you staring at? Is it really true?"

Fang Yuenian opened her mouth: "No, I didn't..."

"Why are you stuttering without you?" Cheng Junjun's joking expression vanished, replaced by a serious one. Her tone changed, becoming gentle and slightly pleased. "What's the situation now? Are you two still talking?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao took it seriously, "They really talked about it?"

Fang Yuenian couldn't help but feel nervous: "I didn't! Sister Jun, don't look at me like that."

"There's no one else here, so what's there to hide? Besides, you're about to go to university, it's normal to date," Cheng Xiaoxiao advised.

"Yes, I want to know what kind of personality she has. Is she lively? Or quiet? How do her grades compare to yours? Will you continue dating in your university?" Cheng Junjun asked in quick succession.

"Are you classmates? When did this start? Do your teachers know? Do her family know?" Cheng Xiaoxiao continued to ask.

Fang Yuenian was stunned by the series of questions and was so restless that she kicked Cheng Bing under the table as if asking for help.

Cheng Bing glanced sideways, then looked calmly at her two older sisters: "No, he doesn't have a girlfriend."

Cheng Junjun was a little disappointed and skeptical. "Really?"

“Yes,” Fang Yuenian nodded firmly, “I really didn’t.”

Although Cheng Xiaoxiao was also a little skeptical, she thought that Cheng Bing was unlikely to lie, so she said, "If it's not true, it's not true. Anyway, you're still young, so there's no rush."

Fang Yuenian breathed a sigh of relief.

Cheng Junjun: "They're not young anymore. A couple from our high school class are now talking about getting married after graduation."

Cheng Xiaoxiao: "And what about you?"

Cheng Junjun hadn't expected the topic to return to this point, so she could only say, "Sister, jokes aside, I'm not in a hurry to date or get married."

Cheng Xiaoxiao smiled slightly, serving her food as she said, "Nobody's in a rush for you to get married."

"And you're not in a relationship either."

Cheng Xiaoxiao paused, then chuckled. "When I was in high school, the school was incredibly strict. Early relationships were considered extremely rebellious; if you caused trouble, you'd be expelled. Even in college, our counselors still advised against early relationships. Listen to that—back then, they still used the term 'early relationship.' So, I've only been out of school for a few years; how could I possibly be in a relationship? You guys are different. I think it's great if you can meet the right person, or someone you like, during your student years."

Cheng Junjun leaned closer and asked, "Have you ever encountered this?"

As soon as the question was asked, the younger siblings all turned their attention to it.

Cheng Xiaoxiao smiled helplessly: "Why are you looking at me like that? No, no, I was very obedient to my teachers in high school and had no rebellious spirit at all. My classmates were pretty much the same. Back then, the internet wasn't as developed as it is now. Anyway, we were all a bit old-fashioned."

"What about universities?" Cheng Junjun asked.

"University, um, university life, for me, is so fulfilling, so fulfilling that it doesn't matter if I don't date, there are just so many things I can do. Junjun, do you feel the same way?"

"Yeah, I feel like I don't have any time for dating at all. I'm too busy. I remember once I was drawing in the art studio when a guy suddenly insisted on asking me out for late-night snacks and kept calling me. Oh my god, I just blocked him..."

While the older sisters chatted, Fang Yuenian and Cheng Bing listened quietly.

They had many ideas about university, but the two older sisters in front of them were real people who had actually experienced it, and their feelings and thoughts were more real than other descriptions and rumors.

It's unclear whether the heavens knew what they were thinking, but the next day, the four of them were supposed to go out for a meal together, but it started raining outside.

Starting before dawn and continuing until dusk, Cheng Xiaoxiao finally brought out all the dehumidifiers in the house, saying it was too humid.

The advantage of not being able to go out was that the four of them could comfortably stay in the living room. Cheng Junjun and Cheng Xiaoxiao leaned against the sofa, while Fang Yuenian and Cheng Bing were scattered on the carpet. Fang Yuenian's handmade painting tools were laid out on the small coffee table, and everyone offered him advice and suggestions, making him busy and flustered. He glued and tore several places, almost wearing out the wooden shelf underneath.

The rain pattered against the windowpane, and the glass was covered with water droplets. On a rainy weekend in the height of summer, staying at home, resting, and chatting was probably the most comforting thing to do.

Cheng Junjun rested her head on Cheng Xiaoxiao's lap, closed her eyes, and said lazily, "I remember one day at school, it was raining heavily. All six of us in the dorm were there, the door was closed, and everyone was lying on their own beds... I think I slept until five in the afternoon that day. It was so comfortable. I didn't have to go to class or go out. I could just listen to the rain."

Cheng Xiaoxiao tossed her hair and smiled faintly: "I've been there too. Before I moved here, in that little house, one weekend it rained, and the farthest I ever went was to the communal kitchen outside to cook some instant noodles."

Cheng Junjun opened her eyes: "And then, do you sleep alone at home?"

"No, it's just comfortable to find something to do, like watching a movie or something quiet."

Cheng Junjun smiled and said, "Time just flies by too fast."

She turned her head and looked at the two boys who were busy with their heads close together. "They probably haven't had this experience yet. Anyway, I feel like time is passing too quickly. I'm going to be a senior soon. My college life is over just like that. It's so rushed."

Cheng Bing and Fang Yuenian turned around at the same time. Cheng Bing said, "Graduate students are also in school."

“That’s different. How should I put it? My classmates will all go their separate ways. At least this part of my life is coming to an end.”

Fang Yuenian asked, "Sister Jun, will you be very reluctant to part with her?"

“I’ll definitely be reluctant to part ways then,” Cheng Junjun smiled gently. “But I think parting is an eternal thing in life.” She turned to the side. “What about you? Are you ready to say goodbye?”

Fang Yuenian and Cheng Bing looked at each other, and for some reason, they both felt a little strange.

Cheng Junjun continued, "You won't be in the same university or the same dormitory in the future. If the schools are a bit far apart, I don't know how often we'll see each other. Of course, we'll definitely contact each other frequently at first, but there will be many meaningful things to do at school. Your spare time, weekends, and even holidays will probably be taken up. If you don't have time, you won't be able to do many things."

Cheng Xiaoxiao was slightly surprised, then smiled and said, "They're not children anymore. They need to hold hands and find a companion for everything they do. Wouldn't it be better for them to spend their time improving themselves and broadening their horizons? They can keep in touch every now and then, and there's a lot to share."

Cheng Junjun shook her head. "Sis, do you have any classmates you were close friends with in high school, but have completely lost contact with now?"

"Of course we are. No one can stay that close forever. If we break up, we break up. But we are family, and that's different."

Cheng Junjun looked thoughtfully at Fang Yuenian: "Yuenian, do you consider Bingbing your brother?"

Fang Yuenian met her clear, bright eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.

He was even a little flustered.

Cheng Xiaoxiao glanced at Cheng Junjun and teased, "What are you saying? I think he'd love to be the older brother himself."

Cheng Bing's eyes darkened, but she spoke as if to change the subject: "Sister, do you know who was born first between us?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao shrugged. "I don't know. We weren't in the same delivery room. Anyway, when my mother-in-law brought you out, Niannian was brought out from over there too."

"Have you seen me, sister? Who was prettier when we were born?" Fang Yuenian asked out of the blue.

"I didn't see it. I only saw you when you met Sister Jun. You were dark-skinned and thin. You weren't wearing any new clothes on New Year's Eve. You were just wearing a small jacket. Your face and ears were covered in chilblains."

The speaker meant no harm, but the three listeners were all stunned.

Cheng Junjun was lost in thought, but her mind was involuntarily drawn away. She smiled and looked at Cheng Xiaoxiao, saying, "Admit it, you've wanted to steal a child since then, haven't you?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao pinched her cheek. "You're right. I tried everything and finally succeeded."

Cheng Bing glanced at Fang Yuenian and quietly squeezed his hand.

Fang Yue Nian snapped out of her daze, smiled, but didn't know what to say.

Cheng Junjun can laugh about the past, but it's difficult for Fang Yuenian. At least it's difficult now.

Cheng Junjun dodged Cheng Xiaoxiao's hand, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "I also really like you, sister. When I was little, I saw you from afar in the village and I thought, 'This sister is so beautiful. Your hair, your clothes, your little leather shoes, everything about you is perfect. You are the most beautiful sister in the whole Shuibiwan.' I thought, 'If only you were my sister.' I really want a sister."

Cheng Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh. "I understand. You don't want a younger brother, do you?"

Cheng Junjun chuckled and said, "Sister, you don't know, Fang Yuenian was such a crybaby when she was little. She cried every day, and it annoyed me to death."

Fang Yuenian was stunned for a moment, then looked pitiful: "Sister Jun..."

Cheng Junjun raised an eyebrow: "But later on, she seemed to stop crying even when she was tumbling around. It's amazing. It might be because of Bingbing's influence."

Cheng Bing: "I don't remember him being a crybaby."

Cheng Junjun: "You probably only remember him for being naughty and fighting when he was little."

Cheng Xiaoxiao, upright and incorruptible, said, "You've been in just as many fights as he has."

"sister!"

The funny stories from their childhood made everyone laugh and feel incredibly happy.

Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, Cheng Junjun suppressed her worries and decided to observe the situation calmly without further probing. Author's Note: Thank you to my mentor 9492239 (9492239) for your support! For more exciting content, please leave a message for this book on Liancheng Reading.