Gift
Xu Nian gave him an unhappy look and said, "That's fine."
As she spoke, she deliberately began to yearn, "I have a good personality, good looks, good academics, and I have three older brothers. My mom said this is the standard for a good marriage. When the time comes, I work hard to get into college, and she says that people will trample down our doorstep."
Xu Nian spoke cheerfully but with a hint of guilt. She knew that what Xu's mother said was exaggerated, probably to motivate her to study hard, but it just sounded so good. To be honest, if it weren't for the incident with Xu Hongqi, her future life trajectory might have been like this.
Xu Nian was gifted at getting angry. She didn't even look at the person opposite her. After she finished speaking, she felt it wasn't enough and deliberately said in a fake tone, "This is also a good thing for you. Look at how good you just said it. I also think Qi Meiyue and that educated youth are not suitable. People say that a good match makes a good marriage. They are so incompatible. I think you two are the best match."
"When the time comes, I will have my sunny road, and you will cross your single-plank bridge, and we will both welcome a new life."
“Absolutely perfect!”
After saying this, she finally looked at him. She was shocked by Xu Hongqi's cold and sinister eyes, which instantly brought her back to the day when he beat the vicious dog. Unfortunately, she was the one who was about to be beaten to death.
Xu Nian was a little scared. She began to reflect on whether she was too angry. But after reflecting on it, she didn't feel that she said anything inappropriate. Wasn't what she said the truth? Wasn't she saying what he thought deep down in his heart?
After thinking about it, she could only admit that her tone of voice was a bit sarcastic.
Xu Hongqi couldn't describe his mood at that moment, but he couldn't think about what Xu Nian said about him not having to worry about the future. It was strange that they had only known each other for a short time, but what Xu Nian said that evening about him having a home in the future and a happy ending with her, was a joy that made him laugh even when he occasionally dreamed about it.
The two were young and had experienced complicated things since childhood. They didn't really understand relationships, let alone analyzing the source of this conflict. Xu Hongqi felt very uncomfortable, as if a fire was burning inside him, yet he laughed out of anger. "Are you done?"
Although Xu Nian felt that the atmosphere was getting colder and colder and was a little scared, he still said "hmm" in a proud manner.
Xu Hongqi turned sideways and placed his hands on Xu Nian's shoulders. He laughed first, then spoke in a gentler voice than ever before, "Niannian, since you confessed your dream to me last time, how have I treated you?"
Xu Nian felt very uncomfortable with his question, but knowing that he was waiting for an answer, he answered honestly, "It's fine."
Xu Hongqi's smile widened after hearing this. "It seems you still have feelings for me. Of course I'm good to you. This is how I raise my future daughter-in-law." After saying this, his face suddenly became ruthless. "Do you want to know how I play with scammers?" He emphasized the word "play".
Xu Nian shook his head reflexively. Who would want to know?
Shaking his head until he was almost dizzy, the self-righteous troublemaker Dong Yin suggested: "Qi Meiyue cheated on you, why don't you go and 'play' with her!"
Xu Hongqi was really a little frustrated. He pinched Xu Nian's face instead and said, "I have nothing to do with her. She can't deceive me. You are different."
If Xu Nian hadn't been worried, he would have clapped his hands long ago and scolded him to death. He said, "I'm different. What's the difference between me and others? The only difference is that I'm extra unlucky. Who is angry here?"
When Xu Nian smelled the faint scent of medicine coming from Xu Hongqi's hand, tears instantly came to her eyes. Damn it, he didn't wash his hands. What should I do if my peerless beauty is infected!
Xu Hongqi felt a hot tear drop on his hand and abruptly withdrew his hand. He was anxious but his face was serious. His voice returned to his usual cold tone. "Why are you crying?"
Xu Nian was indignant, "Why do you always bully me and scare me? It was obviously your fault today."
Xu Hongqi pursed his lips. "Didn't you provoke me first?" He seemed to be feeling sad and dissatisfied. "And now you want to give up halfway."
Xu Nian: “…”
Why is his tone so pitiful? Thinking about it, it seems to be what he said. He cried and sighed, "Do you like Qi Meiyue? If you like her, I will definitely help you. I will also assist you and help you chase her."
Xu Hongqi wanted to ask, "What do you think?", but he also felt that if he didn't explain it clearly to Xu Nian, she would really continue to imagine things according to her own thoughts.
"I used to have a very hard time. I was too young back then, and no one would take my resistance seriously. Meiyue followed her mother's remarriage and lived a very cautious life. One year, there was a drought and food was scarce. Sometimes I couldn't even eat once every two days. When Meiyue found out, she secretly took food from her stepfather's house to feed me, just a little at a time, but we were still discovered. Her stepfather beat her half to death, and even her mother was almost driven away..."
He knew that Xu Nian was a spoiled child at home. Although he was also a village kid, he might not understand his feelings at that time. However, he still had to say, "If Meiyue is in trouble, I won't ignore her, but I don't like her the way you say."
Xu Nian was sobbing at first, and after listening to what he said, she felt depressed, but it was different from the depression just now. Maybe she had to admit that she was just heartbroken. In this way, it would make sense for him to give half of his fortune to someone.
Her eyes revealed heartache, and her mouth was sweet, "Don't worry, you will never be hungry again in the future. If you have no food to eat, I will support you."
The words were sincere, but they felt a little strange after she said them. She had stopped crying a long time ago, but she was a little embarrassed for a moment.
Xu Hongqi's eyes regained their spirit and he replied, "Okay."
Xu Nian's eyelashes trembled a few times, and her heart ached. Did she take on a job for herself? Or should she just laugh it off and say it was just a joke? She looked up and met Xu Hongqi's gaze. Seeing his gentle eyes, she couldn't say anything to withdraw her words for a moment, and smiled guiltily.
She smiled, and Xu Hongqi felt relieved. He also began to settle accounts. He said kindly, "The final exam is coming soon. I'll give you some questions. If there's anything you don't understand, now's a good time for me to teach you."
Xu Nian's heart ached just now, but now she was in great pain. She said weakly, "No need. We've already had a week of classes. Let's take a break!"
Xu Hongqi disapproved. "Don't you think you'll be unable to answer your relatives during the Lunar New Year when they ask you about your grades? Don't you always say your aunt particularly likes people with good grades and that if you do well in the exams, she'll give you a big reward? And don't you always feel that your grandfather looks down on you? Don't you want to prove it to him?"
Xu Nian glanced at him dimly. Well, he had already said everything. How could she still struggle? She could only finish the test miserably.
Xu Nian never smiled when she was studying, but after all, she had studied for two lifetimes, and she was much better at studying now than in her previous life. Xu Hongqi was very cunning and didn't ask her to do things she didn't want to do. Not only did he take her out for shredded chicken noodles for dinner, he also took the initiative to watch an educational movie.
Although Xu Nian now feels that watching it may not be of any use to her, she still thinks it will be helpful if it can influence her a little bit. It just so happens that she hasn't written any film reviews this week.
Her scalp still needed to be treated with medicine, and she didn't want it to be dyed repeatedly, so she told her teacher the reason. The teacher was a little hesitant, and finally Xu Hongqi talked to the principal, and she agreed, but it would only be for two weeks at most.
Xu Nian only stayed in that small courtyard at night and had three meals a day at school. Liu Xi said that their dormitory had been thoroughly cleaned and the teacher had personally checked the hygiene.
During the lunch break at noon, she simply did not go back to the dormitory, and started to conceive her own novel in the classroom. She had watched almost all the movies she could, and she couldn't write anything new, so she decided to write a novel. Xu Nian chose martial arts literature. She remembered that this theme was the most popular after the reform and opening up, and even later TV dramas were mostly remakes of this type.
After school in the afternoon, she followed Xu Hongqi back to the courtyard. Today, Xu Hongqi asked her to wait for him at school while he went to get something. Xu Nian nodded and went to have dinner with Liu Xi and Liang Ting.
They envied Xu Nian for being able to live off campus, but Xu Nian stuck his head in front of them and they immediately shut up.
Xu Nian ate her dinner with a hum, then separated from the two of them and went to wait at the school gate. Xu Hongqi had not arrived yet. It was the time when most workers were off work, and people were in a hurry on the road. She was bored and cold, so she jumped and danced at the school gate with her schoolbag on her back, enjoying herself.
In winter, she wore thick clothes and her breathing became rapid when she moved. When she was tired, she would stop to relax. While catching her breath, she saw Xu Hongqi coming and waved to him. Xu Hongqi also came over with a smile, but when he got closer, he saw Xu Nian looking at the crowd behind him with a puzzled and excited look on his face.
He walked up to her and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xu Nian pulled the person aside and shushed him, “Look.”
Xu Hongqi followed her gaze and saw Xu Fengcheng walking on the street with a girl, who were almost far away.
Xu Nian concluded, "It seems my brother is about to get married." He poked Xu Hongqi again, "I know that woman too."
He looked at her with a look of "are you going to ask quickly?" Xu Hongqi paused as he was about to take something out of the bag and said cooperatively, "Who?"
"You wouldn't guess, it's the waitress we used to see at the state-owned restaurant. I saw her clearly, there's no mistake." Xu Nian said excitedly, "I'll go home at the end of the month and tell my mom the news to make her happy."
Xu Hongqi didn't care much about this, but he knew men's psychology well. Nothing was completely certain, and men generally didn't want others to know about it. Otherwise, why didn't her brother share it with her?
He lowered his head to glance at the cotton-padded jacket in his bag and said nothing, "Give this cotton-padded jacket to your brother now that you see him."
Xu Nian then noticed what he was holding and said happily, "You finished it so quickly?"
Xu Hongqi said "hmm".
Xu Nian took out the clothes and saw that they were army green. The fabric was dense and neatly made, and it felt good. She put her hands in it and felt warm. She picked up the clothes and was about to put them on Xu Hongqi to test them, but he pulled them off. She heard him say, "Hurry up and send it over. It's getting late, otherwise we'll have to make another trip to his place."
Xu Nian felt that he was not very happy, and his originally happy mood was no longer so good. He said, "No need," and walked towards the county courtyard.
Xu Hongqi followed without saying a word. Seeing that she had no intention of looking for Xu Fengcheng, he frowned.
When they got home, Xu Nian went into the house and ignored Xu Hongqi. He didn't feel that Xu Nian was unhappy, and he asked and answered questions on the way.
He went to the kitchen and started to light the fire. They were both a bit of a germaphobe and needed hot water to wash every day. Just as Xu Hongqi added water and lit the fire, Xu Nian came out of the house to find him and his son.
Then he handed him thirty yuan in scattered coins, "Here, money for the clothes."
Xu Hongqi didn't reach out, "No need."
Xu Nian disagreed, "No, you have to accept it, otherwise I don't want it."
Xu Hongqi poked his tongue against his back teeth, took the money, and said to the man, "Light a few more candles and go do your homework."
After he took the money, Xu Nian looked particularly happy. She went into the house without even listening to what he said, leaving Xu Hongqi paused there, wondering what he was thinking.
The man who had just entered the house suddenly ran out, holding a cotton coat in his hand and showing it to him, saying, "Do you like it? This is my winter gift for you."
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