Chapter 79. They were unknown to anyone…
Qingming Festival.
He Yan took the high-speed train at 7 a.m. and arrived in Haicheng more than four hours later. Unlike last year, he was alone this year.
He could roughly guess why Wen Xue was avoiding him.
She wanted to avoid the time when he was there, and didn't want to enter the cemetery where He Heng's ashes were buried at the same time as him. He had also decided that he would let her return this year on the anniversary of her death, if she was willing.
The usually quiet Haicheng Cemetery was bustling today. As you went up the steps, chrysanthemums were placed in front of almost every tombstone on both sides.
He stood before He Heng's grave, gazing intently at his younger brother in the photograph, forever frozen at the age of twenty.
A moment later, he hastily rolled up his sleeves and silently began to clear away the weeds and cobwebs. His mind, however, was still racing, recalling the image of her weeping incessantly at her grave this time last year. He sighed inwardly.
I'm tired.
He wasn't a particular person, so he simply sat down on the ground and turned his head to look at He Heng in the photo.
Don't blame her.
If you're going to hate someone, hate them.
He sat in silence for a long time, then remembered he had other important matters to attend to. He reluctantly stood up, arranged the fruits and snacks his younger brother loved to eat, and then went to his parents' graves. Every year on this day, it seemed to pass very quickly; the number of people in the cemetery was decreasing, and the surroundings were becoming quieter and quieter.
A year later, he still remembered the direction of the tombstones of Wen Xue's family.
It was found without much effort. Her other relatives had already visited. The grave was clean and tidy, with chrysanthemums and offerings.
He Yan bowed deeply three times to her parents and grandparents. Her relatively calm mood was suddenly punctuated by a sharp pain when she saw the words engraved on the tombstone. The name of the person who erected the tombstone for her parents was hers. At that time, she was too young to remember anything and did not even know what death meant.
Later, it was her grandfather and her grandmother.
In truth, he knew very well that she wanted him to be her family, and that was why she was most tolerant of him. Undeniably, he "took advantage" of her tolerance.
It was already afternoon when I left the cemetery.
He Yan casually opened the car door but didn't get in. Standing to the side, he eagerly sent Wen Xue a message: "[Is there anything you want to eat?]"
When Wenxue received this message, she had just returned from walking her dog. She washed the paws of her little golden retriever, Shitou, and sat on the sofa to catch her breath. Sweat was beaded on her forehead and nose. Even the most well-behaved dog longs for the outside world and will fuss if it doesn't get walked for a day.
A few days ago, He Yan gave her an access card and a spare key.
He was busy with work, and most of his attention was focused on his newly established trading company. Overtime and social engagements were common occurrences. She lived nearby, so she could come over and play with Shitou when he was busy.
Wen Xue unlocked her phone, chuckled, and typed a reply: 【Si Yi bought them all for me^^】
He Yan replied quickly: [Okay, have you eaten?]
She glanced at the time and couldn't help but smile: "I've had lunch, but not dinner yet."
The weather in Xicheng wasn't very good today. It was just like the saying goes, "It rains a lot during the Qingming Festival." She saw that it wasn't raining in the afternoon, so she decided to take Shitou out for a walk. Now, it's just past four o'clock, and the sky has already darkened.
The sky over Haicheng was cloudless.
He Yan: [Okay, don't forget to eat.]
The two refused to mention their embrace in the karaoke room the previous night.
It's unclear who the ringleader and who the accomplice were. In a corner where no one knew them, they hugged for a very long time. After leaving that private room, they acted as if nothing had happened, calmly and peacefully going to the next private room to sing, cut the cake, and celebrate their birthdays.
Wen Xue replied with a silly smile, put away her phone, and looked around the empty house again.
After thinking for a moment, she took out a notebook and pen from her bag and made a list carefully. The place was too empty, and she needed to buy something to decorate or fill it.
Sizzle—
The moment she zipped up her pants and stood up, Stone, who had been resting on the floor, rushed over excitedly, wagging its tail around her like a propeller.
Wenxue chuckled, squatted down, picked it up, and kissed its little head passionately. After kissing it, she told it ruthlessly, "No, it's raining outside, and I'm going to the supermarket."
Stone: Ugh...
Before the drizzle turned into raindrops, Wenxue grabbed her umbrella and went out.
There are many small supermarkets near Xida University, but you have to take two bus stops to get to the large chain supermarkets. The supermarket was clean and dry, with a sweet and baked aroma in the air. She pushed her shopping cart, moving through the different sections according to her shopping list.
Before I knew it, my shopping cart was overflowing with items.
She placed the most fragile ceramic bowls and plates last.
The variety of styles is dazzling.
After much deliberation and hesitation, Wen Xue finally chose a light-colored plate. Just as she was about to turn and put it in her shopping cart, she didn't notice someone coming from behind her. She bumped into someone, and the plate slipped from her hand and hit the ground with a crisp sound. She was stunned; it was the first time she had encountered something like this, and she was caught off guard.
The sound also attracted the attention of others.
The staff responsible for this area rushed over in a hurry.
Wen Xue turned around and met the young man's gaze.
The weather was neither too hot nor too cold. He was tall and slender, wearing a black windbreaker, with earphones in, and his hair was slightly messy, as if he had just woken up. His brows were sharp and piercing. He looked up, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds before slowly moving down to the broken pieces of porcelain at her feet. His expression remained unchanged, and his voice was a little hoarse: "I'm sorry."
After saying that, he took out his wallet and pulled out a few bills for her.
Wen Xue: "..."
She blinked and looked at him.
I don't quite understand what he means by this.
The young man chuckled at her confused expression. His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he paused briefly before simply placing the cash on a tray of yogurt in her shopping cart. "It's on me."
After saying that, he hurriedly walked past her and left.
She and the staff who rushed over were left completely bewildered.
What a strange person.
The broken plate also appeared on Wen Xue's receipt. It wasn't expensive, less than thirty yuan, but the man paid more than ten times that amount. She frowned and carried the heavy shopping bag to the service counter.
"What?" The staff at the service desk were also dumbfounded.
Wen Xue found it amusing as well and handed over the few bills: "Lost and found."
Although the owner certainly won't come to claim it, she shouldn't take the money.
…
Haicheng.
He Yan and Yang Siyi met.
He took the bags and put them in the back seat of the car. These were all food and supplies that Yang Siyi had prepared for Wen Xue, full of friendship.
"Is that all?" He closed the car door.
Yang Siyi almost burst out laughing.
Judging from her tone, it seems like she still thinks it's not enough? If she had known this would happen, she would have brought down the two cases of pure milk from home as well.
Although He Yan had met Yang Siyi a few times, he wasn't familiar with her. He had just come to pick up his things and was about to leave. Before he could even open the driver's door, Yang Siyi couldn't help but chase after him a few steps, looking hesitant and stammering, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare to.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
Yang Siyi subtly observed him under the streetlights.
She felt she should take back what she had said in the past. He Yan and He Heng only had similar eyebrows and eyes, but they gave off completely different vibes.
"You..." She opened her mouth, still somewhat hesitant, "Wen Xue, she..."
She didn't know what she wanted to say or ask.
Thinking about it carefully, even she, as an observer, was in a complete mess when she thought about these things, let alone Wenxue.
He Yan didn't urge her, patiently waiting for what was to come.
Yang Siyi gritted her teeth: "Don't make things difficult for her."
"What?"
“I’m not just talking about you,” she said. “There are others too.”
Yes, that's what she wanted to say.
If one day Wenxue decides to be with the man in front of her, she hopes he will be more respectable than her brother and able to protect Wenxue from gossip.
If Wenxue doesn't want to be with him, he shouldn't make things difficult for her or force her.
He Yan paused for a moment, remained silent, and then nodded, saying, "Okay."
Yang Siyi sighed.
She had nothing else to say to him except that sentence, so she backed away and turned to walk back into the residential area.
…
He Yan has relatives in Haicheng and worries about Xicheng. The next afternoon, he hurriedly returned home, which made some friends in his hometown tease him, asking why he couldn't even have time to have a meal and a drink before he was so eager to go home.
He got out of the elevator, stood at the door, and knocked a few times.
After waiting for a few minutes without any response, he finally took out his key and opened the door. For a moment, he thought he had entered the wrong house. There were soft insoles on the door and a lucky cat figurine with a key on it on the cabinet.
Further inside, the living room has been completely renovated.
The sofa rug was laid out flat, covering the original gray color and brightening the whole room.
On the dining table are uniquely shaped kettles and cups, on the kitchen counter are spice jars, bowls, chopsticks and spoons, and opening the refrigerator brings even more surprises: evenly spaced eggs, mineral water and cola, 1L bottles of pure milk, and bright red cherry tomatoes.
There are pre-made dumplings in the freezer compartment.
He only saw this place as a place to sleep, but she gradually decorated it into a home.
When Wenxue led Shitou into the house, she was surprised to find shoes on the mat. She knew roughly when he would be back, but she still couldn't hide her surprise and delight. She picked up the little golden retriever, changed his shoes, and went inside. The bathroom door was closed, and the sound of running water could be heard.
A few seconds later, the sound of water stopped.
She quietly stepped back, her eyes brimming with smiles.
With a click.
He Yan emerged with his hair still wet, a towel casually draped over his shoulder. As soon as he opened the door, a familiar, crisp scent wafted towards him. He turned his neck, but before he could take two steps, he almost bumped into Wen Xue. Her eyes crinkled with a mischievous glint, clearly intentionally trying to scare him.
The golden retriever followed her every word; the two seemed to understand each other perfectly, and the dog barked at him several times in response.
He Yan paused.
He glanced at her first, then at the dog that had treated him like an uninvited guest, and couldn't help but chuckle.
Yes, he is indeed eager to return home.
"you……"
His pleased gaze shifted slightly when it fell on her hand gripping the dog's paw. "How did you get that?"
Wen Xue lowered her eyes, and her gaze fell on the left index finger with a bandage on it, just like his. She was stunned for a moment. This morning, when she was preparing filling and chopping vegetables, Shi Tou kept scratching her trouser leg. She was distracted, and the knife was too sharp, so she accidentally cut her fingertip.
"It's nothing," she smiled.
He Yan frowned, his face was grim, and his eyes showed deep concern.
Suddenly, the roles seemed to reverse. That year during the Spring Festival, he didn't care when he got blisters on the back of his hand, but she did. A few minutes later, He Yan, with a serious expression, locked Shi Tou, who was still trying to cause trouble, in the master bedroom.
Wen Xue sat on the sofa, while he squatted instead of sitting.
Unlike his cold and stern expression, he carefully took her left hand, tore off the already curled bandage, and the bloodstains deepened.
"..." He Yan held back for a while, but finally couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you call me?"
Wen Xue was stumped by the question.
How do I make a phone call?
It was such a minor wound that she didn't even care about it, so why would she specifically tell him about it?
But he seemed to mind it a lot, very, very much.
"You have to say it next time." He dipped a cotton swab in iodine and carefully wiped the area, not looking at her, but staring intently at the spot on her fingertip, his voice deep and serious, "Did you hear me?"
Don't give him the attitude of only reporting good news and not bad.
He needs to know everything.
Wen Xue didn't say anything, but he squatted down in front of her. It was hard for her not to look at him; she felt as if she had been stung by a bee.
He Yan didn't hear her reply, and slightly raised his eyes, "Does it hurt?"
He wondered if he should go to the hospital. There were clinics nearby, but they were not as trustworthy as the hospital.
Wen Xue forced a smile and shook her head.
It actually hurts a bit.
But she needed this pain to maintain what little consciousness she had left, a fragile slump.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com