Chapter 21.021. The face is cursing, but the mouth is praising.
After busying himself in the kitchen, He Yan took a break to go back to his room to charge his phone.
His phone hasn't stopped ringing since he woke up this morning; it's been constantly receiving calls and messages. It's driving him crazy. All of it is copied and pasted content, and he doesn't understand why these people are so keen on sending mass messages.
As he went downstairs, he heard chattering coming from the corridor. He turned his head and saw Nana and Wenxue putting up couplets.
After glancing at her a few times to make sure she was safe, he looked away and walked straight toward his room.
As I walked, I randomly picked a few messages that looked okay, copied them, and forwarded them to a few partners as a way of sending New Year's greetings.
When he reached the door, he put away his phone. The first thing he noticed was the couplet pasted on the wall. He took a few steps back, raised his eyes, and silently recited the simple blessing in his heart. Then he saw the rabbit lantern hanging on the door. He was a little surprised, tilted his head, and glanced at Wu Yuejiang's door next door to make sure that only he had one and no one else did. He couldn't help but chuckle.
He moved closer and reached out to touch the fluffy rabbit on the lantern with his calloused fingertips.
Without even asking, he could guess who had put it up.
It could only be Wen Xue, who likes those furry things.
For the first time ever, he spent a few minutes studying the little lantern, found the switch and pressed it. Inside, there were several wires with tiny, flashing lights strung on them, like fireflies. It should be very bright at night.
What's this?
He Yan couldn't help but chuckle, feeling that Wen Xue was treating him like a child.
He rubbed the rabbit with his fingers, then remembered he had important business to attend to. He suppressed his smile, took out his keys, opened the door, and plugged in his phone to charge. As he went out again, he couldn't help but glance at the rabbit lantern a few more times.
The four of them had a casual lunch on New Year's Eve, but the main event was in the evening.
All day long, He Yan and Wan Nian spent their time in the kitchen, stewing and frying. For He Yan, this was the most troublesome and complicated New Year's Eve dinner ever. In the past, when He Heng was around, the two brothers would just buy some food outside to get by. Later, when he started making money, he would directly call a restaurant and order a sumptuous meal.
He had originally planned to take them to a restaurant, but Nana and Wan Nian rejected the suggestion.
He regrets it now, he really regrets it.
Not only did he get blisters on the back of his hand from the splattered oil, but he also reeked of cooking oil.
Dusk was falling.
Before the New Year's Eve dinner, He Yan went downstairs to take a shower. Wen Xue, unaware that he had been burned, was still enthusiastically examining the juicer that Nana had left unused. She cut oranges and apples and patiently made juice.
A bag of oranges and apples, squeezed to make a pitcher of juice.
When He Yan came downstairs, he was clean and refreshed, smelling of soap. Wen Xue, with her sharp eyes, noticed he was wearing the clothes she had bought the day before yesterday, and smiled to herself. This outfit suited him well, crisp and neat. "Dinner's ready!"
Two folding tables were put together, and the tables were filled with dishes that looked and smelled delicious, making one's mouth water.
The four of them sat together in the cramped room, crowded yet lively.
Nana got up and poured juice into four pretty glasses. She still grumbled regretfully, "It's a pity Wenxue can't drink alcohol, otherwise we could buy a bottle of red wine, which would make it even more festive for the New Year."
Wen Xue smiled and said, "Actually, you don't need to worry about me. You guys drink alcohol, and I'll just have juice."
"Isn't that tempting you?" Nana said with a grin. "Next year! Next year we'll drink red wine," she looked at Wen Xue, "You'll be in great shape this time next year and can drink anything!"
"Okay," Wen Xue replied softly.
Her nose felt a little sore. Even if it was just so she could toast with them and drink red wine next year, she would eat well and take good care of herself for the next year.
He Yan stared at Wen Xue, paying no attention to anything else. He picked up his cup, took a sip, frowned, and looked displeased. "What is this?"
If he remembers correctly, he gave Nana money this morning to buy fruit juice.
You spent a few hundred dollars to buy this kind of thing just to appease him?
Nana straightened her back and immediately replied, "This is Wenxue brand freshly squeezed juice!"
Wen Xue quickly put down her cup, sat up straight, and looked at He Yan. Was it because she had diluted the juice with water, making it impure and not sweet enough to suit his taste?
He Yan paused slightly, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then said calmly, "It's quite delicious."
Nana exclaimed dramatically, "Brother Yan, how do you do that? Your face is cursing while your mouth is praising people."
Honest people laugh heartily forever.
He Yan: "..."
Wen Xue turned her back, hiding the smile on her face, rummaged through the plastic bags in the supermarket, found a can of beer, and when she turned back, she casually leaned over and placed the beer next to him, "Here, you can drink this."
He Yan held the beer bottle closed and opened the can with one hand. Wen Xue was about to concentrate on eating when she inadvertently noticed the blister on the back of his right hand. She paused for a few seconds, then hurriedly asked, "How did you hurt your hand?"
"It's nothing." He glanced down at himself, dismissive. "Just burned by oil."
Wen Xue pursed her lips and said, "Mm."
No one seemed to take this little incident to heart. At eight o'clock sharp, they had almost finished eating, and the Spring Festival Gala on TV started on time. He Yan leaned back in his chair leisurely, noticing a gaze. He turned his head and met Wen Xue's clear eyes.
He paused, then asked, "What's wrong?"
"nothing."
She shook her head and glanced at the show, but she couldn't concentrate; the wound on the back of his hand distracted her. She guessed that perhaps before she arrived, long ago, He Yan had suffered many more and more serious injuries, so serious that neither he nor those around him would have taken these blisters seriously.
Nana peeled an orange, one after another, and said, "The comedy sketches these days are so boring. It's like they're tickling my armpits and trying to make me laugh."
Wan Nian got up to tidy the table and swept the floor with a broom.
Wen Xue wanted to help, but he politely declined with a smile, so she had to give up.
"How about we play cards?" Nana suggested, which was a reckless flirtation with danger. As soon as she said this, He Yan glanced at her casually, but it was full of warning.
Wan Nian came in from outside, casually pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands, and laughed, "Playing cards is no fun, why don't we buy some fireworks and go out to play? It'll be raining and snowing tomorrow, there won't be many more days of good weather."
"OK!"
Nana jumped up from her chair. Now she would do anything as long as she wasn't allowed to watch that boring Spring Festival Gala again.
He Yan looked at Wen Xue, silently seeking her opinion.
Wen Xue looked preoccupied and forced a smile as she nodded.
The four of them turned off the lights and went out. The quiet hallway was filled with Nana's excited voice. Wenxue would usually chime in softly, but today she was surprisingly silent.
Since He Yan had been drinking, the task of driving had to be left to Wan Nian. Nana sat in the passenger seat, while Wen Xue and He Yan sat in the back. The black jeep soon drove out of the apartment building. Wen Xue sat by the window, staring intently out the window. He Yan occasionally turned his head and could only catch a glimpse of her profile.
He frowned almost imperceptibly.
Is she homesick? She seems a bit out of sorts, like she's not very happy.
Wen Xue hadn't held out much hope. On New Year's Eve, few shops were open on either side of the street, and the road was pitch black. She was feeling somewhat dejected until, at a corner, she saw a pharmacy sign emitting a faint light, and the door was open! Overjoyed, she sat up straight and raised her voice, "Wan Nian, could you please stop up ahead?"
Her sudden outburst startled He Yan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, and he asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"
Wan Nian had already slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road.
Nana turned her head curiously, "Wenxue, what's wrong?"
"I'm going downstairs to buy something." Wen Xue pushed open the door and got out of the car. Seeing He Yan frowning and looking over, she smiled and said, "It'll be quick, not far."
After saying that, she closed the door, afraid that if she was a step too late, the pharmacy would close. The street was empty and quiet, the wind blew her hair, and she ran very fast. Nana in the car rolled down the window, stuck her head out to look, and muttered, "What is she going to the pharmacy for?"
He Yan was equally puzzled. A thought flashed through his mind, but it disappeared too quickly for him to grasp.
Wen Xue rushed into the pharmacy, breathless and panting heavily.
The shop assistant, holding a lunchbox and eating while looking up at the hanging television screen, froze upon seeing this. "What medicine do you want?"
"Scald, burn."
Wen Xue raised her hand and gently touched her chest, saying slowly and deliberately, "I was burned by oil, and blisters have formed on the back of my hand, two or three... What should I do?"
The shop assistant understood.
The burn ointment sold very well before the Lunar New Year, as every household was preparing food. She put down her chopsticks and skillfully took a tube of ointment from the counter. "It's for external use. Apply it every four to six hours. If the condition is serious, you should still go to the hospital to see a doctor."
"Thank you." Wen Xue took out her wallet to pay, then thought for a moment, "And another pack of cotton swabs, please."
"Thirty-eight in total."
Wen Xue didn't take the plastic bag. She put the small tube of ointment and cotton swabs into her pocket, and her heart finally settled down. She didn't know how many injuries He Yan had suffered in the past, but this time she had seen it all. How could she really pretend that nothing had happened? She couldn't do it.
She believed that if she were burned, he wouldn't stand idly by; he would take her to the hospital, just like he had pulled so many strings to get her an appointment not long ago, simply because he knew she hadn't slept well.
Stepping out of the pharmacy, braving the cold wind, she ran faster than she had come to the parking area.
As soon as she got into the car, Nana and He Yan asked in unison, "What did you buy?"
"It's nothing, just a little thing," she replied, calming her rapid breathing.
Wan Nian stepped on the gas and continued searching for a fireworks shop, while Nana looked down at her phone, searching for places to set off fireworks. The carriage fell silent again. He Yan still glanced at Wen Xue from time to time, wanting to ask her more questions, but worried about reminding her of her painful memories.
On this day of family reunion, she should be thinking of her deceased relatives.
After driving for more than ten minutes, the car stopped at an inconspicuous shop in the old town. Wan Nian and Nana got out of the car, and when only the two of them were left in the car, Wen Xue finally mustered up the courage to say, "Give me your hand."
He Yan was completely bewildered and did not understand what it meant.
“The injured hand,” she added.
He stared at her in astonishment, the fleeting thought from moments before returning and striking him squarely. Incredulous, yet a strange, indescribable emotion slowly rose within him. The burn he had completely disregarded, a minor injury insignificant compared to his past wounds, had become something she cared about.
A few minutes later.
In the dimly lit carriage, He Yan's right hand was placed in front of Wen Xue. She lowered her neck and carefully and gently applied medicine to him with a cotton swab.
Is this what you call nothing happening?
She could feel his hand trembling slightly when the cotton swab touched the blister.
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