Chapter 27 is all about ambiguity. I haven't even officially confessed yet, and this time...
Chen Mian looked at the other person suspiciously. Is there something you can't say now? Why are you being so secretive and avoiding Cuiping?
Ji Yu casually handed her a cup of hot milk tea, saying, "It's a bit cold in the mountains at night, have something hot to warm you up."
The smooth and fragrant Xinjiang milk tea entered her mouth with a familiar sweet taste. She looked up to confirm, "Did Aunt Yu make this?"
Ji Yu nodded and then shook her head, explaining, "It was my mother's description, and I cooked it. I also added dried fruit and chopped walnuts." After saying that, she found a spoon and handed it to her.
Chen Mian reached out and took it, her slender fingertips inadvertently brushing against the man's palm, and Ji Yu felt an itch in his heart, as if he had been tickled by a feather.
Mianmian's hands are so soft. When will he be able to win her over? I'm suddenly a little anxious to get married. After we get married, will I be able to touch her sweet and soft little hands every day?
As Ji Yu flipped the rabbit meat and mushrooms on the grill, she secretly glanced at Chen Mian out of the corner of her eye, watching her eat the walnut pieces she had peeled herself, watching her thick, curled eyelashes, watching her... roll her eyes at her?
Ji Yu seemed to have been suddenly struck in a fatal spot, and hurriedly and stiffly withdrew her gaze, obediently becoming the barbecue tool, no longer daring to steal glances at the other person.
He thought to himself, "Mianmian's eyes are so big, even when she rolls them up, she looks beautiful." She noticed him peeking at her, but she didn't seem angry. Did she like him too...?
Chen Mian had noticed someone staring at her long ago. At first, she thought it was just an accidental glance, until the person became more and more outrageous, with a burning gaze that made no attempt to hide it.
She finally couldn't take it anymore and glared back. How stupid was this person? His cooking skills were full of flaws, yet he couldn't even concentrate on making barbecue. Did he want to burn his hand again?
The rabbit meat was finally roasted. Ji Yu tore off a rabbit leg and asked, "Mian, do you want to eat it directly, or should I slice it for you?"
Chen Mian: "No need for all that trouble, I'll just take it and eat it."
Ji Yu handed her the roasted rabbit leg, saying, "Be careful, it's hot."
Li Cuiping, standing nearby, didn't stand on ceremony and started eating herself, tearing off a rabbit leg and enjoying it immensely.
When the baked apples were ready, Chen Mian insisted that Ji Yu try them first, saying, "We used to eat them like this all the time when we were kids. You're the only one who hasn't tried them before, so of course you should go first."
Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Ji Yu had no choice but to take a bite. "Hiss," it was a little hot, but surprisingly delicious. The brownish-yellow apple peel became very chewy after being roasted, while the flesh was sweet and soft.
After a satisfying meal, as night fell, Chen Mianmian and her friend lay down on the blanket to wait for the stars to appear. Seeing Ji Yu sitting alone beside her, she beckoned him to come and lie down with her.
Ji Yu thought about the difference between men and women and felt embarrassed to go over.
Chen Mian: "Come here, the blanket is so big, it's so comfortable to lie on, and it'll be easier to see the stars later."
Ji Yu made an excuse that she still had to clean up the mess, as they would be going back early the next morning and she needed to pack up the picnic supplies in advance, so she busied herself with the task.
He overheard Chen Mian chatting with her friend. Chen Mian put her arms under her head and said dreamily, "When I have my own yard in the future, I will definitely build a big grape trellis in it, so that I can eat sweet grapes every year."
"You have no idea how beautiful Ayili's gazebo is. It's covered in grapevines, but it's missing a swing in the yard."
Chen Mian added, "We should plant some more flowers in the corner. Such a beautiful yard is definitely best enjoyed while sitting on the swing."
Li Cuiping asked with a smile, "Don't you want to live in an apartment building?"
Chen Mian pouted: "The apartment building is so small and cramped, nothing compares to the fragrance of a courtyard."
"I just want to live in an apartment building and enjoy the good life of city dwellers," Li Cuiping said defiantly.
The autumn night was a bit chilly. Ji Yu added some firewood to the fire, silently remembering everything Chen Mian had said. His family had a large yard and an apartment in the city; she could live wherever she wanted in the future.
As dusk deepened, countless stars began to appear, each one like a sparkling gem embedded in the night sky.
The three of them quietly admired the night view for a while. Suddenly, Li Cuiping yawned. "I'm sleepy," she said, turning to Chen Mian and asking, "Shall we go back to the car to sleep?"
Chen Mian was actually a little sleepy. She would have been asleep by this time in the past. Just as she was about to get up, she suddenly remembered that Ji Yu had said he needed to talk to her, so she had to change her mind and say that she wanted to look at the stars a little longer. "You go to sleep first, I'll stay outside for a while."
Li Cuiping was really tired. Seeing this, she didn't say much. After returning to the car, she soon began to snore softly.
Seeing that Li Cuiping was already fast asleep, Ji Yu finally lingered and sat down next to Chen Mian. If you were to ask him what he regretted most about this trip, it would definitely be inviting Mian's good friend along.
He knew they were close, but he never imagined they were as inseparable as conjoined twins, walking hand in hand and sitting side by side. He had endured an entire day just to have this brief moment of opportunity.
Chen Mian, who was on the blanket, sat up cross-legged, looking relaxed and curious to see what tricks he was up to and what he needed to tell Cuiping in secret.
Ji Yu pondered for a moment, then took out the wooden human figure from his coat pocket and touched it. The fire in the distance flickered, casting shadows on the wooden figure, which could be vaguely seen to be a woman's image.
Ji Yu explained in detail: "You told me the other day that girls like boys who can cook, so I went home and specifically learned to cook from my mom. It's just that I was a little rushed and only learned one dish. I will learn more of the dishes you like in the future."
He looked down at the wooden carving in his hand and explained, "I made this wooden carving especially for you. It depicts you when we first met, with two thick braids and your eyes red from crying."
"Not ugly at all, very pretty." Knowing that girls are generally concerned about their appearance, he quickly added.
Ji Yu was a little nervous when he first started speaking, his voice trembling involuntarily. He gripped the wooden carving tightly with both hands to draw courage. Gradually, he spoke more and more fluently, recalling the two people's interactions. He was honest and simple, almost laying his heart bare before Chen Mian's eyes.
If Chen Mian was somewhat confused at first, by now she thought she probably knew what the other person was going to say next.
The doubts that had been lingering in her mind for days were finally answered. Ji Yu did indeed have someone she liked and had secretly done a lot for that person. However, she never imagined that this person would be herself.
She unconsciously recalled the special care Ji Yu had given her along the way: the food he cooked was what she liked, the noodles were mixed before being handed to her, and the roasted rabbit leg was the first thing he gave her.
She turned to look at Ji Yu and suddenly noticed that there seemed to be several wounds on his left hand. "Brother Ji, what happened to your hand?"
Ji Yu glanced at the scar on her hand, waved her hand, and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing. I didn't control my strength when I was doing the wood carving and I accidentally scratched myself."
Chen Mian advised, "When you get back, you should apply some more medicine. It's never good to have a scar on your hand."
Hearing Chen Mian's concern for him, Ji Yu felt a warm current well up in his heart. Mianmian is so good to me, and she is worried about the scars on my hands.
But then she heard the other person continue, "You shouldn't spend any more time doing these handicrafts in the future. We're not a good match."
Ji Yu's heart sank, and she hurriedly said, "How can we not be suitable? I... your brother and I are comrades-in-arms, and my mother likes you very much. We are a perfect match."
Chen Mian patiently explained, "I came to Xinjiang and all I want to do now is make more money so I can bring my parents to live with me in the future. Even after we get married, they have to live at my house. Can you do that?"
Ji Yu was speechless: "I...I..."
Chen Mian continued, "And my future children will have to take my surname. Even if you're willing to do all that, will your parents agree?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Yu lowered his head in silence. He touched the wooden carving he was clutching tightly in his hand, opened his mouth as if to say that he could do it, but he wasn't very confident that he could convince his parents.
After a long pause, he stubbornly raised his head and still forced the wooden carving into Chen Mian's hands. "Keep the gift for now. We'll talk about the rest when I get home and discuss it with my parents."
Ji Yu said matter-of-factly, "I haven't officially confessed yet, so this doesn't count as being rejected by you. I'll come back next time when I'm fully prepared."
"I...I'll get them to agree."
Chen Mianmian had a headache. She said all this to get him to give up on his own, not to make him go home and argue with his parents. How could his parents possibly agree to him becoming a live-in son-in-law when he was an only child from the city?
Moreover, she and Aunt Yu had a pretty good relationship. They had lived together for a while and were practically friends despite their age difference. If something like this suddenly happened, how could they continue to get along in the future?
After thinking for a moment, she could only reassure him, "It's not that I have no feelings for you at all, it's just that we haven't known each other for very long. Are you sure you like me?"
"Or do you just want to get married as soon as possible and live a life with a wife, kids, and a warm bed, so it doesn't matter who this person is?"
Chen Mian: "You should think about it again..." After saying that, she held the wooden carving in her hand and went back to the car to rest.
Ji Yu was left alone lying on the ground, contemplating life. Mian Mian said she also had feelings for me. Did she really like me?
But she made many more demands. Was she already testing me? If I could pass these tests, would I be able to marry her?
What's wrong with living at my in-laws' house after marriage? As long as I can be with my wife, I don't care where I live. What's wrong with the child taking my wife's surname? If my wife is willing, I can have her surname too. Chen Yu sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
Ji Yu's mind was filled with wild fantasies. She excitedly sat up, but then she thought of her stern father, and it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. She sobered up a bit, but then slumped back down dejectedly.
Inside the jeep, Chen Mianmian couldn't sleep either. Leaning against the window, she stroked the wooden carving in her hands inch by inch, lost in thought...
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Author's Note: Mini-Theater:
Crucian carp: I like you.
Little Cotton: We're not a good match.
Crucian carp: I...I'm not ready this time, so this isn't really a rejection.
I'll come back when I'm more prepared.
Random thoughts:
Why haven't any of you commented on my posts lately? Nobody's doing any more commentary with me either. My heart is broken. I'm hugging my kitten and crying my eyes out…
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