29. Meeting the parents (2)
"Let him go back. We'll head back to Xitang this afternoon after we finish our business."
"It's okay, we can go back together. It's been a long time since we've been back. Peach doesn't have school tomorrow, so she can go back with her parents for a couple of days."
Fang Shuning remained expressionless, inwardly cursing, "Is Fang Shuyi insane?"
"I'm full, how about you?" Fang Shuning looked at Song Jiuchen, seemingly asking a question, but actually saying that it was time to leave, even if she wasn't full, she should leave.
"I'm full."
"Okay, we have things to do this afternoon, so we'll be going now." With that, he picked up his bag and left the house without looking back.
"Come back for dinner tonight," Old Fang called from behind. No one answered.
Song Jiuchen quickly followed, said goodbye to his uncle, aunt, and sister, and then went after them.
In the blink of an eye, the three of them were left looking at each other. "Mom and Dad, pack your things, we're going home in a bit. Fang Shuning definitely won't be coming back, let's go home before her and see what she does. It's the weekend tomorrow, you can take Taozi back for a couple of days."
To be honest, Fang Shuning and Fang Shuyi had been fighting since they were little. She always felt that Fang Shuyi was brainless and would do whatever Jianhua told her to do.
She felt that Fang Shuyi was too obedient, living her life step by step, which was particularly boring.
She also felt that Fang Shuyi lacked her own opinions. In high school, she chose between arts and sciences based on her parents' wishes, even though she wasn't good at science. She chose science because they said it would make it easier to choose a major and find a job, and ended up in a junior college. In reality, she was exceptionally good at arts. The same applied to choosing a university, finding a job, getting married and having children, and even now, she subconsciously tells herself and her parents what to buy...
Sometimes she found it ridiculous that someone in their thirties could still live such a "simple" life. She felt that she didn't understand Fang Shuyi at all, but then she would think, oh well, who can understand whom anyway?
There are inherent barriers between people, aren't there?
The afternoon's events proceeded smoothly as well. Fang Shuning breathed a sigh of relief as she left the service hall. Song Jiuchen secretly observed Fang Shuning's expression, and only after seeing her relaxed demeanor did he cautiously ask, "Do you want to go home?"
Fang Shuning felt her beautiful moment had been interrupted. She glanced at Song Jiuchen and said, "Oh, that's not what I meant. I meant you should go home. After all, your parents are calling you back. I can take a bus home by myself. There are still buses at this hour."
Song Jiuchen was quite thoughtful.
"No need, they've all probably gone home by now. Let's just go straight back to Xitang." With that, Fang Shuning walked towards the parking lot.
Song Jiuchen quickly followed, but he was also wondering, "Them? Going back?"
Who are they? Where are they going back to?
However, Song Jiuchen didn't dare to ask. During their time together, he had developed the habit of looking into Fang Shuning's eyes before speaking.
Fang Shuning has many subconscious little gestures and habits, such as frowning slightly when she's unhappy, sneering when she's angry, rolling her eyes when she's speechless, and glancing to the lower left when she's thinking...
Love is in the little things.
Song Jiuchen was driving, and the car was very quiet with no music playing.
Fang Shuning didn't seem to want to talk for the time being, so Song Jiuchen had no choice but to focus on driving.
After driving for a while, Fang Shuning suddenly asked, "Why haven't I seen you go home, and why haven't you mentioned your parents?"
Since Fang Shuning returned, Song Jiuchen has never been seen coming home, and I haven't even heard about his parents. He has been living alone in the village committee. I've had this question for a while, but I haven't had the right opportunity or occasion to ask him.
Partly out of curiosity, partly out of concern, and partly... well, let's just say it's out of concern.
"Ah, my family moved away from Xitang a long time ago. After my dad retired a couple of years ago, he and my sister temporarily went to live in the United States. He just travels around and does whatever he wants. They rarely take care of me."
"Oh~" Fang Shuning drawled, "So that's how it is~"
By the way, when Fang Shuning draws out a few syllables when she speaks, she's usually thinking about something she shouldn't be thinking about.
"Yes, my sister is a good student. She met her husband during her undergraduate years, and they got married. My brother-in-law wanted to pursue a PhD in the United States, so my sister took the exam as well, and they went together. They've been there ever since, only coming back occasionally."
Fang Shuning suddenly understood why Song Jiuchen could be so idealistic at times. A family that could send its child to the US for a PhD and then go there whenever it wanted couldn't be too poor. Although Song Jiuchen usually gave the impression of being simple and unambitious, anyone with a discerning eye could see that he came from a very good, loving family upbringing.
Therefore, he can pursue his ideal life without any scruples, abandoning external desires and doing what he wants. What about the so-called "sacrificing one's life for others"?
So, with his youthful passion, he could dedicate himself to this small village, working diligently and earnestly, wanting to do something for everyone and change something.
Song Jiuchen and Liu Yi are the same kind of people. They are completely different from themselves.
The car drove smoothly, and amidst the intermittent conversation, we returned to Xitang.
As the car turned onto the street where Fang Shuning lived, she could see from a distance that the house was brightly lit, cars were parked in front, and people were going in and out.
"Hey, come to my house for dinner. Secretary Song."
"ah?"
Following Fang Shuning's gaze, Song Jiuchen naturally saw this lively scene.
As soon as the car stopped and Fang Shuning got out, the people inside, hearing the commotion, rushed out. Taozi was the most enthusiastic. "Auntie~"
The moment the sweet voice unique to children came out, Fang Shuning's previously agitated heart calmed down.
Although Fang Shuning doesn't particularly like children and has little patience with them, finding them too noisy, she's still her own niece, so she can manage to put up with her for a while.
Within a minute, the doorway was packed with people: Jianhua and Lao Fang, Fang Shuyi and Zhou Yang, even Cui Sitong and Liu Yi, not to mention Fu Yuanzheng.
There's a sense of powerlessness that's even more overwhelming than the Lunar New Year.
Song Jiuchen became nervous and uneasy again.
So, they were who they were, and they came back here.
A group of people at the door scrutinized the two returning. The two stood together, creating an inexplicable harmony.
Greetings rang out, warmly welcoming Song Jiuchen as he entered. No one paid any attention to Fang Shuning standing to the side, except for Taozi.
Fang Shuning's friends, on the other hand, were watching her with expressions of utter amazement.
Fu Yuanzheng, ever the chatterbox, said, "Sis, how come we're meeting the parents already? Nobody even told me. When they came back this afternoon, they thought I was a thief, and I had to explain for ages. We had to call the internet celebrity over to clear things up."
Fang Shuning had indeed forgotten about it.
The food was already prepared, and the real protagonist had arrived. The room was filled with laughter and chatter mixed with unease, wondering what kind of drama would unfold next.
Fang Shuning invited everyone to go inside and eat first, then she took Taozi's hand and followed behind.
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