Chapter 83 Chasing After His Wife with Blazing Fire: What Kind of Shame Does He Have?
Serious business...
Xinmian shamefully started thinking inappropriately.
A suspicious blush rose to her cheeks, and she subconsciously glanced around the dining table. Her gaze met that of the girl with dimples sitting next to her.
The innocent child tilted his head and looked at her, "Teacher Xiaomian, why is your face so red?"
With a "boom," Xinmian's ears burned terribly.
Everyone at the table turned to look at her, and she could only cover her face, "...It's probably because I drank lychee wine, I'm a little hot..."
Li Ke immediately and considerately got up and opened the window next to them.
A cool winter night breeze blew in, and Xinmian took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress her racing heartbeat caused by guilt and shyness.
Hidden under the table, she fiercely pushed away Chi Yu's large hand that was resting on her leg, and glared at him as well.
Chi Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, smiled, and said in a low voice, "The serious matter I'm talking about is staying up all night on New Year's Eve."
He easily bypassed her hand, then placed it on her thigh again, pressing his fingertips down, "openly" taking advantage of her under the table. "Xin Xiaomian, you're thinking dirty thoughts."
"Cough cough cough!"
Xinmian choked on a mouthful of soup, coughing until her cheeks turned red.
Chen Xiulian quickly handed her a tissue, asking with concern, "Why did you suddenly choke?"
Chi Yu stopped teasing her, got up, poured a glass of warm water, and brought it over.
She took the glass and drank most of it before she felt a little better.
The fat orange cat was originally sitting by the wall eating its big meal when it heard her cough. It wagged its tail and came over, tilting its head up to look at her.
[Meow~]
[Meow~]
[What's wrong with you?]
The Spring Festival Gala on TV was showing a skit, and the audience was laughing heartily, with lively and festive background music.
Everyone else at the table was looking at her. Xin Mian smiled, a little embarrassed, and said, "I'm fine."
Little Dimple blinked, looking like a little adult, "Teacher Xiaomian, you must remove the fish bones when you eat fish."
"Otherwise, it will hurt a lot if you get pricked."
Xin Mian patted her head. "Okay, thank you for reminding me, little dimple. Teacher will remember."
The lively conversation at the table continued. With the window open, the sound of firecrackers outside became even clearer, and every now and then, one could see the dazzling fireworks exploding through the gaps in the eaves of the courtyard.
Not long after dinner, Uncle Chen gave Xiaoliwo and Li Ke their New Year's money, then stood up to go home.
When he reached the sliding door to the living room, he slapped his forehead, turned back, took out another red envelope from the right pocket of his coat, and gave it to Xinmian.
Xin Mian froze, embarrassed to accept, "...Uncle Chen, this isn't appropriate..."
Uncle Chen sighed and said, "You're still a student, why isn't it suitable?"
"Hurry up and put it away."
Xin Mian smiled, "Uncle Chen, I've already graduated."
"?" Uncle Chen was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand, "It doesn't matter if he's graduated, he's still a little kid, we can take him in."
According to the custom on Wangshui Island, once someone graduates and starts working, their elders will no longer give them red envelopes.
Therefore, Chi Yu and the others did not receive any red envelopes.
Xin Mian has a small frame, a cute and youthful appearance, and a clean and pure demeanor. Uncle Chen always thought she was still in college.
But even after hearing Xinmian say that, he still insisted on giving her a red envelope.
When her attempts to refuse failed, Xinmian looked to Chi Yu for help.
The man had just finished cleaning the kitchen, washed his hands, and came to her side, putting his arm around her shoulder. "This is a New Year's gift from Uncle Chen. Please accept it."
"During the Lunar New Year, we wish for peace and good fortune."
"That's more like it," Uncle Chen said, grabbing Xin Mian's hand and happily stuffing the red envelope into her hand before turning and leaving.
"Uncle Chen!" Xin Mian called out to him, "Happy New Year!"
Uncle Chen waved with his back turned and walked into the alley.
In the living room, Lin Jiachi and Yang Chengjing were sitting in a four-row seat across from Liu Haoyuan, while Xiaoliwo, Li Ke, and their grandmother were watching the Spring Festival Gala.
Fat Orange scrambled its little nest next to the sofa and snuggled up right next to them.
Through the glass door, Xinmian could even hear the lively sounds inside.
She stood by the courtyard gate, watching Uncle Chen's back as he walked down the alleyway, illuminated by the dim streetlights.
He was of medium build, and his back was somewhat hunched due to his age.
At the end of the alley, a few clusters of fireworks rose into the night sky, and for a moment, they seemed to illuminate the whole world.
The sudden flash of light elongated Uncle Chen's shadow. He looked up at the fireworks, then turned back to look at them.
Seeing Xin Mian and Chi Yu still standing at the door watching him leave, he waved to them once again.
Then, Xinmian seemed to see him smile, before turning and disappearing into the night.
As Uncle Chen's figure disappeared around the corner, a strange and indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.
“Chi Yu,” she asked in a low voice, “it’s still early, why isn’t Uncle Chen staying with us?”
Chi Yu pulled her coat tighter and hugged her. "He's going home to be with Aunt Chen."
Aunt Chen...
Xin Mian looked up at him, her clear eyes showing a hint of confusion before she realized what he meant.
That was Uncle Chen's deceased wife.
“It’s the same every year,” Chi Yu continued, “He wants to stay up all night with Aunt Chen.”
After Aunt Chen passed away, Uncle Chen was all alone.
Every New Year's Eve, Chen Xiulian would invite him to her home for dinner, as it would be more lively with more people.
But Uncle Chen always went home right after finishing his meal.
Chi Yu initially thought he was worried that the alleys would be difficult to navigate if it got too late, until one year on New Year's Eve it rained.
Despite the torrential rain, Uncle Chen insisted on finishing his meal and leaving.
Chi Yu advised him to wait until the rain stopped before going back, but Uncle Chen muttered under his breath, "If it's raining, then I definitely have to go home..."
"She's still at home waiting for me to stay up all night on New Year's Eve..."
After that, Chi Yu never tried to persuade him to stay any longer.
Xin Mian pursed her lips, her heart feeling like it was stuffed with cotton, both warm and swollen, yet also a little sour.
Chi Yu noticed her mood and gently touched her cheek with his large hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Uncle Chen isn't lonely at home."
"Um."
With a "whoosh," fireworks exploded overhead once again.
She subconsciously looked up and saw the colorful fireworks, which looked like blooming flowers, dazzling and beautiful.
Although it was fleeting, I didn't feel any regret.
Because once you've seen it and possessed it, it will forever remain in your heart.
The glass door to the living room was pushed open behind them, and Little Dimple ran out wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, with Fatty Orange following behind her.
"Teacher Xiaomian!"
The child grabbed Xinmian's hand and pulled her into the living room, saying, "Come on, have some snacks and fruit!"
[Meow~]
The chubby orange cat was also tugging at her trouser leg and meowing.
Xin Mian smiled brightly, grasped Xiao Liwo's hand, and followed her and Pang Ju back to the living room.
Chi Yu was the only one left in the courtyard.
The man was wearing a bright blue hoodie and had just gotten a haircut a few days ago, making him look much fresher and more like a young college student.
The facial features are more three-dimensional and clear, with smooth lines.
Those dark eyes never left Xin Mian, watching her enter the living room, sit on the sofa, accept the fruit and snacks Chen Xiulian offered, and chat with everyone with a smile.
Yang Chengjing came out for some fresh air after finishing a game.
The two men's eyes met, and Chi Yu saw right through him.
"Qin Shengtian still hasn't replied to your message?"
The courtyard was brightly lit, but there were still some dark corners.
Yang Chengjing stood in the shadows, leaning against the wall, his frustration slowly seeping out.
"I asked her to play games with me earlier, but she didn't reply."
Chi Yu didn't speak, but he didn't go in either.
After a few minutes of silence, Yang Chengjing spoke again, "Do you have any cigarettes?"
Chi Yu shook her head. "No, I've quit."
He wasn't really addicted, so quitting wouldn't have been difficult.
He put one hand in his pocket, took a few steps, and stood in the shadows with Yang Chengjing.
“I used to think that you didn’t speak up because you were waiting for the right opportunity.”
Unexpectedly, after Qin Shengtian took that step, he did not respond.
Yang Chengjing twitched his lips, laughing self-deprecatingly.
"I dare not gamble."
"If I lose the bet, we won't even be able to be friends anymore."
"And now?"
Chi Yu asked, "Is the situation better than you imagined?"
No.
Yang Chengjing lowered his head, his hands hanging at his sides unconsciously clenching.
"The police have already closed the case of that accident; it was not your responsibility."
"If you keep dwelling on that, how are you supposed to live your life?"
"But I can't forget..."
Yang Chengjing seemed to recall something, and a sense of loss appeared in his eyes.
He loved studying cars since he was a child, but his grades were average in school, and he went to a junior college after high school.
He knew that Qin Shengtian wouldn't go too far from her parents after graduation, so he returned to Wangshui Island when he graduated.
He opened a car modification and repair shop.
He was skilled and honest, so he quickly made a name for himself in the industry.
Wealthy people from several cities near Ancheng would even drive hundreds of kilometers specifically to have their cars modified by him.
But at the end of last year, a high school student from Ancheng died in an accident on the winding mountain road of Wangshui Island while riding his modified motorcycle.
In a small place like Wangshui Island, a death quickly becomes known to the entire neighborhood.
It was also revealed that the motorcycle involved in the accident had been modified by him, and somehow this became common knowledge.
Even the elderly people at the market were speculating and gossiping about whether he had killed the high school student.
It was at that time that Yang Chengjing met Qin Shengtian's parents at the vegetable market.
They went to the market to buy things and chatted with the stall owners.
The vegetable vendor spoke with absolute certainty, as if it were the truth.
"I've heard about it; it's all because of that young man surnamed Yang..."
"Tsk tsk tsk, what a mess."
"He's so young and already has a murder on his hands, what decent girl would dare marry him in the future..."
"Hey Lao Qin, I heard your daughter is friends with him. You'd better keep an eye on things in the future."
Mr. and Mrs. Qin looked at each other awkwardly, didn't respond, and left after buying the groceries.
Yang Chengjing saw all of this.
At that moment, he was thinking, "He's just an orphan, a lousy car mechanic, and now this has happened to him..."
No parent would want their daughter to have too much emotional involvement with someone like him.
Later, the traffic police and the police released their investigation results.
The deceased high school student was a minor and was not the owner of the motorcycle at all; he had borrowed the motorcycle from an adult friend.
The cause of the accident was also unrelated to Yang Chengjing's modifications to the motorcycle.
He reported each modification to the relevant departments and had proper permits.
This accident was just an accident. It had rained that day, the road was slippery, the motorcycle was going too fast, and it skidded while turning. The deceased was nervous and made a mistake, which led to the accident.
Although the accident was unrelated to Yang Chengjing, he ultimately gave the high school student's parents a sum of money out of concern.
And the others...
The incident has passed, and it seems that not many people really care about the final investigation results.
Yang Chengjing may not care about what others think of him, but he cannot ignore Qin Shengtian's parents.
The image of the elderly couple hurrying away from the market was deeply etched in his mind. He dared not take any further steps toward Qin Shengtian, for fear of breaking the only relationship they had.
Unexpectedly, Qin Shengtian confessed her feelings to him that night at the hot spring resort.
Now, whenever he thinks back to his silence that night, he feels like punching himself.
I want to win them back, but I don't know how.
It seems that, just as Lin Jiachi said, he also experienced the "wife-chasing-after-the-cremation" scenario...
Chi Yu naturally knew about these things.
He paused for a moment, then glanced through the glass at Lin Jiachi, who was looking down at his phone in the living room, probably texting Min Shuyun.
He suddenly smiled, slightly raising his chin to gesture for Yang Chengjing to look over as well.
"Did you see that?"
So what if you have to go through a "wife-chasing crematorium" (a metaphor for a difficult journey to win back your wife)?
"Why don't you just be as shameless as him?"
Chi Yu straightened up, his gaze meeting Xin Mian's in the living room, and his eyes suddenly softened.
As he passed by Yang Chengjing, he patted him on the shoulder and offered some advice.
"What's the point of being shameless when chasing after a wife? If she really runs away, I'm not going to drink and cry with you."
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Author's note: Okay, from now on, you three are the three shameless brothers who chase after wives.
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