Chapter 44: Shura's New Year's Eve Dinner, his ears buzzing...
The distant alarm sirens echoed in my buzzing ears, like the only light in the darkness's salvation.
The bad youths were fleeing in all directions in the chaos. In the dark and damp alley, Lu Yuan's lungs were filled with blood, and his heavy eyelids had pressed his eye sockets so tight that only a slit remained.
Chen Song walked over from the light outside the alley, lifted him up and held him against his chest. He said in a deep voice, "Hold on, the ambulance will be here soon."
Lu Yuan spent six months in the hospital, and Chen Song would come to him whenever he had time to bring him notes and missed homework. Lu Yuan's family was deeply grateful to Chen Song.
That semester, Chen Shengping's search for money at home turned the family upside down. To avoid being beaten and scolded, Chen Song stayed overnight at school on weekends. He occasionally worked part-time at a convenience store on weekends to earn some food money.
That night, when Chen Song was getting off work, he happened to see Lu Yuan being taken to a remote alley. Soon after, Lu Yuan's shrill screams were heard from the alley.
Chen Song called the police. The police car didn't arrive quickly enough, and he became anxious after hearing Lu Yuan's shouting. Just as he was gathering the courage to intervene, the sirens rang out.
The Lu family knew that if Chen Song had not been there that night, Lu Yuan would have been beaten to death.
It was for this reason that the Lu family was very grateful to Chen Song. They offered to pay Chen Song, but Chen Song refused. Later, when Chen Song's family encountered something similar during his senior year, the Lu family provided a great help.
Tang Shihe even offered to become Chen Song's legal guardian, but was rejected by Chen Song.
Chen Song was young and in the sensitive adolescence, stubborn by nature, and didn't want to be a burden to anyone. Part of the reason was that Chen Song had never felt care and love since he was a child.
When these things happened, he was at a loss and unable to cope with them. He was timid and cowardly, and wondered if it was really worth it for someone like him.
His biological mother Yu Li also disagreed.
Chen Song hadn't expected Yu Li to disagree. She couldn't understand why. To her, Chen Song had always been a burden, someone she should have been eager to get rid of. After Chen Shengping was hospitalized, Yu Li left with a wealthy man, and Chen Song was awarded to Yu Li.
His household registration is also under the household registration book of a rich man.
His stepfather only raised Chen Song until he was 18, which was only seven days away. He gave him 1,000 yuan, and there was no further support after that.
Chen Song never saw Yu Li or his stepfather again. Even when Chen Shengping died, he never saw them.
Chen Song was a little lost in thought. Perhaps he should have agreed to Tang Shihe's proposal. Wouldn't he be living a happy life now? Perhaps then, he wouldn't have run away to North City in despair to attend school, and wouldn't have to work part-time and lead such a tiring life.
I won't meet Gu Xingjue again...
The five of them were enjoying themselves at the dinner table. Tang Shihe asked Chen Song a lot about his past three years in Beijing. She felt a mixture of distress and joy. Like Lu Yuan, Tang Shihe loved to talk. When Chen Song had finished his questions, she turned the topic to Yun Jingsheng.
"Xiao Jing," Tang Shihe looked at Yun Jingsheng, "Where are you from?"
Yun Jingsheng swallowed the food in his mouth gracefully and said, "I was born in Yun Province and later moved to Beijing."
Chen Song looked at Yun Jingsheng and remembered that Yun Jingsheng was an orphan who had been in an orphanage. Chen Song had originally thought that Yun Jingsheng was born in Beijing and had never thought that he was from somewhere else.
Tang Shihe enthusiastically picked up a piece of stir-fried hairy crab for him and said, "Then try our seafood. We're on the coast here, so the seafood is the freshest. You should really try it."
Yun Jingsheng said, "I've always heard that the hairy crabs along the coast of South City are fresh and plump. Today I saw some and they are indeed much bigger than those inland."
"Try it quickly." Tang Shihe said as she picked up a piece for Chen Song as well. "Songsong, eat more too. You like seafood too."
"Then when did you two meet?" Tang Shihe looked at the two of them with an ambiguous smile in her eyes.
Chen Song had wanted to explain his relationship with Yun Jingsheng over the phone last time, but Lu Yuan had hung up first. This matter had dragged on until now, and it had clearly caused a negative impact.
Chen Song was speechless for a moment, looking at Yun Jingsheng with a hint of apology. Yun Jingsheng just smiled and said nothing, eating the hairy crab with relish, obviously not intending to help him. Meanwhile, Lu Yuan, holding a piece of meat in his mouth, watched the show with great interest.
Chen Song: “…”
"Hey, why are you so anxious?" Lu Fenghai tried to smooth things over, saying, "Why are you asking the child about these things before you've even taken a few bites of your meal?"
Tang Shihe said, "What do you know? I didn't say anything. I just asked how they knew each other. You insisted on interpreting it that way."
Lu Fenghai ignored her: "Songsong, ignore your aunt. Just eat your food. She's just too fussy and cares too much about you."
Tang Shihe touched Chen Song's head and said, "Now that we've come to this point, just talk about it."
Chen Song moved his lips, trying to organize his words, wondering how he could explain it to them so they would believe him. After all, what good friends are good enough to eat together on New Year's Eve? Just as he was about to leave, the doorbell rang.
Everyone was startled by the ringing of the bell.
Tang Shihe withdrew her hand and looked at Lu Fenghai, wondering, "Did you call anyone today?"
Lu Fenghai said: "No."
Chen Song was anxious to avoid the previous topic, so he stood up and said, "I'll go open the door."
The bell rang again. Chen Song was afraid that he would make people wait, so he ran to open the door. When he opened the door, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Surprise~"
Gu Xingjue lifted several large gift boxes with both hands, a beaming smile on his face. His facial injuries had mostly healed, and it was clear he'd dressed up carefully. The stubble that had been lingering on his chin for a few days had been cleaned off, and his hair had been styled with hairspray, making him look even more handsome.
If you don't look closely, it's hard to notice the tiredness and exhaustion in his eyes.
Chen Song's heart stopped for a moment, and he looked at him in a daze: "Why are you here?"
Chen Song hadn't seen Gu Xingjue in the past two days when he went out, and thought that he had given up and was going home. It was almost the New Year and there was no way Gu Xingjue would stay in Vancouver.
No, that's not right.
When they were together, they spent every New Year together. Gu Xing would never go home, and Chen Song really believed that he really had no home.
But Gu Xingjue was clearly the son of the renowned business tycoon Gu Yan, so why didn't he go home? If he was trying to deceive Chen Song, then Chen Song already knew his true identity, so what was the point of pretending?
Gu Xingjue shook the gift box in his hand: "I came to spend the New Year with you. I'll visit your mother by the way."
"Who is it?" Tang Shihe came out and saw another tall and handsome man coming to the door. She smiled happily, "Whose child is this? He is so handsome."
Gu Xingjue looked at Tang Shihe and paused, then looked at Chen Song with a strange expression. Chen Song had returned to his silent demeanor. He pushed the door open to keep people out, but Gu Xingjue stuck his hand in the door to resist.
Gu Xingjue was wearing a formal dark grey woolen coat, dotted with raindrops. He looked at the woman inside and said, "Hello, Auntie. I'm Chen Song..."
He glanced at Chen Song tentatively. Chen Song's eyes held a warning. Gu Xingjue had no choice but to say with some disappointment, "I'm his friend."
Gu Xingjue concealed the disappointment in his words and gave a sweet smile that elders loved. "I came specially to visit you today. I thought Chen Song had told you. I also brought you some gifts."
"Why are you here again?" Lu Yuan also came out, his eyes wide open.
Tang Shihe asked, "Do you know him too?"
"I know him." Before Lu Yuan could even finish his words, Tang Shihe happily pulled Gu Xingjue in.
"Ah!" Tang Shihe laughed heartily, "Since you know each other, come in and have some fun. Come on, come on, we're just having New Year's Eve dinner."
"Ayuan, hurry up and help carry the gifts! Why are you still standing there?"
Lu Yuan was stunned: "Oh my god! He..."
"How can you talk like that on New Year's Day!" Tang Shihe scolded him, "You can't be so rude when friends come over!"
"It's okay, Auntie. I'll be there." Gu Xingjue ignored the cold gaze, changed into slippers naturally at the entrance, and went in with his things, "Where is it?"
Tang Shihe said, "Just put it in the living room and come and eat with us."
Gu Xingjue carried the things to the living room and placed them on the coffee table.
Lu Yuan walked up to Chen Song and said, "Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! You just let him in like that???"
Chen Song closed the door helplessly. This was not him who let it in. It was Tang Shihe who let it in by mistake. Now that everyone was inside, Chen Song would lose interest in saying anything else.
Lu Yuan knew Chen Song's helplessness, shook his head and sighed, "When the ex meets the current, it's a Shura field. Brother, take care of yourself."
"Are you Songsong's friend again?" Lu Fenghai asked.
Gu Xingjue walked towards the dining table and was about to say hello when he saw Yun Jingsheng standing beside him. He froze there, swallowing the words that wanted to greet Lu Fenghai, and forgot what to say for a moment.
After reading Chen Song's diary, Gu Xingjue felt that Chen Song must have lied to him. There must be nothing between him and Yun Jingsheng. Chen Song must have lied to make him angry.
Only now, seeing them eating New Year's Eve dinner together, did Gu Xingjue truly realize that Chen Song and Yun Jingsheng were real. A sharp chill suddenly surged through Gu Xingjue's heart, instantly invading every part of his body. His chest ached, a dull, suffocating sensation settled quietly.
A fear he had never felt before, even falling from a cliff, suddenly overwhelmed him. It was like the Grim Reaper holding a knife to his neck. Even extreme sports hadn't given him the feeling of true death, but he felt it again and again with Chen Song.
His face turned pale in an instant.
Yun Jingsheng was obviously surprised as well. He stood up and looked at Gu Xingjue, then at Chen Song who was coming from the entrance. It looked like Chen Song didn't know he was coming either. Given Gu Xingjue's domineering and reckless personality, he must have come on his own.
Yun Jingsheng said, "Ajue is here too."
Tang Shihe brought new bowls and chopsticks to Gu Xingjue and placed them on the table, clearing a place for him to sit. "You know Xiaojing too? I was negligent. Songsong said a friend was coming, and I thought it was just one. We've been eating for a while, let me reheat the food."
Chen Song said, "Let me do it. You must be tired from cooking so many dishes today. Sit down and take a rest."
Tang Shihe said, "No, no, go eat. You all should sit down and eat. Songsong, what's the name of this child? Stop standing, sit down and eat."
Gu Xingjue blinked a few times and found his voice again: "My name is Gu Xingjue, Auntie, just call me Xiaojue."
"Okay, okay, Xiaojue, please sit down and eat, just like you're at home."
Gu Xingjue said, "Okay, Auntie. No need to heat up the food, just eat it like this. It's okay."
Chen Song glanced at Gu Xingjue and pulled Tang Shihe back to her seat. "Yes, Auntie, there's no need to heat it up. The food isn't cold yet. Let's just eat it like this. If we don't eat it now, it will get really cold."
Lu Fenghai also advised: "Songsong is right, so don't bother yourself."
Only after everyone's unanimous persuasion did Tang Shihe give up the hot dishes.
Gu Xingjue was sitting next to T, with Yun Jingsheng between him and Chen Song.
Gu Xing's determination was completely shaken.
A few days ago, he specifically called Shen Qinglin, the only friend who had had several serious relationships, and asked him how to pursue someone.
Shen Qinglin said that he could start with his relatives and friends, and let them help persuade him, which would be more efficient.
Gu Xing decided to understand and went to a nearby hotel to clean himself up, bought some gifts and went to see Chen Song. However, Chen Song's door was locked. He finally had the courage to knock on the door he had been watching every night, but no one answered.
The neighbor next door was called, and it turned out to be Chen Song's uncle.
Chen Song's eldest and second uncles had returned from out of town a few days ago to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Upon learning that Chen Song had returned, they felt sorry for him after not seeing him for a long time and wanted to have a New Year's Eve dinner together. Chen Song declined, saying he was going to the city to celebrate. His uncles assumed he was going to his mother's.
The eldest uncle had neglected Chen Song's family over the years, which made him feel guilty towards Chen Song. So on New Year's Eve, he invited the second uncle's family to have dinner with Chen Song. The next day, he had to drive Chen Song there no matter what.
It was difficult to get a taxi during the Lunar New Year holiday, and the prices for taxis and ride-hailing services had doubled. Chen Song agreed without further hesitation. He took the gift and went to Lu Yuan's house first. Then, after Yun Jingsheng arrived at Yile, Lu Yuan drove him there.
Therefore, the uncle knew where Chen Song was going and gave the address to Gu Xingjue.
In Gu Xingjue's memory, Chen Song's mother was a very cold and mean woman. He was also surprised that Chen Song would go to spend the New Year with her. But if she wanted to repair her relationship with Chen Song, Gu Xingjue would not mind to get along with her. This was exactly what Shen Qinglin said.
Gu Xingjue never expected that everything would be different from what he had imagined.
This is not Chen Song’s mother’s home, but Yun Jingsheng is here.
Seeing Gu Xingjue's gloomy face and his lack of chopsticks, Tang Shihe asked, "Xiao Jue, is this not to your taste?"
Gu Xingjue came back to his senses and realized that everyone was waiting for him to pick up his chopsticks. He picked up his chopsticks and picked up the food: "It's suitable."
Tang Shihe smiled and said, "That's good. Just treat it like your own home, don't be polite, eat more."
Gu Xingjue nodded: "Okay."
Tang Shihe looked at the table full of handsome guys, feeling happy. She asked, "There are so many people here today, do you want to drink? Do you want some? Your Uncle Lu has a lot of good wine hidden away."
Chen Song said, "I don't drink. Brother Jing Sheng doesn't drink when he's driving either."
Yun Jingsheng said: "Yes, Auntie, I have to go to Hangzhou later."
Gu Xingjue bit the ribs until they were crunchy, feeling sullen and sad. He glanced at Chen Song. He only knew how to call Jing Sheng brother, Jing Sheng brother, and was worried about him driving. Didn't he drive? Why didn't he speak up for him?
Lu Yuan looked at Gu Xingjue's dark face and jealous expression, and laughed happily.
This is so interesting, it’s even better than the Spring Festival Gala.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: I’m on the poison list, babies [rainbow fart][rainbow fart][rainbow fart]
I wish the babies happy every day [hahaha] [hahaha] [hahaha]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
