Chapter 29: He will never let Shen know...
Song Yu's 20th birthday party was extremely grand.
Zhou Ci was seventeen years old this year. In the past year, he had earned his first pot of gold in his life with the pocket money he had saved over the years and the money he borrowed from Old Man Zhou.
He did not break his promise. Although Song Yu kept telling him not to spend money, he still took out half of his net worth and bought a yacht as a birthday gift for Song Yu.
"Can you spend the night before my sister's birthday with me? I want to celebrate her birthday alone a day in advance." Zhou Ci suddenly said this during dinner.
Song Yu was drinking soup and was quite surprised when she heard this. She took a spoon and kept stirring the bowl, thinking seriously.
Seeing her embarrassment, Zhou Ci quickly said, "If you're busy, we can change the time. Even a day or two in advance is fine."
Song Yu laughed, "It's not that I don't have time, it's just that I have to have dinner with my family the night before my birthday. Since we've invited a lot of friends and classmates to my birthday party, they're worried that with the elders around, it'll be awkward for everyone to relax. So, none of them will be there that night. If we're going to have dinner together, we can only do it at noon that day, or the day before."
Zhou Ci asked in a negotiating tone, "How about we do it a night earlier?"
"Of course." Song Yu smiled faintly, "Little friend, you don't need to be so cautious when talking to your sister. We have lived together for so long, don't you think of me as your own sister?"
Zhou Ci lowered his head in frustration, saying, "No, I'm just afraid of causing trouble for my sister."
"What trouble is there? Do you know that helping your brother with trouble is also my daily routine? I sincerely hope that you can cause me more trouble so that I can also enjoy the fun of solving troubles for my brother." Song Yu laughed. She leaned over, stretched out her arm and patted Zhou Ci's shoulder, and told him the plan after thinking it over: "You celebrate my birthday the night before, and then the next night, we will go to my grandparents' house for dinner. It's a family dinner, only family members, my parents will also go. The third day is my birthday, and you won't miss the party that night, right?"
Zhou Ci nodded affirmatively: "Wherever my sister goes, I will go."
"Okay, okay, it's settled then."
After finishing his talk, Song Yu sat up straight again and continued eating, not noticing Zhou Ci's thoughtful eyes.
"Chen Zhiyan is back." After thinking for a while, Zhou Ci said it.
"Oh, he can come back if he wants." Song Yu's tone became obviously lighter. After so long, Song Yu's heart would still ache when she heard Shen Zhiyan's name. However, she had to try hard to pretend not to care in order to maintain the surface. Now she is still sad, but she doesn't care so much anymore. Time is really the best medicine.
Zhou Ci sat next to her with a bowl in his hand, "It seems he brought his girlfriend back."
Song Yu smiled brightly at him: "Isn't that normal?" She took a sip of soup. Although it tasted a little bland, she continued to feed herself mouthful after mouthful. "He's already twenty years old. It's normal for him to have a girlfriend. I've met his girlfriend before. It's nothing. There's nothing going on between him and me."
"Will sister still be unable to sleep at night?"
"There was a period of time when I didn't sleep well. You noticed that? But my studies are quite heavy, so I don't have time to think about anything else. I've been sleeping well recently."
Song Yu smiled and continued, "Actually, I also want to have a boyfriend, but I haven't met the right one yet."
She turned around and pretended to be distressed at Zhou Ci, "You said my sister is not bad looking, right? Why is there no one chasing her?"
Song Yu had originally just been joking, but Zhou Ci had other thoughts in mind. His eyes lit up, and he smiled, "Sister, are you denying Gao Chi's identity?"
"Gao Chi?" Song Yu didn't react for a moment, but when he did, he couldn't help laughing. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten about Gao Chi. Gao Chi is still my boyfriend for experience, but I really don't have any feelings for him. However, he has a good personality, and I didn't notice it before we met. It's quite comfortable to be friends with him."
"I know that sister doesn't like Gao Chi, he has no chance. Sister, you don't know yet, right? Shen Zhiyan has changed his girlfriend, and the girlfriend he brought back this time is not the previous one." Zhou Ci suddenly said.
This really made Song Yu stunned for a moment: "What did you say? What do you mean she's not the same girlfriend as before?"
Song Yu had indeed not paid attention to Shen Zhiyan's updates for a long time. She blocked Shen Zhiyan's circle of friends. Every time a friend mentioned Shen Zhiyan, she would either change the subject with a smile or take the opportunity to walk away. As long as she didn't hear, see or think about it, she wouldn't be sad. This was indeed very effective, so she really didn't know about Shen Zhiyan's return and Shen Zhiyan's new girlfriend.
But she was only stunned for a moment, then came to her senses: "That's normal, if we're not compatible, then we can break up, it's nothing."
Zhou Ci stared at Song Yu's face and said seriously: "Sister, you don't need to force a smile in front of me. I know you are very sad now. Sister, cry if you want to. I won't laugh at you."
Song Yu's nose felt a little sour. "How annoying! Even having a brother who knows me too well can make me unhappy sometimes."
Zhou Ci tentatively put his hand on her shoulder and patted her gently: "Sister, don't like Shen Zhiyan anymore. He always makes you sad. I don't want to see my sister sad anymore."
Song Yu leaned on Zhou Ci's shoulder and sighed in her heart that her younger brother had grown up. He used to be younger than her, crying at every turn and needing her comfort. Now he has grown taller than her and has broader shoulders than her. He can protect her, comfort her and give her support.
"I don't want to be sad, and I don't want to feel sad for him anymore, but after so many years of relationship, how can I completely let go in just one or two years? You're still young, and you'll understand when you meet a girl you like in the future."
"Sister, I'm already 17 years old." Zhou Ci reminded, "After the New Year, it will be my 18th birthday. I'm not young anymore." He also knew what it was like to like someone, treasure her in his heart, want her to know, but also be afraid that she would know.
"Yes, you are almost 18 years old. You are an adult and can date. I have to find a boyfriend as soon as possible so as not to embarrass you."
"Don't worry, sister. When it comes to relationships, it's better to be alone than to have the wrong one. I'll help you choose slowly. Anyway, none of the men around you are worthy of you. You would be wronged if you dated them..." Zhou Ci analyzed each one for Song Yu seriously, "Gao Chi is not worthy of you either. He's not good-looking, stupid, and not smart at all."
Gao Chi is currently the man closest to Song Yu besides Zhou Ci. Zhou Ci has been unhappy with him for a long time, and at this time he did not forget to flatter him in front of Song Yu.
Song Yu laughed sullenly: "What's wrong with you two? Gao Chi is unhappy with you, and you don't get along with Gao Chi either."
Zhou Ci blinked his eyes obediently, and his gentle look instantly melted Song Yu's heart: "If Gao Chi and I had a dispute, would you believe me or Gao Chi?"
"Of course I believe you! Why ask? You are my brother." Song Yu said without thinking.
Zhou Ci narrowed his eyes slightly, obviously pleased by Song Yu's words, "I am your brother. Of course, I have to be vigilant against men who hang around you. I'm afraid that you will suffer any loss."
"I know you're doing this for my own good." Song Yu nodded, acknowledging his efforts.
"If you want to have a boyfriend in the future, can you tell me before you decide? I can help you screen him and see if he is worthy of you." Zhou Ci discussed with Song Yu carefully.
Song Yu didn't think much about it. She had no idea what Zhou Ci was thinking. She nodded happily and joked with Zhou Ci in a good mood: "From now on, my sister's lifelong affairs will be entrusted to you."
Zhou Ci's smile deepened, his eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his eyes turned into a beautiful crescent shape: "I will definitely help my sister to check it carefully."
Song Yu sighed: "My little boy is getting more and more handsome. I don't know which little girl he will marry in the future."
"There won't be any little girls."
"Hmm?" Song Yu laughed, "Are you still going to say you won't have a girlfriend in the future?"
"Yes, I won't find a girlfriend. I will stay with my sister for the rest of my life and always be her support."
Song Yu laughed even harder, "No, you have to have a girlfriend. I'm waiting for you to get married, have a baby, and call me aunt."
When he encountered something difficult to say, Zhou Ci would not say it. He would just smile and occasionally lower his head to hide the emotions revealed in his eyes.
I won't get married unless it's with my sister.
There will be no baby unless it is born with my sister.
=
Two days before Song Yu's birthday, Zhou Ci took Song Yu out to sea, and they watched the sunset together on the sea.
It was a very hot day, with the temperature in City B reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius, almost steaming people to death, but there was wind on the sea.
When the sun was not so scorching, Song Yu walked onto the deck, leaned on the railing and looked into the distance. When the sunset disappeared below the sea level, the sunset glow illuminated the entire sea surface in red, a different kind of beauty from the sunset on the prairie.
Song Yu was wearing a white ankle-length dress today. The suspender style revealed her slender and fair arms, and the two butterfly bones on her hollow back were extremely sexy. The sea breeze ruffled her long hair and dress, and she looked as if she was about to fly away with the wind, which made Zhou Ci, who followed behind her, stunned for a moment.
Zhou Ci took a look and quickly lowered his head. The tips of his ears turned slightly red and his expression looked a little unnatural.
Song Yu turned around and looked at him, looking very happy: "Why did you think of taking me to the sea to watch the sunset?"
Zhou Ci stood beside Song Yu and asked her sideways, "Didn't your sister say that? You wanted to watch the sunrise at sea?"
Song Yu was slightly surprised: "Did I say that? I don't even remember."
"When we went to the grassland, my sister said she didn't know what it was like to watch the sunset over the sea and wanted to go and see it. I thought that the sunset in summer was the most beautiful of all the seasons, so I made preparations in advance. I wonder if my sister would dislike it?"
"I just said it casually at the time, but I didn't expect you to remember it." Song Yu laughed dumbly. She was touched and felt guilty. "Little friend, thank you for always taking care of your sister's emotions and always putting your sister's affairs first."
Zhou Ci nervously continued to ask: "So, is Sister happy today?"
"Happy, little boy, thank you for watching such a beautiful sunset with me." Song Yu smiled and leaned on his still thin shoulders. "You are so good to me. If you find a girlfriend in the future, you can't be so nice to me. I might be sad."
Zhou Ci's words were more of a promise than a solemn one: "In my heart, no one will ever surpass your sister's status."
Song Yu still laughed. Zhou Ci had said similar things many times, but Song Yu never took them seriously. "Silly! It's easy to offend people if you act like this."
When she was very young, she learned from her parents that the stability of a marriage relationship must be based on mutual respect, mutual tolerance, and mutual cherishment.
Song Yu only regarded Zhou Ci's promises as a sign of his youth. If Zhou Ci really grew up, had a girlfriend, and put Song Yu's everything first, above his girlfriend, Song Yu would also persuade him that his future girlfriend or wife was the person he should put first.
Zhou Ci made dinner himself on the yacht. He prepared the ingredients in advance. When night fell and the sky was full of stars, they had dinner together on the deck.
The sea was calm, and there was no one else on the deck except them. It was so quiet in the world that it seemed as if only the two of them were left.
Zhou Ci really enjoyed such moments. Being able to stay with his sister like this made him feel closer to her.
"Sister, are you happy tonight?" He was always so uncertain, afraid of neglecting Song Yu, so he checked again and again.
After a satisfying meal and a few drinks, Song Yu half-lay in the rocking chair, feeling a bit lazy. "I'm happy, really, really happy. This is the most special birthday of my life. Sitting on the yacht you bought for me, eating the meal you cooked for me, and then eating the cake you made for me. The most important thing is that it tastes very good, not much worse than those made by famous chefs. Little friend, tell me, what else can't you cook?"
"As long as my sister is happy," Zhou Ci was like a child who had received praise from the teacher after taking an exam. He carefully sat down on the recliner next to Song Yu and watched the stars in the sky with her. "Sister, what kind of person do you like?"
"Hmm?" Song Yu tilted his head slightly to look at him, a little confused.
"Boyfriend, what kind of boyfriend does my sister like?"
"Well, I haven't thought about that." The sea breeze was blowing, and the surroundings were silent. Song Yu felt a little drowsy. "I actually feel that I am a little bit incapable of love. Although I don't object to finding a boyfriend, I don't really believe in love."
Zhou Ci didn't say anything, he just stayed by his side quietly.
"What about you? What kind of girlfriend do you want to find in the future, kid?"
"I haven't thought about it either." Zhou Ci looked at Song Yu, "I'm very happy with my sister, so at least I want to be like her!"
"But a sister is a sister. She's different from a girlfriend."
"What's the difference?" Zhou Ci's words were so soft that they were blown away by the sea breeze before they even reached Song Yu's ears, so Song Yu didn't hear clearly what Zhou Ci said.
They returned very late that night.
On the way back, Song Yu fell asleep.
She didn't know when she fell asleep, nor how she got home. When she woke up, she was already in her bed in her own room.
The next day, Song Yu took Zhou Ci back to the old house for dinner.
After spending more than a year together, Grandpa Song and Grandma Song liked Zhou Ci more and more, and had no objection to his arrival.
Song's father, who had been busy with official duties, saw Zhou Ci and pulled Song Yu aside to ask, "Why did you bring him here?"
Song Yu opened his eyes and asked curiously, "Dad, is it not possible?"
"It's not that I can't, but what's the relationship between you two? Zhou Ci is still a minor."
"Dad, what are you thinking about? Zhou Ci is my brother." Song Yu found it funny.
"Do you really think of him as your brother? Does Zhou Ci think so too?" Song's father was suspicious. "You two are not siblings. Besides, why do I always feel that there is something wrong with this kid? It seems like he is targeting you."
"Dad, don't be a conspiracy theorist." Song Yu glared at his father. "Zhou Ci is very well behaved. He listens to me and whatever I say. He's not as bad as Dad thinks. Don't let your imagination run wild."
Father Song thought about it and felt that he was making a fuss. His daughter was grown up now, and if there was no bad boy who was targeting her, he would be worried instead.
After dinner, everyone sat on the sofa and chatted. Song's father asked, "Ruru, are you staying at grandpa's house today?"
Song Yu glanced at Zhou Ci and shook his head: "I'll go back to live in my own place."
Song's father was a little reluctant and said, "It's too late, don't go back." Song Yu didn't spend much time at home this year, and most of the time he lived in the community near B University.
"No, it's my birthday tomorrow. I'm too busy and have a lot of things to deal with. Xia Xia and the others all come over there to find me."
Song Yu had already informed his family about the birthday party, and his father knew about it, so he had no choice but to agree.
On the way back, Zhou Ci said, "Sister, next time you don't have to give up the opportunity to spend time with your family for me."
Song Yu looked sideways at him: "You don't dare to live alone, how can I let you go back alone? Unless you live with me at home next time."
"Okay, as long as I don't cause any trouble to you." After a pause, he continued, "I don't want you to give up any chance to be with your family because of me. You don't know how much I envy you for having such a caring family."
"Aren't my family your family now? My grandparents treat you better than they treat me." Song Yu smiled. "My dad has been in charge of the company for a long time, so he tends to overthink things. But he's actually not that bad. He's just a little slow to warm up, so he needs to take his time. As for my mom, I don't need to explain. You should know from your time with her that she's never been a talkative person and is nice to everyone."
"Auntie is very gentle. She gives me the feeling of a mother," Zhou Ci said.
Song Yu asked: "Do you still remember your mother?"
"I don't remember much. If I don't look at photos and videos, I can't quite recall what she looked like. I just remember that she loved to laugh. The only times she got angry were when she argued with Zhou Tingan to defend me."
Song Yu asked again: "Do you still miss your mother?"
"Not really. When I was little, no one treated me well. I only remember her being kind to me, so I missed her a lot. I also wanted someone to treat me well. Later, when I had my sister, I thought about her less. My sister might not believe me, but after growing up, I couldn't understand her. The eldest daughter of the Yan family, who had no shortage of money or confidence, just met a cheating bigamist. At most, she divorced and remarried. What a big deal! She actually lost her life. How cowardly."
Song Yu spoke for Zhou Ci's mother, "Aunt Yan's love is deep, and her hurt is heavy."
"No, she's just stupid." Zhou Ci was very calm. His voice was flat, emotionless, as if he were simply recounting someone else's story. "She was too impatient. In fact, she should have waited a little longer. No matter how angry she was, she should have waited until I grew up to help her. Things change over time. What does a moment of pride mean? Zhou Ting'an owed her something. When I grow up, I will naturally fight for her redemption. I won't let that woman get away with it. She shouldn't have been so depressed. After her death, Zhou Ting'an couldn't wait to let that woman in. They were so happy, so happy that they didn't care about their dignity. Every night before going to bed, they probably think to themselves that her death was a good thing, and that it was just the right time."
Song Yu used to think this way, but after experiencing what happened with Shen Zhiyan, her view on love has changed a little. "It's really hard to say about love. Sometimes, it's not what we want it to be. Most of the time, we have no control over ourselves."
Zhou Ci looked into her eyes and asked softly, "Sister, are you using yourself as an example?"
"Who said it wasn't?" Song Yu smiled bitterly. "Look, it's like I know Chen Zhiyan isn't worth my sadness anymore, and isn't worth my attention anymore, but I just can't control myself. Whenever I hear his name, my heart beats faster. It's not like I can just let go. There's always a process, and I think I'll get through it."
Zhou Ci sighed, "If only I were older than my sister."
Song Yu said with a smile: "Why do you say that?"
"Even if we are the same age, I will protect my sister." If that were the case, Shen Zhiyan would have no chance. He would never let Shen Zhiyan get close to his sister and let Shen Zhiyan occupy such an important position in his sister's heart.
After the two of them returned, they went back to their own rooms and slept separately.
Song Yu had to deal with the birthday party the next day. After lying on the bed, he kept replying to messages and was busy until midnight before he went to sleep.
The next day, Song Yu slept until noon. After lunch, she and Zhou Ci drove to the villa where the birthday party was to be held.
The villa had been decorated in advance by the event planner, with a pink theme, and was filled with the romantic atmosphere unique to young girls.
Not long after Song Yu arrived at the villa, the makeup artist came to do her styling.
She hadn't thought that Shen Zhiyan would come. Last night, she thought about it and finally sent a text message to Shen Zhiyan, inviting him meaningfully.
I originally thought that Shen Zhiyan understood what I was saying and knew to avoid coming, but I didn't expect Shen Zhiyan to directly reply: Ru Ru, how could I not come to your 20th birthday? Even if you don't invite me, I will come uninvited.
Song Yu was helpless. When she could truly let go of Shen Zhiyan, that would be the real relief for her.
I heard that Shen Zhiyan and Xiao Ruohan broke up. Song Yu didn't know why they broke up, just like she didn't know why she and Shen Zhiyan had come to this point, but they were already like this, and there was no point in saying more.
There's nothing we can do about it.
If we can't avoid each other, then we can only be ordinary friends.
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