Chapter 4 Fifteen
After the New Year, life, which no longer had a sense of solemnity, gradually passed by like flowing water, without knowing it.
Chen Wan stopped working part-time and reviewed his homework at home every day. In the evening, Lin Yu brought back some food. Because of his stomach problems, Chen Wan decided to forgive him, and the two of them finally reconciled.
Chen Wan also tacitly agreed to Lin Yu's free meals every day. Lin Yu was too lazy to make excuses and just said he was hungry.
Like a child who has just finished his evening class, he goes home excitedly to eat every day, and then strolls out to chat with the old people in the alley.
On the Lantern Festival, Qiao Yue contacted Chen Wan and Lin Yu in the morning to go to her house for dinner in the evening, but she was admitted to the hospital in the afternoon.
When Chen Wan and Lin Yu rushed to the hospital after receiving the news, the patient had just been pushed out of the operating room.
The nurse carried the child for examination. It was a little boy with a rosy face that looked particularly pleasing.
Qiao Yue's husband almost rushed forward and grabbed the bed rails, which scared the nurse.
Qiao Yue narrowed her eyes, and after seeing her husband clearly, she smiled, "Why are you crying so hard when I gave birth to a child?"
Yuan Ke held her hand and said softly, "I'm crying for you. Otherwise, I really don't know what I can do. Thank you for your hard work."
"It's just so-so." Qiao Yue said this in a heroic tone, but her voice sounded weak. After a moment, she blinked and said, "But giving birth is still quite physically demanding. From now on, I'll leave the responsibility of taking care of the baby to you."
The couple spoke one after another, while Chen Wan and Lin Yu stood quietly by and watched.
Chen Wan used to think that the coming of life began with pain, the excruciating pain of childbirth, the first cry after opening the mouth, none of these were beautiful.
But people are still happy about it, because this life carries expectations and friendship.
Qiao Yue raised her hand slightly to greet the two of them, and joked, "I just finished calling you, and the little guy kicked me in the stomach like crazy. I can't wait to see you."
Lin Yu and Chen Wan smiled at each other.
Because the child was born on the Lantern Festival and his father's surname was Yuan, the family decided to name the child Yuan Xiao.
His nickname is Fifteen, and Qiao Yue says this is fate.
After Qiao Yue was discharged from the hospital, Chen Wan came to see her.
"Little Fifteen, call me Sister Chen quickly~" Qiao Yue put the child's chubby little hand in Chen Wan's palm, and laughed at her awkward way of coaxing the baby.
The child's facial features were wrinkled into a small ball, and his rosy face was like a peach, as if it would melt with a breath.
It was the first time that Chen Wan saw such a small baby. He was very cautious and walked around the crib, observing the baby carefully, fearing that he might hurt it.
Unexpectedly, a hand reached out and casually poked Xiao Shiwu's face, saying, "So soft."
After saying that, he pinched it again and said, "It's so soft."
Chen Wan looked up and saw that this person was none other than the unscrupulous Police Officer Lin.
Qiao Yue smiled and said proudly, "Right? It's super soft. I love to pinch it."
The senior sister and the junior brother were smiling happily as they gathered around the crib, poking Little Fifteen's face from time to time, like kneading dough, and excitedly discussing the feel of the baby's hands.
Yuan Ke walked in and pulled the two apart, saying seriously, "Oh, stop touching my son. What if he becomes a drooling baby?"
Lin Yu retracted his claws and said calmly, "Koushuiwa brand five-spice peanuts are delicious."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Shiwu suddenly started crying loudly, probably protesting against him saying that the saliva wafers were delicious.
Qiao Yue and Chen Wan laughed with glee, and then tacitly stepped aside to chat.
Yuan Ke and Lin Yu had no choice but to rush in and start coaxing the child.
"Wan'er, I have something to tell you." Qiao Yue pointed to the balcony, "Let's talk there, it's quiet."
Chen Wan nodded and followed her to the balcony.
But when she really faced Chen Wan, Qiao Yue felt a little speechless. She sat in the rattan chair, stroking the teacup, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
Chen Wan first brought up the topic for her, "Is it about my dad?"
"Yes." Qiao Yue raised her eyes to look at her, choosing her words carefully, "Mr. Chen is ill and has been released on medical parole. Do you want to go see him?"
Chen Wan was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke, "Is it serious?"
Her eyes were still clear and cold, without any trace of worry in them.
Qiao Yue stopped talking and shook her head. "It's not that serious. If you're willing to go, here's the address. If you don't want to go, that's fine too. Don't force yourself."
Chen Wan received the address, and Qiao Yue sighed and patted her shoulder.
In fact, applying for medical parole generally means that the situation is quite serious, but she didn't want to put pressure on Chen Wan.
It is moral norm for children to respect their parents, not the law of nature.
Chen Wan has already endured too much suffering, and there is no need for him to share his father's pain.
The four of them chatted about everything under the sun for most of the afternoon, and Qiao Yue invited Chen Wan and Lin Yu to have dinner with them.
Lin Yu praised Chen Wan's cooking skills at the dinner table and said proudly, "Senior sister, you have to practice your cooking skills."
Qiao Yue snorted and glanced at Yuan Ke, "They said your cooking skills are not good."
Yuan Ke was drinking water and choked when he heard the words. He and Qiao Yue changed their tune and teased Lin Yu, "Yeah, you have Chen Xiaomei cooking for you now, but you don't know if you can still eat it in the future."
Lin Yu was stunned when he heard this and asked in confusion, "Why can't I eat it?"
Qiao Yue said, "Little brother, why do you think things are so simple? I'm going to have a relationship in the future. How can I care about cooking for a foodie like you? You're dreaming."
When her name was suddenly called, Chen Wan paused with her chopsticks and silently put them away. However, she was too embarrassed to join in the conversation and could only bury her head in eating rice.
Lin Yu lowered his eyes slightly, and suddenly felt a little sad. He thought he had figured out why he thought it was a good thing that Chen Wan didn't fall in love too early.
Chen Wan is in love now, so she definitely doesn't want him to eat for free anymore.
Food is the most important thing for people, and now Chen Wan is his heaven.
Qiao Yue took the opportunity to gossip a little, "But you don't have to be discouraged. It would be great if you could find a girlfriend who can cook. Senior Sister will give you some advice."
Lin Yu chuckled and glanced at Yuan Ke, "Professor Yuan, why did you marry someone who couldn't cook?"
"Because it's enough to have someone at home who can cook." Yuan Ke looked at Qiao Yue with a doting look on his face.
Okay, I ate some dog food.
Lin Yu, an older single young man, felt bored and just ate his meal obediently.
After dinner, Chen Wan and Lin Yu went home together.
Qiao Yue held Xiao Shiwu in her arms, pinched his chubby little paws, and stood on the balcony waving goodbye to them.
"Sister Chen, please come again next time."
Chen Wan gave a gentle smile and said "OK".
"Uncle Lin comes here often, too."
Lin Yu was startled by the name "uncle" and staggered. After a moment, he steadied himself and looked up at Qiao Yue and said, "Aunt Qiao, you're too polite."
The two of them were used to bantering with each other, so they laughed and talked for a few more words before slowly setting off on their way home.
When passing by a flower shop, Lin Yu suddenly stopped and stared at the window for a long time.
"Want to buy flowers?"
Chen Wan followed his gaze and went inside. The shop was filled with numerous bouquets of flowers arranged in an orderly manner.
The shop full of flowers is reflected in the glass window, but it doesn't look tacky.
Lin Yu came back to his senses and looked at Chen Wan with a serious expression. "Am I really that old?"
It turned out that he was not looking at the flowers, but looking at himself in the mirror. Chen Wan found it a little funny.
The dim light of evening fell on his regular features, and his eyes were dark, like the night and warm ink.
The street lights hanging above his head lit up one after another, and a warm yellow halo enveloped him.
Chen Wan suddenly had the feeling that when he looked back, he found that person standing at the end of the street where the lights were dim.
It was as if something I had been looking for for a long time finally appeared before my eyes.
Lin didn't speak for a long time when he met her. After calming himself down, he realized that it was strange to ask Chen Wan this question because he was eight years older than Chen Wan.
Quite childish.
Chen Wan also put away his thoughts and shook his head. "Not old at all. It's the prime of life."
This compliment touched Lin Yu's heart, and he instantly felt happy. "People with knowledge speak differently."
Chen Wan smiled.
She looks pretty when she smiles, and when her brows are furrowed, it's like ripples on an autumn lake.
At night, after Chen Wan finished reading the book, he took out the note given by Qiao Yue.
The light from the desk lamp was dim. She looked at the address on the note for a long time, and finally sent a message to Qiao Yue saying that she was going to the hospital.
The hospital was in the suburbs, and Qiao Yue was worried about her going there alone. Lin Yu happened to be on vacation, so he consciously accepted the task of being the flower protector.
Lin Yu was a little surprised when he learned that she was going to see her father.
Because he always felt that there was an incompatible relationship between Chen Wan and her father.
Chen wore headphones in the back of the car at night, listening to English listening, and didn't say much.
Lin Yu drove silently without saying a word.
The car window was rolled down halfway, and the mountain breeze mixed with the fragrance of trees came in through the window, lingering between the two of them.
The dark green shadows of trees drifted past the car window one after another, leaving behind fleeting glimpses.
After driving for about three hours, we finally arrived at the hospital.
After identifying himself to the guard at the door, Chen Wan entered the ward alone.
Lin Yu sighed, sat down on the bench, and thought about what the father and daughter might say when they meet again after a long separation.
I was also worried whether Chen Wan would cry, as I had never seen her cry before.
The ward was very quiet. There was a small cabinet next to Chen Shan's bed with a long and thin porcelain vase on it, but there were no flowers in it.
Chen Shan was lying on the hospital bed, leaning on the bed rails with his shoulders drooped, like a withered branch in winter.
"Here you are." Chen Shan put down the book in his hand and stared at Chen Wan for a moment.
Chen Wan stood opposite him, keeping a distance from him, and replied lightly, "Yeah."
Chen Shan looked at his daughter's distant look, his gaze fell on the book again, and he didn't know how to start.
In the past two years, he has always regretted it and thought about taking good care of Chen Wan, fulfilling his fatherly duties, and watching her grow up.
But his daughter had actually grown up a long time ago, and was even more mature than he imagined.
In the days without him, she grew up quietly.
After a while, he spoke again, his voice hoarse and, like him, lifeless, "You've grown taller."
Chen Wan looked at Chen Shan lying on the hospital bed. His hair was mottled and as gray as a damp wall.
"What's wrong with you?"
Chen Shan raised his head, his eyes brightening. "It's not serious. As you get older, you'll always have some minor problems."
"oh."
The conversation fell into an awkward situation again, and the father and daughter looked at each other in silence.
It was Chen Shan who spoke first. "Your mother's birthday is in a few days. Can you buy her a bouquet of flowers for me?"
Hearing him mention his mother, Chen Wan's face darkened. "Why, do you think sending a few bouquets of flowers will show your sincerity?"
Chen Shan shook his head, but didn't know how to explain it. He sighed and said, "I'm tired. You should go back. Remember to study hard and take good care of yourself."
Before he finished hearing the second half of the sentence, Chen Wan had already turned around and walked out of the ward.
Lin Yu waited outside for a long time. When he saw someone coming out, he hurried forward.
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