Chapter 28 Are you crying?
When only one centimeter remained between their lips, Hua Yu saw the emotion called 'surprise' in Yun Jin's eyes, just as she had hoped.
He curled his lips into a smile, straightened up, and exhaled the pent-up resentment that had been building up in his chest for so long.
"You're not much better yourself."
He said this with the arrogance of a little rooster.
Yun Jin was just surprised by his sudden change of heart, but now she really wanted to kiss him.
However, considering that Hua Yu hadn't yet developed an impervious skin, she abandoned the idea but didn't respond to his words.
In Hua Yu's eyes, this appearance was just a paper tiger pretending to be calm.
He was in an even better mood, holding his phone as he walked with her through the darkest part of the walk, and even escorted her to her doorstep.
"Be careful on your way back, and send me a message when you get home," Yun Jin said.
It was just a casual word of advice, but Hua Yu felt a sense of relief. A tenderness that shouldn't have appeared at this moment forcefully squeezed into his heart.
He wasn't good at handling these situations, and habitually kept a straight face, but he still managed to say "oh."
"You must send it," Yun Jin said calmly, but with an added touch of seriousness. "Don't make me worry."
...What's there to worry about? He can't possibly ride his electric bike into the river, can he?
Hua Yu thought she was making a fuss over nothing, and after meeting her gaze, she said "oh" again.
The two parted ways; Yun Jin went inside, and Hua Yu left.
Twenty minutes later, he sent Yun Jin a message saying he had arrived home. Yun Jin saw it and replied with a '1', then turned the clock hands and disappeared from this time and space.
At 3:30 a.m., Hua Yu suddenly sat up, looking at the '1' on the chat page and feeling secretly annoyed, regretting for the ten thousandth time that she had taken the initiative to send her a message.
She said she'd worry if he didn't message her, acting all lovey-dovey but all she got in return was a '1'... What '1'?! He shouldn't have believed her nonsense.
Yun Jin slept very well that night. When she woke up the next morning, Hua Cheng had already prepared breakfast and was leaning over the bedside to remind her that it was raining and she should wear a coat when she went out.
He was still wearing his pajamas, and there were marks left by his rough handling the night before in the open collar.
After discovering that she had a habit of hurting her partner, Yun Jin experienced a period of self-loathing, feeling that even though she had escaped the mountains, she still couldn't escape the violent genes given to her by Yun Wei.
After Hua Cheng noticed that her mood was off, he bought a bunch of random props, learned how to use them himself first, and then taught her how to use them on herself.
When the brief electric current stung him, sending a cold sweat through his body, he calmed his breathing, took her hand, and solemnly kissed the inside of her wrist, telling her it was different.
What she gave him was different from what Yunwei gave her mother.
What are you standing there for?
Hua Cheng reached out and snapped his fingers just five centimeters from her face.
Yun Jin snapped out of her daze, looking at his hair, which he hadn't had time to style, and his smiling eyes beneath the neatly trimmed ends.
The moment their eyes met, Hua Cheng suddenly realized and lowered his head to exchange a good morning kiss with her.
After the kiss ended, their breathing became a little erratic. Hua Cheng, the chairman of the board who held no real position, could indulge in his leisure, but the president of Yunda University had to rush to work.
Hua Cheng pecked her twice more, reluctantly ending the meal: "Get up and eat, then I'll take you to work."
Yun Jin didn't speak, but slipped her fingers inside his loose collar and gently pressed them against the hickeys that looked like they were bleeding.
It stung a little, and Hua Cheng let out a soft groan, tightening his arms around her.
"If you keep playing like this, I really won't let you go," he said threateningly.
Yun Jin propped herself up and kissed him again, and his fierce eyes instantly softened into a puddle of water.
They have absolutely no principles.
Wash up, change clothes, eat, go out.
Yun Jin arrived at the company on time and began her day's schedule.
With the National Day holiday fast approaching, Hua Cheng ignored Feng Che's request to visit and, after consulting Yun Jin, began researching travel guides.
Bosses don't really have real holidays, especially bosses at Yun Jin's level.
Considering her need to return to the company at any time, the destination was chosen to be a tourist city near Pingcheng, with a duration of five days and a self-driving tour.
He even asked Xiao Zhou to rearrange the itinerary for Yunjin, departing a day earlier, thinking that this would avoid the tourist crowds and traffic jams.
It turned out that on the day of departure, everyone thought the same thing.
After being stuck in traffic for two hours on a three-kilometer journey, he sat in the passenger seat, secretly watching Yun Jin's expression.
After repeating this several times, Yun Jin noticed his gaze, calmly finished the last sip of her nutritional drink, and handed him the empty bottle.
Hua Cheng: "?"
Yun Jin: "Go ahead and pee."
Hua Cheng: "..."
Seeing that he was holding the bottle and not moving, Yun Jin said that the car window was specially treated so that even the best camera couldn't capture it, but he still didn't move.
Oh, it seems that's not it.
Yun Jin turned to look at him.
"Honey," Hua Cheng threw the bottle away, "you're not angry, are you?"
"Why should I be angry?" Yun Jin asked back.
Hua Cheng pointed to the long line of cars stuck in traffic ahead.
Yun Jin glanced at him: "Your strategy of setting off early is sound, and quite clever."
You were praised?
Hua Cheng perked up his ears.
Yun Jin: "The problem is that there are too many smart people. Now the roadblocks are full of smart people."
Hua Cheng: "..."
The traffic police officers rushed around, and the traffic jam finally started to move slowly.
At the next intersection, Yun Jin decisively made a U-turn.
At this time, many people leave the city, but few return, so the road ahead is generally unobstructed.
The problem is, they're going in the opposite direction.
Faced with Hua Cheng's questioning gaze, Yun Jin asked, "Do you choose to go out and squeeze in with everyone else, or do you choose to stay home with me and sleep through this holiday?"
"I choose to sleep," Hua Cheng decided immediately.
Then the two of them went home.
When Yun Jin said she wanted to sleep, she really did. She slept like a log on the first day, determined to make up for all the sleep she had missed during this period.
The next day, after getting a good night's sleep, they ordered takeout: snacks, drinks, toys, and even groceries were all bought online. The two of them stayed indoors except to take out the trash, spending their days huddled in bed scrolling through Weibo and watching the crowds at various tourist attractions.
Starting on the third day, sleeping became a verb again. I didn't feel bored doing things repeatedly. The physical connection transformed the beautiful house into a utopia that could withstand all dangers and diseases.
Before the holiday even started, Hua Cheng had already announced their trip to the whole world. In the past few days, everyone tacitly refrained from disturbing them, and there were no unexpected problems at the company. After holding two online meetings, Yun Jin completely let go.
So I just stayed at home, my days and nights were reversed, and time became blurred.
At 9:30 a.m., Liu Zhuang sent another message, but Yun Jin was still asleep.
They had stayed up too late the night before, and Yun Jin was still asleep when the sun was high in the sky. Although Hua Cheng was reluctant to wake her, Liu Zhuang had already sent eight hundred messages, and if he didn't go over soon, he was afraid Liu Zhuang would come and kill him.
I've been a bit out of control these past few days; the house is such a mess that it's hardly presentable.
After much deliberation, Hua Cheng hardened his heart and shook Yun Jin's shoulder.
“…Hmm?” Yun Jin woke up with a start, her voice slightly sticky.
Hua Cheng loved her clinginess, and his tone softened: "It's time to go to Fatty's house for lunch."
"Why are you having lunch? Didn't we say we wouldn't go out during the holiday?" Yun Jin raised her hand to cover her eyes, not wanting to get up.
She has a somewhat unseemly hobby, and Hua Cheng happens to be the type who gets more courageous the more he tortures her. Even after the ordeal last night, her legs and heart are still numb, and her whole body feels like it has been disassembled and reassembled, with everything feeling loose.
In contrast to her dejection, Hua Cheng was full of energy and did not look like a terminally ill patient at all.
"You forgot? Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival," he reminded him with a smile.
Yun Jin opened her eyes with difficulty: "Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"Yeah, we have to go to Fatty's house for dinner."
Yun Jin stared at him for a few seconds, then turned over and buried herself in the blankets: "I should have been more restrained yesterday." Hua Cheng was amused by her unusually childish behavior and forcibly dug her out of the blankets: "Let's go, we can come back and catch up on sleep after dinner."
When the two rushed to Liu Zhuang's house, it was already eleven o'clock.
During the holiday, Liu Beibei would give Yun Jin a big hug as usual, and roll her eyes at Hua Cheng as usual.
Hua Cheng wasn't annoyed. He took out an ugly hair clip and put it on her head, scaring her so much that she screamed and ran away.
Yun Jin and Hua Cheng have no relatives, so on the Lantern Festival, Lunar New Year's Eve, Mid-Autumn Festival, and other festivals symbolizing reunion, they would go to Fatty and his wife's house for dinner.
This year is no exception.
Lunch was prepared by someone who came to our house. Hua Cheng sneaked into the kitchen and took a look. It was all baby food.
He confronted Chen Yueqin, protesting, "I have brain cancer, not stomach cancer! Why do you always cook such bland food? Sister-in-law, I want to eat your boiled fish, boiled pork slices, boiled dishes..."
"I'll boil you alive, believe it or not," Liu Zhuang said, standing up for his wife. After scolding him, he grabbed him and headed for the garage. "The car I ordered has arrived. Let me show you what it's like."
"I won't look, sister-in-law..."
Hua Cheng's protest was interrupted by the sound of the door closing. Chen Yueqin stood at the kitchen door, laughing so hard she bent over. When she turned around, she found Yun Jin staring at her.
"What's wrong?" Chen Yueqin asked with a smile.
Yun Jin smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you look so beautiful when you smile. You should smile more often."
"Go away, when did you learn to tease me?" Chen Yueqin gave her a reproachful look, her carefully maintained skin glowing. "Can he really eat spicy food?"
"It's fine to eat it once in a while," Yun Jin replied.
Chen Yueqin nodded, took an apron and tied it on: "Okay, I'll make some of the young master's favorite dishes."
"I'll help."
Yun Jin immediately stepped forward, but Chen Yueqin pushed her away, saying, "Go find Bei Bei to play."
Ever since learning that Yun Jin had to attend classes and do all the housework while living with her uncle when she was a child, Chen Yueqin had forbidden Yun Jin from doing any housework.
At least when she sees you, you're not allowed to do anything, and that's been the case for years.
Yun Jin knew her insistence, so she silently came over and hugged her.
The kitten came looking for her. Chen Yueqin's eyes stung a little, but she still smiled and patted her back: "Everything will be alright."
Yun Jin didn't explain that it wasn't because of Hua Cheng, but she still obediently nodded after letting go of her.
Compared to the warm and affectionate sisters on this side, the brothers on the other side are rather ruthless.
Although Hua Cheng often buys cars, they are mostly for Yun Jin. He drives an SUV year-round and only changes cars very occasionally.
He wasn't interested in cars, but Liu Zhuang always made sure to show him any nice cars he got his hands on.
He protested the entire way from home to the garage, even tearing two buttons off his shirt. When he finally regained his freedom, he was speechless when he saw the ugly things that had appeared in the garage.
"How about it? Isn't it beautiful?" the fat man boasted.
Hua Cheng's lips moved as he pondered what conversational techniques he could use to express his true feelings without getting beaten up.
Before he could figure it out, Liu Zhuang suddenly frowned and said, "Can't you two be a little more careful?"
What happened to them?
Hua Cheng followed his gaze and looked down, seeing the teeth marks and hickeys on his chest.
New scars piled on top of old ones, the skin is fragile and thin and can barely bear it, it looks quite brutal at first glance.
"You won't be able to see it unless you pull on my clothes." Hua Cheng calmly buttoned the top button.
Liu Zhuang rolled his eyes at him: "If you come with me obediently, I won't tear your clothes."
The two exchanged a glance, and then fell silent in the garage.
Much later.
Liu Zhuang: "Yun Jin..."
Hua Cheng: "No."
Liu Zhuang was speechless: "I haven't said anything yet."
“No,” Hua Cheng said in a good mood, his lips always upturned. “After she returned to Pingcheng, she didn’t go looking for that person again. She probably found the rotten fruit he bought disgusting, so she cut ties with him directly.”
"That's great, it saves us a lot of trouble." Liu Zhuang breathed a sigh of relief, his whole demeanor brightening.
Hua Cheng also became more cheerful.
After chatting for a while, the fat man suddenly asked, "How's my car?"
The skinny one: "Ugly."
A mountain pressing down on you!
After waiting in the garage for a while, Chen Yueqin sent them a message to go back for dinner, and the two brothers walked back arm in arm.
"What's the schedule for this afternoon?" Liu Zhuang asked.
Hua Cheng: "Go home."
"You just want yourselves alone, don't leave. Come with us. I'll take you boating after dinner tonight," Liu Zhuang persuaded.
Hua Cheng: "No."
Liu Zhuang was speechless, but there was nothing he could do about it.
On every holiday that symbolizes reunion, Hua Cheng and Yun Jin would come to our house for lunch, but that was all; they would always spend the evenings alone.
Is it really meaningful to treat every holiday like Valentine's Day?
Liu Zhuang shook his head, once again expressing his incomprehension.
Hua Cheng smiled without explaining, and after lunch, he took Yun Jin's leave.
The two went home for a nap. When Hua Cheng woke up, he was about to suggest going out for a walk when Xiao Zhou called Yun Jin, saying that there were some problems in the overseas market and that she needed to go to the company.
Yun Jin finally had a vacation where she could completely relax, but it was ruined by an unexpected work assignment. She really wanted to quit.
Hua Cheng noticed that she was in a bad mood and patted her head: "Do you want me to stay with you?"
Yun Jin pursed her lips and refused.
Hua Cheng put her in the car and watched her leave. After tidying up the house, he drove to the nearby farmers' market.
Although he started cooking for himself when he was very young, his culinary skills haven't improved much over the years, so he usually takes Yun Jin out to eat on important holidays.
But today is likely their last Mid-Autumn Festival together, and he wants to cook for them himself and celebrate at home.
There was a lot to do, and the nearby farmers' market didn't have a complete selection, so Huacheng went to several different markets. After selecting everything, he asked Yunjin how long it would be before she got off work.
Yun Jin, who was in a meeting, didn't reply, but he didn't mind and went straight home to prepare the food.
Yun Jin finished the meeting twenty minutes after receiving the message. As she walked out with the crowd, she opened WeChat and was about to reply to Hua Cheng when Xiao Zhou caught up with her.
"Mr. Yun, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival," he said with a smile.
Yun Jin put her phone away for a moment: "I was just about to ask you, why didn't you go home for the holiday?"
Xiao Zhou isn't from Pingcheng. She only has time to go back during the National Day and Chinese New Year holidays. When she received his call, she thought it was someone from the company reporting to him and then relaying it to her. She didn't expect him to be at the company himself.
"My parents went on vacation, and there's no one to cook when I get back, so I just stayed to take the shift," Xiao Zhou said with a smile.
Yun Jin could tell he was lying at a glance.
Defeated by his boss's gaze, Xiao Zhou scratched his head and said, "Okay, actually I was afraid that if I went home, there might be things at the company that I couldn't handle in time, so I didn't go back."
After Yun Jin took over as CEO at the beginning of the year, his assistant's salary and workload also increased accordingly. He was in a state of rapid growth, and during this period, he only felt at ease when he was at the company.
He reached this position in his early twenties, and Yun Jin roughly knew what he was anxious about. She also knew that no matter how she, as his boss, tried to comfort him, it would only increase his pressure.
After a moment of contemplation, Yun Jin said, "Do a good job, and I'll give you double the holiday for the Spring Festival, plus a big red envelope."
She's always been generous; if she says it's a big red envelope, it'll be at least a six-figure sum.
Xiao Zhou's eyes lit up: "Thank you, President Yun!"
Yun Jin smiled and stepped outside.
Xiao Zhou immediately followed up: "By the way, Mr. Yun, the CEO of No. 8 Ocean Shipping Company is getting married. Are you planning to attend?"
"What's the date today?" Yun Jin asked casually.
Xiao Zhou: "Number six."
Yun Jin suddenly stopped.
Xiao Zhou also stopped: "If you're not planning to go, I'll just send the gift and red envelope over..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yun Jin took out her phone and opened the calendar.
Great, it really is number six.
The curtains at home hadn't been drawn for the past few days, and the steady light had blurred her sense of time. She not only forgot that today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, but also that it was October 6th.
October 6th.
On the day Hua Yu moved, she promised to go to the housewarming party.
October 6th, 2013, was just an ordinary day during the National Day holiday.
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on October 6th of the Gregorian calendar in 2025, which is the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
The time travel function of the watch is based on the Gregorian calendar.
Yun Jin pinched the bridge of her nose, and seeing that Xiao Zhou was still waiting for her decision, she decided to deal with the immediate matter first: "I'm not going."
"OK."
Xiao Zhou noticed that she was busy and considerately didn't follow her any further.
Yun Jin walked to the garage alone, sat in the driver's seat, and fell into deep thought.
It was indeed her oversight that she hadn't considered the difference in the lunar calendar dates between the two time periods, and that she had completely forgotten about the housewarming party she had promised. But rather than blaming herself, she was more focused on how to handle the situation.
A choice between two options?
It's not hard to choose.
The problem is that, in order to save trouble, she arranged to meet the pawnshop owner from 2013 today. When she asks someone for a favor, she should have the proper attitude. What kind of behavior is it to stand him up without his consent?
After thinking for a moment, Yun Jin called Hua Cheng.
Hua Cheng was washing vegetables, but his phone was still within easy reach. When the special ringtone sounded, he immediately wiped his hands and answered: "Wife, is it over?"
“It’s over,” Yun Jin said, one hand on the steering wheel, her fingers tapping absently. “But I might be back a little later.”
"How late?" Hua Cheng asked.
Yun Jin glanced at the time: 16:34.
“Eight o’clock,” she said.
Hua Cheng looked at the kitchen full of ingredients that hadn't been cleaned up yet and nodded: "Okay, I'll wait for you to have dinner."
After they met, they would have dinner together on every major holiday.
This is our last Mid-Autumn Festival together, so let's be together even more.
"Okay," Yun Jin agreed.
After hanging up the phone, Yun Jin didn't return to her house, which she had specifically used for time travel. Instead, she randomly found a hotel, locked the door, and went into the bathroom as usual.
Three minutes later, she appeared at her home in 2013, changed into clothes she had bought in 2013, and took a taxi directly to the pawn shop.
The pawnshop owner hadn't yet found the group of people she was looking for, but he assured her that as long as they were in Pingcheng, he could find them within a month.
Yun Jin thanked him and presented him with a beautiful sapphire as a reward.
The pawnshop owner was a straightforward person, and communication was quite efficient. When Yun Jin left the pawnshop, it was only a little past five o'clock, and there was still an hour and a half before the time she had arranged to meet Hua Cheng.
After thinking for a moment, Yun Jin decided to go to the familiar old neighborhood.
The taxi drove on with a clear destination in mind. The tall buildings on both sides of the car window gradually turned into dilapidated low-rise buildings, and the surrounding environment gradually became narrow and crowded.
When they arrived at the familiar entrance of the residential area, Yun Jin's eyes showed a hint of emotion.
When she was nineteen, she had nowhere to go. It was Hua Cheng, who was 21 at the time, who brought her to this place and gave her a small bedroom.
They lived here for a long time until the neighborhood was demolished and they moved away. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. The people are still here, but the things are different. I never thought I would come back again.
Yun Jin breathed a sigh of relief, bought some fruit and drinks at the entrance of the community, and walked in. Soon, she appeared in front of the familiar door, following her memory.
She raised her hand and knocked on the door. The door opened quickly, and a middle-aged woman poked her head out: "Who are you looking for?"
Seeing a stranger in a familiar house, Yun Jin was momentarily stunned. Before she could speak, the door behind her opened.
"Sister Yun?" Liu Zhuangzhuang waved in surprise, "You're here."
Yun Jin looked at the address above his head, a little confused: "What are you doing in room 504?"
“We rented 504, 503 belongs to someone else,” Liu Zhuangzhuang apologized to the middle-aged woman, took the things from Yun Jin’s hands, and urged her to go inside. “It’s my fault, it’s my fault. I only told you which building and floor it was in, but I didn’t give you the specific apartment number.”
Yun Jin remained standing still: "Why didn't you rent 503?"
“Because 503 is rented out,” Liu Zhuangzhuang said cheerfully. “What’s wrong, Sister Yun? Can’t we rent 504?”
No, it's just that they used to rent room 503, so she didn't realize it for a moment.
Looking back, it makes sense. They moved out earlier, and the original tenant hadn't moved out yet, so they had to rent something else.
503 and 504 are not very different; they are just minor changes that occur after a butterfly flaps its wings.
While Yun Jin was distracted, Liu Zhuangzhuang came in with a cup of water: "Sister Yun, have some water."
"Thank you." Yun Jin took the drink, took a sip, and placed it on the table. "Where's Hua Yu?"
"He's in his room. Let me take you to him, and we can show you around our place while we're at it." Liu Zhuangzhuang was in a state of inexplicable excitement all day about sharing an apartment with his best friend.
Yun Jin glanced at the tortoise-shell-like living room, wondering what was so interesting about it.
But she wanted to find Hua Yu, so she nodded in agreement.
Liu Zhuangzhuang immediately led her to the kitchen.
The living room is small, and the kitchen is even smaller, filled with all sorts of high-tech meatballs and cheap meat rolls; it looks like we're having hot pot today.
After looking at the kitchen, I looked at the bathroom and then glanced at the side bedroom.
The layout of 504 was exactly the same as that of 503, which Yun Jin was familiar with. After looking at all of them, Liu Zhuangzhuang finally opened the door to the master bedroom for her.
"Ta-da!"
Hua Yu, who had just slipped one leg into her pants, looked up in surprise. Her beautiful abs, long legs, and bulging gray boxer briefs were all exposed to the eyes of bystanders.
Yun Jin smiled and said, "You have a great figure."
Liu Zhuangzhuang: "Indeed."
"...Get out of here, you two!"
To prevent Hua Xiaoyu from exploding on the spot, Yun Jin and Liu Zhuangzhuang didn't tease her too much and closed the door.
But when he came out, he still had a cold face, as if the whole world owed him money.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"You're not welcome. I'm leaving now." Yun Jin said, turning around decisively.
Hua Yu was taken aback by her decisive figure. Before she could react, Liu Zhuangzhuang had already pulled her back: "Where are you going? Sister Yun, you're not allowed to leave. It won't be lively if you leave!"
Yun Jin really wanted to leave. She had only come to fulfill her promise and didn't plan to stay for a meal.
Seeing that Liu Zhuangzhuang had misunderstood, she explained, "I have something to do later."
"It's a holiday, what could possibly happen? The hot pot ingredients are all ready, let's start eating now!" After coaxing his sister, Liu Zhuangzhuang looked at his brother and said, "Bring out the induction cooker and plug it in."
Hua Yu, lost in thought, silently complied.
The two acted quickly, completing all the pre-meal procedures within a minute, and were just waiting for Yun Jin to take her seat.
Liu Zhuangzhuang looked at her earnestly, but Hua Yu glanced at her and then looked away.
Yun Jin couldn't refuse, and seeing that it was still early, she simply sat down.
"I can't eat too much," she warned in advance, to avoid them pressuring her to eat more.
Liu Zhuangzhuang expressed his understanding, cupping his chubby face in his hands: "Can you drink that? I'm a top-notch bartender, Sister Yun, would you like to try my skills?"
I'll save my stomach for dinner with Huacheng, but I can still have a couple of drinks.
Yun Jin agreed: "Okay."
Liu Zhuangzhuang cheered and rushed into the kitchen, leaving only the two of them at the dining table.
The induction cooker was powerful; the water in the thin, double-compartment hot pot had already boiled, and the five-yuan packet of hot pot base was bubbling and jumping, exuding the aroma of fermented bean paste.
Hua Yu lowered her eyes as she put things into the pot, while Yun Jin sat quietly beside her. It wasn't until he accidentally splashed hot soup on his hand, causing him to tremble slightly from the burn, that she suddenly pulled his hand over and carefully wiped it clean.
The burned area was slightly red, and the residual heat seemed to be spreading into the flesh. She rubbed it with her fingertips, and a stinging sensation gradually came.
"It's nothing," she said.
Hua Yu's Adam's apple bobbed, but she didn't speak.
He seemed startled by her decisive departure.
She used to enjoy scaring Hua Cheng like that. After realizing her feelings for him, she not only didn't feel the humiliation of being the one who fell in love first, but instead molded him into a puppet, making him lose himself and even have to consider her feelings when he was breathing.
Thinking about it this way, all the wickedness in her bones was directed at him alone.
Yun Jin was a little distracted while holding his hand. Hua Yu felt awkward, but when she caught a glimpse of Liu Zhuangzhuang returning, she immediately broke free from his grasp.
By the time Liu Zhuangzhuang sat down, Hua Yu's expression had calmed down.
"This is a recipe I developed myself, Sister Yun, please try it." Liu Zhuangzhuang took a large glass pitcher and enthusiastically poured her a cup.
Yun Jin took a bite, and the sweet taste slid down her throat, leaving a lingering aroma of glutinous rice between her lips and teeth.
It really tastes great.
Yun Jin took another sip, wondering why Fatty had never mixed one for her.
"How is it?" Liu Zhuangzhuang asked expectantly.
Yun Jin: "It's delicious."
It was just two words, but it was the highest praise. Liu Zhuangzhuang immediately looked at Hua Yu with pride. Hua Yu glanced at him and gestured for him to pour himself a glass as well.
Liu Zhuangzhuang chuckled, filled all three glasses, and raised his glass like an older brother: "Congratulations on your move! Wishing us all the best!"
Yun Jin raised her glass second, and the two of them looked at Hua Yu at the same time.
Hua Yu remained silent for a few seconds, then a slight smile appeared on her lips as she cooperatively raised her cup.
Although Hua Yili's gambling debt still haunted him like a ghost, moving from the basement to the upstairs was a good thing nonetheless. Starting today, he no longer had to worry about his clothes getting moldy or his body breaking out in rashes.
Pleasant moods are contagious, and Yun Jin drank a few more cups. When she was about to get up to go to the restroom, she suddenly swayed.
"Be careful..." Liu Zhuangzhuang quickly reached out to help, but someone was faster and pulled the person into their arms.
"How much did you drink?" Hua Yu asked unhappily.
Yun Jin glanced at the cup slowly, and after a long while, she replied, "...Three cups."
"Only three cups? That shouldn't be the case," Liu Zhuangzhuang said, looking puzzled. "The drinks I make have a very low alcohol content. Sister Yun, you can drink three cups of whiskey without even turning pale. How could you be defeated by my drinks?"
Yun Jin also felt it was inappropriate, and after a moment of silence, she asked, "Did you... add rice wine?"
Liu Zhuangzhuang exclaimed in surprise, "You can taste the difference? This is my secret recipe! This drink is called 'East Meets West,' isn't that trendy?"
Yun Jin: "..."
Now you know why Fatty didn't adjust it for her.
She took a deep breath, trying her best to stay awake, but she collapsed into Hua Yu's arms like she had no bones.
"I... am a little allergic to rice wine," she explained groggily. "It doesn't do much harm to my body, but the effects of drinking it are severe."
Liu Zhuangzhuang stared in disbelief: "You can do that...?"
"Stop talking," Hua Yu interrupted directly, "Are we going to the hospital?"
Yun Jin lazily wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest: "No need, but..."
Hua Yu stiffened as she was embraced, but instead of pushing her away, she lowered her head and asked, "But what?"
Yun Jin: "I need to use the restroom."
Hua Yu: "..."
In the end, Hua Yu took her to the restroom and settled her on the toilet. He couldn't help but ask, "Can you manage by yourself?"
Yun Jin leaned against the water tank, a pleasant smile playing on her lips: "If it's not possible, will you help me?"
……madman.
Hua Yu turned and went out, closing the door for her from the outside.
Liu Zhuangzhuang, who had been waiting outside, asked, "Hua Yu, your face is so red. Are you having an allergic reaction too?"
Hua Yu told him to talk less and eat more, while she awkwardly pressed herself against the door, listening carefully to what was happening inside.
He's not a pervert; he's just afraid she'll fall into the toilet and drown.
The apartment they rented wasn't well soundproofed, and the bathroom door was thin. But for some reason, after a flushing sound, there was no further sound.
Hua Yu's heart sank deeper and deeper, and she finally couldn't help but turn the doorknob.
Before opening the door, he turned to look at Liu Zhuangzhuang, who was looking in his direction. Liu Zhuangzhuang immediately sat up straight.
"You, go back inside," Hua Yu ordered.
Liu Zhuangzhuang asked, puzzled, "Why?"
"Go back quickly." Hua Yu frowned.
Liu Zhuangzhuang muttered that he wasn't full yet, but he still obediently went back to his room.
After he closed the door, Hua Yu asked into the bathroom, "Yun Jin, are you alright? Are you still awake?"
No one spoke in the restroom.
"If you don't say anything, I'm going in." Hua Yu raised her voice.
Still no one responded.
Hua Yu didn't care about anything else and pushed the door open—
In the bathroom, Yun Jin was fast asleep on the floor.
I'm dressed, but it's a bit messy.
He remained silent for a moment, then resignedly picked the person up from the ground and strode back to his room.
Since they couldn't eat, Hua Yu took off her shoes and pulled the blanket over her. Just as she was about to go out to buy her hangover medicine and allergy medicine, her little finger was suddenly grabbed.
He was slightly taken aback, turned his head, and saw Yun Jin looking at him with half-open eyes and a sleepy expression.
She seemed to have something to say.
Hua Yu remained silent for a long time before finally bending down and asking, "What's wrong?"
Yun Jin's lips moved, but no sound came out.
The flower saturation is slightly lower.
Suddenly, someone grabbed his collar and pulled hard. Hua Yu's posture was already prone to losing his balance, and he instantly lost his balance when pulled, his lips slamming hard into her teeth.
A wave of pain washed over him, his breath hitched, and he looked at the culprit with shame and anger: "What are you doing?!"
The culprit's lips were completely unharmed because they were slightly open when they collided, and the little bit of blood on his lips came from his mouth.
Faced with his questioning, the culprit closed his eyes, hugged the blanket, and whispered, "I'm back... to have dinner with you."
She said she came to have dinner with him.
I came here specifically for him.
Hua Yu's Adam's apple trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her indifference.
"You're so drunk, why would you want to eat?"
He left with a cold expression.
Ten minutes later, after cleaning up the mess, he pulled a chair back and sat down in front of the open bedroom door, just in case a drunken woman suffocated because no one was taking care of her.
Liu Zhuangzhuang was sent back to his room after eating only half a meal. He felt very wronged, but he knew that he was the one who caused the current situation. He could only swallow his grievances with tears in his eyes, close his eyes and force himself to fall asleep.
Then I woke up hungry at four in the morning.
There was no sound outside, so he guessed they were already asleep. Liu Zhuangzhuang tiptoed out of bed and sneaked out like a thief.
At four in the morning, it was still dark, and the room was only illuminated by the faint moonlight.
He had just stepped out of his room when he was startled by the dark figure at the door of the next room and gasped in shock.
"Don't make a sound, it's me." Hua Yu's calm voice came from the darkness.
Liu Zhuangzhuang was speechless: "What are you doing sitting here?"
"What else can we do but watch over this drunkard?" Hua Yu said irritably.
"No...you should go back inside and keep watch, why are you sitting here?" Liu Zhuangzhuang asked, puzzled.
Hua Yu: "To avoid suspicion."
Liu Zhuangzhuang's eyes widened: "Are you out of your mind? Why do boyfriends and girlfriends need to avoid suspicion?"
"Who told you we're boyfriend and girlfriend?" Hua Yu retorted.
Liu Zhuangzhuang: "Aren't you guys?"
Hua Yu: "No."
“You guys are all like that… this…” Liu Zhuangzhuang performed a set of military boxing moves on the spot, and finally asked, “Aren’t you boyfriend and girlfriend?!”
Hua Yu fell silent.
At four in the morning, the old neighborhood was as quiet as a graveyard. Liu Zhuangzhuang waited for a long time but didn't get a response. One foot started to wander towards the kitchen again.
“She got married,” Hua Yu said.
Liu Zhuangzhuang was stunned.
"I will not be a third party," Hua Yu said again.
A little while later.
Hua Yu: "I don't like her either."
Time became both fleeting and unbearable.
After an unknown amount of time, Liu Zhuangzhuang couldn't help but ask, "Hua Yu, are you crying?"
4 AM, 2025.
Liu Zhuang skillfully entered the password and entered the room. His sharp eyes pierced through the darkness and landed precisely on Hua Cheng.
He took a deep breath, forcing back his anger, and said, "You'd better have a legitimate and reasonable explanation for calling me here at this time..."
"Yun Jin didn't come back last night," Hua Cheng said softly.
Liu Zhuang suddenly fell silent.
"This is our last Mid-Autumn Festival, but she didn't come back."
The air was filled with the aroma of food that had gone cold. Liu Zhuang, a seasoned gourmand, could easily smell that some of the dishes were quite troublesome to prepare.
The darkness prevented him from seeing the table clearly, but he could imagine it was piled high with food. The taste might not be great, but it was definitely fresh and prepared with care.
"Fatty, she hasn't come back."
The large living room was quiet, with only his calm yet somewhat bewildered voice. Once he stopped speaking, the room fell into complete silence.
After a long while, Liu Zhuang asked, "Hua Cheng, are you crying?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Who's the most pitiful character in this chapter?
The young, overweight man: I... I'm still hungry.
The older, fatter guy: Me, I was woken up at four in the morning.
Draw 50 red envelopes~
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