Chapter 26 26 "Chen Zhan, do you want to take advantage of me?" ...
The sudden interruption of the circuit was like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, extinguishing the four people's enthusiasm for a wild celebration.
The darkness after the lights went out made He Shiyi lose interest immediately, and he pulled Chen Zan back to the house to sleep.
Chen Zhan was a little caught off guard, "Wait."
She asked, "Aren't we going back to school tonight? Are we just going to sleep here?"
"Yes," He Shiyi told her, "It's really late now, and it's not convenient to go back. We might as well just sleep here."
"Don't worry, He Jingsui's house has an extra guest room. We can sleep together tonight."
Chen Zan really didn't expect that she would stay here overnight. Even as he lay on the bed, the intense tension in his heart had not completely subsided.
The bed is soft and the pillows are soft too.
It was very comfortable to lie down, but Chen Zan couldn't sleep.
She lay quietly, without a trace of light in the pitch-black environment, as if she was in a collapsed black hole in the universe.
He Shiyi beside him had fallen into a deep sleep. She curled up and slept soundly.
Only she, in this quiet night, recalled over and over again the warmth in the boy's arms and listened to his already disordered heartbeat.
…
The next day, He Jingsui sent them both back to school.
The three of them said goodbye at the school gate.
The temperature after autumn is finally not as hot as in summer. The ginkgo leaves on both sides of the road are turning yellow, and there is a hint of coolness in the wind.
Chen Zan and He Shiyi walked side by side on the campus road. When the cool air touched her face, she couldn't help but yawn.
He Shiyi turned to look at her. She looked haggard. "Zhanzhan, you look terrible. Did you not sleep well last night?"
It’s not that I didn’t sleep well.
She didn't get much sleep at all.
Lying in He Jingsui's house, she really couldn't fall asleep peacefully.
As soon as she closed her eyes, she could think of that stairwell and the unignorable warmth when He Jingsui held her in his arms.
And when he bent his neck and leaned close to her ear, he whispered, "Are you okay?"
She was very glad that there was no light at that time, otherwise He Jingsui would have noticed that the tips of her ears were red and almost ripe.
Thinking about it now, she still feels hot.
It's hard to say.
Chen Zhan made an excuse: "Maybe I'm a little too attached to my bed, but it's okay, I'll be fine after a while."
He Shiyi agrees with the idea that bed-sickness can lead to insomnia. "When I used to sleep at his house, I was just as attached to the bed as you are, but later I got used to it and stopped being so attached. I still think the bed at my brother's house is more comfortable than my own."
She used to like living in his house because He Jingsui's house was very big and there was a small garden. Every spring, all the flowers in the garden would bloom, exuding fragrance and attracting many bees and butterflies. He Shiyi liked to chase butterflies around in the garden, but since his mother Ye Qingfei passed away, the garden had been unattended for a long time, and now it was overgrown with weeds and left a desolate scene.
These are all beautiful memories from the past, but unfortunately now, beautiful memories only exist in the past.
From her words, Chen Zan could feel He Shiyi's love for He Jingsui's family.
But when she thought back to his house, it was deserted and quiet, as if no one had lived there for a long time. There was no warmth, and the emptiness was so scary that it made people feel a little scared.
She couldn't help but be curious, "Does your brother... always live alone?"
He Shiyi didn't think too much about it and nodded, "Yes."
"His house is pretty big, why doesn't he live with his parents?"
He Shiyi was stunned for a moment, and after a long while, he organized his words and said to her, "My brother's family situation is a bit complicated..."
Chen Zan didn't quite understand.
He Shiyi frowned slightly, a hint of regret in his voice, "To be honest, his mother passed away when he was in high school, and his father now has a new family and has settled abroad."
So, he is now helpless and has only one person, right?
So that's why the house is so deserted, right?
It took Chen Zhan a long time to react. He only felt a dull pain in his heart, as if it was cut open by a sharp knife, and blood gushed out.
She didn't expect that he, who was so popular, would come from a broken family.
She felt mixed emotions and suddenly felt sorry for him.
The temperature drops quickly after autumn, and winter comes in the blink of an eye as the days go by.
The winter in northern Beijing is bitterly cold. The weather forecast reported that snow and wind are coming, reminding residents to put on more clothes to keep warm.
It was near the end of the semester, and the campus was blanketed in a blanket of white. The leafless branches had been washed black by the wind and snow, and the snow-covered ground creaked underfoot.
Throughout the entire exam week, Chen Zhan either stayed in the library or in his studio. No matter how blizzards blew outside, Chen Zhan remained unmoved.
She is a role model of a good student in their dormitory.
Compared with the exam, the two girls from other places in the dormitory care more about their tickets to go home. They can't wait to prepare to go home.
I hold my phone and use the ticket app all day long.
He Shiyi and Chen Zan are both native to northern Beijing, so they don't have to worry about returning home.
Ji Miaomiao envied them, "It's good to live close by. I can even save money on train tickets when I go home."
Don't worry about not being able to buy tickets.
Tao Yiran and Ji Miaomiao shared the same plight. Tickets were so hard to buy that she was furious and complained, "I've had enough. Tickets are so hard to buy. All the suitable times are already sold out, and the remaining ones are either too early or too late."
He Shiyi thought quickly, "If you can't buy a suitable ticket, Ranran, why don't you just stay in Beijing North this year and come to my house for the New Year."
Despite her warm and generous invitation, Tao Yiran did not dare to accept it easily. She still wanted to go back. She had been away from her parents for so long, and she was waiting for the moment to go home and reunite with them.
This is as it should be.
For a child wandering outside, home is his end and destination.
Tao Yiran politely rejected He Shiyi and told her his thoughts. Finally, as they chatted, they shared with each other the happiness that could only be experienced at home.
My cat stole the bacon smoked by my grandmother, his dog took away my mother's high heels, and on the reunion night, I played firecrackers in the snow with the kids, pasted window decorations with upside-down blessings, and bought New Year's goods.
There seemed to be happiness and joy in everything they said.
Chen Zhan had never experienced such joy. Her family's New Year celebrations were never anything like lively. As a bystander, she stood on the sidelines, listening to the things that made her so envious, and surprisingly, she felt a tinge of anticipation.
Looking forward to how her family will celebrate the New Year this year.
The final exams ended quickly and the four people in the dormitory soon parted ways.
It was snowing on the day he returned home. Chen Zhan dragged his heavy suitcase and took a taxi home. Snowflakes fell from the sky, stuck to the car window, quickly melted into water, and slid down the glass.
The road was congested and Chen Zan was stuck halfway.
Chen Zhan had informed Lou Yan about going home for vacation, but the other party just sent a cold "okay" in response.
They were not at all like Ji Miaomiao and Tao Yiran's parents, who cared about this and that on the other end of the phone. Even He Shiyi, who lived locally like her, heard her mother's gentle and caring voice on the other end when she called home to inform them.
Looking at the words sent by Lou Yan on the phone, Chen Zan felt a little lost in his heart.
Although she has gotten used to it over the years, she still feels a little disappointed when she sees other mothers caring for their daughters.
It was already late when I got home.
As soon as Chen Zan entered the room, he saw the long-lost figure on the sofa.
"dad?"
Chen Jinnian was sitting on the sofa reading a book. When he heard the voice, he looked up and saw Chen Zhan at the entrance.
He curved his lips and called her, "Zhanzhan."
A look of surprise crossed Chen Zan's face. He leaned the suitcase against the corner and hurried over.
"Why are you back? Did your institute give you a holiday?"
Chen Jinnian is a scientific researcher. He lives in the research institute all year round and rarely goes home. Last year, he didn't even go home. Because of this incident, Lou Yan was sad for a long time.
He closed the book in his hand and put it on the coffee table. Looking at Chen Zan who was walking towards him, he smiled and replied, "I took the initiative to apply this time. I wanted to come back and take a look."
Perhaps due to years of research, Chen Jinnian has a gentle face with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. Although he is in his early forties, his gentle and graceful character has not been taken away by the years.
One can tell at a glance that he is a knowledgeable scientist.
Chen Zhan smiled at him, looked around the living room, and asked him, "Where's my mom? Where did she go?"
"I went grocery shopping." Chen Jinnian's eyes flashed with the surprised and flustered look of Lou Yan when she saw him. He smiled subconsciously, "I didn't tell her when I came back. She seemed a little surprised."
Having lived with Lou Yan all the time, Chen Zan knew how much Lou Yan missed him over the years.
She often saw Lou Yan sitting quietly on the sofa with Chen Jinnian's photo in her hand, looking at it over and over again, looking lonely.
I also felt heartbroken.
Chen Jinnian's return home temporarily broke the unpleasantness between mother and daughter.
The family of three had a pleasant dinner time.
After dinner, Chen Zhan returned to her room. She sorted the clothes in her suitcase and put them in the closet. As soon as she rested her feet, her phone started buzzing non-stop.
Chen Zan fell on the bed with her long black hair spread out. She had changed into pajamas, and the fluffy pink color made her look like a peach. She took out her cell phone and turned it on.
It was a message sent to her by He Shiyi.
She posted some videos of a puppy she had at home, a West Highland breed with snow-white fur and a bell tied around its neck.
[He Shiyi: Zhanzhan, look! This is my puppy. Isn't it cute?]
Chen Zhan smiled and typed back: [Chen Zhan: Cute.]
He Shiyi posted another video.
She clicked on it, and the puppy in the video was wagging its tail and looking up in the direction of the leader, its eyes dark and bright. He Shiyi was holding dog food in his hand and teasing it, "Lingling, sit down."
Lingling did as she was told obediently.
He Shiyi stretched out his palm and fed it while praising it, "Lingling is so good."
What a loving scene! Chen Zan can feel the happiness in He Shiyi's family through the screen.
For some reason, she suddenly thought of He Jingsui and the empty big house where he lived alone.
The Chinese New Year is coming soon. Does he live alone too?
All his thoughts were directed to him, and Chen Zan typed a question to He Shiyi.
"Shiyi, your brother is spending the New Year alone this year..."
He tapped the delete key with his finger and deleted that line of text.
Chen Zan threw the phone aside, pursed his lips, and felt a mixture of emotions.
In the middle of the night, Chen Zan felt thirsty and wanted to drink some water. When he passed by the doors of Chen Jinnian and Lou Yan's rooms, he heard them seeming to be arguing.
"Your daughter is just like you. She even gave up Jingbei University for a hobby. What's so bad about Jingbei University?"
"Ayan, this isn't a question of whether it's good or not. Zhanzhan likes to paint, and as parents, we should support her choice."
"Should I support her just because I like her? Chen Jinnian, have you ever thought about how this affects her future? Society is cruel and indifferent these days. If you don't have the ability, you'll be the only one to suffer in the future. What's wrong with going abroad? There are so many elites out there. Learning and interacting with them is the best thing for her."
Chen Jinnian disagreed with Lou Yan's statement and spoke up for Chen Zan.
Unexpectedly, Lou Yan took advantage of the situation and brought the topic back to him, her voice sounding tired and regretful.
"I really regret my decision to let you do research. I don't want Zhanzhan to be like you, spending the rest of her life relying on her hobbies."
“…”
"There's no room for negotiation on this matter. After Zhanzhan finishes her university studies, I'll arrange for her to study abroad."
Chen Zan stood at the door listening to the quarreling voices in the house. A huge sense of loss enveloped her like a spider web, almost suffocating her.
She lowered her eyelids and pursed her dry lips. As Chen Jinnian tried to reason with her, she returned to her room.
On New Year's Eve, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers can be heard everywhere.
The family of three had a happy reunion dinner.
Lou Yan was happy and drank red wine with Chen Jinnian to celebrate. The lights were bright and warm, but they made her cheeks blush.
"Drink less." Chen Jinnian didn't let her drink too much.
"It's okay, red wine won't make you drunk." Lou Yan reassured him while pouring the wine. "It's a new year soon, so it's okay to have a little drink to celebrate."
"Come, let's celebrate our family reunion." Lou Yan raised his glass and said to them, "It will get better and better in the future."
It was rare for her to be so happy, so Chen Zhan didn't spoil her fun and toasted her, "Happy New Year!"
Chen Jinnian then clinked the three cups together, sparkling under the light, "Come on! Happy New Year!"
It's rare to drink a glass of wine in one's heart's content.
Before the wine glass was placed on the table, the cell phone in Chen Jinnian's pocket started ringing.
Under the puzzled gazes of Lou Yan and Chen Zan, he took it out and took a look.
I stood up, told them I had a call, and walked to the balcony.
Chen Zan didn't look away until Chen Jinnian's figure gradually became blurred.
She turned her head to look at Lou Yan beside her, and the joyful smile on her face was no longer there.
Chen Zan couldn't bear it, so he raised his hand and held her cold hand.
Until Chen Jinnian came back, his figure was hurried, and even his speech speed became faster, "Ayan, Zhanzhan, I may... need to go back now..."
Although she had already anticipated this possibility, Lou Yan still couldn't help but get excited when she heard him say it himself.
"Now?" Lou Yan's voice was filled with self-deceiving worry: "But it's already evening, and... today is the day of reunion... leave tomorrow..."
"It's too late to leave tomorrow. I have to go back today." Chen Jinnian took the coat draped over the sofa in the living room and put it on, saying to them, "I'm sorry, Yan Zhanzhan. The research institute is very important to me. Next time, I will definitely be at home with you for the New Year..."
Having said that, without waiting for them to speak, Chen Jinnian quickly went upstairs, dragged down the suitcase, and walked into the dark night with raging wind and snow.
Only the mother and daughter were left at home.
Chen Zan looked at Lou Yan, who seemed to have lost his self-awareness and was in a daze beside him, and a trace of heartache flashed in his eyes.
"mom……"
Lou Yan was slow to react and raised his eyes to look at her. He then forced a stiff smile and said in a nonchalant tone, "It's okay, if he leaves, let him leave. Let's eat..."
She stuffed the food into her mouth and told herself over and over again, "It's good to go, it's good to go..."
The perfect reunion dinner was interrupted by a phone call, and the New Year atmosphere disappeared in an instant.
The house seemed to have returned to its usual quiet state.
This year's Spring Festival Gala was playing on TV. It was full of laughter and excitement, but it didn't bring a smile to Lou Yan's face.
She sat quietly on the sofa, her pupils dilated and dull, like a gray plaster statue.
Chen Jinnian's hasty departure made Lou Yan's mood, which had been soaring to the sky, fall heavily to the ground.
The discomfort is comparable to trauma.
Chen Zhan walked over and sat next to her. Even though the mother and daughter still had the same knot in their hearts, they were connected by heart, so Chen Zhan still felt sorry for her.
She leaned on her shoulder obediently, put her arms around her waist, and stayed with her quietly.
I hope she feels better.
Before the Spring Festival Gala was over, Lou Yan went back to her bedroom to sleep, and Chen Zan also returned to his room.
It was still snowing outside the window, and the heavy snow was flying wildly, illuminated by the street lights, like pieces of goose feathers.
She was a little worried about Chen Jinnian who was in a hurry, so she stood at the window and sent him a message.
Chen Zhan: Dad, you've arrived at the institute, remember to let everyone know you're safe. Be careful on your journey.
It took a while before I received Chen Jinnian's reply.
Chen Jinnian: Okay.
Chen Jinnian: Daddy is sorry for you today. I've made you and your mom sad. I'm sorry, Zhanzhan.
Chen Zhan: I'm fine, but my mom is very sad.
【Chen Jinnian: Tell her I'm sorry for her.】
【Chen Jinnian: Happy New Year.】
【Chen Zhan: Happy New Year.】
After finishing the chat with Chen Jinnian, Chen Zhan turned off her phone and looked out the window. The glass window reflected her sad face, and then she sighed heavily.
There was still half an hour until midnight, and sparse fireworks were already exploding in the distance outside the window.
Chen Zan took off his clothes and lay down in the warm bed. The small group chat of four people in the dormitory on his phone was already buzzing with activity.
The other three people tagged Chen Zan crazily in the group.
The phone dinged a lot, and Chen Zan clicked on it to reply to them.
[He Shiyi: What are you doing? I've been calling you for so long and you still haven't come out? Er Miao and Xiao Ranran miss you so much.]
Ji Miaomiao: You should be the one who wants Zhanzhan dead, right? Who was it that just said he would bombard you with phone calls if you didn't come out?
“…”
Tao Yiran: Er Miao is right, Zhanzhan, you can scroll back through the chat history. He Shiyi misses you terribly.
“…”
I really admire them.
Chen Zan laughed softly on the other end of the phone, and her mood gradually improved.
【Chen Zhan: What's the matter with calling me out?】
He Shiyi: Of course you're celebrating New Year's Eve with us. This is the first time for the four of us in the dorm, so no one can be absent.
He Shiyi's girlish tsundere nature can be seen from the text all over the screen.
Chen Zhan curled his lips, matching her arrogance. [He Shiyi: Okay.]
The four of them were chatting happily and crazily in the group. When the clock struck midnight, countless fireworks bloomed outside the window, lighting up the dark night sky, and everyone said "Happy New Year" to each other.
He Shiyi also generously sent small red envelopes in the group.
Ji Miaomiao: Woohoo, Shiyi is so nice! Thank you, Shiyi!
Tao Yiran: Shi Yi is the wealthy lady in our dormitory. I won't accept any rebuttal.
Chen Zan also took away a small red envelope. The amount was not large, but it was full of thoughtfulness.
She told her thank you.
He Shiyi tapped the small window to reply to her privately, "He Shiyi: Zhanzhan, you don't have to say thank you to me. I should be the one saying thank you. I'm really embarrassed that you've taken care of me so much this semester. This little red envelope is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope we can still be good friends in the future."
[Chen Zhan: You are my friend, it is my duty to take care of you.]
He Shiyi sent an emoticon package with the words "warm hug".
Feeling this warmth, Chen Zhan suddenly teased her again, [Chen Zhan: It's just... you gave us all the red envelopes, what are you going to do about it?]
[He Shiyi: That's easy. I can just ask my brother for it. He gave it to me anyway.]
As these words entered Chen Zan's eyes, the figure of He Jingsui emerged in his mind.
After careful consideration, Chen Zan asked He Shiyi indirectly: [He Shiyi: Will your brother give you a small red envelope?]
He Shiyi was completely oblivious and thought Chen Zan was just curious. [He Shiyi: Yes, he gives me red envelopes every year. They're bigger than the ones my parents give me.]
He Shiyi: You know, my brother has participated in many competitions and won a lot of prize money over the years. He has a lot of money in his pocket!
[Chen Zhan: So he's been giving you red envelopes from his bonus?]
[He Shiyi: Yes, no one has given him a red envelope since my aunt passed away.]
【He Shiyi: But he doesn’t need it.】
Chen Zhan didn't know what expression to use to deal with the calm and light words.
At this moment, she really wanted to ask the question that had been bothering her for a long time. With a heart full of courage, she asked, "Chen Zhan: Is your brother...doing New Year's alone?"
【He Shiyi: Well, what's wrong? 】
Chen Zhan didn't dare to ask any further, only feeling a pang of pain in his chest. [Chen Zhan: It's okay, I'm just asking.]
After finishing this topic, He Shiyi pulled Chen Zan aside to talk about other things. Sometimes she talked about her puppy Lingling, and sometimes she told her that she saw a handsome singer with great singing voice at this year's Spring Festival Gala and she planned to pursue him.
Chen Zan wasn't interested and just chatted with her briefly.
It was after midnight when she put down her phone and went to sleep. She turned off the lights and the room fell into quiet darkness. In the dark night with the curtains drawn, there were still sparks of fireworks blooming.
Chen Zan couldn't fall asleep at all. She tossed and turned in the quilt for a few rounds. Finally, she gave in and sat up from the bed.
I took the phone and opened it, and the screen lit up with a dazzling light.
After squinting her eyes for a while to adjust, she opened WeChat and the chat box with her avatar pinned at the top.
She hasn't said Happy New Year to him yet.
In the quiet and dark space, she held the phone and heard her heartbeat boiling and her atria bulging as if it was about to jump out of her chest.
Although she was drinking juice tonight, she felt drunk and could not suppress the urge in her heart.
Chen Zan's fingers trembled as she typed on the keyboard. The four words "Happy New Year" seemed not enough to express her sad and bitter feelings at the moment.
She sent him a red envelope with "Happy New Year" in it.
The next second after the message was successfully sent, Chen Zan saw the words "The other party is typing..." at the top flash.
After two "buzz" sounds, He Jing sent a question mark.
Chen Zhan explained: [Chen Zhan: Everyone has it. I wish you a happy new year.]
Only then did he accept the small red envelope she sent him and also sent her a Happy New Year.
Chen Zhan curled the corners of her lips in satisfaction, but before her smile faded, He Jingsui sent her a message that froze her smile on her face.
[He Jingsui: What does 520 mean?]
He teased her.
[He Jingsui: Chen Zan, you want to take advantage of me?]
-----------------------
The author has something to say: It’s too late!
It's late, but I hope you like it.
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