Chapter 23 Don't be afraid, you're back!
The days spent alone with the little male merman were fun, but they also passed by quickly.
On Sunday afternoon, Luo Qingyan, along with her cousin and uncle, went to the airport to pick up her grandmother and aunt who were returning from their trip.
-
"Mom, Grandma, over here!" Tao Xingyou waved on tiptoe when she saw her mother and grandmother, and was very happy. She then ran forward to greet them.
Luo Qingyan and her uncle followed behind. Luo Qingyan walked faster, trying to keep up with her cousin's pace, while her uncle walked steadily at the very back.
"Youzi, have you gained weight?" After they stopped, the aunt grabbed her cousin's wrist and looked her over gently. "Your face seems a bit rounder, and your chin is fuller."
"Mom! You've only been out for a few days, how could I have gained weight?" Tao Xingyou took her mother's arm with both hands and leaned close to her. "I've been working overtime for several days recently, and I was working overtime yesterday too. I should have lost weight! Mom, you didn't forget what your daughter looks like because you were having so much fun on your trip, did you?"
“We video chat every day, how could I forget what you look like?” Auntie touched her daughter’s head with her cheek. “It’s good to be chubby. Being a little chubby means you’re healthy and blessed. Look at the babies in the New Year’s paintings, they’re all chubby. You young people shouldn’t always be thinking about dieting. Oh dear, Qingyan seems to have lost weight too. Have you not been eating well?”
"That's right, your chin has gotten even sharper, and your face is all thin." Grandma was holding Luo Qingyan's hand, looking at Luo Qingyan's face with concern. "I remember a few days ago your face looked quite chubby, and your aunt even told me that it seemed like you were eating well. How come today... there's no flesh on your face?"
“Grandma, I ate well, and I ate a lot.” Luo Qingyan squeezed her grandmother’s hand. “Maybe the video makes me look fat. You’ve gotten used to seeing me in videos lately, so it’s not the same when you see me in person.”
“Yes, yes, yes, it’s not just a saying that you look 10 pounds heavier on camera! They say those skinny celebrities on TV look like bamboo poles in real life, like they could be blown away by the wind.” Tao Xingyou chimed in cheerfully, then suddenly remembered something and her smile faltered. “No, that should make me look thinner! How come I look fatter? Fatter than in the videos? Grandma, do you think I’ve lost weight or gained weight? I think my mom just wants me to gain weight; she always thinks I’m not chubby enough.”
"Whether you're fat or thin, you're beautiful!" Grandma reached out and patted Tao Xingyou's shoulder. "Our girl is beautiful no matter what!"
“Grandma wasn’t making this up; she had every reason and evidence to back it up.” Auntie smiled seriously. “Grandma was a renowned beauty when she was young, and so were her sisters—each with their own unique beauty, from plump to slender. So, with such good genes, they were all beautiful!”
“Excessive humility is arrogance. Besides, to use a popular phrase these days, you need to have a higher sense of worthyness!” My aunt raised her chin slightly. “You are not mature enough yet, and there is a lot you need to learn.”
"Alright, now the beautiful lady will take the other beauties home! Let's have a good meal!" Auntie's voice was as cheerful as her personality.
-
Grandma and my aunt went home, so we naturally had dinner at Grandma's house.
This morning, my uncle and cousin had already bought the groceries. My uncle prepared a simple, home-style dinner menu that could be cooked in an hour and a half after they got home.
My aunt and cousin were helping in the kitchen at first, but after the preparations were completed, they left the kitchen and returned to the living room.
Luo Qingyan helped her grandmother pack her luggage, and then the two of them took Chestnut to play in the yard for a while before returning to the living room.
With more people around, the living room suddenly became lively.
"Grandma was both happy and worried about this trip." Auntie picked up an apple and started peeling it. "She was happy because she had a lot of fun and said she'd go on trips again. But she was worried about you all at home. Ever since she heard about the case of that girl living alone, Grandma has been longing to go home!"
"Don't worry too much, these are just isolated cases!" Tao Xingyou sat next to her mother, staring at the fragrant apples. "You should enjoy yourselves while you're out having fun! Don't overthink it!"
"Yes, we'll be as careful as possible, and leave the rest to fate." This morning, Luo Qingyan was still thinking about how to tell her grandmother that she was planning to move there alone, but now it feels even more uncertain.
“We’re all ordinary people, we don’t know what the future holds!” Tao Xingyou chimed in. “Enjoying life while we can is the most important thing.”
"Come on, enjoy yourself!" Auntie peeled an apple, cut it into pieces, and distributed them to the others. "Life is truly unpredictable. On this trip, there was a couple in our group who were both university professors. Their child was exceptionally talented—a medical doctor who had returned from overseas and got into a very good hospital in City A. I wonder how many people he could have saved! But alas, a car accident took his life. Heaven was jealous of talent!"
"Sigh... The elderly bury their children." Grandma sighed deeply. "The couple was heartbroken at home for a long, long time, and it was a difficult decision to go out for a walk to clear their heads. Also, when other members of the tour group mentioned the case of a woman living alone, the couple let it slip. They didn't want to talk about it, but they were still very upset, and they would cry whenever they talked about it, and they couldn't stop."
"Oh! Speaking of this, another member of our group mentioned that her daughter found a boyfriend on a dating website." The aunt quickly swallowed the apple in her mouth and sat up straight. "At the time, everyone said that it's better to have a family. Putting aside everything else, at least there are two people, and you can take care of each other if something happens."
"Mom, you don't want my sister and me to go on online blind dates, do you?" Tao Xingyou looked disgusted, even the apple in her hand didn't taste good anymore. "You can't see into someone's heart, let alone online. Don't think it's good just because you see someone succeed. That's a one in ten thousand chance. Normally, you'll only encounter... and there might even be scams!"
“I know the internet is unreliable! Your grandma and I just remembered someone we know.” Auntie quickly exchanged a glance with her grandma. “You remember Grandma Lü, right? The chubby one, the very kind one. Before we went on our trip, she mentioned that her grandson was going back to G City on vacation, and her family also hoped that her grandson could have a companion soon. It just so happens that the other person is about the same age as Xingyou, so we can get to know each other.”
"Going back to G City on vacation? Does that mean the person doesn't live in G City?" Tao Xingyou picked up another piece of apple with her fork. "Where does the other person stay for the long term?"
"T City is in the next province, it's not far."
"It's not that far, but it's not that close either. It takes three or four hours by high-speed rail. Can you bear to let your daughter have a long-distance relationship?"
"You can get to know each other as friends first. You always say you want to be in a relationship but haven't found the right person. If you meet your true love, distance definitely won't be a problem. You're a very handsome young man!"
"Handsome! Really?" Tao Xingyou became interested. "How handsome? I hope it's not just the matchmaker's opinion."
"Let me show you the photos!" My aunt put down her fork, picked up her phone, and said, "I'm not kidding, he really is handsome. He was the campus heartthrob in college!"
"There are photos too? You didn't give my photos to the other person too, did you?" Tao Xingyou asked with curiosity and worry. "University... campus heartthrob... to become a campus heartthrob in university, you have to be an internet celebrity, right? Someone this handsome can go on blind dates? It doesn't sound very reliable."
"He's a clean-cut boy, but he's mainly busy with work, so he doesn't have time to date." The aunt showed him a photo on her phone. "Look, tall and handsome!"
"Oh, a family photo!" Tao Xingyou took the phone, zoomed in on the photo with two fingers, and her eyes lit up. "It's really nice! Is the other person really single? Don't just tell your family you're single when you actually have a girlfriend. It would be so awkward if you met up."
"You can treat it as making friends too!"
"Making friends is different from blind dates. A blind date is just that – a blind date. Making friends requires other settings, such as someone's wedding or a New Year's party. I think blind dates are a good way to make friends, so you must first understand the situation and make sure the other person is willing to go on a blind date."
“Yes, yes,” Grandma, who had been listening with a smile, finally spoke up. “This grandson of the Lü family is very introverted and doesn’t know how to get along with girls, so he hasn’t found the right one. He went on a blind date in T City. The woman initially liked him, but later said he was too… not good at sweet talk. Actually, it’s just that their personalities don’t match.”
“Yes, I’ve discussed it with your grandma. In a relationship, the two people should complement each other,” your aunt chimed in. “That boy is quiet, while you’re lively. You need someone to listen to you and keep you company, but he doesn’t need to give you too much in return, which is perfect! And if you really hit it off, maybe his personality will even change!”
"That's right, that's right, let's go take a look!" Grandma said, raising her hand to pat Luo Qingyan's hand beside her. "Let your sister go with you. It's just a meal and tea among young people. If you don't like it, that's fine. Don't young people like to split the bill when they go on blind dates these days? We're not taking advantage of anyone. Or we can treat you, and Grandma will pay for it."
"Ahhh! I'm so happy, Grandma's treating us!" Tao Xingyou covered her chest with both hands. "Grandma said so, I definitely have to go!"
"Qingyan, you're older than Xingyou, and you've met many more people while working outside. Help her keep an eye on things." Grandma patted Luo Qingyan's hand.
"Oh, um, okay." Luo Qingyan was a little dazed. Ever since she heard the phrase "the white-haired bury the black-haired," she had felt particularly sad. She tried hard to control herself from thinking about other things and simply didn't have the energy to chat with her family anymore, so she remained silent.
"Qingyan, we know you don't like blind dates, but since you're back now, you can give it a try if there's someone suitable..." Her aunt's expression was somewhat cautious. "To be honest, there's actually someone pretty good recently, quite suitable, maybe..."
"I don't necessarily need to be in a relationship. I want to spend time with Xingyou first! Xingyou's situation is more urgent. Didn't we introduce a suitable person? She wants to be in a relationship, she's willing to go on blind dates, so let's focus on her!" Luo Qingyan refused very quickly. Aside from the fact that she didn't like blind dates in the first place, her current health condition also made it inappropriate for her to go on them.
“Okay, let’s talk about Xingyou first.” Auntie didn’t insist. “Then we’ll contact their parents first to make the connection, and then you younger generation can make the contact yourselves.”
"Okay." Tao Xingyou nodded, crossing her arms and clenching her fists over her chest. "I hope a sweet romance will come my way!"
"Dinner's ready!" Tao Xingyou's words hadn't even finished when her uncle's voice came from the kitchen.
"Okay, I'll serve the dishes!" Luo Qingyan immediately stood up.
"Then I'll go get the rice!" Tao Xingyou got up.
Then came the joyful dinner time.
-
After dinner, my aunt's family sat for another half hour before leaving.
Grandma and Auntie have been traveling for several days and then had a long flight back. They are really tired and should get some rest.
Only Luo Qingyan and her grandmother were left at home. Luo Qingyan wanted her grandmother to rest early, but her grandmother said she wanted to watch TV with Luo Qingyan a little longer. So, the two of them sat snuggled together on the sofa, with a chestnut curled up beside them, creating a particularly warm and cozy scene.
"Qingyan," Grandma suddenly spoke, gently patting the arm of the person beside her, "would you like to tell Grandma the real reason you came back to G City?"
Luo Qingyan, whose head was resting against her grandmother's, propped her head up and tried to remain calm: "I'm just tired. I've been working hard outside for so long, I'm really exhausted. Grandma, do you remember the two weeks before I came back, you called me? At that time, you just told me that the flu was bad in S City and that I should take care of myself. But at that moment, I really missed home, especially after the problems at work... People often make decisions in an instant."
Luo Qingyan had told her grandmother about the mistake she made at work; after all, her sudden return to G City was quite unusual, and there had to be a reason. Her grandmother hadn't said much at the time, but she hadn't expected the issue to be brought up again now.
"Okay, it's time to come back if you're tired." Grandma pinched Luo Qingyan's arm. "Look how thin you are... just like the food in S City isn't very good."
"Sigh! I used to be too busy with work and my eating habits were irregular. Everyone was like that, either super thin or overweight from overwork... But now it's all better, I'm home."
"Yes, Grandma will make you something delicious since you're back. The ribs I made for you the day before your aunt and I went on our trip, and you said they were delicious, so I'll make them again tomorrow." Grandma sighed softly after saying this, paused, and then continued, "Qingyan, Grandma is from the older generation, and I don't have many days left to spend with you. The older generation still thinks it's good for you to get married, otherwise..."
"Grandma, don't worry about me!" Luo Qingyan leaned close to her grandmother again. "Society is progressing. This generation has its own way of taking care of itself. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings."
"That's true, but you're still young and can't feel the bitterness of old age. Physical pain and spiritual emptiness will be hard to change later."
"Even after getting married and having children, I still have to face physical pain and spiritual emptiness. Moreover, everyone will die, and not necessarily from old age, but at any time. I really don't want to get married and have children for the sake of my old age. It's unfair to me, to my husband, and to my children."
"Sigh... I'm an old woman who doesn't understand what you young people think. I don't want to say anything that would upset you, I just... sigh..."
“Grandma, every era has its own way of life. Think about it, in your grandma’s time, even divorce was a rare thing, right? Look at now, divorce is a very normal thing. And in terms of medical care, organ transplants used to be something that sounded terrifying, but now it’s a common surgery.”
"What you said makes sense, but I'm just worried that you won't have a good life in the future, and that you'll be bullied."
"Whatever the outcome, I'm prepared to accept it. Besides, maybe Xingyou's juniors will take care of me? Xingyou likes children, and she once said she would have at least two. What if she has three and can't take care of them all? I'll definitely have to help out, so... they'll take care of me in the future!"
"Okay, okay..." Grandma smiled, but she still had worries.
Luo Qingyan didn't want her grandmother to be unhappy. After all, she couldn't hide her illness forever, and it would definitely make her grandmother sad later. So, at least for now, she wanted to make her grandmother happy. She took a deep breath: "Grandma, actually... actually, I have someone I like."
"Really?" Grandma sat up straight in surprise, bumping into Chestnut next to her, who also became excited.
"Grandma, don't get agitated!" Luo Qingyan quickly comforted her grandmother and chestnut with her hands. "But, it's just one-sided. The other person is... really hard to win over, which is why I haven't told anyone."
"Our Qingyan is so outstanding, she can definitely do it."
"Oh dear, he's really great too. Grandma, please don't tell anyone else, okay? I probably won't be able to win him over. If you do, it'll be embarrassing."
"As long as you meet someone you like, that's good. Go for it! It's easy for a woman to pursue a man."
"This statement doesn't really apply to today's society, and it's even less applicable to the other person. The other person is very special."
"That's very special." Grandma nodded. "It seems you really like her. It's okay, it's okay if you can't win her over, just try your best first, who knows what the future holds!"
"Yes, who knows what the future holds!" Luo Qingyan smiled slightly. "Oh, right, there's something else. One night I was listening to a radio drama in the courtyard, you know, the kind with a radio. The volume was probably a bit loud, and people outside heard it and misunderstood. The rumors got more and more exaggerated, saying there were several men in our courtyard. Please, the person I like is so outstanding, how could I… sigh…"
"Oh dear, there must be some gossips causing trouble!" Grandma said sternly. "Don't worry, I'll handle them. Anyone who dares to talk nonsense will be punished!"
"Okay!" Luo Qingyan stretched out her arms and hugged her grandmother. "It's so good to have Grandma here."
Grandma patted Luo Qingyan on the shoulder and smiled happily.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
