Chapter 20 A Tangle of Love in the North City 05 Why didn't you call me when you went home...?
"Hello, are there any tickets left for Kunming today?"
The ticket seller raised her somewhat sleepy eyes, and instantly became more alert after seeing the person's face. She even couldn't help but stare at the handsome face in front of her for a few more seconds before slowly answering his question, "Yes, but the next train only has seats and no sleeper berths. If you want a sleeper berth, you'll have to wait until tonight."
Yu Xingzhou fidgeted with the hem of his clothes at his side, hesitated for a few seconds, and then said, "...Then let's take a seat."
He took the train ticket from the ticket seller, looked down at the time carefully, and then put it in the inside pocket of his coat.
The train to Huichun City would depart in an hour and a half, giving Yu Xingzhou plenty of time. He decided to go out and have a good meal first, otherwise he would only be able to eat steamed buns once he got on the train.
Without Lin Tingyue with him, he was reluctant to order meat dishes, but he did order several steamed buns, as long as they could fill his stomach.
The older waiters at the restaurant seemed used to it all. They always saw people spending one or two months' salary on coats and watches, only to end up penniless. They never expected such a handsome young man to be like that. They just felt that young people these days really didn't know how to manage their money, and their previous smiles disappeared.
Yu Xingzhou didn't care about any of that; he ate his fill, packed up his food, and left.
The northern city was desolate in winter. Yu Xingzhou didn't have any brightly colored clothes. He walked slowly down the street, as if he had become one with the withered trees along the way.
It wasn't as bitterly cold as the Great Northern Wilderness, but the wind still stung his face. He had grown up here, yet he felt less rooted than a bare, leafless tree. He didn't know when he would see this city again. His rootless situation made him feel like a drifting duckweed. Yu Xingzhou tightened his coat, trying to create the illusion that he would be kept here.
It was precisely because he was certain that he could not stay that he could only make the most of the last moments before departure to remember every blade of grass and every tree here more deeply.
However, Lin Tingyue, under the same sky, was only focused on the straight, endless road in front of her. Whether it was the clouds above her head or the pine trees by the roadside, they were no different from the passersby left behind.
The train station was at least twenty miles from her home, but Lin Tingyue couldn't calm down enough to calculate the exact time. Even the usually composed Lin Tingyue hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Neither her past training nor her actual combat experience had taught her how to remain rational when deeply involved in emotions, so she could only use all her strength to drive this slightly heavy old bicycle.
She dared not stop; her time could not be wasted in the slightest.
Fortunately, there were no annoying traffic lights like in later generations, so she didn't have to start and stop all the time. She could fly like a bird or swim like a fish, speeding across deserted intersections in the early morning, heading towards the fleeing Yu Xingzhou.
But the road was too long, so long that she couldn't help but recall that person's eyes, couldn't help but blame herself for not being more attentive, and couldn't help but lament that she only understood her own heart so late.
When she realized that there was no one beside her, and a piece of her heart was missing, she understood that she had gradually integrated him into her life, getting used to his presence and accepting his care.
However, habits are so terrible that one will only realize this when Yu Xingzhou leaves.
She is no longer invincible, no longer a leaf that can be perched anywhere, no longer a wisp of smoke that can be detached at any time.
She finally realized that she needed him more than she had imagined.
It wasn't because of the so-called plot, nor because of his future status, but simply because her world needed this person.
The street scene receded endlessly with the howling wind until the building she had been longing for finally came into view.
After getting off the bicycle, she looked a little tired. Sweat kept flowing from her hair down her neck and back. Her hands, which had been exposed to the cold wind all the way, were stiff from holding the handlebars for a long time, and her legs were so sore that she staggered.
She jogged into the waiting hall, searching around for the man.
Lin Tingyue looked helplessly at the bustling hall, her vision gradually blurring.
Just when she thought she had missed it, that familiar figure stood up.
At that moment, all her physical exhaustion was forgotten, and she ran towards Yu Xingzhou, afraid that if she was even a step later, she would lose track of him again.
But the closer she got, the slower she slowed down, as if approaching a bird that might fly away at any moment; once she got close, it might fly even further away.
It was at this moment that Yu Xingzhou's gaze finally met hers.
She watched him so cautiously, as if disturbing something whenever someone came near.
His heart should have been more resolute. Since he had already made the choice for her in this relationship, he shouldn't have wavered, and he shouldn't have felt guilty for leaving without saying goodbye.
But as she walked step by step in front of him, all the noise around him seemed to become distant, and he could only see her.
Yu Xingzhou heard her ask in a slightly tearful voice, "Why didn't you call me when you went home?"
At this moment, the high wall he had built completely crumbled.
He changed his mind; he didn't want to let go.
When Lin Tingyue called that place "home," the caged beast in his heart could no longer be contained. He wanted to hold on to her tightly, like a lifeline.
He thought, "You came in on your own initiative; you provoked me first."
Yu Xingzhou stepped forward and embraced the person. It was a move he himself couldn't believe he would make, but at that moment, a hug was worth a thousand words.
The surrounding crowd surged, and although many eyes lingered on the embracing couple, the train waited for no one.
"I'm sorry." Yu Xingzhou apologized with red eyes, using his clean sleeve to wipe the sweat and tears from his lover's head and face.
"I should apologize for making you suffer these past few days." As for what kind of grievances he suffered, there's no need to elaborate. Lin Tingyue couldn't change his mother's opinion of him in a short time; he could only wait for time to prove it.
The couple stood there like that, oblivious to everyone else, putting on a romantic soap opera, until another group of passengers boarded the train. Only then did Lin Tingyue realize that it was best to hurry back. After the heat subsided, her sweat-soaked clothes clung to her body, and the wind made her feel even colder.
Fortunately, Yu Xingzhou had a coat in his bag, and Lin Tingyue put it on and quickly pulled him outside.
On the way back, Yu Xingzhou rode the bicycle. She sat sideways on the back, with one hand reaching forward to hug the man's waist. She leaned against his broad back, not caring whether this was inappropriate.
The winter winds in the northern city are particularly strong, but fortunately the wind was favorable. Thinking that Lin Tingyue had come against the wind, Yu Xingzhou felt even worse.
Lin Tingyue, sitting in the back, couldn't see his expression and didn't know he was feeling guilty. She glanced at her watch and said, "I guess I'll be able to get back just in time for dinner at home."
"...Okay, I'll ride faster."
Fortunately, the wind was strong, and the sound of the wind drowned out his sobs.
When the two arrived home, everyone was busy in the kitchen. Even Qi Yin was making dumplings in the living room. Lin Tingyue, carrying Yu Xingzhou's bag, walked to the side of the people, letting him block her way. Then she quickly crossed the living room, stepped up the stairs, went back into the house, threw the bag down, and began to take off her wet clothes.
Yu Xingzhou saw that she had stripped down to her underwear, so he quickly locked the door from the inside.
However, Lin Tingyue's underwear was the worst affected area. She quickly took it off and threw it on the stool next to her. Naked, she went to the closet to rummage for clothes, complaining that she was cold.
If I could take a hot bath as soon as I got home in the future, I would especially miss the advanced and convenient living conditions of decades later.
While Lin Tingyue was still mourning the temporary loss of her convenient life, a warm embrace suddenly surrounded her from behind.
Will this make it warmer?
The timing of this scene is a bit off. If it were nighttime, they would probably be having a vigorous aerobic workout next.
Lin Tingyue could only regretfully push the person away and quickly change her clothes.
After the two went downstairs, they found that vegetable pancakes had already been laid out on the dining table. You Susu called to Lin Tingyue, "Have some of these to tide you over."
She hadn't eaten or drunk anything all morning, and had also ridden a stationary bike for an hour. She definitely needed to replenish her energy after that amount of exercise.
Today is the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. In addition to vegetable pancakes and vegetarian dumplings, there are also noodles. Fortunately, the Lin family is large, so there is no fear of not being able to finish them.
After lunch, Lin Yao and Lin Jinwu called Lin Tingyue to the study, while Lin Jinwen went to find Yu Xingzhou.
Lin Yao asked, "What happened this morning? I heard from your older brother that Xingzhou went out before dawn, and you also ran out without eating anything after you woke up."
Lin Tingyue cast a helpless glance at her elder brother, "You saw it all, why didn't you stop him?"
"If we block the way, we won't be able to watch the show."
Lin Jinwu had barely finished speaking when his father gave him a light, merciless kick.
"Sigh, this is all a misunderstanding. He overheard my conversation with Mom yesterday, but he didn't hear the whole thing..." Lin Tingyue explained from beginning to end, but had no choice but to betray her mother.
After all, she was his wife, so Lin Yao tried to save face and said, "Your mother is only trying to help you, but her methods are wrong. I'll talk to her about it later. But have you thought things through about your job?"
"Yes, I already called Captain Lu back last night."
"Alright, I was thinking that if you agreed, I would have to find a way to arrange a job for Xingzhou here as soon as possible... What do you plan to do after that? You can't stay in the countryside forever."
After thinking for a moment, Lin Tingyue decided to be honest, "I want to continue my studies, so I'm waiting for an opportunity."
Lin Jinwu probed, "You mean the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University or..."
"No, I'm waiting for the resumption of the college entrance examination."
The Lin father and son looked at each other, after all, there was still no news at this time, and at the earliest, they would have to wait until the leaders held a meeting in August before any rumors would spread.
"Alright, since you have this plan, then study more in your spare time. Opportunities are for those who are prepared." Lin Yao said, taking out his wallet. "Do you have enough money? Go to the bookstore and buy some books to take back with you."
Lin Tingyue instinctively refused, saying, "No need, no need, I have enough."
In the past, Lin Yao had never heard her refuse at times like this. He thought that his daughter must have suffered a lot in the countryside to change so much. He felt very sorry for her and stuffed a thick wad of money into Lin Tingyue's hand, saying, "Take it, consider it New Year's money."
Lin Jinwu reached out and said, "Dad, I want one too."
"What do you want? I don't have anything."
"These are for your grandchildren, keep them here for now."
"..." Lin Yao had no choice but to take out ten more ten-yuan bills from his pocket, slap them into the man's arms, and say, "Get lost."
The usually taciturn eldest brother said several auspicious words before quickly leaving. The father sighed and then explained to her that the eldest brother was going back to the army tomorrow, and the eldest sister-in-law was going to give birth in a few months.
Lin Tingyue nodded, "It's okay, Dad. Actually, I think everyone should have some too. I'll go out and split this money with my second brother later."
The father waved his hand and said, "You don't need to give him any. He'll have the money on his wedding day."
Thinking of her second brother and Qin Hua, Lin Tingyue still had some expectations. Qin Hua was from the same hometown as her and they got along well, so they exchanged addresses for writing letters, so that she could know the progress of their relationship when she returned to the countryside.
After leaving the study, Lin Tingyue hurried to boil water to prepare for a bath, only to find that Yu Xingzhou was already helping her, even hand-washing her underwear.
While the water was boiling, family members gradually went out. Father played chess with his friends, Mother went to play cards with the neighbors, Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law were going back tomorrow, so they went to buy some local specialties and gifts to take back with them, and Second Brother went to find his future sister-in-law to cultivate their relationship.
So only the two of them were left at home.
Although no one else was around, they still locked the bathroom door. Lin Tingyue took a shower in the inner room, while Yu Xingzhou washed clothes in the outer room.
Actually, there weren't many clothes, and the washing was done quickly, but Yu Xingzhou didn't want to leave until he heard his wife call out to him, "Xingzhou, come and help me scrub my back."
"good."
Yu Xingzhou couldn't wait any longer and went inside immediately. Inside, the air was thick with heat, and the woman had her long hair coiled up behind her head, revealing her smooth neck and back.
Back in the countryside, the two of them often rubbed each other's backs, but perhaps because he wasn't familiar with the environment here, he felt a bit nervous and uneasy. Even though he knew he was doing something serious, he still felt guilty.
"Why is it so light? Put in more force." Lin Tingyue suspected that he was paddling, as the force was even lighter than when she rubbed him herself.
“…Okay, I understand.” Yu Xingzhou shook his head, trying to shake off those absurd thoughts, but as he touched the delicate, smooth skin, his mind remained unsettled.
Lin Tingyue, feeling she had almost finished, tried to turn around and rub the other side herself. But perhaps she was a little tired today, and she lost her footing. She swayed slightly before being pulled into a warm embrace behind her, just like before lunch. There was only one difference: this time there was an undeniable presence behind her, and she was completely naked, like a flower ready to be picked.
The man held her in that position, his breathing growing heavier and heavier. Even through the fabric, she could feel his chest rising and falling, growing increasingly hot. Equally hot was Yu Xingzhou's face, which pressed against her cheek, like a cat nuzzling its owner, gently nudging her chin to leave its scent before pulling back slightly to rub his lips against her ear.
Lin Tingyue, however, was unusually flustered, her heartbeat became erratic, like a runaway sports car, leaving her to be carried along by the person behind her.
The unfamiliar location and experience made Lin Tingyue very nervous. Even though she knew no one was home, she still held back from making a sound.
But the more she acted this way, the more rebellious the men became.
Yu Xingzhou had perhaps been holding back for a long time before he erupted at this moment, his outburst more intense and profound than ever before, as if he wanted to knead her into his very bones.
For the first time, without any barriers or obstacles, amidst the warmth of their bond, they completely surrendered themselves to each other.
The day the parents' committee came to the Lin family, Lin Tingyue was planning to go to the library with Yu Xingzhou.
Seeing several elderly women standing at the door, Lin Tingyue subconsciously assumed they were looking for Ms. Qi Yin, and casually said, "I'll go call my mom down."
The leader immediately stopped her, saying, "We're not here to play cards with your mother."
Lin Tingyue was stunned. Was it someone looking for her?
Sure enough, these women did come to see her. They came to deliver a thank-you letter and banner from the Public Security Bureau, and to take the person involved to the bulletin board to read the contents of the thank-you letter aloud.
Lin Tingyue wanted to refuse but couldn't, and could only be escorted out the door by the aunties. She had rarely experienced such a ridiculous situation, even in her previous life.
Since most of the people in the compound knew each other, the word spread quickly, and many people came to hear the letter of thanks.
Fortunately, the letter was short, and Lin Tingyue only had to stand in the center of the crowd for a short while before it ended. One of the older women from the parents' committee wanted her to say a few words, but she politely declined.
"It was nothing, we'll head out now if there's nothing else."
Even if she had other things to do, she had to leave. Lin Tingyue smiled awkwardly as she walked briskly, finally getting away from everyone's sight.
After that, Lin Tingyue's reputation in the compound rose to another level.
However, she didn't care about other people's opinions of her. Putting aside the fact that she would be going back to her hometown in a few days, a bad reputation wouldn't make her lose more weight, and a good reputation didn't necessarily mean that good things would happen.
However, Xu's parents cared a lot, and when it was time for dinner, they couldn't help but lament that their son had no taste.
"Look at you, what's so great about that village girl? You really picked up a sesame seed and lost a watermelon." Shuerqin felt ashamed whenever she talked about it. She was used to being strong-willed and couldn't accept that her son had married into such a lowly family.
Xu Xingyi was annoyed when she heard this, and slammed the bowl heavily on the table. "Mom, you've never even met Xiaoxue, how do you know she's bad?"
"How dare you talk to your mother like that?" Xu Rulan glared at Xu Xingyi, extinguishing half of his newly ignited anger.
Xu Xingyi's older sister, Xu Rulan, was much older than him. At that time, their parents were busy with work, and Xu Rulan herself was still a child, but she had already started taking care of her younger brother. Therefore, Xu Xingyi was more afraid of this older sister who raised him than his parents.
Xu Rulan was engaged shortly after coming of age. After the wedding, due to her husband's job transfer, she followed him to a neighboring city. Although she only came back twice a year, she heard about her younger brother's situation in the countryside. "Besides, you were in the wrong in the first place. Xiaoyue was so good to you, and she even followed you to the countryside. Where can you find such a good woman who is so devoted to you?"
Unlike the Xu family elders, Xu Rulan genuinely thought Lin Tingyue was a good person. She not only truly liked Xu Xingyi, but also found her to be beautiful.
Xu Xingyi also felt that his sister's words hit the nail on the head. Although Song Xue was good, Xu Xingyi could sense that she wasn't as unconditionally devoted to him as Lin Tingyue had been before, giving him everything good. Instead, Song Xue was trying to extract benefits from him. For example, she had exchanged her job for money, even though she had been forced into it by her family at the time. Now that her family realized cutting off his allowance didn't work, they no longer needed to use that tactic.
“We’ve already missed out on the Lin family, but we can’t afford to miss out on the An family.” Xu Jianjun suddenly said, “Now that the vice president has brought it up, you and An Ran have to meet. She’s off work tomorrow, so you have to go.”
"You mean the vice president's youngest daughter? Then our family is lucky to have married into the family!" Shuerqin never expected things to turn out this way. The vice president of their hospital actually took a liking to her son. "Son, you can't let us down this time. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Xu Xingyi didn't want to see her, but she was, after all, the daughter of a high-ranking leader at his parents' hospital. He had to go at least once and put on a good show so that his parents wouldn't lose their jobs because of her.
So the next day, I dressed up specially and rode my bicycle to pick her up.
It was quite a coincidence that his cycling skills weren't particularly good, and he almost collided with Lin Tingyue's car at the gate.
Xu Xingyi preemptively asked, "Why are you riding so fast?"
"This is my normal speed, you're riding too slowly." Lin Tingyue was initially too lazy to pay attention to him, but after noticing that the woman on the back of his vehicle was not a member of the Xu family, she thought for a long time before remembering who she was.
This is the second female lead in the book, An Ran, the daughter of the hospital director. Her character is quite similar to the original owner of the body; both are the youngest daughters in their families, raised in a pampered environment, and both have the temperament of spoiled young ladies. The only difference is that An Ran got her job as a nurse at the hospital based on her abilities, while the original owner knew nothing about it.
It seems that Xu Xingyi, as the male protagonist of this book, will not be affected by some of the people he is meant to meet.
While Lin Tingyue was sizing up the other person, the other person was also sizing her up, and at the same time looking at Yu Xingzhou in the back seat.
An Ran had seen many people in the hospital, but a man as handsome as Yu Xingzhou was truly rare. He was so handsome that he seemed to stand out from the crowd; her eyes were automatically drawn to him. Although she didn't want to admit it, Lin Tingyue was equally beautiful, and the two looked very well-matched, which made her envious. And when she felt this envy, her words turned venomous.
"Lin Tingyue, long time no see." An Ran greeted her first, and then added, "I didn't expect your country bumpkin husband to be so good-looking, but good looks alone can't give you a good life."
The two weren't close, and it would be unpleasant for anyone to hear such gossiping and cursing the other the moment they met. Fortunately, Lin Tingyue was quite skilled at verbal sparring and quick-witted. She immediately retorted, "You don't need to worry about our family matters. You should worry more about yourself, lest you find yourself being cheated on without even realizing it."
An Ran reacted just as quickly. She first glanced at Xu Xingyi's slightly guilty and impatient face, and immediately asked her, "What do you mean?"
Lin Tingyue shrugged. "It means exactly what it says. Otherwise, why do you think I didn't want him anymore?"
Xu Xingyi finally couldn't hold back any longer and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Lin Tingyue, can you please stop causing trouble here?"
"Whether you're trying to cause trouble or not, Comrade Anran can call our brigade and ask. We live in a new society now, where monogamy is the norm." Lin Tingyue looked at Xu Xingyi's increasingly dark face, but in the end, she didn't reveal everything. "Alright, we have other things to do, so we'll be going now."
Lin Tingyue's words were tantamount to putting Xu Xingyi on the hot seat. At this moment, he suddenly understood why the captain didn't want to offend anyone back then.
"Should you tell me yourself, or should I call and ask?" An Ran didn't yell or shout, or even raise her voice. She sat half-sitting on the back of the bicycle with her arms crossed, calmly watching the man in front of her who refused to meet her gaze.
There weren't many good-looking young men of similar age in the compound; most were quite ordinary, including herself. Xu Xingyi was already considered good-looking, and the Lin family, where everyone was good-looking, was extremely rare. But An Ran was someone who valued appearances, and her family doted on her, so her marriage had been put on hold for a long time. Last year, the An family had actually considered the second son of the Lin family, but they were worried that their daughter's temperament wouldn't get along with her in-laws, so they always wanted to find someone from a family with a lower social standing than their own, so they could have more control.
So after much deliberation, she finally chose Xu Xingyi.
"Actually, agreeing to this blind date was a last resort. I was planning to explain it to you after today. I met a rural girl when I was working in the countryside, and she's a very nice person." After thinking it over, Xu Xingyi decided to keep most of the truth to herself, only saying that she already had someone she liked, but her family didn't agree.
An Ran hadn't expected to lose to a country girl, but the thought that even a great beauty like Lin Tingyue had fallen for her made her feel less resentful. However, in An Ran's view, the value of something increases when people start vying for it, and the same applies to people.
Since Xu Xingyi's parents do not approve of the partner he found in the countryside, and the two have not registered their marriage, she still has a chance to compete.
Their date proceeded as usual, and Xu Xingyi was the kind of person who accepted everything without question. The loss he had suffered with Lin Tingyue before hadn't taught him much of a lesson, and he was still glad that he could manage to balance both relationships.
So Lin Tingyue saw the two of them often together until she returned to her hometown, and couldn't help but feel sorry for Song Xue.
When she sighed, Yu Xingzhou assumed that she was going back to the countryside and that it would upset her, and suddenly felt extremely uneasy.
Looking at the man's hands tightly gripping hers, and his eyes that revealed the pitiful look of a wet puppy, Lin Tingyue finally used her straightforward mind this time. In the end, she realized that instead of guessing, she should just ask, "Why do you look like that? Are you misunderstanding me again?"
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