Winter Tour
The large ceiling chandelier cast a soft yellow light, illuminating the tableware with a gentle color. The five members of the Dong family sat harmoniously around a dining table, elegantly enjoying this hard-earned family dinner.
"Does Xiaoyou have any good news recently?" Zhang Ruye started the topic seemingly unintentionally.
Dongyou tried his best to hide in the corner, but he didn't expect that he couldn't escape the fate of becoming the protagonist of this family dinner.
She raised her head, feeling helpless: "Grandma..."
When Zhang Ruye heard her granddaughter's voice, she knew she was begging for mercy. She was used to doting on her granddaughter, so she laughed and said, "Okay, okay, grandma won't say anything more."
Before Dong You could breathe a sigh of relief, a voice that she found rather harsh and unpleasant came from the other end of the table: "How are you and the Chen family boss doing?"
Dongyou's face turned a little ugly the moment he heard the voice.
Wang Huan observed Dong You's expression and nudged Dong Qun, who spoke, with his elbow.
My daughter was already unhappy because Dong Qun had taken the initiative to arrange a dinner for her with the eldest son of the Chen family a few days ago, so she called me to complain. It was really a case of bringing up something that was out of place.
But this person didn't understand her hint. He glared at her and said in a gruff voice, "Why are you pushing me?!"
Wang Huan couldn't help but hold his forehead: What a stupid teammate, what a stupid teammate.
Dong You pretended not to notice his mother's little move and said coldly, "There's no possibility for Xiao Ge and I. Don't try to match us up on your own initiative."
Her expression was far from respectful when she said this.
Dong Qun was so angry when he saw her expression that he put down his chopsticks on the spot and was about to raise his finger to point at Dong You's nose and curse him.
It's like this every time she talks to him! Does she still see him as a father?!
Wang Huan had been staring at him, and when he realized what he was up to, he immediately held him down and whispered, "If you keep making trouble, Xiao You will be mad and won't come back for dinner next month."
Thinking of the last time when Dong You was angry with him and didn't go home for dinner for two whole months and was scolded by the two elders by holding his ears, Dong Qun had no choice but to relax his half-lifted body and snorted coldly without lowering his head.
After this incident, the atmosphere at the dinner table became strange.
Zhang Ruye glanced at Dong You, who was quietly eating, then at Dong Qun, who had been quietly warned by Wang Huan. She naturally picked up some vegetables and put them in her mouth, changing the subject, "I was playing cards with Liu Yang and the others the other day, and that old woman proudly told me that the second son of the Chen family is in love... Xiao You, don't say I'm pushing you. Look, his younger brother is in love, and you, the older sister, haven't made any moves at all. How can I not be anxious?"
I originally just wanted to share some gossip to lighten the mood, but as I was talking, I ended up sighing with some genuine emotion.
She continued, "I'm not trying to rush you..."
At this moment, Dongyou's thoughts had already drifted away, and she could no longer hear what her grandmother said next.
Is Chen Qi'an in love?
Dong You couldn't tell how he felt.
I just wonder why the meal suddenly became so unpalatable.
It’s all Dong Qun’s fault for spoiling the fun.
Zhang Ruye was still talking, but Dong You couldn't bear to listen anymore. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "I'm full."
There was only half a bowl of rice left in the bowl, which made Zhang Ruye unhappy: "Are you full after eating only half a bowl? Eat more!"
"I'm full, grandma—" Dongyou didn't stop as he left, but walked faster and faster.
Wang Huan looked at Dong You's back, sighed, and said with a hint of anger: "Mom, Xiao You finally comes home for a meal. Don't keep urging her to get married. It makes her unhappy every time she comes home."
Dong Qun still remembered the grudge just now and snorted deliberately: "It's all for her own good!"
Wang Huan immediately slapped him on the back: "You should talk less!"
"Alas... I know I'll get annoyed if I talk too much," Zhang Ruye said distressedly, "but every time I try to stop myself from saying it, I can't help but start talking again as soon as I sit at the table. Alas..."
Dongyou returned to her bedroom, and the more she thought about it, the more unhappy she felt. The more she thought about it, the more upset she felt. She couldn't figure it out.
How did we suddenly fall in love? How did we suddenly fall in love?
I haven't heard that anyone has been close to Chen Qi'an recently.
The dialing interface on the mobile phone screen has entered the phone number that has not been dialed for a long time.
Would it be weird to call and ask? We haven't been in touch for so long.
Soon, she suddenly realized: What's wrong with a sister caring about her brother's love life? Chen Qi'an is so innocent, what if he gets deceived?
"Sister Xiaoyou." The call was connected.
The male voice on the other end was very pleasant, with no ups and downs, which made Dongyou's ears numb.
The youthful voice of the boy in my memory has turned into the steady bass voice now. I am still a little uncomfortable with winter travel.
She suddenly felt awkward, so she bit the bullet and asked, "Xiao An, it's been a while since we last spoke. How have you been lately?"
There was silence for a moment, as if unwilling to say more: "Everything is fine. What's wrong, Sister Xiaoyou?"
Dong You was a little unhappy with Chen Qi'an's cold and distant attitude, and frowned unconsciously.
When did it start? When did they stop being close?
I don't remember.
But she really hated this half-baked relationship.
To change.
How to change?
"Xiao An." Dong You suddenly called him.
"Um."
"Are you free to meet up tomorrow?"
Chen Qian'an was surprised that Dong You contacted him on his own initiative, and he was at a loss.
The last time they met seemed to be a few months ago when they went to Dongyou's house to pay New Year's greetings. Unfortunately, Dongyou was very busy, and he left in a hurry after dinner without having a chance to say a few words to him.
They have said very few words to each other in the past few years. Looking through their chat records, they are all dry "Happy New Year" and "Happy Birthday", nothing else.
Chen Qi'an felt a little sad. He knew that he was partly responsible for the strained relationship between them.
He is too cowardly and useless.
The winter outing was arranged in a very quiet cafe, which was very suitable for discussing both business and personal matters. She often met with clients there to discuss business.
Chen Qi'an arrived half an hour earlier than the agreed time. This was his habit. Besides, he didn't want to keep Dong You waiting.
The waiter came over with the menu. Chen Qian'an wanted to order the winter tour menu as well, but his hand paused.
After so many years of unfamiliarity, he no longer knows what Dongyou likes now.
He didn't dare bet that her preferences were still the same as before.
Just like his weight in Dongyou's heart may no longer be what it used to be.
As the waiter placed the coffee ordered by Chen Qian'an on the table, Dong You pushed open the door of the cafe.
They hadn't seen each other for a long time, and thinking that they would have to sit face to face and talk about things next, Chen Qian'an unconsciously gripped the armrests of the chair.
Dong You didn't look as lost as he did. Seeing the lonely cup of coffee on the table, she pulled out a chair and sat down, frowning and saying, "Why didn't you order for me?"
Chen Qi'an wanted to explain: "I..."
The moment he opened his mouth, Dong You ordered from the waiter: "One raw coconut latte, three-tenths sugar, no ice."
After saying that, Dong You looked at Chen Qi'an with a scrutinizing look in his eyes: "You haven't forgotten what I like to drink, have you?"
Chen Qi'an didn't look into Dong You's eyes, but said dryly, "I haven't forgotten."
I'm just afraid you've changed, he added in his mind.
Winter travel was not really an accountability, and after receiving a negative answer, the slight sense of loss in my heart immediately disappeared.
Dongyou looked carefully at his younger brother who had grown up with him. It seemed that the last time he looked at him carefully was when he was in the first year of high school. He was not as tall and strong as he is now.
His skin is still as delicate and fair, his eyelashes are still long and thick, and his facial features are still just as beautiful.
But a lot has changed.
Although he concealed it well and no emotion could be seen on his face, Dong You still noticed his hidden embarrassment and helplessness when facing her.
In the past, Chen Qi'an would not look at her with such calm eyes, as if he was hiding a lot of things.
In my memory, Chen Qi'an's eyes were lively and watery. When he looked at you, your heart would melt unconsciously. As long as he acted coquettishly, Dongyou would put down her unfinished homework and happily play with him, risking a scolding from her father.
He has become mature. Dong You looks at his sharp facial features and can no longer imagine him acting like a spoiled child.
Dong You sighed and said, "Xiao An has grown up."
She watched him get slightly stunned, then pulled the corner of her mouth awkwardly and said, "Sister Xiaoyou too."
So annoying.
It wasn't like this before. In the past, he would look at her with sparkling eyes and happily ask her, "Have I grown taller?!"
Like a beautiful Samoyed.
So annoying. Who stole her puppy?
Ever since she started college, she had a vague feeling that Chen Qi'an was avoiding her. She didn't care at first, thinking it was just the unfamiliarity of not seeing him for half a year since she started college, and it would heal after a while.
She waited for a long time.
Their relationship has not changed except that it has become more strained.
I was very busy during my winter vacation at the university. During the winter and summer vacations, I was either interning or on the way to an internship. After graduation, I went on to study for a master's degree, and then started a business after completing my master's degree.
When she was free, she found that she could no longer see Chen Qian'an's back.
She wanted to catch up and hold him, but the blankness around her made her confused: where to go? Where was he?
Every year on the third day of the Lunar New Year, they would meet at her house. Seeing his eyes growing dimmer year by year, she wanted to go up to him and pat his back, rub his head to comfort him, and talk about their fading feelings, but she was called away by a phone call.
She knew that she was largely responsible for the strangeness between them now.
She didn't know what Chen Qian'an had been through in the past few years, and she didn't know why he had become so taciturn from being enthusiastic and cheerful.
She once thought that perhaps it was because he grew up, the years made him silent, and his genes made him awake and taciturn.
But she always thought she was special in his eyes.
Why am I being treated like a stranger?
Why don't you want to smile at me again?
Dong You didn’t know why she felt so sad, but she knew: she really could no longer accept being treated so coldly by Chen Qian’an.
She looked at him, her expression as gentle as possible, and her tone as casual as asking about the weather: "I heard you're in love?"
Although it was a question, she had already prepared her answer in her mind.
She stared at his thin lips, but couldn't help thinking nervously: What if he said "yes"?
Chen Qi'an's beautiful eyebrows knitted together slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes. He simply said softly, "No."
He actually wanted to ask who told her that, but he felt her tone was too aggressive. The more you talk, the more mistakes you make. He knew he was a clumsy talker, so he answered her questions politely, choosing to swallow any unnecessary words.
The answer was both expected and unexpected to Dongyou, and she couldn't describe how she felt.
Maybe happy.
This was part of her plan.
"Xiao An." Dong You looked at him, or rather, stared at him. It was hard to tell whether his eyes were gentle or not, but it was clear that they held a sense of determination. The corners of his lips curled up slightly as he slowly uttered the words, "Let's get married."
It was visibly evident that Chen Qian'an was stunned, and memories suddenly flooded towards him like a flood, swallowing him up.
He thought back to when he first realized he liked winter travel.
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