Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
After leaving Li Lingfei's house, Yang Qianfan felt a heavy gloom settle in his heart. The thought that Zhu Hui was Wang Yuhan's girlfriend struck him like a thousand hammers, leaving him feeling hollow. He wandered aimlessly, as if his feet were on a predetermined path, unconsciously drawn to Zhu Hui's home. Standing beneath her building, he gazed at the familiar surroundings with mixed emotions. Although it had been a year since he last visited, nothing had changed; the same four elderly women sat leisurely playing cards, and that proud rooster had matured over the year, now chasing an unremarkable hen with newfound vigor.
As evening fell and the sun disappeared into the clouds, casting a twilight hue over everything, Zhu Hui finished dinner and prepared to head out for work. She was startled to see Yang Qianfan waiting for her downstairs.
"Ah! What a bad omen! The moment I step outside, I run into you. Looks like I need to go back and light some incense to pray for safety," she exclaimed, puzzled by his presence at her doorstep. "Hey! How did you know I lived here?"
"I not only know you live here but also that your grandmother is famous around here for being stingy—she won't even use gas," Yang Qianfan replied, squinting at her with a dismissive expression.
"My grandmother doesn't use gas because she understands energy conservation. Someone like you, who squanders money, wouldn't understand," Zhu Hui retorted, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"I'm in a bad mood today and don't want to argue with you. I haven't eaten yet..."
"Well, my family doesn't have any extra food to feed you! If you're hungry, go eat somewhere else!" Zhu Hui quickly interrupted him, fearing he might try to mooch off her family.
"Who wants to eat at your place? Just look at how thin you are; it's clear your family barely feeds you," Yang Qianfan shot back coldly.
"What my family eats is none of your business," Zhu Hui said, standing on tiptoe and glaring at him in frustration.
"I'm really hungry right now, and I want you to come with me to eat. Do you hear me?" Yang Qianfan ordered her sharply.
"Sorry, but I'm going to work now and don't have time to waste on someone like you!" Zhu Hui replied coldly as she pushed him aside and walked away.
"Hey! You little Dwarf Winter Melon! After all I've done for you, is it really that hard for you to accompany me for a meal?" Yang Qianfan shouted angrily as he grabbed her arm.
"What have you done for me? Your fists? Or your endless mockery?" Zhu Hui snapped back, shaking off his grip while feeling a pang of hurt inside.
Yang Qianfan was momentarily speechless by her response but refused to back down and became even more unreasonable.
"I don't care about that; you have to come with me to eat."
"What do you think I am to you? Why should I listen to you?"
Her words pierced his heart like a vice, forcing him to confront the painful reality: Zhu Hui was now Wang Yuhan's girlfriend.
"Wanting you to go out for a meal with me isn’t the same as asking you to cheat on Wang Yuhan; I won't let him know," Yang Qianfan shouted in frustration.
His shout echoed through the surroundings, startling everyone. The old ladies playing cards nearby turned to stare at the two of them, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Even the rooster that had been busy flirting paused to look over, raising its comb and letting out a surprised "Oh—".
Seeing the neighbors watching them, Zhu Hui was momentarily flustered and quickly pulled Yang Qianfan aside. With a frown, she whispered angrily, “Have you lost your mind? Speaking so recklessly here! Do you know if this gets back to my grandmother, she’ll think I’m shameless and will definitely scold me for bringing shame upon the family?” She glanced nervously at the old ladies, forcing an awkward smile in hopes they wouldn’t fan the flames of gossip in front of her grandmother. Then she turned back to Yang Qianfan, glaring at him as she threatened, “If you keep slandering my reputation right outside my door, and I end up unable to get married in the future, I will hold you responsible!”
“Sure! You can hold me responsible right now!” Yang Qianfan blurted out without thinking, a joyful grin spreading across his face.
“You…” Faced with his persistence, Zhu Hui felt helpless and finally relented. “Fine, I’ll concede this time. I’ll go eat with you!”
Seeing her agree, Yang Qianfan smiled broadly. Zhu Hui couldn’t help but sigh at his foolishness, laughing in frustration.
They chose a place not too far away to eat—Zhang Kao Yu—where they ordered a fish and several dishes to share casually. Yang Qianfan was in a bad mood and decided to drown his sorrows in alcohol like the ancients did. Thus, the fish met its demise amidst his uncontainable melancholy, leaving behind only a whole skeleton. Zhu Hui initially intended to persuade him not to drink anymore but was caught off guard when he insisted on dragging her into it. Unable to resist him, she reluctantly joined him for two drinks. To her surprise, after just those two cups, she became flushed and dizzy, mumbling incoherently before collapsing onto the table.
Yang Qianfan watched her intently, swirling the tea-colored liquid in his cup thoughtfully. The thought of her waking up and returning to Wang Yuhan’s side filled him with unbearable pain. He lit a cigarette and began to smoke in frustration. An hour passed; outside, the lights began to twinkle as dusk deepened. It was time to settle the bill and leave. He stubbed out his cigarette and gently patted Zhu Hui’s shoulder, but she remained unresponsive. With no other choice, he hoisted her onto his back and exited Zhang Kao Yu.
Once outside, instead of taking her home directly, he carried her aimlessly along Hanyang Avenue until they unknowingly reached the banks of the Yangtze River. The moonlight over the river was enchanting that night; the evening breeze felt intoxicating as boats sailed by on Jiang Mian, occasionally sounding their horns that echoed through the air and startled a flock of Yan Que nearby. At that moment, Zhu Hui stirred awake from the noise.
“Where are we? It’s so loud!” she mumbled groggily.
“We’re by the river; a boat just passed us,” he replied.
“A boat?” Zhu Hui blinked her bleary eyes open and indeed saw a large vessel before her. What surprised her even more was realizing she was clinging to Yang Qianfan’s back.
“Put me down! Why are you carrying me?” she shouted from his back, tugging at his ear and demanding he let her go immediately.
“Don’t pull! Don’t pull! I’ll put you down!” Yang Qianfan winced in pain and without hesitation tossed her off his back while raising his hand to soothe his sore ear.
“Hey! Why didn’t you wake me up earlier? Carrying me like this is just taking advantage of me!” Zhu Hui frowned at him accusingly.
“You were sleeping like a dead pig! No matter how much I called you, you wouldn’t wake up! And now you’re blaming me?”
“If you hadn’t made me drink, would I have gotten drunk?”
“Who knew you’d be so weak? Just two drinks and you’re like this.”
“Yes, yes, I’m useless.” Zhu Hui sighed and looked up at the dark sky. “It’s already very late; I need to go home soon or my grandmother will worry about me.” With that said, she turned to leave.
“Zhu Hui, can you stay and keep me company?” Yang Qianfan earnestly asked her from behind.
“Give me a reason to stay with you,” Zhu Hui replied, turning around.
“No other reason, just that I’m feeling down right now.”
Zhu Hui pondered for a moment and then nodded. “After analyzing, I find your reason quite sufficient. I’ll agree to your request and stay with you!” With that, she broke into a bright smile.
“Zhu Hui, you are always so understanding,” Yang Qianfan said, gazing deeply at her, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth, tinged with melancholy.
“Because I’m someone who enjoys sharing happiness with others.”
“Happiness?” Yang Qianfan asked thoughtfully. “So what should you do to truly make yourself happy?”
Comment 0 Comment Count