But... is it really okay for this female celebrity to be so careless about her image?
Lang Xi shrugged: "Poor Yu Nan. Zhu Yao just came to her senses yesterday, and probably hasn't even gotten married yet, and this kind of thing happened."
“It’s good that we’re not together. I don’t want Yu Nan to get involved in this mess. I can support her for the rest of my life. I just want her to be carefree. Her body can’t take it if she keeps getting into trouble like this every day.”
Just a few days ago, Yu Nan ended up in the hospital because of Zhu Yao's drinking of cola, which was still fresh in Li Yue's mind, so naturally she didn't have much affection for Zhu Yao.
Lang Xi still wanted to speak up for Zhu Yao in front of Li Yue, since the die was cast and Yu Nan was probably unable to leave Zhu Yao.
As for Ning Chen… she’s a woman of action…
"Dai Di~ Mommy~" Ning Chen said in a sweet, coquettish voice as she made the phone call, "Oh right~ it's that Zhu family, they're really going too far~"
While coaxing the two elders and praising their open-minded and progressive thinking, Ning Chen exaggeratedly complained, as if Zhu Yao's biological father had done something unforgivable to her.
"What a brilliant Peking University student, driven to the brink of despair... to be so heartless towards his own flesh and blood! Perhaps it's better for you, Mommy Dai Di~"
Author's Note:
Don't worry, things with the Yao family will be over soon~ You'll be together in no time~
Chapter 49 Your Mom Called You When You Had Your First Kiss
Zhu Yao was taken to a remote town by Yu Nan.
That town is located in the northernmost part of the country, a place where you can see the aurora borealis all year round. The town is surrounded by continuous mountains, and some towering trees grow on the mountainside.
There was only one train station outside the mountains, and the only way to get here was by old-fashioned green trains. It took the two of them most of the day to get here.
After getting off the bus, Yu Nan took Zhu Yao's hand and led her through a mountain tunnel before finally arriving in the town.
Standing outside the tunnel, Zhu Yao looked down at the entire town. Red bricks, green tiles, and white walls, low bungalows everywhere, old-fashioned buildings, but neither dilapidated nor chaotic, arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner on the basin.
This place seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the air is very clean.
Yu Nan took a deep breath of fresh air, cupped her hands to her mouth like a megaphone, and shouted loudly to the towns and villages below, "I'm back!"
"I'm back... I'm back... I'm here... la... la... ah..."
Her voice echoed through the mountains, and Zhu Yao saw people in the town looking up at the tunnel entrance.
A short while later, an old man riding a tricycle arrived at the tunnel entrance, with a bundle of vegetables on the tricycle.
"Oh my, isn't this the Yu family's daughter? What brings you back?"
"Uncle Zhou! Are you out buying groceries?"
"Oh my, these chives are freshly cut from the field... Did you bring guests back? Take a bunch of chives home later so your mom can make dumplings for them. These chives are... quite spicy!"
When the old man saw Yu Nan, his eyes narrowed into slits with a smile. He kindly took Yu Nan's hand and began to chat. He also looked at Zhu Yao with kind eyes and introduced the town to her in a very hospitable manner.
People living in the far north use warmth and laughter to drive away the chill. The old man's praise of her—warm, hospitable, and easy to get along with—made Zhu Yao a little embarrassed.
Who would give chives to a stranger?!
Finally, Zhu Yao and Yu Nan were taken back by Uncle Zhou in a tricycle. The two of them squatted beside the bundle of chives that were still covered in mud and dew, as the tricycle bumped along the muddy country road.
Along the way, the old man encountered many more people. Each time he met someone, he would call out their name in a strong voice, followed by, "I have to take Yuwa and my guests with me, so I won't chat with you anymore!"
The passersby smiled and greeted the three of them.
It felt like... everyone knew each other.
Yu Nan squatted down next to her and explained, "We live in a small county town with very few people. There are only so many people, so we can always find connections with each other."
For Zhu Yao, all of this was strange... the hospitable neighbors, the children chasing each other by the roadside, the small town...
My gloomy mood was somewhat dispelled by the wind here.
"arrive!"
The old man stopped in front of a self-built house, smiled at the two of them, and said, "I'm going to pick up my grandson now."
Old Zhou enthusiastically stuffed another half bundle of chives into Yu Nan's arms, proudly claiming that his family's chives were the best in town.
"It's not spicy enough, it's not flavorful enough! Dumplings need that spicy kick!"
As he rode his tricycle to the street corner, the old man shook his head and shouted something.
"Ah... people around here are pretty outgoing..."
Yu Nan scratched her head sheepishly, "Do you eat chives? Uh... do you eat spicy chives?"
Zhu Yao looked at Yu Nan and felt that... Yu Nan had a somewhat simple and honest feel to him.
"Let's go inside first."
Before even entering, one hears dogs barking.
Yu Nan opened the gate to the courtyard. As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw a black mongrel with a yellow eyebrow, chained up, barking frantically at the two of them.
"Kuroko, it's me!"
Hei Zi let out a "woof" and looked at Zhu Yao suspiciously.
Yu Nan took Zhu Yao's hand and patted Hei Zi's head. Hei Zi calmed down and started wagging its tail wildly at Yu Nan. Its ears drooped down and stopped perking up warily.
Besides the dog, Zhu Yao also saw a chicken coop... and it seemed there was also a duck pen... In the yard, a string of bright red dried chilies hung at the door of the house, and next to it was a small pile of corn with the green husks still attached, the silks sticking out densely.
The house was a self-built two-story building. The first floor was square and very regular. On the second floor, in addition to the house, there was a small platform where bed sheets were hung to dry.
The bed sheet was blue and white checkered, the same one Yu Nan used at home.
Yu Nan unlocked the door and pulled Zhu Yao inside.
No one was home; Yu Nan's parents were not there, and the surroundings were quiet and peaceful.
It is described as tranquil rather than silent because one can hear the rustling of leaves in the wind outside, occasionally mixed with the crowing of a rooster or the barking of a dog.
Zhu Yao looked around. The first floor had an ordinary living room and kitchen. Surprisingly, there was a fireplace in the living room, a swing, and a piano by the window.
The piano lid was closed, and a white tablecloth with lace trim was placed on top to prevent dust from settling on it.
Each piece of furniture was adorned with pothos plants, their long vines cascading down.
The staircase leading to the second floor is hidden behind a screen, where you can see more pothos plants placed at the top of the stairs, with long vines hanging down, each pot with vines that are 2 to 3 meters long.
Seemingly sensing Zhu Yao's curiosity, Yu Nan explained, "My mom... especially loves growing flowers. She says growing plants brings good fortune to her daughters."
Upstairs, there are three bedrooms. The largest is the master bedroom for Yu Nan's parents. The other two have darts hanging outside the door of one room and musical staves pasted outside the door of the other room.
Yu Nan gestured towards the dart with her lip: "That belongs to my brother."
The two pushed open the bedroom door, which was decorated with musical staves. The room was clean and tidy, showing that it had been carefully cleaned regularly.
Upon entering, you'll see a princess bed draped with pink curtains, next to which is a children's writing desk with several cartoon stickers on it.
Next to the table was a large bookshelf, crammed with books and magazines, and a stack of teaching materials nearly a meter high, tied with hemp rope.
There are many graffiti on the wall, including a tree with markings corresponding to Arabic numerals... which should be used to record Yu Nan's height.
"Ah... why are these still kept?"
When Yu Nan brought Zhu Yao in and saw the graffiti, she immediately blushed. "Those were just doodles I made when I was little and didn't know any better..."
"Pfft," Zhu Yao finally laughed, "So cute."
"Sister, you're finally smiling!"
Throughout the journey, Zhu Yao was in a low mood, and Yu Nan carefully tried to find topics to talk about, hoping to help her escape from the gossip.
Zhu Yao gently rubbed Yu Nan's head and then pulled her into her arms. "I'm fine now. Thank you for staying with me."
Actually, she had calmed down while on the train, but she was still depressed and unable to properly respond to Yu Nan.
At this moment, influenced by the atmosphere here, all those unpleasant things seem insignificant...
"Sister," Yu Nan said, burying her head in Zhu Yao's arms, her voice muffled, "I like you."
"This is a formal confession... I want to be with you... I'm serious."
Yu Nan looked up and met Zhu Yao's gaze. She wrapped her arms around Zhu Yao's waist and pushed her step by step, leaning back.
Zhu Yao walked backwards until she hit the wall and the graffiti tree, then there was nowhere left to retreat.
Yu Nan met her gaze; her eyes were clear yet warm.
The two drew closer and closer. Zhu Yao didn't refuse, so Yu Nan became bolder and slowly leaned forward...
Suddenly, the creaking sound of the courtyard gate came from outside the window... Yu Nan reflexively pushed Zhu Yao away, and the two of them were far apart again.
What's next...? Should I turn off the TV, or hide the comic books and my phone...?
Wait, she's not a student anymore! Why is she still so cowardly! No, she wants to kiss Zhu Yao, shouldn't she be cowardly too...? She needs to hide Zhu Yao quickly while her mother comes in!
Yu Nan was like a child caught by an adult being irresponsible, but that panic only lasted for a moment.
After pushing away Zhu Yao, who was "about to kiss" her, she only had time to panic for a second before Zhu Yao pulled Yu Nan into her arms.
Before Yu Nan could close her eyes, she only saw Zhu Yao's magnified face and her slightly trembling eyelashes...
For a moment, Yu Nan's mind went blank.
Her soul seemed to drift away from her body, pass through the ceiling, and roam freely in the blue sky with the white clouds, feeling soft and warm from the sunlight.
Immediately afterwards, Yu Nan heard the front door open and her mother call out, "Yu Bao?"
In an instant, her soul returned to its place, and Yu Nan jumped up like a startled cat, her back arched, and then fell heavily to the ground... landing hard on her buttocks.
Holy crap… they just… kissed?!
Oh my god, that was her first kiss! How could it be gone before she even got to experience it!
Waaaaah, Yu Nan's heart was filled with a violent cry.
She didn't want to recall her first kiss years later... even though it was with someone she liked, all she could remember was her mother calling her name and that bottom bouncing down on her bottom.
it hurts!
The fall made Yu Nan wince, and all the shyness and blush on her face just now disappeared.
So much so that when her mother heard the noise and wailing and ran up to open the door, she only saw Yu Nan howling on the ground, with Zhu Yao standing innocently in the corner next to her.
"You must be Xiao Zhu. I've heard Yu Nan mention you."