Xiang Yu: "..."
Li Yifan was still immersed in the joy of the gold-plated mechanical watch when his ears twitched slightly, as if he had heard some gossip.
"Uncle, you and my aunt were high school friends?"
Xiang Yu realized that Li Yifan's gossip skills were no less than Zhang Boyuan's. If Li Yifan were in the same class as him, he would definitely be the most competent listener among all the girls in the class.
Xiang Jun didn't shy away from the matter, laughing and saying, "No, that's not it. I started pursuing her in high school, but I didn't succeed."
Li Yifan asked, "And then what happened?"
"Later, she got into G University in Beijing, and I went to Q University in Beijing. I would go to see her every day whenever I didn't have class."
"And then my aunt started dating you, Uncle?"
"No, we got married in college." Xiang Jun sighed, "Back then, so many people were pursuing your aunt. If I hadn't gone to see her every day, I probably wouldn't have had a chance."
"Holy crap, Uncle, you're amazing!" Li Yifan gave a thumbs up. "One word: awesome!"
Li Yifan and Xiang Jun chatted happily, while Xiang Yu quietly typed and reported the progress to Gu Chen.
Gu Chen: Where are we? [Cute].jpg
-Xiangyu: After getting off the highway, we'll be at Grandma's house soon.
-Gu Chen: Please give my regards to Grandma.
-Gu Chen: Also, you're not allowed to get too close to Xu Lin.
Xu Lin?
Helpless and frustrated.
-Xiangyu: Xu Lin and I are childhood friends.
Childhood friend?
Gu Chen pursed his lips, thinking to himself that the other party's desire was not just for a simple childhood friendship.
-Gu Chen: But he's a man.
Xiang Yu laughed, realizing that she had never said she wanted to avoid boys before.
Gu Chen: Remember to avoid suspicion, boyfriend.
-Xiangyu: Okay.
Xiang Jun only told Sun Xiaoli about his return to China, saying he wanted to give the others a surprise.
Xiang Jun parked the car outside the street corner, and the three of them walked together to Grandma Hou's house.
Unlike the last time I came back, it's almost Chinese New Year, and most families are preparing for the holiday. The firecrackers sold outside the shops at the street corner are being bought up in stacks.
The old shopkeeper chatted and laughed with the person buying firecrackers, "Speaking of celebrating the New Year, it's still more fun here. The city has too strict controls and they don't allow it—hey, isn't this Jun! Back for the New Year?"
"Uncle Liu, you're in good health!" Xiang Jun had a good memory and remembered every familiar face. "I'm taking my mom back to my hometown for the New Year."
"That's great!" Uncle Liu laughed heartily. "Celebrating the New Year in the city has a unique flavor!"
"Oh my, isn't this Xiaoyu? You look like you've grown taller again." Grandma, who was carrying Spring Festival couplets, greeted Xiangyu.
I vaguely remember Grandma Wu across the street, these old neighbors she used to talk about. I nodded and said hello to her.
Grandma Wu watched him grow up, looked at his face with affection, and said kindly, "How were your exam results? Did you get first place again?"
"hold head high."
"Oh my, that's why I said you're smart," Grandma Wu said with a smile. "You can tutor your sister again next time you have time."
"..." Xiang Yu was instantly reminded of unpleasant memories.
Pink cover with gilded lettering, titled "My Tutor Fell in Love with Me".
Xiang Yu forced a smile, "...I'll definitely try when I have time."
He encountered many neighbors on the way, and Xiang Jun greeted them with a smile.
Compared to Xiang Yu, who was not very talkative, Li Yifan recognized a few familiar faces he had met during the National Day holiday and greeted them with a smile.
"Hello, Uncle Wang!"
Grandpa Wang waved: "Hey, hello."
After everyone had walked away, he stood there and muttered, "Who was that just now?"
The group entered the courtyard, where Grandma Hou was bending over and building a small plastic shed in the vegetable garden. The old lady was wearing thick cotton clothes, and it was still not very convenient for her to move around.
"Mom." Xiang Jun rolled up his sleeves and went to help Grandma Hou up, then bent down to start working. "You rest, I can do it."
"Jun?" When the person suddenly appeared in front of her, Grandma Hou thought she was seeing things. Because her hands were covered in mud, she could only touch Jun's face with the back of her hand.
The warmth filled Grandma Hou's face with smiles as she saw Xiang Yu and Li Yifan rolling up their sleeves to help with the chores.
He exclaimed excitedly, "You're all back?! Jun, why didn't you tell Mom you were coming back to China?!"
After saying that, he looked at Xiang Yu and said, "Xiao Yu, why didn't you call Grandma to let her know when your dad came back?"
Xiang Yu knew the old lady was pretending to be angry, so she went over to coax her, "My dad told my mom alone when he returned to China, saying he wanted to give her a surprise."
Grandma Hou pretended to scold Xiang Jun with a stern face, "Surprised? I think it was more of a shock! You almost scared this old woman to death."
"No, no, no," Xiang Jun quickly reassured her. "Mom, how could I dare to scare you?"
"Grandma, we've come to pick you up so we can go back to X City for the New Year." Li Yifan said with a smile, "I miss Grandma's cooking every day in X City."
"Alright, alright, now that I see you, I know what you're craving." Grandma Hou wasn't opposed to spending the New Year in X City, and looking at Xiang Yu, she asked.
"Where is Xiao Chen?"
“He’s been busy visiting welfare homes and nursing homes these past few days.”
Grandma Hou took Gu Chen to heart, thinking how wonderful it would be if Gu Chen were also her grandson; she adored this child.
Xiang Yu used the line that Gu Chen had taught him; the other party had guessed that Grandma Hou would ask him, and that's how confident he was.
"He asked me to give his regards, saying that he would come to see you when he arrived in X City."
"Who is Xiao Chen?" Xiang Jun was unaware that his son had such a person by his side.
“Xiao Chen is Xiao Yu’s deskmate. He stayed at our house during the National Day holiday.” Just from her tone, Xiang Jun could tell how much Grandma Hou liked Xiang Yu’s deskmate. “Xiao Chen is good-looking and has a sweet tongue. He helped with a lot of things during the National Day holiday.”
"That's really great." Xiang Jun was very happy that his son had made such a good friend. "Xiao Yu, invite him over for a visit sometime."
Xiang Yu nodded, feeling that her family's view of Gu Chen was positive and encouraging, which was very important.
Xiang Jun helped set up the small plastic shed and let Xiang Yu and Li Yifan into the house to help their grandmother pack her luggage.
They specifically instructed me not to bring too much, and that I could buy new clothes at the mall when I arrived.
As soon as Xiang Yu entered the house, a voice called out from outside.
“Yu’er—”
Xiang Yu started chatting before even leaving the courtyard.
"Hello, Uncle Jun!"
"Xiao Lin," Xiang Jun said with a smile, looking at Xu Lin in front of him, "you're still as strong as before."
Xu Lin even made a bicep contraction motion, saying, "That's a must."
When Xiang Yu came out, Xu Lin went up to him to give him a hug.
It wouldn't have been a problem to hug like that, but Xiang Yu suddenly remembered Gu Chen's words, "Keep your distance, boyfriend," and unconsciously took a step back.
Xu Lin was clearly surprised to be disappointed and felt a little embarrassed.
It's awkward to be left out.
Xiang Jun didn't notice what the two were doing. He bent down, tamped the shed legs into the ground to make them firm, and stood up, looking at the two of them, saying, "You two catch up, I'll go in and take a look."
"Okay, sure," Xu Lin replied. After Xiang Jun entered the room, he looked at Xiang Yu and suddenly stopped talking.
He originally went to the shop at the street corner to buy firecrackers, but when he heard that Xiang Yu had returned, he forgot to take his things and rushed over. Who knew it would turn out like this?
Xu Lin is straightforward and can't keep things to himself. He quickly asked the question.
"Did that bastard Gu Chen tell you?"
"?" Xiang Yu was stunned and didn't react for a moment.
Seeing that he didn't react, Xu Lin realized he had hit the nail on the head, and immediately threw his hand away and cursed, "Damn it, he actually badmouthed me behind my back."
After saying that, he grabbed Xiang Yu's shoulders and admitted his mistake honestly, "Yu'er, I'm not lying to you. I admit that I have feelings for you, but that kid Gu Chen's intentions aren't pure either!"
Xu Lin spat.
He pulled out his phone to yell at Gu Chen, but Xiang Yu stopped him.
"Xu Lin." The reaction time had passed; it would be strange if Xiang Yu still didn't understand what the other person was saying.
“There’s no need.” Xiang Yu turned around and saw that everyone else was in the room. He pursed his lips and pondered for a moment.
Xu Lin's wrist was aching from gripping the phone so tightly, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Xiang Yu say something.
"Gu Chen and I are already together."
[Author's Note: Gu Chen (confused): I only told my boyfriend to avoid suspicion, I didn't say anything else.]
Xiang Yu (calmly): There's no need, we're already together.
Xu Lin (roaring): Gu Chen, you son of a bitch!!!
Chapter Seventy-Eight: I Sent My Boyfriend to the End
Chapter Seventy-Eight: A Glimpse: I Sent My Boyfriend
The group didn't stay long. That same night, after going to City X, Xiang Jun drove a car full of people back to his home in City X.
Xiangyu's phone kept beeping, all from Xu Lin.
At first, he would answer the phone with a few "uh-huhs" and "yeahs," but later he simply turned his phone to silent and ignored it.
It's upsetting.
"The house has been cleaned up?" Grandma Hou only vaguely remembered that the last time she came was a few years ago. The furniture was still the same batch from when her son and daughter-in-law got married. It hadn't been changed and looked exactly the same as she remembered.