Returning - Chapter 66
Chapter 66: Zhuang Ye
The hometown Zhao Yu mentioned was naturally not the address on her ID card.
That one, including her original surname, was merely a household registration her mother obtained through a sham marriage so she could attend better schools. Unfortunately, it all came to nothing in the end.
When she was five, her mother took her to Wucheng, where they met her godparents' family—kindhearted and warm people—and only then did she truly settle down.
Wucheng was just a small county town, not too far from Donghai, about a five-hour drive on the highway.
She truly had no family left, but this Spring Festival, she had to visit her godparents.
Her godparents were from the countryside who came to the city to make a living, always running small businesses. Their living conditions had been steadily improving, but after their only daughter suddenly passed away, they lost all purpose in striving forward.
After Zhao Yu gave them the three million under the guise of an insurance company, she repeatedly persuaded them to trade up to a new home, albeit just a small unit. The rest of the money—aside from helping a few relatives—they still wanted to leave for Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu had told them on the phone that she would drive back herself and there was no need to pick her up at the station. When she arrived at her godparents' new home, the two elders were already waiting downstairs.
Seeing her car, her godfather's first words were: "You refused when I sent you money. Now you've taken out a loan for this car—have you got nothing left for meals?"
Zhao Yu smiled. "How could that be? My company's benefits are really quite good."
Her godmother said nothing, merely stepping forward to embrace her tightly, sobbing quietly.
This feeling utterly suffocated Zhao Yu with its weight.
Just like on the phone, during this visit, both sides tacitly avoided mentioning her stubborn insistence on going to America, or the old heartaches. They tried their best to discuss happy topics and celebrate the new year joyfully.
Zhao Yu indeed hadn't celebrated Spring Festival in a long time. During her three years in America, she hadn't returned even for this holiday. After Shang Lu came back to China, she was left alone in his apartment, passing the time in a daze.
Shang Lu never wished her happy holidays, because saying it would only emphasize her loneliness.
But this year, after the New Year's Eve dinner, she actually received a text from him. Unlike those long, mass-forwarded messages, he simply wrote four characters:
[Happy New Spring]
Zhao Yu still remembered that every year when Shang Lu returned to America after a holiday, he would tell her he craved dumplings and ask her to make some, then they would eat together. When the Lantern Festival came, he would say he craved tangyuan, and again have her make them so they could eat together.
In truth, he was also keeping her company through the holidays.
Her fingers moved slightly, and Zhao Yu replied with the same four characters. Everything stopped there, with nothing more to follow.
She opened WeChat and looked at her chat interface with Ji Sui. After thinking for a moment, she casually copied a mass-forwarded greeting from some group and sent it to him alone.
Ji Sui's reply came quickly: [Thanks]
Zhao Yu didn't respond. Soon he asked again: [Are you alone?]
Zhao Yu: [Mm]
Ji Sui: [In Donghai?]
Zhao Yu: [Not there, went back to my hometown. Need to visit my mom at the cemetery.]
Ji Sui called. Zhao Yu went back to her room to answer. Faintly, she could still hear the clamor and noise from his end.
He was definitely spending the holiday with the Zhuangs. Such a big family—it must be very lively.
He was the one calling, yet after connecting, he was the one who stayed silent. It was Zhao Yu who spoke first with a laugh: "Sounds lively. Are you with friends? Are Xiao Xiao and Sister Shi Yu there?"
From Ji Sui's perspective, she only knew he worked at Lanxi, assuming he was an ordinary employee, unaware of his connection to the Zhuang family.
"Sister Shi Yu took Xiao Xiao to her mother's place. I'm at..." Ji Sui paused, then continued, "my grandfather's house."
Zhao Yu asked, feigning ignorance: "Oh, so you still have a grandfather."
"Mm, no blood relation. He raised me since I was little, but he passed away a few years ago." Seeming to realize how convoluted he sounded, Ji Sui stated plainly, "Sorry, I haven't told you before. The grandfather I mentioned is the previous chairman of Lanxi. I grew up in the Zhuang family."
Zhao Yu feigned surprise: "So... so you're also..."
She didn't say more, but her meaning was clear: so he was also like Xue Zi'ang, not from her world at all.
Ji Sui understood and explained, "I'm just an ordinary person. Not so different from you."
Zhao Yu said nothing more. They were both silent for a while before he said: "Zhao Yu, happy Spring Festival."
"You too. Happy holidays. I hope you have a wonderful time."
"Mm. Out there alone, be safe."
Zhao Yu was about to speak when a man's voice suddenly echoed distantly from his end: "Bro, that shooting club you took me to last time—are they open on New Year's Day?"
Though mentally prepared, hearing this familiar voice suddenly still made Zhao Yu's entire body stiffen.
Ji Sui said "sorry" into the phone without hanging up and spoke directly to the person there: "They're open. You want to go?"
"Don't want to stay in this godforsaken place. Gonna call some friends and play a few rounds. You coming or not?"
Before Ji Sui could answer, another middle-aged man's voice cut in: "What club? You're not going anywhere tomorrow. Stay home and behave!"
The young man sneered: "Stay home and celebrate the birthday of your illegitimate daughter? Sorry, I don't have the fucking habit of celebrating my enemies' birthdays."
"Zhuang Ye, don't forget she's your biological sister!"
"Chairman Zhuang, and don't you forget, the one who just ran out crying, my mother—she's your lawfully wedded wife. Don't bring every damn stray cat and dog into this house."
It sounded like a melodramatic wealthy family drama. Zhao Yu hadn't finished listening when all external sounds were abruptly cut off—Ji Sui had likely gone back into a room.
"I'm sorry, family matters are a bit chaotic. You had to hear all that mess."
"It's fine, I understand." After a pause, Zhao Yu added, "That guy just now, he's your younger brother? Quite the temper."
Ji Sui chuckled: "Only towards his father. Their father-son relationship is terrible, always has been. Normally, his temper is actually very good."
After hanging up the phone, looking through the window at the dazzling nightscape outside, Zhao Yu's ears suddenly echoed with voices from a long time ago.
"Tang Xi, everyone says our names are a matching pair. May I ask for your thoughts on this?"
"Tang Xi, so we don't waste these heaven-made names of ours, how about... we try dating?"
"Xi Xi, my darling little Xi Xi, I'm your boyfriend—can you bear to treat me like this?"
"Xi Xi, let's get married as soon as we graduate, okay?"
"Tang Xi, I love you."
"Tang Xi, I hate you."
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