Chapter 95: The Older Sister‑in‑Law Returns

The appendicitis surgery was minor; Zhu's mother had the operation last night, and per the doctor's orders she can be up and moving by morning.

Zhu Chen and her father agreed that he would temporarily care for their mother, while she would first go visit Xu Yuexin.

After leaving the hospital, Zhu Chen went downtown, bought two large bags of snacks and fruit as gifts, and took a bus back to Keyuan Community.

After getting off, Zhu Chen hurried with the gifts toward Building 9, fearing she would be late and Xu Yuexin would already be in class.

She entered the hallway just as she ran into Xu Yuexin, who was leaving with a shoulder bag.

"Yuexin, thank you for saving my mom last night."

Zhu Chen ran up the stairs, gratefully stopped Xu Yuexin and said, "Thanks to you, her surgery was a great success."

"Safety is all that matters."

Xu Yuexin nodded, "And an appendicitis operation is minor; she'll definitely recover quickly."

"The surgery is small, but if not done promptly it becomes troublesome."

"The doctor's words last night you heard too; if you hadn't ridden a motorcycle to bring my mom over, the later stage would have been dangerous."

Zhu Chen said earnestly, handing him the snacks and fruit, "This small offering doesn't fully express my gratitude; please accept it."

"When my mom is discharged in a few days, we'll come to thank you together."

Xu Yuexin immediately went around her, ran down the hallway, and waved, "No need, really no need."

"If the neighbor has trouble, stepping in is proper; you don't have to make such a fuss."

"I still have to go to class; you go back and look after Auntie."

Zhu Chen, carrying the snacks and fruit, chased after him, finally cornering Xu Yuexin at the basement door where the motorcycles are parked, insisting he take them.

"Okay sister, I'm about to be late."

Xu Yuexin, half laughing, half exasperated, said, "I can't possibly lug these oranges and snack candies into the classroom; it's not a tea party."

"Let's pick another time; you can come over to my place, how about that?"

"Alright."

Seeing Xu Yuexin truly in a hurry, Zhu Chen had to make a way.

"I'll come to your house this afternoon, okay?"

Zhu Chen asked sincerely.

"Just don't bring so many things again."

Xu Yuexin put on the Bulgari sunglasses, mounted his motorcycle, and said, "Anyway, I've already received your thanks."

"You go ahead; I'll hold the door for you."

Zhu Chen said, reaching out to close the basement door so Xu Yuexin wouldn't have to turn back.

Boom…

After pressing the throttle, Xu Yuexin rode his motorcycle up the ramp, racing out of the community.

Zhu Chen, carrying the items, walked onto the ground level, admiring Xu Yuexin's character.

On the way back to the hospital, Zhu Chen kept silently murmuring Xu Yuexin's name.

Besides gratitude and admiration, she also thought Xu Yuexin looked handsome with the sunglasses, his gestures exuding a dashing aura.

Surely there are many girls at school who pursue him, right? It's a pity I graduated early; otherwise, being a fellow student, we'd have many common topics.

Thinking that, Zhu Chen blushed a little.

…

In the afternoon, Zhu Chen, bearing the gifts, arrived at Xu Yuexin's home as promised and knocked on the door.

"Sister Lin."

From inside came Xu Yuexin's greeting, and he opened the door, inviting Zhu Chen inside.

"Damn, I told you not to bring anything."

"It's just this little bit, really no need to be formal."

Amid his modest words, Xu Yuexin asked Zhu Chen to sit at the table and poured her a cup of tea.

"Is Auntie recovering well?"

After setting down the thermos, Xu Yuexin asked concernedly.

"She recovered well; she could walk this morning."

Zhu Chen said happily, "The doctor said she should be discharged the day after tomorrow."

"In short, everything still owes to your merit."

"Not at all. Chen sister, are you going home tonight or back to the hospital?"

"I have to go to the hospital; my dad is old and can't stay up at night."

"Oh, he also teaches at a university?"

"That's right. My dad works at the Industrial College, and my mom and I are at the Health Department Research Institute."

"So you all are a family of highly educated people."

Upon saying that, Xu Yuexin looked into Zhu Chen's eyes and said,

Zhu Chen laughed shyly, "You flatter me; I can't compare with my parents."

"I feel I still prefer novels, poetry, movies, music, etc.; I'm not as dedicated to medicine as my mother."

"Oh? Do you listen to Teresa Teng's songs?"

"Of course, do you have her songs in your hand?"

"Yes, let's listen together."

Xu Yuexin went to the bedroom, took out the portable player he brought back from Xiangjiang, and placed it on the living‑room table.

"What is this? Can it play music?"

Zhu Chen looked at the portable player curiously and asked.

In her mind, the machine that plays songs is a kind of huge player.

The delicate, petite object before her was vastly different from a player and completely contradicted Zhu Chen's impression.

"It's called a portable player; it's for listening to songs."

Xu Yuexin plugged in the earphones and answered Zhu Chen, "I've used it to listen to songs many times."

Then he gave one earphone to Zhu Chen, put the other on his own ear, and pressed the button on the portable player.

"I don't know why, but sorrow surrounds me.

I pray every day to quickly drive away the loneliness of love…"

"It really can play songs? The sound is especially clear."

Zhu Chen kept waiting curiously, and when a song sounded from the portable player, she exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hmm, the key is that it's convenient to carry."

Xu Yuexin said, "Otherwise, why would it be called a portable player?"

The two immersed themselves in the gentle music, and unknowingly their faces drew ever closer.

After several songs, Xu Yuexin and Zhu Chen's delicate faces bumped together.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention just now."

Zhu Chen's face flushed red, and she hurriedly apologized, taking the earphone off.

After entering Xu Yuexin's house, Zhu Chen sensed that the room had a female owner, so she reminded herself internally to mind her behavior.

Having this intimate contact with Xu Yuexin made her feel guilty inside.

"The song is nice, right?"

Xu Yuexin unplugged the earphone cable, turned off the portable player, and said, "Remember, when you go back, tell Uncle and Aunt; you don't need to come to my house specially again."

"That won't work; my parents won't agree, and I won't consent either."

Zhu Chen still persisted.

After much back-and-forth, Xu Yuexin finally persuaded Zhu Chen, making her give up the idea of visiting later.

After seeing Zhu Chen off, Xu Yuexin went into the kitchen to chop vegetables, so that Qiao Qiao could start cooking as soon as she got home.

The chopping board went "DuangDuangDuang," and shortly after the door opened.

"Cut the vegetables for me, and you go to the train station to pick up my sister."

Qiao Qiao entered with her Book Bag and said, "She's back from Hu Hai, should arrive in about half an hour."

"Oh, should we pick her up for dinner?"

Xu Yuexin set down the kitchen knife and walked out of the kitchen, saying.

Qiao Qiao thought for a moment, nodded at him, and said, "Pick her up; she's been a bit tense with Mom lately."

Are you sure it's just a little tension? Xu Yuexin recalled his previous visit to the Chen Family, feeling that back then Da Yizi and Zhou Zhifeng were already quite strained.

From the looks of it, it's already blown up now.

Xu Yuexin thought to himself that, of course, he wouldn't probe further on this matter.

After going downstairs, he rode his bike to the train station and waited for a while but didn't see Da Yizi.

"Just keep waiting; these days train delays are commonplace," he thought.

Xu Yuexin rode the motorcycle, one foot on the ground, thinking.

When night had deepened, he finally saw Chen Yixue walking out of the station, a suitcase in hand.

Xu Yuexin waved at Da Yizi, "I'm here."

Chen Yixue turned her gaze toward him, her steps halted. Xu Yuexin said nothing, just waited quietly, looking elsewhere.

When he was in Xiangjiang, Da Yizi had never sent him a telegram.

Since then, Xu Yuexin understood that Da Yizi's mood was certainly not pleasant.

Today, upon meeting again, Da Yizi's reaction was exactly as Xu Yuexin expected.

In the vast night, the two faced each other for a while, and finally Chen Yixue walked over, still carrying the suitcase.

"You go back; I'll take the car myself."

Chen Yixue lightly parting her red lips said, her voice tinged with faint sorrow.

"Buses and taxis have all stopped."

Xu Yuexin shrugged and said, "If you want to walk home, I won't stop you."

These days, taxi drivers are also state‑owned enterprise employees, in the highest‑pay bracket, but they don't operate 24/7 like in later times.

"Sigh."

Chen Yixue sighed, looking around with difficulty.

At such a late hour, her walking back alone with luggage was indeed unsafe.

It seemed there was no other choice.

On the motorcycle, Xu Yuexin read Da Yizi's thoughts and decided to give her an out.

"Quickly get on, will you?"

Xu Yuexin patted the back seat of the motorcycle, urging Da Yizi.

To be fair, Chen Yixue didn't ask for the 15,000 yuan that day, which made Xu Yuexin regard her more highly.

That's half a Jing city's large two‑room apartment, after all.

Only then did Chen Yixue slowly put her luggage away and sit on the back seat.

After the motorcycle started, she didn't hug Xu Yuexin but grabbed the seat with her hand, trying to stay steady.

Xu Yuexin sensed that Da Yizi was different from before and could roughly guess her thoughts.

I guess she hasn't stopped morally condemning herself all the way, which is why she acted like this.

"You took the wrong turn; this isn't the road to my house."

After riding for two or three kilometers, Chen Yixue said.

"Um, Qiao Qiao sent you to my house."

Xu Yuexin said, accelerating the motorcycle.

Now, even holding onto the seat, Chen Yixue couldn't stay steady.

With no other choice, she reluctantly stretched out her hands and clung to Xu Yuexin's waist.

All the way, Chen Yixue's mood was complicated; she didn't know how to face her sister later.

After arriving at Keyuan Community, Xu Yuexin helped her lift the luggage and walked upstairs together.

At that moment, Xu Yuexin's home was brightly lit, and Qiao Qiao was sitting in the living room waiting for the two of them.

Being late is really terrible.

After entering, Xu Yuexin set the suitcase down in the entryway and said to his daughter-in-law.

I'll heat the food.

Qiao Qiao stood up and said.

After a clatter of pots, bowls and pans, the steaming dishes were placed on the table, and the three of them sat around the table and began eating.

During the meal, Chen Yixue stayed silent the whole time, only speaking when Qiao Qiao asked her something.

She ate very little, taking tiny bites as if counting grains of rice.

Qiao Qiao just assumed she was hurt by her mother and didn't ask further.

After the meal, Xu Yuexin voluntarily went back inside to write his novel, leaving time for his daughter-in-law and the two Da Yizi sisters.

"Did Mom ask you for money?"

After he left, Qiao Qiao gently asked her sister.

Qiao Qiao had been asked for money by her mother several times after marriage, but she ignored it.

Thinking it over, the sister's recent fallout with her mother must also be because of money.

"Um, originally I told her that my earnings didn't need to be handed over."

"A while ago she discovered I earned money from selling songs, turned sour, and asked me to keep giving her the money for safekeeping."

Chen Yixue finally was willing to say a few more words, but her expression remained hesitant: "I've argued with her in the Letter several times; it feels like this home is hard to return to."

Besides her relationship with Xu Yuexin, the quarrels with her mother are also a major reason for Chen Yixue's sorrowful mood.

As for Xu Yuexin, Chen Yixue can still avoid him.

The mother is different; she can't stay away from home forever.

"Sigh! She's really become blinded by money; the older she gets, the more like this."

Qiao Qiao sighed and said, "How about you stay at my place first? Don't let her affect your mood."

"No, that's not okay. You're already married; it's not appropriate for me to stay here."

Chen Yixue softly declined, saying she was now in a dilemma.

"What's inappropriate about that?"

"Xin Ge is a good person, and my parents‑in‑law are also good people."

"Besides, in our family it's just me and him now, so there's no problem with staying."

Qiao Qiao, not understanding, earnestly tried to persuade.

Chen Yixue felt very helpless.

She only felt embarrassed to move in because of Xu Yuexin.

"Anyway, no matter what, you have to stay here tonight."

Seeing her sister remain silent, Qiao Qiao got up and said, "I'll take your clothes out for you."

Chen Yixue didn't stop Qiao Qiao, but instead placed a hand on her forehead and sat at the table.

The relationship with Xu Yuexin, the quarrels with her mother…

She really is at her wits' end now!

…

The next morning, Qiao Qiao had class, and Xu Yuexin had none.

So it became Xu Yuexin and Chen Yixue alone at home again.

They sat in the living room watching TV, about 1.8 meters apart, each keeping well out of the other's affairs.

"Did you argue with your mother?"

Xu Yuexin, holding the remote and munching on sunflower seeds, said.

"Don't guess wildly; we didn't argue."

Chen Yixue didn't want to show vulnerability in front of him, so she denied it.

"I heard it all."

Xu Yuexin sneered, "What else are you trying to pretend?"

"Saying there's none is just that there's none."

Chen Yixue, like a little girl, pouted, "The program we just watched was quite good, you go back."

"I've already seen that movie."

Xu Yuexin refused, "I don't want to watch it again."

"Then I want to watch."

"No, when you're under a eave you have to lower your head; have you heard that saying?"

"You…"

Chen Yixue was taken aback by his remark.

She fell out with her mother, and there was no way to return home.

She lived with her younger sister and was bullied by her brother‑in‑law. The crux is that the brother‑in‑law had once shared a fleeting romance with her, and she had given him her pure body.

The more Chen Yixue thought about it, the sadder she became.

When Chen Yixue was still young, she joined the Cultural Troupe to work and support her family, enduring countless hardships along the way.

Back then, whenever she endured hardship, she would encourage herself that she would be fine when she grew up, never expecting that now she would…

"Wuwuwu…"

Thinking of this, Chen Yixue couldn't help but sob loudly, huge tears uncontrollably streaming down her cheeks.

Xu Yuexin quietly watched her cry out, offering no counsel.

The once‑cold‑as‑ice beauty of the Cultural Troupe finally revealed her most vulnerable side before him.

Only after Da Yizi had mostly finished crying did Xu Yuexin step in front of her and say, "Are you done crying?"

"No!"

Chen Yixue said fiercely, sprang to her feet, and lunged into Xu Yuexin's arms.

(End of chapter)