Chapter 162: Ninety: Spring Water Family Chapter 162 Exclusive Mark, From Now On This Place, Only I Alone Can Kiss

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"I knew it......"

Guben revealed an 'as expected' expression, rather helplessly tweaking her nose.

"Hehe, so fast, another year has passed."

Lin Xiyu gave an awkward laugh, trying to salvage things: "Actually I did remember, and wanted to write you a letter, make a New Year's wish or something......"

"We're in the same city, and you still want to write a letter?"

Guben held his forehead and sighed lightly: "Did you forget why you wanted to go to university in the same city as me in the first place? What's the difference between this and a long-distance relationship?"

"Hehe."

Lin Xiyu's ear roots reddened, she stubbornly argued: "A letter is like seeing the person, always sticking together is boring too, distance creates beauty......"

"Put that way......"

Guben's sword brows furrowed slightly: "You're tired of me, feel being together is annoying, so you think separation is better?"

"Uh, no no no, not that......"

Lin Xiyu was embarrassed, hurriedly explained: "That's not what I meant, just making a parable."

"I think you spoke your heart's truth."

Guben feigned displeasure, deliberately gaining the upper hand: "Since you feel distance creates beauty, there's no need for us to meet again in the future......"

"No!"

Lin Xiyu's face changed, she hugged him in one motion.

"Let go."

Guben scolded with a cold face, but actually stood perfectly still, quite enjoying her throwing herself into his arms.

"Won't let go!"

Lin Xiyu's eyes reddened with grievance.

"What's wrong? Crying?"

Guben heard her nose sniffling, the sound wasn't right, a pang of heartache rose.

"You're bad, you're bullying me......"

Lin Xiyu buried her head in his chest, aggrieved tears falling.

"Alright alright, don't cry."

Guben saw she was truly crying, full of regret: "I was teasing you, that's why I deliberately said it like that......."

Lin Xiyu still kept her head buried, not making a sound.

"I was wrong, okay?"

Guben could only keep coaxing: "Be good, don't cry, how could I bear not seeing you, even one day apart feels empty and lonely, I dream of you......"

"Smooth talker."

Lin Xiyu didn't believe it, lifted her eyelid and gave him a suspicious look.

"Want me to dig out my heart for you?"

Guben pointed at his own chest, his right hand happening to wave right before Lin Xiyu's eyes.

Lin Xiyu didn't think, opened her mouth and bit his wrist.

"Hiss."

Guben sucked in a cold breath from the pain, looked at the teeth marks on his wrist and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You really are a cat? I'd tolerate a little temper, but no biting."

"I just bit......"

Lin Xiyu puffed her cheeks, glared at him provocatively.

The even more arrogant follow-up, 'what can you do to me', hadn't even left her mouth before it was blocked back.

Guben pressed her into his arms, punished her severely.

Until a certain arrogant little wild cat was stifled, breath not flowing smoothly, legs weak, almost unable to stand steadily, only then did he stop.

"You bullied me again......"

Lin Xiyu limp and soft collapsed in his arms, hammering his chest.

Humming complaints, carrying a hint of coquetry, hooking an itch in the heart.

Guben's gaze deepened, both arms tightening their hold, a scorching kiss descended once more.

——

The Bund.

New Year's Eve bell was about to toll, Huangpu River banks a sea of people, extraordinarily lively.

Lin Xiyu struggled in vain, was forcibly stuffed into a taxi by Guben, arrived at The Bund.

Nanjing Road crowded beyond capacity, the two followed the flow forward, only after much difficulty found a foothold by the river, stopped leaning against the railing.

"So beautiful."

Lin Xiyu looked at Nanjing Road's brilliant night scenery, her mood also lifted.

New Year's bell about to toll, countdown began.

The crowd by the river craning their necks in anticipation, also shouted in unison.

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1......."

"Bang!"

The instant the New Year's bell struck, brilliant fireworks soared into the sky, their dazzling colors lighting up the entire night.

"Wow, so beautiful..."

"Really pretty!"

The crowd instantly erupted, praise rising continuously, and the joy of the New Year filled every heart.

Lin Xiyu's large eyes shone bright, and she cheered loudly along with the crowd, her radiant and moving smile more dazzling than the fireworks in the night sky.

Guben lowered his head dotingly and pressed a deep kiss on her forehead: "This is my exclusive mark; from now on, only I am allowed to kiss this place."

"So domineering? I'll pick a spot too, leave my own exclusive mark. Where should I leave it..."

A trace of cunning flashed in Lin Xiyu's eyes; she grabbed his lapel and yanked hard, rose on tiptoe, and kissed his lips: "From now on this place is my exclusive mark; only I am allowed to kiss it."

"Okay."

Guben's eyes showed doting: "Only you are allowed to kiss it."

"Wow, I'm so happy."

Lin Xiyu jumped up and down happily in his arms.

"Bang bang bang..."

Another string of fireworks soared up, illuminating the girl's radiant smiling face.

Guben was doting to the extreme; the tenderness in his eyes almost melted into a pool of water.

——

After New Year's Day, exams ran for three consecutive days, and the first semester of freshman year ended.

Exam results would not be released until the next semester started; the classmates breathed a sigh of relief and all began to let loose like birds out of a cage.

Some rushed home to pack and buy train tickets; others, whose homes were far away and who would not return for the New Year, applied to stay on campus.

"Xiyu, don't go home; stay in Shanghai for the New Year."

After finishing her exams, Li Qing's mind grew active again; she wanted Lin Xiyu to stay in Shanghai and keep her company for the New Year.

"You don't want me to stay; you want Wang Fan to stay, right?"

Lin Xiyu saw through her little scheme at a glance and teased her with a smile.

"No."

Li Qing's smile was a bit forced: "My parents like you a lot too; they often mention you and want me to bring you home to visit."

"I'm not going."

Lin Xiyu smiled and declined: "Say hello to Uncle and Aunt for me, and wish them a Happy New Year in advance."

"Xiyu..."

Li Qing's eyes showed conflict; she hemmed and hawed for a long while without getting to the point.

"What's up?"

Seeing she had something on her mind, Lin Xiyu couldn't pretend not to notice.

"Is Jinan fun?"

Li Qing probed: "Can I go back to Jinan with you for a few days?"

"Would your parents agree?"

Lin Xiyu's eyes showed surprise.

"If I go with you, they'll definitely agree."

Li Qing held it in for a long time, finally blurting out what was in her heart.

"So that was your plan?"

Lin Xiyu laughed in exasperation: "I wouldn't dare bring a young lady like you back; if anything happened, I couldn't bear the responsibility."

"Xiyu, good Xiyu, just agree."

Li Qing refused to give up, shaking her arm coquettishly.

"It's not that I don't want to agree."

Lin Xiyu helplessly pressed her forehead: "It's that your motives aren't pure; if it weren't for that business of the bet with Wang Fan, I might have considered it, but now — not to mention letting you come back to Jinan with me, I wouldn't even dare meet your parents; I'm an honest person and don't want to lie to their faces."

"Forget it, pretend I didn't say anything."

Seeing she was immovable, Li Qing stomped her foot in a huff, turned, and ran out of the dormitory.

"Ay ay, karmic bond, karmic bond..."

Lin Xiyu smiled bitterly in resignation, mentally tormenting that playboy Wang Fan ten million times over.

If not for his meddling, she might have already connected with Li Qing's parents and sourced goods from their family.

Seeing Li Qing like this now, it's completely hopeless — no chance at all.

——

Wang Fan hadn't been idle this semester either; he got close with a bunch of Shanghai local young masters and built his own network.

He'd long had the idea of opening a branch in Shanghai; usually with nothing to do he wandered the streets and alleys, learning the renovation market, and gradually figured out the ropes.

Shanghai is vigorously developing Pudong; with the rise of real estate, renovation demand is increasing day by day — now is the best timing to enter the Pudong renovation market.

Before New Year's Day he'd been busy with the branch, aiming to finish the model rooms before the New Year and officially open after.

As for Li Qing, he truly had no feelings for her.

In less than a semester he grew tired of her young-lady temper and had no mood to keep playing boring games with her.

But Li Qing is proud and wouldn't let it go; she still called him all day, her pager beeping nonstop, annoying him so much he wanted to throw the pager away.

Finally surviving until the break, he couldn't wait a moment longer; on the pretext of supervising workers, he packed his luggage and went straight to Pudong.

Li Qing called and no one answered; she went to the school and couldn't find anyone — only then did she set her sights on Lin Xiyu.

——

"Xiyu, when are you heading home? We can take a ride back together."

Not long after Li Qing left the dormitory, Wu Meng's phone call came through.

"I still have a few more days before I go back."

Lin Xiyu sighed with some apology: "Guben went to Pudong, busy with Wang Fan on the branch opening; the exact date isn't set, so why don't you go home first, don't wait for me."

"Going back alone is boring."

Wu Meng didn't want to go alone, her mood a bit low.

"How about you come to Shanghai?"

Lin Xiyu asked tentatively: "Once Guben and them finish up, we'll all go back to Jinan together."

"Deal."

Wu Meng's mood instantly cleared from rain to shine, a smile appearing on her face.

"Can you manage taking the train here by yourself?"

Lin Xiyu was worried, and asked again: "Want to discuss it with Li Liang, have him accompany you, you two come together."

"He can't make it."

Wu Meng complained resentfully: "Their school breaks late, and they still have training; they might even be scheduled for duty during Spring Festival, can't go back."

"No wonder Li Grandma was so anxious to arrange the engagement......"

Lin Xiyu realized, smiling as she teased: "So entering a military academy really means being handed over to the country; going home once is hard, let alone finding a wife."

"Sigh."

Wu Meng feigned a resentful sigh: "I've boarded a pirate ship; a military marriage can't be dissolved, this life I'll be tied to him for good."

"That was your own choice......"

Lin Xiyu laughed teasingly: "When you kissed the family back then, you were so bold; no regrets allowed."

"I don't regret it."

Wu Meng gave an awkward laugh: "Just feel a bit lonely alone, watching other people's boyfriends asking after their warmth all day, circling around them; I'm all by myself, solitary and alone, get sick or run a fever and no one cares, inside it feels a bit bad no matter what."

"No need to compare with others, everyone's pursuits are different......"

Lin Xiyu smiled and persuaded: "You just want him in military academy, focused on training, no chance to attract bees and butterflies, won't change his heart — what a good thing that is, with such a loyal boyfriend, you should be secretly happy."

"Makes sense......"

Wu Meng took her words to heart, and laughed herself: "Put that way, I should thank their school, eliminating every possible factor for a change of heart, letting me study away from home with peace of mind, without worrying about other women."

"Thinking like that is right."

Lin Xiyu smiled with relief, and asked: "What day are you coming, I'll pick you up at the train station."

"No need to pick me up......"

Wu Meng laughed and declined: "Once I get off the train, I'll make my own way over."

"You've got luggage, is that convenient?"

"I don't have much luggage, the big suitcase I'll just leave at school, not taking it home."

"Then it's settled, give me a call before you come, I'll wait for you at the school gate."

"Okay, it's a deal then."

The two agreed, and Wu Meng happily hung up the phone.

——

From Suzhou to Shanghai by train isn't far, a green-skin train gets there in an hour.

That afternoon at three, Lin Xiyu received word from Wu Meng and came to the school gate to wait.

A jet-black Crown sedan drove past her, the driver suddenly slammed the brakes, then reversed and stopped right in front of her.

"Hello, Auntie."

Lin Xiyu saw the middle-aged woman stepping out of the car, her pupils sharply contracting, and she hurried forward to greet her.

"Xiyu, Auntie has told Qingqing so many times to have you come over to the house, it's been a whole semester and I haven't seen you once......"

Li's Mother hadn't expected to see her at the school gate, a pleasant surprise, very happy.

"Oh, oh, she told me, studies too busy, couldn't get away......"

Lin Xiyu was secretly alarmed, always feeling the timing of meeting Li's Mother was inopportune, something bad might happen.

"You're a good kid, not like my girl, getting more and more outrageous......"

Sure enough, Li's Mother's next words confirmed her guess.

"Li Qing is quite good......"

Lin Xiyu smiled and played dumb: "English speaking and listening grades have always been excellent, solid foundation, one look shows she received good education from childhood, much stronger than us out-of-town classmates."

"She's just good at English......"

Li's Mother heard her praise her daughter, a smile appearing on her face.

"Not just English, her German isn't bad either."

Lin Xiyu followed her train of thought, praising her vigorously: "She also said she wants to go study in Germany later, learn more knowledge, do business with Germans in the future."

"Her dad did have that plan......."

Li's Mother thought of her daughter's recent situation, smiling somewhat forcedly: "Pity this kid doesn't live up to expectations, don't know what happened recently, not putting heart into studies, doesn't come home on break, runs around outside all day."

"Uh."

Lin Xiyu's eyes flickered slightly, guiltily averting her gaze.

"Xiyu, do you know something?"

Li's Mother saw her expression was off, sensitively sensing something was wrong.

"Cough, cough."

Lin Xiyu coughed awkwardly twice, unsure how to begin.

"Xiyu."

Li's mother was one who had been there; how could she not understand the thoughts of young men and women? Seeing her like this, she knew something was being hidden from her: "Qingqing, what on earth happened? Tell Auntie, all right? Auntie has only this one daughter—I dare not let anything happen to her......."