Chapter 194

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

This house near Huashi University held an extraordinary meaning for Lin Xiyu and Guben.

Guben had indeed, as Wu Meng said, thought about buying a house near Huashi University, close to Lin Xiyu's school, so it would be convenient for her to stay overnight off campus.

With a cozy love nest, they wouldn't have to blow in the cold wind by the Huangpu River when dating, and every weekend and holiday they could enjoy a romantic world of two in their own little home.

Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to fulfill his wish, and something happened at home; forced to leave with regret and unwillingness in his heart.

Five years later, this long-cherished wish was unintentionally realized by Lin Xiyu, and he was truly happy; on the first day he got the keys, he strongly urged her to move in and live here with him.

Lin Xiyu agreed after being conflicted for not long.

She agreed to move not only because it was inconvenient for Guben to go to work, but also for his health.

He had struggled bitterly in the United States for five years, working and studying day and night, and while achieving career success, he also developed a severe stomach ailment; his stomach would hurt from time to time, and when it hurt his face turned deathly pale, making onlookers alarmed.

When Lin Xiyu saw him have a stomachache for the first time, she was terribly frightened and forcibly dragged him to the hospital for an inspection. Fortunately, the inspection result was not stomach cancer, which gave her frightened small heart some comfort.

——

After moving to live near Huashi University, she cooked various dishes and made soup for him every day.

She stewed various medicinal diet soups beneficial for nourishing the stomach and dietary supplementation.

Yam pork rib soup, pumpkin millet soup, monkey head mushroom chicken soup, lotus root pork rib soup, cabbage tofu soup, apple red date soup, and so on and so forth......

As long as it was good for the stomach, she didn't mind the trouble at all, carefully selecting ingredients and seasonings, matching them, so that he could eat a hot meal and drink a fresh and fragrant medicinal diet soup when he came home.

"It's great to have a wife."

After Guben came home and saw her busy in the kitchen, he habitually embraced her from behind, enjoying a moment of warmth.

The fatigue from working all day miraculously disappeared at this moment.

——

The couple's little days were full of flavor, and those who didn't like them would occasionally provoke and cause trouble.

Lin Xiyu had her own matters to be busy with; she ignored all provoking phone calls, and as soon as she heard Zhang Xiaoqian's voice, she immediately hung up the phone.

Time quietly slipped away in busyness and warmth, and in the blink of an eye it was mid-month.

Guben booked three plane tickets and took Lin Xiyu and Wu Meng together to BJ.

——

Beijing Airport.

"Buddy, you're finally here."

Qu Peng saw the handsome young man walking out of the arrival hall, was so excited he could hardly contain himself, rushed up and gave him a big hug.

"Just you alone?"

Guben looked around, didn't see Li Liang's figure, and felt slightly regretful.

"He can't come; he's on duty at Tiananmen."

Qu Peng explained for his friend: "This year is the 50th anniversary of National Day, there is a military parade on October 1st, they have already received the notice, and they will be even busier in the future; concentrated training will take at least half a year."

"There's a military parade?"

Wu Meng was excited: "I love watching military parades the most; my Liangzi is really lucky to catch the grand military parade, enough for him to boast about for a lifetime."

"Let's go to Tiananmen Square for a stroll first."

Guben was quite interested: "His wife has come, we must let them meet first."

"I still haven't seen Li Liang on duty with my own eyes."

Lin Xiyu also said with a smile: "Is he very handsome, the kind that makes women scream......."

"That's for sure, handsome to the sky......."

Qu Peng shared in the glory: "Soldiers of the Honor Guard are the focus of attention wherever they go."

"That's why it's said that excellent ones are all handed over to the country."

Wu Meng was also very proud: "My Liangzi belongs to that one who is the focus of attention......."

"Hurry up and go, to Tiananmen."

Lin Xiyu smiled and tickled her: "Someone can't wait and wants to show off that she's a family member of the Honor Guard."

"I think so too......"

Guben kept up with the pace: "If we go now, maybe he's just on duty, letting a certain family member get her wish."

"Depart, to Tiananmen."

Qu Peng waved his arm and made a gesture of departure.

"You're a bit chuunibyou like that......"

Wu Meng teased with a smile: "Far worse than my Liangzi."

Qu Peng's arm stiffened, and he embarrassedly tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Pfft."

"Hahaha."

Lin Xiyu and Guben couldn't help it and laughed heartily.

——

Tiananmen.

Li Liang was indeed as Qu Peng expected, on duty at his post, that upright posture was like an electric pole, motionless regardless of wind and rain.

"Liangzi has tanned, and lost weight."

Wu Meng watched from afar, and besides being moved, her eyes involuntarily filled with tears.

"His body looks sturdier."

Guben said with deep feeling: "He's much stronger than me, sitting in an office all day with the air conditioning on, in sub-health."

"Mengmeng, go over."

Lin Xiyu gently pushed Wu Meng and gave her an encouraging gaze: "It's rare to come here once, let him see you once, otherwise if he changes posts later, you won't see him again."

"Mm."

Wu Meng nodded, ran over with small quick steps, and stopped at a position ten meters or so outside the sentry post.

Li Liang saw her, his body remained motionless, but his eyes suddenly lit up, revealing a trace of excitement hard to capture.

Wu Meng covered her mouth with her hand, softly reciting his name, not daring to speak out loud.

The two met eyes, full of tenderness.

Not long after, it was time for duty, Li Liang handed over with the soldier on rotation, and left the sentry post with his teammates.

Wu Meng watched his departing back, and finally couldn't help but shed tears.

—

"Can soldiers of the Honor Guard take leave to go out?"

Lin Xiyu felt heartbroken watching, walked over and hugged Wu Meng, expressing comfort as a good friend.

"Apply in advance for holidays, if approved then..."

Qu Peng smiled helplessly: "But it's not easy to get leave during this period, I asked him, he said the National Day Military Parade intensive training is about to start, his teammates are all training, he can't fall behind either, striving to make it onto the final intensive training list."

"Let him train."

Wu Meng wiped the corner of her eyes, forcing back the tears: "This is his dream, I don't want to hold him back either. We've been living apart in two places for so many years, it's not like we can't spare a year or two. After the National Day Military Parade ends, he's at the age to retire too. This is the only parade he can participate in; he must fulfill his wish."

"Liangzi will be fine..."

Qu Peng had great confidence in his good friend: "He performs very well in the unit, superiors often praise him, intending to cultivate him, asking him to stay a few more years."

"Ah?!"

Hearing this, Wu Meng was confused again, her face full of listlessness: "Stay a few more years? When will this bitter life ever end? I can't go on..."

"Hahaha."

The three good friends were all amused by her deliberately acting cute, laughing very heartily.

—

Nanluoguxiang.

Five years later, coming again to this tranquil small courtyard hidden in the bustling city, Lin Xiyu's mood was as before, still holding an indescribable awe and unease toward the old man.

Guben saw her tension and gently held her hand.

"The door is open,."

Qu Peng was a regular, already treating the old man's home as his own home, and treating the old man as his own grandfather to honor.

"Is Aunt Li still here?"

Guben pulled Lin Xiyu inside.

"She is."

Qu Peng led the way nimbly in front.

"Aunt Li isn't young anymore, is she?"

Guben was meticulous, remembering clearly: "I remember last time she was almost 60."

"Yes, 64."

Qu Peng nodded: "Aunt Li has been working here all along, for many years now. The old man can't be bothered to change; changing people would require more adjustment, so it's better to use the old hand."

"As long as Sixth Grandpa is satisfied."

Guben nodded, then said: "After the New Year, give Aunt Li a raise, so she can take better care of Sixth Grandpa."

"Fine."

Qu Peng agreed readily: "Leave this to me, I guarantee I'll handle it properly."

"You've worked hard these years."

Guben said gratefully: "If it weren't for you, back then I wouldn't have been able to leave so assuredly."

"Why are we two brothers being so polite?"

Qu Peng pretended to be displeased: "What hard work or not, we Beijing Drifters, struggling in BJ is not easy either. Having the old man around, being able to visit during holidays and festivals, counts as having a sense of belonging, not so lonely..."

"You're still single?"

Guben raised an eyebrow: "Haven't found a partner yet?"

"No."

Qu Peng gave an awkward laugh: "Working and going to school are completely different things. Only two years into work, I've already had all my temper worn down. What Public Security Ministry, becoming a big official—all nonsense. First do the job well at the Branch Bureau."

"You really want to join the Public Security Ministry before finding a partner?"

Wu Meng laughed and teased him: "That'll be the Year of the Monkey and Month of the Horse? Don't drag it out for years and waste your youth."

"Uh."

Qu Peng's forehead showed black lines, even more embarrassed.

"A man at thirty-one is a flower."

Guben helped his friend out: "Qu Peng is only 24, not in a hurry, can wait a few more years."

"What do you mean..."

Wu Meng turned her gun on him again: "A woman at thirty is tofu dregs?"

"I didn't say that..."

Guben felt a cold gaze on him and hurried to explain: "Wife, don't listen to her; she's just picking a fight. She couldn't get enough of Qu Peng, so now she's looking for trouble with me."

Lin Xiyu said teasingly: "I didn't say anything, why are you so nervous?"

"You care, that's why you're nervous..."

Guben raised her hand and pressed it to his chest, speaking earnestly: "I put in a lot of effort to marry you; I'm truly afraid that if I say the wrong thing, you'll dump me again."

"Was it me who dumped you?"

Lin Xiyu laughed coquettishly and shot him a glance; though she looked like a smiling flower, there was an inexplicable chill about her.

"It's my fault."

Guben's attitude was sincere as he promptly apologized: "I shouldn't have left without a word, making you worry and fear for so many years, enduring so much criticism..."

"You brat, you finally know you were wrong?"

A stern voice came through the crack of the window from the study, startling everyone so much their hearts jumped.

"Sixth Grandfather."

Guben looked toward the voice and indeed saw a figure whose face was gaunt and hair white, just as he remembered.

"When did you return to the country?"

The old man put on a stern face and glared at him with an unfriendly expression.

"Half a month."

Guben pulled Lin Xiyu, and they walked toward the window together.

"Hello, Sixth Grandfather."

Lin Xiyu understood and took the initiative to greet the old man.

"Xiyu is here too."

For his granddaughter-in-law's sake, the old man's expression improved slightly, and he stopped scolding him.

"Sixth Grandfather, I've actually wanted to visit you for a long time; it's just that I had to sweet-talk my wife first..."

Guben took the opportunity to explain: "If I didn't bring my wife, I'd be afraid you'd get angry, and I wouldn't dare come alone."

"Hmph."

The old man laughed in anger: "Don't use your wife as an excuse; I know you, you brat—you're full of tricks, and you use them all to fight with your own family."

"Grandfather said the same..."

Guben blurted it out; the moment the word "Grandfather" left his mouth, both their expressions changed.

"Sigh."

Sixth Grandfather thought of his deceased Second Brother, and his eyes dimmed.

Guben stopped smiling, his eyes reddening, revealing grief he could not suppress.

—

The grandfather and grandson chatted in the study while Li Shen brought a plate of washed fruit to the living room and placed it on the tea table.

"Thank you, Li Shen."

Lin Xiyu thanked her politely.

"It seems someone is missing this time?"

Li Shen glanced at Wu Meng and asked casually: "That young man who came with you last time, why isn't he here?"

"Which young man?"

Wu Meng saw Li Shen looking at her and was visibly stunned.

Li Shen said with a smile: "The one who came with you five years ago, the young man who did renovations."

Lin Xiyu's smile froze, and her expression became somewhat unnatural.

"You mean Wang Fan, right?"

Wu Meng realized and subconsciously glanced at her: "He's a big boss now, very busy, no time to pay attention to us."

"Oh, is that so?"

Li Shen clicked her tongue a few times with some regret.

She had a good impression of Wang Fan.

Back then, Wang Fan had deliberately coaxed her to pump her for information, and the old and the young had chatted quite happily.

"That brat Wang Fan is really ungrateful."

Qu Peng had guessed some of the inside story; although both childhood friends were his good friends, deep down he still favored Guben more: "I called him several times, but he didn't answer. The last time, I finally got through, but a woman answered, saying he was taking a bath and couldn't take the call."

Wu Meng's gossipy eyes lit up instantly: "Is that woman the little star exposed in the newspaper?"

"How would I know who she is?"

Qu Peng complained loudly: "That brat Wang Fan has no self-control; he changes girlfriends every day. Who knows who he's hooked up with recently."

"You two, keep it down..."

Lin Xiyu frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure rising: "Don't let the neighbors hear; it'll disturb their conversation."

"Oh."

Wu Meng shrank back and covered her mouth with her hand.

"Huh, there's movement at the doorway; who's coming now?"

Qu Peng laughed awkwardly, using this as an excuse to find a way out.

"It seems someone really is coming."

Li Shen also heard the footsteps and hurried out to welcome them.

"My god, why is it her?"

Qu Peng peered out through a gap in the Window, his Expression instantly turning subtle.

"Who is it?"

Wu Meng had her curiosity piqued by him, and she also craned her neck to look outside.

Upon seeing it, her complexion changed drastically, and she slammed the Window shut with a bang.