Chapter 84

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Good, good, good, the young man looks spirited enough."

Wang Daye's shrewd little eyes swept over the pair of youngsters, and he smiled with deep meaning.

"Go back inside."

Lin Xiyu felt uncomfortable all over under his gaze, and she quietly tugged at Guben's hem, urging him softly.

"Okay."

Guben smiled good-naturedly, led her through the corridor, and turned into the small courtyard.

"I really underestimated Jing Daniang's maternal granddaughter before."

Behind the two, Wang Daye turned his head and spoke to his old wife: "Never expected the little lass to have such ability, hooking a golden-turtle son-in-law."

"When Xiyu was little she was like a little stinker, fighting all day long, making Jing Daniang chase her around the courtyard with a broom handle to beat her......"

Wang Daniang recalled the past and laughed until she couldn't close her mouth: "Who could have imagined she'd grow up so quiet and refined, this is truly 'a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood', changing enough to make Heaven jealous."

"Hahaha......"

Wang Daye found it amusing and laughed along: "You mention that and I remember too, the courtyard was truly lively back then, chaos every single day......"

——

"You used to fight with people when you were little?"

The old couple's laughter drifted into their ears on the wind, Guben lowered his head with a somewhat complex expression, and glanced at her.

Lin Xiyu covered half her face with her hand, at a loss for words.

Thanks to Wang Daniang, the disguise she had deliberately maintained was thus splendidly exposed.

"Someone bullied you?"

Guben was indeed supremely clever; he was stunned for only a second before grasping the crux.

"After my mom remarried, she sent me to my maternal grandmother's house."

A warm current surged in Lin Xiyu's heart, and she no longer hid it: "When I first arrived, a few little boys in the neighboring courtyard kept saying I was an unwanted wild girl......."

"Rightly beaten!"

Guben's eyes flashed with heartache, and he squeezed her hand tight.

"I wasn't bullied."

Lin Xiyu felt the warmth in her palm, and the grievances piled deep in her heart for years vanished like smoke in this moment: "They were all worse off than me, I beat them until they howled like ghosts and wolves, and their parents dragged them, noses bleeding, to my grandmother's house to complain......."

"Hehe."

Guben found it funny and teased with a smile: "Can't tell my girlfriend had such a glorious past, the little tyrant of Donghua Street was you."

"You're not curious......"

Lin Xiyu was amused by his humorous tone, and blinked playfully: "Why I had such formidable skills, unbeatable across Donghua Street?"

"I'm all ears."

Guben played along very obligingly.

"My dad taught me self-defense."

Lin Xiyu boasted quite proudly: "Just a few little brats with snot bubbles, this young lady didn't take them to heart at all."

Guben: "......."

That proud little expression, inexplicably, was a bit of an eyesore to look at.

An urge to press her into his arms and ruthlessly ravage her.

"So that means I was deceived by you too, Gu Xiaoqian targeted you, no need for me to step in, you could handle it yourself?"

Lin Xiyu: "......."

Careless, sure enough a person can't be too smug.

This time the 'white lotus' persona thoroughly couldn't hold up.

——

"Xiyu, standing at the doorway talking is so hot, come in quick......"

Maternal Grandmother's appearance was like timely rain, rescuing her from the embarrassing predicament.

"Coming, coming."

Lin Xiyu felt pardoned, let go of Guben's hand, and darted into the house like a puff of smoke.

"Hehe."

Seeing her flee faster than a rabbit, Guben let out a pleased laugh from his throat.

"Little Bin came too?"

Maternal Grandmother fanned herself with a fan, smiling kindly and benevolently, yet she stood planted at the doorway without moving, with no intention of making way to invite him in.

"Grandma, Guben helped me get the reward back."

Fearing Maternal Grandmother would chase him away, Lin Xiyu hurriedly shoved the kraft paper bag into her hands.

"Come in and have a sip of water before you go."

Maternal Grandmother's reaction wasn't slow either, coordinating seamlessly with her maternal granddaughter.

"Good, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Guben didn't stand on ceremony either, lifted the curtain himself and stepped over the threshold.

"Grandma, thank goodness Guben was there today......."

Lin Xiyu recounted what happened at the Television Station in vivid detail, and to move Grandma's heart and make it more convincing, she added a bit of her own interpretation.

"Xiao Bin, you've had a hard time."

Grandma's eyes showed gratitude: "These days, for the sake of our family's silly girl, you've worried a lot."

"Grandma, where am I silly?"

Lin Xiyu puffed out her cheeks in feigned displeasure: "No need to praise one by putting down the other, I'm your real granddaughter."

"It's what I should do......"

Guben rarely saw her act spoiled, and a trace of unusual brightness flashed in his eyes: "Since Grandma can rest assured entrusting Xiyu to me, I will definitely keep my word and take good care of her for you."

"You listen, you listen......"

Grandma poked Lin Xiyu's forehead, smiling as she scolded: "Look how well Xiao Bin speaks, you're the same age, why is there such a big difference?"

"Ow."

Lin Xiyu covered her forehead and complained: "My brain isn't sharp, and it's all because you poked it stupid."

"What's a few pokes?"

Grandma laughed in anger, raised her fan to hit her: "You don't know how to speak yourself, and you blame it on Grandma."

"Nyah nyah nyah......"

Lin Xiyu playfully stuck out her tongue, and with a whoosh ducked behind Guben.

"This child, just knows how to make people angry......."

Grandma smiled helplessly, seemingly scolding, but actually full of nothing but kindness.

"Where are you sleeping tonight?"

Guben found it amusing, and pulled the person out from behind him.

"Right here."

Lin Xiyu pointed at where the wooden bed originally was, facing the Television.

"Sleeping on the floor at night is a bit cold."

Guben felt heartache for her, and tentatively discussed with Grandma: "Do you want me to help you buy another bed?"

"No need to buy a bed."

Grandma saw through his thoughts, and shook her head with some apology: "After the demolition we're not planning to rent a house, all this old furniture has to be disposed of, so let's not waste that wronged money."

Guben was rarely shocked: "Not renting a house, where will you live?"

"Xiyu's Uncle has already talked it over with the Restaurant Boss......"

Grandma smiled and explained: "From now on he and his wife will both work at the restaurant, room and board included, I'm just an old woman, won't take up much space, I'll just go squeeze in at Eldest Daughter's place......"

"What about Xiyu?"

Guben's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition welling up: "Where will she live?"

"Aunt Da's house isn't big, only two rooms, Aunt Da and Uncle share one, Cousin sleeps in one, Cousin sleeps on the Balcony."

Lin Xiyu said softly: "Grandma went and squeezed into a bed with Cousin, there's no place for me, I'll go live at my mom's house."

"Isn't your stepfather's daughter on bad terms with you?"

Guben was full of displeasure: "Going back now, she won't bully you?"

"It's fine, anyway I won't be living there long."

Lin Xiyu didn't want him to worry, and instead comforted her: "Once I get into university, I can live in the school dorms, only a few trips home a year."

How could Guben not worry: "You're already eighteen, living together with your stepfather is unsuitable."

"He doesn't dare do anything to me......."

Lin Xiyu didn't take it to heart: "I'm not a child anymore, I won't let him beat and scold me at will, favoring his daughter."

"That's not what I mean."

Guben looked at her graceful and moving figure, his mood complex to the extreme.

"Rest assured, I'll take good care of myself."

Lin Xiyu saw he truly cared for her, her heart felt warm, and she returned a sweet smile: "Besides, isn't there still you? With you here, I have the confidence to confront them......."

"When do you plan to move?"

Guben, constrained by Grandma's presence, even if more dissatisfied could only endure.

"End of August."

Lin Xiyu thought for a moment, then added: "As long as the Demolition Office doesn't issue a final ultimatum, we'll keep living here, the Television Station still has to film the Documentary, before the Documentary finishes filming, they shouldn't chase people out......"

"End of August to mid-September when school starts, there's still over ten days."

Guben's handsome sword eyebrows knitted tightly, almost pinched into a 'Ship' character: "You have to suffer half a month at your stepfather's house."

"It's nothing."

Lin Xiyu hugged his arm and acted spoiled, smoothing his fur: "If he scolds me I'll just run out, worst case I run away from home and never go back."

"Remember that."

Guben takes soft not hard, and sure enough his expression looked better: "If he dares bully you, you must tell me."

"Mm."

Lin Xiyu nodded vigorously to put his mind at ease.

"Deal then."

Guben couldn't stay long, stood up to take his leave: "Then I'll head home first, if anything we'll talk when we meet in the evening."

"You're really going?"

Lin Xiyu saw him out, her hand lifting the Curtain paused.

"Don't want me to go?"

Guben narrowed his eyes, displeasure showing in his gaze.

"I do."

Lin Xiyu surrendered without any backbone.

"Don't forget to tell Grandma about going to climb Taishan tomorrow."

Guben was satisfied, pamperingly rubbing her head.

"Oh."

Lin Xiyu smoothed out her messed-up hair with some dissatisfaction.

"Hehe."

Guben found it amusing, in a very cheerful mood he strode out of the small courtyard with his long legs in a few steps.

Lin Xiyu listened to the bicycle bell fade away in the alley, only then turning back to return to the room.

——

"Xiyu, come here......."

Grandma saw her enter, took out a white envelope from the drawer under the television, and waved at her with a smile.

"Coming."

Lin Xiyu obediently agreed, hurrying a few steps to Grandma's side.

"Keep this IOU safe......."

Grandma handed her the envelope: "Ten thousand yuan counts as your uncle lending it to you; when he saves enough money he'll return it to you."

"Grandma, I don't want it......."

Lin Xiyu just wanted to refuse, but Grandma interrupted her before she could finish.

"I told you to take it, so take it. You're the junior; if the sky falls Grandma will hold it up, Grandma knows what she's doing, won't let you suffer."

"Grandma raised me this big, I also want to be filial to Grandma."

Lin Xiyu's eyes flashed with emotion: "I'm also a part of this family, and want to contribute my share for this family."

"You're a filial good child, Grandma knows that in her heart."

Grandma brooked no refusal, forcibly stuffing the envelope into her hand: "Even so, the money can't come from you. Your uncle is a grown man, has hands and feet, how could he take your money."

"This is also his intention. The IOU he wrote himself. After the demolition, not renting a house is also to save a bit where he can, to save up enough money as soon as possible to return to you."

"It's just that this way, you have no place to live, and have to go back to your stepfather's house to suffer grievances......."

——

"I'm not aggrieved."

Lin Xiyu was moved to tears, her eye rims red: "Grandma dotes on me so much, even if it's more suffering, I don't feel aggrieved."

"Before it was just you alone; letting you go back to live, Grandma wasn't at ease."

Grandma smiled kindly: "Now it's different. With Guben doting on you, Grandma can tell he truly treats you well. For his sake, your snobbish stepfather wouldn't dare do anything to you."

"Even without him, I'm not afraid......"

Lin Xiyu waved her fist, deliberately teasing Grandma to be happy: "If he dares hit me again, I'll beat him up. I'm not that ten-year-old little girl anymore who had no ability to resist."

"This way......"

Grandma had concerns: "Won't that just let people know your fierceness? Can you still hide it from Guben?"

Lin Xiyu laughed awkwardly: "He already knows."

"Sigh."

Grandma sighed deeply: "Asking you to pretend to be weak, why is it so hard?"

"Hahaha."

Lin Xiyu was amused by Grandma's helpless expression, hugging the old lady and laughing heartily.

"You're still laughing......"

Grandma was angered into laughter, seemingly scolding her with dislike, but actually full of pampering.

——

In the scorching June summer, the weather changes as soon as it says it will.

In the afternoon a heavy rain fell without warning; by evening the rain stopped, and the refreshing night breeze brought a hint of coolness to the stifling summer heat.

The house-buying money was gathered, the whole family was very happy, sitting around under the grape vine in the yard, happily eating a dinner together.

Female Cousin was thinking of setting up her stall, washed the dishes in a frantic hurry, and dragged Uncle and Lin Xiyu out the door.

Lin Xiyu had to go climb Taishan on Friday and Saturday, couldn't help Female Cousin sell clothes, so this time when picking up goods, she deliberately chose more, preparing enough for three days.

The clothing styles and patterns were many, the time spent choosing was long; when Uncle drove the electric tricycle to Xinhua Bookstore, the clock already pointed to 20:15.

Wang Fan had already arrived, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, talking to a boy with an earring in his ear and a tattoo on his right arm.

The two saw the pair of sisters sitting on the vehicle edge, their eyes simultaneously brightening, and they greeted them with playful smiles.

"He's also your classmate?"

Female Cousin glanced at Wang Fan's sloppy look, clicked her tongue twice, very emotional: "They're in the same class, how can the difference be so big?"

"Lower your voice, don't let them hear......"

Lin Xiyu jumped off the vehicle, quietly tugged Female Cousin's sleeve: "We still need to rely on them for help later."

"I'm just saying, you guys are the elite class of a key high school."

Female Cousin couldn't hold her tongue, lowered her voice and said quietly: "Elite class students, not to say they're all like Guben with a scholarly air that's pleasing to the eye, but they can't be sloppy like street hooligans, right?"

"He's an exception."

Lin Xiyu didn't want to say more, casually perfunctory replied with a sentence.

"The Study Committee Member is right......."

Wang Fan's face was thick; hearing the sisters' conversation, he felt no shame but rather pride: "I'm a one-of-a-kind existence in our class, that's what I want, this unique honor."

"Your thick skin is also one of a kind......"

The earring-wearing youth beside him nearly laughed spray, giving him a huge white eye.