Chapter 141

The three of them looked at each other in bewilderment. Qiao Rui quickly stood at attention and said guiltily, "Why did you guys come out? Still want to play the horse riding game?"

Yu Na blinked and said, "What are you doing here alone?"

Xiao Chen didn't take him seriously at all. He put his arm around Yu Na's shoulders and said, "Isn't it obvious? He's texting Xu Yi and got a reply back."

Yu Na walked up to him and earnestly reminded him, "The college entrance exam is coming up soon. You promised me—"

"I didn't! But I like her. I got a reply back from my crush. Isn't it normal for me to be happy about it?"

"......"

She didn't know how to refute his words. After all, she couldn't deprive him of the right to like someone.

But he was truly candid.

Xiao Chen stood above him with his arms crossed and scoffed, "Tsk, being so honest, aren't you asking for death? Aren't you afraid I'd tell your mom?"

"Don't!" Qiao Rui said. "You can't get back at me just because I'm braver than you, can you?"

Xiao Chen: ???

Yu Na thought he had a point.

On their way to buy ingredients, Yu Na brought up Qiao Rui's words again, "I think Qiao Rui is braver than you."

Xiao Chen: "???"

"When he encounters someone he likes, he can bravely admit it. He's more frank than you."

"If you say so—" Xiao Chen decided to argue with her, "Do you still remember that night when you got drunk at Old Han's house?"

"......I remember."

That was the most embarrassing and most forgettable night of her life. How could she not remember it?

"Why didn't I leave that night?"

"Why?"

"The night before, you said so many incomprehensible things. I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend the next day. But when you sobered up the next day, you told me not to take it seriously."

Yu Na didn't react for a moment. "So did you like me back then?"

"Why else would I stay? If I didn't like you, I would've sent you home and left. Would I spend the whole night squeezing on that short sofa when I couldn't even stretch my legs? And still get up the next day to make you breakfast, only to be told that I lose if I take it seriously."

Somehow, his words felt like he was making things up.

But she also felt like everything he said was true.

Yu Na waved her hand dismissively. "Forget it, it's all in the past anyway."

While the two were looking for ingredients at a small shop near their home, Yu Na thought something wasn't right. She brought it up again, "No, wait. I remember I was the one who told you not to leave. You didn't take the initiative to stay."

Xiao Chen calmly replied, "We were just friends back then. Do you think I'm that obedient? I chose to stay because I wanted to."

Yu Na was speechless again, "Forget it, why do we keep bringing up the past?" Xiao Chen: ?

......

That was the happiest New Year's Eve Yu Na ever had.

The TV was playing the Spring Festival Gala, festive music becoming their background sound.

Interspersed with some complaints from the adults: "The Spring Festival Gala gets less interesting every year."

But the elderly said, "It's fine. Just listening to the sound, our family being together, I'm happy with whatever the Gala is like."

The New Year's Eve dinner covered the entire big round table. Things that fly in the sky, walk on the ground, swim in the water, grow underground, and hang on trees, everything imaginable was on the table.

Naturally, Yu Na became the protagonist of the New Year's Eve dinner.

All topics revolved around her.

Xiao's mother looked at her daughter-in-law, more and more satisfied, praising her endlessly. She even played favorites, saying Xiao Chen was lucky to find such a beautiful and gentle wife.

Qiao Rui was also very generous with his praises for his sister-in-law. "My sister-in-law is a celebrity at our school."

Yu Na: "......"

Qiao Rui: "I'm not exaggerating at all. It was super lively outside our classroom when she came that day. Everyone was watching."

Yu Na blushed and lowered her head to eat.

Qiao Rui's mom said, "Na Na, I heard you take the initiative to tutor Qiao Rui. He's usually mischievous. It must have been hard on you."

Yu Na: "You're too kind. As his class teacher, it's my duty to do these things."

Out of the blue, Qiao Rui added, "Everything has a cause and effect. It's because I was mischievous and often asked parents to come to school. That's why my brother had more chances to get acquainted with my sister-in-law. If I had been a good kid, they wouldn't even have a chance to interact. That would mean my brother would still be a most eligible bachelor now."

Everyone: "......?"

Qiao Rui was very serious. "I'm telling the truth. Don't not believe me! You don't know, before they got together, my brother used me as an excuse to see my sister-in-law! If it weren't for me, humph humph—"

Qiao Rui's mom gave him a slap. "You still can't shut up even during meals."

Xiao Chen slowly said, "Actually, uncle and auntie, Qiao Rui has a point."

Everyone looked at him. "Really?"

Xiao Chen picked up a shrimp, peeled off the shell, and said, "This kid caused some kind of trouble every now and then. It did give me and Na Na more chances to interact."

He put the peeled big shrimp into Yu Na's bowl, thinking he was so clever to say, "You can beat him up first, then praise him. No conflict."

Qiao Rui: ?

......

That whole night, Yu Na was praised until she became dizzy and almost lost her sense of direction.

The kind of family atmosphere she had only seen on TV shows, she truly and vividly experienced tonight.

Eating New Year's Eve dinner together, watching the Spring Festival Gala together, chatting about skits, songs and dances, past events, harmonious and joyful.

It was like a dream, but it was the daily life Xiao Chen used to experience every day.

Yu Na calculated the time difference. On New Year's Day in London, it was still New Year's Eve.

Although she knew her parents didn't celebrate any festival, she woke Xiao Chen up that morning and video called her mom.

After she and Xiao Chen paid respects to the elders, Yu Na asked again, "Mom, where's dad? Busy?"

Yu Na's mom smiled and said, "No, he's watching TV." She lowered her voice and said, "I asked him to come over and talk to you, but he refused. He said it's enough that you live your own life well. Don't mind him, he's just bad-tempered."

"......" Yu Na was used to this already.

But she still sent her dad a text message: [Dad, happy new year. I wish you and mom good health and everything goes smoothly in the new year.]

Yu's Dad only replied with a simple word: [Okay]

She knew that previously he wouldn't even reply to such messages.

But this year he actually replied with an "Okay".

Yu Na stayed in Beicheng for the entire Chinese New Year holiday and received quite a few red packets.

Xiao Chen took her to visit his former schools.

She couldn't help but imagine what he was like back then.

Did he like pranks? Teasing female classmates? Or was he like Qiao Rui, causing trouble for the class teacher every now and then?

Anyway, all imaginations automatically excluded the "cool" personality label. It had nothing to do with him at all.

During those days, many of Xiao Chen's old friends who were also back home for New Year. Not having seen each other for years, they certainly wanted to get together this time.

Not many people, only six including the two of them.

Upon seeing Yu Na, these friends exclaimed——

Zhang Yang: "Xiao total is not bad! Very impressive!"

Li Siyuan: "You're so damn lucky!"

Han Shuo: "That's right. Either don't find anyone, or find such a beautiful one."

Shen Jiang: "If I could find someone on her level, my mom would be thrilled to death."

Although Yu Na knew she was beautiful, being praised so much these days still made her a little embarrassed.

Xiao Chen slowly replied to Shen Jiang's words, "It's difficult to find someone at her level."

Shen Jiang: ?

He was very much at ease praising himself, "After all, I have the hardware here."

"......"

Yu Na felt embarrassed for him. She reached under the table and pinched his leg.

But at this small gathering, she also gave Xiao Chen a lot of face.

In the meantime, she also learned about Xiao Chen's school days stories from them.

Xiao Chen was very good-looking in school. The extremely ordinary blue and white school uniform looked particularly nice on him.

As his name suggested, Zhang Yang was unwilling yet had to admit defeat. He mentioned the past, "Every time we played basketball, there would always be a group of female classmates secretly watching outside the court."

"At first I thought they were all here for me, because a bunch of girls always took the initiative to befriend me after the games."

Li Siyuan watched as if enjoying a good show and continued telling Yu Na, "Guess what? Those girls only treated Zhang Yang as a tool. After getting familiar with him, they all asked for Xiao Chen's contact information from him."

Yu Na: "............”

Zhang Yang said: "Among them there was a girl who was very beautiful. I really liked her. Once, she gave me a love letter. I was so excited that I even thought of what to name the kid. But when I looked at the name signed at the bottom of the letter, it said Xiao Chen. "

The private room roared with laughter.

Yu Na was extremely curious: "What happened next?"

"Later, Xiao Chen asked me to return the love letter to that girl. He said he would listen to his grandma and not have a puppy love."