The cold air outside the house was howling fiercely, the hotpot in the room was boiling, and a layer of condensation had plastered on the windowsâ¦
Song Fengwan scooped up a few leaves of spinach from the pot of chili oil and added some sesame oil. She ate with relish while drinking Coke.
Fu Chen raised an eyebrow. He hadnât realized that this girl enjoyed such strong flavors of food.
Qiao Aiyun was very happy. She ate hotpot and drank some liquor. Her face was pink from the heat. Yan Wangchuan didnât eat much and just kept looking at herâ¦
When their gazes met occasionally, he hurriedly looked away again.
He was like a young boy who had never been in love, and there was a faint blush behind his ears.
Qiao Wangbei lowered his head and ate the mutton, fuming.
If you want to look, you should look openly. What are you hiding?
Heâs already so old, yet heâs still pretending to be innocent. Does he really want to spend his last years alone?
It makes me feel anxious just by looking at him. Heâs worse than juniors when it comes to getting along with others.
Heâs lived to his forties for nothing.
âAunt Yun, I have something to discuss with you. Itâs about Wanwan.â Fu Chen put down his chopsticks with a serious expression.
When Song Fengwan saw his expression, her heart skipped a beat.?Could he want to�
âWhat about Wanwan?â Qiao Aiyun had already gone dizzy with a few nice words from him.
âWanwan and Iâ¦â
âCough, coughââ Song Fengwan choked on a mouthful of chili. She coughed for a long time, choking until her whole body was burning.
âWhat are you doing?â Qiao Aiyun passed her a glass of water. Song Fengwan gulped down the big glass before the fire in her throat dissipated.
âFu Chen, tell me. Whatâs the matter with you and Wanwan?â
âI promised her to take her out to ski after her exam. You were busy previously, so I didnât intend to mention this. Now that everything is settled, Iâm seeking your opinion.
âThe place is overseas and visa-free. A friend of mine and a child will also be there, for a total of four people.
âIf you donât think itâs safe, pretend I never mentioned it.â
Fu Chen spoke very politely, and his logic was clear. He had initially promised Song Fengwan, so this was not a last-minute decision.
Qiao Aiyun looked at Song Fengwan. âIs that so?â
âYeah.â Song Fengwan nodded guiltily. It seemed that this was really the case. Recently, she had been thinking about how to ask her mother for permission to go out for New Yearâs Eve. She didnât expect Fu Chen to speak up for her directly.
The reason was very valid.
âWonât it be too troublesome?â Qiao Aiyun kept feeling that she had been troubling Fu Chen and felt very embarrassed.
âNot at allâ¦â
âWanwan, do you want to go?â It was not appropriate for Qiao Aiyun to reject him, so she had to seek Song Fengwanâs opinion.
Song Fengwan bit a vegetable leaf and nodded silently.
Qiao Aiyun would be busy the following days. She had to hand over her assets and transfer the properties to Fengwan. She had to go to many departments and work hard, so she would be busy for a while and wouldnât be able to take care of Song Fengwan at all. It would be New Yearâs Day soon, and the school was also closed for the holidays. She initially wanted her to stay in Suzhou for a few days.
If Fu Chen was willing to take care of her, it would also be good if she could go out to play and relax for a couple of days.
âHow about this? Iâll pay for your trip overseas this time. Donât fuss over this with me.â Qiao Aiyun looked at Fu Chen.
Fu Chen nodded and glanced at Song Fengwan.
She lowered her head, her face red, unsure whether it was due to the spiciness or shyness.
Yan Wangchuan looked at Fu Chen. He couldnât understand how someone could lie through their teeth. He obviously had evil intentions.
âGo out and play. I will also sponsor you a little,â Qiao Wangbei said with a smile.
âThank you, Uncle.â Song Fengwan hadnât expected Fu Chen to want to bring her overseas. Her mood suddenly soared to the heavens, and her whole body felt light and flutteryâ¦
âYou said there will be a child just now. Is he your friendâs child?â Qiao Aiyun asked casually.
âNo, heâs a child who is staying in our house for the time being. Heâs from a templeâ¦â Fu Chen briefly explained the situation.
Upon hearing his words, Qiao Aiyun kept praising him.
Fu Chen successfully gained a good impression from her again.
Yan Wangchuan raised his eyebrows and lowered his head to poke at his bowl. A few vegetable leaves had already been crushed by his jabbing.
In the past, he had only thought that this brat was a wily old fox. He hadnât expected him to be so glib.
***
After eating the hotpot, Qiao Aiyun had already drunk a lot of alcohol and was a little tipsy. Usually, she wasnât able to let herself go, but she was in a good mood today, so she naturally didnât control her alcohol intake.
âWanwan, help clean up the table with me. Senior Brother, please take Aiyun upstairs to rest. Itâs the first room on the right,â Qiao Wangbei said.?Iâve already helped him to this extent. If he still doesnât understand, I will really give up all hope.
Yan Wangchuan walked to Qiao Aiyunâs side. âLetâs go. Iâll take you back to your room.â
âNo need. I can walk by myself.â
âIâll send you.â
âThereâs really no need. Itâs my house. I can feel my way back even when Iâm asleep.â Qiao Aiyun knew how he felt about her. But the two of them had always been very distant, and it wasnât easy to accept suddenly getting close to each other within a day or two.
Yan Wangchuan stood in front of her, immovable like an imperious god.
Qiao Aiyun had no choice. âOkay, Iâll let you send me. Letâs go upstairs.â
Yan Wangchuan nodded.
Qiao Wangbei was so angry that he nearly threw the plate in his hand at him.
âSenior Brother, the staircase shakes. Sheâs drunk, so support her a little.â He enunciated each word clearly, as though he was on the verge of breaking down.
Yan Wangchuan hesitated for a moment before raising his hand to hold her arm. âLetâs go. Iâll help you.â
Fu Chen took a look and lowered his head to suppress his laughter.
â¦
After a minute, everyone saw Yan Wangchuan coming down the stairs.
Qiao Aiyun was lying on the bed and let out a muffled laugh.?He actually only sent me to the door and told me to rest properly before turning around to leaveâ¦
Soon, she heard Qiao Wangbeiâs exasperated voice coming from downstairs.
âWhy did you come down?!â
âWhat am I going to do if I donât come down?â
ââ¦â Qiao Wangbei was obviously infuriated. âYou still have the cheek to ask me that?â
âIâm your senior brother. You have to watch your words when you talk to me.â Yan Wangchuan suddenly became serious.
âThen you can be my senior brother for the rest of your life.â He was really pissed.
Song Fengwan held back her laughter and poured a glass of warm water for Yan Wangchuan.
âThank you, but Iâm not thirsty.â
Song Fengwan laughed out loud and nearly spilled the water. âPlease bring my mother a glass of water. She might be a little unwell after drinking. Please talk to her for a while.â
Only then did Yan Wangchuan seem to remember something. He took the glass stiffly and went upstairs again awkwardly.
Qiao Wangbei flung the tablecloth away, too angry to speak.
Qiao Aiyunâs head hurt a little, but she didnât take off her clothes. She wrapped herself in her blanket and leaned against the bedhead. Yan Wangchuan knocked on the door and entered. He put down the glass but didnât speak. The two looked at each other in silence.
He simply stood by the bedâ¦
⦠staring at her without blinkingâ¦
⦠with reddened ears.
Qiao Aiyun also wanted to see how stuffy he could be. After a long time, the first thing he said was, âThe water is getting cold.â
What an awkward person.
***
Song Fengwan and Fu Chen left for overseas on the morning of December 31st. They had a three-hour flight and could have lunch there by the time they arrived.
It was three days and two nights.
Qiao Aiyun had helped her pack a lot of luggage, fearing that she would catch a cold there.
âThereâs too much. Third Master has already prepared everything for me.â Song Fengwan felt that there was too much luggage and that it would be a burden. She would have to lug her luggage around for a few days, which would be time and energy-consuming.
âHow can you rely on him for everything? Arenât you embarrassed to trouble him so much?â
Song Fengwan was speechless.
She was too embarrassed to say: âHeâs wooing me. He must be diligent.â
Before she left, Qiao Aiyun kept reminding her to be obedient and not cause trouble for Fu Chen.
Qiao Wangbei stuffed a bank card in her hand. âHave fun and be careful.â
âThank you, Uncle.â Song Fengwan didnât stand on ceremony.
But Yan Wangchuan walked in front of her and whispered, âHave fun. Be careful of Fu Chen.â
Song Fengwanâs body stiffened. She didnât know how to answer, so she could only smile and nod.
When Song Fengwen got in the car at night, she had a suspicious look on her face.?Why did Uncle Yan tell me to be careful of Third Master?
***
Meanwhile, in a ski resort overseasâ¦
Duan Linbai and Huai Sheng had arrived a day earlier. On the 30th, they reached the hotel at 11 oâclock at night. By the time they washed up, it was already 1 a.m.
Huai Sheng could take care of himself completely. Duan Linbai kept praising him for being sensible.
But the next morning, he broke downâ¦
At 5:30 a.m. Beijing timeâ¦
The sound of wooden fish knocking and chanting filled his room.
When he got on the plane for security checks previously, he had felt that it was strange.
Who the f*ck would bring a wooden fish on a vacation? I should have thrown this lousy wooden fish away at the airport.
âHuai Sheng, what are you doing? Arenât you sleepy this early in the morning?â Duan Linbai tried his best to keep a smile on his face as he resisted the urge to throw him out the window.
âIâm having my morning class. I told you last night, and you also agreed. Uncle Duan, go to sleep. I still have to study for an hour. You donât have to accompany me.â
âIâ¦â Duan Lin was about to let loose a swear word when he swallowed it back down. He couldnât curse in front of a child.
Last night, Huai Sheng had indeed asked for his opinion. He had been extremely tired at the time, and his mind had been dizzy. Besides, how could he have known that he was serious?
âGo to sleep quickly. Itâs not even daybreak yet.â Huai Sheng looked innocent.
Duan Linbai was about to go crazy.?So you also know that the sun hasnât risen yet?
âI canât fall asleep like this.â Duan Linbai was a straightforward person, so he spoke directly, implying that he had disturbed him.
Huai Sheng blinked. âThis means youâre not sleepy yet. In the past, when I was sleepy, I could fall asleep even while standing. Now that you donât feel like sleeping even when lying in bed, it means youâre not sleepy enough.â
Duan Linbai lay on the bed, wanting to commit suicide by disemboweling himself.
Fu Chen, did you deliberately send this little monk to mess with me?
He finally understood why Sun Wukong was so afraid of Monk Tang. He could really chant him to death.