Chapter 27

It's time for lunch, Yang Jingxing asked the two girls if they wanted to go to Xiaodongting.

Liu Miao said, "It's so cold, who would go that far... Let's cook ourselves. Do we have any vegetables at home?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Who among you can? I can't anyway."

The three of them went downstairs to check the fridge. The kitchen was the Yang family's stronghold, with two refrigerators crammed full of all sorts of things. Liu Miao checked each compartment, looking for something she could use, and found something good: "This is what shark fin looks like."

Yang Jingxing said, "It's not good, not as good as sour and spicy cabbage."

Xia Xue was looking in the other fridge and said, "We can stir-fry shrimp, and there are mushrooms..."

The two girls worked together and managed to gather four dishes and one soup, then they kicked Yang Jingxing out of the kitchen. Yang Jingxing watched TV outside, hearing the chatter and clatter from the kitchen.

"Where's the ham?"

"Did we cut too much?"

"A bit thick."

"Be careful."

"Eggs... how many?"

"Don't throw them!"

"Ouch, it's so hot!"

The host waited for an hour and finally saw the dishes being served. Two dishes came out at once, which was impressive. After another ten minutes, all the dishes were ready, and they started eating.

Stir-fried shrimp, mushrooms and greens, ham and tofu soup, scrambled eggs, and stir-fried chicken strips.

Yang Jingxing said they were all good, but the two girls were strict with themselves, saying this one was a bit bland, that one a bit salty, but overall, it was still pretty good.

After the meal, the two girls wanted to clean up and wash the dishes. Yang Jingxing refused, saying they should divide the work, and it was his turn. Moreover, Liu Miao suspected he wouldn't know how to wash dishes, which wasn't gender discrimination!

Yang Jingxing refused Liu Miao's apron and quickly cleaned up the kitchen. Liu Miao asked, "When you go to college, will you live on campus?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head: "I don't know."

Liu Miao suggested, "Live off-campus, then we can come over to cook."

Yang Jingxing lectured, "Focus on your studies, not cooking!"

Xia Xue said, "On weekends, I think it's good."

Yang Jingxing said, "When you get into college, you'll be surrounded by a bunch of male students, dating several people on a weekend, morning, noon, and night... Isn't that exciting?"

Liu Miao stomped her foot and laughed, "You're the one who's excited!"

Yang Jingxing nodded: "Right, I'll open an intelligence shop. With my over ten years of understanding of you, I know what little things Miao Miao likes, what books and comics Xue Xue likes... You should be hard to pursue, otherwise my intelligence won't sell well."

Xia Xue said, "Seeing you would scare them away."

Yang Jingxing nodded: "Yeah, I'll also work as a bodyguard. If there's someone I really don't like who keeps pestering you, I'll step in."

The two girls giggled. Liu Miao said, "College is like this, Lu Hui said many people pursued her!" Lu Hui was a childhood friend, two years older than Yang Jingxing, with an average appearance.

Yang Jingxing said, "So you should work hard, to be pursued by a group of top university boys, I'll also have face!"

Liu Miao suddenly became unhappy: "Hmph, I'm afraid you'll forget who you are in the pile of beauties at the music college."

Seeing Yang Jingxing wash his hands, Xia Xue gave him her hand cream and said, "I think the music college should be full of talented girls."

The three of them went back to the fourth floor, but didn't play the piano. They watched TV and surfed the internet together. Liu Miao insisted that Yang Jingxing also log into her QQ to see if they could find any intelligence.

Yang Jingxing had only fifty friends, and the two girls went through all their profiles, asking if they were classmates or online friends.

Yang Jingxing had no online friends, only former and current classmates. Liu Miao even pulled out his high school class photos and matched them.

Liu Miao played a trick and changed Yang Jingxing's status from invisible to online.

The first to send a message was Lu Lin: "Brother Xing, not with your sister anymore?"

Liu Miao was angry: "Ignore him!"

Yang Jingxing still replied: "I'm here, watch your words."

Lu Lin said: "Haha, come on, let's play Warcraft."

Liu Miao helped reply: "No time!"

Zhang Yang was also online, and after a while, a message worth paying attention to came from someone named "Rainy Mood": "You finally went online!"

Liu Miao was excited, pointed at the photo, and asked, "Who, which one?"

Xia Xue remembered: "This one, it's Ren Chuyu." She wasn't wrong, it was indeed Ren Chuyu.

Liu Miao quickly typed: "Great, beautiful girl."

Yang Jingxing wasn't in a hurry, just watching.

Rainy Mood: "Do you want your photos?"

Liu Miao typed: "Yes, yes."

Rainy Mood: "I'll send them to you."

So the photos started to be sent, the ones Ren Chuyu took of Yang Jingxing during the sports meet, which he hadn't signed for yet.

Liu Miao was anxious: "So slow! She doesn't know how to compress them!"

Rainy Mood spoke again: "Your nickname doesn't sound good, change it."

Yang Jingxing's nickname was "Short Building Skin Broken," which was indeed hard to pronounce.

Liu Miao got into the mood: "Yours sounds good."

Finally, the first photo was sent, and Liu Miao quickly opened it. It was Yang Jingxing looking bored before throwing the shot put. Liu Miao asked, "She took this? It doesn't look good."

The photos were sent one by one, and Liu Miao played as Yang Jingxing, chatting with Ren Chuyu.

Finally, a new photo was a picture of Ren Chuyu and Yang Jingxing together.

Liu Miao and Xia Xue looked carefully. Liu Miao suspected: "Is she shorter than me? Does she wear heels?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Yes, about three to four centimeters."

The digital photos were quite clear. Xia Xue said, "Her skin isn't good, look at her nose."

Liu Miao nodded: "Her hair isn't black, and her eyebrows are so thin!"

The two girls commented for a while, then finally paid attention to Yang Jingxing: "This outfit looks good, did you bring it back?"

Yang Jingxing said no.

Liu Miao nodded and typed: "How is your relationship?"

Rainy Mood asked: "Who are you talking about?"

Liu Miao exclaimed: "Oh no, I made a mistake! What should I do?"

Yang Jingxing and Xia Xue laughed. Liu Miao shook Yang Jingxing's shoulder: "Quick, quick!"

Rainy Mood seemed anxious too: "Are you talking about Tan Dong?"

Yang Jingxing came to the rescue: "Yes, he often mentions you."

Ren Chuyu sent a string of angry emoticons: "He's a flirt! What relationship could I have with him?"

Yang Jingxing threatened: "I'll tell him."

Ren Chuyu wasn't afraid: "I know you're not that kind of person. How are you and Tao Meng now?"

Tao Meng, Liu Miao and Xia Xue remembered well. Liu Miao grabbed the keyboard: "Really? How is it good?"

Ren Chuyu said: "Her grades have improved so much. I knew her goal from the beginning."

Women get excited about gossip, and girls are no exception. Liu Miao typed: "What goal?"

Rainy Mood: "Do I need to say? You're not stupid. You're so smart, if you focus a bit, you can do well."

Yang Jingxing reached out to stop the situation: "Thanks. I have to go, have a good year."

But Liu Miao and Xia Xue were still confused: "What's going on? What's Tao Meng's goal?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Last semester we were desk partners, our goal was the same, to improve our studies."

Liu Miao suddenly had a good impression of Rainy Mood: "I think she's right, do you need help from others!"

Xia Xue said, "If someone tutors you, it can save time."

Liu Miao said, "Those people have been learning this since they were young, at home with their siblings... Anyway, you're not going to college, so don't bother with her."

Yang Jingxing laughed: "She's a beauty!"

Liu Miao was angry: "What about us two beauties!"

Xia Xue laughed.

The two girls had to go home for dinner, and Yang Jingxing would go out with Lu Lin and the others the next day. They probably wouldn't have much time to gather before the New Year. Xia Xue would go back to her hometown to celebrate, and wouldn't return to Jiuchun until the fifth day of the first month. The three of them agreed to set off fireworks together on New Year's Eve.

Yang Chengyi and his wife returned on the 26th of the twelfth month, with a lot of New Year's goods. Yang Jingxing made several trips up and down the stairs to move them. This year, New Year's Eve was on the 29th of the twelfth month, so Zhou Qiujie came over to help Xiao Shuxia on the 28th.

The New Year's Eve dinner at the Yang Chengyi household was a big project, with even dishes like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Even with two chefs and a helper, they were busy all day.

On the morning of the 29th, Yang Chengguang brought the elderly and children down. The whole family of eight sat together, lively and festive.

Eating sunflower seeds, fruits, and chatting was fun, but Xiao Shuxia insisted that Yang Jingxing give a concert. Yang Jingxing's grandfather was the most qualified to evaluate, as he had heard a foreign orchestra perform at a conference in the capital many years ago, and the memory was still vivid.

Yang Yun didn't like Yang Jingxing. He was just a wild child from a small county, and after spending money to study at a good school for two years, he forgot his own name! Playing the piano and applying to a music college, what a joke!

Lunch was served at one o'clock, with a large table of dishes. Zhou Qiujie had to rush back to her own home for lunch, and Yang Jingxing invited her: "Aunt Zhou, why don't you eat with us and go back in the afternoon?"

Xiao Shuxia was surprised and quickly said, "Yes, eat with us."

The other adults also invited her, not wanting to be outdone by the little kid. Zhou Qiujie couldn't refuse the hospitality and stayed.

Dinner was served at seven in the evening, and they ate until eight. Yang Jingxing had to go out, and even the temptation of New Year's money couldn't keep him, let alone the Spring Festival Gala.

Just as he met up with Liu Miao, Yang Jingxing received a call from Lu Lin. Lu Lin seemed to have had some alcohol at home and was in a bad mood. There was no choice but to pick up Xia Xue and then go to meet the friends.

Xia Xue and Liu Miao didn't show any objections, after all, it was the New Year, and it was good to be lively. Yang Jingxing and Lu Lin had been friends for over ten years.

Du Ling and Zhang Yang were there, and Du Ling even brought her seven or eight-year-old cousin. Xu Wei couldn't come out, as his family wouldn't let him. Lu Lin, still a bit tipsy, led the group to shout and call at Xu Wei's building, and they succeeded.

Xu Wei happily ran down and was surprised: "Xia Xue, Liu Miao."

Zhang Yang looked at the situation and said, "Three girls, one more, call another."

Du Ling said sarcastically, "Two are Yang Xing's, you want two more."

Liu Miao pretended not to hear, and Xia Xue kicked the firecracker debris on the ground.

Yang Jingxing asked Du Ling, "Who else besides you?"

Du Ling pulled her little cousin and pointed at Yang Jingxing, making him say, "Brother Xing."

Lu Lin shouted, "Don't be so boring! Get to business!"

Zhang Yang asked, "Where to go?" He carried a broken backpack from who knows how many years ago, filled with fireworks, which was the business.

Lu Lin, standing unsteadily, leaned against the wall and said, "Of course, to Qingying Bridge."

Zhang Yang scolded, "Are you really drunk?!"

They finally decided to go to the riverside road to set off fireworks. Zhang Yang took out a long string, but before he could light it, Du Ling covered her ears and grabbed Yang Jingxing's sleeve, hiding behind him.

Yang Jingxing took a few firecrackers from Zhang Yang's bag, gave them to Liu Miao and Xia Xue, and lit them for them. The two girls stood a few meters away, drawing circles.

Du Ling distributed candy to everyone, not forgetting, "Xia Xue, Liu Miao, chocolate."

Xia Xue shook her head, "No, thank you."

Du Ling stuffed them into Yang Jingxing's hand, "You give them!"

Yang Jingxing gave each of the two girls a few pieces and said, "They're good."

The fireworks went off with a loud crackling sound. Liu Miao and Xia Xue moved a few steps further away.

Du Ling pushed Yang Jingxing, "Forget it, you go, don't play with us!"

Lu Lin called, "Xia Xue, come over."

Liu Miao said loudly, "We're afraid of fireworks."

Du Ling acted cute, "Oh, I'm so scared too."

After a while, Liu Miao came to Yang Jingxing and said, "Xia Xue and I are going back first."

Lu Lin asked, "What's wrong?"

Yang Jingxing said loudly, "Come, come, let me introduce you! This is Liu Miao, this is Xia Xue, I've known them since childhood. This is Lu Lin, this is Zhang Yang, Xu Wei, and Du Ling, I've known them since first grade. What a coincidence, you all go to Jiuchun No. 1 High School! You're in second year, they're in third."

Xu Wei laughed, "Xia Xue, Liu Miao, hello."

Zhang Yang called, "Oh, beautiful girls, nice to meet you."

Lu Lin, still drunk, said, "Laisi tumei tu."

Liu Miao and Xia Xue smiled.

Du Ling said, "Actually, we've known each other since elementary school."

Yang Jingxing was surprised, "You know each other, I didn't know, sorry."

After setting off the fireworks, they walked for a while. The friends discussed whether to go to Xiaodongting to get drunk in the first month to welcome the last semester of high school.

Du Ling invited, "Xia Xue, come with us."

Liu Miao and Xia Xue made sounds but didn't respond.

It was almost ten o'clock, and Xia Xue received a call from home, so she and Liu Miao went home first.

Lu Lin said, "Liu Miao has a big attitude."

Du Ling said, "That's right, Yang Jingxing's sister, of course she's great!"

Yang Jingxing didn't argue.

Before twelve, they all went home. Yang Chengyi and his wife were playing mahjong, two couples against each other, with small stakes. At twelve, it was time to give New Year's money. From grandparents, parents, and uncles, Yang Jingxing received a good amount.

Yang Jingxing received messages from some classmates, including Liu Miao and Xia Xue. The two girls repeated their trick, one wishing him a happy New Year, the other wishing him happiness.

Yang Jingxing also sent a message to Yu Xinting: "Future classmate, happy New Year." Yu Xinting replied, "Happy, happy, work hard, work hard!"

Tao Meng's message to Yang Jingxing was a generic one, full of blessings. Yang Jingxing replied with a standard "Happy New Year."

Yang Jingxing also remembered to wish Hu Yiqing and Li Yingzhen a happy New Year. Zhang Chujia and Hu Yiqing replied, but Li Yingzhen and He Hongchui seemed too busy.

On the first day of the New Year, Yang Jingxing's family went to his uncle's house,