Chapter 143-144: Happiness
“Mom, we’re back.”
He Mu Qing kicked off her shoes at the shoe cabinet and rushed into the kitchen, excitedly making a fuss. “What delicious food did you make?”
Su Yu followed behind. He looked at the shoes that were scattered on the floor and helplessly put them away in the shoe cabinet. It wouldn’t be good for her to be scolded for such a thing during the New Year.
He had just walked into the living room when he smelled the rich aroma of food. The large folding table, which was usually in the corner, was placed in the center of the living room. Many dishes were already on the table. The hot steam rose under the bright white light, creating a comfortable and cozy scene.
The living room was not air-conditioned, but it was still warm. A wave of warmth spread through his body with his warm blood, and his cold hands and feet began to warm up.
He Mu Qing’s whimpering cry echoed in his ear. Her hand, which was trying to steal a pork rib, was hit by Mother He with a chopstick. She grimaced in pain. He couldn’t help but laugh, and he laughed out loud.
“See, even Xiao Yu is laughing at you. You’re so old, but you still can’t control your mouth. Can you steal food during the New Year’s Eve dinner? You never learn. Xiao Yu is only a year older than you, but he’s much more sensible than you.”
“Mom~ what do you know? Su Yu, you’re still laughing!” He Mu Qing turned her head and glared at Su Yu fiercely. “He’s particularly childish when he bullies me. He also likes to flirt with pretty girls on the street. He’s actually very bad.”
“Come on, you’re the one who’s complaining. If you try to steal food again… you won’t get any lucky money this year.” Mother He warned He Mu Qing and then turned to look at Su Yu, her eyes instantly becoming gentle. She looked at the things Su Yu had bought with a smile. “You’ve bought everything? Thank you for your hard work. I’ve warmed some ginger cola for you. Drink it to warm yourself up. Why did you buy so many couplets? We can’t put them all up at home.”
“Oh, I’m planning to put some up at home too. Although no one will be living there after the winter break, it’s the New Year… for good luck.”
Su Yu’s heart warmed at Mother He’s concerned tone. He kept a set of couplets for himself and gave the rest to Mother He. “I specially found this set with a suitable meaning. It’s just right for your family. And since Mu Qing is taking the gaokao this year, it will definitely bring her good luck.”
“Good, good. Xiao Yu is so thoughtful.” Mother He couldn’t stop smiling. She took the couplets and said “good” repeatedly. She turned to look at He Mu Qing with a not-so-good expression. “Since everyone is here, Mu Qing, hurry up and put up the Fu character and the couplets with Xiao Yu.”
“Oh~ I know. Why are you so fierce? You know it’s the New Year, and you’re still being fierce with me.” He Mu Qing pouted, her tone as pitiful as a poor, bullied child. She secretly pinched Su Yu’s arm and muttered in a dissatisfied tone, “Let’s go, let’s put up the couplets. You’re just gloating. I think you should just call me mom in the future too.”
…
“A little to the left, a little to the right. No, no, still to the left. First to the left, then to the right…”
“He Mu Qing! Are you playing with me?”
Su Yu turned his head and looked at He Mu Qing, who was standing behind him, directing him. He glared at her. “If you say that again, you can put it up yourself.”
“Why are you so fierce? Then… is it my fault that your hand is shaking?” He Mu Qing stuck out her pink tongue and turned her head away guiltily. “I’m hungry. Let’s put it up quickly. I want to eat.”
“Look carefully this time before you remind me…”
“I know. Just a little to the left this time. Okay… you can put it up now.”
Su Yu aligned the corners of the spring couplet and pasted it up. After he had set it up, he took a few steps back and looked at the square spring couplet and the Fu character. He finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the white dust from his forehead and was about to go inside. “Let’s go. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Hey, what about your house? Aren’t you going to put them up?” He Mu Qing pulled Su Yu and asked.
“Let’s put them up after the New Year’s Eve dinner.”
“Who puts up spring couplets after the New Year’s Eve dinner? Shouldn’t a family put them up together when they are reunited…”
He Mu Qing suddenly stopped. She realized she had said the wrong thing. She bit her cherry-pink, thin lips and nudged Su Yu’s waist with her elbow, her expression particularly awkward as she apologized. “S-Sorry. Then let’s put them up after the New Year’s Eve dinner.”
Su Yu didn’t mind. Instead, he smiled and patted He Mu Qing’s head. “Yeah, it’s okay.”
“Oh~ but…” The little cat didn’t bristle this time. She obediently let Su Yu put his hand on her head, very obedient. She lowered her eyes, her voice soft and gentle, as if she were afraid Su Yu would mind. “But we are also a family. We have New Year’s Eve dinner together every year. Don’t be sad.”
“Wow, I’m not that fragile. You’re being too dramatic.” Su Yu’s eyes widened, and he pretended to be surprised. “And when did our Qing Qing become so gentle? You really, I’m going to cry…”
He Mu Qing’s expression froze. She stared at the boy’s mischievous smile. She really felt that the warmth she had just managed to muster had been wasted on a dog. She was so angry that she stomped her foot and followed him into the house, cursing.
“Su Yu! You’re a dog biting Lü Dongbin. You’re such a bastard! I’ll break your legs.”
…
“Don’t fool around, don’t fool around. It’s time to eat.”
Mother He ran over with bowls and chopsticks and stopped the impending war, saving Su Yu’s life. He Mu Qing stared at the table full of dishes in the living room and suddenly forgot that she was angry. She squeezed past Su Yu and sat down expectantly, waiting for Mother He to give her bowls and chopsticks. Su Yu smiled and also sat down.
“Alright, we’re all family here. No need for formalities. Let’s just start eating this year’s New Year’s Eve dinner. Don’t be polite.”
Father He was the last to sit down. The nominal head of the family smiled, his face shining. He was the first to raise his glass, but Mother He, with the reason that he had just had surgery and was not allowed to drink, mercilessly replaced the red wine in his glass with Coke. Father He could only raise his glass of Coke, which was about the same color as red wine, again.
The few of them wished each other a happy new year and clinked their glasses together.
The warm and comfortable atmosphere of the New Year spread with the warmth of the dishes. The air was filled with a happy warmth, as if it had turned into a tangible thread that connected everyone’s wrists, establishing the necessary bonds for life.
“Xiao Yu, have a drink with me.”
Father He was not a man of many words. He just patted Su Yu’s shoulder heavily and clinked his glass with Su Yu’s. “I’ve watched you grow up. You’re an adult in the blink of an eye. In the future, as long as you want… and you don’t mind, this home will always welcome you. New Year’s Eve dinner… we’ll always have a pair of chopsticks for you.”
“Mm-hmm, as long as you don’t mind me, uncle. I’ve always been a trouble to you.” Su Yu smiled and readily agreed.
“Then I wish Xiao Yu can achieve something in college and have a bright future. You must work hard.” Mother He also raised her glass. She looked at Su Yu and He Mu Qing, who had grown up together, and her eyes suddenly became a little sore. She secretly wiped her tears, her voice with a hint of a cry. “And Qing Qing, in the new year, you should grow up a little. I’m so happy and heartbroken to see you working so hard. I wish you success in the college entrance examination.”
Father He took a bite of food and chimed in, “By the way, Su Yu, you have to take good care of Qing Qing in the future. She had to go to your far-away Qingchuan University. I’m not at ease. She’s so naive. What if she gets cheated? Especially those good-for-nothing young people now. They are very good at cheating little girls. You have to help me watch her in the future.”
“Dad! Who wants Su Yu to take care of me? It’s good enough if he doesn’t bully me.” He Mu Qing, who was dealing with a chicken leg in her bowl, immediately retorted. She didn’t know if it was because she had drunk some red wine, but her cheeks were getting redder, and the blush spread from her cheeks to the roots of her ears. She felt that her earlobes were burning as if they were on fire. She lowered her head in embarrassment, still muttering in a dissatisfied tone.
“I didn’t say I had to go to Qingchuan University. You must have remembered it wrong. Who wants to go to the same university as this fool? I’d be so angry then.”
“Haha, is Qing Qing a little shy?” Father He hit the nail on the head and lit the fuse.
“I… I just drank a little wine. Is that… why I’m blushing?” He Mu Qing raised her voice and quickly defended herself, but the blush on her cheeks grew stronger. She lowered her head in anger and began to eat her rice. “I really don’t want to talk to you guys anymore.”
“Haha…”
“Don’t laugh!”
The smile on Su Yu’s lips had never stopped. He was like an irrelevant spectator, but he had really joined in this atmosphere. People always feel that they have lost something unconsciously, but they can’t remember what it is. It’s clear that only unimportant things are forgotten, but his heart told him that it was very important. But what was lost was lost, and it couldn’t be found.
He vaguely felt that he had grasped something…
“Let me get it for you. Here…”
Su Yu saw that He Mu Qing had been trying to reach the dish at the corner of the table for a long time. He picked it up for her and put it in her bowl, asking her if she wanted more.
“That’s… that’s enough. Why are you suddenly so…” He Mu Qing stammered and whimpered, lightly biting the tip of her chopsticks, unable to speak for a long time.
“What?” Su Yu’s voice was low and soft with a smile, as if he had just done a trivial thing.
He Mu Qing stared at the rare gentle smile on the boy’s lips. His gentle and handsome profile seemed to be shining. She stared blankly, unable to look away. Her warm heart was beating wildly, and she could vaguely hear the clear sound of her heartbeat.
But a moment later, she bit the tip of her chopsticks hard. She felt a chill rise from her heart. She moved her stool a little away, smoothed the messy hair by her ear, and the hair covered her red and white earlobes. She pouted, her face full of disgust. “Ew… why are you smiling so greasy?”
The smile on Su Yu’s face froze, and he almost bit his tongue.
