Chapter 84: Extra 5
The weather had been cool lately, especially today—neither cold nor hot, just right. Too drowsy, Qiao Xi didn’t open her eyes, snuggling with Fu Bei in a half-awake state.
When she finally came to her senses, Qiao Xi opened her eyes and asked lazily, “What are you doing?”
Fu Bei turned her head to kiss her earlobe. “What do you think?”
Qiao Xi pretended not to understand, murmuring as if complaining, “It’s so late; very sleepy…”
“Not sleepy,” Fu Bei whispered, brushing her lips against her temple soothingly. “Sleep later.”
Qiao Xi didn’t respond, tacitly agreeing.
Sleeping late meant really sleeping late, absolutely not resting early.
Because the child wasn’t home, there were many things they could do. The world for two was simply too wonderful. Getting up around eight to eat, then each finishing their own tasks, going shopping in the afternoon. Qiao Xi wasn’t particularly fond of shopping before, usually only going with Tang Yi to buy things and eat, visiting places if there was a chance. Now she liked it very much. They would link arms or hold hands, buying small couple items or things they might use.
No matter how lofty love is, after marriage, it will eventually be associated with trivialities. If one can’t tolerate these, trivialities become mundane, and feelings fade. Conversely, it becomes romance. Every detail reveals intense, surging love—unique and special, the only romance for the other person.
They met Tang Yi on Qijing Street.
Tang Yi had achieved all her goals from back then, becoming an associate professor at the University of Science and Technology. She bought a house with full payment at the beginning of this year. Now Tang Yi’s parents had moved to Jiang City, the family happy and blissful. Her future was bright. Working very hard and excelling in all aspects, she was valued at the University of Science and Technology and highly regarded by leaders. Although not comparable to Fu Bei, she was definitely considered successful among her peers.
Since they met, they definitely had to eat together.
Qiao Xi asked about Tang Yi’s recent situation. Everyone was busy lately, not meeting much.
Tang Yi smiled. “Not bad; everything’s been good.”
Then she talked about what she was doing recently, like going to Germany for exchange study a while ago, serving as a team leader for a seminar, and possibly engaging in some project next—very planned.
Qiao Xi was naturally happy for her. Tang Yi’s diligence and hard work over the years were obvious to all; she deserved these.
On the way home, Fu Bei told Qiao Xi that Jiang University intended to poach Tang Yi. Actually, Professor Xu was very satisfied with this student back then, recommending her to the higher-ups many times. But Tang Yi wasn’t outstanding among the group of excellent young people at the time, nor had she made significant achievements, so Jiang University didn’t pay much attention, offering mediocre benefits. Who knew that after returning to the University of Science and Technology, Tang Yi worked with all her might? With the school’s strong support and favorable policies, she achieved quite a few results. Just leading a student team to win an international competition last year added luster to the University of Science and Technology.
Professor Xu was both happy and angry about this. Happy that his student could be so excellent, the blue dye extracted from the indigo plant is bluer than the plant itself (the student surpasses the master). Angry that Jiang University had eyes but failed to recognize talent back then, giving away a potential seedling just like that. How good it would have been to keep her at Jiang University for cultivation.
Qiao Xi sighed with emotion. Tang Yi had made a name for herself, not wasting years of effort.
However, long after, when Jiang University really extended an invitation to Tang Yi, Tang Yi still didn’t go. Jiang University was undoubtedly a higher and more powerful platform, bringing opportunities and support far stronger than the University of Science and Technology. But her original intention remained unchanged, euphemistically expressing her desire to stay at her alma mater for construction. Tang Yi was just an ordinary person. Unlike others, she didn’t have a wealthy family. Reaching this step and making such a choice was indeed very different. Many years later, she indeed achieved this, making many contributions to the construction of the University of Science and Technology.
Late autumn this year was bleaker than previous years. The leaves on the trees outside the apartment had all fallen, leaving bare branches. A glance around showed emptiness and silence everywhere.
Under soaring housing prices, Qiao Xi took the opportunity to sell the house on Qijing Street. In just a few years, it had more than doubled compared to when she bought it. Not short of money, she planned to donate it, this time to the children’s welfare institute where Little Qiao An was adopted.
She had planned this long ago, discussing with Fu Bei: “Donate in both our names, how about it?”
Ultimately mixed with a bit of selfishness.
Fu Bei certainly agreed, saying gently, “Add a bit more to make it a round number. I’ll accompany you to handle it in a few days.”
Over the years together, they had done quite a bit of charity. Not to show how kind they were, but just donating what they couldn’t use. Compared to the affluent life back then, the two lived ordinarily now, with low material demands. Moreover, both had certain savings, enough for them to be financially worry-free in the future.
Finally, this matter was done in both their names. To thank them, the children’s welfare institute specially wrote a handwritten thank-you letter and thanked them one by one on the official website and Weibo. Qiao Xi and Fu Bei’s names were always together. Although almost no public cared about this matter, they both felt it was very meaningful.
**
In the period when autumn was almost completely over, Liang Yuzhi, who had been away for a long time, returned to Jiang City from abroad. This time Liang Yuzhi didn’t make a scene. Like Zhou Meihe, she had changed a lot. Maybe figured it out, maybe felt tired; she kept a very low profile, so much so that Qiao Xi only knew about it two days later.
Fu Bei’s reaction was flat, not particularly concerned. The mother-daughter relationship could never return to the past. Stalemate, reconciling or not had no meaning anymore. Fu Bei and Liang Yuzhi truly couldn’t get along. Liang Yuzhi had always treated Fu Bei as a tool to cultivate, thinking she could inherit the Fu family and become a dragon among men, benefiting herself as well. Her devotion demanded returns, so Fu Bei never liked or accepted it.
There was no need for Fu Bei and Liang Yuzhi to reconcile; it wasn’t necessary. Past events had happened; the estrangement was planted long ago, not just because of Qiao Xi. Incompatibility of concepts truly had no solution.
Qiao Xi didn’t ask about these, understanding Fu Bei’s feelings quite well.
Once, when taking Little Qiao An back to the Fu family, they met Liang Yuzhi. There was some unpleasantness during the time, roughly because Liang Yuzhi couldn’t quite accept Little Qiao An’s adopted status, believing she wasn’t blood kin after all—without blood relation meant being an outsider. She spoke relatively euphemistically, meaning for Qiao Xi to have one herself.
The slightly commanding tone made Qiao Xi very uncomfortable. But considering she was an elder and hadn’t been seen for so long, she didn’t lower herself to argue.
Fortunately, Little Qiao An was still young and couldn’t understand the hidden meaning of these words. The little dumpling was silly. Seeing Liang Yuzhi for the first time, she rushed over excitedly to cling to her, holding a handful of candy to give to Liang Yuzhi.
However, before she could reach Liang Yuzhi, Fu Bei picked the child up expressionlessly. She ignored Liang Yuzhi from beginning to end, her face gloomy, expression not softening a bit until leaving the Fu family.
Grandpa Fu, usually annoying, was finally fair this time, suppressing his temper to scold Liang Yuzhi: “No one takes you for a mute if you don’t speak!”
Then he said two more excessive sentences, roughly scolding her for her stubborn virtue, scolding Liang Yuzhi until tears fell. However, since then, Liang Yuzhi quieted down, speaking no more nonsense.
On the way back, Qiao Xi comforted Fu Bei instead, knowing this person must feel bad. Hearts are made of flesh; after all, it was her biological mother. Words like stabbing with a knife—how could it not hurt? She would mind more or less.
Fu Bei didn’t say anything, only replying, “Don’t listen to her words; ignore her in the future.”
Qiao Xi hummed. “I know.”
Little Qiao An didn’t understand these worldly wisdoms. Sensing the atmosphere was a bit off, she pulled Fu Bei when getting off the car, fawningly saying, “Mama don’t be angry…”
Children are sensitive, still able to feel adults’ joys and sorrows.
Qiao Xi glanced at Fu Bei, then picked up the child, changing the subject.
That night, the couple talked quietly in the room for a long time, chatting about these things. Every family has its own difficulties; such things are actually hard to handle.
Fu Bei asked, “Mind her opinion very much?”
Qiao Xi shook her head. “No, how could I.”
“Ignore it,” Fu Bei said. “Having me is enough.”
Speaking, she hugged Qiao Xi and patted her back. Such a gentle offensive made Qiao Xi smile uncontrollably. Pondering for a long time, she replied softly as if promising, “You have me too.”
**
This matter was just an interlude, not bringing much change to their lives. Day after day, autumn passed and winter arrived. Cold descended on Jiang City, cold wind scraping like knives.
In the season when everything withered and the city was empty, Fu Bei started sending flowers again. This person always loved sending flowers; there was always one season every year for this. Qiao Xi said she didn’t like it verbally, but was actually happy. Who doesn’t love gifts from a lover? Moreover, Fu Bei sending flowers was never just paying money to get it done. She would choose varieties and styles with care. The bouquet was different every day. She would write cards personally, and even wrap flowers herself—full of sincerity.
This set was learned by Little Qiao An. The little dumpling took her own pocket money, following Fu Bei to buy flowers too, presenting them to Qiao Xi like treasures. The bouquet was bigger than her small body; two hands couldn’t hold it.
After the New Year, Little Qiao An should go to school. Qiao Xi and Fu Bei had found a kindergarten for her long ago. However, the little dumpling seemed reluctant to study, following behind them every day, pretending to sigh whenever there was a chance, saying studying was so tiring, didn’t want to study—exactly like Qiao Xi when she was young.
Qiao Xi was both angry and amused. Wanting to “scold” her, the little dumpling immediately hid behind Fu Bei.
**
At the same time, in City S, thousands of miles away from Jiang City, Qin Si, who had no contact with Qiao Xi anymore, completely took over the Qin family in the winter of this year, becoming the top leader of the family enterprise.
Everything in Jiang City had long faded. What greeted her was a busier life; everything next was a challenge. There is no hurdle in life that cannot be passed. Time is enough to change anything. Things hard to let go back then had vanished today, seeming no longer important, dispensable.
Maybe life is just like this, forever changing.
The Qin family had a place in City S. At the end of the year, Qin Si attended a conference on behalf of the company and even appeared on TV.
In the apartment in Jiang City, the TV in the living room was broadcasting this news. But Little Qiao An wanted to watch cartoons, changing the channel at this moment.
Qiao Xi missed seeing this scene.
