Volume 9: The Acidity of the Setting Sun
Chapter 24: Ringing Out the Old, Ringing In the New
“Cheers~” Amidst the steamy vapor, Yameng heartily raised the aluminum can, on which a line of advertising slogan could be vaguely seen: Snow Flower, Brave the Heavens!
The alcohol had gone to her head a bit, an unnatural flush appearing on her cheeks, adding a touch of bewitching charm.
It was the first day of the new year, and the four members of the small family were gathered around the table eating dumplings. Lu Li looked at the dumplings tumbling in the hot pot like fat little dolls. The dumpling skins were a bit too thin, the meat filling a bit too full. If they were cooked for just a little too long, the skins would break, revealing the mouth-watering meat color inside. Yameng had made the dumplings by hand this morning. She was in an excellent mood and had even given each dumpling a name. For example, the name of the dumpling on Lu Li’s chopsticks was “Lizi Number Thirteen.”
Four cups of different styles and colors clinked together. Yameng’s was a beer can, Wen Hupo’s was coconut juice, and An Baili and Lu Li’s were milk.
“Sis, why are you drinking so early in the morning?” Lu Li sighed and reached for the can in her hand. Lu Li had a natural psychological aversion to Yameng drinking. Yameng rarely took the initiative to drink; looking back now, it seemed she would only get “dead drunk” when she was sad.
“Today is the first day of the new year. I’m happy, so can’t I drink when I’m happy?” Yameng slurred loudly, her tone like that of a willful and unreasonable little girl. Lu Li knew she wouldn’t actually get drunk.
“After I went to the Capital City, I listened to your words, Lizi, and never touched a drop of alcohol…” she then said aggrievedly. “Can’t I even drink once a year? In the past, the older sister managed the younger brother. Now it’s the younger brother’s turn to manage the older sister.”
Lu Li was softened by her words. “Alright, good sister, you drink, drink, drink. I won’t stop you.”
Zou Yameng immediately beamed with joy. Not only did she want to drink herself, but she also goaded Wen Hupo into trying some. The little golden-haired cat had indeed never had alcohol before. She curiously took a small sip, then truly stuck out her tongue like a cat. “So bitter.”
“Try again, try again,” Yameng jeered.
Lu Li understood. Yameng was trying to get Wen Hupo, who was always sober, drunk. Lu Li was also very curious. What would a drunk Wen Hupo look like? He had seen An Baili drunk; after getting drunk, she would prattle on like a machine gun, grumbling and mumbling, just like a resentful little wife.
He had also seen Chen Jianing drunk. That girl was rather strange; she would cry her eyes out after getting drunk, a complete contrast to her usual stubborn little donkey persona.
As for Yameng, there was no need to say. She never got drunk. Not even on hard liquor.
Under Lu Li’s tacit approval, An Baili’s curiosity, and Zou Yameng’s ill intentions, Wen Hupo reluctantly drank half a can of beer. Then, this otherworldly, sharp-tongued, passive-aggressive beautiful golden-haired girl… began to hiccup.
Her head was dizzy. “I—hic—did I drink too much—hic—”
Then, with a thud, she fell asleep on the table, giving Lu Li a scare. Lu Li checked her breathing and then felt her left chest, only then confirming that this little cat absolutely couldn’t hold her liquor. Even though she was passed out, Hupo still hiccuped from time to time.
An Baili took Lu Li’s phone and recorded Wen Hupo’s flustered expression. She planned to have a QR code carved on Wen Hupo’s tombstone a hundred years later, with the link to this video.
Lu Li patted her little head. “Don’t mess around. If Hupo wakes up, she’ll fight you to the death.”
“—hic—”
An Baili giggled. “I never thought Hupo had such a cute side. I misjudged her before. She’s even funnier than the skits on the Spring Festival Gala last night.”
Lu Li’s interest was piqued. “What kind of person did you think she was before?”
An Baili tapped her chin, thinking for a moment. “Hmm, how should I put it? The type who likes to put on airs and look down on others, I guess. Anyway, I just have a rebellious streak. The more she talked, the less I wanted to listen.”
Lu Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You really misjudged her. Hupo doesn’t intentionally put on airs; she just doesn’t know what expression to make or what to say. Besides, she rarely lectures you, right?”
An Baili said, “How could she not… Back then, she was always asking to meet me, and she would say—” Halfway through, she realized this was a private conversation between her and Wen Hupo from their first life and suddenly stopped.
“Say what?”
An Baili was very satisfied with her current life. She had Lu Li’s love, and although it wasn’t one hundred percent, it was enough to fill her whole world. She had also become half-friends with Hupo, whom she used to fear the most. She had a future, she had hope. So, she actually started to fear reminiscing about the unbearable past. She was afraid Lu Li would distance himself from her again because of her past extreme actions.
Although it contained one of the most precious memories in her heart—the process of how she and Lu Li met.
“It’s nothing… I won’t tell you about girls’ talk,” An Baili said, evading the question.
Lu Li didn’t press further. His gaze fell on Yameng, who had just downed her beer and let out a sigh of satisfaction.
Yameng had a high body temperature. On this cold day, she was only wearing a tank top indoors and was still sweating profusely. The thin fabric clung to her flesh, and the loose straps slipped from her shoulders, revealing half of her fragrant, firm breast. Yameng opened another can of beer and looked at Lu Li playfully. “Lizi… Hupo is asleep. Are you going to do that thing in broad daylight again? With Baili?”
Before Lu Li could answer, An Baili took the initiative to finish Wen Hupo’s half-can of beer and pretended to be drunk. “I’m okay with it…”
Lu Li licked his lips and drank his milk. “I’ll drink some milk to replenish my strength.”
…
While Lu Li’s family was celebrating the New Year lively, Chu Jingyi was also experiencing the first New Year of her life without company. It wasn’t completely without company in the true sense; at least Auntie Wang had stayed this year.
The dishes on the table were served one after another, a magnificent spread, a stark contrast to the pitiful pot of dumplings and a few small side dishes at Lu Li’s house. But Chu Jingyi picked up her chopsticks, having no appetite at all.
“Auntie Wang, it’s just breakfast. We don’t need so many dishes, do we?” Chu Jingyi said politely, but no matter how polite, she couldn’t hide the growing indifference in her tone. The first thing a person learns when they grow up is to be indifferent, to hide their emotions. She was already learning.
Auntie Wang rubbed her hands on her apron. “Miss, this was made according to last year’s standard. The lunch will be even more lavish. Mr. Chu said that although he can’t come back this year, the standard of the food must not be lowered, so that you won’t feel lonely, Miss.”
Last year… Could last year and this year be the same? Last year, there were her parents, there was Lu Li, Baili, and Zou Yameng. There was Uncle Long’s family and Long Jing… How lively they were last year. This year, her parents had fallen out, Lu Li’s family was driven away by her father, and Uncle Long had taken Long Jing back to his hometown for the New Year. In this huge house, they couldn’t even gather three pairs of chopsticks.
A wave of disgust suddenly rose in Chu Jingyi’s heart. She began to hate this home. Although she accepted the protection her parents provided, she also accepted the shackles they bestowed upon her. She wanted to be a freer person.
“By the way, Mr. Chu asked me to tell you, Miss… that you can go to the Capital City for the early admission exams next month…”
Next month? Dad was in too much of a hurry… A wave of sorrow rose in Chu Jingyi’s heart. Couldn’t he just let her finish her three years of high school in Chuanhai? And what about Lu Li? Would Lu Li blame her for leaving without saying goodbye?
For Lu Li’s family, this was a new year for ringing out the old and ringing in the new, for a fresh start. But for Chu Jingyi, it was a sorrowful day with a bleak future and a sense of being at a complete loss.
