Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 3

Xu Yingran spoke to Fu Qiao in a low voice. They were supposed to be words of apology, but coming from her mouth, they carried an inexplicable bitterness. Even the way she looked at Fu Qiao felt complicated and heavy.

Fu Qiao looked back at her with bright eyes that flickered slightly.

In truth, Fu Qiao was very sweet and pretty. She had a small nose and mouth, and her cheeks were chubby with a bit of “baby fat.” She looked quite different from her adult self—much cuter and more innocent.

Xu Yingran gave her a small smile. Fu Qiao’s face and ears turned crimson; she jerked her head away, refusing to look back, and quickened her pace toward the school gates.

Seeing Fu Qiao run off again, Xu Yingran hurriedly chased after her, shouting, “Can I borrow your homework to copy later? I can’t solve a single problem the teacher assigned today!”

Thinking she was being teased, Fu Qiao ran even faster.

High school students were dismissed late. By the time they reached home, the sky was starting to darken. Walking through the familiar alleys, Xu Yingran found every ordinary spot exceptionally warm and nostalgic.

The old streets from ten years ago hadn’t undergone urban redevelopment yet. The alleys stretched in all directions, and shop stalls spilled out onto the roads, making the area crowded with people. Residents strolled along the sidewalks. The streets were too narrow for cars, and even riding a bike was a struggle. Fortunately, Xu Yingran relied on her two legs, so she didn’t mind the squeeze.

Fu Qiao didn’t walk with her for long. Her parents ran a stall in the old street, and the dinner rush was their busiest time. Fu Qiao always went to help at the shop first, only returning home to do homework once the crowd thinned out.

Xu Yingran had intended to say a proper goodbye, but the young girl seemed truly upset about being called “wife” twice today. She gave Xu Yingran a huffy glare before turning and disappearing into the crowd with her backpack.

Watching her retreating back, Xu Yingran felt a strange mix of emotions.

Back when Fu Qiao used to control her every move, she felt miserable every day. But now that she was back in the past and Fu Qiao was ignoring her, she felt even more unsettled.

It’s miserable to be controlled, and it’s miserable to be left alone. Xu Yingran even felt a bit of self-loathing for being so difficult to please.

The streetlights suddenly flickered on with a “shua” sound. Realizing the time, Xu Yingran hurried toward her home.

She crossed the bustling old street and entered the residential compound. The old factory dormitory buildings were full of life, with oily smoke rising from every window as families prepared dinner. Xu Yingran ran to her door and stood there panting, staring at the wide-open door as a wave of daze washed over her.

Zhao Yu was making dumplings. Seeing her daughter run back out of breath, she said, “Ranran, we’re out of vinegar. Go downstairs and buy a bottle. Not white vinegar—get the aromatic black vinegar. We’re having it with dumplings tonight.”

Xu Yingran watched her mother, whose hands were white with flour. She rolled out a wrapper, scooped a spoonful of filling, and with a few nimble pinches, created a plump, round dumpling. She lined it up neatly with its many “brothers and sisters.”

“What are you staring at?” Zhao Yu asked, puzzled. “Put your bag down and go. Your dad has something to do at work and won’t be back until 7:30. We’re eating a bit late tonight.”

“Mom…”

The moment she stepped inside, Xu Yingran dropped her bag and lunged into Zhao Yu’s arms. Startled, Zhao Yu threw her hands up, terrified of getting flour on her daughter’s clothes.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Yu looked at her, bewildered. “Did something happen? Why are you suddenly hugging me?”

Xu Yingran shook her head. She gathered her emotions and forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m going to buy the vinegar now.”

Zhao Yu watched her suspiciously. Why would her daughter suddenly hug her for no reason? Since the girl had grown up, she hadn’t been this affectionate. There had to be something she was hiding.

“What is it?” Zhao Yu pressed. “Did something happen at school? Did you get in trouble?”

Xu Yingran couldn’t help but laugh. “Really, it’s nothing. I just… missed you.”

Zhao Yu gave her a mock glare but her eyes crinkled with joy. “This child… what’s with all the sudden acting like a spoiled baby?”

It wasn’t just “acting.” In her previous life, the accident involving Xu Chunjian and Zhao Yu happened during the first semester of her senior year. At the time, Xu Yingran had just turned eighteen. Having finally realized she didn’t like boys, she had planned to come out to her parents.

That day, she had asked them to come home early from work. They had listened to her and headed back together. But an accident happened on the way home, and neither survived. The warm family of three was shattered in an instant.

Xu Yingran had always blamed herself. If she hadn’t asked them to come home early, maybe it never would have happened.

Now that she had started over and saw them standing vibrantly before her, she was happy from the bottom of her heart. This time, she would never let that tragedy repeat itself.

Xu Chunjian rode his old bicycle home from the factory. He crossed the lively old street and entered the compound to find his home brightly lit. The moment he stepped inside, the scent of fresh dumplings greeted him. He smiled at his wife and daughter. “Sorry, sorry. I had to write some materials at the factory. You must be hungry.”

Zhao Yu glanced at her husband, eyeing his grey work uniform with feigned annoyance. “Take that uniform off first. It reeks of gasoline. Wash your hands and eat quickly; if we wait any longer, the dumplings will get soggy.”

Xu Chunjian had a mild temper. He laughed and didn’t take offense, hanging his uniform outside before washing up and sitting down.

“You really are something,” Zhao Yu grumbled. “Every time someone asks you to help with overtime, why can’t you just say you have things to do at home? You’re a ‘good guy’ for everyone else, working for free every day. If something goes wrong at the factory, who’s going to take the blame?”

“I was just covering a shift. I came home as soon as the night shift guy arrived.”

“You… you’re just too soft-hearted.”

Xu Yingran watched her parents bickering at the table. Although Zhao Yu complained about the overtime, she was always willing to wait for him to come home to eat. The three of them sat together, eating dumplings and chatting—it was perfectly warm and complete.

Zhao Yu was a master at making dumplings. The plump little things tumbled in the boiling water without a single one breaking. Xu Yingran loved her mother’s dumplings, and it had been ten years since she last tasted them.

Seeing her daughter eating ravenously, Zhao Yu couldn’t help but complain, “Eat slower! I’ve never seen you eat this many before.”

Xu Chunjian poured himself a small glass of liquor. “The kid’s hungry after school. Let her eat.”

Zhao Yu glared at him. “Drink, drink, drink. I told you not to drink.”

Xu Chunjian shrank his neck. “But we have dumplings! Dumplings and liquor, a bond that lasts forever.”

“You and your nonsense.”

“Hehe.”

Xu Yingran glanced at her good-tempered father. She realized her own “fear of the wife” trait was likely hereditary.

“I’m full!”

After finishing her bowl, Xu Yingran prepared to go to her room to tackle the homework. She was currently agonizing over the fact that she didn’t have a smartphone to scan the problems for answers. What was she going to do with those test papers?

“Wait, hold on.” Zhao Yu stood up and grabbed a clean stainless steel bowl. She began transferring dumplings into it one by one. She said to Xu Yingran, “I made a few too many. Go take some to Fu Qiao’s parents. Those two work at the stall all night; it’s not easy. They probably haven’t eaten yet.”

Deliver dumplings?

Xu Yingran’s eyes lit up. She knew the two families had a great relationship; whenever someone made too much food, they would send some over. It was precisely because of this bond that the Fu family had taken care of her for so long after her parents passed.

Looking at the dumplings, Xu Yingran felt a wave of excitement. This was the perfect excuse to see Fu Qiao.

It wasn’t because she missed her “wife”—absolutely not. It was purely because she couldn’t solve those problems. When she asked Fu Qiao earlier, the girl was angry. Now she had a reason to ask again.

Yes! She was going to ask about copying homework, not to see her wife!

Carrying the bowl, Xu Yingran walked downstairs with a light step. She remembered the location of the barbecue stall—in an alley off the old street. After graduating university, she had helped out there skewering meat. Later, when she took over the stall, she turned it into a massive “Barbecue City” within two years.

Of course, a “hero shouldn’t boast of past glories.” The current Xu Yingran was a new person; she’d worry about Barbecue City later.

“Fu Qiao!”

Xu Yingran stood at the entrance of the alley. It was still warm out; the crowds wouldn’t thin out until the autumn chill arrived. Right now, business was so good there was hardly a place to stand.

The alley was narrow, and the small tables were packed. It was difficult for customers to even move two steps. Xu Yingran squeezed through, shouting toward the cooking area: “My mom made too many dumplings and sent me to give you some! Have you guys eaten yet?”

Hearing Xu Yingran’s voice, Fu Qiao hurried out from the back. She had her hair in a high ponytail and wore a grimy apron. Her hands were encased in yellow rubber gloves covered in soap suds—it looked like she had been washing dishes.

“Oh, Ranran’s here!” Fu Qiao’s parents were busy, but they looked up and smiled. “How can we keep eating your family’s food? Come here, I’ll have your uncle grill some skewers for you to take back.”

Xu Yingran grinned, showing a small canine tooth. She said to Hu Mei, “Mom, don’t be so polite! We’ve been neighbors for so long, don’t worry about the skewers. Don’t let Dad get even busier. We’re all full, really, it’s not necessary.”

She glanced at Fu Qiao, who was still standing there, and smiled. “Fu Qiao, have you eaten? I brought dumplings for your family. Eat them while they’re hot.”

Fu Qiao gave her a long, deep look, then walked over, grabbed Xu Yingran’s hand, and pulled her toward the back kitchen. Xu Yingran, still unaware of her slip of the tongue, waved cheerfully at Fu Qiao’s parents. “I’m going to have a few words with Xiao Qiao. You guys stay busy!”

As the parents watched the two girls disappear into the kitchen, they leaned toward each other and shared a look.

“That girl Ranran… what did she just call us?”