Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 36

Hu Mei still remembered how Xu Yingran and Fu Qiao had brought this little classmate over a while ago. Both girls had ended up drunk, and Hu Mei was the one who helped the little classmate into her car.

Seeing the parents of both her friends gathered there, Yao Jin’s eyes dimmed for a fleeting second before she quickly regained her composure, greeting them politely: “Hello, Uncles and Aunties.”

“Hello, hello.” Xu Chunjian looked at Yao Jin. Last time during the osmanthus honey incident, he had been working at the factory, so this was his first time meeting her. He asked kindly, “It’s so late; aren’t your parents coming to pick you up?”

Yao Jin fell silent. Xu Yingran quickly tugged at her father’s sleeve and whispered, “Her parents are busy with business. Usually, their driver picks her up.”

Xu Chunjian hadn’t considered that and felt a bit awkward.

However, looking at the large, warm family group surrounding Fu Qiao and Xu Yingran, Yao Jin didn’t show her usual bratty or stubborn attitude. Instead, she became exceptionally well-mannered. She said to the group, “The driver is waiting over there, so I’ll head out now. Be careful on your way home, Uncles and Aunties.”

Xu Yingran sensed that Yao Jin’s mood was low. She gave a soft “Mm” and added, “You be safe on the way home, too.”

Yao Jin nodded and turned to leave.

Fu Qiao naturally felt the shift as well. She glanced at Xu Yingran and whispered, “She seems unhappy.”

Xu Yingran nodded helplessly. It was likely the sting of seeing everyone else being picked up by their parents while hers were embroiled in a divorce battle, completely ignoring the fact that Yao Jin was a senior facing the biggest exam of her life. If parents cared even a little, they wouldn’t choose the tail-end of Grade 12 to blow up their family.

Xu Chunjian felt the vibe was off and asked quietly, “Did I say something wrong?”

Xu Yingran looked back at her dad and sighed. “It’s nothing. I’ll cheer her up at school tomorrow. Let’s head home.”

She couldn’t help but nag a bit: “I told you Fu Qiao and I could walk back together. Why did all of you come?”

Zhao Yu smiled. “Fu Qiao’s mom and I thought it was your first night walking home so late. We were afraid you two girls would be scared. Your dad didn’t have a night shift today, and the barbecue stall was quiet, so we figured we’d all come together.”

The six of them walked in small groups, chatting along the way. It was a cozy scene.

Under the dim yellow streetlights, Xu Yingran listened to the parents’ idle chatter and couldn’t help but think of her “previous” life. Back then, after her parents’ sudden passing, relatives and neighbors had helped with the funeral. By the time she returned to school, evening classes had already been going on for several days.

Back then, there was no one to pick her up. Only Fu Qiao stayed by her side. Fu Qiao would bring breakfast to eat with her in the morning, and at night, they would slowly walk the dark path home together. That routine lasted until the Gaokao ended.

Xu Yingran looked at Fu Qiao walking beside her. She knew that if it hadn’t been for Fu Qiao’s company, she never would have made it through that time. Because she was technically an adult at eighteen, her relatives hadn’t planned on taking care of her, claiming she was “grown up” enough to handle things.

But an eighteen-year-old is still just a child. What could she handle alone? She didn’t even know how to cook a basic meal. Without the help of Fu Qiao and her parents, Xu Yingran felt that even if she had graduated safely, she wouldn’t have had the life she eventually led.

Perhaps her gaze was too intense, as Fu Qiao turned to look at her, leaning in close. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Xu Yingran averted her eyes and rubbed her nose. “I was just wondering if we’re still going to get rice noodles.”

“What rice noodles?” Zhao Yu turned back. “There’s food waiting at home. Save the rice noodles for tomorrow.”

Fu Qiao’s interest was piqued. “What did you prepare?” She was indeed a bit hungry. More importantly, she was thrilled that her parents had come to pick her up. For years, she had been independent; having them here today made her truly happy.

Fu Jun, walking behind them with a cigarette, took a puff. “Grilled some skewers for you, made two cold dishes, and we’ll boil some hand-pulled noodles when we get back. Don’t eat too much late at night, or you won’t sleep.”

Hearing about the skewers, even Xu Yingran’s eyes lit up. Their pace quickened.

At home, the table was laden with food. Zhao Yu and Hu Mei went to the kitchen to prep the noodles while Xu Chunjian and Fu Jun sat down to share a beer. Fu Qiao and Xu Yingran dug into the skewers.

Today’s skewers were exceptionally good—prime cuts of meat, grilled until chewy and seasoned with a savory, spicy dry rub.

Xu Yingran took two bites and felt her lip start to sting. Fu Qiao reacted the same way. Both girls simultaneously frowned and touched the corners of their mouths.

Fu Jun noticed the synchronized movement and asked curiously, “I didn’t notice before, but what’s with your mouths? Both of you have a cut in the exact same spot?”

Xu Chunjian looked up and realized he was right. “You two couldn’t have both bitten your lips while eating at the same time, right?” he asked with a blink.

Fu Qiao froze. Xu Yingran quickly improvised: “Dad, what are you talking about? I bit mine while eating, but Qiao-qiao… she accidentally took a fall.”

“A fall?” Fu Jun asked with concern. “Is it serious, daughter? Let me see.”

Fu Qiao awkwardly pulled away, her ears turning red. “It’s fine. It’ll heal in a couple of days. No need to look.”

“It’s my fault,” Fu Jun said, slapping his thigh. “I haven’t been paying enough attention to my girl. If I knew, I wouldn’t have put so much chili on these. Does it hurt? Drink some water; your mom’s noodles will be ready soon.”

Xu Chunjian chuckled. “See? You’re an incompetent father. Such a good daughter; you better pay more attention. One of these days, she might just run off with some boy while you aren’t looking.”

“Nonsense! Fu Qiao is still so young; how could she run off with a boy? And don’t talk about me—your Ran-ran is quite the beauty herself. She might run off even faster than my Qiao-qiao.”

“Our Ran-ran isn’t allowed to date until university,” Xu Chunjian declared. “And she can only date a local. No out-of-towners considered.”

“You say that now,” Fu Jun countered, “but if Ran-ran actually falls for someone from far away, are you really going to stop her?”

“Hmph. Then she should find someone from our own neighborhood. That way she’s close.”

Fu Jun nodded and clinked his beer bottle against Xu Chunjian’s. “My Qiao-qiao should find someone from our neighborhood, too. Makes visiting easier.”

Listening to the two men drunkenly plan their daughters’ futures, Xu Yingran sighed inwardly. Just you two wait. In a few years, you’ll see who “marries” whom.

And be careful what you wish for—they might actually end up in the same neighborhood.

While mocking them in her head, Xu Yingran watched Fu Qiao. Fu Qiao was carefully nibbling the meat off a skewer with her front teeth. Her naturally pink lips were now swollen and red from the spice, looking plump and round—almost as if they had just been thoroughly kissed.

Xu Yingran’s heart began to hammer against her ribs.

“Stop… stop eating,” Xu Yingran whispered, leaning in. “Look at you, your lips are so swollen from the spice. If you keep going, you’ll have two carrots on your face.”

Fu Qiao frowned painfully, looking at the remaining meat. “But I can’t waste it. I’ll just finish these last two pieces.”

Seeing her reach for them again, Xu Yingran swiftly snatched the skewer from her hand. “Don’t push it. I’ll finish the rest for you. Drink some water; the noodles are coming.”

Fu Qiao watched wide-eyed as Xu Yingran swallowed the meat she had already partially chewed. Her face flushed a deep red, and she began to stutter.

“You… you… I already ate from that! Why are you eating it?”

“Hmm?” Xu Yingran said, enduring the sting on her own lip. “So what? We’ve known each other forever; is it the first time we’ve shared food?”

I’ve literally tasted your tongue, why would I care about a skewer? Xu Yingran thought, though she didn’t say it.

Fu Qiao turned away without a word, picking up a boiled edamame to hide her embarrassment.

The two mothers arrived with bowls of steaming chicken-silk hand-pulled noodles. “Eat while it’s hot! It’s delicious. Finish up and go to sleep; you have school tomorrow.”

They then scolded the men for drinking. “Drink less! The kids need to rest. Don’t just sit there acting like you have nothing to do.”

The men laughed and invited their wives to sit, crowding the small table until it was full.

This meal left Xu Yingran feeling incredibly content. She hadn’t felt the warmth of a full family reunion in a long time. Now, her parents and her “wife’s” parents were all gathered, just like any other ordinary, cozy night. It made her eyes feel a bit hot.

By the time they finished, it was 10:00 PM. To avoid disturbing the girls’ sleep, the four parents moved the table into the hallway to continue their gathering.

Xu Yingran fell asleep patting her full stomach, feeling that even her dreams would be sweet.

The next morning, Xu Yingran and Fu Qiao arrived at the classroom together. Yao Jin was already in her seat.

“Go back to your seat first,” Xu Yingran whispered to Fu Qiao. “I’m going to go talk to her.”

Fu Qiao looked at Yao Jin, then at Xu Yingran. “Okay. Comfort her a bit. We’re all going for rice noodles at lunch.”

Xu Yingran gave an “OK” sign and walked over.

“Morning, A-Jin.”

Yao Jin looked up, her expression flat. “Something you need this early?”

“Nothing, just saw you leave in a hurry yesterday. I wondered if you were upset.”

“I was in a hurry to go home and sleep. Why would I be upset?”

“Is that so?” Xu Yingran smiled, her tiger teeth showing. “Glad to hear it. Fu Qiao and I are getting rice noodles at lunch—come with us, okay?”

Yao Jin’s expression remained cool, but she eventually nodded. “Fine.