Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 82

Xu Yingran spent the entire day feeling anxious. Fortunately, Fu Qiao hadn’t blacklisted her phone number. During their “night chat” that evening, Xu Yingran spoke many humble and apologetic words to Fu Qiao, who finally—and quite reluctantly—added her back as a friend.

This year’s Spring Festival was much earlier than usual, so the winter break also started earlier than in previous years.

But what did that have to do with third-year high school students?

If the Bureau of Education hadn’t issued a strict order, they wouldn’t even have weekends off. Therefore, for Xu Yingran and her peers, the winter break was essentially just for show.

However, the school made a symbolic gesture and granted them about a week off.

Fu Qiao’s situation was even more pitiful; she was only given three days off, from New Year’s Eve to the second day of the Lunar New Year. The rest of her time was packed tight with a full schedule.

The hospital where Zhao Yu worked didn’t have holidays; instead, they arranged shifts. Consequently, she bought New Year’s goods early. Seizing some free time over the weekend, she began busywork in the kitchen.

“Mom, it’s still a long time until the New Year. Why are you starting to prepare things now?” Xu Yingran followed the aroma and slipped into the kitchen.

Zhao Yu was frying radish meatballs. Small balls were squeezed out from the crook of her thumb and forefinger, scooped up with a spoon, and dropped into the oil pan. They quickly mixed with several other radish meatballs that had already been fried to a golden brown.

“I’ll be on duty during the Spring Festival, so these things have to be prepared in advance,” Zhao Yu said while frying the meatballs. “Besides, hasn’t your Aunt Hu Mei just opened her shop? They’re busy and definitely won’t have time to fry these. Once I’m finished, you take a portion over to their house.”

There was a custom in Xu Yingran’s hometown to prepare many fried foods for the New Year.

Fried radish meatballs, fried dough skins, fried hairtail fish, and all sorts of other items. Once these were fried and served on the table during the New Year, they became delicious and flavorful dishes.

Xu Yingran loved Zhao Yu’s fried radish meatballs the most. Looking at the freshly made meatballs cooling in a large basin, she reached out, pinched one, and stuffed it into her mouth.

“Hoo—hoo—”

The meatballs fresh from the pot were still a bit hot. While blowing air out of her mouth, Xu Yingran said, “Mom, then fry a bit more; Fu Qiao loves fried meatballs too.”

“I know,” Zhao Yu said, shaking her head helplessly. She scooped out the golden, round radish meatballs and shooed Xu Yingran away. “Move aside. The kitchen is only this big; why are you blocking the way? Is your homework finished?”

“I need to balance work and rest, you know.” Xu Yingran fished out a bowl and chopsticks from the cupboard, scooped up half a bowl of fresh meatballs, and prepared to slip away. Seeing this, Zhao Yu shouted at her, “Don’t eat too many! There are meat buns for lunch; don’t end up being too full to eat them!”

“Don’t worry, Mom! I can still fit the meat buns even after eating these!”

Xu Yingran carried the bowl back to her room. After sitting in her chair and thinking for a moment, she took the initiative to send a video call request to her “Wife.”

She had realized now that simply listening to Fu Qiao’s voice every day was no longer enough to satisfy her; she wanted to have video calls!

Perhaps because the call came so suddenly, Fu Qiao, who was leaning over her desk writing on a test paper, only noticed the video request when she saw her phone screen light up.

She sighed helplessly, found her headphones, put them on, and slowly answered.

“What is it?” Fu Qiao asked in a low voice, leaning against the table like a little thief.

“What are you doing? Being all secretive.” Xu Yingran looked at the environment behind her and knew she had gone back to school to study again. She couldn’t help but marvel at how hard-working her wife was; if she didn’t get into a university, it would truly be an injustice.

“Self-study at school, as you already know,” Fu Qiao answered softly without looking up from her homework. “Which question are you stuck on this time? If you don’t know how to do it, just take a photo and send it to me. I can’t see the question clearly through a video call anyway.”

“No, I’m not here to ask about questions today.” Holding her small porcelain bowl, Xu Yingran said with a beaming smile, “Look, my mom just fried radish meatballs. Aren’t they your favorite?”

Hearing this, Fu Qiao leaned in to take a look. Xu Yingran considerately moved the small bowl closer so she could see more clearly.

“Wow, really,” Fu Qiao smiled. “Auntie’s meatballs look so delicious.”

“They don’t just look good; they taste great too.” Xu Yingran pulled the bowl back and said, “She also said she fried a portion for your family. Thinking your parents would be too busy with the shop to make them, she told me to bring them over later.”

In previous years, the two families had always spent the New Year like this—whatever one family made, they would share with the other. Although they weren’t spending the New Year together this year, old habits die hard, and they always thought of helping each other out.

Fu Qiao hesitated for a moment but didn’t act reserved. After all, she had eaten at Xu Yingran’s house more than once or twice. She smiled and said, “That’s great then. My parents have indeed been very busy lately. The New Year’s Eve dinners are all booked up, so they probably won’t even be able to stay at home for the holiday.”

“That’s just how doing business is.” Xu Yingran had also been in business before and knew that since most people were on holiday during the New Year, that period was the busiest.

Fu Qiao’s parents’ shop had just opened and the food tasted good. It was a rare opportunity they couldn’t pass up, but it was a shame for Fu Qiao. She would either have to spend the New Year at the shop or be home alone.

“Fu Qiao, do you want to come to my house for the New Year?” Xu Yingran suggested. “Anyway, your parents are so busy they won’t be able to look after you. You might as well come to my house and have a proper New Year.”

Fu Qiao thought about it but still shook her head. “No, I still want to be with my parents for the New Year.”

“Even if it’s at the shop?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Fu Qiao smiled and said, “As long as the family is together, we can spend the New Year anywhere. At the shop, my parents can mind the business and still spend the holiday with me. Isn’t that also quite nice?”

Seeing how positive her wife’s mindset was, Xu Yingran felt relieved.

She had originally thought Fu Qiao might feel lonely. After all, in previous years, Fu Qiao’s parents only did business in the summer and rested in the winter. This was likely the first time she would spend the New Year with her parents at the shop.

But her wife was right about one thing: as long as the family was together, they could spend the New Year anywhere.

Xu Yingran suddenly remembered the Spring Festival of her third year in high school. Because of her parents’ accidental death, she was supposed to spend that New Year alone. But Hu Mei and the others felt sorry for her and took her into their home, so the four of them spent the New Year together.

From then on, Xu Yingran spent every New Year at Fu Qiao’s house. Counting it up, ten years had already passed.

Thinking about it now, it still felt like a dream.

Fortunately, everything was now turning out perfectly. Although she couldn’t see her wife every day, the safety and peace of both families were more important than anything else.

“Alright then,” Xu Yingran said with a smile. “After my mom finishes frying these things this afternoon, I’ll bring them over to your house. I’ll give you a call before I leave.”

Fu Qiao nodded. “Okay, I’ll be waiting for Auntie’s fried meatballs then.”

After a casual lunch, Zhao Yu rolled up her sleeves and started frying things again. When Xu Yingran tried to help, she was driven out. Zhao Yu said the kitchen was too small and crowded, telling her to go study and not cause trouble.

Around 4:00 PM, Zhao Yu had finished frying everything for both families. The ones fresh from the pot were still hot; fearing they would turn soft and lose their flavor if put in a bag, she had Xu Yingran take the ones that had completely cooled to Fu Qiao’s house. That way, they wouldn’t get soggy and could be eaten after a quick reheating.

Before leaving, Xu Yingran called Fu Qiao. Fu Qiao was about to pack up and head home, but Xu Yingran stopped her.

“Since your school is just one bus stop away, you don’t need to come out so early. I’ll let you know when I’m almost there, and it won’t be too late for you to come out then.”

Xu Yingran boarded the bus with a large bag of delicious food. After happily swiping her bus card, she said to Fu Qiao, “What do you plan to have for dinner? Shall we go out to eat?”

“Sure.” Fu Qiao held the phone and thought for a bit. “A new potato noodle shop opened next to my family’s restaurant. Do you like that?”

“It’s okay.”

“Then let’s have that. I heard from my parents that the taste is quite good, but I haven’t tried it yet.”

“Okay~”

After hanging up, Fu Qiao hurried to finish the last few questions and packed her bag to leave school before Xu Yingran called again.

Not long after she arrived at the bus stop, the bus Xu Yingran was on arrived.

While still inside the bus, Xu Yingran waved to Fu Qiao. As soon as the driver opened the door, she hopped down and ran toward her with a smile.

“Why is there so much?” Fu Qiao looked in surprise at the three large bags Xu Yingran was carrying and asked curiously, “Is this all for our family?”

“Of course,” Xu Yingran laughed. “I traveled all this way; I couldn’t just let you take one look and then bring it all back, could I?”

“But it’s too much. There are only three people in my family; how can we finish all this?”

“Anyway, these things can last a long time in the fridge. Your parents have to eat, right? I’m sure they can finish them.”

With that, Xu Yingran reached out her hand to Fu Qiao. “Come, let me warm your hands.”

Fu Qiao gave her a glare but still moved closer to let her hold her hand.

“You were just carrying those bags; won’t your hands smell like oil?” Fu Qiao asked as an afterthought once their hands were joined.

Why did she feel that Xu Yingran’s palm was a bit sticky?

“How is that possible?” Fearing her wife would find her distasteful, Xu Yingran quickly explained, “The food was wrapped in several layers. My hands are very clean; there’s definitely no smell.”

Fu Qiao snorted and dropped the subject.

The two went to the shop first and handed the fried goods to Hu Mei. Hu Mei was also incredibly surprised to see so much. She wanted Xu Yingran to take something back with her but realized there wasn’t much she could give.

“No need, Auntie,” Xu Yingran said, standing beside Fu Qiao. “Your shop is so busy. My mom said you definitely wouldn’t have time to make these, so she asked me to bring them to you.”

Hu Mei said emotionally, “That’s so embarrassing. You have to take something back, right? Let me go to the kitchen and see if there’s anything I can send along.”

Xu Yingran thought to herself that the thing she most wanted to take home was Fu Qiao, but she obviously couldn’t say that. She politely declined and said to Hu Mei with a smile, “Fu Qiao and I are going to eat potato noodles nearby. You go ahead and get busy, Auntie; just give my mom a call!”

With that, Xu Yingran pulled Fu Qiao away.

The new potato noodle shop Fu Qiao mentioned wasn’t far. It was clear business was good; even though it was just the start of the dinner hour, the place was full, leaving only one table.

After sitting down, the two ordered two bowls of potato noodles with some meatballs boiled in. They also ordered two grilled sausages to tide them over.

“Aren’t your final exams coming up soon?” Fu Qiao asked the person sitting across from her while munching on a fragrant grilled sausage.

“Yeah, final exams are next week,” Xu Yingran said. “After the exams, we get a weekend off, and then classes continue.”

“Same for us.” Fu Qiao looked at Xu Yingran with a smile and teased, “I see you’ve been working quite hard lately. You won’t end up in last place again this time, will you?”

Xu: (Feeling wronged after being teased by her wife again.)