Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 88

The matter of Fu Qiao transferring back was handled even more smoothly than imagined.

Xu Yingran called Li Yuwen early the next morning, insisting that Fu Qiao must be transferred back to her own class. Meanwhile, Hu Mei personally approached Teacher Li with the same request. With both sides in agreement and Fu Qiao having no objections, Li Yuwen readily consented.

Since there was paperwork to handle and Hu Mei worried that returning to the provincial key school might trigger bad memories, she simply let Fu Qiao stay home to self-study for a few days. The plan was for her to report to school with Xu Yingran after the Spring Festival. Thus, Fu Qiao spent the days leading up to the New Year resting at home.

On New Year’s Eve, Fu Qiao asked Xu Yingran to accompany her to the hospital to visit He Qiao.

After a few days, He Qiao’s mental state had improved significantly. Although she was still bedridden and unable to move, the ventilator and various tubes had been removed. She still appeared quite frail.

He Qiao seemingly hadn’t expected Xu Yingran to visit as well. She stared at Xu Yingran’s face for a long time before finally averting her gaze.

“Have you been feeling any better lately?” Fu Qiao sat by the bed and asked. “I heard from your parents that you can eat now?”

He Qiao nodded and whispered, “I can eat, but… not much.” She followed this with a couple of coughs; speaking clearly remained a painful task for her.

Standing behind Fu Qiao, Xu Yingran noted her condition and said, “If it’s inconvenient to talk, don’t force it. We just came to see how your recovery is going.”

He Qiao raised her delicate eyes to look at Xu Yingran and gave a weak nod.

Fu Qiao smiled and added, “Qiaoqiao, today is New Year’s Eve. We plan to go to the temple tonight to burn incense, and we’ll burn a stick for you too. Do you have a wish you’d like to make?”

He Qiao shook her head.

“They say that burning the ‘First Incense’ on the first day of the Lunar New Year makes any wish come true,” Fu Qiao said. “How about we wish for your academic success and good health on your behalf?”

He Qiao gave a faint smile and nodded. “Thank… you.”

“We’re friends, no need to be so polite.” Fu Qiao then glanced back at Xu Yingran before looking down at He Qiao again. “Qiaoqiao, there’s one more thing I should tell you.”

He Qiao looked puzzled and gestured with her finger for her to continue.

Fu Qiao paused before saying, “Well, I won’t be attending the provincial key school next semester. I’m transferring back to my old school—the one Xu Yingran attends.”

He Qiao froze. After a moment of thought, she opened her mouth and said slowly, “It’s okay. Anyway, I… can’t go back either…”

With her current injuries, she certainly couldn’t participate in this year’s Gaokao. With multiple fractures, surviving was already a miracle; a full recovery would take at least half a year. By the time she recovered, Fu Qiao would have already taken the exams and headed to the Communication University. They were destined not to attend the same college. Therefore, whether Fu Qiao transferred or not no longer mattered to her.

He Qiao looked at Xu Yingran again and whispered, “You two… must work hard… for the Gaokao.”

Xu Yingran sighed and replied, “Don’t worry, we definitely will. As for you, just focus on getting well. Fu Qiao and I will visit you often.”

As she spoke, Xu Yingran rested her hand on Fu Qiao’s shoulder. The two of them looked like a couple, causing He Qiao’s eyes to darken.

But because speaking was so difficult, He Qiao could only watch them standing together. Beneath the covers, she clenched her fists.

When Mother He had caused a scene at school demanding a class transfer, He Qiao had thought it would be better to just die. It was Fu Qiao who had entered the office and interrupted that thought. He Qiao felt that as long as Fu Qiao existed, she had a reason to keep living.

Yet now, the way Xu Yingran looked at her felt like the gaze of a victor—as if she were saying Fu Qiao belonged to her and He Qiao had no hope of taking her away.

How could she be reconciled to this?

However, trapped in her hospital bed, she could do nothing. She could only offer a faint smile and tell Fu Qiao not to worry.

After chatting for half an hour, He Qiao’s parents arrived with a doctor for a check-up. Xu Yingran and Fu Qiao said their goodbyes and left the hospital.

On the way to the bus stop, Xu Yingran asked, “How is your family spending the evening?”

“The same as always, at the shop,” Fu Qiao replied, looking at her. “Are Uncle and Auntie on duty today?”

“My dad has the night shift, and my mom is on duty tomorrow,” Xu Yingran said. “My dad has to leave around 6:00 PM, so we’re having our New Year’s Eve dinner early. What about you?”

“Five or six o’clock is peak time for customers. Our dinner will likely be delayed.” Fu Qiao stood on the bus platform with her hands behind her back. Being half a head taller than Xu Yingran from her position, she looked down and smiled. “Looks like we’re both making do this year.”

“So what? Being able to spend the New Year together is good enough. It’s better than He Qiao’s family spending it in a hospital.” Fearing Fu Qiao might trip, Xu Yingran reached out to steady her. “Then, after dinner, shall we head to the temple?”

“What time?”

“Whenever you finish eating.” Xu Yingran calculated. “Since the incense burning starts after midnight, it’s fine if you leave at ten or eleven. We won’t be able to compete for the very first stick of incense, but we can burn our own first stick. It’s the sentiment that counts.”

Fu Qiao replied, “If we’re going out in the middle of the night, it would be insincere to be late. I’ll leave at 10:00 PM. It’ll take about an hour to get to the foot of the mountain by taxi, so I’ll make it in time.”

“Alright, let’s meet at the foot of the mountain at 11:00 PM.” Xu Yingran smiled at her. “Remember to charge your phone and dress warmly. Don’t go catching a chill.”

“I know. You and Ajin should be careful too. It’s freezing at night; bundle up.”

As she spoke, Fu Qiao’s bus appeared in the distance. Since they were heading in different directions, they couldn’t travel together. Fu Qiao turned and said, “My bus is here. Don’t forget to tell Ajin—we meet at the mountain at 11:00 PM.”

“Got it,” Xu Yingran called out. “Be careful in the taxi. Call me if you get there early.”

Fu Qiao waved and hopped onto the bus.

That evening, Zhao Yu prepared a table full of food. The family sat down to eat at 5:00 PM. By 6:00 PM, Xu Chunjiang put on his uniform to head out. Zhao Yu packed a small insulated pail with freshly boiled dumplings for him to eat at his post.

After he left, Zhao Yu and Xu Yingran cleared the table. They covered the leftovers they couldn’t fit in the fridge, saving them for the next day. Though there were only two of them, the house was lively. The TV was on, firecrackers were going off outside, and every window in the neighborhood was lit up. It felt festive.

Zhao Yu was busy making New Year’s calls to her old friends. Not wanting to listen to the chatter, Xu Yingran grabbed a handful of peanuts and melon seeds and went to the balcony to video call Fu Qiao.

It took a while for her to pick up. When she did, Xu Yingran saw that Fu Qiao appeared to be in a restroom.

“Have you had your New Year’s Eve dinner yet?” Xu Yingran asked while cracking seeds.

“Not yet, the shop is packed.” Fu Qiao placed her phone on the sink. Xu Yingran’s view shifted to the ceiling as she heard Fu Qiao’s distant voice: “My parents set up a table for the chefs and servers to celebrate together. We probably won’t eat until eight or nine.”

Hearing the sound of running water, Xu Yingran asked, “Won’t you be hungry?”

“I’m okay. My mom gave me a little something to tide me over.”

Fu Qiao dried her hands and picked up the phone again, finally bringing Xu Yingran’s view back to her face.

“What are you doing at home?” Fu Qiao asked curiously. “Not watching TV with Auntie? The Spring Festival Gala is about to start, right?”

“I’m watching,” Xu Yingran smiled. “My mom is making calls to her friends. It was too noisy, so I came to the balcony for some peace. I’ll go watch the Gala in a bit. Will you watch too?”

“Of course, the customers in the shop are waiting for it. We’ll eat in a while.”

As they spoke, Xu Yingran heard several loud bangs outside the window. She looked up to see a group of people setting off fireworks in the complex’s open space. Because they were close, the noise was thunderous, but the blooms of light in the sky were exceptionally beautiful.

Xu Yingran quickly switched her camera. “Look! Someone in our complex is setting off fireworks.”

Just as she finished, several more rockets whistled into the air and exploded into colorful bursts.

Looking at the familiar street scene and the fireworks through the lens, Fu Qiao couldn’t help but smile. “They’re so beautiful.”

“Right? No idea who’s treating the public to this show,” Xu Yingran’s voice came from off-camera. Watching the continuous display, she said, “I really wish I was watching them with you.”

Fu Qiao’s face flushed slightly, and she watched the brilliant lights in silence.

Once the fireworks ended, Xu Yingran heard her mother calling from the living room: “Ranran, come quick! The Gala is starting!”

“My mom’s calling me.” Xu Yingran switched the camera back. “I’m going to watch the Gala. Don’t forget, we meet at 11:00 PM.”

“Mhm.” Fu Qiao waved. “I remember. I won’t be late.”

Xu Yingran gave her a wide grin and hung up.

She watched the Gala with Zhao Yu. To be honest, Xu Yingran had seen these skits and cross-talks before—in fact, she had seen the next ten years’ worth of Galas—but she stayed because her mother was happy.

Around 10:00 PM, she told Zhao Yu she was heading out. Zhao Yu reminded her to come home early after burning the incense.

Finding a taxi on New Year’s Eve was difficult. Even though Xu Yingran left early, she waited half an hour for a car. She urged the driver to head to the foot of the mountain.

At 11:00 PM, Xu Yingran finally arrived. As she stepped out of the car, she saw Fu Qiao and Yao Jin standing by the roadside chatting. When they saw her, they waved in unison.

“You’re late,” Yao Jin said with a smile.

Fu Qiao laughed. “Fortunately, not too late. Let’s head up the mountain.”

Xu Yingran nodded with a smile. “Alright.”