Chapter 80

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jingmo’s heart started racing. His first reaction was that it was a call from Yu Xiangnian, but he quickly dismissed that thought. How could Yu Xiangnian know the army’s number? Moreover, where would she be to call him?

As he walked to the duty office to answer the phone, he kept thinking it might be Yu Xiangnian calling, but he kept pushing that thought away.

Hope and fear of disappointment!

When he reached the duty office, he picked up the phone and said, “Hello, this is Cheng Jingmo.”

After waiting for a moment without a response, he said again, “Hello, can you hear me? Who is this?”

Hearing the “hello,” Yu Xiangnian immediately recognized Cheng Jingmo’s voice. Her heart skipped a beat, and she was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of what to say.

It wasn’t until Cheng Jingmo spoke again that Yu Xiangnian hurriedly replied, “Cheng Jingmo, it’s me.”

Cheng Jingmo listened to the voice on the other end of the line. Although it sounded different from when Yu Xiangnian spoke to him in person, he still immediately recognized her unique voice.

His mood soared, and without realizing it, he found himself smiling, with the corners of his mouth curving up and his eyebrows lifting.

Yu Xiangnian said, “I’m delayed in Shanghai and won’t be able to return for a few more days.”

Cheng Jingmo’s heart raced, but he kept his voice calm. “Mm, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. And you?”

“I’m good too.” Cheng Jingmo paused and then asked, “Is the money enough?”

“It’s enough.”

They both fell silent, only the sound of each other’s breathing was heard through the phone.

Neither wanted to hang up but didn’t know what else to say.

After a while, Yu Xiangnian said, “Should I hang up now?”

“Mm.” Cheng Jingmo suddenly said, “Wait a moment!”

“Will you be back by August 1st?” he asked.

Yu Xiangnian quickly realized that August 1st was Army Day, and the army would have a social event that allowed family members to attend.

She had often been taken to these events by Yu Jiashun before.

She replied, “I can come back. Tell Xiao Jie that I’ll bring him a toy.”

“Mm.”

“Then I’ll hang up now?”

“Okay.”

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

They both waited for the other to hang up first. After a moment, Yu Xiangnian ended the call first.

Listening to the “beep” sound from the receiver, Cheng Jingmo chuckled softly before hanging up.

Yu Xiangnian regretted her decision to make the call!

She had only talked to Cheng Jingmo for a few moments and called home twice to get the number, which cost a total of eleven yuan.

The phone bill was too high!

Yu Xiangnian and Qiu Yang left the post office and went to a state-run restaurant for a meal.

Seeing Yu Xiangnian’s silly smile while eating, Qiu Yang rolled his eyes and said disdainfully, “You must have a crush on Cheng Jingmo!”

Yu Xiangnian didn’t deny it.

Maybe she wasn’t in love yet, but she admired Cheng Jingmo and perhaps was feeling something more…

Putting aside Cheng Jingmo’s external conditions, during their time together, Yu Xiangnian was drawn to his inner qualities.

His demeanor seemed to be ingrained, showing emotional stability, respect and tolerance for others, responsibility, and never complaining…

The more time they spent together, the more she discovered his virtues.

Seeing Yu Xiangnian’s infatuated look, Qiu Yang shook his head, unable to watch. “Liking him isn’t a bad thing. Just make sure to live well with him.”

Yu Xiangnian, feeling a bit deflated, said, “He already likes someone else. I heard he’s even getting married. My dad is forcing him to marry me.”

Qiu Yang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Is that really the case?”

“Absolutely! While I was abroad with you, they were getting ready to marry each other. When I came back, my dad forced him to marry me.”

She paused and then indignantly added, “You don’t know, Cheng Jingmo liked that woman so much he could hardly contain himself! On the surface, she seems demure and cultured, but in reality, she’s just a scheming woman! Don’t all men like such white lotus types?”

Qiu Yang responded with dissatisfaction, “What do you mean, ‘all men’? Don’t generalize. I don’t like that type!”

Yu Xiangnian gave him a sly smile and looked at him intently. “I’m guessing those sweet words of yours were meant for someone specific?”

Qiu Yang’s eyes turned wary. “Don’t say nonsense. I don’t like anyone! I just wrote those for fun!”

Yu Xiangnian gave him an “I understand” look. “I respect everyone’s sexual orientation.”

Qiu Yang’s face turned a mix of red and pale. After a while, he said, “I think Cheng Jingmo marrying you wasn’t entirely due to your dad’s pressure.”

He quickly changed the topic away from himself.

Yu Xiangnian said with little emotion, “Then why did he marry me? For my background?”

Qiu Yang nodded in agreement. “Partly for your background, and partly for you as a person.”

“For me?” Yu Xiangnian asked, surprised.

Qiu Yang said, “I could tell back then that his eyes were different when he looked at you—gentle and restrained. He at least had feelings for you.”

Yu Xiangnian said, “That makes him even more annoying! He had feelings for me, then quickly liked someone else, and then married me!”

Qiu Yang said, “Isn’t that normal? If you don’t like him, he can’t like someone else? You have connections and are willing to marry him, so of course, he’d choose you!”

Yu Xiangnian gritted her teeth. “Men are indeed so realistic!”

Qiu Yang agreed, “What man isn’t?”

With Sun Yichuan’s mother recovering well, Yu Xiangnian finally had the opportunity to discuss the translation work with Sun Yichuan’s father.

Coincidentally, the publishing house needed a translation for an English book.

Sun Yichuan’s father had Yu Xiangnian translate several passages on the spot and was quite satisfied.

“Comrade Yu, have you studied abroad?”

Yu Xiangnian honestly replied, “No, I stayed abroad for a while and enjoy reading foreign books.”

Sun Yichuan’s father immediately decided to entrust Yu Xiangnian with the translation of the book, paying two yuan per thousand characters, settled monthly.

Yu Xiangnian estimated the book to be around five hundred thousand words, which would amount to one thousand yuan.

She was pleased with the price.

Sun Yichuan’s father mentioned that if this translation was well done, they could negotiate a higher rate in the future, and he would also introduce her to other publishers for translation work.

Yu Xiangnian was even more motivated upon hearing this!

The department stores in Shanghai were much larger and more fashionable than those in Nancheng. Yu Xiangnian bought a set of building blocks for Xiao Jie, a fountain pen for Cheng Jingmo, and a new outfit for herself.

She also brought a bottle of locally produced tea for Yu Jiashun, a pair of leather shoes for Zhao Ruozhu, and a lighter for each of her three brothers—mainly lightweight and easy to carry.

Qiu Yang wanted to stay longer in Shanghai, but under Yu Xiangnian’s pressure, he reluctantly returned to Nancheng. They left just as the time was running out.

Over the past few days, whenever Yu Xiangnian had time, she dragged Qiu Yang to practice, all to give Cheng Jingmo a surprise on August 1st.