Chapter 201: No Way

In the evening, Yu Xiangnian used the guesthouse phone to call home.

“Dad, we’ve arrived back in Ping County. We’re going to Sucheng tomorrow, and we came here in Uncle Yang’s car—your old comrade.”

Yu Jiashun thought to himself, “Old Yang did a decent job this time.”

He had only called two days ago, and today, everyone had already been picked up.

Yu Jiashun said, “If you need anything, just talk to Uncle Yang, don’t be shy.”

Yu Xiangnian replied, “Okay.”

Yu Jiashun then asked, “What about Cheng Jingmo?”

“He’s right beside me. Do you want to talk to him?”

“What do I have to say to him?” After a pause, he added, “When you come back, tell him to have a proper talk with me!”

Yu Xiangnian glanced sympathetically at Cheng Jingmo.

After taking a bath at the guesthouse, Yu Xiangnian returned to the room to find Cheng Jingmo meticulously copying some manuscripts.

“Cheng Jingmo, why aren’t you using the pen I gave you?”

Cheng Jingmo, still copying, replied, “I can’t bear to use it.”

Yu Xiangnian chuckled, “It’s just a pen, no need to be so careful. If it wears out, I’ll buy you another one.”

“But it’s a gift from you.”

Yu Xiangnian raised her eyebrows, “Then I’ll just keep giving you gifts—on your birthday, our wedding anniversary, Valentine’s Day, the Qixi Festival, New Year’s, Mid-Autumn Festival… Any holiday, really!”

“Wedding anniversary?” Cheng Jingmo’s pen paused, “Do you even remember our wedding date?”

Yu Xiangnian: “…”

She awkwardly walked over, hugged him from behind, and rested her chin on his shoulder, “You’ve copied so much already. Your handwriting is really beautiful.”

Cheng Jingmo: “…” He knew it—Yu Xiangnian didn’t remember!

In a sweet voice, Yu Xiangnian said over his shoulder, “You’ve been working all day, time to sleep.”

Cheng Jingmo finished writing a few more lines, capped his pen, and then turned around to embrace Yu Xiangnian.

He gently sat her on the bed, knelt in front of her, and took out a gold bracelet from his pocket.

“I’ve just polished it,” he said. “Which hand do you want to wear it on?”

Yu Xiangnian extended her left hand.

In her mind, she imagined a romantic scene.

Surrounded by pink bubbles, Cheng Jingmo kneels down and places the bracelet on her wrist, like a modern man proposing to a woman.

Perfect!

Cheng Jingmo had never proposed to her before; now was the perfect time to make up for it.

But reality was different: Cheng Jingmo nearly squeezed her hand into a claw, and the bracelet got stuck at her knuckles.

Yu Xiangnian suggested, “Maybe we should use some soap?”

“Yeah.” Cheng Jingmo agreed.

He got some soap, and with Yu Xiangnian’s help, they finally managed to slip the bracelet onto her wrist.

Yu Xiangnian washed her hands and raised her wrist to admire the bracelet.

The gold bracelet had a pair of dragons and phoenixes on the outer band. They didn’t occupy the entire band, only about half, but it was very exquisite.

The dragons and phoenixes faced each other, intricately carved, with lifelike eyes and feathers.

“Cheng Jingmo, your mother must have been a refined woman, and well-off too.”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “She probably wasn’t in the Liberation Army.”

“Hmm?” Yu Xiangnian was surprised, “Didn’t you say she was?”

“Liberation Army soldiers typically wouldn’t carry such valuable things,” Cheng Jingmo explained. “There’s also a jade pendant at our house.”

“I think she might have been a capitalist or a Nationalist, and fled the country. She thought I was a burden, so she abandoned me. By now, she probably has other children and has long forgotten about me.”

Yu Xiangnian: “…But what about the Liberation Army uniform you were wrapped in when you were born?”

“They disguised themselves as Liberation Army soldiers to make it easier to escape.”

Yu Xiangnian: “…”

This twist was too much!

Suddenly, from a soldier sacrificing for the country to a traitor fleeing abroad?

“No way!” Yu Xiangnian asked in confusion, “Cheng Jingmo, how did you suddenly come up with this idea?”

Cheng Jingmo replied earnestly, “I analyzed it thoroughly today.”

Yu Xiangnian’s mouth twitched, “So, when we were discussing the agreement today and you didn’t say a word, you were thinking about this?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph!” Yu Xiangnian rolled her eyes, “I thought you were upset because we talked about your past in front of so many people!”

Cheng Jingmo responded, “There’s nothing worth being upset about.”

When that family drove Yu Xiangnian away, nothing and no one was worth keeping in his heart, so there was no reason to be upset.

“Let’s get some sleep,” Yu Xiangnian said as she flopped onto the bed.

Cheng Jingmo turned off the light and lay down beside her.

In the darkness, Yu Xiangnian giggled, “Cheng Jingmo, behave yourself—your real mom is watching!”

Cheng Jingmo immediately froze.

Yu Xiangnian waited for a while, but there was still no movement.

She wasn’t sure if he was upset or something else.

She gave him a nudge, “Cheng Jingmo?”

“Yeah?”

“I was just joking.”

Cheng Jingmo’s voice sounded a bit defeated, “I think… I might not be able to.”

Yu Xiangnian: “…” Disaster! An absolute disaster!

She had only just started enjoying herself, and now this?!

“Maybe I should take off the bracelet?” she suggested.

“It’s not the bracelet—it’s me.”

Yu Xiangnian’s mind raced, trying to think of how to comfort a man in this situation.

“You might just be stressed these past few days. Rest for a couple of days, and you’ll be fine,” she offered the standard reassurance.

Cheng Jingmo asked, “And if I’m still not fine after two days?”

“Let’s rest first and see. If it doesn’t improve, I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

“Nian Nian, if I’m really not okay, you wouldn’t leave me, right?” Cheng Jingmo asked cautiously.

“I…”

Of course, she’d leave! She was still so young! How could she be expected to go without when she had just started enjoying herself?!

Yu Xiangnian swallowed back her words and reassured him, “Don’t be so pessimistic. If it comes to that, I’ll take you to Beijing to see a doctor.”

“I knew it. You’ll definitely leave me,” Cheng Jingmo said, sounding both hurt and sad. “You just said not long ago that you’d never abandon me and that you’d always treat me well. It was all a lie.”

Yu Xiangnian: “…”

Damn, she should have added a condition back then—that he had to be, well, functional!

“Look at that, you’re not even denying it!” Cheng Jingmo sounded utterly heartbroken. “You liar!”

Yu Xiangnian felt a headache coming on, “It’s not like that, Cheng Jingmo. Just one time doesn’t work out, don’t—”

Before she could finish, warm lips pressed against hers, cutting her off. The kiss was so intense it hurt.

“Cheng Jingmo, you liar!” Yu Xiangnian gasped as she pounded his shoulder after he finally let her go.

Cheng Jingmo’s voice carried a smile, “So, who’s lying to whom here? I remember everything you’ve said, so don’t even think about going back on your word. Oh, and our wedding anniversary is December 20th.”

Yu Xiangnian retorted, “I’m going to go back on my word! I can’t remember it anyway, so what?”

“Then this!”

Outside, the night was cool and calm, but inside the room, the heat kept rising in waves.