The Tenth Year After My Death
The Tenth Year After My Death | Chapter 12.2

In the evening, Fu Yingcheng arrived home at his usual time.

As soon as he walked in, Ji Fanling got up from the sofa, put away her phone, and went to wash her hands. Just as she finished and was about to head to the kitchen to serve dinner, she heard a knock at the door.

Fu Yingcheng walked out from the inner room to answer it.

Aside from food delivery, this was the first time someone had come to Fu Yingcheng’s home, so Ji Fanling couldn’t help but peek over curiously.

When he opened the door, Fu Yingcheng asked in confusion, “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”

The man outside was tall and slender, wearing an artfully designed, patchwork green coat. His voice was smooth and playful, with a hint of a smile. “Didn’t you say the item was important? I wanted to get it to you as soon as possible.”

“Weren’t you the one who forgot it today?”

“I went back to get it. Brought the annual sales report for you too.”

“Didn’t I tell you to give it to me tomorrow?”

“Well, I’m already here. It’s cold talking at the door; let me in first.” The visitor made no effort to hide his ulterior motives, sidestepping and squeezing in past the doorframe.

Ji Fanling noticed Fu Yingcheng’s cold expression and felt uncertain—should she go up and greet the visitor, or retreat to her room?

But as soon as the visitor saw her, his charming, almond-shaped eyes curved into a smile, and he greeted her cheerfully, “Hey, Ji Fanling.”

Ji Fanling replied, “…Who are you?”

“Su Lingqing, Fu Yingcheng’s friend.”

Su Lingqing had just returned to the country and immediately heard secondhand gossip from his colleagues. Ever since Fu Yingcheng came back from Germany, he had been leaving the office precisely at six every evening, rain or shine.

For most people, this would be normal, but for Fu Yingcheng, known as the “Overtime King,” who regularly worked until eleven at night and never took holidays, it was almost terrifyingly out of character.

The company seemed calm on the surface, but rumors were brewing beneath. Some speculated that someone in Mr. Fu’s family was seriously ill, while others guessed that Mr. Fu himself was terminally ill. Yet, despite such wild guesses, no one considered the possibility that he might be in love.

After all, Fu Yingcheng had been single for a decade, unwaveringly so. Many people had tried to get close to him, but not a single one had succeeded.

To say he was abstinent wouldn’t be entirely accurate; after all, a person needs desires to abstain from them. Rather than calling him restrained, it was more like he’d never felt a single ripple of interest.

It was as if his heart were made of stone.

But then, Su Lingqing managed to get some information out of Driver Chen.

Rumor had it that on the day Fu Yingcheng returned to the country, he did something completely out of character. He brought home a drenched, unfamiliar girl and even let her stay the night.

This was rarer than an iron tree blooming, but more like a dead tree blooming, to be honest.

Su Lingqing was certain that this person was none other than the one on the ID card: Ji Fanling.

And sure enough.

Su Lingqing took a few steps over to the girl and handed her the ID documents. “Fu Yingcheng asked me to help you get an ID card and household registration. Take a look and see if everything’s in order.”

Ji Fanling was momentarily stunned, then accepted the documents. “Thank you.”

“Thank me? No trouble at all.”

Su Lingqing discreetly observed her, feeling a bit disappointed, though his almond-shaped eyes maintained their smiling expression. “I wanted to meet you a while back, but I was on a business trip in Germany. Finally, I get to see you today.”

He extended his hand to shake hers, and Ji Fanling hesitated for a moment before lifting her hand.

Just as Su Lingqing touched her cold fingertips, a sharp, icy voice sounded from behind:

“Did you even wash your hands before touching her?”

The words slipped out instinctively, cold and edged with a hint of repressed hostility.

It was as if she were something precious, untouchable.

Both of them froze, turning to look at Fu Yingcheng standing in the doorway.

Ji Fanling spoke up, “…It’s fine.”

Su Lingqing pulled his hand back and laughed it off, saying, “I forgot he has a cleanliness obsession. I’ll go wash up, I’ll go.” With that, he cast a meaningful glance at Fu Yingcheng before turning and heading to the bathroom.

Ji Fanling looked down at the ID in her hand.

She was born on February 11, 1996, but this ID had the birth date pushed forward by ten years, making it February 11, 2006.

Ji Fanling asked curiously, “How did you know my birthday?”

Fu Yingcheng raised a hand to rub his temples. “I checked your previous ID.”

“What about the photo?”

Her old ID was about to expire, and the photo on it was taken when she was in the first year of middle school. As for the photo on the new ID, she hadn’t even seen it herself.

Fu Yingcheng replied, “It was taken in your third year of high school.”

Ji Fanling remembered.

To her, it was something that had happened just two weeks ago. During evening study, Old Tang had suddenly informed the entire class to go to the lecture hall on the first floor to take photos for their college entrance exam admission cards.

But before she ever received the photo… she had died.

Ji Fanling couldn’t resist pulling out the fake ID she’d gotten for herself, holding it up to the light to compare. She clicked her tongue. “Your friend’s work looks pretty real.”

“It is real.”

“I know. If anyone asks, I’ll just say it’s real.”

“…”

The man walked over and effortlessly took the fake ID from her hand. “When did you get this?” He flicked his index finger against it, not too hard, but with a hint of admonishment, and looked at her sideways.

“…Breaking the law, huh? You’ve got guts.”

Ji Fanling realized, “…So it’s real? Then can he print real money too?”

“You’ve got quite the imagination.” Fu Yingcheng went into the kitchen, took scissors, cut her fake ID into pieces, and tossed it into the trash.

Ji Fanling averted her gaze guiltily and pushed her A University student ID further down into her pocket.

…Good thing she didn’t take it out just now, or it would’ve been snipped too.

After washing his hands, Su Lingqing showed no intention of leaving. Taking advantage of Fu Yingcheng heading to the study to put away some documents, he enthusiastically invited himself to stay for dinner and slipped into the kitchen. “You sit; I’ll serve myself.”

He claimed he’d serve himself, but after rummaging through two upper cabinets, he still couldn’t find the bowls.

Since Ji Fanling wasn’t the host, she felt awkward just sitting there, so she got up, walked over, opened the lower drawer, and took out three bowls. “Here they are.”

“Oh, they changed places? They used to be up there.” Su Lingqing gave her a meaningful look, eyeing the top of her head.

Ji Fanling: “…”

Sensitive to others’ less-than-innocent glances, she frowned slightly and said, “I’m 165 centimeters.”

Su Lingqing smiled, choosing not to call her out, and handed one of the bowls back to her. “This isn’t Fu Yingcheng’s bowl.”

Ji Fanling: “?”

“He’s picky and only eats from the same bowl,” Su Lingqing said, bending down to search through the cupboard.

“I gave him that bowl when he moved. It’s the only gift I’ve ever given him that’s caught his eye. It took me ages to find that beautifully crafted, Song Dynasty-style, pear blossom white, octagonal bowl with carved designs.”

Ji Fanling: “…”

The sound of that white, angular bowl shattering on the floor had been exceptionally crisp, accompanied by Fu Yingcheng’s remark, “It’s so ugly it unsettles me; ruins my appetite.” It was a memory that stuck vividly in her mind.

Silently, Ji Fanling pressed a hand on Su Lingqing’s shoulder. “Don’t bother looking.”

Su Lingqing: “Why?”

Ji Fanling replied: “That bowl… I broke it.”

Su Lingqing: “…”

Su Lingqing froze for a moment before forcing a smile. “No problem, broken is broken. So what bowl is he using now, this one?”

He examined the pattern on the bowl in his hand, squinting as he assessed it. “Quite refined… is it Swedish Rörstrand pottery?”

“No.”

Ji Fanling replied slowly, “Bought it at the supermarket, 66 yuan and 80 cents, second set half off.”

Su Lingqing: “…” His smile disappeared completely.

*

Avrora[Translator]

Hello, I'm Avrora (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) Thank you very much for your support. ❤️ Your support will help me buy the raw novel from the official site (Jjwxc/GongziCp/Others) to support the Author. It's also given me more motivation to translate more novels for our happy future! My lovely readers, I hope you enjoy the story as much as I do.(⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) Ps: Feel free to point out if there is any wrong grammar or anything else in my translation! (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) Thank you 😘

4 Comments
  1. Bored Degenerate has spoken 2 months ago

    TL why are the chapters premium? TvT

    Reply
    • Avrora has spoken 2 months ago

      Yeah, It’s premium from now on. But don’t worry, if you don’t want to pay for those chapters, you can still enjoy it normally. Because I’ll unlock 1 premium chapter every Thursday. So, there will be more free chapters in the future. And in the end, all chapters will be free. 🥰

      Reply
      • Bored Degenerate has spoken 2 months ago

        Yeah, didn’t see the update because my tab is always on the last chapter updated, but thanks for the free chapters, keep up the great work 🙂 Still a student and have no money to spend for coins XD

        Reply

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