RAHHSFL - Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Qin Juran and her family almost froze in place when they opened the door. Ruan Nan, wearing a pair of floral pajama pants of unknown origin and one of Qin Juran's fluffy sweaters, sat somewhat stiffly at the table, making dumplings with Zuo Yanzhen.
The scene was a rather jarring mix. While Qin Juran stood dumbfounded, Qin Julai blurted out, "Sister Ruan Nan?"
Qin Haotian was also taken aback. "Nan Nan?"
Ruan Nan put down the dumpling she was making, stood up, and greeted Qin Haotian.
Without even taking off her coat, Qin Juran rushed over, put a protective arm around Ruan Nan's shoulders, and asked anxiously, "Ah Ruan, why are you here so suddenly?"
Ruan Nan shook her head. "Just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year."
Qin Juran looked at Zuo Yanzhen, who said, "Alright, that's enough. You two go upstairs and play."
Qin Haotian, having washed his hands, took over the dumpling-making. Ruan Nan, looking at the few oddly shaped dumplings she'd made, nodded shyly and went to wash her hands.
Noticing Ruan Nan's downcast expression, Qin Juran took the opportunity to ask Zuo Yanzhen while she was washing her hands, "Mom, what's wrong with Ah Ruan? She seems upset.”
Zuo Yanzhen glanced at her. "Look at you, so worried. Did you think I bullied her?"
Qin Juran chuckled, trying to appease her. "Mom, what are you saying? You're so kind, how could you possibly bully my friend while I'm gone?"
Zuo Yanzhen poked Qin Juran's forehead with a flour-covered finger. "Good that you know."
Qin Juran smiled. Ruan Nan went upstairs first. Qin Juran changed her shoes and took off her coat. As she was about to head upstairs, Zuo Yanzhen called her back, handing her two glasses of milk. "Her eyes were a bit red when she arrived. Said she was looking for you. I guess she had a fight with her family. Comfort her. And make sure she puts on some proper pants! Her legs are freezing."
Seeing Zuo Yanzhen's concern, Qin Juran smiled teasingly. "Mom, weren't you saying just this morning that we're not the same kind of people as Nan Nan? Why are you so concerned about her now?"
"Who's concerned? I just can't stand seeing a young girl with cold legs!"
Qin Juran rarely saw Zuo Yanzhen acting so coy. Smiling, she said, "You're the best, Mom," and carried the milk upstairs.
Ruan Nan was sitting on a chair, waiting for her. Qin Juran put down the milk and, without a word, pulled Ruan Nan into a hug.
Her embrace was soft, the chill from outside gradually melting away. Words were unnecessary; this one gesture conveyed everything.
After a long while, Qin Juran asked, "Did you argue?"
"Yes," Ruan Nan replied softly.
"Did she yell at you?"
Ruan Nan shook her head, resting her chin on Qin Juran's shoulder. "I yelled back."
"I'll go back with you tomorrow," Qin Juran said softly.
"No," Ruan Nan quickly refused, then added, "It's not the right time yet."
Qin Juran stepped back and sat on the bed, pulling Ruan Nan onto her lap, face to face. Ruan Nan straddled her, clinging to her like a koala.
The strained relationship between Ruan Nan and her stepmother wasn't something that had developed overnight. Gu Ying had been with Ruan Huyue for many years and had borne him two sons; she was definitely not someone Ruan Nan could easily bully.
Even if they argued, and Ruan Nan won, it would only be a momentary victory, not a real solution.
Qin Juran's room, after the renovation, was now half as large again, but the small wooden window retained its original charm. Snow fell softly outside the second-floor window, dusting the rooftops white.
"I don't want to go back."
"Okay, then don't go back."
"I don't want to go back ever again."
Qin Juran's embrace tightened. After a moment of silence, she stroked Ruan Nan's hair. "Okay, then don't ever go back."
"Ah Ruan."
"Yes?"
It was almost one o'clock. Only sporadic firecrackers could be heard outside, along with the sounds of Qin Julai and the others moving around. Qin Juran whispered, "Let's buy our own house someday, just for the two of us, okay?"
"Okay."
"Like your apartment, we'll decorate it in a minimalist, fresh, Nordic style, fill the balcony with baby's breath. We'll have the most luxurious bathtub in the bathroom, crisp, clean sheets on the big bed in the bedroom.”
"And lights. You're afraid of the dark, so we'll cover every corner of the walls with small lights, and they'll light up one by one as we walk past. "
"And pets. Even if we can't have a cat, we can get a small turtle, or two. We'll name the energetic one Ju Ju, and the quiet one Nan Nan."
Ruan Nan was amused, nuzzling her chin against Qin Juran's shoulder. "Who names turtles after themselves?"
"That way, when I'm not around, you'll feel like I'm still with you."
Ruan Nan suddenly looked up, her eyes widening with alarm. "Where are you going?"
Qin Juran quickly explained, "I mean, maybe in the future, for business trips, meetings, things like that."
Ruan Nan relaxed, resting her head on Qin Juran's shoulder again. "Qin Juran, will you ever leave me?"
Qin Juran held her even tighter, gently stroking the back of her head. "What are you thinking about?"
"Qin Juran, I think I'm too dependent on you. I don't want to leave you ever again."
Qin Juran chuckled. "That's a good thing."
"Ah Ruan." Qin Juran leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Ruan Nan's forehead. "We'll never be apart."
Having stayed up late, the family slept in the next day. Following tradition, New Year's Day was for visiting relatives, wearing new clothes, and receiving red envelopes from elders.
After washing up and getting dressed, Ruan Nan, who hadn't brought many clothes, borrowed a new outfit from Qin Juran. In the bathroom, Qin Juran styled her hair in a cute bun. "New year, new look. Be happy all day long!"
Downstairs, Qin Haotian and Zuo Yanzhen, dressed in their new clothes and wearing aprons, were making dumplings. New Year’s Day was for family reunions. Ruan Nan felt a little awkward about imposing on them any longer. She walked over to them. "Uncle, Auntie, I won't be eating lunch here today."
Qin Haotian frowned. "Did Ranran bully you?"
Qin Juran: "?"
Ruan Nan waved her hands. "No, no, it's just... I don't want to be a bother..."
Her eyes darted nervously towards Zuo Yanzhen, who put down the dumplings and looked up. "You made these dumplings yourself, who will eat them if you leave?"
Both Qin Juran and Ruan Nan understood the unspoken invitation and smiled, dropping the subject of leaving. Qin Julai came out just then. Qin Haotian wiped his hands dry and sat down. "Come, come, you three kids, line up by age and receive your red envelopes!"
Qin Juran was about to protest, saying they were too old for that, but seeing Qin Haotian's unyielding expression, she joined Ruan Nan and Qin Julai in line. Being the eldest, she went to Qin Haotian first and offered New Year’s greetings. “Happy New Year, Mom and Dad! Wishing you good health and prosperity in the new year, may things get better and better!"
Qin Haotian beamed, pulling a red envelope from his pocket and handing it to her.
Ruan Nan remained where she was. Qin Haotian raised an eyebrow. "Nan Nan, if you don't wish Uncle and Auntie a Happy New Year, you're not allowed to leave today.”
Ruan Nan smiled shyly. "Happy New Year, Uncle and Auntie. I wish Ju Tavern all the best in the new year, success for Juran's company, and academic achievement for Julai.”
Qin Julai also offered his New Year’s greetings. After distributing the three red envelopes, Qin Haotian pulled out a thicker one and turned to Zuo Yanzhen. "Want this?"
Zuo Yanzhen glanced at him. "You prepared one for me?"
"Don't you believe me?"
"Should I offer you New Year's greetings too then?"
Qin Haotian shook his head. "No need. Wife, how about a kiss instead?"
Zuo Yanzhen playfully punched him. Qin Haotian laughed, accepting the blow before obediently handing her the red envelope. Qin Juran, Ruan Nan, and Qin Julai, feeling the love, laughed and clapped their hands in mock celebration.
Qin Julai opened his red envelope and found, besides money, a letter. Qin Juran and Ruan Nan also found letters in theirs. After reading hers, Qin Juran tried to peek at Ruan Nan's, but Ruan Nan quickly hid it behind her back, blushing as she glanced at Qin Haotian.
"What does it say?"
Ruan Nan shook her head.
Qin Juran leaned closer. "Did Dad ask you when you're coming to our house to be his daughter-in-law?"
Ruan Nan blushed and turned away. The family enjoyed a lively dumpling lunch. Ruan Nan opened her phone and saw two missed calls and WeChat messages from Ruan Huyue.
She hesitated for a moment, then decided not to reply.
Many large stores were open on New Year's Day. Ruan Nan dragged Qin Juran out to buy some clothes and, despite Qin Juran's protests, bought a pile of things for Qin Haotian, Zuo Yanzhen, and Qin Julai. Qin Juran complained about her buying too much. Ruan Nan tugged on her arm. "Ju Ju, you buy things for Uncle, Auntie, and Julai because they're your family."
"I'm buying things because someday, they'll be my family too."
An irrefutable argument.
Qin Juran looked at Ruan Nan, her smooth talking skills on full display.
They stayed at the Qin family home for a few days. The second-floor rooms were close together and the walls thin. Qin Juran, seeing how much Ruan Nan struggled to suppress her sounds, refrained from getting too intimate.
Sleeping chastely with her beloved was truly frustrating.
After two more days at the Qin's, with Qin Haotian and Zuo Yanzhen showing no signs of wanting them to leave and, in fact, treating Ruan Nan even better, Ruan Nan gradually relaxed, helping out whenever she could, no longer afraid of Zuo Yanzhen.
Qin Haotian, looking at his two beautiful, graceful "daughters," then at his clumsy son, Qin Julai, wore his disapproval on his face every day.
Qin Julai asked Ruan Nan for help with a problem. They spent the whole afternoon on it before Qin Juran, unable to bear it any longer, simply googled the answer.
Perhaps sensing Qin Juran's restraint in her family home, Ruan Nan became increasingly bold. Every night after her shower, she would wander around the room in her pajamas, then, when Qin Juran approached with narrowed eyes, would put on a pitiful expression. "What are you doing, Sister?"
Qin Juran braced herself against the wall behind Ruan Nan. "Doing.”
"...You can't, Sister.”
"Why not?"
Ruan Nan blinked. "Sister, would you really let me not make a sound?"
"Ugh..."
Once again, Qin Juran was outsmarted by her little temptress. Gritting her teeth, she took a cold shower to cool down.
On the third night, Ruan Nan's phone rang as soon as she returned from her shower. Qin Juran picked it up. "Video call from Lin Wei."
Ruan Nan, getting dressed, said, "Answer it.”
Qin Juran answered the call. Lin Wei's handsome face filled the screen. "Qin Juran? Why haven't you wished your brother-in-law a Happy New Year?"
"Waiting for 'Dragon Head-Raising Day' (February 2nd on the lunar calendar)."
"Alright, alright, enough joking around. I have serious business."
"Hold on, Ruan Nan will be right there."
"No need, no need. You two lovebirds, it's the same whoever I talk to. Zhou Ziqing and I booked a ski trip to Switzerland. Accommodation, car rental, tickets, flights, all booked. The flight leaves from A City tomorrow at 4 p.m. If you two don't go, we'll lose two plane tickets worth 20,000 yuan!"
"?? Lin 'Moneybags'?" Qin Juran frowned.
Ruan Nan, now dressed, came over and took the phone. "Why so sudden? And you already booked everything?" she asked Lin Wei.
Lin Wei rolled her eyes. "Honestly, this is the only way to get you two to move. Anyway, me, Zhou Ziqing, Wang Yuan Yuan, and two other friends are going. Just three days. Are you two coming or not?"
They were originally planning to return to S City in a week. Ruan Nan knew Qin Juran wasn't one to disrupt work plans easily. Her expression was troubled. Just as she was thinking of how to politely decline and compensate Lin Wei for the lost ticket cost, Qin Juran suddenly nodded. "See you at the airport tomorrow afternoon.”
"Whoa, Qin Juran, so decisive!"
After some more flattery from Lin Wei, Qin Juran hung up. Ruan Nan asked, "Do you really want to go?"
Qin Juran nodded. "Don't you?"
Ruan Nan shook her head. "I do, but I thought you didn't. If you didn't want to, I didn't either."
Qin Juran tossed her phone aside, her eyes narrowing as she gently ran her fingers through Ruan Nan's hair, inhaling the faint fragrance. She leaned closer. "Of course I want to go on a trip with Ah Ruan."
"Actually, I've been thinking about where would be the best place for our first time. Now that I think about it, a fairytale town at the foot of the snow-capped mountains in a foreign country... that's really romantic, isn't it?"
Ruan Nan's face flushed crimson. Realizing she'd been tricked, she was about to retort when Qin Juran whispered in her ear, "Then, Ah Ruan, you can scream as loud as you like.”
So sweet! 🥰
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