After Escaping Marriage - Extra 17
Chapter 160: Extra 3 - Parallel World
Yu Qingtang stumbled back from the force of the collision. If Cheng Yuanxi hadn't steadied her from behind, both of them would have fallen to the floor.
“Ahhh, you're back!”
Cheng Zhanxi hugged Yu Qingtang, laughing and crying at the same time. The members of the Cheng family all watched with relieved smiles.
It was a good thing Yu Qingtang was back; otherwise, there was no telling how many more days Cheng Zhanxi would have spent moping.
Hm?
Yu Qingtang?
The expressions of the three Cheng family members shifted slightly as they all looked toward the center of the living room.
Cheng Zhanxi was hugging Yu Qingtang tightly, refusing to let go, while Yu Qingtang rested her chin in the crook of Cheng Zhanxi's neck and gently patted her back.
The atmosphere was incredibly sweet.
That pig… no, wait, the other cabbage… could it be…
The three members of the Cheng family exchanged a look, each seeing the same shock in the others' eyes. “!!!”
It can't be, can it?!
Cheng Zhanxi was a young woman now, after all, and she was in front of everyone. She used Yu Qingtang's sleeve to wipe her tears and said, embarrassed, “I'll take Yu Qingtang upstairs first.”
Cheng Yi looked a little dazed. “Go on,” he said.
Cheng Zhanxi took Yu Qingtang's hand and, without another word, immediately led her upstairs.
Cheng Yi and the other two watched them go, not missing the sight of their tightly clasped hands.
Cheng Yi slowly turned his head, opened his mouth, and asked Song Qingrou, “Do… close girlfriends… hold hands that tightly?”
Song Qingrou: “…”
In her entire life, the only person she had ever held hands with like that was Cheng Yi.
Cheng Yuanxi's gaze remained fixed on the second floor. “My sister…” he murmured.
The three of them stood silently in the living room.
After a long moment, Song Qingrou said, “She'll tell us when she's ready. For now, let's just pretend we don't know.”
After she finished, she glanced at Cheng Yuanxi.
What was the use of having a son? What was the use of arranging a childhood engagement? If they really wanted to keep Yu Ci's daughter in the family, it seemed they had to rely on Cheng Zhanxi after all.
Cheng Yuanxi: “?”
Since Song Qingrou had spoken, the two men of the house complied.
Cheng Yi said, “I'm off to the office.”
Cheng Yuanxi took the suit jacket hanging by the door and handed it to his father. After changing into his own dress shoes, he said, “I'm heading out too. I have a business dinner tonight, so I won't be home. Don't wait up.”
Song Qingrou glanced at him again.
Cheng Yuanxi grew even more bewildered.
“Mom?”
“It's nothing.” Song Qingrou waved her hand. “Go on, you two.”
Anyway, they have Cheng Zhanxi now. Who cares if he has time to win Yu Qingtang over.
The two men left, but the two girls still hadn't come down from upstairs. Song Qingrou asked Xiao Yun to make some food and keep it warm on the stove. Yu Qingtang had arrived early in the morning, looking travel-worn; it was clear she had come straight from the airport and must not have eaten breakfast.
Song Qingrou paced around the living room a few times, glancing up toward the second floor. She scratched the tip of her nose, then retreated to her room to call Yu Ci.
She couldn't ask Cheng Zhanxi directly, but she was dying of curiosity, so her only option was to share the gossip with the other mother, her dear friend.
“Tangtang is at my place right now…”
She had barely started when Yu Ci exclaimed in surprise, “Isn't she supposed to be on a plane?”
Well, as they talked, they realized that Yu Qingtang hadn't told her parents she was coming back early at all. She was eighteen now, a legal adult.
When children grow up, they fly the nest, Yu Ci thought, her feelings momentarily complex.
After that moment of complex emotion passed, Yu Ci said knowingly, “Did she go looking for your Xixi?”
“She did,” Song Qingrou said, lowering her voice. “A Ci, have you noticed that those two are a little… overly close?”
Yu Ci said, “Of course I have.”
The words Song Qingrou had prepared got stuck in her throat.
What did she just say?
Song Qingrou unconsciously raised her voice. “When did you notice?”
Yu Ci chuckled. “About five years ago.”
“Five years—” Song Qingrou's voice cracked in shock. “Five years ago?”
Wasn't that puppy love? Those two kids had managed to hide it right under their noses for so many years! All these adults had been living in the dark—no, just the adults of the Cheng family.
But then she heard Yu Ci say casually, “Tangtang has had a crush on your Xixi since her first year of middle school.”
Song Qingrou let out an “oh.” “A crush…”
So it was Yu Qingtang who had a crush on Cheng Zhanxi. Song Qingrou raised an eyebrow, marveling. How incredible.
But on second thought, it made sense. With Cheng Zhanxi's wear-her-heart-on-her-sleeve personality, she would have given herself away long ago if she'd had feelings for Yu Qingtang. In the past, whenever Yu Qingtang went on vacation with her parents, Cheng Zhanxi had never lost her appetite like this; she'd still be out having a blast with her other friends.
In a few more months, Cheng Zhanxi would be eighteen too. It was the age for a young girl to fall in love.
“Are they together?” Song Qingrou asked.
“No.”
Song Qingrou drew in a soft breath. “Why not?”
Yu Ci said teasingly, “The kids are grown up now. They have their own ideas.”
Song Qingrou burst out laughing.
While the two mothers were eagerly enjoying the gossip, the atmosphere in the third-floor room between the two protagonists was somewhat strained.
Cheng Zhanxi had vented all her emotions in that initial burst of excitement. Now that she had calmed down, she looked at Yu Qingtang's face and suddenly didn't know what to say.
Something between them seemed to have quietly changed after that night.
Cheng Zhanxi was tongue-tied for a moment before she managed to force out a few dry words: “How was the food abroad?”
“…”
Yu Qingtang looked at her, silent for a moment, before saying, “It was fine.”
In the past, she would have described what she ate and how it tasted, sometimes even complaining to her that the food abroad wasn't good.
At this thought, the light in Cheng Zhanxi's eyes dimmed. She lowered her gaze and said, “That's good.”
The words had barely left her mouth when a hand cupped her chin. It was fair and slender, with neatly trimmed nails that shone with a pale pink luster.
Cheng Zhanxi's gaze traveled slowly up from the hand until it met Yu Qingtang's inscrutable eyes.
Yu Qingtang withdrew her hand.
Cheng Zhanxi almost lost control and placed her chin back in that hand.
The window was open, but Yu Qingtang felt stifled. The joy of their reunion had become something hard to put into words. Unable to bear staying any longer, she said politely, “I should be heading home.”
Cheng Zhanxi felt a sting in her nose, and her eyes began to redden.
Yu Qingtang had already turned to face the door and didn't notice.
From behind her came Cheng Zhanxi's voice. “I'll walk you out.”
With her back still to Cheng Zhanxi, Yu Qingtang's lips curved in a self-mocking smile. She turned her head and said, “Okay.”
Song Qingrou had just finished her phone call when she saw the two girls coming downstairs, one after the other. Yu Qingtang bid her farewell, and Song Qingrou asked in surprise, “Leaving so soon?”
Yu Qingtang said, “Thank you, Auntie Song. My parents are waiting for me.”
Song Qingrou: “I just spoke with your mom on the phone.”
Yu Qingtang froze.
Song Qingrou continued, “You haven't eaten breakfast, have you? You should eat before you go.” Before Yu Qingtang could refuse, she called out, “Xiao Yun.”
The Cheng family's housekeeper brought out breakfast.
Yu Qingtang had no choice but to stay.
Cheng Zhanxi had already eaten, but she sat down opposite Yu Qingtang to keep her company.
Yu Qingtang quietly ate her congee while Cheng Zhanxi watched her, noticing the faint, bluish shadows of fatigue under her eyes. A thought suddenly struck her, and she blurted out, “Did you just get back from abroad?”
Yu Qingtang looked up, her eyes seeming to hold a trace of reproach.
“You're only just noticing?”
A look of joy spread across Cheng Zhanxi's face.
So Yu Qingtang had come to see her as soon as she landed? Without even going home first?
Cheng Zhanxi wanted to say she was happy, but she felt the words would sound silly, and besides, that wasn't all she wanted to say. Her face beaming, she placed some food in Yu Qingtang's bowl. “This is delicious. You should eat it.”
Silly girl, Yu Qingtang thought to herself, but the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
After finishing breakfast, Yu Qingtang stopped mentioning her intention to go home, and Cheng Zhanxi didn't bring it up either. The two of them huddled together again, chattering away with endless things to say, their clear laughter echoing through the house.
Song Qingrou brought the two girls a platter of fruit, then left them to their private world.
The younger generation will make their own way.
“A Ci, want to go to an art gallery?”
“Sure,” Yu Ci said after answering Song Qingrou's call. She grabbed her purse and headed out.
When she returned home, Yu Qingtang was there as well.
“Mom.” Sitting on the living room sofa, Yu Qingtang looked up from the book she was holding in one hand.
Yu Ci acknowledged her, bending down to change her shoes in the entryway. “Did you have a good time with Xixi?” she asked.
“Mhm.”
Yu Ci walked over, glanced at the book's cover, and asked, “Did you get this from my study?” completely changing the subject.
Yu Qingtang paused for a second, then nodded.
Yu Ci said, “That book has some rather novel viewpoints. It can broaden your horizons.” She picked up an apple from the table. “Want some?”
Yu Qingtang nodded again.
Yu Ci peeled the apple, gave half to her, and then went to her study to get a book for herself.
Mother and daughter each took an end of the sofa and focused on their books.
Yu Ci casually lifted her gaze and saw her daughter nearby. They looked so much alike; it was as if Yu Ci were looking at her younger self, though her daughter's personality definitely came from her father.
That personality… Yu Ci couldn't say whether it was good or bad, but at this stage in life, it certainly had its disadvantages when it came to romance.
Not every Wei Tingyu is lucky enough to have a wonderful partner like me, Yu Ci thought, shaking her head.
At the end of August, Yu Qingtang started her first year of university, while Cheng Zhanxi traveled across the ocean to begin her own college life abroad.
Studying abroad involved renting an apartment and dealing with countless small details, so the worried Cheng family took time off work to accompany her.
The airport send-off.
The Yu family stood on one side, the Cheng family on the other.
Three people seeing off four made for a rather unique sight at the airport.
The adults didn't have much to say to one another; the real farewell was between Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang. The parents from both families thoughtfully made excuses to wander off, leaving the two girls alone. Cheng Yuanxi glanced back curiously, only to get a light smack on the head from Song Qingrou, which made him turn right back around.
Cheng Zhanxi stared at the ground.
She rarely did that, but it had become a frequent habit lately, as if she were trying to avoid Yu Qingtang's gaze.
Yu Qingtang watched her downcast eyes and said, “Take good care of yourself.”
Cheng Zhanxi nodded.
She stared at the tips of her shoes for a moment before finally looking up. “You too.” Then she quickly added, “I'll come back to see you during my breaks.”
She stared at Yu Qingtang's face, as if waiting for something.
Yu Qingtang said, “I'll come visit you abroad if I have time, too.”
Cheng Zhanxi felt like she was holding her breath, suspended in midair. The feeling was so uncomfortable that she couldn't speak, only managing a low “mhm.”
Yu Qingtang paused.
Was it her imagination, or did Cheng Zhanxi's “mhm” sound a little thick, as if she were holding back tears?
The two families returned from their stroll to find that the two girls seemed to have finished their goodbyes, though the atmosphere was still a little strange. With less than half an hour until boarding, Cheng Zhanxi followed her parents and brother to line up for the security check.
Cheng Yi and Song Qingrou went through first, and then it was Cheng Zhanxi's turn.
Yu Qingtang watched her cross the yellow line and subconsciously took a step forward. “Cheng Zhanxi.”
Her voice wasn't loud, but Cheng Zhanxi heard it instantly.
She whipped her head around and, ignoring that it was her turn for security, ran back from beyond the yellow line.
Cheng Yuanxi, who was behind her, quickly called out to his sister and stepped aside to let the person behind him go through.
Her parents also looked over in surprise.
In the blink of an eye, Cheng Zhanxi was standing before Yu Qingtang, panting, her face flushed, but her eyes were as bright as stars.
“What is it?” Her voice was practically singing, like a chirping oriole on a branch.
Yu Qingtang's lips parted, the words almost escaping.
Yu Qingtang pressed her lips together, looked into Cheng Zhanxi's eyes, and asked, “Is there nothing you want to say to me?”
The singing oriole fell silent.
The light in Cheng Zhanxi's eyes slowly faded. She thought for a moment, then forced a cheerful laugh. “Study hard and eat well? Hahaha.”
Yu Qingtang couldn't manage a smile. She gave a stiff twitch of her lips and said, “I know.”
“I'm going now, then?” Cheng Zhanxi said softly.
Yu Qingtang nodded. “Go on.”
Cheng Zhanxi walked back, step by step. The staff checked her ticket and passport, and she walked through the gate without looking back.
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