After Escaping Marriage - Extra 6
Chapter 149: Extra 3 - Parallel World
The children playing house in the Swan Lake class at Yingcheng Kindergarten were all equally bewildered, except for Yu Qingtang and Cheng Zhanxi, who were playing the roles of father and mother.
Die-die, the “grocery-shopping auntie,” came home carrying her basket of vegetables. Little Yu Qingtang naturally took it from her and went into the area designated as the kitchen.
Die-die was stunned. “How can you be the one to cook?” she said.
Little Yu Qingtang, whose father did all the cooking at home, was confused. “?” she asked. “Why can’t I cook?”
It wasn’t just Cheng Zhanxi; the other classmates were also a little intimidated by the stern and unsmiling young Yu Qingtang. So Die-die turned her gaze to Cheng Zhanxi-she had brought her, so it was her responsibility to persuade her.
Unexpectedly, little Cheng Zhanxi blinked her eyes and also asked, “Yeah, why can’t she cook?”
“Because she’s the dad,” Die-die said.
The other children chimed in-
“Yeah, yeah, how can a dad cook?”
“It would make more sense if the mom cooked.”
“My dad never cooks at home. Dad waits on the sofa for food while the auntie and Mom cook.”
Little Cheng Zhanxi scratched the back of her head and said, “But my dad knows how to cook, and his food is even better than the auntie’s.” Her mother, Song Qingrou, on the other hand, was a very average cook.
Little Yu Qingtang said with a deadpan expression, “My dad too.”
The children: “…”
The children: “Do you two have the same dad?”
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at Yu Qingtang and said, “No… right?”
Having just started kindergarten, Cheng Zhanxi was already realizing how different her family was from the other children’s. If it weren’t for Yu Qingtang being the same as her, she would have started to suspect that something was wrong with her own family.
After a few rounds of back-and-forth, Cheng Zhanxi successfully convinced the other children to listen to her, and the game of house continued.
Yu Qingtang, the “father,” went to cook. Die-die, the grocery-shopping auntie, had nothing to do and left the game early.
…
When school let out in the evening, Wei Tingyu and Yu Ci came to pick up Yu Qingtang. In the car, they asked her if she had played games with her classmates. Yu Qingtang nodded. When they asked what she played, she said it was house. Yu Ci’s interest was piqued, and she asked who she played. Yu Qingtang said she played the father, and Cheng Zhanxi played the mother.
Yu Ci didn’t find it strange, just casually asked, “Were there no boy classmates?”
“There were,” Yu Qingtang said. She explained how they had switched roles, and Yu Ci burst out laughing. She hadn’t expected that her daughter, who seemed so quiet, would actually take the initiative to fight for what she wanted.
“Why did you want to be the dad?” Yu Ci glanced at Wei Tingyu.
Little Yu Qingtang couldn’t quite figure out the reason just yet. She followed her mother’s gaze, and a reason naturally surfaced in her mind. Tilting her little head, she said, “Because I like Dad.”
Wei Tingyu’s eyes suddenly reddened, and he was so moved he nearly burst into tears on the spot.
Yu Ci sighed dramatically. “Tangtang likes Dad but not Mom.”
Little Yu Qingtang quickly said, “That’s not it. Mom was given to Xixi, so I didn’t play that role.”
Yu Ci was only teasing her and of course wouldn’t really take it to heart. She cupped her daughter’s face, gave her a kiss, and smiled. “Mom knows.”
After-dinner time at the Cheng household was once again Cheng Zhanxi’s performance time.
Today, she had a question: why didn’t the fathers in other classmates’ families cook, except for her older sister’s family.
Cheng Yi told her that maybe other people’s fathers weren’t good at cooking, maybe they were lazy, or maybe it just wasn’t their habit. Most importantly, not all families were as equal as theirs, with a loving couple and harmonious family life. The kindergarten was just a small environment, and the children there were pampered, from wealthy or noble families, and thus tended to be similar. In the future, she would meet many more different kinds of people, and she should respect their lives while holding firm to her own principles.
Cheng Zhanxi listened until her head swam, only half-understanding. At her age, her personality was a bit flighty, and her mind wasn’t mature enough to grasp the concept of “whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” But this kind of subtle, nurturing education influenced her all the way into adulthood, laying a good foundation for her character.
The kindergarten started having art classes, which were Yu Qingtang and Cheng Zhanxi’s favorite. Every time, the two of them would earn a little red flower from the teacher.
Yu Qingtang still didn’t like to play around. Occasionally, she would agree to play with Cheng Zhanxi to complete the tasks her mother set for her, but most of the time she sat at her seat reading picture books. Even the teacher couldn’t do anything about it.
Cheng Zhanxi couldn’t sit still. The only time she could find a few moments of peace was when she was reading picture books with Yu Qingtang.
Time flew by, and the two of them entered the senior class, transforming from little girls into young ladies. The half-year age difference was no longer obvious, and little Cheng Zhanxi’s height caught up to her older sister’s, which secretly upset little Yu Qingtang for a long time.
Song Qingrou owned a horse ranch in the suburbs. Seeing that Cheng Zhanxi was old enough, she decided to take her there to play, and also invited Yu Ci and her daughter along.
It was the weekend.
The two little princesses, dressed in custom-made children’s equestrian attire, were led by the ranch manager to meet two small ponies.
A white and a black pony were tied up side by side, looking magnificent.
The ranch manager said, “These two horses were born just a day apart. They spend every day together and are very close, just like the young miss and Miss Yu.”
Cheng Zhanxi fell in love with the white horse at first sight, but she didn’t forget about Yu Qingtang beside her. In a soft, delicate voice, she asked, “Which one does Sister like?”
Her eyes were glued to the white horse, but she still remembered her manners and wanted to let her guest choose first.
Yu Qingtang took in her reaction and said without changing her expression, “I like the white one.”
Cheng Zhanxi’s mouth drooped. She turned around, hugged Song Qingrou’s leg, and burst into tears right there in front of everyone.
Song Qingrou: “…”
Yu Ci: “…”
Yu Qingtang: “…”
Cheng Zhanxi: “Waaaahhh.”
The ranch manager frantically searched his mind for a second little white horse at the ranch. If there wasn’t one, would it be possible to acquire one from somewhere else?
Cheng Zhanxi was crying her heart out. Song Qingrou was about to pick her up to comfort her, but seeing Yu Qingtang walk over, she paused. Yu Qingtang cupped Cheng Zhanxi’s face, her small hands wiping away the tears on her cheeks as she clumsily comforted her, “Don’t cry. I’ll give you the white one.”
Cheng Zhanxi’s sobs paused for a moment, then continued in choked gasps. “Sister likes… the white one… so you should choose… the white one… I’ll ride the little black horse… waahhh…”
“No, Sister doesn’t like the white one. Sister likes the black horse,” Yu Qingtang said seriously.
Cheng Zhanxi moved her hands away from her tear-filled eyes and said, “Really?”
Yu Qingtang nodded forcefully. “Really.”
Cheng Zhanxi’s eyes were misty. “Then why did you lie to me?”
“…” Yu Qingtang didn’t know how to answer. She bit her pink lip and, without another thought, planted a kiss on Cheng Zhanxi’s cheek.
At home, when Mom playfully made Dad angry, this was how she would coax him.
Cheng Zhanxi was stunned.
Yu Qingtang was also stunned. Her little sister was fragrant and soft, and because she had been crying, her cheeks were cool to the touch. It was a very special feeling.
Song Qingrou and Yu Ci stood side by side, their faces filled with relief and gratification.
The little sisters had such a good relationship.
The two sisters made up and, holding hands, went off to ride the horses together.
“Give it a name,” the instructor said. “It helps to build a bond.”
Yu Qingtang looked up at the “tall” little black horse in front of her, thought for a moment, and said, “Let’s call him Da Bai.”
Cheng Zhanxi immediately followed, “Then mine will be called Xiao Hei.”
Song Qingrou and Yu Ci both laughed.
The girls were still too short to handle the horses themselves, so they were simply led around the paddock by the instructor holding the reins. The two sisters, one in white and one in black, looked the part in their equestrian outfits, with their shoulders back and postures straight. Sunlight scattered across the green grass of the paddock. Yu Ci took a photo from behind and asked Song Qingrou, who was leading a horse over, “Why didn’t Xixi’s brother come?”
“He went to piano lessons,” Song Qingrou said.
Yu Ci smiled. “Your son is supposed to marry into my family. How can he not show his face? It seems to me that Tangtang prefers to be close to Xixi.”
Song Qingrou stroked the horse’s neck and said, “They’re little girls, it’s normal for them to like playing together. If it really comes to it, I’ll just marry Xixi into your family.”
“Hahaha, I can’t possibly have another son,” Yu Ci said.
But Song Qingrou replied, “Why must you have a son? Wouldn’t marrying her to Tangtang be the same?” Song Qingrou had spent two years abroad and was far more open-minded about such matters than many people in the country.
Yu Ci pretended to have an epiphany. “You’re right, why didn’t I think of that?”
The two of them laughed, neither taking the casual joke to heart.
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang attended the same kindergarten and, after graduating, enrolled in the same elite elementary school.
Both sets of parents were much more at ease with them starting elementary school. Firstly, they were older, and secondly, Cheng Yuanxi was at the same school. Cheng Yuanxi was mature and in a higher grade, making him a stabilizing presence. Before the school year started, the Cheng family specifically instructed Cheng Yuanxi to take good care of his two younger sisters. On the first day of school, it was Cheng Yuanxi who led them, one by each hand, to their first-grade classroom.
Cheng Yuanxi was quite famous at school. He was tall, handsome, had good grades, and was always dressed in a small suit and bow tie. Even at a young age, he had already amassed a large group of fangirls.
Cheng Yuanxi lingered in the first-grade classroom for a moment, capturing countless little fangirls on the spot. As soon as he left, Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang were immediately surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd.
“What’s your name?”
“Are you two sisters? Your clothes look similar.”
“Was that your older brother who brought you here?”
“Your whole family is so beautiful.”
As expected, Yu Qingtang remained silent, while Cheng Zhanxi answered her classmates’ questions one by one.
By the time Yu Qingtang finished organizing both of their schoolbags, Cheng Zhanxi had already gotten to know all the classmates who had gathered around them. Their chattering and babbling made her head ache.
Yu Qingtang poked Cheng Zhanxi’s waist under the table. Cheng Zhanxi said, “Oh,” got the message, and left her seat to go chat with her newly-made friends somewhere else.
Yu Qingtang: “…”
Once in elementary school, Cheng Zhanxi entered a new world. As vast as the world was, so too was the reach of her friendships. Her personality became even more lively than in kindergarten. She was mischievous during recess and couldn’t sit still in class. Her parents were called to the school every so often. When Cheng Yi and Song Qingrou were too busy, Cheng Yuanxi and Yu Qingtang would go together to pick her up.
In the office, the three most beautiful children in the entire school stood together, a truly eye-catching sight.
After they left, Cheng Zhanxi begged for ice cream. Cheng Yuanxi only had candy on him, so he temporarily entrusted his sister to Yu Qingtang while he ran off to buy some.
Watching Cheng Yuanxi’s retreating back, Cheng Zhanxi said, “Brother is so nice.”
Yu Qingtang, who was busy unwrapping a piece of candy for her, replied with a nonchalant “Mm-hmm.”
“What do you think?” Cheng Zhanxi asked.
Yu Qingtang: “?”
She held the candy to Cheng Zhanxi’s lips and watched as she took it into her mouth. With a barely perceptible tenderness in her voice, she said, “Why do you want ice cream again? Didn’t your mom scold you last time you got an upset stomach from it? And candy, eating too much will give you cavities.”
Cheng Zhanxi covered her ears, pretending not to listen. “You’re nagging just like my mom,” she said.
As soon as the words were out, Yu Qingtang’s expression changed slightly. She withdrew her hand and walked away.
Cheng Zhanxi watched her retreating back and chased after her. “Sister!”
A short while later, Cheng Yuanxi returned with the ice cream to find the corridor completely empty. “?”
Where did they go?
Even though the children were young, it wasn’t uncommon for them to call each other “husband” and “wife.” As a popular figure at school, Cheng Yuanxi had many secret admirers among the little girls, even in the first grade. One day, a classmate of Cheng Zhanxi’s named Xiao Juan handed her a pink envelope, shyly asking her to give it to her older brother.
“What’s this?” Cheng Zhanxi asked, confused.
Xiao Juan blushed and said, “It’s a love letter.”
Cheng Zhanxi just said, “Oh, oh, oh,” on the surface, but then she turned to ask Yu Qingtang, who was at her desk previewing their textbook. In a hushed voice, she asked, “Sister, what’s a love letter?”
Yu Qingtang’s expression instantly turned very ugly.
“Who wrote you a love letter?”
Cheng Zhanxi couldn’t read her expression, but she sensed that she was angry and immediately explained, “It’s not for me, it’s for my brother.” She showed her the envelope. “Xiao Juan wrote it.”
Yu Qingtang’s expression softened, but her brow remained furrowed. “Give it back.”
Asking Cheng Zhanxi to deliver a love letter, what did they take her for? A mail carrier?
“Okay,” Cheng Zhanxi obediently replied. She tugged on Yu Qingtang’s sleeve. “You still haven’t told me what a love letter is.”
Yu Qingtang looked at the pink envelope, organizing her words in her mind to explain it in a way that Cheng Zhanxi’s fun-loving brain could understand. She stated simply, “She wants to be your brother’s wife.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhanxi’s face changed dramatically. “How can that be?!”
Just looking at the letter gave Yu Qingtang a headache. She waved her hand. “Alright, hurry up and give it back. And don’t accept any more love letters in the future.” After a pause, she added in a flat tone, “Especially ones written to you.”
Cheng Zhanxi seemed to not have heard a word she said. She grabbed her hand without explanation and marched over to Xiao Juan. Right in front of her, she returned the envelope, looking furious.
Xiao Juan: “?”
Cheng Zhanxi announced sternly, “My brother already has a wife!”
Xiao Juan & Yu Qingtang: “?”
Cheng Zhanxi pulled Yu Qingtang over and introduced her solemnly, “She is my brother’s wife.”
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