Chapter 151: New Year's Eve

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Her scheme had failed—and worse, it had been seen through by the man she loved. She feared most that it would make him grow disgusted with her.

Zhong Yuxiu came downstairs again. Seeing Yan Rushan standing there utterly dejected, she pressed her lips together. Since the day they had met, she had never seen him so helpless and dispirited.

Yan Rushan caught sight of a pair of shoes suddenly appearing before him. He looked up and sprang to his feet.

“Yuxiu, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“So now you know you were wrong.” Her gaze was cold enough to send a chill through anyone who met it.

Yan Rushan’s eyes froze for a moment. He nodded blankly. “It was my fault. I should have told you directly. We’re in a relationship, and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together. There shouldn’t be any secrets between us, and I shouldn’t have resorted to tricks...”

“That’s enough.” Zhong Yuxiu rolled her eyes at him, but in the end, her heart softened. “I’ve always believed that two people in a relationship should be honest with each other. If there are too many things hidden, perhaps one can tolerate them at first—but what about after a long time? Can the feelings between us withstand years of erosion?”

No.

One day or two, one month or two perhaps not—but what about one year or two, ten years or twenty?

The mere thought of it was frightening. Let alone trusting each other, they might even end up becoming enemies. They would go from loving one another to suspecting one another, and finally to divorce, after which they would have no further connection, becoming two parallel lines that never crossed again.

“Yuxiu, from now on, I’ll tell you about anything that happens at the first opportunity. And if something happens to you, you have to tell me too. You can’t keep it bottled up inside. We have to live well together.” Only with mutual honesty and tolerance could a relationship last.

At that moment, his mind was clear and his thoughts unusually active. Yan Rushan considered every possibility that might arise in the future.

“Now you’ve finally figured it out.” She wrinkled her nose in disdain.

“Promise me, Comrade Zhong Yuxiu.” Yan Rushan took her hand and unconsciously tightened his grip, his eyes filled with determination.

Sensing his nervousness, Zhong Yuxiu nodded. “If you say you’ll do something, then do it. If you scheme against me again, it won’t be so easy for you next time.”

“I won’t.”

A hint of a smile appeared on Zhong Yuxiu’s face. The taut string in Yan Rushan’s heart loosened slightly.

“Yuxiu, my Yuxiu, you’re wonderful.”

“If I weren’t, would you have fallen for me?”

“You’re right. You’re right about everything.” Smiling, he held her hand and was reluctant to let go.

Zhong Yuxiu pulled back a little. “Hurry up and get some hot water to warm your hands and feet. You brought this punishment on yourself, so don’t expect me to feel sorry for you.”

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“All right, all right. I’ll go now.”

The smile in Yan Rushan’s eyes spread. He released her delicate hand and quickly went to the bathroom. He fetched a basin for soaking his feet, went to the kitchen, brought out some hot water, then filled a washbasin with more hot water so he could warm both his hands and feet at once.

Even while soaking, Yan Rushan did not forget to look up at her with a smile. “Yuxiu, is this all right?”

“It’s fine. Keep warming them properly. Those hands of yours aren’t hands anymore—they’re chunks of ice.” At last, she was treating him a little more kindly, and Yan Rushan was thoroughly satisfied.

Dog Egg prepared ginger tea and brought it over, shoving it straight in front of Yan Rushan.

Yan Rushan accepted it instinctively. “Thank you, Dog Egg. Yuxiu, thank you too.”

Without her instructions, Dog Egg certainly would not have bothered with him. Forget ginger tea—even a cup of hot water would have been out of the question.

“Drink it quickly. Letting the cold seep into your body is no joke.” How could he have dared to gamble on his health in weather this cold? She did not even know what to say to him. He was clearly a steady and sensible man, yet he had made such a foolish move.

“All right.”

Yan Rushan blew on the tea. Once it had cooled to a suitable temperature, he tipped his head back and drained it in one gulp.

“Cough, cough, cough...” A sudden, violent fit of coughing followed, accompanied by retching.

It had tasted fine when he first swallowed it, but the moment it reached his stomach, the saltiness was like an overturned salt jar. His mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach seemed to have been assaulted by the same overpowering brine.

“What’s wrong?” Yuxiu bent slightly toward him and asked in confusion.

The deep eyes beneath his lowered lids flickered uncertainly. Yan Rushan waved his hand. “Nothing. I drank too quickly.”

Dog Egg had deliberately taken revenge on him. He had known all along that the robot was no simple machine. Just look at this method—Dog Egg had tormented him so thoroughly that he could not even complain. If he exposed what had happened, who knew how Dog Egg would punish him in the future? More importantly, he could not retaliate. Dog Egg belonged to Yuxiu, and what good would fighting back do?

Yan Rushan knew all this perfectly well, which was why he kept silent.

With its chip humming, Dog Egg secretly rejoiced. That was what he got for using a robot to help with his schemes.

“As long as you’re all right. The ginger tea is rather strong.” Since neither of them intended to say anything, she did not ask. It was their business, after all.

Dog Egg took the bowl back to the kitchen. A short while later, it returned carrying a steaming bowl of noodle soup.

“You keep soaking your feet. I’m going to have breakfast. By the way, have you eaten yet?” He had arrived around eight and stood outside for so long. If he had not eaten, his endurance was truly impressive.

“I ate before coming. My mother got up very early to make breakfast.”

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Zhong Yuxiu nodded and went to the dining room. She finished the noodles and drank the broth, managing to fill herself about eighty percent.

By then, Yan Rushan’s hands and feet had warmed, and color had returned to his face. His lips were no longer bluish-purple but had regained their proper hue. He emptied the water from the washbasin and foot basin, washed them, and put them back in the bathroom before coming out.

“Yuxiu, I’m ready. Can we go now?”

“Yes.”

Zhong Yuxiu rose and said to Dog Egg, “You’ve worked hard, Dog Egg. Clean up the table and kitchen, will you? There’s no need to prepare lunch or dinner today.”

“Beep, beep, beep.”

Dog Egg responded by stepping forward and carrying the dishes into the kitchen. Yan Rushan took Zhong Yuxiu by the hand and led her out of the house. The snow was falling lightly, little flakes swirling through the air. It was nothing like the heavy snowfall Yan Rushan had endured, but it was cold enough.

They braved the wind and snow and arrived at the Yan household. Old Master Yan greeted them with a hearty laugh.

“Yuxiu, you’re here! It’s terribly cold outside. Why didn’t you bring an umbrella? You young ladies need to take care of yourselves. When the weather turns cold, keep warm. Melted snow is water too, and the damp can get into your body. You have to take care of yourself. Don’t end up like me—once you get old, all kinds of ailments come knocking.”

Yan Hejun gave them a faint nod. “Sit.”

Yan Rushan turned and closed the door, shutting out the wind and snow, then led Zhong Yuxiu to the sofa.

“Are you cold? I’ll get you some hot water to warm up.”

“I’m not cold. There’s no need. I just ate breakfast, so I’m warm enough.” Zhong Yuxiu shook her head and looked toward Yan Guofeng and his son. They were playing chess—not Go, but Chinese chess. “Hello, Grandfather Yan. Hello, Uncle Yan. I hope we’re not disturbing you.”

Yan Guofeng turned his head and smiled, his expression easygoing. “Not at all. We have to prepare for the New Year anyway, and the things that need doing still need to be done. With you here, the house will be livelier. Otherwise, there are only those two boys—one taciturn, the other far too lively—and all day long we have to watch the latter make a fool of himself.”

“Grandfather, you’re bad-mouthing me again.” Yan Ruohai came over carrying two steaming cups. From the look of them, they were filled with hot water. “Sister-in-law, Brother, Mother asked me to bring these over. Sister-in-law, you’ve just arrived, so have some hot water and warm yourself up.”

“All right. Thank you, Ruohai—and thank you, Auntie.”

Zhong Yuxiu accepted the cup.

Yan Rushan took his own cup and set it on the coffee table without any intention of drinking. He turned sideways toward Yuxiu. “Would you like to take a look in the kitchen?”

“All right.”

The cup she had just accepted was placed on the coffee table as well.