NOVPUBWhen the two returned to the Lianhua Courtyard, the sky was completely dark.
His phone had just rung in his pocket, and Xu Qingfan guessed it was either his mom or Xia Xiaoxiao calling to tell them to come back for dinner. Since they were almost there, he didn’t answer.
After parking the car, Xu Qingfan instinctively looked at the patch of concrete under the banyan tree where Da Huang used to lie and sleep, which is why that patch was darker than the surrounding area.
There were also little plum blossom prints in the hardened cement, the pathway home.
Da Huang’s departure seemed to herald the quiet end of an era. Where had those elderly who always enjoyed the shade under the banyan tree gone now, from his memories?
No trace of familiar faces to be found, yet the peach blossoms still smile at the spring breeze.
Xu Qingfan withdrew his gaze, feeling as if a piece of his heart were empty.
But when he looked at the girl in front of him, the missing part seemed to be immediately replenished.
He took Wu Lingyu’s hand, "Let’s hurry, everyone is waiting for us to eat."
"Mm." Seeing the smile on Xu Qingfan’s face, she also smiled.
Once home, the dining table was indeed already filled with delicious food. Xu Aiguo, Yao Jiping, Lin Jing, and Xia Xiaoxiao were sitting in the living room waiting for them to come back, with the fragrance of the dishes wafting in the air.
"We’re back."
"Auntie, happy New Year," Wu Lingyu also greeted Lin Jing.
"Where did you take Yu’er? You didn’t answer the phone either. Go wash your hands quickly!"
"Hehe." Xu Qingfan didn’t bother to argue and pulled Wu Lingyu to the washroom to wash their hands together.
By the time they came out, the four were already sitting down eating dinner. He quickly took his place, snatching the crab that Xia Xiaoxiao was about to pick.
After Wu Lingyu sat down, she began to recount the event to Yao Jiping, "...and then I went with Brother Fan to bury Da Huang a few kilometers away."
"What?" Xia Xiaoxiao stopped eating, surprised that so much had happened while she had been helping to cook.
The girl’s feelings for Da Huang were not much less than Xu Qingfan’s. Da Huang was also her childhood companion, and she couldn’t forget those scenes from when she was little, taking the dog out for adventures with Xu Qingfan.
"It’s normal, lah. Da Huang was four years older than you, nearly nineteen this year. It’s impressive he lived so long," Lin Jing stroked her daughter’s head to comfort her.
"Mm." Xia Xiaoxiao pursed her lips dismally and said, "Next time, let’s visit Da Huang together."
"Damn it, Xu Qingfan, that’s the drumstick Auntie saved for me!" Just after a moment of emotion, the girl realized as she reached for another dish that the drumstick she was about to pick was already being gnawed on by Xu Qingfan.
"Isn’t there another one? The drumsticks don’t have your name on them. It’s your own fault for not being quick," said Xu Qingfan with a mouth full of grease, unabashedly.
"The other one is for Xiao Yu!" Xia Xiaoxiao glared at him, annoyed, and had to settle for a chicken wing instead.
"It’s okay, I don’t like drumsticks. Xiao Xiao, you eat it," Wu Lingyu spoke out, settling the matter plainly.
"Did you hear that? Learn from Xiao Yu. You might as well have never learned the story of Kong Rong giving up the bigger pears," Xu Qingfan boasted.
"Hmph~ Xiao Yu, you eat. I’ll just have the chicken wings," Xia Xiaoxiao glared at Xu Qingfan and ferociously bit into the chicken wing.
"That’s more like it. If you don’t like it then I’ll help you eat it," said Xu Qingfan. Still with an empty hand, he shamelessly took the other drumstick.
"Damn! Xu Qingfan, have you no shame?!"
"What’s the big deal? Is a drumstick really that delicious?" he said, carelessly alternating bites between the two drumsticks.
"Hahaha..."
...
On the fifth day of the new year, they had agreed to visit Xiao Ruawen’s house, and Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi arrived early at Lianhua Courtyard by car. Once the group of five had gathered, they set off together.
"Brother Qing Fan, is it really enough to just bring this little stuff?" Lin Wanning asked, lifting the jar of chili sauce she was holding.
"Be careful with that, don’t break it," Xu Qingfan said, concerned about the clumsy girl handling the jar, and took it from her.
"Wuuh~" Lin Wanning pouted, feeling wronged.
"It’s definitely enough. Ruan Wen’s house isn’t short of fruits and snacks, and this chili sauce made by Xiao Yu’s mother is super delicious. Her dad will surely love it," Xu Qingfan explained, patting Lin Wanning’s head.
"Is that so!" The girl nodded her head, indicating she understood.
"Then next time I’ll ask mom to make more." Wu Lingyu was pleased that her mother’s hard work was appreciated.
"School starts tomorrow; Xu Qingfan, have you finished your homework?" Xia Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered that she had hardly seen this stinky dog move a pen throughout the entire winter vacation.
Confidently, it wouldn’t be a problem even if the word ’almost’ wasn’t there.
"Uh..." Xu Qingfan stiffened, then laughed, "No big problem."
"Brother Qing Fan, I’ve finished mine; Yiyi and I will help you write it tonight!"
"You’re not allowed to help him. That lazy dog needs to do it himself!"
"I’ll help anyway!" This wasn’t something Lin Wanning would say – she wasn’t that bold – it was Xu Qingfan imitating the girl’s voice.
"Hahaha!" The comical falsetto cracked everyone up.
The five of them soon reached Xiao Ruawen’s doorstep and rang the bell. Seconds later, someone inside opened the door.
"You’ve arrived!" It was Xiao Ruawen herself, who called out in surprise when she saw her friends.
"Ruan Wen, happy New Year!"
"Hehe~ Happy New Year to you all too, come in and have a seat," the girl said, squatting down to take out five pairs of new slippers from the shoe cabinet.
Hearing the noise, Xiao Ruawen’s grandparents came over, along with a tall and robust stranger standing behind them.
"This is my dad."
"Uncle, Grandpa, Grandma, hello!"
"Dad, this is Xia Xiaoxiao; Xiao Xiao is the girl I told you about who has the best grades among us. And this is Wu Lingyu; Xiao Yu cooks really tasty food, and her studies are good too. This is Lin Wanning; Wanning is super cute. Then there’s Zhang Yiyi; the comics that Wanning and Yiyi made together with Brother Fan have sold over ten million copies!" Xiao Ruawen introduced her friends to her dad one by one, leaving out Xu Qingfan, who as the only boy didn’t need an introduction.
"Hmm," Xiao Lijian nodded, his gaze lingering on Xu Qingfan.
"Hello, Uncle, I’m Xu Qingfan." Feeling unsettled by the scrutiny and seeing Xiao Ruawen hadn’t introduced him, he rubbed the back of his head and introduced himself.
"Don’t just stand there, come in and sit down," Xiao Ruawen’s grandmother said with a smile, inviting everyone to take their seats.
"Okay!" The group of girls nodded in agreement.
Xu Qingfan stole another glance at Xiao Ruawen’s dad, and seeing he was still looking at him, he suddenly felt a bit nervous and followed the five girls into the house.
"Xiao Fan, come over here; I’ve written a few more characters today for you to take a look at." The happiest about Xu Qingfan’s arrival was Xiao Lijian, who waved his hand, signaling Xu Qingfan to come over.
"Oh, okay!" Xu Qingfan stole another glance at Xiao Lijian, who was still watching him, and quickly hurried over in response.
