The girl’s delicate fragrance filled his embrace, Zhao Hui…
The cinema wasn’t far from the family compound, just a twelve to thirteen-minute drive.
“Thank you both so much. My colleagues at the cinema are all very nice. I know it’s thanks to Zhao Bobo that I can have such a smooth start.” Xu Xia smiled faintly. When she turned her head, she noticed Zhao Hui had rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing clearly defined forearms with faintly visible veins. “I’ll definitely work hard from now on!”
“It seems you’re quite sociable.”
“Ah? I suppose so.”
“Being able to laugh and chat with colleagues for so long on your first day – that’s a skill of yours. No need to be modest.” Zhao Hui turned the steering wheel around a corner. “My mom said to make commuting easier for you, she wants me to take you to buy a bicycle. Since the Department Store hasn’t closed yet, let’s go there first. You can pick one you like.”
“That’s really not necessary.” Xu Xia genuinely felt uncomfortable accepting this. A bicycle cost at least one to two hundred yuan – more than three months’ salary for an ordinary worker. Especially since bicycle coupons weren’t easy to obtain. “Really, there’s no need. If I need one later, I can buy it myself.”
“Then you can tell my parents you don’t want it when we get home. But today I brought the coupon with me, so I can’t possibly return empty-handed.” Zhao Hui parked the car and, seeing Xu Xia hadn’t moved, got out first. “Come on, you know how it is. The old man would pluck the stars from the sky for you if he could.”
Unable to argue with Zhao Hui, Xu Xia followed him into the Department Store.
The Department Store only carried three brands of bicycles: Feige, Yongjiu, and Fenghuang. The Feige was about twenty yuan cheaper than the other two brands, so Xu Xia chose the Feige bicycle.
But Zhao Hui directly asked the saleswoman for the most expensive Fenghuang brand bicycle. Though the styles were similar, Zhao Hui paid without hesitation. After getting the bicycle, he told Xu Xia to hurry up and follow him.
By the time they returned home, dinner was already cooked. He Hongying was serving soup while asking, “Xia Xia, do you know how to ride a bicycle?”
Xu Xia certainly knew how to ride, but the original host didn’t, so she had to answer according to the original host’s background. “We didn’t have a bicycle at home, so I’ve never ridden one before.”
“That’s simple. Let Zhao Hui teach you – you’ll learn quickly.” He Hongying said with a smile.
Xu Xia glanced toward Zhao Hui and was surprised to see he didn’t object. She figured since the marriage arrangement was off, Zhao Hui had let his guard down around her and no longer deliberately maintained distance.
She didn’t refuse either – learning to ride would be a good opportunity to get closer.
After dinner, before complete darkness had fallen, Xu Xia didn’t bring it up herself, but simply looked at Zhao Hui with eager eyes.
After drinking two cups of tea and occasionally meeting Xu Xia’s gaze, Zhao Hui finally stood up. “Let’s go, I’ll teach you to ride the bicycle in the courtyard.”
The current bicycles were larger and heavier. Xu Xia held the handlebars and tried to get on, but the bike frame tilted first. “Oops…”
Fortunately, Zhao Hui supported her arm, helping her steady herself.
“Thank you. This bicycle is quite heavy.” Xu Xia said.
“No heavier than a person.” Zhao Hui said meaningfully, his gaze carrying a teasing tone.
Xu Xia’s face flushed instantly. “You… you can let go of me now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Otherwise how will I ride?”
Zhao Hui lowered his gaze to his hand. The girl’s arm was particularly soft, like holding a piece of soft tofu. Just as he released his grip, he saw Xu Xia’s body waver and instinctively spread his hands to catch her. However, Xu Xia maintained her balance herself and didn’t fall backward.
Xu Xia was gradually getting the hang of it, but couldn’t show it. The handlebars wobbled unsteadily in her hands before she came to another stop.
It was early autumn, and sitting still would have been pleasant with the crisp autumn air, but cycling was a form of exercise. In no time, Xu Xia’s cheeks were flushed with a delicate pink, and fine beads of sweat trickled down her temples. She glanced back coyly at Zhao Hui, “Comrade Zhao, I… I’m scared.”
Zhao Hui was taken aback. Xu Xia’s eyes were timid, and the word “scared” came out soft and trembling, with a faint quiver that seemed to tickle something deep inside him.
Seeing that Xu Xia dared not continue cycling, Zhao Hui went over and said, “I’ll hold the back of the bike for you. Just keep pedaling.” Learning to ride a bicycle wasn’t a big deal—he had mastered it in just ten minutes.
Xu Xia let out an “Oh” and wobbled the handlebars as she moved forward slowly.
The Zhao family compound spanned about fifty to sixty square meters, with vegetables planted on both sides and a paved stone path in the middle. Most of the area was flat, except for occasional gaps between the stone slabs.
As the tires rolled over the gaps, the bicycle jolted. Zhao Hui glanced up from time to time, watching Xu Xia’s braids sway back and forth. It felt more exhausting than when he had learned to ride himself.
Seeing that Xu Xia was gradually getting the hang of it, Zhao Hui let go.
Xu Xia could naturally feel that he was no longer behind her. When dealing with men, one shouldn’t confront them head-on. Her greatest asset right now was her beauty—and she was exceptionally beautiful.
At the right moment, Xu Xia turned her head and said, “Hey… Comrade Zhao, why are you…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the bicycle tilted, and Xu Xia fell along with it. Fortunately, Zhao Hui reached out and caught her.
Xu Xia crashed into Zhao Hui’s embrace. His chest was firm and gave her a sense of security. She breathed heavily, her warm breath brushing against Zhao Hui’s neck, tickling him intermittently.
The sweet fragrance of the young woman filled his arms, and Zhao Hui’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. For the first time, his body felt stiff and awkward as he remained motionless. “Can… can you stand up?”
“Yes, yes!” Xu Xia straightened up in a fluster, her misty eyes fixed on Zhao Hui. “I’m sorry, am I too clumsy? Maybe I should learn on my own so I don’t bump into you again?”
“It’s fine, keep going,” Zhao Hui said, taking a silent deep breath.
But Xu Xia looked up and said, “Let’s continue tomorrow. It’s getting dark.”
Only then did Zhao Hui notice the moon had risen high in the sky. How had time passed so quickly?
Xu Xia smiled at Zhao Hui. As she turned to go inside, a faint blush spread across her cheeks—just enough to leave room for imagination.
Unless Zhao Hui didn’t like women, what red-blooded man could resist such temptation?
After composing herself, Xu Xia went to speak with He Hongying. “Auntie He, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“What is it?” He Hongying was reading the newspaper. She had already retired and had no grandchildren to look after. Her days were mostly spent doing household chores, reading the newspaper, or chatting with others in the family compound.
“Well, I’ve found a job now. I was thinking I should start looking for a place to live so that when my grandmother and younger brother come, they’ll have somewhere to stay,” Xu Xia explained.
“Let them stay here with us. We have plenty of rooms anyway,” He Hongying offered.
Xu Xia thanked He Hongying for her kindness. “You’re such a generous and kind person, but I can’t keep imposing on you. Besides, my grandmother wouldn’t agree. I have some savings, enough to cover rent and expenses. Don’t worry, I’ll come visit you and Zhao Bobo often. You’ve both been my greatest benefactors.”
Seeing Xu Xia so sensible and measured in both speech and action, He Hongying felt even more regretful that the marriage arrangement hadn’t worked out.
After some thought, she said, “How about this—you can start looking for a place when your family is about to arrive. Until then, you should still stay with us. We’d be worried letting a young girl like you live alone.”
“But…”
“Let’s do as I say. Your Zhao Bobo wouldn’t agree to you living alone either. You’re still young and haven’t experienced much—you don’t know how many bad people are out there.” He Hongying still hoped that with more contact between Xu Xia and her son, feelings might gradually develop between them.
Xu Xia thanked He Hongying. She knew the Zhao family wouldn’t let her live alone, but she needed to actively show her stance to leave a good impression.
Back in her room, Xu Xia picked up a pen to write home. Since things with Zhao Hui were still uncertain, she only mentioned that the Zhao family had arranged work for her, and that she would return to fetch her younger brother and grandmother after receiving her first paycheck next month.
Moving out was absolutely necessary—if she stayed long-term at the Zhao residence with her whole family in tow, even the strongest bonds would eventually wear thin.
Xu Xia maintained her sense of propriety. The next day, Zhao Hui again drove her to work. Before getting out of the car, Xu Xia specifically mentioned, “By the way, there’s a screening tonight, so you don’t need to pick me up. I’ll be finishing late.”
Just as she stepped out of the car, she encountered Sister Yu.
Sister Yu looked meaningfully at Xu Xia, then glanced at Zhao Hui in the car, smiling as she asked, “Xiao Xu, is this your boyfriend?”
Xu Xia shook her head, “No, Sister. He’s like an older brother to me—please don’t misunderstand.”
Zhao Hui in the car: …Older brother?
Sister Yu looked skeptically at Xu Xia, but when Xu Xia emphasized again that it was just a brotherly relationship, she reluctantly nodded, “Alright then. Your ‘brother’ is quite handsome.”
Moreover, being able to drive Xu Xia to work suggested he must be someone of considerable status. She decided she should maintain good relations with Xu Xia and be careful not to offend her.
Walking together toward the cinema, Sister Yu—at her age particularly fond of domestic gossip—chattered about everything from her son failing exams to praising her mother-in-law’s thoughtfulness in helping with household chores daily.
After sharing about herself, she asked Xu Xia, “Xiao Xu, how many people are in your family?”
“Well… it should be three.” Her uncle’s family didn’t count—only her grandmother and younger brother were truly family.
Sister Yu assumed the three consisted of: father, mother, and Xu Xia.
“Don’t you have any other siblings?” Sister Yu inquired.
“I have a younger brother—he’s six years younger than me.” Realizing Sister Yu’s misunderstanding, Xu Xia explained, “My parents passed away early. My brother and I were raised by our grandmother.”
Sister Yu immediately felt awkward, stammering with embarrassment until Xu Xia tactfully changed the subject, preventing the atmosphere from turning cold. This made Sister Yu think even more highly of Xu Xia—the young girl had sharp social awareness, no wonder she could effortlessly draw out so much conversation from people.
During her lunch break, Xu Xia went to the post office. Truthfully, she missed the Ji Dan Hua her grandmother used to make for her. And that not-quite-familiar younger brother who had secretly slipped money to her.
Meanwhile, at the Xu residence, Xu Fengshou stood with arms outstretched, stubbornly blocking the doorway to the room.
Tian Mei reached out to push the person aside, but her nephew still refused to move. She grew impatient. “I’m saying, you little brat, why can’t you tell what’s good for you? Your cousin is a grown man, living in half a room—he’d be too ashamed to even bring a potential partner home. I’m not trying to steal your room, just letting Jianshe stay with you. Is that too much to ask?”
Since Xu Xia left, Tian Mei had brought this up several times, only to be rejected by her husband and mother-in-law. Today, she picked a day when both were away, planning to move in first. Even if her mother-in-law returned, she surely wouldn’t throw her own grandson’s things out.
But Xu Fengshou stubbornly blocked the way.
“Xu Fengshou, do you even know what manners are?” Unable to shove him aside, Tian Mei turned to her son sitting on a chair. “Jianshe, pull this kid away.”
Xu Jianshe hesitated. “Mom, are we really doing this?” If his grandmother found out, she’d definitely be furious.
“What are you afraid of? I’ll take the blame for everything. If anyone’s going to be scolded, it’ll be me,” Tian Mei said. “Besides, don’t you want to live more comfortably?”
Of course Xu Jianshe did. He stood up and walked toward his cousin. “Hey, Fengshou, what’s your problem? Your room is just sitting empty—what’s wrong with letting me stay? Stop making a fuss. Usually, my mom helps clean the house, and you and your sister have eaten plenty of meals she cooked. You have to have a conscience, right?”
Xu Fengshou glared at Tian Mei and her son, unmoving. His sister had told him: no matter what Auntie said, he mustn’t let anyone else move in. This room was only for the two of them.
Unable to reason with him, Xu Jianshe clicked his tongue in annoyance and reached out to pull him away.
Though older than Xu Fengshou, Xu Jianshe found his cousin surprisingly strong. As the two scuffled, it was unclear who threw the first punch, but soon they were brawling in the courtyard.
Xu Fengshou, being younger, ended up pinned to the ground.
“You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. How dare you raise a hand against me? If I don’t teach you a lesson, you won’t realize you’re just an unwanted burden. You think your sister will really come back for you? She’s off living the high life—she’d have to be insane to want a deadweight like you!” Enraged, Xu Jianshe slapped Xu Fengshou twice across the face.
Xu Fengshou stared daggers at him, waiting for an opening, then sank his teeth into Xu Jianshe’s arm.
“Ah! It hurts!”
After several agonized yells, Xu Jianshe was in excruciating pain, but Xu Fengshou wouldn’t let go. By now, the taste of blood filled his mouth, and no matter how Xu Jianshe hit him, Xu Fengshou kept his teeth clamped on the arm.
Tian Mei finally panicked and rushed over to pull them apart, but the more she tugged, the harder Xu Fengshou bit.
The commotion drew neighbors, who arrived to find Xu Fengshou still biting Xu Jianshe’s arm while Xu Jianshe, pale as a ghost, sat on the ground trembling and crying for help.
The neighbors were horrified. They eventually called the local police, who managed to separate the two.
When Wang Xiufang and her son returned from a banquet that evening, they learned both boys were in the hospital. Rushing over, Xu Dazhong asked what had happened.
Tian Mei wept. “I just wanted to tidy up Fengshou’s room for him, but he went crazy and bit people. The doctor said Jianshe’s flesh was nearly bitten through. Even if it heals, there might be lasting damage. Dazhong, what are we going to do?”
On the hospital bed, Xu Jianshe looked pallidly at his father, wanting to cry but without tears. “Dad, am I… am I crippled?”
Xu Dazhong furrowed his brow, glanced at his son, then at his wife, and turned to walk toward another ward.
At that moment, Wang Xiufang was asking her grandson what had happened, but the boy remained silent, leaving her at a loss. When her son stormed in angrily, she quickly stopped him to ask, “Dazhong, how is Jianshe?”
“Mom, Jianshe might end up disabled!” Xu Dazhong looked at his nephew with incomprehension. “Fengshou, has your uncle ever treated you poorly or abused you? If you didn’t want your aunt to clean your room, you could’ve just said so. Was this really necessary?”
They were all family—he truly couldn’t understand why his nephew would do such a thing.
Wang Xiufang was stunned. Both were her grandsons. If Jianshe were to become disabled, how would Fengshou face others in the future?
But then she reconsidered, feeling her younger grandson wasn’t the type to be so unreasonable. “Fengshou, what really happened? Tell Grandma the truth so I can speak up for you.”
Yet Xu Fengshou kept his head lowered and didn’t utter a word.
Seeing Xu Fengshou like this, Xu Dazhong was convinced his nephew was at fault. “Mom, you can’t keep favoring Fengshou. Send a telegram to his sister and have her come take him away!”
He had pitied his nephew and niece for having no parents and had done his best to care for them over the years. Even if there were occasional oversights, he believed he’d tried his hardest. Yet he’d ended up raising a wolf cub—if they continued living together, who knew what greater disasters might arise?
Unable to get to the bottom of the matter, Wang Xiufang had no choice, no matter how anxious she felt, but to let her eldest son send the telegram.