Editor: MinMin
Proofreader: DarkSapphire
On the morning of the first day of the New Year, the Bai Family visited all their close relatives and went to the residence of their mother’s parents in the afternoon.
It usually only took his family an hour-long drive to visit his grandparent’s place as they were far from the city. The air was fresh and suitable for the leisure activities the elders engage in order to maintain their good health. Outside was a yard filled with flowers and grass where plants flourished all year around.
When they arrived, the old couple listened to music in the room, as they played chess with their presbyopic glass, and argued over a piece.
Bai Xi and Bai Ruo entered with gifts. When they came in, they smiled and called out, “Grandpa, grandma.”
As soon as they heard the address, they immediately stopped bickering and stood up from their chairs, faces full of smiles. “Oh! Xi Xi and Ruo Ruo are here.”
The two dragged their grandkids to examine, and after they were satisfied, they finally remembered to greet their daughter and son-in-law.
Since Wu Mo already expected her parents to not remember her existence, she had already made herself at home and even brought out the teacup to make herself tea.
.
They usually spent the first day of the New Year staying at their grandparent’s house.
After dinner, Bai Zihua and Wu Mo spent time playing cards with the old couple, while the twins pet the cat on the sofa.
Grandma adopted this white cat called ‘Nannan’ recently this year, and he was less than two years old. Since he was pampered and spoiled since he was a kitten, he had shiny and smooth fur and two watery blue eyes. He was particularly sticky and not very active. The cat laid obediently in Bai Xi’s arms to enjoy his fur grooming service, as it purred and meowed adorably.
Nannan was so cute that he melted Bai Xi’s heart. Bai Xi raised his phone and took dozens of cat photos, all of which he had sent to Qi Xun.
Qi Xun replied quickly, but his focus was not on the cat, it was on Bai Xi’s hand.
[What happened to your hand? Why is there a band-aid?]
Bai Xi lowered his head to look down, he forgot he got a wound on his hand.
He replied: [I helped chop wonton stuffing this afternoon and cut myself.]
There was a lot of bleeding. Fortunately, the cut was not deep, and he was all better after disinfecting.
Then he was collectively kicked out of the kitchen.
Qi Xun was also convinced.
Bai Xi was usually smart, and his school performance was also among the best. Yet, could kill someone with his cooking.
He replied: [Little young master, you should help less and just sit down and be a good boy.]
He took note that as long as Ms. Ding was not home anytime in the future, he would not let Bai Xi near the kitchen if he could help it.
Bai Xi refused to take it. He sent a picture of a bowl of small wonton. [Stop picking on me. Look, I wrapped these.]
Although he could not cook, he could at least wrap some good wonton.
The two argued back and forth, before chatting about anything and everything.
From the beginning, Bai Ruo peeped openly. But their chattering was nonsense, and the majority of the contents were borderline flirtatious banter, so she lost her interest and sat back.
Qi Xun played mahjong with the family, but because he had been winning too much, he got driven out of the game. As the oldest of the younger generation on his father’s side, he had just given a round of red envelopes to his cousins
He also sent one to Bai Xi, though it was through app transfer and much larger than what he gave to his younger cousins.
Bai Xi nibbled on the melon seeds, accepted the money, and typed a message with a smile. [What should I say to you, thank you gege?]
Qi Xun: [Thanks is not needed. Let us keep the accounts first, then we can discuss once I am back.]
Bai Xi rolled his eyes. He was not stupid. He would have to pay this account back in bed.
However, he deliberately teased Qi Xun by sending a photo from his album.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
This was taken by his sister this afternoon.
Ktf qtbab qbgagjsfv tlw rajcvlcu lc atf rcbk, kfjglcu j yjys yief rkfjafg atja mbwqilwfcar tlr qjif rxlc. Djl Eeb raemx j gfv tfjga ralmxfg bc tlr ojmf. Ktf qjiw bo tlr tjcvr tfiv j rwjii rcbkwjc tf tjv pera wjvf ktlif tf rwlifv yglutais ja atf mjwfgj, tlr vlwqifr nlrlyif.
[Gege, do I look good?] This message was sent along with the picture.
He rarely calls Qi Xun gege, he would occasionally call Qi Xun ‘ge’.
But now he was using ‘gege’ in almost every other sentence and very vigorously as well.
Qi Xun stared at his phone screen.
Of course, the photo was good. With Bai Ruo’s great photographic skill and technology and Bai Xi’s natural good look, his facial features were particularly well worth a second look. He held the snowman and smiled with his lips and eyes, which was almost on par with people on the cover of a magazine.
He looked out of the window and it was snowing here as well, but there was no small snowman on the windowsill, only a row of cousins with their heads down to play games on their phones.
Qi Xun tsked in his mind. They were all in the same generation, but the differences were huge.
He returned his attention back to his phone and replied with a word. [Good.]
Bai Xi snickered and became more energetic. He sent all the photos to Qi Xun.
Qi Xun received all of them, and tenderness unknowingly reflected on his eyes.
The younger cousins took a break from playing games and raised their heads, but suddenly spotted their elder cousin on the sofa, looking down at his phone. His expression was gentle, but each and every one of them looked as if they saw a ghost.”
“What is the matter with Brother Xun…He is smiling so frighteningly during the New Year.”
“How do I know? He just scolded me earlier.”
The sound of air sucked in between the teeth was heard. “I now discovered that I am more used to his cold face. I get the hibby jibby when he smiles.”
Those cousins were muttering in the corner, but Qi Xun heard them. Since it happened that Bai Xi was going to spend time with his grandmother, he put away his phone and gently raised his eyes to glance at his cousins.
The face was as beautiful as jade, yet more frightening than the king of hell.
The cousins immediately shut up, behaved like a group of little quail, and continued to lower their heads to play games.
.
The first day of the New Year passed quickly.
Before going to bed, Bai Xi and Bai Ruo stuffed their faces with two more bowls of soup from supper, and now they could hardly walk.
Bai Xi touched his stomach and deeply contemplated if he was at risk of getting fat this year.
On the afternoon of the second day of the new year, the Bai Family went back to their villa. On the way, Bai Xi gazed out and found that the Valentine’s Day aura was on full blast on the street. Merchants displayed all kinds of advertisements, and there were roses at the florist’s door.
Bai Ruo thought that Bai Xi must have made plans today. But unexpectedly, at noon on the third day of the new year after she cleaned up and dressed properly, she found that her brother was still lazing on the sofa playing on his phone.
She found it strange, so she questioned Bai Xi, “Why are you still here? You have not even washed up. Are you not going to spend today with Qi Xun?”
Bai Xi removed his phone from his face to show a dull expression.
Indeed, his sister was so silver-tongued that she could easily touch his sore spot.
He explained, “Qi Xun is with his grandparents and will not be back in time. I am fine staying at home.”
Bai Ruo uttered “Oh”.
She was not familiar with Qi Xun, and of course, did not care what the Qi Family had arranged for New Year.
She patted Bai Xi on the shoulder. “Then you stay at home. I will be out.”
He still had not realised the wrongness of the situation and asked offhandedly, “Are you going out with your friends? Remember to watch yourself. There are so many people out on Valentine’s Day.”
She ran her hand through her hair. “Brother, just because you do not have a date today does not mean I do not have one as well. My friends and I could hang out anytime, but never on this day.”
With that, she ignored how heavy her words impacted her brother as she carried her bag, ready to head out of the door.
Bai Xi was stunned for a few seconds before he sat up from the couch.
That could not be, wait a minute…
“Bai Ruo, what do you mean? Who are you dating, is he a man? Do I know them? What do they look like? How old are they? What job do they have?”
With his questions, he was the spitting image of a police interrogating for a case.
Bai Ruo ignored him, changed her shoes, and waved to her brother. “No comment, bye.”
She ran out of the door like the wind and even slammed the door shut on her way out.
Bai Xi’s heart was broken by the loud sound.
He watched Bai Ruo walk out of the front entrance from the French window. All of his thoughts lead to catching the little bastard who swindled his sister and beating the person up.
.
After Bai Ruo left, there was no one in the house.
Bai Xi continued to lie on the sofa.
Liang Song was out of town for the New Year with his family this year. He was out skitting and even sent him a bunch of short videos. In addition, his Moments were almost filled with people showing their love.
It seemed that all the small couples were out of their hiding hole today.
He calmly gave these affectionate couples a thumbs up, then the day passed without surprise.
In the afternoon, he also chatted with Qi Xun, but there were a lot of guests who came to the other man’s grandfather’s house today. As the eldest grandchild, and also the successor of the family business, he was busier than his other younger generation, who were still in college.
Bai Xi thoughtfully let the other do his thing and did not bother again.
.
Once it was ten o’clock in the evening, Bai Xi thought that Qi Xun should have been finished. That was when he sent another message to the other man, asked what he was doing, but received no reply.
He gazed out at the stars, feeling at a loss.
But he did not mind.
He and Qi Xun are adults now. Besides their relationship, they also need space for their personal life and work. He did not have to think about his partner every second.
He leaned against the ancient imperial couch and watched TV. The music performance that played on the screen did not sound energetic nor pleasing. But the touching love song carried by the singer’s rough voice created a lullaby. He listened and with a slide of his head, he fell asleep. The remote control dropped out of his hand and fell on the soft carpet.
Bai Xi dreamed during this short nap.
A dream might not be the best word to describe it because it was a memory.
In his dream, he was back at the Spring Festival during his last year in college. At the Lantern Festival, he hung out with Qi Xun, and they spent the whole day together. When the sky turned dark, they went to see the ice sculpture exhibition together. It was extremely crowded. Qi Xun held his phone in one ear as he discussed business, while one of his hands held Bai Xi’s hand and stuffed it into his pocket for fear that they would be separated in the crowd, and also, to keep the young man warm.
While Qi Xun listened to his call, he asked him, “Why did you not wear more? Your hand is freezing.”
To look good of course. That was what Bai Xi thought.
But he nodded obediently, and the tip of his ears were outrageously red.
He looked as if he was grumbling at Qi Xun.
The trace of seduction unintentionally emitted was the most deadly.
Qi Xun did not love him, but he showed imperceptible tenderness on these trivial things that revealed a hard to detect gentleness.
He was like a bird in the palm of Qi Xun’s hand. He fluttered his wings twice but refused to fly out by all possible means.
Bai Xi could not remember whether the ice sculptures that day were made skillfully or not.
He only remembered that Qi Xun bought him a small handmade lantern at the end of the exhibition.
He turned to the other man in question. “Why did you get me this?”
Qi Xun smiled, which diluted the cold aura around his body. His facial features were alluring and exquisitely carved, like his mother. He even had a different image under the light.
Bai Xi’s heart rate sped up.
The one who was unknowingly killing him with his appearance was still behind him. Qi Xun patted his head and said, “I saw other children had it so I also brought you one.”
Bai Xi knew that Qi Xun was only joking.
He was twenty-two that year.
Younger than Qi Xun by two years and four months.
But when Qi Xun said this sentence indifferently, fireworks exploded in his heart.
.
Bai Xi opened his eyes.
The dream was so vivid that when he woke up, it was hard to tell whether he was still in his senior year or not.
But when he picked up and checked his phone, he was fully awake.
It was 11:40 p.m. Beijing time, twenty minutes away from the end of today.
He got up from the fancy couch, stretched, and stood by the window. As he looked through the French window, he found that it was snowing outside.
There was a thin layer of snow accumulated on the ground, and the branches were also covered in white. When he breathed out, a layer of white fog condensed on the window.
He gazed at it quietly for a while, wondering what Qi Xun was doing. Up to now, the other man had not replied. If they had a family dinner this evening, he would not know if Qi Xun drank too much alcohol or not.
All this drove him mad. He was lost in his thoughts until his phone pinged to wake him up from his dream-like state.
He picked up his phone and saw a message from Qi Xun, asking if he was still up.
As soon as he replied he was up, Qi Xun called.
He answered it and unconsciously smiled, “Hello? Why are you calling me now? Are you done?”
“Yes, I am finished,” Qi Xun replied. “I just sent my aunt’s family away. My parents are staying with my grandparents.”
“I see.” Bai Xi mumbled. “What about you? Are you heading to bed soon? You are probably exhausted from today.”
There was a pause on the other end for a while.
Qi Xun leaned against the back of his car seat and gazed up at the villa in front of him. He saw that the light was still on in the left room on the second floor.
He loosened his tie and shared, “Xi Xi, I am not staying with my grandparent’s place.”
Bai Xi did not understand. “Where are you then?”
Qi Xun chuckled.
He raised his eyes and utilised his good eyesight. As he sat in his car, he could clearly see Bai Xi in front of the window. Bai Xi wore fuzzy pyjamas.
He shared, “I am right under your window. Look down and you can see me.”
He got out of his car and stood by the Bai Family’s garden, then he raised his head and met Bai Xi’s eyes that looked down.
Bai Xi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Was he hallucinating, or was Qi Xun really by the garden wall at this moment?
However, a second later, he heard Qi Xun speak into the phone.
“Xi Xi, I am here to spend Valentine’s Day with you.”
The author has something to say:
Pine Nut Tea: Should the next chapter be called ‘Lovers’ or ‘Elopement’, haha
That was cute ~ And BR is like little hurricane! 😂
Thank You for the new chapter ❤️
Ah so cute!! Qi Xun definitely fell hard for Bai Xi~ Gosh that’s so romantic! I want to have what these two have </3
Ty for the chapter!!💜💜💜
I almost forgot to mention- BAI RUO??? WHAT DATE?????? WHO WHEN WHY WHERE!?
Awwwww 😍🥰🤗
Thank you for the chapter ❤️
damn, the dog food i got from this couple is simply too much (ノಥ,_｣ಥ)ノ彡┻━┻
this single dog is jealous 😭😭😭
thx for the translation ~
Yep, Sister Bay now in romance too~
Thank you for new chapter
Elope elope elope!! Your couple elopes!
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
Ooooooooooh maaaaaan, this just make me feel so single. And I like being single…
BR, spill the beans xDDD
Thx for the ch ٩(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )و
thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter ❤️❤️
Aww, he made it back! 😍
Thanks for the chapter 💞
Right, and at this moment we are still supposed to believe, that he doesn’t like BX in a romantic way? 😂
Watch br is a lesbian 💀