The floodgates of memory remained closed when he left them alone. But upon recollection, all his past thoughts poured out in a gushing wave.
Seven years ago, Ye Fei was seventeen years old.
It was the summer of his sophomore year. In order to celebrate the last spell of free time before their final year of high school, Ye Fei had invited a few acquaintances to tour Song City along with him.
Song City was located in the North. It was a rural suburban area compared to the rapidly developing Feng City. However, there were multiple cultural areas located around the city with a magnificent natural landscape. Thus, it was a beautiful tourist destination.
Ye Fei had climbed mountains for an entire day, and was dragged by Gu Ruijia to further climb a few hundred steps to worship at the Marriage Temple. When he finally returned to the hotel, his legs were inflamed and Ye Fei just wanted to go to bed after washing up. Unfortunately, an uninvited person disturbed his peace.
Ye Fei had handsome looks, good personality and acceptable grades with a wealthy background. Thus there were countless boys and girls who confessed to him everyday and he was popular in school.
Unluckily for the numerous suitors, he was still naive and not interested in a love life. He merely liked to play basketball and games. They eventually gave up, except for one notable person.
Liang Chengyu was a schoolmate from the neighboring class. He had only transferred in the second semester of the second year of high school, and caused a sensation within the batch. Liang Chengyu was just too handsome. He fit the image of a perfect first love.
This male god rejected all his suitors, for he had his eyes on Ye Fei. No matter how many times Ye Fei rejected him, Liang Chengyu continued to pursue Ye Fei. Through Ye Fei’s friends, he learned about where Ye Fei was heading to and chased him directly to Song City.
Ye Fei had been called downstairs for a friend and endured the various aches he had, thinking it was something urgent. However, what met his eyes was Liang Chengyu holding a large bouquet of roses.
“Ye Fei, be my boyfriend.” Liang Chengyu stuffed the bouquet of roses into Ye Fei’s arms and gave him an affectionate look.
The swell of people around them started to cheer, including that bad friend of Ye Fei’s.
“Promise him, promise him!”
“Don’t be reserved, why hesitate? He’s so handsome!”
“Together! Together! Together!”
“Kiss! Just one kiss!”
For one party, this is romanticism. For Ye Fei, this was harassment.
Ye Fei had a rebellious personality at that time, and could be described as a chuunibyou. As he cast his gaze at this absurdity, he merely felt a wave of anger proliferating within him, and he did not feel the need to restrain himself.
Without saying a word, Ye Fei grabbed the bouquet and threw it into the trash can. He strode away, ignoring the jeers of those around him.
The summer night market in Song City was full of people drinking and eating skewers. Fat stray dogs lolled about begging for food with wagging tails and baleful eyes. The hostess served dishes and chatted with her grandson who had just attained a high score at the same time. White collar executives wiped their lips and chugged down beer and meat. Laughter thronged the air, spreading outwards.
It was a lively atmosphere filled with fireworks. Ye Fei felt his emotions calm down as he walked forward.
He stopped at the corner of the street and looked around, only to realize that he had no idea where he was. Just as he was about to ask someone, a sharp female voice suddenly came from behind him. “Look at what you did to my child! A little bastard with no father and mother to teach him!”
Ye Fei’s mood was already terrible; this ‘no father and mother’ merely worsened his rage as it struck directly at his Achilles heel. He narrowed his eyes, pushed aside the crowd and walked over.
A middle-aged woman with a plump face was dragging and cursing a skinny boy in a junior high school uniform. Beside her stood a boy who was thirty percent similar to her, his eyes filled with smugness.
At a glance, it was clear that two boys had a conflict at school, and the parents of one of them came to find them.
“You’re the one who punched him?” The middle-aged woman stretched out two fingers and kept poking at the boy’s forehead, “Care to show me another?”
The boy’s face turned pale, and he attempted to explain as calmly as before. “He bullied me first, and he stepped on my school bag and textbooks.”
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.
“Still stubborn!” The woman glared, spittle flying all over the sky, “Can’t you wipe it clean if you step on it? Do you need to fight over this little thing?”
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The surrounding people fell silent. Then, they burst into uncontrollable laughter. The woman was enraged and embarrassed.
“Little brat, scram! There are so many people here, why don’t you mind your own business!”
“There are so many dogs on the street, why do you like to bark like crazy?”
“You!” The woman was so irritated that she flushed with anger, and subconsciously raised her hand to hit him.
“Go on, try to hit me.” Ye Fei refused to avoid the blow and sneered at the woman’s son. “When the time comes, your son can’t even wear a fake pair of ”AJs”.”
The woman started to choke. Her fat palm wavered in the air, before finally lowering it.
Although the boy in front of her was not an adult, he was clad in good clothes with widely spaced eyebrows. There was no way he was a poor boy. Besides… her son’s AJs were indeed fake.
The woman felt slightly apprehensive, but how could she leave the matter as it was? She glared at the boy still behind Ye Fei and roared, “Yan Xiong! Let me tell you, don’t think you can get away with punching my son!”
“Is your son injured or disabled?” Ye Fei glanced at the boy next to the woman, who immediately shrank his shoulders and hid behind his mother.
“Coward,” he looked away disdainfully, “Isn’t stepping on other people’s school bags and textbooks just looking for a beating? Otherwise—” Ye Fei narrowed his eyes and surveyed the woman with a prideful air. “How about I’ll give you a few stomps. You can go home and wipe yourself down, it’ll be fine, isn’t it?”
The woman opened her mouth, but could not say a word. After a long pause, she pulled her son over and screamed at Yan Xiong. “Stupid thing! Stay away from my son in the future! The cubs who came out of the orphanage are disgusting.”
“Disgusting?” Ye Fei gave a fox-like smile with yellow curly hair fluttering around his head like a halo, “If you want to trouble his parents, go look for them! He’s got nothing to do with how he was born.”
The people around them burst into laughter.
The woman had a mouthful of blood stuck in her throat and almost suffocated to death. She gave Ye Fei a vicious look, and dragged her son away. As she passed by Ye Fei, her plump body tilted forwards and was about to bump into him.
Ye Fei was still undergoing puberty and he was as thin as a bamboo pole. If he was really struck down, it would really be painful. In that split second moment, a hand reached out and whisked him away, avoiding the hurtling object that was the woman.
Ye Fei was buried in a man’s chest. His nose was swept with the astringent smell of soap, and he could not react.
“Brother Xiao, you’re here!” Yan Xiong’s voice rang out. Ye Fei raised his head and met a pair of dark eyes.
“My name is Yan Xiong,” the junior high school student named Yan Xiong was reenergized upon seeing his brother, and introduced to Ye Fei in a chirping voice, “This is my brother…”
Yan Xiao looked at Ye Fei without blinking, and interrupted Yan Xiong. “My name is Yan Xiao.”
“My name is Ye Fei.” Ye Fei unconsciously replied.
“Brother Fei saved me just now.” Yan Xiong rubbed his head, feeling a little chagrined, “I won’t be able to handle it alone. Brother Xiao, it was Brother Fei who helped me.”
Yan Xiao said “I know” and then said “Thank you”. He continued to embrace Ye Fei, as if he forgot he was still clutching Ye Fei in the first place.
“It’s nothing.” Ye Fei waved his hand and broke free from Yan Xiao’s arms.
“That person was my classmate just now,” Yan Xiong took the initiative to clarify to Ye Fei, “Because I am an orphan, he has been bullying me. I finally couldn’t take it and fought back, and he ended up calling his parents.”
When he talked about his background, Yan Xiong held a little sadness although he concealed it well. He smiled at Ye Fei and replied, “Though Brother Xiao is not my real brother, we grew up in the same orphanage.”
Ye Fei looked up at Yan Xiao, and found that Yan Xiao’s eyes had been on him from the very beginning.
Ye Fei was used to being watched by others since he was a child and was not discomfited. He gave Yan Xiong a pat on the shoulder and did not know how to comfort the other. Then, he caught eyes on a Haagen-Dazs store not far ahead, and suggested to Yan Xiong, “It’s okay, there’s something wrong with that person’s brain. Let’s go, your brother will treat you to Haagen-Dazs, it’s delicious.”
Yan Xiong shook his head repeatedly. “No need, no need.”
“I want to eat, so just come with me.” Ye Fei found a convenient excuse and led them there.
The three of them entered the store just as it was about to close, and there was only one flavor left. Ye Fei fumbled for money, only to realize that because he had left the hotel in a rush, he only had his mobile phone on him.
This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. His ears turned red as he held his phone awkwardly.
“I’ll pay the bill.” Yan Xiao spoke. A minute later, he froze too.
In 2010, Haagen-Dazs was considered a luxury for ordinary students. A cup costs about 50 yuan. Yan Xiao rummaged through all his pockets, and only found forty-three yuan.
“We’re all penniless jokesters.” Ye Fei could not stop laughing as he tugged at Yan Xiao out of the store. “I’m actually not from Song City, I just came here to tour from Feng City.”
“There was an idiot before who confessed to me at the hotel.” Ye Fei untied the keychain dangling from his phone and weighed it twice. “I was so angry that I didn’t bring anything and left.”
His lips curled up as he tried to straighten the yellow curl on his head. “Don’t you find these kinds of people annoying? I hate those who don’t show self-restraint.”
“Wow,” Yan Xiong was at the age of being curious about such things, and looked at Ye Fei with great interest, “How was it?”
“He did it in a sensational and grand matter,” Ye Fei did not feel like saying anything and put the key chain into Yan Xiong’s hand, “Since I can’t treat you to Haagen-Dazs, this is for you, I…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Gu Ruijia called.
“Where did you go? You don’t know this area. Come back, I’ve already chased those idiots away.”
“Okay.” Ye fei covered his phone as he hailed for a taxi. He then turned to Yan Xiao and Yan Xiong. “My friend is looking for me, so I’ll leave first, bye.”
A taxi passed by and stopped, and Ye Fei trotted over. “Old Gu, wait for me downstairs, I didn’t bring any money for the taxi…”
Later on, Ye Fei reached the hotel and subsequently spent the rest of the journey happily with the rest of his friends, having regained his presence of mind. He never recalled the person named Yan Xiao he had met in Song City.
But Yan Xiao never forgot him.
Ye Fei slowly sat back in the chair and covered his eyes.
“Ye Fei, what’s the matter with you?” The camera was still on, and Gu Ruijia had noticed the complicated expression creeping over Ye Fei’s face.
“I have something,” Ye Fei forced a smile and continued, “I’ll hang up first.”
Without waiting for Gu Ruijia to reply, he directly disconnected the video.
He finally understood why Yan Xiao married him on the grounds that his family forced a marriage; recognized why Yan Xiao thought he liked to eat Haagen-Dazs; and appreciated what Yan Xiao meant when he replied that he had remembered Ye Fei.
When Yan Xiao came home from work, he found Ye Fei sitting in the restaurant with his head down in a haze.
“Ye Fei,” Yan Xiao walked over and held his hand, “Did something happen?”
Ye Fei raised his head, his eyes bloodshot with tears.
The joy that had filled Yan Xiao’s heart for the entire day instantly disappeared without a trace. He loosened Ye Fei’s night-gown unskillfully, attempting to massage Ye Fei’s waist with panic and bewilderment in his voice. “Does your waist hurt?”
“Yan Xiao,” Ye Fei did not stop him. He simply looked up into Yan Xiao’s eyes and asked, “Where is Yan Xiong now?”
Yan Xiao’s movements stopped abruptly. He looked at Ye Fei tranquilly and gave his reply after a long pause. “He’s in a university in Song City.”
“You like me, why didn’t you ever tell me?” Ye Fei’s eyelashes trembled as he questioned.
“You don’t like people who don’t show self-restraint.” Yan Xiao lowered his head and stroked Ye Fei’s face.
“I…” Ye Fei tried hard to recall, but he could not recollect when he had spoke such a sentence. “Did I say that?”
Yan Xiao affirmed and stated, “August 17, 2010 at 9:23 pm.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember.” Ye Fei lowered his eyes, bitterness and sourness overwhelming him.
“It’s okay.” Yan Xiao immediately answered. He bent down and kissed Ye Fei’s forehead before hugging him.
Before he had turned twenty, Yan Xiao’s world was a blank canvas. He lived in the background with little material desire and no long-term goals. Ye Fei came into his life like a splash of vivid pastel. The other was thin and handsome and was filled with life. He shone into Yan Xiao’s heart like a colored spotlight, and Yan Xiao could not look away from the first time he saw Ye Fei.
Yan Xiao did not regret many things. But he was saddened by being unable to get Ye Fei’s contact information seven years ago.
When he was unable to stop Ye Fei from leaving, he proceeded to snatch the key chain away from Yan Xiong before it had warmed from the other’s hands.
Since time in memorial, Yan Xiong had never received such kindness from a stranger. He gripped the key chain and tried to reason with his brother. “Brother Xiao, I like this very much.”
“No you do not.” Yan Xiao spat out four words ruthlessly and mercilessly plucked it away from Yan Xiong.
This hold lasted for seven years. During this time, he repeatedly traveled back and forth between Song City and Feng City.
Because he did not have money, he took the ordinary train. It would take a day’s worth of travel before he could finally reach Feng City. Yan Xiao did not know who Ye Fei was, and had no idea how to catch a glimpse. Even so, he was happy.
Yan Xiao was in the same city, stepping on the same roads that Ye Fei walked. Maybe he had passed by the same shop. This was enough to sustain Yan Xiao for the relentless round trips. This back and forth continued on for four years until Feixiao Technology moved its headquarters to Feng City.
As the company developed rapidly, Yan Xiao’s wealth snowballed and he finally found out Ye Fei’s identity. The latter was the heir of Dingyuan Entertainment, with a father, a step-mother and a half-brother.
He no longer needed to hesitate. When Dingyuan encountered financial difficulties, he acted decisively and married Ye Fei as he wished.
Although it is only a contractual marriage, their marriage certificate is real.
Now, he could embrace Ye Fei contentedly. This person was his from inside to out. He could meet Ye Fei everyday, hug and kiss his partner and do even more extreme things. Ye Fei was no longer a passing dream that dissipated in the morning.
“Ye Fei,” Yan Xiao re-tied his nightgown securely and instructed, “Don’t apologize.” Ye Fei never needed to apologize. This was Yan Xiao’s fault for pursuing him in the wrong manner and misleading him.
Ye Fei clutched Yan Xiao and buried his head into Yan Xiao’s neck. He let out a noisy sob, his eyelashes glinting with tears. The two hugged quietly for a while before Ye Fei raised his head and asked, “Is Feixiao Technology’s move to Feng City really out of strategic considerations?”
This was what the news had reported. Yan Xiao glanced to the side, and took a long time to answer.
“No.” Even the existence of Feixiao Technology was proof that Yan Xiao missed him.
The start-up that two people had founded was now a domestic Internet giant. It was one of the most desirable employers for fresh graduates; a platform for young talents to jump to.
No one knew Yan Xiao had started up the business because Ye Fei wanted to eat Haagen-Dazs, and Yan Xiao could not scrounge up fifty yuan to pay.
First of two chapters published today!
Finaly we know about their beginning! (TTwTT)/
Thank You for the new chapter ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)˚๐*˟ ♡
Yup yup, it’s a long chapter (which is why it was a short chapter that followed)
Usually in a start-over/second -chance story, my thinking is that the MC deserves a better outcome and is being given that chance. After this chapter, I’m wondering if Yan Xiao is the one who earned a happy ending. He worked so hard to be with Ye Fei and make him happy! I’m happy about Ye Fei’s response to the memory too.
Sweet chapter. Thanks.
That is so sweet 😭♥️♥️ but I feel sad for Yan Xiao in the first life because both husband misunderstood each other but ye fei didn’t know that someone have been waiting for him for seven years 😭 I’m so happy because they don’t have much misunderstanding in this second life♥️
So sweet >.<
Awwwww.Tq
As a old one who has never experienced this. Damn, that’s beautiful.
It’s the best part of romance novels (and the snu snu). That sweet adoration. 💖
Yan Xiao is truly too pitiful…
Yan Xiao’s love is so beautiful 😭😭
Ugh, they warm my heart~~!!! YF you’re finally spoiling your husband as you should ㅠㅠ♡ can’t believe they endured 2 years of indiference before YF returned( ´ω`；)
Also, on 《When Yan Xiao came home from work, he found Ye Fei sitting in the restaurant with his head down in a haze.》 I believe “restaurant” here should’ve been dining room/hall? If the word is 餐厅 I think…
Tysm for all ur work on this story (੭ु ›ω‹ )੭ु⁾⁾♡
wait omg is that also why their fridge used to always have ice cream?? 😭 i canttt
It’s so sweet😭
I’m gonna die from diabetes with all this sugar that they are shoving into my mouth🥺💕
the dedication of this man. 😭 YX is really the man.
if it was already clear before, YF really has a great mouth. his clap backs are so damn good.