341. Back to Hometown【9/99】
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On Friday afternoon, a black sedan parked in the alley in front of the rental apartment.
Wu Guodong opened the car door and got out, leaning against it as he surveyed the tidy alley, pulling out a cigarette and preparing to light up.
His face was clouded with lingering gloom, and his brows were knitted tightly. After just a few puffs, he tossed the half-smoked cigarette into the nearby trash can, followed by a long sigh.
Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard Lin Nan’s voice. He looked up to see Lin Nan and Chen Yao chatting and laughing as they turned the corner.
It had to be said, his niece Lin Nan and Chen Yao actually made a decent pair!
Plus, compared to her earlier look of constant melancholy, the lively Lin Nan of today was definitely more pleasing to the eye.
“Uncle, you’re here so early?” Lin Nan spotted the car in front and then saw Wu Guodong in his black T-shirt. She hurriedly shoved a book into Chen Yao’s arms and ran over. “Why didn’t you call Liu Xuefei to hang out? Just standing here waiting?”
“I just got here ten minutes ago,” Wu Guodong said, forcing a smile as he took in Lin Nan’s new hairstyle. “So, you secretly transferred the game console money to me last time, huh?”
“I bought Chen Yao a game console, so if I didn’t pay, it’d be like you bought it for him,” Lin Nan explained with a grin.
Today, Lin Nan wore a long dress that showed just a hint of her calves, and with her trimmed short hair and bangs, she looked much more feminine than before.
Perhaps after trying on all sorts of outfits at Li Na’s house last time, Lin Nan had strangely become comfortable with wearing dresses.
Wu Guodong was quite pleased with his niece’s transformation; it was better than his mind automatically conjuring up her old, gloomy self.
At that moment, Chen Yao slowly ambled over and checked his pockets, only to realize he had already quit smoking.
Mainly because Lin Nan wouldn’t allow it.
“Wanna head up and sit for a bit?”
“Sure, I haven’t seen Lin Nan’s place yet.”
Wu Guodong eyed Chen Yao, noticing he looked slightly thinner than the last time they met, and his hair was no longer the buzz cut he used to have. Clearly, under Lin Nan’s influence, he was growing it out for a future hairstyle.
He didn’t seem as energetic as before, but he appeared a bit more handsome, which at least made him a decent match for Lin Nan.
Following the two upstairs and into the apartment, Wu Guodong found this one-bedroom place surprisingly nice.
He remembered that his first rental was a cramped, dark single room that was damp and cold, with awful soundproofing, and this rental was definitely an upgrade.
Chen Yao, ever the gentleman, fetched a bottle of cola left over from their last crawfish feast.
Lin Nan darted into her bedroom to change and shower, since tonight they couldn’t stay at the hospital, and washing up would be off the table.
Taking advantage of Lin Nan’s absence, Wu Guodong turned to Chen Yao and asked, “You haven’t been bullying Lin Nan, have you?”
Immediately, Chen Yao looked glum. “Don’t even mention bullying; I almost got my head handed to me by her once.”
Wu Guodong was taken aback. He had no idea Lin Nan had a violent streak!
I mean, just look at her: she seemed like the ultimate pushover, yet she managed to give Chen Yao a beating?
He patted Chen Yao’s shoulder sympathetically, unable to fathom what his life would be like with Liu Xuefei.
That girl looked way more formidable than Lin Nan!
He used to think Chen Yao was a bit of a nuisance, but now he found him a lot more likable. He offered Chen Yao a cigarette, saying, “Next time you get punched, just let me know.”
“I’m good—don’t need a smoke,” Chen Yao declined.
“I just wanted to revel in the thought of your miserable existence. You’re just in your twenties, and look at you already suffering; how will you survive the future?” Wu Guodong shook his head, almost bursting into laughter.
Lin Nan was pretty quick with her shower, resolving the battle in ten minutes flat. She came out in a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved top layered with a white jacket, drying her hair with a dryer.
She glanced back at the two guys, curious what they were chatting about that seemed to be so merry.
Chen Yao had decided against taking a shower, preferring instead to head back home tonight, conveniently carrying any unnecessary items back with him.
By six, after school chaos stretched into seven, they finally piled into the car and set off towards the small county where Wu Guodong’s hometown was.
The trip would take about three hours, and Lin Nan and Chen Yao dozed in the back seat.
Lin Nan, used to it, leaned against Chen Yao’s shoulder, yawning as she asked Wu Guodong, “Should we buy some gifts for the hospital? Like a fruit basket or something?”
She suddenly remembered there was a fruit basket at home too.
“No need, your grandpa specifically called me to say don’t buy him anything—his hospital room is practically overflowing,” Wu Guodong chuckled wearily, “Right now, he’s more focused on having us help him eat more when we get there.”
“That’s what I’m good at!”
Lin Nan was still leaning on Chen Yao when she asked Wu Guodong, “Is there a place for us to sleep at the hospital tonight?”
“Nope, I’ll just keep your grandpa company at the hospital for the night. You can crash at Chen Yao’s place, right?”
Chen Yao eagerly nodded, “My mom misses you too; it’s perfect timing to check in on her.”
The school was already in the suburban area, and not even ten minutes into the journey, they hit the highway. Outside the car window, tall buildings were a rarity, with only speeding cars and the fields of tiny rural villages and bungalows in sight.
The car gradually fell into silence, with Chen Yao hugging Lin Nan, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed, enjoying the soft warmth of her.
As their time together grew longer, Lin Nan became less shy about showing affection, making Wu Guodong a bit envious. He couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for him to be as cozy with Liu Xuefei.
Maybe he should follow Lin Nan’s lead and rent a place outside of school, then drive to work every day?
Or else, seeing Liu Xuefei just once a month felt more like a long-distance relationship, even though they lived in the same city!
“Speaking of which, when do you two plan to get married?” he suddenly blurted out.
“Maybe in a few years. After graduation, I’ll work for a year or two until I can stabilize my income to support Lin Nan,” Chen Yao answered without a second thought.
Lin Nan had no objections. She figured with her talents, it’d be a cinch to earn her keep.
“What about kids?”
Chen Yao was stumped by the question and turned to look at Lin Nan, who shook her head with pursed lips. “Forget it, I don’t like kids.”
And besides, I heard it hurts…
“I used to hate them too. But as you get older, you start liking them more,” Wu Guodong said, yawning after a long night shift, rolling down the window for some fresh air and lighting a cigarette for a boost. “And the older you get, the more family pressures you’ll face about marrying and having kids. You’re a girl now, you can’t escape it.”
“Then I’ll just live in another city with Chen Yao and only come back once a year. Let them pressure me if they want!” Lin Nan shot a quick glance at Chen Yao, noticing a hint of anticipation in his eyes, and couldn’t help but question, “You wouldn’t want kids, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Then you can have them.” Lin Nan mumbled, turning her head away.
