Chapter 24: Never Say Goodbye
Chapter 24: No More Goodbyes
Fan Xiaoyao smiled into the phone, “Guocheng Wang, neither of us are children anymore; this isn’t just playing house. Do you really think a long-distance relationship like ours will have a happy ending? Even if you come here, what about your parents? Your job, your life, your social circle—they’re all somewhere else, aren’t they?”
Guocheng Wang ignored Fan Xiaoyao’s objections and made his decision right there, “Xiaoyao, give me a month. In a month, I’ll be standing in front of you. Let’s not say goodbye—let’s say we love each other, okay?”
Seeing Guocheng Wang’s stubbornness, Fan Xiaoyao didn’t argue further. She relented, “Fine, we’ll discuss whether to say goodbye or say love in a month.”
With that, she hung up. Guocheng Wang listened to the busy signal, a hint of self-mockery in his voice, “The revolution isn’t over yet; comrades must keep striving!”
Yang Yeye looked at Fan Xiaoyao, puzzled, “What was that about saying goodbye and saying love with your Borderland guy? Leftover lady, I’m finding your high-level language harder and harder to understand. Is there a generation gap between us?”
Fan Xiaoyao rolled her eyes at Yang Yeye, snorting, “Yang Yeye, is this all you amount to? Eavesdropping on people’s phone calls?”
Yang Yeye shot her a glance and pinched Xiaoyao’s arm, pointing at the greenery with mock seriousness, “This is a public place. If you’re not letting me listen, who else?”
Fan Xiaoyao saw that Yang Yeye was the type to never let go of an argument, so she quickly surrendered, “Alright, big sister, I’m scared of you, okay!” She stood up, stretched lazily, and picked up her phone, looking at Yang Yeye, “Any plans tonight? Let’s call Youru and the three of us can go for hotpot!”
The mention of hotpot made Yang Yeye jump to her feet, “That’s a great idea. Let me call your brother to check in.”
“Hey, Kaizi, I won’t be home for dinner tonight. Xiaoyao, Youru, and I are having hotpot together.” Yang Yeye swiftly finished her call to Rong Kai.
“Cloudy twilight, outside the car window…” Rong Kai, seeing Yang Yeye hang up in a hurry, quickly called Fan Xiaoyao, “Xiaoyao, keep an eye on your sister-in-law tonight. She’s expecting, so don’t let her be as careless as before…”
After hanging up, Fan Xiaoyao gave Yang Yeye a thorough once-over, “Yeye, you’re quite secretive, aren’t you? Why didn’t you tell me you’re about to become an aunt?”
Yang Yeye smiled sweetly, “You’ve been so busy with blind dates lately, and we haven’t seen each other. When would I have had time to tell you? Besides, it’s not settled yet—it’s just early days, so how could I tell you…”
Fan Xiaoyao took Yang Yeye’s hand, “For the sake of my little nephew, tonight you must eat well and drink well!”
By the time Feng Youru arrived at Spicy Space Hotpot City, Xiaoyao and Yang Hua had already ordered.
Feng Youru saw the happiness on Fan Xiaoyao’s face and teased, “Xiaoyao, you’re so cheerful today, is there progress with Wu Yang?”
Fan Xiaoyao shook her head, “Youru, don’t play matchmaker. There’s nothing going on with Wu Yang. I’m happy today because our Yang Yeye has successfully conceived a Rong family child. I’m about to be promoted to aunt, and I’m just over the moon.”
Yang Yeye nudged Fan Xiaoyao, smirking, “Look at you showing off!”
Feng Youru teased Fan Xiaoyao, “Xiaoyao, Yeye is the child’s real mother, yet you’re more excited than she is. Why are you, the honorary aunt, so full of yourself?”
Fan Xiaoyao said smugly, “Of course I’m happy! This is my big nephew. Just imagine, soon a tiny, milky-voiced child will be calling me auntie. My heart can’t contain the joy!”
Ignoring Xiaoyao’s self-satisfaction, Feng Youru turned to Yang Yeye, “But what about Wu Yang—what’s the story today?”
Fan Xiaoyao felt annoyed by their probing, “Do me a favor and look at me when you’re discussing my affairs, okay?”
Yang Yeye shrugged helplessly at Feng Youru, “It’s a pity, Wu Yang has already been struck out three times by Xiaoyao.”
Feng Youru clicked her tongue and looked at Fan Xiaoyao, “Really, Wu Yang doesn’t meet your standards? He’s a promising young man, a model of society.”
Yang Yeye cut in before Xiaoyao could answer, “Save your breath. Our Fan Xiaoyao’s love life never follows the usual path. Xiaoyao, your chopsticks reach so far—why do you always find men who aren’t nearby?”
Fan Xiaoyao, feeling teased, pouted in protest, “What’s wrong with that? Scientists say the further apart two people are, the smarter their offspring’s genes will be!”
Yang Yeye tapped Xiaoyao’s cheek and laughed, “Xiaoyao, you’re shameless, discussing the next generation when you’re not even married. I surrender!”
Feng Youru, worried, asked Fan Xiaoyao, “You aren’t really rekindling things with that Borderland guy, are you?”
Fan Xiaoyao cleared her throat and defended herself, “Watch your wording—I never burned out with him, so how could there be a rekindling?”
Yang Yeye tugged at Feng Youru’s sleeve, “Youru, haven’t you noticed Xiaoyao’s little scheme? One moment she’s after an international guy, the next a Borderland guy. To put it bluntly, she just won’t go for a Kangcheng man. Isn’t that right?”
Feng Youru, prompted by Yang Yeye, suddenly saw the issue, “Xiaoyao, did you reject Wu Yang just because he’s from Kangcheng?”
Fan Xiaoyao was speechless, “Could you two big sisters please look at things objectively? The reason Wu Yang doesn’t appeal to me has nothing to do with anyone else. He and I just aren’t on the same path, and we don’t like the same things!”
Yang Yeye chimed in, “TIM is history, let’s not bring him up. Sorry… but this Borderland guy, is he really your type? Do you share interests, have endless things to talk about?”
As Xiaoyao, Yeye, and Youru argued, a server from the hotpot restaurant approached them, holding a large bouquet.
The server timidly asked the three, “Excuse me, which of you is Miss Fan Xiaoyao? This bouquet was sent by Mr. Guocheng Wang from Borderland, entrusted to the Starry Flowers Shop. Please sign for it, Miss Fan Xiaoyao.”
Upon hearing Guocheng Wang’s name, Fan Xiaoyao shrugged at Feng Youru and Yang Yeye, accepted the flowers, and took the card. One sentence leaped into view:
“No more goodbyes—say love! (Guocheng loves Xiaoyao)”