Chapter 30: I've Missed You
“This is Xiaoyao’s boyfriend. I believe you’ve all just met him. Now, let’s give Guocheng a warm welcome. I’ve even brought out a bottle of fine liquor I’ve been saving for years—tonight, no one leaves until we’re all good and tipsy!”
The bottle in Rong Fenghua’s hand was one that Xiaoyao remembered well—her uncle’s prized stash, never opened, reserved for only the most special occasions. She hadn’t expected him to open it tonight. Her nose tingled with emotion, and she threw herself into Rong Fenghua’s arms. “Thank you, Uncle!”
That night, instead of checking into a hotel, Wang Guocheng was settled into the guest room at Rong Fenghua’s home, while Xiaoyao took her cousin’s room. Her cousin was studying at university in Shanghai and only returned to Tongcheng during the holidays, so the room was usually vacant.
After wishing Guocheng goodnight, Xiaoyao tucked herself into bed early. Meeting him face-to-face for the first time felt utterly surreal, as if she were caught in a dream. Lying there, she found herself replaying the past half year—their stilted, sometimes awkward interactions—until sleep overtook her, exhaustion dragging her under.
Xiaoyao had a habit of turning in her sleep. In the middle of the night, when she rolled over as usual, her foot recoiled in shock. Startled awake, she grabbed her phone for light and saw Wang Guocheng sitting at her bedside, a smile on his lips.
A shiver ran through her, banishing all traces of drowsiness. She sat up, wary. “What are you doing in my room in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”
Wang Guocheng found her startled reaction amusing. He shrugged, speaking lightly, “Why so nervous? I’m not going to do anything. I just missed you and wanted to see you.”
Xiaoyao stammered, “Wang Guocheng… this is the first time we’ve actually met. We’re not exactly close enough to be alone together in the same room at night.”
He leaned casually against the headboard, patting the spot next to him invitingly. “Are you planning to sleep in the computer chair tonight? Come here, Xiaoyao. Let’s talk for a bit.”
Clutching her pajama collar, Xiaoyao glanced at him anxiously. “You’ve been flying all day, you must be tired. Whatever you want to say, we can talk in the daytime. If you wake up Uncle and Aunt in the middle of the night, that really wouldn’t be good…”
Seeing that Xiaoyao had no intention of coming over, Guocheng straightened his clothes, walked up to her, and pulled her into his arms. He lowered his head, breathing in the fresh scent of her shower.
His sudden closeness made Xiaoyao uneasy. She tried to retreat, but moved too quickly and bumped her back hard against the wall, letting out a muffled gasp.
Outside, Rong Fenghua was just coming out of the bathroom when he heard her soft cry. Worried, he called through the door, “Xiaoyao, is that you? What happened?”
Face flushed, Xiaoyao shot Guocheng an angry glare, then answered her uncle awkwardly, “Uncle, it’s nothing… I just got confused and fell out of bed.”
Hearing she was all right, Rong Fenghua returned to his room, murmuring to Wu Jing, “Wife, when I walked past Xiaoyao’s room just now, I felt like something was up.”
Wu Jing rolled her eyes. “You’re always imagining things. Stop being so suspicious.”
But Rong Fenghua, not convinced, hurriedly opened the door and went out, muttering, “This is outrageous…”
Wu Jing shook her head and followed, still dressed. She grabbed Rong Fenghua’s sleeve, chiding, “Hey, aren’t you overstepping a bit? The young folks have their own lives. Why are you so eager to check up on them? That’s their privacy, you know?”
“Privacy?” Rong Fenghua’s face reddened at her words. Trying to mask his embarrassment, he dragged Wu Jing toward Xiaoyao’s room. “Xiaoyao, open the door?”
Seeing her uncle knocking, and Guocheng inside looking completely unbothered, Xiaoyao started to panic, her words jumbling together. “What do we do? He’s going to come in any second. You… we…”
Guocheng, amused by her fluster, walked over to soothe her in a low voice. “What are you so nervous about, Xiaoyao? We’re both fully dressed and haven’t done anything improper. What is there to be afraid of?”
With that, he opened the door himself. When Rong Fenghua saw it was Guocheng who answered, his gaze turned icy. Assuming the role of family patriarch, he questioned sternly, “Guocheng, what are you doing in Xiaoyao’s room in the middle of the night?”
Guocheng adjusted his pajamas with calm composure and replied, “Uncle, you misunderstand. I didn’t do anything inappropriate. I just couldn’t sleep and came to chat with Xiaoyao.”
Rong Fenghua’s sharp eyes flicked between Guocheng and Xiaoyao. “Just to chat? Then what was that sound I heard just now?”
Wu Jing, noticing Xiaoyao’s cheeks were flushed, tugged Rong Fenghua aside and whispered in his ear, “Honestly, are you daft? Nearly fifty and still meddling in the kids’ happiness in the dead of night…” She enunciated the word “happiness” with deliberate clarity.
Realizing her uncle and aunt had misunderstood, Guocheng tried to explain. “Uncle, Aunt, you really have it wrong. I just couldn’t sleep and came to talk. That sound was because Xiaoyao was startled and accidentally bumped into the wall.”
Wu Jing covered her mouth, teasing Xiaoyao. “Look at you, so timid!”
With that, she dragged the bewildered Rong Fenghua out of the room.
As the door closed, Xiaoyao glared at Guocheng, exasperated. “Wang Guocheng, look at what you’ve done! You’re like a scandal machine in the middle of the night.”
Guocheng, seeing she was upset, hurried over and affectionately pinched her nose, coaxing, “Xiaoyao, it’s late. I’m tired too. Let’s go to sleep.”
She snorted. “Who’s sleeping with you? What do you take me for?” As she spoke, she began shoving him toward the door. “Go, go, go… your room is upstairs. Stop causing trouble here.”
Guocheng pouted, but deliberately clung to her arm, wagging his imaginary tail like a puppy begging for affection. “I can warm your bed, be your pillow, bring you water if you’re thirsty, act as your alarm clock, and even help with any needs you might have…”