Chapter 18: Meeting the Parents?
January 1st, 2018, 10 a.m. Zou Yameng woke up early and boiled a pot of eggs with brown sugar and tea leaves. She woke up Lu Li, who was still sound asleep, and asked him to take a bowl to the girl next door. Lu Li rubbed his messy hair, got up in a daze, and started looking for his schoolbag. It took him a while to remember that it was New Year’s Day and he didn’t have school. He checked his phone. The first message was from Silly Goose. She said yesterday’s performance was a success, their class won the Best Performance award, Wen Hupo and he won the Best Actress and Best Actor awards, and she wished him a happy New Year.
The second message was from an unknown number: “Brother-in-law! Are you coming to my cousin’s house for New Year’s this year?”
Who is this? Lu Li’s mind was still foggy. Was this a wrong number? Who else knew his number?
The third message was from Chen Jianing. She simply sent a Happy New Year emoji. Lu Li slapped his forehead. Damn it, he had completely forgotten to reply to her. He quickly typed, “Sorry, I’ve been so busy lately that I forgot to reply.” He had indeed been busy, with play rehearsals every day, working on his game after school, and spending time with An Baili. He barely had a moment to himself. Chen Jianing didn’t reply for a long time. Just as Lu Li thought she was angry, she finally sent a message: “You don’t think I was waiting for your reply, do you?”
Lu Li’s lips twitched. Chen Jianing, please just stop talking, everything you say is annoying.
An Baili opened the door sleepily. Upon seeing Lu Li, a bright smile spread across her face. “Happy New Year, Li.” Lu Li pinched her nose. “It’s New Year’s Day, not New Year’s yet.” “New Year’s Day is also New Year. What’s this?” “Sister Yameng made you tea eggs, try them.”
In Chuanhai City, there was a custom of eating eggs on New Year’s Day. Preferably free-range eggs. There might be other details, but Lu Li couldn’t remember clearly. It was always his sister who took care of these things.
An Baili took a sip of the steaming brown sugar water. She felt a warmth in her stomach and her whole body relaxed. “I thought she didn’t like me.”
“What do you mean ‘she, she, she’? You should call her ‘sister’.” Lu Li corrected her.
An Baili pouted. “No way, I’m the older sister, I’m the eldest, she’s the youngest.”
“Don’t be disrespectful. If she’s the youngest, wouldn’t I be the youngest’s younger brother, the youngest of the youngest?”
“Silly Lu Li.” An Baili snorted.
“Come to my place for dinner tonight. Sister Yameng said she wants you to join us.” Lu Li glanced at An Baili’s kitchen. There was half a tomato left unchopped on the cutting board. Thinking about how An Baili cooked and ate alone every day, then lay in bed alone, waiting for the next day, Lu Li felt a pang of sympathy.
To his surprise, An Baili’s expression turned apprehensive. “Huh? Have dinner with Zou… sister?”
“She’s not a stranger, what are you afraid of?” Lu Li chuckled. “She’s not going to eat you.”
“What if she gives me a hard time… You have to take my side, or I won’t go.” An Baili shook her head vehemently. “And, there must be something behind her sudden invitation. I’ve been living here for so long, and she’s never invited me for dinner before.”
It was indeed a bit suspicious. Lu Li stroked his chin. He had fallen asleep while watching TV last night and didn’t get a clear answer from his sister. He didn’t know what her attitude was. And after making the tea eggs this morning, Sister Yameng went to the Chuanhai Women’s Sports School gymnasium for practice as usual, not wasting a single moment. Chu Jingyi, An Baili, Zou Yameng, these three names swirled in Lu Li’s mind. He felt like he was caught in a difficult situation. Was this the price of his promiscuity?
At four in the afternoon, An Baili was dragging Lu Li around her room, trying on different clothes. She had changed into several dresses, her indecision evident. “Is it too frivolous to wear a dress in this weather? Will Zou Jie think I’m a bad girl? How about light yellow? Is it too childish? Should I just wear my school uniform? Hey, don’t just stand there and watch, give me some advice!”
Just looking at her was a feast for the eyes. An Baili had a slender figure and delicate skin. Lu Li didn’t get tired of watching her even after a whole afternoon.
“It’s not a high-class banquet, it’s just a casual dinner.”
“But this is the first time meeting the parents in this life.” An Baili added in a low voice, “Although, a mistress doesn’t really count as a parent.” Lu Li didn’t hear the last part, assuming she was just grumbling.
As they were talking, Lu Li heard familiar footsteps outside the door. An Baili’s footsteps were slow and dragging, like the rain in the south. Sister Yameng’s footsteps were crisp and decisive, like the ice in the north. He winked at An Baili and went out to greet his sister.
Zou Yameng was bundled up tightly, blowing warm air into her hands. Seeing Lu Li, she smiled warmly. “Why are you so enthusiastic today? Did you do something you shouldn’t have?”
He hadn’t done anything wrong, at least not today. Lu Li led his sister inside. An Baili had changed into her school uniform and walked up to them obediently. “Hello, Zou Jie~” She ultimately chose the Chuanhai No. 1 High School girl’s uniform: a blazer with a dark plaid skirt, black stockings underneath, looking pure and innocent.
“Baili is here?” Zou Yameng smiled, glancing at Lu Li. Seeing him behaving obediently, she snorted softly. “I saw you spending the holiday alone and thought you might be lonely, so I invited you for dinner. I hope I’m not causing any trouble.”
An Baili was as well-behaved as a tame rabbit. “No, no trouble at all…” She was a bit shy and instinctively hid behind Lu Li, smiling timidly.
An Baili’s subconscious action made Zou Yameng’s eyes narrow slightly. She hummed thoughtfully, seemingly understanding something. Her gaze towards Lu Li became more suspicious. “Have a seat. I’ll go to the kitchen. Do you prefer sweet or savory food?” Zou Yameng took off her coat and walked towards the kitchen.
An Baili gritted her teeth and followed. “I’ll help too… I, I can’t just eat and drink for free…”
Zou Yameng said pointedly, “You’re not eating and drinking for free… But it’s good to have an extra pair of hands.”
Lu Li felt a chill run down his spine. Why did he feel like Sister Yameng had figured something out? Thinking carefully, he hadn’t done anything wrong, had he? He stood up, feeling guilty. “I’ll help too.” Sister Yameng rolled her eyes at him. “You sit down, the kitchen can’t fit three people.”
Lu Li could hear the two girls whispering in the kitchen while cooking. It was mostly his sister asking questions and An Baili answering. Strange, Sister Yameng didn’t ask so many questions when she first met An Baili in his past life, did she? He remembered that she just smiled and nodded, saying nothing, asking nothing. Why was her attitude so different this time?
Lu Li crept closer and overheard his sister asking questions like “How old are you this year?” “How are your grades?” “How long have you known Lu Li?” It was like she was interrogating her. An Baili’s answers were stammering and contradictory, full of loopholes. Even Lu Li, who was eavesdropping, couldn’t help but want to flick her forehead. When his sister asked her age, she said she wasn’t that old. When asked how long she had known Lu Li, she said for a long time. And when asked what she planned to do in the future, An Baili foolishly answered that she hadn’t thought about it yet.
Baili, you’re hopeless.
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