Chapter 124: You’ve Cleared the House Out

But Lin Jingyue noticed that most of the people setting off firecrackers were children.

Bang!

Good heavens. The moment Lin Jingyue stepped closer, she was startled out of her wits and turned toward the culprit.

Two little brats were looking at her and giggling madly.

Lin Jingyue narrowed her eyes. “Brother, give me a firecracker. One with a bit less power.”

Han Xingye handed one over at once, even thoughtfully striking a match for her.

“Heh heh, you little rascals, here comes your big sister!” She laughed like a fiend and tossed the firecracker in her hand.

She judged the distance carefully and did not throw it near the children, but it still scared them badly enough.

They fled in a panic.

“Hahaha, look at them run...” Lin Jingyue laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.

After that, as if she had discovered a new delight, she deliberately frightened children, chasing after them and laughing like some wicked old crone.

The adults in the compound looked at her with indescribable expressions.

Whose child was this, exactly?

Han Xingye and Han Yizhou also found it hard to know what to say, though neither of them rebuked Lin Jingyue; instead, they were somewhat indulgent.

In their hearts, they could not help but imagine the childhood she had missed.

After they had had enough fun, the three of them went back. Lin Jingyue did not see the collective sigh of relief that swept through everyone after she left.

They kept watch until midnight, ate dumplings, and only then did the family go to sleep.

On the first day of the new year, many people came to pay New Year visits. Han Jianmin's position and family background made it impossible for things to remain quiet.

On the second day of the new year, they were still in An City, and Song Qinglan did not return to her parental home. Instead, she went out with Han Jianmin to pay New Year visits, taking Han Xingye and Han Yizhou along.

They had wanted to bring Lin Jingyue too, but she refused.

So Lin Jingyue went out to spend the day with Wei Lanyin.

On the third day of the new year, the family went to the movies, then took group photos, and also had several pictures taken of Lin Jingyue alone.

Lin Jingyue, who had gone wild in An City, nearly forgot that she even had a boyfriend.

Aside from the letter she had sent on the day she arrived, she had not written or called again.

And Jiang Xun did not know where she was staying here, so he had no idea where to send his letters.

After the New Year, Lin Jingyue was going to head back.

Han Jianmin had someone buy her a sleeper ticket for the fifth day of the new year, and Song Qinglan had been packing her things all along.

Food, clothes—Lin Jingyue felt as though she were being robbed.

Looking at the mountain of luggage, she twitched at the corner of her mouth. “Auntie, you’ve practically emptied the house.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. The house is this big; you don’t need to worry about it. I’ll mail it to you. You don’t often get the chance to carry things, and there’s no good stuff in the countryside. Don’t shortchange yourself,” Song Qinglan said.

Lin Jingyue rubbed her nose. How could she possibly shortchange herself?

“And this money...”

“Auntie, please stop.” Lin Jingyue was utterly helpless. “Ever since I came here, I’ve taken close to eight hundred in New Year money alone. What kind of daughter is this prodigal? Isn’t that enough money already?”

She was almost immune to these sudden cash handouts.

It was the same in the modern world; whenever she called her cheap parents, they would, without a word, start giving her money. Aside from money, it was as if she needed nothing else.

“Auntie, don’t worry. If I’m missing anything, I definitely won’t be polite with you. You’re my only family now.” Lin Jingyue looped her arm through Song Qinglan’s.

So please, do not act impulsively. Think things through carefully before you act.

She did not say the words aloud, but she believed Song Qinglan would understand. Perhaps for all these years, the reason she had not gone after Old Lady Song despite finding no evidence was precisely because of Han Jianmin and her own son.

Who would want to throw themselves into ruin if they could live well?

She must have many concerns, but Lin Jingyue faintly felt that this hatred was the huge stone pressing down on her heart.

One day, it would surely overturn everything.

She only hoped that by the time Lin Jingyue had also grown strong enough, they could settle accounts with the Song family together.

Song Qinglan turned away, her eyes red. “All right. Auntie will listen to you.”

The two of them finished packing. When they came out, Han Xingye and Han Yizhou were already waiting.

Han Jianmin had gone to fetch the car.

“Do you really need to make such a fuss?” Lin Jingyue looked at the whole family seeing her off.

“Then should we not go?”

“You tell me?” Song Qinglan shot her son a glare.

“...Of course we should go.”

This sort of exchange happened almost every day.

The whole family saw Lin Jingyue off at the train station and only felt at ease after helping her carry her luggage onto the train.

Even though it was only one suitcase.

“Write if anything comes up when you get back,” Song Qinglan said reluctantly.

“Mhm, I know. Auntie, Uncle, you should head back. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Lin Jingyue waved to them.

The train slowly pulled away.

Watching the platform grow smaller and smaller until nothing could be seen at all, Lin Jingyue sighed and withdrew her gaze.

On the other side, as the train disappeared into the distance, Song Qinglan’s eyes reddened a little. She realized she had been growing more sentimental lately.

“Mom, my brother and I are leaving the day after tomorrow too.” The two of them were enrolled at the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University in the capital.

They had to return early, and they also needed to pay New Year visits to Grandfather and Grandmother.

“I’m not going to miss you.” Song Qinglan rolled her eyes.

The two of them: “...”

That hurt.

“Oh, right, Xingye. That classmate of yours and Jingyue’s, the one surnamed Wei...”

“Wei Lanyin,” Han Xingye said.

“You’re interested in her?” Han Jianmin frowned slightly.

“Not really. I just think she’s a little cute,” Han Xingye said after thinking seriously.

In truth, he merely thought the girl looked a bit like his cousin and found that amusing.

“The Wei family wants to take in a son-in-law,” Song Qinglan said when she saw the confusion on her two sons’ faces.

“Oh, then I understand.” Han Xingye nodded, and it was impossible to tell whether he was heartbroken or not.

“People from the Han family aren’t forbidden from marrying in, but you two are. You have no brothers, so marrying in... no, that won’t do.” Han Jianmin sighed.

If they had even one more child in the family, he would not oppose it.

Han Xingye did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Uncle, what are you talking about? It’s not as if I’m at the point where I’ll never marry anyone else.”

“That’s good.”

“You’re grown now, so there’s something else you should be prepared for,” Song Qinglan said after thinking it over. She decided it would be better to tell him.

“You have a fiancée, so don’t...”

“What?” Han Xingye was nearly struck dumb.

“You have a fiancée. Although there has been no news of her for more than ten years, a promise made back then cannot be taken back. Unless that girl never comes looking for you, if you break the engagement first, your grandfather will break your legs.”

Han Xingye... his legs suddenly hurt.

After dropping that bombshell, Han Jianmin and Song Qinglan left, leaving Han Xingye and Han Yizhou staring at each other.

Han Yizhou sympathetically patted Han Xingye on the shoulder. “Brother, my condolences.”

“Condolences your head!”

As an aside, that Wei classmate has her own romantic partner, and my cousin does too. A body in pieces but a spirit of steel—that’s me. Everyone, please take note and absolutely do not get infected a second time. There are already people around me who have been reinfected, and the symptoms... let’s not even mention how insanely awful they are. I nearly checked out.