Ch10 - Going Home

Editor: MinMin

Proofreader: DarkSapphire 

Qi Xun arrived in Luohai City in the evening. As soon as he landed, he sent a message to Bai Xi. He sent another when he arrived at his hotel.

But they did not have the time to chat, as it was already very late. Qi Xun also has a morning meeting tomorrow. Since Bai Xi didn’t want to disturb him, he urged the older man, “You should head to bed soon.”

Qi Xun also put meeting materials on his desk and nodded. “Okay, you go to bed early as well. Good night.”

Then he ended the video call. 

The last image Bai Xi saw was Qi Xun loosening his tie with one hand.

He couldn’t help feeling slightly disappointed, because Qi Xun looked very alluring when he was undoing his tie. He didn’t mind watching it for a few more seconds.

But he didn’t put it to heart. Since there wouldn’t be a video chat tonight, he hopped out of bed and put a facial mask on himself. Then he turned on the projector and watched a movie while eating.

On the first day of Qi Xun’s departure, he happily lived his days, and there was none of the sentimentality of parting. 

After the movie, he lay on the bed playing games. The more he played, the more excited he became. He played until it was four in the morning. He had to get up to work after sleeping for a few hours. Fortunately, he had a good physique and his face could handle the little amount of sleep, as it didn’t affect his appearance. 

.

For several days, Bai Xi and Qi Xun didn’t have much chance to chat. 

Qi Xun was very busy working. He often ended the call after a brief chat.  

Bai Xi also started to become busy. After his meeting, he would have to review the manuscript and arrange interviews. His mealtime was also one of the times he had to squeeze out.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

He didn’t complain about this. This was just what being an adult was about. Besides love, there was work and off work. They were not middle school students. The world wasn’t going to end if they had not seen each other for a few days. They didn’t have to say a hundred loving words to offset the distance. 

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“I haven’t seen you for so many days. I cannot even remember what my son looks like if he is round or flat.”

Bai Xi glanced at the calendar on his desk and remembered that he hadn’t been back to his parent’s house for nearly a month.

He was guilty of being unfilial.

He did not blame Ms. Wu Mo for her attitude. 

“All right, okay, I’ll come after work. Just in time too because the cheongsam I ordered for you just arrived. I’ll bring it along.”

For the last issue of their magazine, they had an exclusive interview with an export tailor who specialized in cheongsam and has excellent craftsmanship. Ms. Wu Mo just reached fifty. Her figure and temperament retained their elegance and gracefulness. She is a beautiful outfit enthusiast, so Bai Xi specially brought her along and got a customized order. 

Indeed, this shifted his mother’s attention as she chirped, “It’s already done? The pending orders from smaller shops aren’t even done with theirs yet. I simply must try on the outfit before the meal.” 

After a quick chat, Wu Mo would usually vent more about her son’s work. But once she received his promise of staying at home for two days, she ended the call with satisfaction. 

After work, Bai Xi first made a stop around the Ruyu Alley to get the cheongsam and then drove home. In November, the hibiscus in the yard had withered, but the bougainvillea was still alive.

When he entered the house, he gave his mother the cheongsam first then sat on the sofa to chat with his sister. 

Bai Ruo also came home not too long ago. She had officially joined the family’s company this year. She may take over the company after a few years of working, so she was even busier than her brother. The last time they met was at lunch two weeks ago. 

She was drinking sweet soup in a ceramic stew bowl. She studied her brother and commented, “You seem to have gained weight.”

Bai Xi patted his face when he heard the off-handed comment. “Really? Maybe I ate out too many times with Q…” When he reached here, he quickly covered it with a cough. The second half of the sentence stopped from leaving at the tip of his tongue. That was a close call. He almost leaked his relationship.  

He had been going out eating with Qi Xun recently. 

But he didn’t tell his family about this, as he met Bai Ruo’s cold eyes and told the little lie like it was nothing, “I have been eating out wi-with Liang Song.”

She snorted lightly after listening. 

“Really? I happened to see Liang-ge two days ago.” She glanced at her brother indifferently. “He was shopping in the supermarket alone.” 

Bai Xi’s eyes widened as he felt guilt crawling on his conscience. He wasn’t sure if there was a hidden meaning behind her words. 

His younger twin sister has been very smart since she was a kid and conducted things cautiously. He was completely transparent in front of her, as it was challenging to hide anything from her.

Fortunately, Wu Mo had changed into her new cheongsam and came out, interrupting their conversation. 

Wu Mo spun in front of them to show off her new outfit, asking if it was fitting or not. The twin immediately applauded together.  

Bai Ruo spared no effort in her praise. “Pretty good. You would definitely be mistaken as my older sister by others.”

Wu Mo rushed to her daughter, her eyes proud. “You always know how to sweet talk to me.” Then she turned to her son. “Xi Xi’s taste in clothes is also not bad.”

.

The three of them waited for about half an hour for the last member in the Bai Family—Bai Zihua, Bai Xi and Bai Ruo’s father, to come back. 

As soon as he entered the house, he embraced Wu Mo, then he took the time to ask after his children. 

The twins had eaten their fill of dog food since childhood, and they were already numb to it.

As the family of four sat down to dine, they talked and laughed at the dinner table. Their family had never been that old-fashioned family. Wu Mo and Bai Zihua could keep any conversation going for a few more sentences with their children.

But as they chatted, the topic unknowingly shifted to the marriage of the Liu Family’s youngest son. That youngest son used to be a loafer, but recently he turned into a new leaf. It was said that it took him more than half a year to chase his wife. Now they were super sweet to each other, just like a real-life version of the parable, the return of a prodigal son. 

Wu Mo and Bai Zihua had experienced this in their youth. Although they gossip about this kind of story, they don’t take it seriously. The period of strong feelings existed, but it still depended on the future.

But as she talked, she glanced at her children. “Speaking of, someone suggested blind dates for you two in the past. I’m not one to urge the two of you to get married, so I turned the offer down. But why are you siblings acting like a monk and a nun? Neither of you are dating!”

Wu Mo had kept this inside for so long. Her pair of son and daughter, with their outstanding academic background and wealth, didn’t seem to have grown the love string. Neither of them brought back a date for so many years.

Wu Mo wished her kids would just date. “When I was your age, I would have gone through a third or fourth boyfriend already.” 

Bai Zihua supported her from the side. “That’s right. It took me a lot of effort to win over your mother.”

Bai Xi and Bai Ruo glanced at each other, and neither of them spoke. They openly and guilelessly immerse themselves in their soup.

Especially Bai Xi.

He couldn’t straight out say, Mom, dad, I’m dating. You know the person as well. Qi Xun of the Qi Family. You two had dinner at his parents’ place not so long ago. 

Fortunately, Wu Mo only stayed on this topic in a few sentences, but she wasn’t really urging them to find a partner. She soon dropped this subject again. 

But she lowered her head and scooped the soup in her bowl, said as if to herself, “Forget it, feeling is something that needs both parties to be willing. We can’t control this meticulously. As parents, no matter who you brought back, we can accept it as long as they are good to you two.”

When Bai Xi heard this, his heart trembled. 

Translator has something to add: 

Teo: This is my 100th chapter posted in Chrysanthemum Garden ヾ(≧▽≦*)o and hopefully more to come!!