Defeated By Love

Shu Nian became still for a moment after hearing that. Thinking over his words, she blankly asked. “So you remembered the wrong date and today isn’t New Year’s Eve but Valentine’s Day?”

As if he was afraid of her getting angry, Xie Ruhe lowered his voice slightly: “Uh-huh.” 

Shu Nian was relieved: “It isn’t necessary to stay up for the New Year?” 

“En.” 

“Then I’m going to bed.” 

“…” 

Shu Nian got back to bed. She noticed that there were no words from the other end and whispered. “I’m too sleepy. I’ll call you another day, you should also go to bed early.” 

Xie Ruhe didn’t expect such a reaction and was silent for a few seconds. 

“…Okay.” 

It’s been a while since she slept this early. Maybe it was because she was using her father’s room and was surrounded by a familiar and secure atmosphere but she could almost hear the hearty laughter of her father.

She slept very well that night. 

And when she woke up, it was already bright. 

The curtains weren’t blackouts and in the cold winter, warm sunlight poured in from the outside and cast bright spots on the ground.

Outside, her paternal grandparents could be heard talking in hushed voices as if they were afraid of waking her up. She didn’t know where the sound of dogs barking, the playful children and the bicycle bells came from. 

But it was the sound of early morning. 

She didn’t stay in bed long and got up to change her clothes. Then, she went to the bathroom to wash up.

Her grandfather and grandmother had been awake for a while now. At this moment, one sat in a wooden chair reading the newspaper whilst the other was wearing old glasses and doing some needlework, talking to each other about random things.  

Shu Nian politely greeted them and went to the kitchen to fill a bowl of porridge. She drank the porridge silently because she had just woken up and her head was still a little drowsy but she was in good spirits. 

The two elders were also in good spirits as they occasionally quarrelled.

This kind of feeling was actually very good. It was much better than living alone in that lonely small house. She didn’t have to be afraid and be scared by every small movement in the vicinity.  

Deng Qingyu also called her to say a few words like she couldn’t go and have New Year’s Eve dinner with them but would arrive later.

People in Shiyan Town ate New Year’s Eve dinner early. 

After taking a nap, her paternal grandparents went into the kitchen and began to cook. Shu Nian accompanied them, smiling and stealing a few bites from time to time. 

It was New Year’s Eve and most of the stores on the streets were closed. The ingredients were bought early on and stored in the refrigerator because they knew Shu Nian would be there so there was more food than usual. 

As they were almost done with preparing the meal, there was a knock on the door.

At that time, both of the elders were too busy to free their hands so Shu Nian took the initiative to walk over: “I’ll open the door.” 

Grandmother Shu muttered in the back: “Who will it be this time?” 

Shu Nian opened the door and a man stood on the other side of the door. 

She met him yesterday, it was the man who had followed Aunt Chen and tried to coax her home. He was Aunt Chen’s son. 

He carried a fruit basket in his hand and smiled at her: “Is it Shu Nian?”

Shu Nian nodded: “Hello.”

The man didn’t come in and handed her the fruit basket, saying. “I haven’t come to say thank you to you all this time. If it hadn’t been for you, right now…”

Before he could finish his words, Grandfather Shu interrupted him: “Niannian.” 

Shu Nian looked back: “What’s the matter?” 

Grandfather Shu said. “Go to the convenience store nearby and buy a drink for me.”

Shu Nian made a sound and asked. “What kind of drink do you want?” 

“Just buy a bottle of orange juice.” 

“Okay.” Shu Nian was very willing. She picked up her coat on the sofa and wrapped herself in it, then, she nodded to the man. “I’ll be going out, you guys’ chat.” 

The man obviously didn’t know what was happening. He looked at Shu Nian’s back and scratched his head: “Grandfather, I didn’t finish my words…”

“I know and I understand your good intentions but, in the future——” Grandfather Shu sighed. “It’s better not to mention this matter in front of her. She doesn’t like hearing it.”

Grandfather and grandmother’s house was near Shiyan Junior High School.

Shu Nian only had to walk about five minutes to the convenience store next to the school. At this time, there was basically no one on the streets and occasionally a wild cat could be seen passing by. 

Shu Nian let out a warm breath and walked into the convenience store. 

Only this shop was still open on the street. 

Shu Nian opened the refrigerator and took out a large bottle of orange juice before she went to pay for it at the front desk. The shopkeeper was no longer the middle-aged woman who laughed kindly back then but was replaced by a thin and tall man.

He looked a little familiar but Shu Nian still couldn’t remember who he was after thinking over it. 

The man took the bar scanner and scanned the barcode. He raised his eyebrows and said in surprise. “Shu Nian?” 

Shu Nian looked up at him: “You are?” 

The man smiled and reached out to give her head a rough rub: “Don’t you recognise me?”

It was an extremely familiar action. 

But Shu Nian subconsciously stepped back a few steps and her expression became guarded. 

The man’s hand paused in the air but he didn’t seem to mind: “You’re so timid now?”

Because of his unexpected behaviour, Shu Nian’s breath was a little short. She pinching the hem of her clothes and stared at his face. Gradually, he overlapped with a person in her memories. 

She swallowed her saliva and whispered. “Sister?” 

The man dramatically pulled his hair: “Uh-huh.” 

“…” 

It was the son of the convenience store aunt.