Chapter 54. ☆ Vancouver

 Ruan Mengmeng slept beautifully and went to the airport with Ruan Dahai the next day.

“Dad, are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”

Ruan Mengmeng didn’t know why, but before boarding the plane, her heart was stifled and she couldn’t bear to leave her father.

“Didn’t I say that the supermarket was going to be reformed? It’s a good time to go out and see the scenery. You haven’t had any time to spare in all these years.”

Ruan Hai stroked his daughter’s head. The white dumpling that used to bite his finger as a pacifier had grown into a graceful and beautiful girl in a flash.

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She was his baby; no one could hurt her.

“I’ll have the chance to go later.” Ruan Hai gave her his passport, “Go in, it’s time.”

“Daddy,” Ruan Mengmeng dawdled, “I’m only going for a week. I’ll be back soon.”

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“Xjyu, Pye okzz rknj usw wr obld usw nsxl cynj,” Swyd Tyk pyke.

Mbl qyvbla yde eywtbvla oyhle tssecul, yde Swyd Pybyk pyo bkp eywtbvla’p qktwal ekpyrrlya clbkde vbl oyzz, qszzsokdt vos pvlrp clbkde.

Swyd Tyk pktble pkzldvzu.

Swyd Yldtxldt bye dlhla zlqv bkp pkel pkdnl pbl oyp y nbkze, cwv obld pbl qkapv zlqv, pbl oyp ynaspp vbl snlyd. Tl eked’v jdso kq pbl nswze yeyrv vs zkql ycasye.

Gv Aydnswhla Rdvladyvksdyz Gkarsav, Ubld Nkdfky yde Twydt Nkzk olal pvydekdt swvpkel vbl rknj-wr zkdl, zssjkdt qsaoyae vs bla yaakhyz.

“Tyhl usw plld bla ulv?” Ubld Nkdfky ypjle. “Rv’p clld y ulya, R’x dlahswp.”

Qw Mkdtgbk, obs oyp pvydekdt clbkde vblx yp y vlzlpnsrl, ralpple bkp bydep ytykdpv Ubld Nkdfky, obs jlrv vkrvslkdt kd qasdv sq bkx.

“Psd’v xshl yaswde… R vbkdj R pyo bla. Rp vbyv Yldt Yldt kd vbl zktbv czwl vwavzldlnj fwxrla?”

Chen Linjia picked at Gu Tingzhi’s shoulders, and after seeing it, she exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, she lost so much weight?!”

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Huang Lili glanced at her stammering daughter and followed her line of sight to find the person in question.

“Aunt Lili, Jiajia!” Ruan Mengmeng bounced and waved, pushing her line of gifts over. “Brother Gu is here too.”

“Pfft, what the hell is Brother Gu? Is it like Google, oh?” Chen Linjia laughed and opened her arms to give Ruan Mengmeng a warm hug, “He’s not much older than us, call him Tingzhi.”

Chen Linjia turned her head sideways, playfully looking at Gu Tingzhi. Her bright eyes beamed with confidence..

Gu Tingzhi smiled, curled his fingers, and knocked Chen Linjia’s head, giving Ruan Mengmeng a light hug, “Welcome over.”

“Mengmeng ……” Huang Lili pressed the corners of her eyes and looked her goddaughter up and down. “You’re getting prettier and prettier.”

“Aunt Lili.” Ruan Mengmeng threw herself into Lily Huang’s arms and rubbed her shoulder with dependence, “Are you better?”

“Good girl. I am much better. Don’t worry. ” Huang Lili stroked her head.

Her hands were as warm as they had been at first, but Ruan Mengmeng’s heart sank for a moment, as Huang Lili did not look as good as before.

Last time, Chen Linjia mentioned on video that Huang Lili had only five more years to live. The recurrence of blood cancer had killed her chances of living to a ripe old age.

“Let’s go, let’s go and have a nice meal first.” Chen Linjia tugged Ruan Mengmeng forward.

“My luggage.” Ruan Mengmeng turned around and saw that Gu Tingzhi had already pushed on to follow behind.

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The four finished their meal at a Chinese restaurant, then drove to Huang Lili’s new house.

“Mengmeng, the second room on the third floor is reserved for you.” Lily Wong said gently, “Jiajia lives next to you.”

Chen Linjia suddenly argued with Gu Tingzhi outside the door over something. Ruan Mengmeng turned around to look over, and the two stopped at the same time.

“What are you guys doing? Come in.” Huang Lili beckoned.

“I’m coming, Mum.” Chen Linjia punched Gu Tingzhi in the chest, “Mengmeng, let me show you upstairs.”

The room was fresh and elegant. Ruan Mengmeng took one look at the lace on the curtains and smiled, “This is Aunt Lili’s warm masterpiece?”

“Yes, she made the fabric for the whole house, from the curtains down to the tissue boxes.” Chen Linjia said, “That’s all she likes to do, and it’s no use trying to persuade her.”

When she was younger, Huang Lili studied fashion design. However, she was too frail to take on design work, so she didn’t go out after graduation. Instead, she stayed at home to occasionally make custom-made items to hang on a certain treasure.

“I just heard you calling Aunt Lili “mother,” Ruan Mengmeng laughed. “You should have done that a long time ago. You’re so stubborn.”

Chen Linjia coughed uncomfortably, “She’s always been my mother.”

Ruan Mengmeng smiled, taking clothes out of her suitcase and hanging them in the wardrobe. “Brother will probably arrive the day after tomorrow. He’s staying for two nights. Is there still room?”

“There is the warehouse.” Chen Linjia pouted.

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“Seriously? If not, I’ll let him book a hotel.”

Chen Linjia teased with a smile, “Let him sleep with you!”

“What for!” Ruan Mengmeng blushed and smiled as she hit her, “Are you annoying? We’re all still young.”

“Hahahaha… Didn’t Grandpa He give you the heirloom jade bracelet?” Chen Linjia avoided her hand and continued to make a scene.

“Then you even got a couple tattoo with Gu Tingzhi! Isn’t that more intimate?” Undeterred, Ruan Mengmeng poked her in the waist, “Show it to me quickly.”

“Why should I show you? It’s not like it’s your name …… ouch hahaha. Don’t tickle my itchy flesh,” Chen Linjia laughed so hard her whole body was weak.

“Ruan Mengmeng, you scratch again. We don’t have to be sisters! Hahahahahaha ……”

“Oops, you counter attacked me! Don’t shoot! It’s itchy, hahahaha… me, I’m afraid of itching. Stop stop, no more games.”

The two of them laughed happily. The graceful girls’ laughter was like a silver bell in the wind, lively and pleasant.

When they had had enough, they lay down on the bed, and Ruan Mengmeng said with interest, “I thought you and Gu Tingzhi were strange before. He was particularly concerned about you, and not like step-brothers and sisters. Tell me, how did you two hook up?”

Chen Linjia pinched Ruan Mengmeng’s face, “Tsk, you’ve lost weight, and you’re not as fleshy as before.”

“Come on, tell me!”

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“When did you become nosy?”

“No, you’re my best friend. Of course I need to know,” Ruan Mengmeng shook her shoulder, “Come on, I’ll tell you about me and my brother.”

“Pfft hahaha, okay,” Chen Linjia laughed, “I and Gu Tingzhi have known each other for a long time. When my father died, I was a bit crazy. I didn’t go to any cram school at night. I met a group of people from senior high school. Every day we went to internet cafes and bars. It was a mess. Once, I drank too much in a bar and threw up on Gu Tingyi. That is how we knew each other.”

“Wow! You went behind my back with people?” Ruan Mengmeng slapped her arm, “Why didn’t you tell me if you had something on your mind?”

“We know each other too well!” Chen Linjia said.

Ruan Mengmeng sighed, “Okay, I know. Even if you’re close, you can’t talk about everything.”

“Look at you! This kind of nonsense is also jealous.” Chen Linjia pinched Ruan Mengmeng’s face, “You’re so well behaved. There are some negative emotions that I don’t want to infect you with.”

“I know,” Ruan Mengmeng guffawed, “so which one of you two confessed first?”

“Er ……” Chen Linjia paused suspiciously for a moment, then proudly puffed out her chest, “Of course it was this lady!”

“Hahahahahahaha, I guess so.”

“What do you mean, you!” Chen Linjia got annoyed, “Watch the move ……”

“Hahahaha ……”

The two of them made a scene again. After Ruan Mengmeng calmed her breathing, she asked, “You said you’d make the arrangements for these seven days off. Do you have an itinerary plan? Show it to me.”

Chen Linjia choked for a moment and reacted quickly, “Haha, you still don’t trust me to do things? Follow me and you play and eat great with handsome and beautiful people. It’s up to you.”

“Okay, you’ve been here for at least a year, so I’ll listen to your arrangements.” Ruan Mengmeng said.

Chen Linjia turned her head away and quietly let out a breath.

    * 

The weather was fine.

The weather was sunny. Chen Linjia and Ruan Mengmeng were sitting on a bench by the square, the sun shining on them, comfortable and lazy.

Gu Tingzhi walked over with two ice creams, “Here you are, ice creams with all kinds of hazelnuts in them.”

Ruan Mengmeng’s eyes moved away from the phone, “Thanks.”

“Isn’t Yiyang on the phone yet?” Gu Tingzhi asked.

Ruan Mengmeng shook her head. She had called He Yiyang last night on the phone, and the cold voice of customer service alerted her that no one was answering. Remembering that he had said he would come to Vancouver today, she checked the flight and waited outside.

However, everyone was out, and Ruan Mengmeng didn’t even see He Yiyang in sight.

Chen Linjia and Gu Tingzhi looked at each other, and they both sighed in frustration in unison. Chen Linjia was even more indignant. She had thought of leaving the task to He Yiyang, but this kid actually did not show up.

He was as cunning as ever.

“Mengmeng, leave him alone,” Chen Linjia pulled Ruan Mengmeng up, “I’ll take you to UBC and Victoria University.”

“Yiyang must have been delayed by something,” Gu Tingzhi followed suit. “Let’s play first. He’ll call you when he gets here.”

“Okay.” Ruan Mengmeng pursed her lips.

Vancouver had a pleasant climate and beautiful scenery, making it one of the most livable cities in the world. The atmosphere at both schools was great. It was relaxed and free, open and energetic. The people coming and going were all smiling broadly, giving the impression of warmth and knowing politeness.

“You’re back? Just in time to wash your hands and eat.”

Huang Lili brought out a large pot of tomato and beef brisket casserole from the kitchen, and the aroma was overwhelming.

There was also some fruit salad, bread, grilled lamb chops, black pepper potatoes, and a bowl of nori egg soup on the table.

“Didn’t Mengmeng bring minced garlic, chopped chillies, and spicy papaya strips?” Chen Linjia pouted at the sight of the black ash on the potato slices, “I’d rather eat potato slices boiled in plain water than this combination of East and West.”

Gu Tingzhi washed his hands and came out. “Tomorrow I’ll take you to Chinatown for Sichuan food, spicy fish and chips.”

“Add a little fried pork and shredded potatoes with vinegar,” Chen Linjia’s eyes lit up, “My requirements are so low; it’s easy to raise me.”

Gu Tingzhi laughed. “Okay.”

Ruan Mengmeng looked on enviously. Gu Tingzhi’s warm and tolerant eyes made her miss He Yiyang even more. She was a little worried if he wasn’t used to eating in Malaysia either.

“Hey, there are cucumbers in the kitchen!” Ruan Mengmeng said, “Jiajia, why don’t I make you a plate of chopped cucumbers?”

“Sure!” Chen Linjia said excitedly, “In the future, if you live here and study with me at university, I won’t have to worry about eating Chinese food. Do you need more vinegar? I’ll find it for you… “

Ruan Mengmeng took the washed cucumber and was confused, “Jiajia, you said I’ll go to university here with you?”

“Er..” said the bald-mouthed Chen Linjia, who leapt behind Gu Tingzhi with a swoosh. “Don’t ask me, I don’t know much. It’s all Uncle Gu and Uncle Hai’s doing. They’re the masterminds.”

Ruan Mengmeng frowned. Her cute and lovely little face was upright, and her clear eyes swept across several people’s faces.

“You all know that something is being kept from me? What exactly is it? Can someone tell me!”

Ruan Mengmeng suddenly shouted, her usual whispered voice trembling with vehemence.

She had always felt that something was wrong, but as the people around her were smiling and laughing, she didn’t want to press the issue. Otherwise, it would be uncomfortable and she didn’t want to be embarrassed.

But these friends and relatives took advantage of her good nature and made fun of her as if she were a fool!

“Meng Meng, don’t be angry ……”

Chen Linjia was flustered and at a loss for words. Ruan Mengmeng was so angry that her face was red and her eyes were clouded with moisture. Her shoulders were shaking.

Huang Lili said gently, “Mengmeng, this matter is the adults’ mistake. You can’t be deprived of your right to know under the banner of protecting you. Aunt Lili will tell you the truth, but Mengmeng, your father also had no choice. You can’t take the bull by the horns, okay?”

Ruan Mengmeng sniffed and blinked her eyes with deadly force to push down the astringency in her eyes.

“I just want to know exactly what’s going on.”

“Come on, let’s go talk in the study.” Huang Lili took Ruan Mengmeng’s hand and glared back at Chen Linjia. Look at that furry stink.

“What’s the point of glaring at me?” Chen Linjia pouted, spilling her anger at Gu Tingzhi, “It’s all the fault of you smug, smelly men!”

Gu Tingzhi, one of the stinky men who had innocently been shot: ……

Chen Linjia reached out, pinched a piece of beef and threw it into her mouth, but before she could taste the meat, it turned dark. Gu Tingzhi grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her.

“Uh, uh-uh!” Chen Linjia punched him and turned her face away, saying angrily, “My beef!”

Gu Tingzhi licked the corner of his lips, his warm eyes turning dark and heavy.

Chen Linjia’s heart jumped, and she whispered, “Be careful!” She quickly pinched a piece of meat and threw it into her mouth, snapping her fingers and running to the study to eavesdrop.

What was being talked about in the study? Chrn Linjia couldn’t hear as her upper body was pressed against the door like a plaster.

In Malaysia, the study at Wen Taihe’s home was noisy, and the shrill female voices were more tormenting to the ears than the others.

He Yiyang looked at his mobile phone, his face grim – the parts were smashed up.

Author’s note: I feel like it is a blessing to have a friend in life that you can talk to about everything.

It’s just that sometimes it’s more comfortable to be on your own.

If you have the chance to mention it afterwards, you will be much more objective and calm about people and things.

 Btw, Jiajia is a very lucky girl, though.

When you encounter troubles, little cuties, don’t mind; use the right way to relieve ha~