Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 202: New Years Eve

i Fang woke from a warm and vivid dream to find the sun already up. Hastily, he got up to look for Lin Youxi, only to realize she was no longer by his side. Instead, he heard her chatting and laughing with Xiang Xiaoxia in the kitchen.

When Xiang Xiaoxia ca out of the kitchen and saw i Fang’s groggy, just-woke-up expression, she imdiately scolded him: “Why are you still sleeping at this hour? Youxi has been up for a while helping with breakfast. Look at her.”

“Aunt Xiang, Ah Fang helped a lot yesterday. It’s okay if he sleeps a little longer…” Lin Youxi spoke up for i Fang, making it hard for Xiang Xiaoxia to continue reprimanding him in her presence.

“I don’t expect her to be as smart, but if our Xiaoya could grow up to be half as sensible and obedient as Youxi, I’d be more than satisfied as a mother.”

“Given Xiaoya’s behavior, you’d have better luck hoping she becos a taikonaut soon.”

“Why are you badmouthing first thing in the morning… I heard everything.” Rubbing her eyes, i Ya ca out of the bathroom. Seeing Lin Youxi, she suddenly got excited. “Sister Youxi, did you know? I had a dream last night where you suddenly disappeared.”

“Disappeared… what do you an?”

“Just vanished. Then I went to ask my brother. He told to pinch him, and he didn’t feel pain at all. That’s when I realized I was dreaming…”

Half-asleep i Ya wasn’t as sharp as usual. As Xiang Xiaoxia tidied up, she listened to i Ya’s rambling, her brow furrowing as she pressed for more details, “What happened next? Do you rember?”

Caught off guard by Xiang Xiaoxia’s questioning, both Lin Youxi and i Fang realized the potential severity of the situation. They had to act nonchalant, directing their attention to i Ya.

“After that… I went back to my room, and then I rember Earth exploded, and I got on a spaceship alone, drifting through the Milky Way…”

“Talking nonsense first thing in the morning. Wipe your mouth on the wall.”

“I’m not wiping my mouth on the wall! The wall’s dirty! Bleh!”

i Ya stuck out her tongue at her mother and ran back to her room, evading Xiang Xiaoxia’s chase.

After getting up, i Fang’s first task was to fold his blanket and place it on one side of the sofa. He then asked Xiang Xiaoxia, “Mom, where should I put the blanket?”

“Co have breakfast with Youxi first. I’ll handle the blanket.”

“Oh.”

i Fang joined them at the dining table as his mother instructed. Lin Youxi served him a bowl of mung bean porridge.

“Do you want fried noodles or fried dumplings?”

“Why are these all high-carb foods… I’m trying to stay fit.”

“Do you want it or not?”

Lin Youxi glanced at i Fang. “I also prepared boiled eggs.”

“Give the boiled eggs. Who made the fried noodles, you or my mom?”

“I made them.”

“Then I’ll have so of those too.”

Lin Youxi served i Fang a small bowl of fried noodles and then sat there watching him without picking up her own chopsticks.

“Uh… did you make the fried dumplings too?”

Lin Youxi nodded.

“Then I’ll try one of those too…”

Lin Youxi picked up a fried dumpling, intending to put it in i Fang’s bowl. When she saw Xiang Xiaoxia with her back turned, tidying up the sofa bed, she decided to feed i Fang directly. i Fang, worried his mother might catch them, quickly took a bite and ate it.

“Mmm… delicious.”

“Good, right?”

Lin Youxi smiled and said, “But these are dumplings your mom made, so they’re delicious because Aunt Xiang made them well.”

“Oh, I helped Mom make so too yesterday, so I deserve so credit too…”

While Lin Youxi and i Fang were chatting warmly, Xiang Xiaoxia took the blanket to the balcony to air it out. She first sniffed it, her expression unchanged, but then picked a hair off the blanket.

The length of this hair…

A complex expression flashed across Xiang Xiaoxia’s face. She brushed off the hair without saying anything and continued to air the blanket.

Lin Youxi took a bag of spring rolls, dumplings, atballs, radish balls, and so braised beef from Xiang Xiaoxia. i Fang, acting as both a bodyguard and laborer, accompanied Lin Youxi back ho.

After their first kiss, their interactions weren’t as subtle as with Xia Yuan. Lin Youxi didn’t ask if it was i Fang’s first kiss, and i Fang didn’t know if Lin Youxi had seen his chat with Xia Yuan, as it was clear from their conversation what the “secret training” entailed.

i Fang walked Lin Youxi ho. Lin Guochuan was outside putting up couplets, with Liang ijuan holding the bamboo ladder for him.

“Hello, Uncle Lin, Aunt Liang.”

“Dad, Mom, I’m back.”

“You’re back so early. Have you had breakfast?”

Liang ijuan seed even more affectionate towards Lin Youxi than before. “If you haven’t eaten, we can——”

“I ate at Ah Fang’s house. By the way… Aunt Xiang sent a lot of New Year’s food with …”

Lin Youxi had i Fang show her parents the things Xiang Xiaoxia had sent.

“Oh, Xiaoxia… she’s too generous. Bringing so many things over, it’s too much.”

“It’s just Aunt Xiang’s way of showing her appreciation, Mom. Please accept it?”

“You child…”

Liang ijuan had been elevated to the status of “Mom” in Lin Youxi’s heart, and her way of looking at i Fang was no longer just as one of Lin Youxi’s friends.

She held i Fang’s hand, her face full of joy.

“Ah Fang, we were so thankful that you and Yuan Yuan were here yesterday. We wouldn’t have known what to do without you.”

“You’re welco… It’s what Yuan Yuan and I should do.”

i Fang and Liang ijuan were chatting when Lin Youxi noticed her father, Lin Guochuan, taking a break on the ladder and rubbing his waist. She asked him, “Dad, is your back acting up again? Do you want to co down and rest?”

Lin Guochuan replied, “No need. I need to finish putting up the couplets.”

“You can let Ah Fang do it,” Lin Youxi suggested, glancing at i Fang, who eagerly raised his hand. “Uncle Lin, let help you.”

Lin Guochuan shook his head and politely declined i Fang’s offer. “No, couplets should be put up by the n of the family.”

Liang ijuan patted Lin Guochuan’s leg lightly. “What n of the family? It’s 2012. Why stick to those outdated traditions? Besides, Ah Fang isn’t an outsider. It’s fine if he helps.”

Convinced by Liang ijuan, Lin Guochuan ca down from the ladder and handed the couplets to i Fang. He wasn’t good at expressing himself, and although i Fang had helped their family significantly the previous day and allowed Lin Youxi to stay overnight at his place, Lin Guochuan seed to rember to thank him only now.

“By the way, Ah Fang, about yesterday… thank you so much.”

“Uncle Lin, we’ve known each other for years. No need to be so formal.”

“Yes, quite a few years.” Lin Guochuan smiled at i Fang. “I may not be the most capable father for Youxi, but I’m grateful you’ve always been there for her.”

No one expected Lin Guochuan to say sothing that sounded like entrusting his daughter to i Fang, making Lin Youxi embarrassed enough to give her father a light slap on his arm.

“Dad, what are you saying? I’ve never thought you were useless. You’ve worked hard to raise , and you’ve always been amazing in my eyes.”

“I think Uncle Lin is amazing too,” i Fang added with a smile.

After chatting warmly with the Lin family at the door, Lin Guochuan, supported by Liang ijuan, went back inside to rest. Following Lin Youxi’s instructions, i Fang put up all the couplets around the house. When he finished and was about to leave, Liang ijuan called him over again.

“Here are so cured fish and at from my hotown, and so sausages I got from the Dongn wet market. Take so ho with you.”

“That’s too much. We can’t finish all this.”

“You can finish it. There are many people in your family. Share it with your uncle and his family too. We don’t have many people here.”

Unable to refuse Liang ijuan’s hospitality, i Fang reluctantly took the New Year’s goods ho. After making two trips carrying the items, he returned ho to find Xia Yuan sitting on their couch, holding i Ya in her arms and chatting happily with i Lijun.

Seeing i Fang co in, Xia Yuan smiled and greeted him, “Ah Fang, you’re back?”

Xia Yuan was dressed in an embroidered red cloak and a long skirt with tassels, giving her an air of traditional Chinese beauty. There was a particular aura of elegance in her expression.

“You look great today! Is that your new outfit for the Lunar New Year?”

“Mhm… My mom said this outfit suits better… But when I wear it out, it feels like I’m in a movie. As soon as I step out of the neighborhood, I get a lot of stares. To be honest, it’s a bit embarrassing, haha.”

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s just because you’re so pretty, Yuan Yuan!” i Lijun slapped his thigh and exclaid happily. “When Yuan Yuan first ca to our house, she was just a tiny little kid. Now she’s grown into such a beautiful young woman, hahaha!”

“Uncle i, please stop teasing …” Xia Yuan said, blushing, as she hugged i Ya. “I actually ca to see Youxi… Since she’s already gone, I’ll head back now.”

Xia Yuan walked over to the busy Xiang Xiaoxia in the kitchen, “Goodbye, Aunt Xiang!”

“Alright… Goodbye, Yuan Yuan. Co over anyti.”

“Mhm! After lunch, I’ll co back. I’ve made plans with Ah Fang, Youxi, and Xiaoya to set off fireworks together.”

“Oh, I see…” Xiang Xiaoxia smiled at Xia Yuan but felt a bit uneasy inside.

“Ah Fang, walk Yuan Yuan ho.”

“Okay.”

“I want to go out for so fresh air too!”

Xia Yuan, i Fang, and i Ya went downstairs together.

i Lijun closed the door before slapping his forehead. “Yuan Yuan’s dad gave us such an expensive bottle of wine. How co we didn’t give them any return gift?”

“They don’t lack for anything; it’s hard to find sothing appropriate to bring.”

“What are you talking about? Even though Xia Xun’s family is wealthy, they aren’t the type to look down on others. Besides, I’m doing quite well as Deputy Director i, aren’t I?”

“What’s the point of arguing about this? You’re just trying to show off.”

Xiang Xiaoxia chopped so radishes and grew more troubled as she thought about what she had been thinking this morning. Finally, she put down her work and sat beside i Lijun, who was watching TV happily.

“Have you noticed?”

“Noticed what?” i Lijun asked, frowning, “Why so serious all of a sudden?”

“I’m talking about sothing important,” Xiang Xiaoxia said, hesitating for a while before continuing, “Our son is now… probably dating Youxi.”

Little i Ya held Xia Yuan’s left hand and i Fang’s right hand, hopping along the path in the neighborhood.

“Be careful, Xiaoya. Don’t fall.”

“With Sister Yuan Yuan and Big Bro holding , I’m not afraid of falling!”

“What do you an by ‘Big Bro’? Can you change how you call ?”

“Give 10 yuan, and I’ll call you ‘Dear Brother’ or ‘Little Brother.'”

“You little brat, always asking for money.”

“It’s New Year, and you’re still talking nonsense! Brother, you just love to pretend to be good in front of Mom. I should let Mom hear you talk and rub your face against the wall.”

“Hahaha! What does rubbing your face against the wall even an?”

“This is Mom’s special technique,” i Ya replied to Xia Yuan. “She’s very particular about it, especially during New Year. She always stops and my brother from saying anything inappropriate.”

“That’s how elders are, or rather, as moms, they just want their children to be safe and happy.”

“But if Sister Yuan Yuan becos a mom in the future, you definitely won’t be so annoying,” i Ya grumbled. “Sister Yuan Yuan will surely dress your daughter up beautifully, and your son handsoly. You’ll never make them return the New Year’s money to the family, unlike , who can only live a life of poverty every day.”

“Hahaha… Xiaoya, you’re so cute. Oh right, since it’s New Year’s Eve, I should give you sothing as your big sister.”

Xia Yuan took out five 100-yuan bills from her wallet. “Here, Xiaoya, this is your New Year’s money. I don’t have a red envelope, so just take this for now.”

“Yay! Thank you, Sister Yuan Yuan! You’re going to be the best mom ever! I wish you and Big Bro Ah Fang everlasting happiness and have many children soon!”

“What are you saying?!”

Before i Fang could knock i Ya on the head, she had already made a funny face and run off, leaving Xia Yuan blushing.

“Your sister is really sothing! Your family has such a happy ho.”

“You shouldn’t spoil her like that. Giving her 500 yuan just like that—she’ll probably spend it all on model aircraft or sothing.”

“It’s good for kids to have their own hobbies. I really envy her for being able to chase her dreams so early…”

“Speaking of which, how’s the album progress? I haven’t asked you and Liu Xiaoyu about it in a while.”

“We finished recording the vocals before New Year. It’s about 90% done. We’ll fine-tune the rest after the holidays…”

As Xia Yuan talked with i Fang, she kept glancing at his lips. When i Fang looked back at her, she shyly looked away.

“Do you want to walk a few more laps around the neighborhood before heading back?”

Xia Yuan nodded. “There are a lot of people at ho, and I can’t really help…”

“Then let’s walk a bit more.”

“Okay.”

What should I do?! What should I do?!

I’m such a fickle and bad woman who goes back on her word!

I promised to only do the secret training once, but now I can’t stop thinking about Ah Fang!

If this continues… one day, Youxi will catch us for sure!

How will I face her then?

So I can’t… I can’t… it’s only been a few days… I can’t want that thing again…

Seeing Xia Yuan’s troubled expression, i Fang gently asked, “Do you need to recharge——”

“No secret training! No secret training! We did that last night. No need to do it again!”

i Fang looked at Xia Yuan, shaking his head with a smile. “I was talking about the super energy, not the secret training.”

“Ugh…”

Xia Yuan’s intentions were exposed by i Fang, making her feel embarrassed. She pouted and gently bit i Fang’s hand. i Fang yelped in pain, and she then softly kissed his hand to make it better.

“It’s crowded during New Year. Let’s not do this here; let’s go to the pavilion.”

“Mhm…”

Xia Yuan held i Fang’s hand and confidently led him to the pavilion, then she sat on his lap.

It was the sa position as their secret training a few days ago.

“How can we recharge energy like this?”

i Fang spread his hands.

“We can… we can do it this way too.”

Xia Yuan took off her red cloak and draped it over i Fang, then the two embraced intimately on this winter New Year’s Eve.

As they hugged, Xia Yuan slowly lifted her head, gazing lovingly at her childhood sweetheart.

…

…

Sensing Xia Yuan’s longing look, i Fang smiled and shook his head. He gently lifted her chin and gave her a light kiss.

Once again, they naturally began another session of “Ah Fang’s secret training.” This ti, they were more affectionate for a longer duration.

anwhile, i Ya, who had bought the toy she wanted, was bouncing around looking for her sister Yuan Yuan, and her brother.

She searched the pavilion and then saw her sister Yuan Yuan and her brother under the red cloak.

“Oh my… This is not sothing for my age to see!” Mimicking her brother’s strange way of speaking, i Ya covered her eyes and ran off but…

How weird, let take another look.

i Ya sneaked another peek at her brother and Xia Yuan.

“No way! It’s too scary. Brother is going to eat Sister Yuan Yuan.”

i Ya ran away again but couldn’t resist taking one more look.

This should be the last look——

Before i Ya could sneak another peek, her sister Yue Yue suddenly appeared and picked her up—they were coming over for New Year’s dinner.

“What are you doing here, little girl?”

“I’m… I’m…”

With her hands behind her back, i Ya said seriously, “I’m learning about the future!”

“This is not a knowledge for your age.”

i Yue gently knocked so sense into i Ya. “Little kids should go play with firecrackers, don’t disturb the couple’s intimate mont here.”

“O-Okay…”

After sending i Ya away, i Yue stood far from the pavilion, watching the boy and girl from a distance.

Ah, youth is so beautiful!

But my youth is gone forever——

After her previous experience of being deceived, i Yue, under her parents’ urging, went on a few blind dates before the end of the year, but all ended without result.

Evidently, it’s quite difficult for i Yue to find a partner at this point…