Chapter 13 - substitute romance 13
General Qin had never expected a holiday to become an insurmountable obstacle.
Until the young girl nipped each of his proposed dates in the bud.
You can’t just call or video call me, send me a message first, I’ll make sure it’s safe and then we can talk, okay?
The young girl sat across from him on the sofa, her forehead slightly furrowed, looking very serious.
Qin Yunye’s identity was always popular wherever he went. For a moment, he was dazed, feeling a sense of absurdity that he could not bear.
Huanhuan, the freedom to fall in love is your right… President Qin had some objections and was about to voice them.
Before he could finish, Yu Huan, like a bird in the treetops, flew over and kissed him tenderly.
Her long eyelashes swept across his nose, causing a fine, dense tickling sensation.
Qin Yunye’s breathing stopped for a moment, and he controlled himself as he slowly grasped the little girl’s wrist, repeating his point: “I mean, we shouldn’t…
The warmth returned, and the little girl squeezed in recklessly, confusing his mind.
His Adam’s apple rolled and he could do nothing but hold the little girl’s face in his hands and deepen the kiss.
The heat rose in the intertwined breaths, and the words that Qin Yunye had not said were lost in the increasingly rapid and hot breathing.
He closed his eyes and decided to compromise.
–
Compared to the glamorous backgrounds of the male and female leads, the family of the female lead ‘Song Yuhuan’ seems much more ordinary. Both parents are teachers, they have a modest apartment and a car that has been in their family for several years.
Song’s mother is strict and capable, while Song’s father is tolerant and easy-going. They have opposite temperaments, but together they lead a good life.
When Yu Huan returns home, they both take the time to greet her.
They pass the braised pork shop she loved as a child, and Song’s father happily goes in and comes out with a bag of braised pork buns.
Around the corner, they see the clothes shop again, and the clothes on the mannequins catch Song’s mother’s eye. She drags Yu Huan to try them on and buys them.
Yu Huan returned home and ate the pork bun, chatting and joking with her parents all the way.
Life at home was relaxed and carefree.
In the morning, her parents would urge her to get up and eat a nutritious breakfast, say hello to the neighbours, go to her grandparents’ house to play with the kitten, and after dinner, Song’s parents would drag her out for a walk.
Occasionally they would set off on temporary chores, such as going to the flower and bird market to help Song’s father buy a pot of green plants, or going to the bookshop to help Song’s mother find a book.
Most of the time, Song’s parents did this to keep her from getting bored.
That day, Song’s grandfather was celebrating his 80th birthday, and a few tables were set up at the Huixian Restaurant for family and friends to gather.
The dim sum at the restaurant was very good, but Song’s father and the others at his table drank a lot and hardly touched their dim sum plates. Seeing that Yu Huan liked it, Song’s father quickly wrapped it up after everyone had put down their chopsticks.
Relatives who hadn’t seen each other for a long time still chatted, the children helped the elderly to walk and the younger generation walked happily in front, the family was in a happy and harmonious mood.
When they met Yan Yi outside, Yu Huan was hugging the take-away box and signalling to Song’s father with her eyes.
Then she heard someone say, ‘Yu Huan’.
Yu Huan looked up and her eyes lit up. She said in surprise, ‘Yan Yi!
‘Why are you here?
‘I’m here to celebrate Grandpa’s birthday. Is your family nearby?
“No, my elderly parents like the dim sum here, so I came to pick up a few boxes.
Seeing his daughter meet a friend, Song’s father said hello happily.
Yu Huan and Yan Yi hadn’t seen each other for a few days and inevitably had a lot to talk about, so they took a few steps to the side to chat.
‘…My dad’s dry pot roast is much tastier than the ones at school, I really want you to try it. Yu Huan’s mouth fell open, ‘Or when school starts, I’ll bring you a portion.
‘Okay, don’t forget. Yan Yi didn’t mince words, and with her fingers in her pockets, she took out a string of green sandalwood beads and gave it to Yu Huan.
I saw them when I went to the temple the other day and bought two. This one is for you.
Hey, hey, my hands are dirty. Yu Huan held the snack sideways and let Yan Yi stuff it into the pocket of her shorts.
After a few words, they suddenly heard a soft voice calling Yan Yi’s name, as if to hurry her along.
Song’s parents, who were waiting by the car with smiles on their faces, looked over and saw a stern looking couple with stern expressions on their faces. Their hair was perfectly coiffed, they were impeccably dressed, and they gave the impression of being under scrutiny just by standing there.
Even more obvious was the car behind them, with its iconic air intake grille and sleek, graceful lines, all showing off its incredibly expensive price tag.
It made the family’s old car look even shabbier.
Song’s father gradually stopped smiling as he felt the gap between their families. He knew that the gap was not just in the different values of the two cars.
It would definitely be found in various details, the amount of living expenses, the amount spent on daily expenses, the ability to accept prices…
He felt sad and guilty that he was unable to give his daughter a better quality of life, so that she always felt the gap between their family situations.
Yu Huan and Yan Yi waved, hugged the snacks and returned to their car. They wiped their hands and put the green sandalwood bracelets on their wrists.
The sandalwood beads have a beautiful pattern and a pleasant aroma, and the green nephrite bead in the centre is delicate and beautiful.
My precious roommate gave it to me,’ she said happily, and then she asked Song, who was driving, ‘Dear Dad, can you make a dish of dry-fried spare ribs when I start school?
You don’t know how bad the dried spareribs are at our school. Hehe, I want you to make an authentic one and bring it to my roommate to try.”
She was not affected in any way, and her mood remained sunny, humming a happy little tune to herself.
Song’s father’s eyes were slightly red, and he let out a breath and said in a loud voice, “Do it! Make a big pot, let all your roommates try it, and your parents will send you there on the first day of school.”
–
Halfway through the holidays, Yu Huan left with her good friends. Of course, Song’s parents, who thought she would be bored if she stayed at home all the time, were very supportive and provided financial support.
It was at this point that Qin Yunye was finally able to have relatively complete video chats with her at night, without being interrupted by Song’s mother suddenly knocking on the door or Song’s father coming in to deliver milk.
Not being able to see the little girl, having no work to look forward to, no socialising, wandering among calculating colleagues, signing documents and invoices… these things are actually so boring.
Qin Yunye is about to lose the ability to feel happy, and yet the little girl is still smiling at him excitedly.
“Why aren’t you home so late? You’re not still working, are you? Why aren’t you in a comfortable bed like me?
Have you eaten yet? Another work dinner? But I had some really delicious spicy squid today.
The warm light seemed to particularly favour the young girl’s face, making her quirky expression exceptionally touching.
For a moment, Qin Yunye clearly heard the sound of his own heart that could not wait another moment.
This is great,”
he sighed softly.