Chapter 9

As soon as a few people sat around the table, they heard someone knocking at the door. Yuan Xi was also puzzled, wondering who would come visiting at this time. Xiao Moting was just about to stand up to open the door when he received a kick from Pi Huai under the table. He was taken aback by the kick and looked at Pi Huai in confusion. With half a warm dumpling in his mouth, Pi Huai mumbled indistinctly, "Yuan Xi, go open the door"

Zhang Heng shouted from behind: "I want to eat lamb with scallions!"

Yuan Xi stood watching as Bu Huaiyu's large hand reached into the plastic bag to grab a dumpling, then tossed it into the boiling water. The splashes of water hit his hand, causing him to instinctively pull back.

"Well, knowing that you can manage your life, are you satisfied with this gift?" Zhang Heng cheerfully stuffed the fruit basket into Yuan Xi's arms, casually walked past Yuan Xi into the room, and upon seeing Pi Hui and her boyfriend also present, he laughed and said: "Great, you all have something to eat! I wonder how long it will take!"

Yuan Xixiao, Bu Huaiyu glared at her in embarrassment: "Hey! Still watching the fun! Don't you know to come over and help!"

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Yuan Xi was awakened by the loud banging on the door. Dazed, he opened the door to find Pi Hui and Xiao Moting outside, both smiling radiantly.

Yuan Xi was also accustomed to being directed by Pi Hui, lacking any awareness of resistance. He set down his chopsticks and went to open the door. Upon opening it, he was taken aback, not expecting Bu Huaiyu to arrive at this moment, followed by Zhang Heng.

"Pihui, I now need an external force to push me over this pit I have dug for myself. Will you push me?" she pleaded. In this pit, she had buried too many things: two years of love, four years of reminiscence, and an overwhelming amount of memories and longing that had left her feeling submerged. She truly felt powerless to step out on her own.

Yuan Xi tidied up and went to wake her elder brother. Pi Hui had already started boiling dumplings in the kitchen. According to the customs of their hometown, it is essential to eat dumplings on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year

I want vegetarian!

Bu Huaiyu was still standing at the door, smiling at Yuan Xi and saying, "What’s the matter? Am I not welcome? Is it alright if I come over to share a meal of dumplings?"

Bu Huaiyu remained silent, leaning against the counter and quietly observing Yuan Xi. Yuan Xi felt that his gaze was very sharp, fearing that he might discern that she had been crying. She hurriedly turned her back to the stove and, feeling guilty, explained, "The steam is too intense; it has made it difficult for me to keep my eyes open."

Yuan Xi

She even contemplated hating her elder brother. If her elder brother were healthy, or if there were no elder brother, how could she possibly endure such pain? But if her elder brother were healthy, would there still be her, Yuan Xi, in this world? She truly could not make sense of it.

She wants to go! Studying in the United States, especially with the person she loves, who wouldn't want to go

I want to thank you, as well as Zhang Heng and Pi Hui, for coming to spend the New Year with me

Yuan Xi finally realized what was happening, smiled apologetically, and quickly moved aside to let Bu Huaiyu enter the room. Bu Huaiyu took the fruit basket from her arms and placed it in the kitchen, then removed his coat and sat down at the table with everyone. Yuan Xi hurried to the kitchen to get bowls and chopsticks for Bu Huaiyu and Zhang Heng.

She was afraid that she would cry at the dinner table, so she hurriedly stood up to cover it up, saying, "There are quite a few dumplings in the fridge, you all eat first, and I will go boil some more." Without waiting for anyone to respond, she quickly walked towards the kitchen

"I forgot, I can no longer sing," she said, a pang of bitterness rising in her heart, yet a faint smile formed at the corners of her mouth.

Pi Hui remained silent over there, the festive noise of New Year's Eve was connected through a thin telephone line, and by the time it reached Yuan Xi's hands, it was left with nothing but a lonely chill

She had cried and made a fuss, and when all explanations and persuasion proved futile, she thought of leaving without a word. Her mother, after all, was her own mother; how could a mother hold a grudge against her child? She thought that in a few years, when she returned, her mother's anger would have dissipated.

Yuan Xi turned around and winked at Pi Hui, then turned to the Brazilian turtle that was lying by the heater and said: "Little Hui, go and wish your sister a Happy New Year!"

Yuan Xi covered his elder brother with a quilt and asked, "What shall we sing?"

As soon as she hid in the kitchen, Yuan Xi's tears began to fall. While wiping her tears, she scolded herself, asking, "Why are you crying? What is there to cry about? With so many people comforting you, what is there left to cry for?" However, the more she scolded herself, the more fiercely the tears flowed, like a broken water pipe that could not be turned off no matter how hard she tried.

How many years has it been? She thought, since the year he left, since the day her mother threatened her with life and death, counting today, it should be four New Year's Eves now

The elder brother was quite pleased, crawling out from under the blanket, looking at her with a grin, "I can do it! I can whistle! I'll whistle for you to hear, and you can learn from me!"

His classmate also said, that woman bears some resemblance to you, perhaps He Shi cannot completely forget you either. Pi Hui still wanted to comfort her, but can this be considered comfort? After all, it is not oneself

Mother, after all, is still mother, and elder brother is one's own elder brother

Before the ceremony was even finished, her mother appeared before her holding a bottle of pesticide. Her mother said, "Yuan Xi, you cannot be too selfish. Just because you have grown wings, does that mean you will fly away? If you leave, what will happen to your elder brother in the future? Go and ask that man if he can take your elder brother with him. Can he? Does that American even want your elder brother?"

She called He Shi, said nothing, only told him that she could not go out with him, she could not

Thank you, "Yuan Xi said

Pi Hui sighed and suddenly asked, "Yuan Xi, how many years has it been since you last returned home for the New Year?" His tone was unusually serious

The elder brother clearly still resembles a child, unable to sit still. After a short while, he begins to fidget, saying, "Xiao Xi, sing a song for me! Is that alright? Sing a song for me!"

Yuan Xi, is it worth it to create such a rift with your family for a man?

Alright! Help!" Yuan Xixiao laughed even harder and shouted outside: "Brothers, come over with your bowls, it's time to serve the noodle soup!"

Qing Zhuo still has a child's temperament; upon seeing so many people all at once, he was overjoyed. Zhang Heng was also being playful, competing with Qing Zhuo to grab dumplings from the plate, his mouth full of vegetable filling. Everyone laughed heartily, and dumplings, which they usually seldom ate, suddenly seemed like the most exquisite delicacy. Yuan Xi watched this scene and felt a warmth in her eyes, suddenly realizing that the lively atmosphere of the New Year had become quite distant from her, so distant that she had almost forgotten the essence of the festival. Now, seeing it before her eyes, she felt a surge of emotion that made her want to cry.

Qing Zhuo joined in the excitement and shouted: "I want to join too!"

She mustered all her strength to say: "I am not tired, brother, you go to sleep, and tomorrow I will take you out to play."

Hmm? Bu Huaiyu turned his head to glance at her, then tossed the dumplings into the pot

Yuan Xichong nodded at Xiao Moting, pulled the red envelope from Pi Hui's hand, casually stuffed it into the pocket of his pajamas, and turned to go to the bathroom to wash up. Pi Hui stared wide-eyed: "Hey? You haven't paid your New Year's greetings yet!"

Bu Huaiyu was momentarily taken aback, then turned to Yuan Xi and smiled, "What is there to thank? I am just one person, it makes no difference where I am. That kid Zhang Heng usually attracts too many romantic entanglements; he is also out here to escape the year-end!" He tossed another handful of dumplings into the pot, this time with a bit more force, causing the water to splash even more, making him wince.

Xiao Moting smiled shyly, "Happy New Year, Yuan Xi"

That year, he graduated and said: "Yuan Xi, come out with me, I can take you away! Once we get there, you can continue your university studies, I can support you!"

But her mother's words were like cold water, extinguishing all her enthusiasm and hope. She said: "Yuan Xi, if you choose to leave, then you will no longer have me as your mother, nor this home!"

Pi Hui also seemed to be making a decision, "Alright, let me tell you, Yuan Xi, a classmate from Mo Ting saw He Shi in the United States a few days ago. He already has someone by his side, and they look quite compatible together."

The mother's voice was sharp, slicing through the air around her like a knife, as if it were suffocating her, leaving her breathless. The elder brother was terrified, tears welling in his eyes, timidly reaching out to tug at the corner of her clothing, "Xiaoxi, Xiaoxi, do you not want me anymore?"

Tell me, is that okay? Right now, you know my temperament. Besides, she said with a bitter smile, what else is there that I cannot endure? You have known me for so many years, do you still doubt my resilience?

Yuan Xi, let's talk about it tomorrow, shall we? I will come to pick you up so that we can celebrate the New Year together; the more, the merrier. Pi Hui said, then laughed and added: "Come over for dumplings; my mother made too many!"

She wiped her face, smiled, "It's nothing, I just squinted, brother, I'm tired, let's sleep, shall we? No more talking."

The elder brother shook his head and climbed onto Yuan Xi's bed, "I will keep you company; I am not sleepy either."

"Xiao Xi, what is wrong? Why are you crying?" The elder brother stopped, looked at her anxiously, and hurriedly reached out to wipe the tears from her face.

Is it worth it? After all, it amounts to just two years of love, broken apart and crushed, merely around seven hundred days and nights. Is it worth it? Can she still be certain now?

Aren't you willing to tell me the truth either

Someone also entered the kitchen, and Yuan Xi quickly turned around to drop dumplings into the steaming pot, secretly wiping away the tears on her face, smiling as she turned back, "What do you want? Shall I help you take it out?"

I am fine," she said, her voice as flat as a still surface of water

The one you like to sing when you go home, the one about the cicadas sleeping! The one you like the most!

Pi Hui was worried over there, even his speech was somewhat flustered, repeatedly asking: "Yuan Xi, are you alright? Are you alright?"

Father, aside from sighing, he could only sigh. He felt sorry for Yuan Xi, but all he could do was sigh

"Xi, you lazybones, are you still not awake? Get up, get up, and come wish me a Happy New Year!" Pi Hui laughed heartily, pulling out a red envelope that he had somehow managed to get from his pocket, waving it in front of Yuan Xi, "Hurry up, wish me a Happy New Year and you'll get a red envelope!"

On that day, she could do nothing but cry, as if she had released all the tears she had accumulated over twenty years, and everyone became blurred, turning into swaying shadows.

The little creature seemed to understand Yuan Xi's words, truly leaving its warm nest and slowly crawling towards the doorway. Xiao Moting watched and chuckled, but was quickly shot a blank stare by Pi Hui, prompting him to stifle his laughter and follow behind Pi Hui, carrying a large and small bundle as they entered.

This Brazilian turtle was bought by Pi Hui at the beginning of the year. She said that when she is not out running errands, she is with her boyfriend, and worried that Yuan Xi would be lonely by herself, so she brought back a little turtle to keep her company. Yuan Xi named it Xiao Xiao Hui. It is said that Xiao Xiao Hui and Pi Hui have quite similar temperaments; both are restless. Pi Hui enjoys shopping and having fun, while Xiao Xiao Hui likes to wander around the house. It does not exhibit any typical turtle behavior; although it crawls slowly, it keeps moving, making it difficult for Yuan Xi to find it when she wants to feed it. She has to search the entire house, catch it, and then place it in a small basin.

"You have news about him, don't you?" She is not foolish; she can see that Pi Hui has hesitated to speak several times. If there were no information that needed to be concealed from her, he would not behave this way

Yuan Xixiao said, "Good"

As the heating subsided in the late night, it became less warm, and the clear sound of whistling echoed in the somewhat cool room, ravaging Yuan Xi's heart like a tear gas shell.

Qing Zhuo woke up thirsty in the middle of the night and got up to ask Yuan Xi for some water, only to see Yuan Xi sitting on the bed. "Xiao Xi, why are you still not asleep?" he asked

That is Liang Jingru's "Ningxia," a song she used to hum often. The elder brother remembers it so clearly, yet he does not know that she liked it simply because He Shi enjoyed listening to her sing that song. But now, where is the courage to sing it again

The heart was suddenly shattered. Is this not the answer one desires? Yet why does it still ache? It turns out that someone pushed, and one still fell in a disheveled manner.

Bu Huaiyu took the bag from Yuan Xi's hand, pushed her aside, and said: "Let me do it, I can make dumplings!"