You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 74 Side Story 7 Part 1

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 74 Side Story 7 Part 1

Ten seconds before time was up, Liu Mao, who had never lifted up a girl’s skirt in his life, braced himself as he went forward and got down in front of the bridesmaid. He lifted up a portion of the hem of the skirt and untied the shoe from her calf.

Liu Mao looked up, the bridesmaid remained quite calm but Liu Mao’s face had turned dark red.

Everyone burst into laughter and said “it’s done, it’s done.” It wasn’t clear whether they were talking about completing their task to fetch the bride or that matching a new couple together had occurred.

Xu Huaisong and Ruan Yu chose to have a traditional wedding. They took wedding photos outdoors in the afternoon and held a banquet inside at night. By the time the banquet was over and all the guests had left, it was well past seven o’clock at night.

They went back to their new house and Ruan Yu, who had changed into seven sets of wedding gowns in one day, collapsed on the couch: “It’s too exhausting getting married. Fortunately it’s only once in a lifetime……”

Xu Huaisong brought their luggages into their bedroom and came out to sit on the couch. He let Ruan Yu rest her head on his lap and massaged her shoulder as he said: “We have to go out again after a short rest. There’s only one premiere also.”

Ruan Yu immediately opened her half closed eyes and said “ah” in a low voice.

Indeed.

When the two families decided early this year to set the wedding day on the National Day holiday, they didn’t expect that Ruan Yu’s movie would decide shortly after to set the premiere on the same night of their wedding at 8:30 pm.

They only had about an hour left to get to the premiere.

“I remembered it this morning, but almost forgot about it after being busy for the whole day.” Ruan Yu turned to make herself more comfortable and looked up at Xu Huaisong to say: “This time around, you haven’t colluded with the film crew to pull some tricks on me?”

Xu Huaisong laughed: “You think I wasn’t busy with the wedding? How would I have time to collude with anyone?”

Besides, last time the movie production crew wasn’t helping him propose on the movie set for free. The film company wasn’t a philanthropic business, they wouldn’t just do whatever he asked. The reason why they went along with it was out of commercial interest in them. The production company planned to shoot the proposal into a short clip to put into the movie as the post-credits scene and used the behind-the scenes story as one of the promotional highlights.

If the movie was a box office hit, it would be a win-win situation for both Global Filming and Ruan Yu. Therefore, Cen Rongshen agreed to work with Xu Huaisong on the proposal.

Ruan Yu also thought about it and asked: “Should we wear face masks when we go? Otherwise, we might get recognized by the audience once the clip is shown.”

Xu Huaisong lightly tapped on her forehead to indicate that she was worrying too much: “The clip was shot by drones. They can only see the top of your head. Besides, won’t wearing face masks make us even more conspicuous?”

Ruan Yu: “Oh.” She checked the time and struggled to get up from his lap and said: “I smell of alcohol, I have to take a shower.”

Xu Huaisong also got up after her: “I’ll take one too.”

During the banquet tonight, Xu Huaisong drank half of her share of alcohol for her. Though he didn’t flush after drinking, he was actually up to his alcohol intake limit..

Ruan Yu heard him say that he was going to shower too and turned, pointing her index finger at him, and warned: “Don’t follow me in or we’ll be late for the premiere.”

Xu Huaisong looked quite puzzled: “Geeze, Mrs. Xu, if I remember correctly, our home has two bathrooms. Why do I have to squeeze in the same one with you?”

Ruan Yu was speechless.

She thought: see, this was what happened when they got the marriage certificate early and started living together before the wedding– –On the first day of their marriage, her husband had already lost interest in her body.

Ruan Yu humphed and walked towards the bathroom without looking back at Xu Huaisong.

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 73 Side Story 6 Part 3

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 73 Side Story 6 Part 3

They finally reached the bride’s room on the third floor. Xu Huaishi blurted out the moment she saw Ruan Yu, who was sitting on the bed wearing a red wedding gown: “Wow. Sister-in-law, how can my brother marry such a fairy like you!” 

Ruan Yu looked at Xu Huaishong who was carrying a bouquet in his hand and stood straight up, then laughed to say: “He hasn’t married me yet, has he?”

Shen Mingying got busy again: “That’s right. If you want to fetch the bride, find the bride’s shoes first!” She took out her cell phone to start counting while she was talking: “Both shoes are inside this room. You have five minutes.”

All the groomsmen dispersed to search different corners of the room.

Only Xu Huaisong stood right in front of Ruan Yu’s bed without moving a bit.

Shen Mingying gave him a look: “You’re so indifferent, don’t you want to marry Yuyu?”

Xu Huaisong gave her a faint smile: “They’re searching with their hands, I’ll use my eyes.”

Ruan Yu was annoyed by the sureness he displayed: “Then, I dare you to try to find them in two minutes?”

Xu Huaisong: “Hum.” He decided to not do anything within those two minutes and started chatting with her: “For the questions earlier, was number 7 the easiest one?”

“How would you know?”

“Because last year when you made me do those practice tests, I chose the seventh set. By common sense, I would think that you might have set up some sort of trap for number 7 and therefore avoided choosing to answer that one.”

“And what did you do this time?”

“I still chose number 7.”

So sneaky.

Ruan Yu shot him a harsh look. She turned to see Zhao Yi ask while pointing at the bag sitting on the nightstand: “Xuejie, can I search in there?”

Ruan Yu paused and blinked.

Zhao Yi understood: “I found it! There’s one in that bag.”

Xu Huaisong took a look at his wristwatch and found that only one minute and a half had passed: “Not my fault.”

Ruan Yu humphed lightly: “Isn’t there another one?”

They couldn’t find the other shoe anywhere.

They had rummaged through all the drawers and closets, even checked under the bed. But the other shoe was nowhere to be found.

Xu Huaisong looked at his watch until only 30 seconds were left and told his groomsmen: “You can all stop.”

Ruan Yu took a look at the confident look on his face and knew that she was going to lose this round again. Just as she had expected, Xu Huaisong pointed at one of the bridesmaids, who was sitting next to Shen Mingying and wearing a long bridesmaid gown, and said: “The other shoe is tied to that lady’s leg. One of your guys can go fetch it.”

Said bridesmaid wasn’t bashful after being found out and picked up the hem of the gown with a smile: “The one who fetches it will have to take responsibility.”

Zhao Yi immediately moved closer to Xu Huaishi: “Song Ge, I’m taken. It’s not convenient for me!”

Chen Hui blushed: “This, this, isn’t proper……”

Zhou Jun scratched his head: “Then, perhaps Lawyer Liu should go.”

Liu Mao was alarmed after taking a look at the face of the bridesmaid which was showing the expression saying “come get it if you dare.”

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 73 Side Story 6 Part 2

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 73 Side Story 6 Part 2

Xu Huaisong and his entourage were finally able to go up the stairs. But on the second floor landing, there was a board with questions on it blocking their way. Shen Mingying appeared wearing the bridesmaid’s gown and said: “Answer the questions first, then see the bride! Answering correctly will get you to the third floor, incorrect answers will cost you 30 push-ups.”

Zhao Yi waved it off: “You guys answer the questions. I’ll take care of all the push-ups!”

Chen Hui glanced at him: “Little brother, don’t you know how to talk? Is there any possibility that our Song Ge will give a wrong answer?”

Xu Huaisong didn’t say anything, it seemed that he wasn’t so certain about it.

Liu Mao noticed his uncertain expression and quietly tugged his sleeve: “What questions? Did she give you some hints?”

Xu Huaisong had thought about discovering what the questions were. A few days ago, while Ruan Yu was taking a shower, he was preparing to take a sneak peak of the questions in her laptop. He tried various ways before finally succeeding in opening an encrypted file on her computer. But what he saw first was a line of large bold SimSun characters: Whoever sees this line is shameful.

Xu Huaisong, being the shameful one, was condemned by his own conscience and too embarrassed to ask her for any hints.

The bridesmaids behind Shen Mingying started to urge the groom to choose a question, from number one to ten.

Xu Huaisong answered: “Seven.”

Shen Mingying turned to question seven on the board: “Groom, please tell us how many floor tiles there are from the back door of senior class room 9 of Su City First High to the front door of senior class room 10?”

Dumbfounded, Zhao Yi got on the floor in preparation for doing the push-ups.

Xu Huaisong blinked and looked over at Xu Huaishi.

“Ge, don’t look at me. Zhao Yi and I are in room 7. Besides, who would have nothing better to do than to count the floor tiles?”

Xu Huaisong blinked again and looked over at Zhou Jun.

“Oh, no, Huaisong…… even though I was in room 9, I didn’t have anyone in room 10 that I had a crush on.” 

The bridesmaids had begun counting down.

Xu Huaisong thought about it and when the bridesmaids counted down to “three”, he said: “23.”

It was Shen Mingying’s turn to be dumbfounded. She took a look at the answer and said: “How did you guess this one right?”

Xu Huaisong smiled: “It wasn’t a guess. I had nothing better to do at the time.”

Zhao Yi got up from the floor: “Then, Song Ge, why did you leave us in suspense just now?”

“If I answered too quickly, she wouldn’t have felt enough sense of accomplishment.”

“......”

Everyone present touched their arms to smooth out the goosebumps on them.

Xu Huaishi sighed and turned to Zhao Yi: “Better learn from that.”

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 73 Side Story 6 Part 1

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 73 Side Story 6 Part 1

In October, two of the “accomplished and single” young men in Zhikun Law Firm received a tough assignment: accompanying their boss to fetch the bride from her family home.

In the beginning, Chen Hui wasn’t too keen about the fact that he had to work overtime during National Day to be a groomsman. On the day of the wedding, he arrived with Liu Mao at the new place Xu Huaisong had purchased in Hang City and discovered that the red envelope Xu Huaisong had given him contained five times his normal pay. He then happily announced that he would welcome more of this kind of job in the future.

Xu Huaisong gave him a sharp look: “In the future? How about we do it again at our fiftieth anniversary; if you’re still single by then, I’ll invite you to be the best man.”

Chen Hui bitterly closed his eyes.

Another groomsman next to him, Zhou Jun, laughed.

Liu Mao elbowed Chen Hui: “You have to live up to Lawyer Xu’s expectation of you. I probably won’t be able to keep you company then.”

“Mao Ge.” On a day like this, Chen Hui disregarded the superior-subordinate relationship in the office and teased Liu Mao: “Among all the groomsmen here, you’re the oldest. You should be the one who’s most anxious to stop being single?”

Liu Mao grudgingly tsked.

The fourth groomsman sitting on the other end of the couch couldn’t stand their conversation anymore and gave a deep sigh.

The others turned to look at Zhao Yi and heard him give a rather mature comment: “You’re the pot calling the kettle black. They say that one who doesn't work hard in their youth will have regrets in old age. When you were in school, didn’t you know to prepare for a rainy day?”

The other two were taken aback. Xu Huaishi who was sitting next to Zhao Yi lifted her hand and flicked Zhao Yi’s head: “Is it the correct way to use the idiom: prepare for a rainy day? You think everyone’s like you who only flirts with girls in school?”

Zhao Yi couldn’t say anything.

Liu Mao sighed and fought back: “It looks like Xiao Zhao would also be a henpecked husband in the future.”

Xu Huaisong, sitting in the middle, suddenly joined in: “What do you mean by ‘also’?”

“If someone takes it personally, then it is what he thinks it means.”

Xu Hauishi giggled: “Ge, stop fighting against it. Otherwise, I’ll call my sister-in-law and you can say to the cell phone that you aren't a henpecked husband. Can you say that and still be able to be married today?”

Xu Huaisong looked at her without any expression on his face: “Don’t come with me to pick up your sister-in-law later then.”

“Why not, mom gave me the task of carrying the copper fire pot!”

Zhao Yi said to Xu Huaisong: “Look at you, you’re turning against the wrong side. If you don’t side with us, won’t we be trounced miserably by the bridesmaids later on?”

Xu Huaishi gave him a stare: “You’ll be the one they trounce. Make sure you block them for my brother later, you hear that?”

Zhao Yi lowered his head and said in a small voice: “Oh. I’ll block them for your brother today, who knows who’ll block for me in the future……”

When it was the propitious moment, the whole group got in the cars and drove to Ruan’s home in the suburb. After arriving, it took half an hour for them to get into the door.[1]

There was a large group of Ruan’s family relatives at the door. A host of children blocked the door and asked for wedding candies and Xu Huaisong passed out red envelopes like he was giving out flyers. Zhao Yi yelled at his side: “No rush, no rush. Everyone will get one. Any problem that can be solved by money isn't a problem at all!”

Xu Huaishi palmed her forehead.

[1]: A traditional Chinese wedding makes the groom go through a bunch of tasks to see the bride. For more details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_marriage

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 72 Side Story 5 Part 2

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 72 Side Story 5 Part 2

“You don’t know?”

Xu Huaishi played dumb and spoke with feigned earnestness: “I don’t know. Tell me!”

Zhao Yi put his hands into his pockets, then took them out, but then put them back in the pockets again. After repeating for several rounds, he said: “I’ve done some calculations. I should be able to get into a college. Even if I can’t get into a second tier college, I shouldn’t have a problem getting into a third tier one.”

Xu Huaishi deliberately pretended to be indifferent: “But most of the majors in Hang University are first tier ones.”

“I’ve already checked, there are some second tier ones there and they share the same campus with the first tier ones. Even if I can’t get into a second tier college, there are two third tier ones, one is one km to the north of Hang U and the other is three km to the east.”

Xu Huaishi looked up to the sky and said in a small voice: “You missed one. There’s one to the west, five km away.”

Zhao Yi was silent for a moment, then chuckled: “Well someone’s done their research, huh?”

Xu Huaishi gave him a glance: “I intend to get into Hang U and I certainly have to check in detail about the surroundings.”

“Hrm.” Zhao Yi stopped laughing: “We’re off topic.”

Seeing him get more serious, Xu Huaishi suddenly felt a little uneasy. Her hands that were hanging by her sides pinched her skirt: “Oh.” Then she looked down at the tips of her canvas shoes.

Zhao Yi cleared his throat and looked at the cowlick on top of her head as he spoke: “So you see, they’re just a few km away and I have long legs. As long as you’re willing, I can still accompany you down stairs when you can’t see clearly after getting out of the study hall at night. I can……accompany you down the stairs as your boyfriend.”

Xu Huaishi could almost feel the heat from his stare and it felt like her scalp was burning. She touched her hair and kicked the dust with the tips of her shoes and said oh again.

Zhao Yi was annoyed: “I’ve done my confession. Aren’t you supposed to say something?”

Xu Huaishi looked up, just as annoyed: “Are you trying to do a hard sell? You didn’t ask, why should I answer?”

Zhao Yi was speechless and his stance instantly softened. He touched his nose and said: “Then, you……do you want to be my girlfriend……”

Xu Huaishi humphed lightly and said with a giggle: “I don’t!” Then she turned to run away.

Zhao Yi grabbed her to pull her into his arms: “You’re forcing me to do a hard sell!”

Suddenly a rippling sound of “awww– –!” came from upstairs of the classroom building.

They looked up and discovered that there were a group of people leaning against the railing upstairs looking down at them.

Xu Huaishi blushed and forcefully pushed Zhao Yi away. She mercilessly stepped on his sneakers: “Can’t you understand a girl playing hard to get!”

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 72 Side Story 5 Part 1

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 72 Side Story 5 Part 1

Xu Huaishi didn’t speak to Zhao Yi during the three-day college entrance exam. She was afraid that once she started talking to him, she would create more pressure for him.

Zhao Yi, on the other hand, immersed himself in trying to cram in as much information as possible. After each test, when other classmates asked him how the test went, he only had one answer: “I have to delay inheriting the family business for four years, it’s such a pity.”

Others thought that he was just bluffing. Only Xu Huaishi knew how much of a pity it truly would be.

The last day of the exam was sunny. Students piled out of the test center after finishing the very last test, cheering along the way. Xu Huaishi was also completely relaxed. On the way back to her classroom, she thought about Zhao Yi and stopped alongside the road to look into the crowd to see whether Zhao Yi had left the building.

She stood on her tippy toes and stretched her neck trying to get a better look. She didn’t notice that someone had come behind her and lightly tapped her shoulder with their big hand.

Xu Huaishi was startled. She turned to see Zhao Yi smiling wide at her: “Who are you looking for, your lover?”

“......”

She was caught by surprise but soon regained her posture: “That’s right, I had a lovely encounter in the exam room. The guy sitting in front of me looks exactly like my Shican Gege. I’m planning to chase after him.”

Zhao Yi knew she was making the story up and was going to say “come on.” But before he  could say it, a good looking guy suddenly stopped in front of Xu Huaishi with a blushing red face.

The guy and Xu Huaishi looked at each other, then the guy looked straight into Xu Huaishi’s eyes and said: “Hi, you…… you just said that you wanted to chase after me?”

Xu Huaishi was dumbfounded, is it possible for such a coincidence?

Xu Huaishi looked at him confusedly and blinked while asking: “You’re the one who sat in front of me?”

The guy’s ears turned red and he nodded at her.

What a big misunderstanding.

Xu Huaishi waved her hands and was about to explain. Zhao Yi, who was next to her, grabbed her wrist and began dragging her away.

The guy paused a little then went after them: “Um, hi, you don’t have to chase me, actually I also……”

Zhao Yi strode away while dragging Xu Huaishi with him. He turned to yell at the guy: “Actually you look like the karst landform! Are you stupid? Can’t you tell that she’s taken?”

“......”

All the while, Xu Huaishi was staggering along. She stammered: “Who are you talking about? Who’s taken!”

Zhao Yi dragged her all the way back to their classroom building before stopping. He waited till the crowd passed by them, then pulled her to the roadside: “Who do you think?”

“If I knew, would I have to ask you?”

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 71 Side Story 4 Part 4

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 71 Side Story 4 Part 4

Xu Huaishi walked in the front. She looked up at the stars in the sky and said: “I used to think that once we suffered through senior year, then we’ll be free. Now it’s close to graduation and I’m beginning to feel that senior year is actually quite nice.”

Zhao Yi walked right beside her, shoulder by shoulder: “No matter how nice it is, it’s going to end soon. What will come will come.”

“When that day comes, what do you want to do afterwards?”

“After the entrance exam, I’ll go to a spa.”

“......”

Zhao Yi laughed out: “I’m joking.”

“Be more serious.” She glanced at him. They returned to silence. When they had walked a full circle around the field, they walked to the side gate and Xu Huaishi said: “Let’s walk back from here.”

“Why do we have to go the long way?”

Xu Huaishi kicked the pebbles on the ground while chuckling: “We’ll pass the girls’ dorm first, then the boys’. This way, we don’t have to part our own ways.”

Zhao Yi also laughed: “Oh. Then it’s like I’m walking you back.”

Time seemed to go flying by in those hundred days.

It felt like in a blink of an eye, the day before the college entrance exam day arrived.

Since First High School was one of the test centers for the exam, all the tenth and eleventh grade students were already on vacation. All the seniors had been moved to the junior high classrooms.

When the very last evening study hall before the exam ended, the bell rang three times but none of the students left their rooms as if they had made a pact to remain.

The Dean of Academic Affairs walked past the quiet hallways. When he passed by room 7, he knocked on the door: “Everyone, class is over, you all can go back to the dorms now. Look at all of you, are you trying to make up for all those lost evening study hall sessions that you played hooky?”

There were more female students in the liberal arts class. Some of the girls started to have tears in their eyes when they heard the Dean. Like a contagion, many more girls began shedding tears.

Xu Huaishi wasn’t among those girls that began crying, but when she saw her deskmate begin wiping away her tears, she began to feel a lump in her throat as well. She pulled out some tissues.

The Dean walked into the room and said with a laugh: “Aiya, if that’s the case, then let’s sing a song together.”

Zhao Yi goofily asked: “Which song, sir? Aren’t you tone deaf?”

The whole class bursted into laughter. Xu Huaishi’s tears were forced back into her eyes. She turned to take a look at Zhao Yi who was sitting in the back row. He was looking at her with a smile, there was something sparkling in his eyes as well.

The Dean pushed up on his eyeglasses and took a look at Zhao Yi: “Come, you, come up to lead the song. Let’s sing <The Battlefield of Youth>.”

Zhao Yi paused: “Sir, I’m also tone deaf.”

“Then find someone who isn’t tone-deaf to help you.”

Zhao Yi stood up and looked around. Then he said with a smile: “Sir, Xu Huaishi can sing.”

Xu Huaishi turned to give him a sharp look. But the rest of the class started cheering for her.

Xu Huaishi had no choice but to get on the podium. She cleared her throat and started to sing: “Today, I finally stand on the battlefield of youth. Please give me a beam of love. Today, I will go the distance for victory. I want to light up this world for you……”

The moment she sang “for you”, the rest of the class started singing together. The sound of over fifty people singing together stirred the classes next to theirs. Classrooms 6 and 8 also joined in. Then, one classroom after another started singing along.

The sound of loud and clear singing resonated through the whole building.

Xu Huaishi stood on the podium and couldn’t stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. Towards the end of the song, all the girls in the class were crying and laughing.

The Dean also took off his glasses to wipe tears off his eyes. After the students finished singing and began to leave the classroom, he then walked out of the room and sighed as he looked into the darkness of the night: “Another year of graduates……”

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 71 Side Story 4 Part 3

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 71 Side Story 4 Part 3

Xu Huaishi didn’t go visit Zhao Yi’s family during the break. But on the fifth day of the New Year, she went with Zhao Yi to the city library to study and went over several math practice sheets with him.

They were back at school right after the Lantern Festival. Two weeks later, it was the hundred day rally.[1]

After the rally, a countdown plaque was hung on the black board in the classroom. Pasted on the wall next to it were handwritten cards from every student in the classroom. On the front of the cards was a motto that the student had chosen and on the back, it was the ideal college that the student wished to get into.

Xu Huaishi wrote “I want to get into Hang University.” After pasting it on the wall, she asked Zhao Yi which college he put down.

Zhao Yi indifferently said: “Curious? Then you peel down mine to take a look.”

Xu Huaishi: “Geez. I’m not curious, not interested.” When the evening study time was over and all the students had left the classroom, Xu Huaishi sneaked to the wall and found Zhao Yi’s card.

Zhao Yi’s motto was: “Work hard. Because if I’m not good at my studies, I have to go back home to inherit the family business.”

“......” She was annoyed and almost wanted to walk away without reading the other side. But on second thought, she stopped, turned around, and carefully peeled off the card.

The handwriting on the back side was obviously much more neat and cautious. She could tell that he was very serious when writing those words.

He wrote: “I want to get into the college that Xu Huaishi wants to get into.”

She quietly held the card in her hand. After a while, she pasted it back to the wall. She was touched but still cursed: “Dumbass.”

Suddenly she heard a male voice coming from outside the window: “Who are you calling a dumbass?”

Xu Huaishi screamed and turned her head to see Zhao Yi leaning on the window looking quite displeased.

Xu Huaishi patted her chest, not having recovered from the shock yet: “You scared the soul out of me!” 

“He who never wrongs others does not fear the ghost knocking on the door. You’re the one sneaking around first, now you blame me?”

Xu Huaishi turned off the lights and closed the windows and door of the classroom. She went outside and sneered at him: “That’s right, I sneakily looked at the card.” She turned to go down the stairs.

The corner of Zhao Yi’s mouth twitched and he followed her down: “Where are you going?”

The staircase was dark. Xu Huaishi was night blind and couldn’t see very clearly. She walked while replying: “I’m going back to the dorm, of course……” She missed a step halfway through her sentence.

Zhao Yi caught her arm: “Be careful.”

“You’ll catch me, won’t you?” She looked at him. It looked like she really didn’t get scared by the misstep. Then she continued to walk down the stairs.

Zhao Yi kept quiet behind her for a moment, then caught up to her and said: “But if I can’t get into the same college as you, who would catch you at a time like this?”

Xu Huaishi smiled while giving him a glance: “Hrm, don’t go and make yourself too important. If you can’t get in, there will be someone else to catch me. I’m rather good looking and there must be quite a few boys who’ll be chasing after me in college.”

Zhao Yi didn’t know what to say and was about to snap, but he stopped himself from saying anything. He casted his eyes down and said: “Hrm, that’s true.”

Xu Huaishi paused a little.

The joke that she had unintentionally blurted out suddenly created an awkward vibe between them.

Xu Hauishi opened her mouth to explain, but didn’t know what to say. She kept her silence and walked down the stairs. In front of them was a road leading to two opposite directions.

To the left, it was the road to the boys’ dorm. To the right, the girls’ dorm.

They had walked down this road many times during the three years of high school. It was a simple road, but under the current circumstances, it seemed to carry a different meaning. The two of them stopped at the same time and stood there.

They kept standing there, neither of them wanted to be the first one to go their separate ways.

A minute later, Zhao Yi said: “Hurry back. The dorms are going to lock down soon.”

Xu Huaishi suddenly said: “I want to walk around the sports field.”

Zhao Yi turned his head sideways to look at her. He didn’t say “alright” nor “no.” Seeing her turn and walk away, he followed.

[1]: 百日誓师 (bǎi rì shìshī), literally “Hundred Days Pledge/Rally”. It's the 100th day before the college entrance exams occur.

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You're My Belated Happiness - Chapter 71 Side Story 4 Part 2

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

You’re My Belated Happiness

Chapter 71 Side Story 4 Part 2

A week later, it was finals. Half of Zhao Yi’s history grade was earned from those three pages of information.

School was now out for winter break and soon it would be Chinese New Year.

Xu Huaisong and Ruan Yu went to Su City for the New Year and they took Ruan’s parents with them. On New Year’s Eve, the two families celebrated with a New Year’s Eve dinner and gathered afterwards in the living room to watch the New Year’s Gala on TV. When the seniors became tired and went to sleep, Xu Huaishi also went back to her own room.

She figured that her brother and sister-in-law wouldn’t go to bed so early, but she didn’t want to stay in the living room as the third wheel. She stayed in bed to play games with some of her classmates while waiting for midnight.

Through voice chat, her deskmate with her in school said: “We’re missing one player, isn’t Big Zhao coming?”

Xu Huaishi yawned and said: “I asked, he said he’s busy.”

She wouldn’t have believed that a teenager would have anything to be busy about during New Year’s Eve. Yet, after witnessing that Reventon, she could imagine how his family would celebrate the New Year.

A rich family, being members of high society, must have their special way of celebrating; four generations getting together, well dressed, having a big banquet or even a dance party where everyone toasts with champagne. 

She tsked, then lowered her head to concentrate on her game. She played round after round and in the end forgot about waiting for midnight to come till a video chat invite cut into her game.

Zhao Yi.

She slapped on the bed sheet and exasperatedly said once it was connected: “Zhao……” She saw a woman’s face.

Her fierce expression instantly changed to a full smile and the word “Tie” she was about to utter was also abruptly changed to “......Yi Mama.”

Mrs. Zhao seemed to be outside. There was a white villa in the background. Mrs. Zhao smiled and said: “Huaishi, how are you? I sent a red envelope over Alipay. Make sure you take it.”

Xu Huaishi was surprised. Before she reacted, she heard Zhao Yi’s voice: “Mom, it’s almost midnight. Let me have the cell phone!”

Following his words, his face appeared on screen.

She wasn’t sure whether Mrs. Zhao had walked away or not. So she didn’t yell at Zhao Yi. She swallowed the annoyance from being interrupted in the middle of her game and asked Zhao Yi in a small voice: “What red envelope……”

Zhao Yi said: “New Year’s money.” In the background, there was the whooshing sound of fireworks shooting into the sky.

Zhao Yi turned the camera to aim at the sky and asked: “Can you see it?”

Xu Huaishi: “Wow.” She saw a screen full of sparkling yellow colors pouring down from the pitch dark sky.

Zhao Yi knew that she had seen it and said while holding the cell phone up: “The area you live in has a ban on fireworks. I’m in the suburbs.”

Xu Huaishi earnestly sighed towards the screen: “It’s so nice to be rich……”

She didn’t expect that Mrs. Zhao was still there. Mrs. Zhao immediately said: “Ask Huaishi to come visit during the New Year break.”

Xu Huaishi was taken aback and heard Zhao Yi reply “oh.” Then he repeated: “My mom asked for you to come visit during the New Year break.”

Xu Huaishi laughed and played dumb to change the topic. After the fireworks were over, she hung up the video chat and opened her Alipay. When she saw the amount on Alipay, her hand trembled and the cell phone fell off the bed with a thud.

She hurriedly bent over to retrieve her phone and checked the amount again.

Xu Huaishi didn’t read the amount wrong. She had received a transfer of funds with the amount of 8,888 RMB.

Xu Huaishi was terrified of accepting the money. She went to knock on the door of her brother and sister-in-law to ask them what to do about it.

Xu Huaisong and Ruan Yu gave each other a look.

Ruan Yu said: “It doesn’t seem exactly proper to return it as it is.”

Xu Huaishong replied with a “hrm” first, then turned to ask Xu Huaishi: “What’s your schoolmate’s Alipay?”

“What do you want it for?”

Ruan Yu explained: “At a time like this, your brother also gives him a red envelope which will show that our family isn’t petty and we’re courteous as well. So you can have peace of mind.”

Xu Huaishi: “I see.” She gave Zhao Yi’s Alipay to Xu Huaisong and said: “Then, Ge, you can’t give less than his mom.”

Xu Huaisong gave her a look and said: “I know.” He sent 9,999 RMB.

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.