Top-Tier Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 50
Chapter 50: Noodles
Having spent the night at Huo Yichi's, Pei You arrived home at noon. Pei Junsheng and Xu Ruyun had already left for work. With the Spring Festival just a few days away, work was piling up. They'd taken time off for their daughter's birthday yesterday and now had to make up for lost time.
Grandma Pei was on the sofa, watching a new drama. Seeing Pei You, she adjusted her reading glasses. "Granddaughter, why didn't you stay out a little longer?”
"She had to work," Pei You sighed, sitting down beside her grandmother.
Grandma Pei chuckled. "It’s the end of the year; everyone's busy.”
"True," Pei You said. "Xiao Huo was on a business trip for half a month, and now she has to edit the videos she filmed.”
Pei You didn't know exactly what Huo Yichi was working on, only that she'd overheard Huo Yichi on the phone with her supervisor, who seemed to be demanding the finished product urgently.
Pei You had wanted to chat with Huo Yichi, but seeing how busy she was, she'd decided to leave.
Work was important, after all, especially since Huo Yichi had suffered so much in Liucheng, even getting chilblains. A good outcome for the project would be a fitting reward for her efforts.
So, Pei You had come home.
They hadn't made plans to see each other again, perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow.
"Grandma," Pei You said after a moment, "I think I'm going to quit my job after the new year. ”
Grandma Pei's attention was immediately drawn to her. "What happened? Are your colleagues treating you badly?”
"No, everyone is very nice to me, very caring," Pei You said, peeling an orange, "I just… don't want to do this kind of work anymore.”
It was a decision she’d thought long and hard about, finally gathering the courage to tell her grandmother.
It was a dream job for many: low-stress, high-paying, with plenty of vacation time.
Tian Jia, for instance, was envious and had often said she wished she had a job like Pei You’s.
But that wasn’t a good enough reason for Pei You to stay. She’d been there for two years, and she was aware of her growing laziness.
It was a comfortable, well-paying job, but after a while, she felt like she was… stagnating, like she was about to retire.
And she was only 24.
She’d never really had to work hard for anything.
With her grandmother being a teacher, Pei You had always been a disciplined student. While other kids were playing, she'd be doing her homework, then going to the library to read. She'd always been a good student, even during the stressful period leading up to the college entrance exams, she'd been relatively relaxed compared to her classmates. Even in college, she hadn't pushed herself too hard, so life had been… easy.
For the past 24 years, everything had come easily to her.
So easily that she craved… something more.
How long could she continue living like this?
She felt… apathetic, almost.
Compared to Huo Yichi, she was a slacker.
And she didn't want to be a slacker anymore.
Grandma Pei looked at her, not saying a word, until Pei You finished her orange. "Have you thought this through?” she finally asked.
"I have, Grandma," Pei You smiled. "Don't worry, I'll tell Jin-jie after the holidays; she'll understand.”
"I'm not worried about that," Grandma Pei said. "I’m worried about you being bullied in a new environment…”
"Grandma," Pei You put her arm around her grandmother’s shoulders, "I can’t let you protect me forever. I turned 24 today. I might not be fully fledged yet, but I need to… spread my wings.”
Grandma Pei sighed, patting Pei You’s hand. "Alright. I’m getting old; I can’t protect you forever, anyway.”
"What are you talking about? You’ll be around for a long time!"
Huo Yichi worked all afternoon. She'd already edited quite a bit of the footage from Liucheng, but it wasn't enough, and it wasn't… interesting enough.
She’d been working diligently, only allowing herself brief moments to think about Pei You, like a marathon runner grabbing a quick drink at a water station before continuing the race.
At 6 pm, she finally messaged Pei You: 【I’m done.】
【Sent the video to my supervisor.】
Before Pei You could reply, another message came through: 【Can I come over later?】
【Sure.】
【I’ll shower first, then head over. Need to… clear my head.】
So, Pei You waited. Half an hour later, Huo Yichi messaged her again, saying she’d fed Xiao Xing and was on her way.
"Grandma, Xiao Huo’s coming over later," Pei You said, unable to hide her excitement.
Grandma Pei, who was busy in the kitchen, replied, "Then I’ll wait until she gets here before making the noodles.”
"Okay," Pei You said. "Has she eaten dinner yet?"
"No," Huo Yichi had said she hadn’t.
Pei You went to her room. The gift she'd received yesterday was already open, displayed on her desk.
Tian Jia’s gift was the most outrageous: a ridiculously ornate lamp, the kind that would make any girl cry, engraved with the words "May our friendship last forever.”
It was so over-the-top that Pei You wasn't sure when she’d ever use it.
Pei You sat down at her desk, a thought suddenly occurring to her—the gift she'd given Huo Yichi when they'd first gotten back together.
She'd said she would return it, but now… there was no need.
It was in a bag, tucked away in a drawer.
Pei You retrieved it.
She pursed her lips, hesitating. Should she open it now?
She didn’t know what was inside. She’d been curious at first, but then, wanting to keep her distance from Huo Yichi, she’d lost interest.
As darkness fell, Pei You stared at the bag, until the doorbell rang.
Grandma Pei went to answer the door.
"Grandma, hello again!" Huo Yichi greeted her with a bright smile.
"Xiao Huo, come in, come in! Have you eaten yet?" Grandma Pei asked warmly.
Huo Yichi patted her stomach, putting on a pitiful expression. "Not yet, Grandma.”
"Why don’t you eat when you’re busy? Don’t worry; the noodles will be ready soon," Grandma Pei said, bustling into the kitchen.
Pei You emerged from her room just then.
She'd realized her grandmother really liked Huo Yichi.
"Want some hot water?" Pei You asked Huo Yichi, who had already sat down on the sofa.
Huo Yichi shook her head. "Not right now, thanks. I drank a lot of water at work.”
"Okay," Pei You took a sip from her own glass. "Are you… looking for something to talk about?” Huo Yichi asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
Pei You, sitting beside her, put down her glass and shook her head. "No," she said, then admitted, after a slight hesitation, "I was just… thinking I haven’t seen you in a while.”
"And…?" Huo Yichi prompted.
"And I'm glad," Pei You said.
"Glad about what?"
"Glad that just an afternoon apart is enough to make you say that," Huo Yichi explained, "like the saying, 'A day apart feels like three autumns.'[1]"
Pei You understood, then asked, "What about you?”
"I…," Huo Yichi began.
Just as she was about to answer, Grandma Pei emerged from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready!"
"Coming, Grandma!" Pei You replied.
She stood up. "Let's eat.”
"Okay," Huo Yichi said.
After another meal at Pei You's place, Pei You was convinced her grandmother truly adored Huo Yichi. She'd barely said a word during dinner, just listened as her grandmother entertained Huo Yichi with stories from her teaching days.
They finished the noodles quickly, and Huo Yichi even offered to wash the dishes.
Despite Grandma Pei's repeated protests, Huo Yichi insisted, saying she would come over often for “free meals.”
This made Grandma Pei beam with delight.
Back in Pei You’s room, Pei You couldn’t help but ask, "Why does my grandma like you so much?”
Huo Yichi thought for a moment. "Maybe because I seem like a well-behaved girl?”
"Maybe," Pei You said, retrieving the chilblain ointment from her desk drawer. "Time for your medicine.”
Huo Yichi, sitting on the bed, looked up at Pei You, a playful smile in her eyes, before holding out her hand. "Can I… have a hug first?”
Pei You froze. Before she could react, Huo Yichi had pulled her into an embrace, finishing her earlier sentence, "I’ve been thinking about you, too.”
Comments
Post a Comment