White Lotus 23.2
Tang You’s eyes goggled with shock at that one sentence.
Xiao Zexing pushed the glass of milk over to her, and she reflexively wrapped her hands around it, warming them.
She looked so much like a little hamster that was hugging a melon seed, refusing to let go.
“The matter is not as complicated as you think. It was also something their elders casually mentioned, but Ms. Meng refused the family’s arrangement and married your grandfather. The old man also had another sweetheart, so the engagement became null and void,” said Xiao Zexing calmly. “When your grandparents divorced, the old man was in a difficult situation for quite a while. One side was his sworn brother, and the other side was his former fiancée; he didn’t know which one to side with.”
The startled Tang You drank a mouthful of milk.
Xiao Zexing casually picked up a grape with his fork and stuffed it into her mouth. “Why do you have such an expression?”
The grape was very sweet. She didn’t know what variety it was; there were no seeds, and its skin was very thin.
After Tang You swallowed, she still couldn't figure it out; she shook her head. “I don't understand.”
“What don't you understand?” Xiao Zexing fed her another grape. With his fingers propping his forehead up, he smiled as he watched her eat. “Because of the engagement?”
“Yes,” Tang You nodded, a little perplexed. “Since Grandpa Xiao had also suffered from this kind of headache before, all the more he shouldn't force me to marry Xiao Weijing, right? How can a marriage arranged forcibly by the elders compare to love chosen by one’s free will? I can't figure it out.”
Xiao Zexing was calm, “So, you prefer to have the freedom to choose your love?”
“Yeah.” Tang You looked at him strangely and asked in return, “Then, would you like being forced into an arranged marriage? It's supposed to be a partner that you’ll be spending the rest of your life with, would you want someone else to decide that for you?”
No one would like to be controlled in this way, right?
Or, was it that Xiao Zexing doesn’t care about the opposite sex, and couldn’t even be bothered to look for a girlfriend? So, he feels that having a marriage arranged for him could save him both time and effort?
“Of course not.” Xiao Zexing put down the things in his hands, ruffled her hair, and stood up. “I suddenly remembered that I have something to tell the old man. Wait here for me.”
Tang You happened to be worried about the situation inside as well.
She nodded, and watched him leave.
Ah……
I wonder how Grandmother and Grandpa Tang’s conversation is going.
Five minutes later, Xiao Zexing walked out slowly. Her eager and anxious expression reminded him of a little bunny who’s anxiously awaiting to gnaw on a carrot.
Xiao Zexing said what she wanted to hear the most, “The old man has given his word.”
Tang You pushed back her chair and stood up, unable to suppress her joy. “Really?”
This matter had already troubled her for many years. The idea of breaking off the engagement had sprouted in Tang You’s mind back when Xiao Weijing and Wen Ling first started to become closer and closer.
It had been more than four years by now.
“The old man said he will invite your parents to dinner tomorrow night, and officially call off the engagement.” Xiao Zexing picked up the coat on the back of the chair and smiled, “They are going to continue reminiscing about the old times. Are you sleepy? I’ll take you home first to rest.”
Tang You was completely overwhelmed by the sudden euphoria and nodded. “Okay.”
Even walking felt like floating; following behind Xiao Zexing, Tang You fished out her mobile phone and excitedly shared the joy she was currently feeling with Miao Jiaxi.
Tang You: [ Jia Jia Jia Jia! I'm finally going to be liberated! ]
Tang You: [ The old man has agreed to break off the engagement! ]
Tang You: [ I don’t have to suppress myself anymore! ]
Her enthusiasm was in full swing when Xiao Zexing suddenly stopped.
Tang You wasn’t paying attention; her head rammed into his back, and also hit her fragile nose bridge. She whimpered in pain, clutching her forehead, crouching over slightly.
Her phone fell to the ground with a clatter.
The only thought in her mind was——
This is probably the legendary ‘Extreme joy begets sorrow’.
The bridge of her nose was sore and painful, and her forehead also hurt. Tang You rubbed the bridge of her nose, and through her tearful eyes, caught a glimpse of the corner of the man's clothes.
Xiao Zexing squatted in front of her on one knee, looked down at her, frowning. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. Does it hurt a lot?”
Tang You pinched the bridge of her nose, rubbed it, and inhaled. “It's okay, it doesn't hurt anymore.”
“Let me take a look.”
Tang You lifted her face obediently.
They were too close.
So close that she could see the little bit of stubble on Xiao Zexing's chin with great clarity.
It should something that he had overlooked.
Xiao Zexing took her hand away, held her chin gently and examined carefully. After confirming that there was no major damage, he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled helplessly. “How did you get hurt again the moment I took my eyes off you?”
As he spoke, he picked up the mobile phone that had fallen by his feet.
The black phone screen lit up again; it was a message that Miao Jiaxi had just sent——
Miao Jiaxi: [ Wow! So can you go all out and pick up handsome little brothers and suck big brothers without any restraint now? ]
Miao Jiaxi: [ Woohoo~ My Yellow-hearted1 Youyou, you can finally go GHS2 freely with me! ]
Tang You gave a start, speedily took the phone out of his hands, then forced a smile, “Thank you, Second Uncle.”
Xiao Zexing didn’t really have any reaction; there was no ripple of emotion at all, and it seemed as though he hadn't seen it.
He stood up. “Let's go.”
Tang You wanted to follow him, but after two steps, Xiao Zexing grabbed her arm through her clothes and pulled her forward.
The man pulled with very little force, as if he was afraid of hurting her.
“Stand next to me,” Xiao Zexing looked down at her. “Don't get lost.”
It’s not like she was a seven or eight-year-old child, how could she get lost.
Tang You originally wanted to talk back, but she swallowed the words that were already on her lips.
Forget it, he’d seen such shameful messages just now…
But fortunately, he didn’t mention it. He was probably also showing consideration for the face of his junior.
She tilted her face to look at him. Xiao Zexing did not seem to notice her gaze; his thin lips were tightly pursed, his jawline perfect.
Second Uncle was really a proper elder.
Tang You recovered from the embarrassment, relaxed, followed him into the car, and sat properly in shotgun next to him.
She had just fastened the seat belt, and was caught off guard when she heard Xiao Zexing ask calmly, “What does Yellow-hearted Youyou mean? Why does she call you that?”
Tang You stared ahead and said without hesitation. “Because I am a descendant of the Yellow Emperor, and of all the various pomelos, the yellow-core pomelos are especially sweet. She praised me for being cute, so she gave me the nickname, Yellow-hearted Youyou…”
“So that’s how it is,” Xiao Zexing smiled. “What about GHS?”
Tang You kept her eyes steady and her face unchanged. “GHS is the abbreviation for ‘Go Help Someone’3. What Jiajia means is, now that the engagement has been called off, I am no longer bound to anything, and can better focus my energy on doing good deeds. I can go to the masses, serve the people, and contribute to the creation of a harmonious and beautiful society…”
Xiao Zexing laughed very lightly, “You’ve learnt your junior high social studies pretty well.”
Tang You was very modest, “Maybe it was the teacher who taught me well.”
Xiao Zexing leisurely threw out three consecutive questions:
“What about picking up little handsome brothers?”
“Suck big brothers?”
“You like men around the same age as you?”
Tang You felt suffocated.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Did he see those things too?!
As her ears, cheeks and neck gradually turned red, Xiao Zexing said lightly, “Youths are largely stupid, reckless and stubborn; just look at Weijing, and you will understand.”
Tang You didn't realize what he was talking about at all; she buried her head. “Mm.”
“Older men suit you more, but you should also be more cautious,” said Xiao Zexing. “Men are not as simple as you think.”
Tang You responded haphazardly; her fingers picked at her seatbelt, and she was thoroughly frazzled.
Xiao Zexing laughed when he saw her look of confusion. “Sure enough, you’re still quite childish.”
Tang You wanted to refute him. She was already about to graduate from university; all those were just banter between friends.
It wasn’t as if she was really going to pick up boys; of course she knew it was very important to protect herself.
But once she thought of how he had completely read both those text messages, she felt like her self-esteem had been pressed to the ground and rubbing against it desperately; her face and ears were red, and she couldn't utter a word.
Tang You wanted to heap on massive piles of flattery upon him so that he would let her go; after taking a deep breath, she tried to change the subject, “Second Uncle, you are really saving my life right now. I can't repay you for saving my life; I'll definitely work tirelessly to do your bidding in the future, and be at your disposal!”
Xiao Zexing didn't look at her. “That’s not the sentence that should follow ‘I can't repay you for saving my life’, right?”
Tang You was stunned.
Xiao Zexing asked, “Shouldn’t it be ‘so I’ll pledge myself to you in return’4?”
She turned stiffly and looked at Xiao Zexing.
She couldn't see anything from his expression; there was neither joy nor anger, only calmness.
In the dimness, there were some rays of reflected light, blanketing the silence.
Xiao Zexing turned his face slightly and glanced at her, the dimples on his cheeks flashing. “Look at how scared you are. It's just a joke.”
Withdrawing his gaze, Xiao Zexing smiled. “Since you are so grateful towards me, cook some noodles for me when you have the time.”
He added, “Cook it downstairs.5”
……O-of course I would only cook it downstairs!
Why do you have to specifically say that!
She would never let her thoughts stray elsewhere.
Tang You squeezed her seat belt, her heart beating fast.
As expected, Second Uncle wasn’t a proper elder!
Everything went just as Xiao Zexing had expected.
Tang You slept soundly into the next day when she groggily received a call from Tang Xiao.
Tang Xiao was furious, and his voice was all hoarse; she could even feel his anger and rage through the phone. “Tang You! Are you fking crazy? Has water gone into your head? Huh!? You damned girl, how dare you run to the old man and ask to break off the engagement!? How can you not know how to cherish such a wonderful marriage arrangement, do you know——”
Tang You had slept late last night and was already unhappy about being woken up. Hearing Tang Xiao’s reprimands now, she immediately retorted bluntly, “Wonderful marriage arrangement my ass! I’m breaking off this engagement for sure! If you want this marriage, go ahead and get married yourself, don’t bother me!”
Tang You had always been a well-behaved vase, when had she become so irritable?
Tang Xiao was stunned by her.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Tang You hung up and unceremoniously blacklisted all of Tang Xiao's methods of contact. She wrapped herself up in the blanket and continued to sleep sweetly.
She slept until she woke up naturally, feeling refreshed.
After eating, she got dressed, waited for the appointed time to come, then leisurely took the car that was headed to the Xiao’s.
At the family dinner tonight, Elder Xiao would be officially announcing that her engagement with Xiao Weijing was null and void.
When they had gotten engaged, there had only been a dinner between the two families; now that they were dissolving the engagement, they would also not be making a big fuss.
Tang You stepped through the Xiao’s main door with immense joy.
She met Xiao Weijing in front of the main entrance.
Xiao Weijing was standing on top of the stairs. He was in a black suit, just like the one he wore when they got engaged; even the expression on his face was exactly the same.
Only his expression was different.
Xiao Weijing looked at Tang You, and was suddenly a little lost in thought.
Back then, he had nearly drowned; water filled his mouth and nose, making it painfully suffocating.
On the verge of death, he saw a red mermaid swimming towards him in his daze.
In the blurry consciousness, a slender hand pulled him desperately, trying to drag his heavy body upstream; he could even feel the hand trembling nonstop, yet never loosening, and only tugged harder.
When they were about to reach the shore, he spat out water and heard the "mermaid" mutter, “I'm dead exhausted.”
Xiao Weijing couldn't open his eyes and couldn’t see her face clearly, so he only gave her his bracelet. Later, he recognised Wen Ling from this bracelet.
Although Wen Ling's appearance did not match the face he was when he was on the verge of death, Xiao Weijing also knew that when he was in the water, his eyes could not open at all, so it was impossible for him to see her face clearly.
That beautiful yet indistinct face was mostly his fantasy.
He was the one who took all his hopes for his future partner and melded them into such a bright and vivid face.
And now, that bright and beautiful face from his fantasies had gradually become more and more concrete, overlapping with the Tang You before him.
Tang You was standing at the bottom of the steps; the red dress made her waist seem so slender that it seemed to be almost nothing. Her skin was glowing and fair; she no longer bore makeup that made her look innocent and pitiful, but rather, bright and vivacious.
Xiao Weijing had never seen her wearing such a colour, let alone seen such a confident and calm expression on her face.
……It was obviously the same face, but currently, it seemed to have been infused with vitality. It was so bright that he lost himself in it, and he couldn't help but want to get closer.
A red dress, snowy-white skin, crow-black hair; it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that she could topple all living beings.
An unrivalled beauty.
Tang You wasn’t at all concerned about him. She stepped forward and smiled at Xiao Weijing, her eyes in crescents. There was not a trace of reluctance or love in her beautiful eyes, only the excitement of liberation.
When she passed him, Xiao Weijing heard her incomparably joyous voice say clear as day——
“Goodbye, Little Bastard.”
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The author has something to say:
Sorry my dears, I tried my best, I can only write so much today.
I’ve squeezed myself dry, and there’s not a drop left. (Wipes away tears)
I strive to continue to grow stronger tomorrow~
And proudly thrust my flat (not) chest forward.
P.S.: Compared with Second Uncle, Weijing’s life is really smooth.
His parents are loving and harmonious, and he is supported by his elders in his career.
He was even given a pretty wife by the old man.
It's just a pity that he’s not a good judge of character.
Also, I think that yellow-core pomelos are not tasty, and not as sweet as red-core pomelos. =v=
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Footnotes:
1 Yellow-hearted: ‘Yellow’ in Chinese slang has R-rated associations
2 GHS: GHS stands for ‘gao huang se’ in hanyu pinyin, meaning ‘do yellow (R-rated) things’.
3 Go Help Someone: Tang You actually says ‘Gan hao shi’, which means ‘do good deeds’.
4 A stereotypical expression/ trope where someone (usually a damsel) expresses her gratitude towards her saviour, and pledge to marry him as she has nothing else to repay him with.
5 A reference to the dirty joke made between her and Miao Jiaxi when she was cooking noodles in chapter 20. I’ve deviated from the original text here as the lewd joke is lost in translation—for more explanation, refer to the footnotes in chapter 20.
