NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46
Chapter 46 If We Could Be One Family
Xiang Xiaoxia had finally managed to enroll Mei Ya in kindergarten and found a part-time job as a salesperson at a clothing store. The pay was modest, the working hours were short, and the job was not demanding.
She had thought she could work for quite some time, but now she had to start considering moving.
The thought of moving made Xiang Xiaoxia’s head ache—selling the house, changing schools, buying a new house, all these troubles.
“Just an official at the city level, not even a bureau chief, acting so smug every day.”
While Xiang Xiaoxia was complaining about her husband’s arrogance, she heard a knock on the door.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.”
It should be Mei Fang returning from school, but why didn’t he have his keys?
As soon as Xiang Xiaoxia opened the door, she saw two familiar girls rushing towards her.
“Hello, Aunt Mei! Can we do our homework here?”
“Of course, you’re welcome!”
Xiang Xiaoxia glanced behind her and noticed that her son wasn’t there.
“Where’s our Mei Fang?”
Xia Yuan smiled and explained, “Mei Fang has cleaning duty today and will be home later. My family has guests, so we can only come to your place.”
“That’s fine. Where would you like to do your homework? In the study, living room, or Mei Fang’s room? If you want to play on the computer, you can do that first, and then do your homework when Mei Fang gets back.”
“If Auntie isn’t watching TV, we can do our homework in the living room.”
“I don’t watch TV. I need to prepare dinner and pick up the kids. Xiao Ya needs to be picked up too.”
“Auntie, I’ll help you pick up Xiao Ya!”
Xia Yuan quickly raised her hand, “Xiao Ya just started kindergarten, and I’ve never picked her up before.”
“Do you know where it is? It’s at the county kindergarten, not the grain kindergarten you attend.”
“I know! Mei Fang took me there once.”
“Oh…”
Xia Yuan put down her bag and whispered something to Lin You Xi. They gave each other a high five, and Xia Yuan set off to pick up Mei Ya.
What secrets were these two plotting…
After years of getting along, Xia Yuan and Lin You Xi could enter Mei Fang’s house freely. Xiang Xiaoxia never worried about their character. After Xia Yuan left, she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Soon, Lin You Xi also came to the kitchen. At this moment, Xiang Xiaoxia was picking vegetables.
“Aunt Mei, what are you cooking tonight?”
“Hmm… green beans stir-fried with meat, stir-fried peppers with eggs, and another dish of Shanghai greens. Are you and Xia Yuan eating with us tonight? What would you like, I’ll cook it for you.”
Xiang Xiaoxia felt guilty and indulgent toward Lin You Xi and Xia Yuan, after all, next year they wouldn’t be around anymore.
Lin You Xi waved her hand, “You don’t need to go out of your way for us, Auntie, we love everything you cook!”
“You little thing… Do you remember? When you were in kindergarten, you said my cooking was delicious but were too afraid to tell me directly, so you told Mei Fang instead.”
“Of course I remember.”
Lin You Xi squatted down, supporting her chin as she looked at Xiang Xiaoxia, “I still remember how scared I was on my first day here. I was so worried you’d find me messy and kick me out. It was raining hard and thundering, and I was terrified.”
“Hahaha, silly girl, how could I do that?”
Xiang Xiaoxia stroked Lin You Xi’s head, “In a blink, you’ve grown so much, reaching the age of understanding.”
“Aunt Mei, let me help you pick vegetables, you go do something else.”
“Can you do this?” Xiang Xiaoxia seemed surprised.
“Yes! I often cook at home.” Lin You Xi wiped her nose, adding a bit of showmanship, “Dad even praised my cooking.”
“Haha, you really are impressive…”
Seeing Lin You Xi ruin the Shanghai greens she bought, Xiang Xiaoxia quickly taught her the correct method. Lin You Xi realized she had messed up her plan to win over Mei Fang’s mother, and hurriedly apologized to Xiang Xiaoxia.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Mei! I didn’t do well just now, but I’ll definitely help you pick vegetables properly from now on.”
Her voice carried a hint of grievance and pleading, hoping Xiang Xiaoxia wouldn’t dislike her.
But this action made Xiang Xiaoxia feel even more affectionate toward her.
Because if her family moved away from Bai Mei County, Lin You Xi would lose not only a childhood friend in Mei Fang but also such a warm home.
Although she already had Mei Ya as a daughter, Lin You Xi was the original motivation for her to consider having a second child. Their relationship was so close that she couldn’t bear to part ways.
“Aunt Mei, how am I doing with the vegetables now?” Lin You Xi cautiously asked Xiang Xiaoxia about her progress.
“Good… pretty good.”
Xiang Xiaoxia patted Lin You Xi’s head, “You Xi, I have a question for you. Are you still upset about what we talked about last night?”
…
Facing this question, Lin You Xi was stunned.
But she chose to answer honestly and nodded.
“I’m still very sad.”
“But family should stay together.”
“I’m just Mei Fang’s friend, not Aunt Mei’s family member, and I can’t… I can’t say anything.”
Lin You Xi didn’t have great acting skills, but she truly cherished Mei Fang and this family, so her voice carried a hint of grievance.
In this era, the light shining into Lin You Xi’s heart was no longer just Xia Yuan, but also Mei Fang and his whole family, including the hospitable Aunt Mei Xiang Xiaoxia.
After hearing Lin You Xi’s words, Xiang Xiaoxia suddenly felt something stuck in her throat, wanting to swallow but unable to.
“Don’t… don’t say that. I’ve always treated you like my own daughter. You… and Yuan Yuan, I’ve watched you grow up, and I can’t bear to part with either of you.”
[Then, can we not leave?]
These words, Lin You Xi never dared to ask aloud.
Because family should stay together, those were the words she had just spoken.
Family should stay together, family should stay together…
Lin You Xi suddenly had a flash of inspiration, a chord of her heart struck.
“What if… if I could really become one of the family.”
Lin You Xi murmured softly, “Would that mean we could stay…”
“Ah, you don’t mean… something like that, right?”
Xiang Xiaoxia didn’t expect Lin You Xi to say that, and she was momentarily at a loss for words.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of knocking interrupted Lin You Xi and Xiang Xiaoxia’s thoughts. Xiang Xiaoxia rushed to open the door, and as soon as she did, she saw her tearful daughter Mei Ya hugging her leg tightly.
“Mama, Mama—”
“What’s wrong, Xiao Ya? Why are you so clingy today…”
Mei Ya hugged Xiang Xiaoxia’s thigh tightly, buried her head for a long time before looking up at her mother seriously, “Mama, I made many new friends at kindergarten today. I really don’t want to leave here!”
“Oh, you little thing… Didn’t I just comforted you yesterday?”
Xiang Xiaoxia pulled Mei Ya, showing a look of distress, while Xia Yuan standing behind Mei Ya and Lin You Xi who had just come out of the kitchen exchanged glances.
Xia Yuan made an OK sign, indicating that little Mei Ya had betrayed her family and officially joined the rescue operation for her childhood friend.
Lin You Xi nodded, but quickly shifted her gaze away from Xia Yuan, looking somewhat flustered.
(End of Chapter)