After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 37
Chapter 37: Hot Pot
◎ Can I take this as a marriage proposal? ◎
The first snowfall came quietly. The crystal-clear flakes didn’t even get the chance to reach the ground before being dissolved by the steam rising from the hot spring. Chen Mengyin reached out to catch them, but the snowflakes always melted faster than her hands could reach.
Xie Zhirou leaned against the edge of the pool, watching her like a playful kitten chasing butterflies, pawing at the snowflakes one after another.
The snow got heavier.
A thin white layer covered the potted plants in the courtyard. A streak of white outlined the distant mountain ridges. The sky turned colder.
“Come back,” Xie Zhirou called to Chen Mengyin, who was almost climbing out of the pool. The girl who had been chasing snowflakes swam back and playfully hugged Xie Zhirou’s waist, leaning on her shoulder and acting coy.
“It’s getting cold. Let’s head back inside.” The parts of their bodies above water were starting to feel the winter chill. A few snowflakes landed on her head, cold and icy. When she reached up, she only touched damp hair.
Even drunk, Chen Mengyin hadn’t forgotten that Xie Zhirou was sensitive to the cold. The moment she heard Xie Zhirou say it was cold, she quickly followed her out of the water. They hastily wrapped themselves in robes and returned to their room to shower and snuggle under the blankets.
The bed was soft and warm. Chen Mengyin originally wanted to chat with Xie Zhirou and wish her a Merry Christmas, but as soon as her head hit the pillow, her eyelids got heavy. Within a minute, after drinking and fooling around all night, she fell asleep.
When Xie Zhirou came out of the bathroom, Chen Mengyin was already curled up like a spring roll, fast asleep. Xie Zhirou stood at the bedside for a while, watching her sleep, then turned off the light and went to bed.
The next time she woke up, it was already noon. The one who had foolishly drunk several glasses of soju now had a splitting headache and groaned from under the blanket, unwilling to get up. Her head felt like it had been split in two—one half partying to disco, the other singing “Tibetan Plateau.” They clashed with each other, leaving her no room to breathe.
Xie Zhirou had gotten up earlier. Guessing Chen Mengyin might have a hangover, she had asked the lodge staff for honey and made a warm drink to wake the lazy girl.
Chen Mengyin poked her head out from the blanket, her almond-shaped eyes slightly red. She blinked up at Xie Zhirou, batting her curled lashes, silently asking to be fed.
“How old are you?” Xie Zhirou said, but she still gently helped her sit up and held the cup while Mengyin drank little sips of honey water. After half a cup, she stopped and kissed Xie Zhirou’s chin happily, saying, “I’m five years old.”
“Childish,” Xie Zhirou said, putting the cup down and flicking her forehead. “Let’s go home this afternoon. You still haven’t finished your language composition.”
“Ughhh—” Chen Mengyin groaned, clutching her head and burrowing back under the blanket. “How can you say something so soul-crushing on the last day of break!”
“Better than getting scolded by your language teacher on Monday,” Xie Zhirou replied calmly, unmoved.
Chen Mengyin suddenly felt like her hangover wasn’t even the worst part anymore. The emotional pain now overpowered the disco and “Tibetan Plateau” in her head. She gritted her teeth: “Help me up, I can still write!”
Xie Zhirou chuckled and helped her: “Go brush your teeth. It’s snowing outside.”
“I know, I know.” Though tempted by the snow, Mengyin trudged out of bed grumpily. Her limbs ached from the drinking, every step pulling sore muscles. She tearfully muttered, “Now I know how the Little Mermaid felt walking on land.”
Xie Zhirou shook her head and packed their luggage while Mengyin washed up and changed.
“Reborn!” Chen Mengyin emerged from the room reenergized. The chaos in her head had shut down, and she was famished. “Let’s go eat! Ugh, after all these years the lunch here still hasn’t improved. Can’t the boss ask the dinner chef to teach the lunch chef?”
“Maybe the two chefs don’t get along,” Xie Zhirou quipped.
“Oh, chef uncles, please reconcile,” Mengyin sighed.
Despite the complaints, she still devoured everything in front of her. If it was edible, she ate it. If not, she dipped it in sauce and forced it down.
After lunch, they went for a walk. The grey sky kept dropping snow. Away from the hot spring, Mengyin finally caught a snowflake. “So cold!” she exclaimed in awe.
Xie Zhirou brushed the snow from her head, walking side by side with her the rest of the way.
At 3 p.m., they waited for the driver to take them home. Within ten minutes, the driver arrived and apologized for being late because of the snow and traffic.
“It’s okay, Auntie,” Chen Mengyin said cheerfully. “Driving slowly is safer. We’re not in a rush, right, Zhirou?”
“Mm,” Zhirou nodded.
With their friendly responses, the driver smiled and took them back to Hu’an District.
Back home, there was no time to rest. Under Xie Zhirou’s supervision, Mengyin finished two Chinese compositions and one English essay. By the time she looked up, the sky outside was dark, and the yellow streetlights reflected off a thin layer of snow on the leaves.
“Let’s go eat hot pot,” she said.
“Sure,” Xie Zhirou replied.
It was snowing, and Mengyin didn’t want to take a taxi. She took out two scarves, one for each of them. Holding hands, they walked down Linjiang Road, cheeks red from the cold, every breath a puff of white.
“Snow came early this year,” she remarked.
Winters in Yonghuai rarely saw snow. Even in freezing years, not a single flake would fall. Students at No.1 High used to stomp their feet in frustration.
This year, it snowed at the end of December. Mengyin wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad sign, but she felt happy. Not even her red, wind-bitten cheeks could dim her joy.
“Yeah,” Zhirou exhaled a puff of mist. The Siberian cold had chilled her hands and feet, but the one hand interlocked with Chen Mengyin’s stayed warm—hot, even—warming her heart and shielding her from winter’s cold.
The hot pot restaurant was packed. A waiter finally found a recently cleared corner table for them.
“I don’t even know where my parents went. No messages at all. I should ask if they still plan to raise me,” Mengyin muttered, tossing duck intestines into the pot. She timed it silently, then split the portion with Zhirou. “Eat it while it’s hot—it’s too chewy when it cools.”
Zhirou dipped it in the sauce Mengyin prepared and ate it one bite at a time. “If they won’t raise you, I will.”
Mengyin grinned. “Then I better tip off my mom to stop raising me and send me to your house.”
“Hmm, should I call you my little sister or big sister? Technically I’m older, so you’re my little sister. But since I’m raising you… this whole seniority thing is confusing.”
“There’s another relationship option,” Zhirou said, smiling meaningfully.
Mengyin stopped mid-bite. “What kind?”
“You tell me. Girl-friend.” Zhirou slid shrimp paste into her bowl. “When we’re old enough to legally marry, maybe you’ll be open to another relationship too.”
Mengyin slammed the table and stood up, shouting, “I do!”
The nearby diners all turned to look, confused at why two girls eating hot pot were so fired up.
Blushing, Mengyin sat down and clasped her hands in apology. “Sorry, I got too excited.”
“Your shrimp paste’s getting cold,” Zhirou reminded her, unfazed by the onlookers. “I’m glad you didn’t reject me.”
Eating the shrimp paste, Mengyin beamed. “Can I take that as a marriage proposal?”
“No,” Zhirou replied. “You need a ring for it to count.”
Mengyin pouted. “Do you know what you just missed? A golden opportunity to propose to me, Ms. Xie!”
“I’d rather bring flowers and a ring to propose to you properly,” Zhirou said seriously, offering her some beef tripe.
Blushing, Mengyin chewed. “Then I’ll be waiting. If the ring’s ugly, I’m saying no.”
“I’ll keep trying until you’re satisfied.”
“Good,” Mengyin smiled.
The hot pot was sweet, the cheeks red, and the mood joyful.
“School’s tomorrow. Let’s get some bread—we get hungry so fast in winter,” said Mengyin, unwrapping her scarf.
Zhirou, still bundled up, stepped out into the biting cold wind. She ducked her head, hiding half her face in the scarf.
Seeing this, Mengyin draped her scarf over Zhirou’s shoulders and rubbed her chilly hands. “Should’ve brought a hat.”
“I’m fine. Let’s buy bread and go home. Auntie might be back.”
“Mmhm.” Mengyin tucked Zhirou’s hand into her pocket, warming it with her body heat.
Back home, the lights were still off.
“Their slippers are still here, so they haven’t come back,” Mengyin grumbled. “Can’t believe they left me hanging.”
“Maybe they’ll be back soon. It’s rare they get time together. Coming home late is understandable,” Zhirou comforted.
“I know, but they could at least send a text! Even Auntie Jingxue replies when she’s busy!”
Her parents had a bad habit: when they were together, they completely forgot about their daughter. No matter how many times she complained, they never changed. In fact, it only got worse.
As her mom put it, “You’re grown. Can’t survive without your parents?”
“Aren’t they overdoing it?” Mengyin grumbled.
Zhirou hugged her. “You still have me.”
Mengyin kissed her. “Zhirou’s the best.”
Zhirou smiled and followed her to the bedroom to wash up and rest.
Outside, snow continued to fall. Chen Mengyin hugged Zhirou tightly and nestled into her arms. “Good night.”
Zhirou kissed her forehead. “Good night.”