After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 48
Chapter 48: Grandma
◎ Are you in a puppy love relationship? ◎
That evening, under Li Ran’s hesitant gaze, Chen Mengyin invited Xie Zhirou to sleep over at her place. Tang Jingxue was tipsy and didn’t sense anything amiss. After all, her dear Zhirou often stayed over at Chen Mengyin’s house—one more night didn’t seem like a big deal?
With that thought, Tang Jingxue happily went home with Xie Yunzhao, leaving Xie Zhirou to spend the night at Chen Mengyin’s place.
Chen Mengyin triumphantly high-fived Xie Zhirou. As Li Ran passed by, she said dryly, “Don’t go too far.”
Chen Mengyin’s face flushed instantly. She stammered as she pushed Xie Zhirou back into the room, slamming the door shut.
As for whether they went too far, well, Chen Mengyin would say: with such beauty before her, how could she not be tempted? So the two spent a rather blush-inducing night together and only got up near noon when Li Ran called them for lunch.
Xie Zhirou woke up earlier than Chen Mengyin. While the latter was still in a daze, Zhirou had already gotten up, washed, changed clothes, kissed her goodbye, and left. Unfortunately, Chen Mengyin mumbled a sleepy reply and promptly went back to sleep.
When she finally woke up, she was alone in the room. On her desk was a neatly written note from Xie Zhirou, saying she had gone home and reminding her not to forget to eat.
Eat.
Chen Mengyin was chewing on some reheated leftovers from New Year’s Eve dinner. Every year, they had tons of leftovers, which they’d eat from the first day of the new year all the way to who knows when—maybe the tenth day, maybe even the twenty-ninth. In any case, those leftovers were her annual nightmare.
“You need to go stay at your grandma’s for a night tomorrow. Don’t stay up too late or you won’t be able to wake up in the morning,” said Li Ran, who had already eaten with Chen Lin. One of them was watching TV on the sofa, the other playing with their cats by the window.
Chen Mengyin gnawed on a chicken drumstick. “Got it.”
A lot of relatives came to visit on New Year’s Day. Even though Chen Mengyin was an extrovert, she still found the crowd of rarely-seen relatives and the kids they brought along a bit overwhelming. So she made an excuse to escape back to her room.
At that moment, she truly appreciated the fact that her room was upstairs. Without her mom’s permission, those chattering kids weren’t allowed to come up and bother her.
Chen Mengyin: [Big Dog Howling.jpg]
Xie Zhirou: Hm? What’s wrong?
Chen Mengyin: There are so many kids downstairs! I can’t handle them!
Xie Zhirou: [Bunny Patting.jpg] Go hide in your room?
Chen Mengyin: Guess where I am right now?
Xie Zhirou: I guess… your room?
Chen Mengyin: Bingo! So smart! You win a kiss~
Chen Mengyin: [Big Dog Kissing.gif]
They flirted on WeChat for a good while. Chen Mengyin asked if Xie Zhirou wanted to play co-op games. She agreed, and they gamed together all afternoon—until Li Ran came to call her for dinner.
“I’m going to eat now, talk later.”
Chen Mengyin ended the call after saying goodbye to Xie Zhirou.
…
The next day, Chen Mengyin went to her grandma’s house with Li Ran and Chen Lin.
Her grandma lived in the neighboring city, not in the urban center, but in a countryside house with a garden. The elderly lady didn’t have many hobbies—just tended vegetables, walked the dog, and lived a lovely, peaceful life.
It was lively that day. As soon as they arrived, Chen Mengyin heard kids arguing loudly—apparently over a roasted sweet potato.
The adults nearby just laughed as the kids argued, until Grandma got annoyed and smacked both of them on the back of the head, then split the sweet potato in half for them to share.
“Grandma, Happy New Year!”
Chen Mengyin ran up and hugged her grandma tightly. The little old lady was startled and exclaimed that she was being strangled. Chen Mengyin laughed and said, “I’d never strangle you.”
Grandma playfully pinched her waist, and Chen Mengyin stood there smiling mischievously, letting her.
“You never come see me anymore. Have you forgotten your grandma?” Grandma feigned anger.
“How could I?” Chen Mengyin clung to her grandma’s arm. “I think about you every day! I even called you yesterday, didn’t I?”
“Calling isn’t the same as visiting in person! How long has it been since I saw you? Come here, let me see if you’ve gotten thinner.”
Chen Mengyin obediently spun around to let Grandma inspect her.
“Oh my, you’re growing prettier and prettier!” Grandma beamed.
Li Ran and Chen Lin came over carrying gift bags. Grandma happily greeted them, and not long after, the people inside noticed them and invited them to come in instead of standing outside.
“Yes, yes, let’s chat inside,” Grandma said, pulling Li Ran with one hand and Mengyin with the other.
Inside the house, it was crowded with relatives. Chen Mengyin greeted each one, receiving [Relatives’ Responses] ×N and a handful of red envelopes.
She happily accepted them all.
Sitting on the sofa beside Grandma, she was asked if she was eating well, sleeping well, if school was tiring—and finally, Grandma whispered, “Are you in a relationship?”
Chen Mengyin answered all the previous questions, then leaned over and whispered in Grandma’s ear, “Yes, but you can’t tell anyone, okay?”
Grandma’s eyes lit up with gossip: “Who’s the kid? Are they good-looking? Are they smart like you?”
“Of course she’s good-looking! She’s the prettiest and smartest in our whole school!” Chen Mengyin said proudly.
Grandma laughed, saying Chen Mengyin was just bragging. “Top student and dating? Really?”
Chen Mengyin wasn’t having it—what did grades have to do with dating? And not only was she in a relationship, she was dating a girl!
She pulled out her phone and showed her a photo of Xie Zhirou hugging her and smiling.
“Look, Grandma! That’s my girlfriend! First place at No. 1 High School. Impressive, right?”
Grandma took out her reading glasses and squinted at the photo.
“Whoa… it’s a girl?” Grandma said in surprise.
Chen Mengyin asked, “Is that bad?”
“Not at all! Girls are way better than those troublemaking boys,” Grandma said seriously. She studied the photo again. “She’s really pretty… and looks kind of familiar.”
“Well, of course! She lives next door. A few years ago, you even chatted with her and complimented her looks and smarts.”
Grandma thought hard for a moment and finally remembered.
“Yes, yes! That tall, polite girl. Really pretty. But… are you messing with me? Why would someone like her date you?”
Chen Mengyin pouted. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not that bad!”
“Hmph! So she can’t like me, huh? That hurts, Grandma!” She crossed her arms and put on a dramatic pout.
Grandma quickly comforted her. “Okay, okay, she can date you!”
Three seconds later, Chen Mengyin burst out laughing, “Just kidding, I’m not really mad.”
Grandma gave her a playful smack and warned her not to tease her again.
Then it was Mengyin’s turn to soothe Grandma. “I was wrong~ Don’t be mad, please?”
She batted her big eyes, trying to look cute.
But Grandma knew her too well. Still, she went along with it and let it slide.
“Do your parents or her parents know?” Grandma asked, leaning in with curiosity.
“Not really. My mom kinda figured it out, but no one else knows—only you!”
Grandma was delighted. “Only me?”
Chen Mengyin nodded. “Of course. I always tell you my secrets—no one else!”
Except for Xie Zhirou, she added silently.
Grandma beamed and patted her hand. “You’re such a sweet girl.”
At that moment, her eldest aunt noticed them whispering and asked, “What are you two gossiping about over there?”
Grandma answered, “We’re talking about how annoying you are—want to hear?”
The aunt turned to everyone else, “See? Mom’s upset I haven’t visited enough, so she’s complaining to Mengyin.”
The living room erupted in laughter.
Grandma laughed too, “You brat! Come less often again and I’ll beat you with a broom.”
Aunt joked, “Then I’ll come home clinging to Mengyin—bet you won’t hit her.”
“I’m on Grandma’s side,” said Chen Mengyin innocently.
Grandma laughed even more. Aunt joked that Mengyin was too sly and said she wouldn’t talk to her anymore.
“Fine by me,” Grandma grinned. “I’ll just chat with my sweet girl.”
Everyone laughed and joked until lunch.
The sons-in-law were in charge of cooking—Chen Lin took the lead, the others assisted.
Three tables were set up for the huge family. Grandma and Grandpa sat at the main table with their children.
The younger folks, being energetic, sat at two tables in the courtyard.
Chen Mengyin sat beside her cousin, filled her bowl to the brim, and started scarfing food.
“You pig, eating so fast!” her cousin teased.
“I skipped breakfast! I’m starving,” she said, gnawing on a rib.
“Starve to death, then,” the cousin muttered, but still went to grab a drumstick for her.
“Thanks!” Chen Mengyin beamed.
After lunch, Grandma secretly called Chen Mengyin over. Curious, she followed her to her room.
Grandma opened her hope chest—an elegant yellow pearwood cabinet carved with beautiful patterns—inside were her years of private savings.
She pulled out a small box. Inside was a translucent jade bracelet.
“This is for your girlfriend,” Grandma said.
“Grandma, this is too expensive—I can’t accept it,” Mengyin panicked. She didn’t know much about jade, but she could tell this piece was not cheap. She didn’t dare accept it behind her mom’s back.
Grandma glared at her. “It’s not for you. It’s for that girl. If you’ve chosen her, treat her right—don’t let her be wronged.”
She had watched Mengyin grow up. If she wasn’t sure about Xie Zhirou, she wouldn’t have told Grandma in the first place.
“Come on, take it. Or are you scared you’ll regret this relationship?” Grandma tried to provoke her.
“I’m not!” Mengyin grumbled, accepting the box.
It was small and light, yet felt heavy in her pocket.
“Let’s go. Don’t tell your mom, got it?” Grandma reminded.
Tears welled up in Chen Mengyin’s eyes. “Got it. Thanks, Grandma.”