The Unreturnable Refrigerator - Chapter 29.1
Chapter 29.1: Getting Together (Past)
Lu Yin did her best to suppress the urge to cry, pulled out her phone, and composed a message.
Seeing the message sent successfully, Lu Yin anxiously looked at the person who should have received it but showed no reaction.
Sheng Xiali was still facing away from her. Lu Yin couldn’t see her expression, but she saw that her hands were busy the whole time.
After a while, Lu Yin realized with a start that Sheng Xiali probably didn’t have her phone with her.
She looked at Sheng Xiali’s form-fitting work uniform. When Sheng Xiali turned slightly, she could see that her shirt and pant pockets were flat. It was obvious she wasn’t carrying anything bulky.
Lu Yin was disappointed.
Listening to the laughter around her made her feel even more agitated. She looked up at the quiet corner, wondering if it would cause Sheng Xiali trouble if she went over to greet her now.
Sheng Xiali had seen her earlier. It was impossible for her not to recognize her, yet she acted as if she didn’t know her at all.
Was she simply unwilling to talk to her, or was there another reason?
Lu Yin turned to look at the still-chattering Wang Xingteng and suddenly spoke: “There is no distinction between good and bad labor, and no hierarchy of professions. Of course, it has nothing to do with whether you study hard or not. Many students at our university also work part-time to earn their tuition. They are just making an honest living.”
Lu Yin wasn’t even sure what she was saying. She was a little incoherent and illogical.
She just wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. What was the point of saying this to Wang Xingteng? Could he apologize to her? He would probably hit her first and scold her for being ungrateful, but she just wanted to say something.
She wanted to tell Sheng Xiali not to mind what Wang Xingteng had just said. He had always been a snob, looking down on those with less and up to those with more, and he liked to feel superior to others.
Just as she was about to say more, Lu Yin’s arm was heavily slapped.
“What’s with all this talk? Don’t get into this part-time work stuff. Our family isn’t short of money. You just have to study hard. When you graduate, you can come to Lincheng and help your father so he doesn’t have to work so hard.”
Lu Huiying saw Lu Yin’s rambling words as a rebuttal to Wang Xingteng’s earlier comments. She was worried that Wang Xingteng, being drunk, would get angry at being contradicted in front of others and cause a scene, so she took over the conversation.
Seeing the strange look on Lu Yin’s face as she was about to speak again, she pressed down hard on her hand under the table.
Lu Yin winced in pain.
Wang Xingteng had felt a little offended when Lu Yin first spoke, but his alcohol-addled brain was slow to catch up. After Lu Huiying spoke, he also assumed Lu Yin wanted to start earning money early.
Wang Xingteng put down his wine glass and looked a little displeased: “Don’t listen to your mother. Leave the hard work to your father. Yinyin is so smart; she should continue her studies and get a master’s or Ph.D.”
Lu Yin’s second uncle, as usual, played along: “Exactly. Our Yinyin looks like she’s Ph.D. material.”
Lu Yin, having been pinched by her mother, came back to her senses. She almost forgot that on days like this, she had to play the part of a loving family.
Her older aunt, probably receiving a signal from Lu Huiying, also joined in.
“If Yinyin gets her Ph.D., she’ll be even more amazing than that girl from the Chen family. That girl got into a master’s program at the University of Technology this year, and they held a banquet with more than a hundred tables. If Yinyin gets her Ph.D., we’ll also have a hundred tables.”
Her uncle said, “One hundred and fifty tables! We have to have fifty more tables than them!”
Wang Xingteng declared proudly, “We can have one hundred and eighty tables! As long as Yinyin gets her Ph.D.!”
For a moment, the Jinxiu Hall was filled with laughter. Everyone was smiling happily and raising their glasses. The excitement made Lu Yin feel like she was already guaranteed a Ph.D.
Lu Yin wanted to find a crack in the floor to hide in and pretend to be a seed.
If Sheng Xiali hadn’t been there, she could have just laughed at all this boasting.
She glanced at Sheng Xiali’s back in the corner and felt mortified.
Fortunately, Lu Yin’s older aunt turned the topic back to her older cousin: “I wish my Tongtong was half as smart as Yinyin. Now I just hope she can find a partner soon. She’s not a good student, and she’s not good at finding a boyfriend either.”
Lu Huiying consoled her: “Don’t say that about Tongtong. Every child has their own strengths and their own troubles. Look at Yinyin, sometimes she’s clever, and other times she’s very silly. She’s zoning out again while eating. She’s had this problem since she was a child, and it still hasn’t gone away.”
Her words made everyone look at Lu Yin. Lu Yin heard it but pretended not to, using “zoning out” as a cover for looking at Sheng Xiali.
Why didn’t Sheng Xiali turn around even once? Did she not want to see her?
Lu Yin unlocked her phone and looked at the message she had sent to Sheng Xiali.
Can I introduce you to my family?
She couldn’t un-send the message.
She had really wanted to introduce Sheng Xiali to everyone.
She wanted to tell Lu Huiying how wonderful she was, and she wanted to tell Wang Xingteng how outstanding she was. Not only was she a good student who won scholarships, but she also worked part-time to earn her tuition.
She was much more capable than her. She was the one who was the nation’s backbone and a natural talent. In short, she was the best Sheng Xiali in the world.
She also wanted to tell everyone that she liked her…
“Yinyin is already twenty. Don’t just drink juice. You should start learning to drink alcohol. That way, you can accompany your dad to social events in the future. Here, Yinyin, try this wine. Your dad’s special collection, he saved it specifically for this day.”
Lu Yin felt something being placed in her hand. There was a buzzing sound of people talking in her ear, but she couldn’t hear clearly. She looked down and saw a dark red liquid swirling along the side of the glass. Someone pushed her hand, and the liquid swirled even more.
“Try a little. Red wine won’t make you drunk.”
Lu Yin held up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
She wanted to be drunk.
“Good, good. Yinyin is amazing. She has Huiying’s hearty spirit!”
The room erupted in laughter.
…
Three hours later, all the wine they had brought was gone, and the New Year’s Eve dinner finally ended.
Back at the hotel, Lu Huiying looked at Lu Yin’s face, which was as red as a monkey’s bottom, and said worriedly, “Are you still able to climb the mountain?”
By tradition, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, Lu Huiying and her two sisters would go to the temple to burn incense and pray for good fortune. Every year, to show their sincerity, they would hike up the mountain on foot.
Lu Yin looked like she couldn’t even walk straight.
Lu Yin shook her head: “I can’t go, I can’t go. My head is spinning. Mom, why do you have two heads? Which one are you?”
Lu Huiying pulled Lu Yin’s hand away from her face: “You can’t drink, but you still did. You’re just like your dad!”
Lu Yin thought that was different. Wang Xingteng had to be sent home by someone else in the end; he had been unconscious for a long time. She had walked back on her own.
“Okay, you rest at the hotel. Your aunts and I will leave in the early morning. We’ll be back at dawn. You have to get up for lunch, and after lunch, we’ll go back to our hometown for New Year’s greetings. Got it?”
Lu Yin nodded repeatedly: “Got it. I’ll have lunch tomorrow. Don’t worry, don’t worry. And you all be careful on the road.”
Lu Yin said, waving to her two aunts and cousins behind Lu Huiying: “Happy New Year. See you next year.”
Her older aunt smiled back: “Happy New Year to you, too. By the way, is there anything you want us to pray for you at the temple?”
Lu Yin’s smile paused for a moment but quickly returned: “I just wish everyone I love well and world peace. And also, that people who are short on money won’t be short on money anymore!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“You’re truly drunk. Okay, go and get some rest.” Lu Huiying pushed Lu Yin into the room and closed the door. “Let’s go.”
Lu Yin leaned against the door, listening to the laughter fade away.
After a while, when she could no longer hear any sound, she carefully opened the door and peeked out.
The hallway was empty.
…
Sheng Xiali finished her shift and had just walked out of the hotel’s side door when she saw someone sitting on a stone stool on the other side of the street.
Under the streetlights, the pristine white down jacket was very noticeable. The large hood covered the person’s entire head. Combined with the shadows, it was hard to see her face clearly at first glance.
But Sheng Xiali knew it was Lu Yin.
It could only be her.
Only she would bounce in place every time she saw her.
And about her being here, Sheng Xiali was a little surprised, but at the same time, it wasn’t that unexpected.
She always appeared in front of her suddenly, without giving her any time to prepare…
Gradually, she no longer needed to mentally prepare.
The moment Sheng Xiali came out, Lu Yin’s eyes lit up. She bounced in place, pulled off her wind-blocking hood, and wanted Sheng Xiali to see her clearly.
The wind blew into her collar, but Lu Yin didn’t feel cold at all. She ran toward her.
“Sheng Xiali~”
The joyous shout dragged out for a long time as she ran, and it only stopped when she came to a halt.
Sheng Xiali stood tall, waiting for her to get closer. When she saw the two flushed cheeks on the person in front of her, she frowned slightly.
Lu Yin swayed as she rushed to Sheng Xiali, giving a silly grin: “Off work?”
Sheng Xiali was silent as she looked at the smiling face.
She didn’t need to think about it. Lu Yin must have already known her work schedule. She even knew she would be coming out of this door after her shift.
She always had that ability.
“Something wrong?”
Sheng Xiali looked down at the blush on Lu Yin’s face, thinking about the complex emotions she felt when she saw her in the private room today.
She had been working in the main hall before, but she was asked to go to the private room because they needed more staff. She didn’t expect to run into Lu Yin’s family the first time she served a private room.
Her family was just as she had imagined—warm and happy. Seeing Lu Yin at the center of attention, Sheng Xiali even remembered the first time she saw Lu Yin.
She had actually seen her before she saw her in Xinlei’s dorm.
It was the first day of orientation. As Sheng Xiali passed the school gates, she saw a family of three taking pictures.
Sheng Xiali looked at the new student who was being doted on and the smile on her face, then at the parents next to her who had tears in their eyes.
In that moment, Sheng Xiali felt like the template for a happy family was personified.
She lowered her head and walked away. Later, in Xinlei’s dorm, she saw that smiling face again.
She learned that her name was Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was looking for something in her bag and didn’t notice the rare emotions on Sheng Xiali’s face.
She was annoyed. Why couldn’t she find what she was looking for in this bag every time?
She simply crouched down, placed the bag on the floor, and rummaged through it with both hands. Finally, at the very bottom, she found a small pink bag.
Lu Yin stood up and handed it to Sheng Xiali: “Happy New Year. This is your New Year’s gift.”
She smiled as she said this. She didn’t know why, but she always carried it with her wherever she went, even when she changed bags.
Now, looking at the person in front of her, Lu Yin really wanted to cheer. Thank goodness she always carried it~
It turns out that opportunities really do come to those who are prepared!
Sheng Xiali looked at the item in Lu Yin’s hand. Her hands, which were in her pockets, were now clenched.
“Thank you, Happy New Year.”
Sheng Xiali accepted the greeting but didn’t take the gift.
“It’s late. Don’t wander around outside. Go home early. Goodbye.”
Sheng Xiali nodded slightly, turned, and walked away. On New Year’s Eve, the streets were rarely seen with people, except for those who had just come from a party.
Some shops were closed with red paper pasted on them. It was the most festive time, but also the most deserted.
Sheng Xiali listened to the laughter coming from an unknown house on the side of the street, reached back, and put on her hood, blocking out the wind and the festive atmosphere that didn’t belong to her.
“Sheng Xiali, wait for me.”
Hearing the shout from behind, Sheng Xiali’s heart skipped a beat. She stopped and turned around.
Looking at the person who was stumbling as she ran, the frown on her face deepened.
What on earth did she want? Why wasn’t she with her family on New Year’s Eve, and why was she looking for her?
And she obviously had so many people who liked her, so much love, and she wasn’t lacking people who were good to her or who liked her. Why did she have to waste her time on her?
Lu Yin saw Sheng Xiali stop and let out a huge sigh of relief. If Sheng Xiali had started running, she really wouldn’t have been able to catch up.
After running for a bit, she felt like the alcohol had rushed to her head. Her head was buzzing, and her face was even hotter. Lu Yin felt like the road in front of her wasn’t flat anymore; it looked bumpy.
She stumbled, almost falling. Fortunately, she managed to lurch forward a bit more and bumped right into Sheng Xiali.
Lu Yin shoved the item in her hand into Sheng Xiali’s arms: “You forgot your gift.”
Sheng Xiali looked at the person whose face was even redder, took her hand out of her pocket, and held up two fingers, asking, “What number is this?”
Lu Yin gave a silly grin: “Two.”
Then she hung the gift on Sheng Xiali’s two outstretched fingers.
She also held up two fingers in the same way and shouted.
“Yay~”
Sheng Xiali’s eyes trembled as she looked at the person smiling brightly and making a “V” sign under the streetlights. She was at a loss for words.
After a long while, she regained her ability to speak and her proper heart rhythm.
Sheng Xiali took the item off her fingers and put it back in Lu Yin’s bag.
“You’re drunk. Where’s your home? I’ll take you back.”
Lu Yin chuckled: “I forgot. What about you? Where’s your home? Let me take you back.”
Sheng Xiali stared at Lu Yin. Lu Yin smiled even more brightly.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Do I look extra good today?”
Sheng Xiali let go of her and turned to leave.
“Aren’t you going to look at me for a little longer?”
Lu Yin patted her hot face, covered her heart that was pounding wildly after being stared at by Sheng Xiali, and continued to follow her.
When the person in front of her stopped, she also stopped.
Sheng Xiali turned around again, looking at the person smiling happily behind her.
It was the first time she realized that a person could be so unrestrained with just a little alcohol.
“Where’s your home? I’ll take you back.”
Sheng Xiali walked back and grabbed Lu Yin’s wrist, but Lu Yin was quick to pull away. Before she could react, Lu Yin had grabbed her hand instead.
“My home is too far. It takes more than an hour by car. Let me take you back.”
Lu Yin said this sincerely and seriously. It was true; her home was very far away. She was staying in a hotel tonight.
Sheng Xiali tried to shake her hand off twice but couldn’t.
Occasionally, people walking by would see them arguing and stop to watch.
Sheng Xiali grabbed the hood from behind Lu Yin and pulled it over her head, blocking the curious stares from passersby.
“Address!”
Lu Yin adjusted her hood, finally seeing the light again. She saw Sheng Xiali’s somewhat serious gaze, stopped smiling, and covered her head with her free hand: “Oh no, I forgot. I might need some time to think. Can I come to your place to sit and think about it properly?”
Sheng Xiali didn’t believe for a second that she had forgotten where she lived since she was still able to have a clear conversation.
But it was clear that this person in front of her was going to use the alcohol to her advantage.
Sheng Xiali stared at her, not understanding what she wanted to do. She was even more puzzled as to why she was looking for her when she had so many family members and was supposed to be with them, enjoying their happiness.
Did she feel sorry for her being alone? Did she want to give her some warmth?