Just in Time Chapter 95
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 95 New Year's Eve
"Liang Liang, are you up?"
Someone was knocking on the door.
The person lying in bed covered his head and didn't respond.
"Liang Liang, today is New Year's Eve. Even though we're not in our home country, we should still have a family reunion dinner," the person outside the door coaxed gently. "Dad and your brother are on a flight this afternoon. Our family—"
The door was suddenly yanked open from the inside.
Chu Xia was startled and instinctively took a step back.
Yi Chenliang looked at her with a sullen face. "Don't bother me again."
Chu Xia's eyes instantly reddened, and tears were about to fall. "Liang Liang, Mom just wants the family to have a nice reunion dinner."
As soon as she finished speaking, the door slammed shut with a bang.
Listening to the crying outside, Yi Chenliang felt nothing but irritation. He lay back down and covered his head.
Su Shengwen and Chu Xia were not his family. Every time he faced them, Yi Chenliang felt suffocated.
From initial anger and resistance to the current passive cold war, he had always been forced forward, powerless.
The day Su Shengwen sent him abroad, he had almost managed to escape, just missing it by a bit.
He had even made a call to Yun Fang, but it had only rung briefly before being forcibly cut off. Then, in his rage, he had been dragged onto the plane.
Everything here felt strange to him, strange to the point of disgust.
He had tried many ways to contact Yun Fang but had never succeeded. He didn't even have his own phone anymore.
Yi Chenliang turned over in the blanket, slowly curling himself into a ball, reaching out to touch the small stone on his wrist.
He missed Yun Fang.
He missed him all the time, but the more he missed him, the sadder he became.
He felt so useless.
It had always been Yun Fang protecting and indulging him. When real trouble came, he couldn't help at all.
He didn't want to continue like this.
Curled up in the darkness, he lowered his head and gently kissed the small stone on his wrist.
He must go back and find him.
****
When Yun Fang got off the plane, it was the afternoon of New Year's Eve, he was picked up by Yun Heyu and Tang Yi.
He had been drowsy in the car the entire way, and as they neared home, he finally heard Tang Yi ask, "Tangtang, has Xiao Yi been found?"
"Not yet." Yun Fang habitually rubbed the stone on his wrist. "But we have a general idea of where he is."
"That's good." Tang Yi comforted him, "We'll find him eventually."
This year, Yun Fang's grandparents were spending New Year's at their house. They had stayed with Yun Fang's third uncle in the northeast for the past year, so Yun Fang was meeting them for the first time.
The grandparents hadn't seen their grandson in a long time and missed him dearly. His grandmother held Yun Fang's hand and sighed, "Oh my, Tangtang has grown so tall in just a year!"
Grandpa laughed, "He's at the age for growth spurts. He'll be seventeen after the New Year! How tall are you now, Tangtang?"
Yun Fang smiled slightly, "I haven't measured."
Yi Chenliang used to love comparing their heights, measuring every day. It had been a long time since Yun Fang last checked.
Yun Heyu brought a tape measure. "Let me see. I think Tangtang might be taller than me now."
Noticing Yun Fang's unhappiness, Tang Yi tried to cheer him up too. "Tangtang, stand straight. You really have grown taller."
"Wow, one meter eighty-five." Yun Heyu patted Yun Fang's shoulder. "Good boy, growing tall without making a fuss."
Yun Fang touched his nose.
"Your dad is only one meter eighty-three, as long as you're taller than your dad." Grandma laughed, "Tall, handsome, and fair-skinned, my grandson will definitely find a good girl."
Tang Yi's smile stiffened. Yun Heyu helped the old lady to the sofa. "Ah, Tangtang is still young. His main task now is to study, not to fall in love."
"Yes, yes." Grandpa chimed in. "Tangtang, you'll be in your third year of high school after the New Year?"
"Grandpa, after the New Year, it will be the second semester of my second year," Yun Fang explained. "The third year starts in the second half."
"Oh, so you'll be preparing for the college entrance exams next year?" Grandpa knew Yun Fang always excelled in his studies. "Have you thought about which university you want to attend?"
"Not yet." Yun Fang took a small stool and sat at the coffee table, pouring tea for them.
"You should start thinking about it. Your cousin from your third uncle's family just finished his exams this year. He got into some telecommunications university? I thought he'd be delivering mail and telegrams, but he gave me a good talking to. Turns out he's studying German, which really confused me," Grandpa said with a chuckle.
"Dad, universities these days offer all kinds of majors." Yun Heyu laughed. "As long as Tangtang likes it, he can study whatever he wants."
"Right, it'd be best if he could become a high-ranking official and bring honor to the Yun family." Grandma nodded. "Among all the kids in our family, Tangtang has the best grades."
"I don't want to be an official," Yun Fang said, taking a sip of tea.
Grandma was puzzled. "Being an official is great. It's respectable and impressive, and you can find a good wife."
"You old lady." Grandpa gave her a reproachful look. "The child should do whatever he wants. Tangtang, listen to your grandpa. If you don't want to be an official, you don't have to be. Do whatever you enjoy."
Grandma, embarrassed, patted Grandpa. "I was just saying, you old fool."
Yun Fang helped Yun Heyu put up Spring Festival couplets outside.
"Tangtang, are they aligned?"
"Lift the left side a bit higher."
"How about now?"
"A bit higher."
Yun Heyu adjusted the height and started pasting the couplets without turning around. "Tangtang, don't take your grandparents' words to heart. The older generation has outdated views. Just listen and don't mind it."
"I know, Dad." Yun Fang held the ladder steady for him. "Grandpa and Grandma are really nice."
Yun Heyu clapped his hands. "All right, let's go inside and help your mom and grandma make dumplings."
****
"Don't cook the dumplings for too long," Chu Xia instructed the aunt at the kitchen door.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Chu Xia turned her head in surprise to see Yi Chenliang. "Liang Liang!"
Yi Chenliang walked up to her, pressed his lips together, and spoke with some stiffness, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you earlier."
Chu Xia looked at him in astonishment and gratitude. "Liang Liang..."
It was the first time in a long while that Yi Chenliang had spoken so much to her, and he was even apologizing.
"It's okay, it's okay." Chu Xia smiled, taking his hand and leading him to the living room. "Dad and your brother will be here soon. We'll celebrate New Year's Eve together tonight."
"Okay." Yi Chenliang let her hold his hand without pulling away.
Chu Xia was evidently very happy. When Su Shengwen and Su Qingbai entered the house, they even saw her humming a song.
"You’re here!" Chu Xia smiled, hugging Su Shengwen and then Su Qingbai. "Just in time, the dishes are almost ready."
Su Shengwen put his arm around her and asked, "Why are you so happy?"
Chu Xia, clearly eager to share, smiled at Su Shengwen and said, "Liang Liang called me mom today!"
Su Shengwen smiled slightly, "Looks like he's come around."
After changing his shoes, Su Qingbai looked at Yi Chenliang, who was sitting on the sofa.
Yi Chenliang was wearing a white turtleneck sweater and khaki casual pants. His uncut hair was tied back with a small rubber band. He sat on the sofa watching TV with a calm expression, looking like a different person compared to a few months ago.
Seeing them come in, Yi Chenliang stood up from the sofa and naturally called Su Shengwen "Dad."
Su Shengwen smiled, "Liang Liang has grown taller. It seems your mom has been taking good care of you these past few months."
Yi Chenliang pressed his lips together and nodded.
"It looks like Liang Liang is taller than Qingbai now," Chu Xia said with a happy laugh. "He’s been by my side, and I didn’t even notice."
Su Shengwen continued with her words, "He looks about as tall as me now, probably around 1.87 or 1.88 meters."
Chu Xia, holding his arm, laughed contentedly, "Liang Liang looks like you. Your features are almost identical."
Su Shengwen laughed, "Of course my son looks like me. What delicious food have you made?"
"I had the aunt make dumplings and prepared a few home-cooked dishes..." Chu Xia led him to the kitchen to see what they would eat tonight.
Yi Chenliang withdrew his gaze and met Su Qingbai's scrutinizing look.
"You've changed a lot," Su Qingbai said to him.
Yi Chenliang sat back down on the sofa, tugged at the corners of his mouth, and lowered his eyes. "No worries about food or drink, having everything I need, of course, I've changed."
Su Qingbai smiled, "Chang Ziqi still asks me about you every day. I heard he and Yun Fang are pretty close. Do you think it’s Chang Ziqi or Yun Fang who wants to know about you?"
Yi Chenliang's eyes flickered, but he quickly suppressed it. He asked casually, "Did you tell him?"
"I did, and Chang Ziqi even hit me for it," Su Qingbai smiled slightly. "I told him you were in the UK."
Yi Chenliang looked up at him.
Su Qingbai's smile became more satisfied. "Switzerland and the UK are pretty far apart, aren't they, brother?"
During dinner, the TV was broadcasting the Spring Festival Gala. Chu Xia gave Yi Chenliang a piece of rib. "Liang Liang, eat more."
"Thank you, Mom." Yi Chenliang picked up the rib with his chopsticks and started eating. The red string on his wrist peeked out from the sleeve of his white sweater.
"Brother, isn't this red string a pair?" Su Qingbai asked Yi Chenliang casually.
Su Shengwen's gaze fell on the red string on Yi Chenliang's wrist. "A pair?"
"No." Yi Chenliang slowly chewed on his rib. "Bought it at a small seaside stall, five yuan for ten. If you want one, I can get you some next time."
"No need," Su Qingbai paused. "I might have remembered wrong."
****
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of joyful laughter came from the skit playing on the TV.
"This skit is pretty funny." Yun Heyu sipped his wine. "Tangtang, don't just eat, watch some TV."
Just as Yun Fang looked up, his phone rang under the table. He glanced at the caller ID, picked up the phone, and stood up. "I'll take this call."
He went back to his room, closed the door, and answered the call. Huang Chu's excited voice came through. "We've got a lead!"
"What do you mean?" Yun Fang's voice was calm.
"Remember my classmate who works at the courthouse? His uncle works at the provincial office..." Huang Chu seemed a bit drunk, slurring his words. "You were right. The person you mentioned really doesn't get along with Su Shengwen. My classmate's uncle works under that guy, and they’re always at each other's throats... I was drinking with my classmate today, and he spilled everything. What you're planning might actually work!"
"Mm." Yun Fang stood by his desk, idly fiddling with a Rubik's Cube. "Did you give him the materials?"
"Of course not. Without your orders, I wouldn't dare act on my own." Huang Chu was clearly very drunk. "Damn, you're incredible. You made something impossible happen, connecting people who are totally unrelated... Damn, impressive! Seriously impressive! This is something I'll brag about for the rest of my life!"
Yun Fang heard the sound of firecrackers outside. "Any news about Xiao Yi?"
"Not yet, but that family definitely won't have time to bother with Xiao Yi soon." Huang Chu muttered a few curses. "Damn the proof materials! Fortunately, I kept a copy just in case. They messed with me… If my own abilities aren’t enough, I still have my father! Damn it! When my father was in court, those idiots didn’t even know where to find milk! I love my father!"
Yun Fang: "You're drunk."
"Don't worry, with both of us working together, we'll make sure they send Xiao Yi back just like they took him away."