Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Long time no see."

Meng Xulin didn't recognize her at first. As he walked closer, he suddenly realized this was an unexpected reunion.

Yu Shu smiled, "Long time no see."

Compared to before, Meng Xulin had gained some weight, but he was tall, so it made him look sturdily built like a grown man. He had lost the elegant handsomeness and youthful tenderness of his younger years, and had become gentle and refined.

The unattainable beauty from the past had unexpectedly descended into the mundane world and taken on an earthly air.

When their eyes met, Yu Shu's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Meng Xulin also greeted Zhao Zhuo and Lin Fangyu. He said to Zhao Zhuo, "My TV at home is broken. Can you send someone to take a look tomorrow?"

As the two of them talked about fixing the TV, Lin Fangyu nudged Yu Shu in the waist and whispered, "You two are still so well-matched."

Yu Shu glared at her. "It sounds to me like you're saying we've gotten fat."

"Fat? What fat? You two look full-figured."

"Who's 'you two'? Watch what you say."

"Weren't you the one who said it first?"

"I didn't. I didn't say anything. Don't make things up."

"..." Lin Fangyu was speechless.

After finishing discussing the TV repair with Zhao Zhuo, Meng Xulin prepared to leave. Afraid of peace and quiet, Lin Fangyu clapped her hands together and suggested, "A chance encounter is better than a planned meeting. Let's go eat hot pot together - my treat!"

The corners of Yu Shu's mouth lifted slightly, but her eyes remained cool and indifferent - the signature look of a queen bee.

"Thanks, but not today. It's my grandfather's birthday so I have to head home now." Meng Xulin declined with a shake of his head. "Next time I'll host and treat you all to a meal."

Looking back at Yu Shu, his eyes were calm and steady. "Sounds good. Next time."

Next time meant some unknown future date, next time meant maybe another life if fate allows.

Meng Xulin nodded and left with a gentle smile.

The three of them still ended up eating hot pot for lunch, going to their favorite hot pot restaurant from high school.

It wasn't that she demanded Estée Lauder. She just didn't want to be the unimportant cheap goods in his eyes.

Yu Shu didn't approach or let him see her. She turned and went back the way she came. On the bus without AC, hot and stuffy and reeking of nauseating mixed odors, she sat in the last row drenched in sweat, watching people come and go...

Some disheveled, some polished and gleaming.

Who didn't want an easy life if they could have it?

Later Yu Shu dated two more boyfriends, but neither lasted longer than a month. As soon as she sensed any sign of not being the most important and precious to him, she decisively ended things.

So-called love was just men and women sizing up what they could get from one another.

As the server brought more tripe, the icy water almost dripped onto Yu Shu's bag. Lin Fangyu quickly helped move it out of the way.

"Wow, your bag looks so real. Send me the link?" Lin Fangyu admired as she stroked the bag. "The one my cousin got for 800 yuan looks way worse than yours."

Today Yu Shu carried a classic Chanel diamond quilt bag, priced at 68,000 RMB.

"I'll give you one as a birthday gift," Yu Shu offered.

Lin Fangyu's birthday was easy to remember - the fifth day of the lunar new year.

Counting, there was just over a month until the new year.

After hot pot, Zhao Zhuo went back to his shop. Yu Shu took Lin Fangyu to go house hunting, checking out two developments for sale in the county city.

In the afternoon, Yu Shu got a call from Yi Manager saying he'd contacted the orthopedic director of Huaxi Hospital and booked an appointment for Yu Shu's father next Monday.

Yu Shu jumped up in excitement. Just getting an appointment at Huaxi Hospital was impossible with half a year waitlist. Scalper tickets went for over 10,000 RMB!

At dinner, Yu Shu shared the good news at the table.

Yu Feng pinched at his clothes. "It'll probably cost a lot right? I'm doing fine as is now."

Ye Ping rolled her eyes. "Fine my ass! Whimpering and groaning all night on windy rainy days, keeping even me awake. Can't let me sleep a wink!"

She looked meaningfully at Yu Shu, "Having a lame dad will be a disadvantage when it's time for you to marry. At the wedding making you limp up the stage on crutches, taking the grandkids to preschool hobbling on crutches..."

Yu Shu buried her face in her rice bowl, not daring to speak. In her mind she thought - hoping for grandkids, it'd be faster to hope that Yu Yang amounts to something and lets them hold his grandchildren sooner.

After dinner, Yu Shu went to her parents' room to get her dad's medical records. In the top drawer of the wardrobe were all the family's important documents.

Yu Shu raised her brows and called out, "Mom, I'm taking both of your ID cards for when we need to register and book a hotel."