novelraw Chapter 9: The Girls of the Zhang Family
Chapter 9: The Girls of the Zhang Family
Ding Heng returned to the hotel lobby and saw Zhao Yanxi sitting alone on the sofa in the rest area, looking down at her phone while waiting for her car.
"Yan hope!" Ding Heng stepped forward. "Where's Wen Jing?"
"Her stomach was a little upset, so she went to the restroom."
Zhao Yanxi blinked and teased, "What, you're reluctant to part with me, so you came down to see me off?"
Ding Heng chuckled and sighed, "Why didn't you pay the bill earlier...?"
"Oh dear, I promised to treat you. A person should keep their word."
Zhao Yanxi interrupted, her smile bright and cheerful.
"Don't worry, I'm not putting on a show! I did well on the college entrance exam, and my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other relatives... I got quite a few rewards, enough for a meal."
After saying that, she sighed again, her cheeks puffed out slightly, and she looked aggrieved.
"Well... I originally planned to use this money to get a new phone and a better computer to take to university, but it looks like I'll just have to make do with my dad's old-fashioned computer for now."
Ding Heng felt a little guilty, since it was he who suggested dining at the hotel.
He really didn't expect Zhao Yanxi to be so "honest" as to treat everyone to a meal right away!
"Come to Changsha again next time..."
"next time?"
Zhao Yanxi quickly replied, "Next time I come to Xingcheng, Brother Ding Heng, could you help me produce a full set of films, something more formal?!"
Since he felt obligated to accept the food, Ding Heng couldn't bring himself to refuse and could only nod.
"I'll do my best..."
"Yay!"
Zhao Yanxi gave a small cheer, immediately picked up her phone, opened the QR code, and handed it to Ding Heng: "Let's add each other as friends first? It'll be easier to contact each other."
Ding Heng added her by scanning the QR code; her nickname was "Lucky Little Zhao," which matched Wen Jing's nickname "Good Luck Little Jing."
The two successfully added each other as friends. Wenjing happened to come out of the restroom and saw Zhao Yanxi and Ding Heng chatting and laughing in the lobby lounge.
Wenjing paused slightly, a strange feeling rising in her heart...
Zhao Yanxi turned around and saw Wen Jing. She immediately rushed over and grabbed her, then turned to Ding Heng and waved goodbye.
"Brother Ding Heng, the car's here, let's go! See you next time!"
Wenjing also whispered "Goodbye" and left the hotel with Zhao Yanxi.
Ding Heng watched the two disappear into the distance, and the system interface automatically appeared in his mind:
[Territory Status: First Light - Resonance 6%]
"6%?"
Ding Heng was startled.
In the time it takes to eat a meal, the territory resonance level has actually increased?
I used to freeload at hotels quite a bit, but I didn't see any increase in the territory's resonance level.
Could it be... because Zhao Yanxi just made a purchase!?
Ding Heng suddenly remembered that in the first few days after he awakened the system, he was still working foolishly in a Chinese restaurant.
There was an older sister who stayed at the hotel and would come down to the restaurant to eat from time to time. Every time, she would specifically ask him to serve her. Once, she was so happy that she spent 50,000, and the territory resonance level reached 5% that day.
Ding Heng hadn't initially connected the two events, but now that he thinks about it...
"Damn!"
After figuring out the cause and effect, Ding Heng couldn't help but swear.
They won't pay me, but I still have to make money for them! This system must be something the hotel owner created, right?
No way, I have to eat two more Australian lobsters tonight to really vent my anger!
……
On the ride back, the driver was a kind-looking woman in her forties. She seemed to find the two girls pretty and charming, and she kept talking the whole way.
"Young lady, out having fun after just finishing your college entrance exams?"
"Wow, they all scored over 600 points! They're top students! Unlike my unlucky son."
"Do you have a boyfriend yet? You'd better keep your eyes open in college..."
Normally, Zhao Yanxi would definitely be the one to chime in and chat with anyone for a long time.
But today she was acting out of character, spending most of her time holding her phone, her fingers rapidly tapping and swiping on the screen, her lips occasionally curving upwards, her eyes crinkling, completely immersed in another world.
To avoid an awkward silence and to keep the driver from feeling embarrassed, Wenjing had no choice but to bite the bullet and try her best to keep up the conversation, responding with brief "uh-huhs" and "yeahs." Although her answers were short, at least she managed to keep the air from becoming completely silent.
As the car entered Zhuzhou city, the interior finally quieted down for a moment.
Zhao Yanxi put down her phone, let out a long sigh, and a smile lingered on her face.
Wenjing couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Yanxi, who... were you chatting with the whole way?"
"Ding Heng."
Zhao Yanxi answered naturally and casually.
"Have you added him on WeChat?"
Wenjing felt as if her heart had been gently squeezed.
"Yes, I just added it in the hotel lobby."
Zhao Yanxi waved her phone.
Wenjing felt an even stronger emptiness in her heart, as if something that might have originally belonged to her was quietly slipping away.
"What are you guys talking about? You could talk the whole way."
When Wenjing chats with people, she can kill the conversation in three minutes.
So it's really hard to imagine how Ding Heng and Zhao Yanxi, who have only known each other for less than two days, could have so much to talk about.
"We talked a lot."
Zhao Yanxi shrugged.
"For example, if I want to buy a computer, I can ask him for some advice; most guys know a lot about these things. I can also check his social media to see if we have any common interests..."
She concluded, "What you talk about isn't important; what matters is whether the other person wants to talk to you. If they really want to talk, even if you don't have anything to say, you can still exchange funny emojis."
After listening, Wenjing seemed to have a sudden realization, but then felt a sense of loss.
So this is what chatting is all about?
When Ding Heng was chatting with me, he would always stop at just the right moment. Was it because... he didn't want to talk to me any longer?
The two lived not far from each other. After getting off the bus, they said goodbye and went home with their luggage.
As soon as Zhao Yanxi entered the house, her mother, Zhou Rongmei, came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced fruit.
On the living room sofa sat a slightly overweight, smiling middle-aged man.
"uncle!"
Zhao Yanxi exclaimed in surprise, put down her luggage, rushed over, and gave her uncle's belly a hard pat: "You've gotten fat again!"
Zhou Rongmei laughed and scolded, "You have no manners! Go wash your hands!"
Zhou Rongsen cried out "Ouch!" and rubbed his round belly, not annoyed at all.
He looked at his niece with a smile and exclaimed, "Yan hope is so beautiful! Her eyebrows, nose and eyes are just like yours when you were young."
Zhou Rongsen is ten years younger than his older sister Zhou Rongmei. He is thirty-three years old this year and has made a fortune by riding the wave of opportunity in recent years.
Even though he wasn't married yet, he showered almost all his affection on his niece. When Zhao Yanxi got into Central South University, he immediately gave her a hefty five-figure bonus.
Zhou Rongsen chuckled and pointed to a cardboard box beside him: "It's rare for me to come back, so I brought you a college gift. See if you like it."
"Gift?"
Zhao Yanxi couldn't wait to open the box, which contained the latest Apple brand mobile phone, tablet, and computer set.
She exclaimed with delight, "Wow! Thank you, Uncle!"
Just when I was worried that a meal had cost most of my budget and I hadn't found the equipment I wanted, my uncle's gift was a godsend.
Zhou Rongmei looked at her younger brother and complained, "You spoil her again. When your brother-in-law comes back later, he'll definitely scold you!"
Zhou Rongsen didn't take it to heart: "Girls should be raised in comfort."
"Spoiling children doesn't mean raising them like this."
Zhou Rongmei habitually began lecturing: "You've only been rich for a few years, don't always spend money so recklessly! Besides, if you really want to raise a child well, get married and have a daughter as soon as possible, then you can raise her however you want."
Seeing her mother's posture, Zhao Yanxi knew that her occupational hazard as a teacher had kicked in again, so she quickly picked up the box and sneaked back to her room with a grin.
"Thank you, Uncle! Mom, I'm going back to my room to try out the new computer!"
In the living room, the siblings looked at each other and smiled helplessly yet indulgently.
……
At the same time, Wenjing also arrived home.
I took out my key and opened the door. My mother, Luo Guihua, was busy in the kitchen.
Wenjing walked over with the takeout bag: "Mom, you didn't go to work today?"
"Your cousin got married today, and I just came back from the wedding banquet."
Luo Guihua didn't even look up, her tone reproachful: "Your dad is the same. Our two families haven't been in touch for over ten years, but one phone call and he insists I go. Doesn't he even consider how much he's already given away in wedding gifts this year!"
Wenjing didn't reply, but silently walked to the pool and began to help her mother.
Luo Guihua continued, "After you graduate from university, you'd better start working and get married as soon as possible, so your dad and I can start earning some money. Don't be like your sister, just lazing around at home..."
Wenjing buried herself in her work, the sound of flowing water masking the girl's soft sigh.
She didn't know how to respond to those words, and finally just asked softly, "Where's my sister?"
"Still sleeping," Luo Guihua said irritably. "When have you ever seen her get up during the day?"
Only then did Luo Guihua notice the several exquisitely packaged bags on the side.
"What is this?"
"My friend treated me to dinner, and we ordered a lot of dishes, all of which were quite expensive. I couldn't finish them, so I packed them up and brought them home."
Wenjing explained in a low voice.
Luo Guihua opened the bag and looked inside. Her eyes lit up. "Wow, these are all good stuff! I'll heat them up and call your younger siblings out to have some."
Wenjing hummed in agreement, dried her hands, and turned to walk towards the bedroom area.
Her family's house could be considered a four-bedroom, one-living-room house: her parents lived in the master bedroom, her older sister had a separate room, her younger brother had a separate room, and she and her younger sister Wenshu shared a room.
Wenjing knocked on her sister's door first: "Sis, I brought back some food, including seafood..."
An impatient reply came from inside: "I'm not eating! Don't bother me!"
Wenjing silently withdrew her hand, turned around and knocked on her younger brother's door to inform him, receiving a crisp "Okay" in response, accompanied by the intense gunfight sounds of "Peace Elite".
Finally, Wenjing pushed open the door to her and her sister's room.
As soon as I entered the room, I saw my younger sister, Wenshu, sitting at her desk, fiddling with something in front of a small mirror.
Upon hearing the door open, Wen Shu was clearly flustered and hurriedly stuffed the things in her hands into her pockets.
Wen Shu's movements weren't fast, but Wen Jing could see clearly that it was a pair of small earrings and a lipstick.
Her gaze then fell on Wen Shu's earlobes, where there was a fresh little hole on each side.
Wenjing opened her mouth, wanting to ask, "You're only in your second year of high school, why did you get your ears pierced?", but she swallowed the words back.
She pretended not to see and calmly said, "I packed some food back, including seafood. Go and try it."
Wen Shu breathed a sigh of relief, got up and walked to the door, then turned back and asked, "Second Sister, aren't you going to eat?"
She smiled gently and said, "I've already eaten, you should eat more."
The door closed, and the room became quiet.
Wenjing let out a silent sigh, looking at the two single beds placed side by side, feeling a wave of exhaustion.
She lay back down on her own bed, which was a bit hard.
For some reason, the image of the soft, spacious bed in the executive suite of the Chujiang Hotel suddenly flashed through my mind. It seemed to be able to swallow up all my fatigue.
She shook her head sharply, dispelling the inappropriate "nostalgia," and then sat up and opened her suitcase.
At the very top is Phoebe's cosplay outfit.
Since the clothes were ordered to her size, Zhao Yanxi simply offered to give them to her as a commemorative gift for their high school graduation.
Although Wenjing felt embarrassed, she couldn't refuse her friend's kindness once again.
She's always been like this, she can never learn to say no...
She was worrying about how to wash and hide this obviously "unusual" dress so that her parents wouldn't find it when her eyes suddenly caught sight of a box half-hidden by clothes in the corner of the trunk.
Cardcaptor Sakura figure box!
It was in the model section of the comic convention that she glanced at it a few more times, but quickly left because of the price.
Who put it there?
Hua Yue? Zhao Yanxi?
If they sent it to me, there's no need to sneak it in like this.
A name popped into my mind.
Ding Heng?
Wenjing picked up the figurine box, her mind blank and lost in thought.