Chapter 61: Reunion

  Ji Xin'an and his family of three left the next day to reunite with their relatives and spend a seemingly ordinary New Year.

  But this New Year, Qi Xin'an spent it in a dull and tasteless way. She didn't make the phone call to Yao Wenhuo as promised, not even one. The whole New Year's, while others were indulging in the joy of the holiday, she just couldn't fit in.

  Ji Xin'an sometimes thought that it would be better to just give up, maybe it would be good for everyone, and her parents wouldn't have to worry about her anymore. But every time she thought this way, the scene of Yao Wenhuo riding a bicycle with her through the streets, laughing and chatting together, would appear in front of her eyes, as well as the two of them sitting quietly together, Yao Wenhuo's focused gaze on her.

  Even the saved bullets from a long time ago in that game would jump out and tell her how reluctant they were to be used.

  An Chu Hong saw Ji Xin An's struggle, although she didn't want Ji Xin An to fall in love so early from the bottom of her heart, but seeing her like this, as a mother, she softened.

  "An An, tell Mom, do you really like that boy?" After the New Year's celebration, on their way back, Ji Xin An was pulled aside by her mom.

  "Yes, I like him. At first, it was just to try and not regret it later, but as we gradually got in touch, I found that he knew what I wanted. Although there's nothing particularly romantic about us being together, those ordinary yet warm days have made him slowly walk into my heart, making me really unable to let go." Ji Xin'an spoke with her mother as if talking to a friend.

  "What if mom insists that you break up with him, would you argue with us for his sake?" An Chuhong's face didn't show any emotion, it was unclear whether she was being serious or just testing.

  "Of course not, no matter how much I like him, I know that in this world the people who love me most are only you and my dad, there's no one more important than you two." Ji Xin An smiled, regardless of whether her mom really thought so or not, she had to tell her that the people she valued most were them.

  "It makes Mom happy to think that way, An'an. I won't ask you to do this if you really like him, then go ahead and do what you want." An Chuhong smiled, feeling somewhat relieved.

  "Mom, really?" Ji Xin'an looked at her mother with some incredulity, unable to believe that it would end up like this.

  "Alright, mom doesn't want you to be depressed every day because of this little thing." An Chuhong smiled as she looked at her shocked expression.

  "Mom, thank you." Ji Xin'an's heart was filled with deep emotion.

  "Mom just wants you to be happy, as you said, and doesn't want you to regret it later. But promise me to take care of yourself, okay?" An Chuhong smiled at Ji Xinan, whose eyes were welling up with tears.

  "Uh-huh." Ji Xin'an nodded heavily.

  After talking with her mother, Ji Xin's mood improved a lot, but when she put down the knot in her heart, on the other hand, Yao Wenhuo's days were not going well.

  That night, after returning home, Yao Wen-hao was very worried about Ji Xin-an. He didn't sleep well all night and waited until dawn, but there was still no news from Ji Xin-an. His heart was anxious, but he didn't dare to call her proactively, fearing that his phone call would only add trouble for Ji Xin-an.

  Yao Wenhao waited by the phone for a whole day, and finally couldn't help but go to Ji Xin'an's house. However, after waiting until very late, her window was still dark, and only then did he remember that Ji Xin'an had gone home with her family for Chinese New Year. With his heart frozen through, Yao Wenhao returned home.

  The whole New Year's Day, Yao Wen-hao spent it worse than Ji Xin-an. He was always worried about her in his heart and couldn't stop thinking about her, making him feel like a day without seeing her felt like three autumns apart.

  However, even if he wants to contact her now, he can't find her, so all he can do is wait.

  A family of three finally gathered together for the New Year, but Yao Wenhao didn't feel any excitement at all, and there was no joy in his heart that he should have had during the New Year.

  His parents looked at him and didn't know what was wrong, asked a few times but not only did they not get an answer, Yao Wenhao who was already in a bad mood became even more impatient with their nagging and hid in his own room, making it so that except for meal times, he wouldn't even see them.

  So he didn't care about anything and could only let him solve it himself.

  When they met for the first time on the first day of school in the new year, Ji Xin'an felt that Yao Wenhuo's eyes lit up when he looked at her.

  "What are you smiling at?" Ji Xin'an saw that he wasn't saying anything, just staring at her and laughing, so she couldn't help but laugh too, and reached out to hit him.

  "It's great to see you, but how did you lose weight in just a few days?" Yao Wenhuo was hit, but he smiled even more happily, yet looked at Ji Xin'an with some heartache and saw that she was somewhat haggard.

  "Really, you still have this hobby?" If someone had said that to her before, Ji Xin'an would have definitely felt embarrassed to death, but today she found it very enjoyable.

  "I've missed you so much, it's been ages since we last contacted each other, I'm almost worried to death." Yao Wenhuo no longer had a mischievous look on his face, but instead put away his smile and stared at her.

  Ji Xin'an was taken aback, then smiled. "I've missed you too," she said. "But I've been making a decision and wanted to calm down and think it over, so I haven't contacted you. Sorry for worrying you."

  "What's the decision about? Your parents don't agree with us, it's hard for you, isn't it?" Yao Wenhuo immediately looked at her tensely.

  "This decision is indeed about you, but it's not because they're making things difficult for me, it's because I'm hesitating myself." Ji Xin'an said in a low voice.

  "There's nothing for us to hesitate about." Yao Wen Hua smiled lightly, "I know you also like me, right?"

  Looking at Yao Wenhao's determined expression, Ji Xin'an smiled slightly, "It's precisely because of this that I'm hesitant. If it weren't for my liking you, what would I be struggling with? I would have broken up with you long ago when my dad found out."

  "I won't agree, even if your parents disagree, I won't break up with you. I'll go with you to persuade them." Yao Wenhuo immediately became anxious after hearing her words.

  Ji Xin An shook her head, "I said I was making a decision, I like you so in the end I chose not to give up."

  "So how did you get past your parents?" Yao Wenhao laughed happily.

  "I convinced them, or rather they understood me, so I no longer hesitated." Ji Xin'an raised her head to look at his surprised face, and she was also thrilled.

  "That's great." Yao Wen-hao smiled and hugged her in his arms. "I haven't had a good year, every day I've only been worried about you, you have to make it up to me."

  "How can I make it up to you?" Ji Xin'an leaned her head on his shoulder and asked softly.

  "From now on, every day's time will be spent with me." Yao Wenhao said shamelessly.

  "Alright, I'll try my best." Ji Xin'an smiled.

  The two of them didn't say another word, both savoring this warm moment.

  Perhaps after experiencing this crisis, the two of them cherish their time together even more. Although to outsiders they may not seem as intimate as other couples, only they themselves know that their feelings and dependence on each other are increasing every day. That subtle happiness is something that outsiders cannot understand.