Chapter 25 – A Different Daily Life (Part 2)
Novel t.i.tle: 一生之计在于春 (Spring is the Plan of Life)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 姚锦夕 (Yao Jinxi -MC), 吴洋 (Wu Yang -ML)
*Please read at knoxt.s.p.a.ce, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Yao Jinchen ate quickly, as if he hadn’t eaten in three days. Yao Jinxi watched him in silence and handed him a tissue. “Slow down. Did you skip breakfast?”
“Mmm.” Yao Jinchen wiped his mouth haphazardly after swallowing the food and shook his head. “It’s been a long time since I tasted your cooking.”
Yao Jinxi didn’t reply. But there was a touch of sadness in his eyes as he looked at Yao Jinchen. Yao Jinchen paused, stopped eating, and stared back at him.
“Brother, are you really not mad at me?” The bright daylight shone on his scholarly face, accentuating his slightly melancholic features. “I regret what I did. But I…”
“Let’s not talk about it.” Yao Jinxi gently interrupted him. “Jinchen, there’s no need to bring up the past. Since you came to find me, I think there are some things you should have thought through.”
Yao Jinchen became anxious and reached out to grab Yao Jinxi’s hand. “Brother…”
Yao Jinxi moved away and smiled calmly. He said, “Since you call me ‘brother’, I hope you understand that I am your brother. And I will always be just your brother. We can continue to get along well as brothers. Otherwise, Mom would be unhappy if she knew things were different.”
“But she’s not here.” Yao Jinchen realised that his words had revealed his true intentions too obviously. But he didn’t know how to backtrack. He looked helpless.
Yao Jinxi and Yao Jinchen’s current appearance overlapped with the image of his little brother from his memories. He felt a sense of helplessness and had become accustomed to tolerating and even indulging Yao Jinchen. After all these years apart, when they met again, he could easily become a good brother without any discomfort.
He asked in a deep voice, “Jinchen, be honest with me. Did you have a girlfriend in college?”
He didn’t expect his brother to ask such a question. Yao Jinchen hesitated for a moment, looking guilty. “Why are you asking this?”
“Just answer me.”
Seeing Yao Jinxi’s determination to get an answer, Yao Jinchen hesitated for a while. “I didn’t…”
Yao Jinxi interrupted him before he could finish. He knew his brother too well. Just a twitch of his eyebrows and he could tell if he was lying. “Tell me the truth.”
Yao Jinchen was momentarily at a loss for words and glanced at Yao Jinxi with a look of reproach. It was as if accusing him of forcing him to speak when he clearly didn’t want to.
He turned his head away as if he had been wronged. “I did.”
Yao Jinxi sighed in relief. Whether they had broken up or not, the fact that he had a girlfriend was good news. At least it proved that Yao Jinchen was capable of liking girls.
Seeing Yao Jinxi’s thoughtful expression, Yao Jinchen hurriedly added, “Although I had a girlfriend, we broke up a long time ago. Don’t be mad at me, brother.”
“Mad at you? Why would I be mad?” Yao Jinxi smiled. “Why did you break up? If not, I might already have a sister-in-law. And Mom would be happy.”
Yao Jinchen furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at him. “How can she compare to you?”
“Of course, you think I’m better because I carry the blame for you and do the heavy lifting. That’s because you’re my brother.” Yao Jinxi smiled and continued, “You’re looking for a girlfriend, not a maid. Don’t expect others to cater to you.”
These words happened to hit the nail on the head and exposed the real reason for Yao Jinchen’s breakup. He shrugged indifferently. “Well, I didn’t really like her that much.”
Yao Jinxi sighed. This boy’s personality hadn’t changed much. He had always been insensitive to others’ feelings since childhood. He couldn’t help but reflect on himself again. Was it his fault? Did he spoil him too much?
He stood up, supporting himself on the table. “It’s getting late. I should go back.”
“Huh? Isn’t there still over an hour left?” Yao Jinchen finally caught hold of his wrist this time. His eyes sparkling as he looked at him. “Stay with me a little longer.”
“What’s the point of staying here? It’s scorching hot. We should both go back and enjoy the air conditioning,” Yao Jinxi casually withdrew his hand. “You have to work in the afternoon. Go take a nap.”
Yao Jinchen was not pleased. But he didn’t want to argue with his long-lost brother over such trivial matters. He reluctantly agreed, “Fine. Take care on your way back.”
Yao Jinxi, sweating profusely under the scorching sun, returned to his shop. As he entered through the gla.s.s door, he immediately felt the coolness provided by the air conditioning. He fanned himself and said, “It’s so hot. It’s so hot.”
“You’re back,” Wu Yang was sitting in his usual spot. “There’s bottled water and watermelon in the fridge. Which one do you prefer?”
Yao Jinxi rushed into the kitchen when he heard that and opened the fridge. He took out a chilled bottle of mineral water and gulped down two big sips. He choked on the water halfway through. He coughed and turned around in astonishment.
The dishes on the counter remained untouched.
Yao Jinxi wiped his mouth and moved the plate that had been placed upside down on the dishes to keep them warm. It was indeed untouched. He returned to the front of the shop, where Wu Yang had vacated his seat.
He put down the mineral water and asked, “Haven’t you eaten yet?”
“Oh,” Wu Yang seemed to have just realised, “I was planning to wait for you to eat together. But it looks like you’ve already eaten?”
“Umm…” Yao Jinxi felt a bit awkward. Although he hadn’t made any specific plans with Wu Yang, he had mentioned that he would come back to eat. But he didn’t expect Wu Yang to wait for him.
Before he could say anything, Wu Yang added, “I forgot to remind you. I’m sorry… I just like the feeling of having someone to eat with…”
This apology sounded sincere. It was as if he genuinely felt bad for imposing on Yao Jinxi. At the same time, there was a hint of melancholy in his tone.
Yao Jinxi’s heart softened. “What’s there to apologize for? Let me reheat your food for you.”
“No need. I can do it myself.” Wu Yang started to get up. But Yao Jinxi had already gone into the kitchen. When his voice came from inside, it was accompanied by clattering sounds. “Alright! Just sit there!”
Since it was just him eating, Yao Jinxi took a bowl and piled all the food into it as if it were a lunchbox. He heated it in the microwave and brought it out to Wu Yang. “Eat quickly.”
He made himself some tea. Leaning his hands on the table, he watched Wu Yang eat bite by bite. “You really… Next time, just let me know, okay? How would I know you were waiting for me?”
Wu Yang paused. He put down his chopsticks and gave Yao Jinxi an innocent smile. “I didn’t want to trouble you.”
“What’s the trouble? You know that I’m alone too.”
Being alone meant living a monotonous life. Once you stopped and looked back after being busy, you’d realise that all your busyness was worthless. There was nothing important to do and that trouble couldn’t really bother you.
Wu Yang didn’t comment. He just focused on eating the full bowl of rice.
Yao Jinxi said that he was also alone so there was no trouble. That was how he always presented himself. Wu Yang could understand this. That was why they got along together. Others might see them doing boring things. They didn’t have any outings. They just stayed in the small tea shop chatting. But this relationship is casual and tacit. They seemed nonchalant but they are really comfortable with each other.
But now, things have become a little different.
Yao Jinchen was like a comet falling from the sky, crashing into this ordinary daily life between them. He did not let Yao Jinxi deliver food at noon anymore. Instead, he came directly to the shop to eat lunch. Naturally, he also had a meal for dinner. Every time Yao Jinxi wanted to advise him to stop, he would definitely complain with sad eyes, looking as gentle as a deer.
Yao Jinxi couldn’t do anything to deal with him.
Wu Yang also couldn’t do anything to deal with him.
Wu Yang’s vacation started early. He handed in his resignation even when the manager tried every means to persuade him to stay. They even wanted to raise his salary and promised him an exciting future. But Wu Yang didn’t care about external things. He had pa.s.sed the stage of life of fighting for them. At present, he only felt that he must stay by Yao Jinxi’s side in order to be in a happy mood.
This kind of mood used to be like the warmth of the sun in the cold winter. But now it has become even more intense. When Yao Jinxi occasionally smiles at him, or when he just looks over at him, Wu Yang’s heart will feel like it was placed under a scorching summer. It was roasted and became uncontrollably hot.
Wu Yang knew that he was now caring about Yao Jinxi more than ever before.
These emotions and reactions were gradually developing into an unfamiliar feeling. Wu Yang didn’t want to stop it. Instead, he embraced it.
Thoughts were just thoughts. For now, all he could do was the same as what Yao Jinchen did. And that is to drive over for lunch and dinner. He felt tired of being cautious over a little brat.
As for the matter of the two Yao brothers, Wu Yang wasn’t very clear about it. But his doubts were growing.
It all started with Xia Ruonan’s reaction.
When he mentioned Yao Jinchen’s arrival to her inadvertently, he realised that Yao Jinxi hadn’t informed her. This was quite intriguing. Yao Jinxi and Xia Ruonan had been childhood friends. So she should have known Yao Jinchen. With their close relationship and Xia Ruonan’s personality, one would expect her to have a good relationship with Yao Jinchen as well.
However, Xia Ruonan’s immediate reaction was a change in her expression. “What?! Yao Jinchen is here?! He has the nerve to come find Jinxi?!”
Coming from Xia Ruonan, who always advocated harmony, these were very strong words. Wu Yang was surprised. But he feigned innocence. “What’s wrong? Isn’t Yao Jinchen Jinxi’s younger brother?”
“Younger brother,” Xia Ruonan repeated these words through gritted teeth. Her anger was evident. She clenched her fists, glaring at someone as if she were furious. “How long has he been here?”
Not long after, Wu Yang casually emphasised Yao Jinchen’s clinginess to Yao Jinxi. Xia Ruonan’s anger flared. “I knew he didn’t have good intentions!”
She shouted loudly that the surrounding colleagues looked over. But Xia Ruonan paid them no mind and went outside to call Yao Jinxi.
Wu Yang smiled at his curious colleagues and then turned his attention to his computer screen. His thoughts were wandering.
He had a vague suspicion that was too absurd to be certain.
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*Author’s Note: I did the maths and I’ll continue daily updates until next Wednesday. =w= -YXF
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Next update: 2023.10.31
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