Chapter 378: The Victory Gesture
Chapter 378: Chapter 378: The Victory Gesture
Zhao Nuanyue led Little Red Carp, following closely behind Hua Yusen. Zhao Nuan Yang walked at the very back.
Little Red Carp turned her head, then held up two fingers to her brother, making a V-for-victory sign.
Zhao Nuan Yang smiled, but his heart also ached a little for her. He copied her gesture, making the same sign back.
They had succeeded. They had successfully kept their sister at home!
There had been a few bumps along the way, but they had achieved their goal. That was what mattered. Little Red Carp and Zhao Nuan Yang were completely satisfied.
The two of them had been terribly worried when their sister hadn’t come home. More than that, they had been heartbroken at the thought that once she was married, she would leave their little courtyard to live with Hua Yusen and the Hua family.
They didn’t want to be separated from their sister, but if they moved into the Hua family’s home with her, they felt they would be a burden.
Perhaps Little Red Carp could get away with it because she was young, living with her sister at the Hua family’s estate. But Zhao Nuan Yang was older, an adult now, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to live there.
So, the two siblings had worked together to put on this little act.
Little Red Carp had thrown herself into her role a little too much, and her crying had been so frightening that she’d scared not only Zhao Nuanyue, but Zhao Nuan Yang and Hua Yusen as well.
Once in the car, they headed straight for the Friendship Restaurant. Because of Hua Yusen’s special status, he could go right in and even just sign for the meal without paying. However, not wanting to give anyone leverage over him, Hua Yusen paid in full with cash and ration coupons.
Sitting in the spacious, bright dining hall of the restaurant, with its clean windows and tables, Little Red Carp looked all around. She was like a little country bumpkin seeing Jincheng City for the first time, curious about everything!
’Oh my gosh, I’ve never been to such a fancy place before! I wish I could live somewhere like this and eat here every day.’
"Brother-in-law, this place is amazing! It’s not like anywhere else!" Little Red Carp praised. "You’re the best, big brother-in-law! I wish you and my sister a harmonious marriage, a long and happy life together, and may you have a son soon! When you do, Little Red Carp will help you take care of the baby!"
"Haha..." Hua Yusen roared with laughter at her words. "Alright! We’ll be counting on you then, Little Red Carp. You’re so well-behaved and adorable, any child you help raise is sure to be just as cute and good!"
"Yes, yes! You’re so right, big brother-in-law!" Little Red Carp said confidently, nodding in agreement with Hua Yusen.
Zhao Nuanyue watched her adorable little sister and kissed her on the forehead. "Oh, how did my Little Red Carp get to be so sensible! Your big brother-in-law ordered a cake for you later as a reward."
"Huh?" Little Red Carp’s eyes went wide. "We’re having cake today? That’s amazing! I hope you and Brother-in-law go get your marriage license every day, then we can have cake every day!"
"Haha..." Little Red Carp’s comment made everyone laugh.
After the food arrived, they ate until they were about half-full. Then, a waiter brought over a twelve-inch cake with Little Red Carp’s name written on it, along with a cute red carp.
Little Red Carp said a few more auspicious words before eagerly urging Zhao Nuanyue to cut the cake for her.
The meal left Little Red Carp and Zhao Nuan Yang in high spirits.
After they finished eating, Little Red Carp’s gaze lingered wistfully on the table, where a third of the cake still remained.
"How about we pack up the rest of the cake to take home for your dinner, Little Red Carp?" Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. It was too delicious to let go to waste, and Zhao Nuanyue wasn’t the type to sacrifice substance for the sake of so-called "face."
"Mhm, mhm! Thank you, Sister!" Little Red Carp exclaimed, clapping her hands, delighted that she would get to eat more of the delicious cake that evening.
Resources were scarce these days; it couldn’t be helped. A seed was planted in Little Red Carp’s young heart: one day, she would open a big, big cake shop. Then she could eat cake every day, her mouth always sweet and her heart always happy.
In the afternoon, Hua Yusen didn’t take them straight home. Instead, he took them sightseeing around Jincheng City. It was rare for the family to be together like this, so they treated it as a celebration.
It wasn’t until around four or five in the afternoon that they returned to their home by Qingya Lake.
It had been a busy day. Though they were happy, they were also a bit tired. So, after getting home, Zhao Nuanyue saw they still had tomatoes and eggs and decided to make tomato and egg noodles. It was a simple, nutritious meal, and the vibrant colors looked beautiful and auspicious.
When it was time for Hua Yusen to leave, he held Nuanyue in a tight embrace.
"Nuanyue, get some rest. No matter what happens, you still have me. Don’t push yourself too hard." Hua Yusen gently caressed Zhao Nuanyue’s cheek, his gaze tender and deep as he looked at the woman he loved.
"Mm, I know." Zhao Nuanyue stood on her tiptoes and gave Hua Yusen a passionate kiss on the lips. She wanted him to know her love, her gratitude.
Hua Yusen loved it when Zhao Nuanyue took the initiative. Every time she did so with such passion, it left a lasting impression on him.
Back in Nianqiao Village, Hua Yusen had slowly discovered how wonderful Zhao Nuanyue was. While there, he couldn’t help but gradually fall for her. He even yearned for her in his dreams at night, which led to the first nocturnal emission of his life.
For some unknown reason, the male dysfunction he’d developed as an after-effect of being severely poisoned in his childhood had disappeared.
He had become a true man, and so his attention on Zhao Nuanyue intensified. He slowly discovered more of her wonderful qualities and gradually fell in love with her.
Both physically and mentally, Hua Yusen desired Zhao Nuanyue immensely.
The two of them reluctantly parted, pouring out their hearts to each other and eagerly awaiting their wedding day, which was the day after tomorrow.
What could be more blissful than two people in love getting married?
A successful career, a healthy family, and his beloved by his side—Hua Yusen had never felt so happy in his life.
"Little Nuanyue, wait for me. I’ll come for you the day after tomorrow," Hua Yusen whispered in Zhao Nuanyue’s ear. "I will come to welcome you as my bride myself, to make you Hua Yusen’s bride."
"Okay, I’ll be waiting for you," Zhao Nuanyue nodded. "I’ll wait for you to come for me. We’ll definitely be a happy couple."
Because Zhao Nuanyue understood Hua Yusen, and even though Hua Yusen didn’t know her secrets, he loved her. That was all that mattered.
"Okay," Hua Yusen nodded, and kissed her again.
It was as if they were the only two people in the universe, embracing blissfully, feeling each other’s warmth and affection.
It was almost ten o’clock. Only after Zhao Nuanyue’s urging did Hua Yusen reluctantly depart.
Zhao Nuanyue went back to the rear courtyard and saw that Little Red Carp was already asleep in bed. She went over to tuck her in before going to wash up herself.
When Zhao Nuanyue had finished washing up and lay back down on the bed, Little Red Carp automatically sought out the source of warmth, snuggling up to her sister’s side.
Looking at her little sister, Zhao Nuanyue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’Little Red Carp is just too sensitive,’ Zhao Nuanyue thought. ’I’ll have to pay more attention to her from now on.’