Chapter 84: Going Home
In her past life, whenever her parents argued, Chen Cheng could only hide in her room, covering her ears while listening to the sounds of things being thrown around. She would tremble in fear, not even daring to cry out loud.
She used to be a lively kid who loved running around outside, but over time, she became withdrawn, afraid of socializing, unwilling to leave her room. She grew sensitive, timid, full of self-doubt, and even developed a deep resentment toward life. Maybe she had some kind of mental health issue, but her parents never took her to see a doctor, and she never wanted to go herself.
That’s why she had escaped from this home. It wasn’t that she hated her mother or resented her father. She just despised the family they had built together.
She often thought, Living until 30 or 40 would be enough, but then she worried about making her parents sad.
She often thought, she should just be shameless and ungrateful, but she could never bring herself to truly cut ties with them.
She often thought, she needed to change, be more positive, step out of my comfort zone, but she never managed to do it.
Living was exhausting. If only an accident could put an end to everything…
But here she was, back in her senior year of high school, back in this chaotic, unstable home. And this time, she had even become a woman.
Nearly thirty years old, yet she was still that helpless child, trembling in fear as her parents argued.
An Yuan felt the dampness spreading on his shirt. Gently stroking her hair, he wiped away her tears with his fingertips and whispered, “It’s okay, I’m here.”
“We’ve been friends for decades, battle companions who crossed over together. No matter what you decide, I’ll be right by your side.”
Chen Cheng didn’t lift her head. She cried silently, her voice trembling as she asked, “What if I run away from home?”
“Then I’m coming with you. Though people might think we eloped.”
“What about college?”
“We already agreed to apply to the same university. Just remember to protect me when I get beaten up.”
“What about marriage?”
“I’ll just stay single, alright? Ugh, I’ve been hurt by a woman, I don’t believe in love anymore.”
Chen Cheng pressed her lips together and playfully challenged, “What if I want to turn back into a man?”
“I’ve always seen you as a man! In my heart, you’re a real tough guy.”
“What kind of ‘man’ cries in someone’s arms like this…”
Chen Cheng wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.
“Well, if I ever end up crying in your arms, don’t say I’m not manly enough.”
“I wouldn’t,” she muttered, wiping her tears. Then, in a small voice, she grumbled, “But I think you’re just a pervert who’s got the hots for his own brother, sweet-talking me to get me into bed.”
“…Excuse me?” An Yuan lowered his head, only to see Chen Cheng staring directly at his lower half. Without missing a beat, he grabbed a blanket and covered himself.
“You’re seriously messed up. Can’t you think about something else for once? Stop reading those weird romance novels. They’re all fake! No one actually goes after their own brother.”
Chen Cheng lifted her teary eyes and looked at him with deep suspicion.
An Yuan’s face turned bright red. Feeling guilty, he quickly looked away. “Wipe your tears and let’s go eat grilled fish and crayfish. My mom made it just for you.”
“I haven’t finished my homework.”
“You can copy mine during morning study.”
Chen Cheng had lost count of how many times she had been grateful that she didn’t have to go through this alone.
She wiped her face, her eyes still a little red, and blew her nose into a tissue. Only then did she realize that she had smeared tears and snot all over An Yuan’s collar.
Embarrassed, she pretended not to notice and took a deep breath to steady herself.
An Yuan took off his school jacket and put on a leather one. “What do you think? Cool, right?”
“Makes you look old.”
"This is called maturity. My dad bought it for me."
The two of them walked out of the room. Chen Cheng even made a quick stop at the bathroom to wash her face, trying her best to hide any traces that she had been crying.
Hearing them come out, An Yuan’s mother peeked her head out from the kitchen. "The crayfish are ready! The grilled fish will take a little longer to arrive."
"Okay~"
Seeing Chen Cheng back to her usual self, An Yuan’s mother felt relieved. "An Yuan, come help carry the crayfish."
An Yuan’s mother had gone to the market specially to buy them. They weren’t particularly big, but they were cleaned thoroughly, seasoned just right, slightly spicy with a hint of sweetness.
Chen Cheng had already put on disposable gloves, three layers of them, and was waiting eagerly in the dining room.
"Here come the crayfish~"
An Yuan placed a big bowl of crayfish on the table and hesitated for a moment before turning back. "Mom, she has a cold and fever. Is it okay for her to eat something this spicy?"
"Let her eat what she likes! A good mood helps recovery."
"That's not what you usually tell me."
Chen Cheng couldn’t wait any longer. She picked up a crayfish, clumsily pulled off the head, and struggled to peel the shell.
She didn’t eat this kind of thing often. It was expensive, messy to eat, and when she wanted shrimp, she usually just bought some prawns from the supermarket and steamed them. More meat, thinner shells, and a fresher taste.
By the time Chen Cheng had peeled one crayfish, An Yuan had already peeled three or four, each plump and intact.
"Alright, don't ruin the food." Seeing Chen Cheng fumbling, An Yuan simply peeled the crayfish and put them into her bowl. "I'll do it, you just focus on eating."
"You’re being so nice?"
"You're sick."
The doorbell rang. An Yuan’s mother hurried toward the entrance. "That must be the grilled fish."
"Grilled fish is here!"
Hearing a familiar voice, Chen Cheng turned to look toward the door. She saw her mother carrying a baking tray and her father holding a bag of drinks as they walked inside.
Her eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected her parents to do something like this.
"Chengcheng~" Her mother placed the grilled fish on the table, lit the burner to keep it warm, and then looked at her daughter with a gentle smile, her voice carrying a hint of pleading. "Come home tonight, okay? We can’t keep troubling Auntie like this."
Her father poured some orange juice into a disposable cup and said stiffly, "We won’t fight anymore."
"Yeah, what’s there to fight about?" An Yuan’s mother chimed in. "You can’t just keep making your daughter cry and run away to someone else’s house!"
"Exactly…"
An Yuan had just opened his mouth to add something when he was met with a glare from Chen Cheng’s father that could kill. He quickly shut up and went back to peeling crayfish.
Hey, I’m the real MVP here! If I hadn’t calmed Chen Cheng down, would you two even get to see her right now?
"You won’t fight anymore?" Chen Cheng hesitated, nervously fidgeting with her fingernails.
Could it really be that easy? Just saying they won’t fight means they actually won’t?
An Yuan’s mother had tried mediating countless times before, and every time, they had promised to stop fighting. Would this time be any different?
Her mother placed a large piece of grilled fish into Chen Cheng’s bowl. "Chengcheng, you’re still young, you don’t understand. Divorce isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your dad and I just won’t argue anymore, okay?"
Chen Cheng had a rough idea why her mother wouldn’t get a divorce. After so many years as a housewife, she had almost completely lost the ability to support herself… But Chen Cheng didn’t want to assume the worst about her mother. She would rather believe that her mother was staying for her sake.
"Well, I have to go back to work tomorrow morning anyway."
She didn’t want to make things too difficult for her parents, nor did she want to seem selfish. More importantly, she didn’t want her mother to have to lower herself just to beg her to come home. At least she had gotten their promise not to fight anymore. Hopefully, that meant she wouldn’t have to hear their arguments, at least for a while.
And who knows? Maybe… just maybe, they could actually get along again.
After all, who wouldn’t want a peaceful family like An Yuan’s?
"Then… let me finish eating first?"