Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 223: Reunion with Xue Lingxue

Ever since they bought these three houses, they’ve just been left there, barely managed, and now four years have passed, the houses have become somewhat run-down.

That’s all money! Just leaving them like that, they can’t overlook it.

The couple discussed it and decided to contact a renovation company for an on-site inspection, planning to do a simple renovation on the houses, and then rent them out for two years.

After two years, when the kids return home, they’ll make further arrangements based on their plans.

Chen Xinyue has no idea what her parents are planning.

After flying for several hours, the plane finally landed.

At the airport, English surrounded her. At this moment, she was incredibly grateful her parents made her learn English; in a place full of foreigners, her Eastern face stood out.

Just as she walked out of the airport, she was hugged by Xue Lingxue, "Xinyue! I waited for you for four years, a whole four years! You finally came!"

Chen Xinyue looked into Xue Lingxue’s tearful eyes, and her eyes grew red too.

"You didn’t even give me a heads-up when you left, and now you think of me!"

Xue Lingxue instantly lowered her head, embarrassed, sticking out her tongue, "It’s all my fault, I’ll treat you to a meal."

"That’s more like it!"

The two chatted and laughed as they got into the car.

In the car, Chen Xinyue asked about Xue Lingxue’s life over the past four years.

Xue Lingxue didn’t have the happiness Chen Xinyue imagined; her response was very flat, "Honestly, it’s just like that. When I first came, I longed for western romance and beauty, went to Kang Bridge, the golden willows by the riverbank, the vibrant reflections in the ripples, the soft mud with green duckweed, it’s not like I imagined but I witnessed many romantic confessions and kisses. Sigh! We are still too conservative, can’t learn, hahaha...

I think outdoor activities are more exciting, like skiing in the Snowdonia Mountain Range in Wales, it’s really thrilling. I’ll take you there someday, let you experience what it means to fly freely."

Xue Lingxue’s smile was oddly cunning.

Zhang Jingxuan, who was driving, voiced his displeasure, "Lingxue, I told you skiing is dangerous, uncle and aunt have already warned you, I reminded you repeatedly, yet you not only don’t restrain yourself but also want to take your friends on an adventure, what if her family finds out how will you explain to her parents?"

The laughter abruptly stopped.

Chen Xinyue curiously looked at Zhang Jingxuan.

When she was about to get in the car, Zhang Jingxuan helped load her luggage, seeing how casual Xue Lingxue was with him, she instinctively assumed they knew each other, but since Xue Lingxue didn’t introduce him, she didn’t ask more.

Seeing Zhang Jingxuan now lecturing Xue Lingxue like an elder, Chen Xinyue was curious if he was Xue Lingxue’s cousin?

Zhang Jingxuan realized he was too emotional, glanced back at Chen Xinyue, and explained, "Sorry if I scared you, previously when Lingxue went skiing, she fractured a bone and ended up in the hospital, uncle and aunt were so worried that they specially came to Britain, and repeatedly instructed her not to do anything risky again.

I promised uncle and aunt I would keep it under control, she also promised well, but unexpectedly she recuperated only to forget the pain and repeat the same mistakes..."

"Bang!" Xue Lingxue vented her frustration by punching the passenger seat’s backrest, "Zhang Jingxuan, it’s not your place to meddle in my affairs! Stop acting like a big shot with authority!"

Zhang Jingxuan snorted coldly, "Do you think I want to control you? If I hadn’t promised your parents, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me! Your body is yours; if you don’t cherish it, I can’t help."

The more Xue Lingxue listened, the angrier she got, her eyes turned visibly red.

Seeing her about to explode again, Chen Xinyue hurriedly interrupted, "Alright, alright, so where are we going now? I’ve been on a plane for so long; my back is almost breaking."

Only then did Xue Lingxue hold back her temper, hugged Chen Xinyue, and buried her head against her armpit.

They rode without speaking until the car finally stopped.

Xue Lingxue quickly led Chen Xinyue off the car in a huff, took all the luggage out of the trunk, and didn’t let Zhang Jingxuan intervene at all.

Zhang Jingxuan had no intention of intervening either.

Seeing them enter the apartment, he drove away.

Chen Xinyue followed Xue Lingxue home, discovering that Xue Lingxue’s apartment was a two-room unit, one room was a bedroom, the other served as a study and makeup room.

For one person, the space was quite generous.

"You’re not staying in a dorm?" Chen Xinyue asked leisurely, sitting on the sofa.

Xue Lingxue shook her head, "The dorm is rather chaotic, with people of various nationalities, and their lifestyles, personalities, and values differ significantly, living together easily causes friction. I didn’t come here for studying voluntarily, there’s no need to increase my stress by dealing with interpersonal relationships. What about you? Are you staying in a dorm?"

Chen Xinyue tapped her leg, deep in thought, before smiling after a while: "Since you’re living here, I’ll rent a place here with you!"

Xue Lingxue’s eyes lit up, but then she quickly became worried, "But the rent here isn’t cheap..."

Chen Xinyue shrugged, "It’s okay, I have money!"

"Whoa! Is my dear getting rich? Please take care of me!" Xue Lingxue’s mood improved, returning to her mischievous antics.

After joking around, Chen Xinyue seriously asked, "Was that guy just now your relative?"

Upon mentioning him, Xue Lingxue’s face immediately dropped, "Not a relative, he’s my fiancé."

"Pfft!" Chen Xinyue spat out the mineral water in disbelief, "What? What era is this! If you said boyfriend I wouldn’t be this shocked, fiancé..."

Xue Lingxue held back her mouth, suddenly bursting into tears, "Do you find it absurd? Even I find it laughable! But it’s true; he doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him, but our families are well-matched, he can’t make his own decisions, and I must go step by step along the path planned by my family. Sometimes I think life is really pointless.

Not being able to like the person I want, do what I like, my one rebellious act was skiing in the Snowdonia Mountain Range in Wales, and as you know, my parents warned me sternly, along with uncle and aunt from the Zhang family, they kept calling me across the ocean.

Whenever I do something slightly daring, everyone criticizes me, why? Why.....why can’t I live for myself, sob sob sob..."

The more she spoke, the sadder she became, crying in Chen Xinyue’s arms.

Chen Xinyue didn’t expect her good friend to carry such a heavy burden; she wanted to do something but didn’t know what to do.

That night, the two drank heavily in the apartment.

Xue Lingxue’s eyes were dreamy, holding Chen Xinyue’s hand tightly, "You know, I really envy you! No matter your family’s background, you have such a good brother, whereas I only have myself, everything I have to do myself... Xinyue, I really... really like Chen Ruiyu, I really like him..."

Just sober enough, Chen Xinyue was startled sober by these words. She pressed against Xue Lingxue’s cheek to confirm, "You said you like who?"