CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 25: DECADES OF BAD HABITS (PART 2)

"Auntie..." Su Ziceng looked at her skin turning red from the vigorous rubbing by Mrs. Yan, she didn’t dare to cry out in pain anymore, only baring her teeth in a bitter smile. The "Red Love" pendant hung at her chest, warming her body, the warmth spreading to every part of her being.

After coming out of the bathroom, Yan Wuxu handed Su Ziceng several warm cotton-padded jackets to wear and then lit a brazier to dry Ziceng’s clothes, "There might be a hint of coal smoke smell, but there’s no helping it, our home doesn’t have those fancy dryers like your family does."

Mrs. Yan had already gone to the kitchen to prepare lunch, and Su Ziceng’s face glowed red from the charcoal fire, "I’m actually envious of you, with a simple family, not having to force a smile every day, dealing with those two... bitches at home."

Yan Wuxu was stunned for a moment. At Kelly Women’s College, conversations among students were quite civilized, she knew Ziceng disliked the Chang’s mother and daughter, but she had never heard her condemn them so harshly before, especially with Ziceng’s abnormal behavior today.

"Hang Yishao and Chang Chi have gotten together," Su Ziceng said, picking up a piece of charcoal and throwing it into the brazier. The black charcoaled piece, once in the brazier, immediately glowed red as though it mirrored the rage in someone’s eyes.

"Those two? You didn’t fall for Fei Qing’s nonsense, did you," Yan Wuxu mentioned Fei Qing’s name so casually that it surprised even herself. She had refused to mention that name ever since they broke up, yet today it slipped out smoothly.

"You seem to have moved on," Su Ziceng was about to tease her, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bouquet of pink roses placed in the Yan Family’s dining room. Following her gaze, Yan Wuxu also looked over and her face suspiciously reddened.

To truly forget a past romance, the correct method isn’t to learn to forget, but to find someone to replace it. Su Ziceng realized this from Yan Wuxu’s reaction.

The sound of knocking came from the door, "I’ll go get it," Yan Wuxu jumped up as if burned by the fire, and immediately rushed to the door. The moment the wintry wind blew in, a fiery bouquet of roses seared into the eyes of both.

It seems the person pursuing Wuxu isn’t holding back, Su Ziceng didn’t bother asking and used the fire tongs to stir the coals. Just looking at that situation, she knew it wasn’t Boss Han; what a pity, a good several-month window of opportunity went by and he didn’t seize it.

"In this harsh cold, that person is sending flowers again," Mrs. Yan came out of the kitchen with two bowls of hot noodle soup, "Better to send a few cabbages, would be more practical, we don’t have any fresh vegetables at home, I could only make you two a bowl of noodles using some eggs and green onions."

Hearing Mrs. Yan’s complaint, both of them laughed, taking the bowls of noodles and slurping them up.

Halfway through the meal, Yan Wuxu put down her chopsticks, catching Su Ziceng’s gaze thoughtfully: "What do you plan to do?"

"What else can I do, face it head-on. When school starts tomorrow, I’m going to confront that pair of adulterers," Su Ziceng picked up some noodles with her chopsticks, blowing on them before putting them in her mouth. In her mind, Hang Yishao and Chang Chi being together was undoubtedly incestuous, an affair between a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, it’s messed up.

"Actually," Yan Wuxu, as if losing her appetite, aimlessly pushed around the egg in her bowl without eating it, pondering how to put her thoughts into words.

"Just say what you want to say, it’s not good always to be so hesitant," Su Ziceng had already finished her noodles, the warm food in her stomach made her mood slightly better.

"Have you ever thought that you actually have no right to question Hang Yishao, after all, neither of you is married," said Yan Wuxu hesitantly, finally voicing her inner thoughts.

"I am his legally..." Su Ziceng spread her fingers, subconsciously thinking that she was still wearing her wedding ring. Only when she noticed her hands waving above the soup without anything on her fingers, fragranced with noodle broth, did Su Ziceng realize for the first time that everything was different - her hands bore no symbol of marital status.

"Legally protected childhood sweethearts?" The next words out of Yan Wuxu almost choked Su Ziceng.

Without a response, Su Ziceng, in a huff, poked her chopsticks into Yan Wuxu’s bowl of noodles, stirring it messily, "Did your bowl get some chili added into it? Your words are so sharp."

"But you asked me to say it," Yan Wuxu replied, and then felt shy about her bold words, "What I mean is, Hang Yishao isn’t that great either, he’s just a rich, young punk after all."

"Rich, young punk?" Su Ziceng felt a sense of bitter amusement, on one hand, she was lamenting her long-delayed realization, and on the other, she was amused by Yan Wuxu’s old-fashioned tone, "Then what did you like about that young punk Fei Qing back then?"

"I liked his money," Yan Wuxu’s answer was quick as if it was rehearsed, "So I’m asking what you liked about Hang Yishao, you’re rich enough already."

"I liked his face," Su Ziceng’s answer nearly made Yan Wuxu snort out her noodles, she didn’t expect Su Ziceng to be someone so focused on appearances.

"It’s just liking that face, the first peer of the opposite sex I saw when I was little. Like a celebrity photo on the bedroom wall that you’ve seen for over a decade, suddenly one day it’s gone and you’d feel anxious," Su Ziceng reflected, summarizing her feelings for Hang Yishao.

"That’s not called liking, that’s called habit, and it’s not a good habit at that." That was Yan Wuxu’s final verdict on Su Ziceng’s feelings for Hang Yishao, which had lasted for decades.

"Just for the face, Teacher Pei Luo is better-looking than him," Yan Wuxu continued with another potent statement, "Why not give Teacher Pei Luo a chance, I think he has a special regard for you."

At Kelly Women’s College, Pei Luo was wrapping a white poplar tree overwintering, his hand trembled without reason and the solid-looking warmth bag tore a little, as if something quietly slipped in, spring was not far off. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, your support is my biggest motivation.)