Chapter 35: Is the Wife Here to Check Up?

In the end, Xi Yu did not force him. After all, she wasn't clear about the origins of the matter, and the siblings often squabbled; she rarely intervened. She decided to wait until Lu Qingyue finished her exams to ask for clarification.

The final exams at Jiangda Affiliated High School arrived swiftly. Over two days, exams were completed, then the school gave a two-day break for grading. On Friday, students were notified to return for their report cards and winter homework, and then the winter holiday officially began.

Even though Lu Qingyue hadn't had her brother to tutor her this semester, she still did well, earning the fifty-fifth place in the grade—just shy of the top fifty.

To reward her, Xi Yu took her to the mall after school to try the newly opened trendy ice cream shop, and bought her a few sets of new underwear.

Teenage girls’ bodies change rapidly, and they almost need new underwear every year. Though Xi Yu was busy with work, she always tried to handle this matter herself.

She took Lu Qingyue to her usual lingerie store, picking out suitable sizes for her, and casually asked, “Why have you and your brother been arguing again lately?”

Lu Qingyue paused, surprised that her mother already knew, and touched her nose guiltily. “How did you know?”

In truth, she didn’t think it was really an argument—just a bit of unpleasantness. But Lu Yi always acted so aloof; several times she wanted to swallow her pride and make peace, but seeing his attitude, she couldn’t bring herself to do it, so the cold war dragged on.

Xi Yu listened to the whole story and found it trivial, so she acted as peacemaker, offering gentle advice: “Your brother’s just anxious because he cares. He was worried you’d be deceived, so he spoke harshly. He wanted to protect you, but you argued back, so naturally he got angry.”

Lu Qingyue responded softly, without protest.

She had regretted arguing with Lu Yi that day. But she’d been innocent—tricked into a public confession in the square, which was embarrassing enough, and then Lu Yi spoke to her that way. Anger and grievance overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t help but retort.

Lu Qingyue sniffed and muttered, “I didn’t think he’d stay angry for so long.”

It had been nearly a month, yet Lu Yi remained cold and distant, making it hard for her to approach him for reconciliation.

Xi Yu knew siblings never held grudges overnight; they were just waiting for the other to offer a way out. Seeing Lu Qingyue’s troubled face, she offered a suggestion: “If you want to make up, you need to take the initiative. Buy him a small gift, cheer him up, and things will be fine.”

Lu Qingyue had never tried to placate a man, so she was skeptical. “Will that work?”

But what kind of gift do you buy for a boy? She had no experience at all!

As she hesitated over what to buy for Lu Yi, the sales assistant nearby gently reminded her, “We’re having a New Year promotion—if you spend over 500, you can add twenty and choose any two pairs of men’s underwear!”

Lu Qingyue: “???”

She instinctively turned around. “What kind of underwear?”

Seeing her interest, the sales assistant immediately brought out samples. “These are our special New Year designs, usually seventy-eight apiece, but with a purchase over 500, you can get two for just twenty.”

This year was the Year of the Horse, so many new designs featured horse motifs. The New Year series was all in bright red, lively and festive.

Lu Qingyue was instantly intrigued.

The vibrant red seemed just right for an apology. She needed underwear anyway—one piece was two hundred sixty-eight, so two would surpass five hundred. Spending twenty more was a bargain.

She made up her mind and asked the sales assistant to wrap them as a gift.

The sales assistant politely inquired, “What size would you like?”

Lu Qingyue hadn’t anticipated this question and was stumped. She had no idea what size Lu Yi wore.

Xi Yu didn’t know either; after her son entered middle school, she’d stopped shopping for his underwear.

Lu Qingyue hesitated for a few seconds, then asked cleverly, “What’s your best-selling size?”

The sales assistant replied, “We’re a European brand, so the sizes run a bit large. Usually, S is our most popular size.”

Lu Qingyue immediately said, “Then I’ll take two S.”

Xi Yu listened and felt something was off. After all, Lu Yi was one meter eighty-six—wouldn’t S be a bit tight?

She whispered, “But your brother’s one eighty.”

Lu Qingyue tilted her head, puzzled, “Is height necessarily related?”

Xi Yu thought about it and realized maybe not. Before becoming Director of Academic Affairs, she’d taught biology. In biology, there’s a principle called apical dominance suppressing lateral bud growth...

She paused for a few seconds and shook her head solemnly. “No connection. Just buy S.”

Lu Qingyue nodded, took the wrapped gift bag, paid, and prepared to deliver it to Lu Yi.

...

As the term neared its end, the university campus was nearly deserted.

Unlike high school, each college had its own exam schedule. Some majors finished early, so many students had already gone home for the New Year. Those remaining were in the majors with ten or more finals—grueling fields.

The medical school was among the most demanding.

Lu Qingyue, guided by memory, easily found the male dorms of the medical school.

The finals weren’t over yet, so students holding review materials came and went downstairs, the atmosphere heavy with academic rigor.

Lu Qingyue, being a girl, couldn’t go upstairs. She was about to call Lu Yi to come down when she unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure below.

The dorm had a long avenue lined with trees. At this season, the branches were bare, covered only by a thin layer of snow from the morning.

The sparkling snowflakes reflected the afternoon sun, tinting the world with gentle warmth.

“Xingye!” Lu Qingyue called out.

Having not seen him for over half a month, Cheng Xingye seemed even more handsome. His black hair was trimmed shorter, exposing a clean forehead, sharpening his features. Just standing there, he drew every gaze like a magnet.

He was chatting casually with someone downstairs. A girl who knew him passed by, holding milk tea, and asked from afar if he wanted some.

Cheng Xingye knew the girl had always had a bit of a crush on him and didn’t want to invite gossip, so he waved her off.

He was about to turn and continue chatting when he heard the familiar voice calling him. He paused, a bit stunned, then turned around.

Damn.

Why was she here?

The half-smoked cigarette in his hand suddenly had nowhere to go; he hurriedly stubbed it out on the railing.

His friend, seeing his flustered look, joked, “What’s up? Your girlfriend checking up on you?”

Ignoring the teasing, Cheng Xingye strode over to Lu Qingyue.

As he walked, he slipped his hand into his pocket, searching for a mint, but after a while found none and pulled his hand out irritably.

He thought, with some headache, that he’d have to quit smoking soon. If this little rascal kept making surprise visits, his fragile heart wouldn’t stand it.

Somewhat uneasy, Cheng Xingye ran his hand through his hair and, upon reaching her, looked down at her delicate face.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

Lu Qingyue hadn’t seen him smoking from a distance, but as he approached, she caught the familiar scent of tobacco on him.

It wasn’t strong—just faint, not unpleasant or choking.

She didn’t pay it much mind, swinging the bag in her hand and explaining cheerfully, “I came to deliver a gift to my brother.”

Cheng Xingye’s gaze followed the bag, noticing she’d brought something. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. “A gift?”

Weren’t those two always at each other’s throats?

He was puzzled, convinced this girl’s mind worked in mysterious ways, and whatever was inside couldn’t possibly be a normal gift. He couldn’t help but cast another curious glance at her bag.

The bag was wrapped in bright red with a clothing brand logo. Cheng Xingye had bought from that brand before and felt a sense of foreboding.

Lu Qingyue, thinking he wanted to see, eagerly opened the bag and brought it closer.

“It’s this year’s newest underwear from C!” she declared.

Cheng Xingye: ...

He knew it!