1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 84 The innocent girl persona completely crumbled.

"Good, good, good, young man, you look very energetic."

Grandpa Wang's shrewd eyes swept over his two young children, and he smiled knowingly.

"Go back inside."

Lin Xiyu felt uncomfortable under his gaze, so she quietly tugged at Gu Bin's sleeve and whispered an urging.

"it is good."

Gu Bin smiled good-naturedly, pulled the person through the passageway, and turned into the small courtyard.

"I really underestimated Aunt Jing's granddaughter before."

Behind the two, Grandpa Wang turned around and said to his wife, "I never expected that the young lady would be so capable, managing to snag such a rich husband."

"When Xi Yu was little, she was a real troublemaker, always getting into fights. Aunt Jing would chase her all over the yard with a broom handle to beat her up."

Thinking back on the past, Aunt Wang couldn't stop smiling: "Who would have thought that she would grow up to be so quiet and elegant? It's true that girls change a lot as they grow up, even the heavens are jealous."

"Hahaha"

Grandpa Wang chuckled and laughed along, "Now that you mention it, I remember that too. The courtyard was really lively back then, with chickens flying and dogs barking all the time."

-

"Did you get into fights when you were a kid?"

The elderly couple's laughter drifted into his ears on the breeze. Gu Bin lowered his head with a somewhat complicated expression and glanced at her.

Lin Xiyu covered half her face with her hand, speechless.

Thanks to Aunt Wang, her carefully concealed disguise was thus brilliantly exposed.

"Is someone bullying you?"

Gu Bin, as expected of someone of exceptional intelligence, only hesitated for a second before figuring out the key point.

"After my mother remarried, she sent me to live with my maternal grandmother."

A warm feeling welled up in Lin Xiyu's heart, and she no longer hid it: "When I first arrived, there were a few boys in the neighboring courtyard who always said I was an unwanted wild girl."

"It's time to hit!"

A look of heartache flashed in Gu Bin's eyes, and he gripped her hand tightly.

"I wasn't bullied."

Lin Xiyu felt the warmth of the palm, and the grievances that had been building up deep in her heart for years vanished in that moment: "They were all worse off than me. I beat them until they were screaming and howling, and their parents dragged them to my grandma's house with blood streaming from their noses to complain."

"hehe."

Gu Bin chuckled and joked, "I never knew my girlfriend had such a glorious past. You were the little tyrant of Donghua Street!"

Aren't you curious?

Lin Xiyu was amused by his humorous tone and winked playfully: "Why do I have such amazing skills, and why am I invincible throughout Donghua Street?"

"All ears."

Gu Bin gave a very enthusiastic boost.

"My dad taught me self-defense."

Lin Xiyu boasted smugly, "They're just a few little brats with snot running down their noses. I don't care about them at all."

Gu Bin: "."

That smug little expression was strangely jarring to look at.

I have this urge to pull someone into my arms and ravage them.

"So, you've fooled me too? Zhang Xiaoqian is targeting you, and you can handle it yourself without me having to get involved?"

Lin Xiyu: "."

I was careless; one really shouldn't be too cocky.

This time, the innocent and naive persona completely crumbled.

-

"Xi Yu, it's so hot talking outside the door, come in quickly."

Grandma's appearance was like a timely rain, rescuing her from an embarrassing situation.

"I'm coming."

Lin Xiyu felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She let go of Gu Bin's hand and ran into the house in a flash.

"hehe."

Seeing that she was running away faster than a rabbit, Gu Bin let out a pleased laugh.

"Xiao Bin is here too?"

Grandma fanned herself with a kind and gentle smile, but she stood motionless at the doorway, showing no intention of making way or inviting people inside.

"Grandma, Gu Bin helped me get my reward back."

Fearing that her grandmother would chase her away, Lin Xiyu quickly stuffed the brown paper bag into her hand.

"Come in and have some water before you leave."

Grandma reacted quickly and worked well with her granddaughter.

"Okay, then I'm welcome."

Gu Bin didn't stand on ceremony and lifted the curtain to step over the threshold.

"Grandma, thank goodness for Gu Bin today."

Lin Xiyu vividly recounted the scene that occurred on the TV station, adding her own embellishments to make it more convincing and touching her grandmother's heart.

"Xiao Bin, thank you for your hard work."

Grandma's eyes showed gratitude: "These past few days, she has worried a lot about our silly girl."

"Grandma, what's wrong with me?"

Lin Xiyu pouted, feigning displeasure: "There's no need to elevate one while belittling another. I'm your own granddaughter."

"should"

It was rare to see her act coquettish, and a strange light flashed in Gu Bin's eyes: "Grandma can entrust Xiyu to me with peace of mind, and I will definitely keep my word and take good care of her for you."

Listen to this, listen to this!

Grandma poked Lin Xiyu's forehead and scolded her with a smile, "Xiao Bin is so good at talking. They're the same age, why is there such a big difference?"

"Ouch."

Lin Xiyu covered her forehead and complained, "My brain isn't working properly, it's all because you made me stupid."

"What's wrong with poking you a few times?"

Grandma laughed in anger and raised her fan to hit her: "You can't even speak properly, yet you're blaming Grandma."

"slightly"

Lin Xiyu playfully stuck out her tongue and darted behind Gu Bin.

"This child is so infuriating."

Grandma smiled helplessly, seemingly scolding, but her heart and eyes were full of love.

Where do you sleep at night?

Gu Bin found it amusing and pulled the person out from behind.

"Right here."

Lin Xiyu pointed to where the wooden bed used to be, facing the television.

"It's a bit cold sleeping on the floor at night."

Gu Bin felt sorry for her and tentatively asked his grandmother, "Should I buy you another bed?"

"There's no need to buy a bed."

Grandma saw through his thoughts and shook her head apologetically: "We don't plan to rent a house after the demolition, and we have to get rid of all this old furniture, so let's not waste money on it."

Gu Bin was unusually shocked: "If you don't rent a place, where will you live?"

"Xi Yu's uncle has already made arrangements with the restaurant owner."

Grandma explained with a smile, "From now on, he and his wife will both work at the restaurant, with room and board provided. I'm just an old woman, I won't take up much space, so I'll squeeze in at my eldest daughter's house."

Where is Xiyu?

Gu Bin's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising within him: "Where does she live?"

“My aunt’s house is not big, with only two rooms. My aunt and uncle share one room, my cousin sleeps in the other, and my cousin sleeps on the balcony.”

Lin Xiyu whispered, "Grandma went and is sharing a bed with my cousin. There's no room for me, so I'm going back to my mom's house."

"Don't you and your stepfather's daughter not get along?"

Gu Bin was displeased: "If we go back now, will she stop bullying you?"

"It's okay, I won't be staying here for long anyway." Lin Xiyu didn't want him to worry, so she comforted him instead: "Once I go to university, I can live in the school dormitory, and I won't be able to go home more than a few times a year."

Gu Bin was naturally worried: "You're already eighteen. It's not appropriate for you to live with your stepfather."

"He wouldn't dare do anything to me."

Lin Xiyu didn't take it to heart: "I'm not a child anymore. I won't let him beat and scold me anymore, and I won't let him favor his daughter."

"That was not what I meant."

Looking at her slender and beautiful figure, Gu Bin felt extremely complicated.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself."

Seeing that he genuinely cared about her, Lin Xiyu felt a warmth in her heart and returned his sweet smile: "Besides, I still have you. With you here, I have the confidence to stand up to them."

When are you planning to move?

Because of his grandmother's presence, Gu Bin could only endure his dissatisfaction.

"Late August, I guess."

Lin Xiyu thought for a moment, then added, "As long as the demolition office doesn't issue a final ultimatum, we'll continue living here. The TV station is filming a documentary, right? They shouldn't kick us out before the documentary is finished, right?"

"School starts in late August or mid-September, which is about 10 days away."

Gu Bin's handsome, sword-like eyebrows furrowed tightly, almost forming a "川" character: "You'll have to endure half a month of suffering at your stepfather's house."

"It's fine."

Lin Xiyu clung to his arm and acted coquettishly, trying to soothe him: "If he scolds me, I'll just run away. I'll just leave home and never go back."

"remember."

Gu Bin was more responsive to gentle persuasion than force, and his expression softened considerably: "If he dares to bully you, you must tell me."

"Ah."

To reassure him, Lin Xiyu nodded vigorously.

"Let's do it."

Gu Bin didn't want to stay any longer, so he got up to say goodbye: "Then I'll go home first. We can talk about it when we meet tonight."

"Are you really going?"

Lin Xiyu saw the person off, then paused as she lifted the curtain.

"You don't want me to go?"

Gu Bin narrowed his eyes, his displeasure evident.

"think."

Lin Xiyu gave up without any backbone.

"Don't forget to tell Grandma about climbing Mount Tai tomorrow."

Gu Bin was satisfied and affectionately ruffled her hair.

"Oh."

Lin Xiyu straightened her messy hair with some dissatisfaction.

"hehe."

Gu Bin found it amusing and, in a very pleasant mood, strode out of the courtyard with his long legs.

Lin Xiyu listened until the bicycle bell disappeared into the alley before turning back into the house.

-

"Xi Yu, come here."

When Grandma saw her come in, she took out a white envelope from the drawer under the TV and waved to her with a smile.

"coming."

Lin Xiyu obediently agreed and quickly walked to her grandmother.

Keep this IOU safe.

Grandma handed her the envelope: "The ten thousand yuan is a loan from your uncle. He will pay you back when he has saved enough money."

"Grandma, I don't want to."

Lin Xiyu was about to refuse when her grandmother interrupted her before she could finish speaking.

“Just take it. You’re the younger generation. Even if the sky falls, Grandma will hold this family together. Grandma knows what she’s doing and won’t mistreat you.”

"My maternal grandmother raised me, and I want to be filial to her."

Lin Xiyu's eyes flashed with emotion: "I am also a part of this family, and I also want to do my part for this family."

"You are a filial and good child, Grandma knows that."

Without a word, Grandma shoved the envelope into her hand: "Even so, you can't pay for it. Your uncle is a grown man with hands and feet; how could he accept your money?"

"That was his idea too. He wrote the IOU himself. He didn't want to rent a place after the demolition because he wanted to save every penny and pay you back as soon as possible."

"But this means you'll have nowhere to stay and will have to go back to your stepfather's house to suffer."

-

"I'm not wronged."

Lin Xiyu was moved to tears, her eyes reddening: "Grandma loves me so much, even if I suffer, I don't feel wronged."

“You used to live alone, and your grandma was worried about you going back to live there.”

Grandma smiled lovingly: "Things are different now. Gu Bin dotes on you. Grandma can see that he is genuinely good to you. For his sake, your snobbish stepfather wouldn't dare to do anything to you."

Even without him, I'm not afraid.

Lin Xiyu shook her fist, deliberately trying to amuse her grandmother: "If he dares to hit me again, I'll beat him up. I'm not the little girl who was only ten years old and had no ability to fight back anymore."

"In that case..."

Grandma hesitated, saying, "Won't that just let people know how fierce you are? How can you keep it from Gu Bin?"

Lin Xiyu gave an awkward laugh: "He already knows."

"Ugh."

Grandma sighed softly, "Why is it so hard for you to pretend to be weak?"

"Hahaha."

Lin Xiyu was amused by her grandmother's helpless expression and hugged her, laughing heartily.

"You're still laughing."

Grandma laughed in exasperation, seemingly scolding her, but in reality, it was full of doting affection.

-

June weather in the sweltering heat can change in an instant.

A sudden downpour occurred in the afternoon, but it stopped in the evening, and the refreshing night breeze brought a touch of coolness to the sweltering summer heat.

The family was overjoyed to have raised enough money to buy a house. They sat around the grapevines in the yard and had a happy dinner.

My cousin was eager to set up her stall, so she hurriedly washed the dishes and chopsticks, then dragged my uncle and Lin Xiyu out the door.

Lin Xiyu was going to climb Mount Tai on Friday and Saturday and couldn't help her cousin sell clothes, so she deliberately picked out more stock this time, enough for three days.

The selection of clothes involved a variety of styles and colors, taking a considerable amount of time. By the time my uncle arrived at Xinhua Bookstore in his electric tricycle, the clock had already struck 8:15 PM.

Wang Fan had arrived, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and was talking to a boy with an earring and a tattoo on his right arm.

The two women's eyes lit up when they saw the pair of sisters sitting on the edge of the car, and they came over with smiles on their faces.

"He's also your classmate?"

My cousin glanced at Wang Fan's nonchalant attitude, clicked her tongue twice, and sighed, "They're in the same class, how come there's such a big difference?"

"Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you."

Lin Xiyu jumped out of the car and quietly tugged at her cousin's sleeve: "We'll still need their help in the future."

"I just feel that you guys are the top class in a key high school."

My cousin couldn't hold back any longer and whispered, "Even if all the students in the top class aren't as scholarly and pleasing to the eye as Gu Bin, they can't all look like street thugs, can they?"

"He is an exception."

Lin Xiyu didn't want to say much, so she just gave a perfunctory reply.

"The class representative is right."

Wang Fan, thick-skinned, was not ashamed but proud when she heard the two sisters' conversation: "I am a unique existence in our class. This is what I want, a one-of-a-kind honor."

"Your shamelessness is truly unique."

The boy with the earring next to him almost burst out laughing and gave him a big eye roll.

(End of this chapter)