Summer Green Apples

"roll."

Chi Sui spoke clearly and distinctly.

Not satisfied with what he had just said, he kicked Xu Jiyang again.

Xu Jiyang clicked his tongue, "Look how impatient you are."

Chi Sui: "What the hell are you in a hurry for?"

"You're in such a hurry again." Xu Jiyang said calmly, "Admit it, Sui Sui, you're no longer the innocent virgin you used to be."

Chi Sui: "…………"

To avoid being driven mad with anger, he chose to remain silent and not continue arguing with that idiot Xu Jiyang.

……

When Chi returned to Huayue Bay, it was exactly ten o'clock.

The courtyard was lit up, and the ginkgo and cherry trees stood silently.

He stopped under the cherry blossom tree, tilted his head slightly, and his shadow was stretched long by the lamplight. The wind blew the branches and leaves, and his shadow swayed with them, looking unconventional and free.

As is well known, actress Chuang Ching-ping loves cherry blossoms.

When the family first moved to Huayue Bay, Chi Kai planted this cherry blossom tree himself, just to make his beloved smile.

The flowers haven't bloomed yet, and the swaying branches are bare.

This highlights the fact that things have changed and people are no longer the same.

He thought to himself, Ji Rong is quite patient.

It's windy tonight. The window in one of the bedrooms on the second floor was open, and the wind blew the curtains out.

Chi Sui seemed to sense something and raised his head.

upstairs.

Ji Xiwen carefully pulled at the curtains, struggling to pull them back from their fluttering state.

Noticing Chi Sui's gaze, she awkwardly tugged at her lips, freeing one hand to wave at him as a greeting.

Then he quickly closed the window and hid behind the curtains.

Ji Xiwen suspected that Chi Sui was drunk, as he was able to gaze deeply into the eyes of a tree.

What is this?

Treephilia?

downstairs.

Chi Sui: "..."

The overwhelming sadness that came with my birthday vanished without a trace.

He entered the house expressionlessly.

The living room was pitch black, with only a faint crimson glow from the sofa, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke.

Chi Sui paused for two seconds, turned on the light in the entryway, and bent down to change his shoes.

"You still know to come back?" Chi Kai's voice was a little hoarse.

This is clearly an attempt to demand an explanation.

Chi Sui said, "Something came up and I was delayed."

He offered a rare explanation.

Because he saw Ji Xiwen's WeChat Moments on his way back.

She took a picture of the ground covered in balloons and captioned it: "The first time in my life I've blown up so many balloons (sun)."

Chi Sui could recognize it at a glance as being in his living room.

Unsurprisingly, they were preparing a birthday party for him.

"What could be more important than having a meal with family?" Chi Kai stubbed out his cigarette and patted the table.

A dull thud.

Hiding at the stairwell, Ji Xiwen, who was holding flowers, trembled with fright and quietly went back inside.

Just now, after she closed the window, she was about to go to sleep when she caught a glimpse of the flowers on the table. After hesitating for half a minute, she mustered up her courage and came out to give them to Chi Sui.

After all, it won't be fresh the next day.

Little did anyone know that the father and son were having a late-night conversation.

"A family?"

Chi repeated, "Where did this family come from?"

Chi Kai squinted at him.

The main light in the living room was off; only the light in the entryway was on.

Chi Sui stood against the light and shadow, wearing a black T-shirt and sweatpants, one hand in his pocket, looking calm and indifferent.

"You're right," Chi Kai said. "Next week is National Day, and I've bought you a plane ticket. Remember to pack your luggage then."

Chi Sui paused for a moment, "Where to?"

"Your Aunt Ji's house." Chi Kai looked at him, as if observing his expression. "I want to go meet her parents and prepare to get our marriage certificate and have the wedding."

"..."

Chi Sui stood there quietly, as if he hadn't heard anything.

He rarely shows this expression.

Chi Kai said softly, "Sui Sui, you will grow up eventually and leave home one day. On that day, your father will be all alone."

……

The bedroom door was open.

Ji Xiwen squatted at the doorway, straining her ears to listen carefully.

Until I heard the sound of someone going upstairs to the third floor.

It should be Chi Kai.

It seems the father and son have finished their conversation.

Realizing this, Ji Xiwen picked up the flowers and stood up. She peeked down the stairs.

Chi Sui sat on the sofa with his back to her, hunched over, seemingly lost in thought.

Ji Xiwen was already sleepy, so she hugged the flowers and climbed the stairs.

"I've already agreed, what more do you want?"

Chi turned his head away somewhat impatiently.

In the dimly lit room, she wore a white cotton nightgown, held a fresh bouquet of flowers in her arms, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and her watery eyes blinked gently.

The air was thick with the smell of smoke. Ji Xiwen's gaze moved from Chi Sui's impatient expression to the cigarette between his fingers.

Only half a cigarette remained, held between his slender fingers.

In the grayish-white smoke, the two of them stared at each other silently for a few seconds.

Chi broke the silence first, "What brings you here?"

"I……"

Ji Xiwen stepped forward, handed him the flowers, and said, "Happy birthday."

She picked out many varieties, red, yellow, blue, and purple, a riot of colors that reflected in his dark eyes.

Chi Sui was stunned for a long time. He stubbed out his cigarette. "Why did you suddenly give me this?"

"It's your birthday," Ji Xiwen said naturally. "Although you can be quite fierce, you're a very nice person and have been good to me. You lent me your coat yesterday. I can't afford anything too expensive, and cheap things are too cheap, so after thinking about it, I decided to give you a bouquet of flowers."

May every day of your future be filled with flowers and vibrant colors.

Chi looked at her silently.

The clock on the wall ticked away, ringing every half hour.

It was exactly 10:30 at the time, and a few ticks were heard.

At that moment, Chi Sui couldn't quite tell whether it was the clock chiming or his heart pounding too hard.

After a long while, Chi Sui finally reached out and accepted the flower.

"……Thanks."

He said in a low voice.

Ji Xi heard him take it and quietly breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "How old are you celebrating this birthday?"

"Seventeen," Chi Sui said.

"Oh, okay." Ji Xiwen pinched her nightgown, a little awkwardly, and said, "Well... you're not an adult yet, you can't smoke. If you start smoking too early, your lungs will turn black, and you won't be able to quit."

That's how her grandfather was.

He clearly had lung problems and was coughing constantly, but he just couldn't quit smoking. At his worst, he smoked a whole pack a day.

Chi Sui: "…………"

Ji Xiwen said seriously, "If you have any worries, you can chat with Doubao."

Chi Sui's lips twitched slightly, and all his worries vanished.

"I really... thank you."

Ji Xiwen originally thought that this young master would scold her for meddling in other people's business.

Chi Sui's reaction was somewhat unexpected.

She quickly waved her hand, "No need to thank me, no need to thank me."

"I'm going back to sleep now, goodnight."

After saying that, Ji Xiwen quickly slipped away.

Chi Sui followed her back as she went up to the second floor and disappeared around the corner.

He stared blankly at the empty stairwell for a long time before lowering his head, bringing his nose close to the flower, and gently sniffing it.

The shower gel has a natural floral scent mixed with a hint of pear blossom.