Free Web NovelChapter 421: Chapter 421: Yanxi 29
Jin Xiuyu suggested quietly, "Then couldn’t your dad come to the city?"
"He can’t get away," Xu Yanxi said, shaking her head. "He took up farming after he retired, and with cats and dogs at home, he can’t just leave. I think he really likes his life now. It’s so peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle of the city."
"Besides, whenever I miss him, I can just go visit. It’s only about an hour’s drive."
Jin Xiuyu sounded wistful. "A farmer, huh? That’s so cool."
Yanxi tapped him on the head. "Being a farmer is hard work. Come on, are you riding with me again?"
"Of course, Teacher! Tell me more." Jin Xiuyu immediately ditched Sheng Zhou. ’In his mind, Teacher Xu was the most important person. As for Sheng Zhou, he was purely a means to an end—the guy who went to parent-teacher conferences for him.’
Watching Jin Xiuyu scramble into Yanxi’s car, Sheng Zhou, who was left behind, ground his teeth. He was finding that kid incredibly annoying right now.
After putting Yanxi’s suitcase in his own car, Sheng Zhou hit the gas and quickly caught up to her. In Yanxi’s car, Jin Xiuyu was like a kid full of questions. "Teacher, you’re not driving your other cars anymore? Those look so badass on the road!"
Keeping her eyes on the road, Yanxi replied, "I just wanted a change of pace recently. You don’t like this one?"
"It’s nice! Of course, it’s nice," Jin Xiuyu said, scratching his head. "It’s just that your other cars were more exciting. Back when we saw you drive one of them onto campus, everyone thought you were so cool."
Yanxi smiled. "Alright, I’ll drive them from time to time when I get the chance."
Her personality and Tan You’s were fundamentally different. Tan You loved tough, imposing, and even rugged car models, but Yanxi wasn’t like that; her tastes were much more traditionally feminine.
There was nothing wrong with that, of course; it was just a matter of personal taste. Yanxi didn’t mind driving the cars Tan You loved—it was a nice experience in its own way.
When they reached the parking garage, Jin Xiuyu’s conscience finally kicked in. He didn’t let his Uncle Sheng do all the heavy lifting, helping Sheng Zhou out by carrying two of the suitcases. But after stepping into Yanxi’s apartment, he couldn’t help but gawk. "Teacher, your place is huge!"
Yanxi chuckled. "It just looks big because it’s so empty. It’ll feel more normal once I get more furniture in here."
After wheeling the suitcases into the walk-in closet, Yanxi looked at the two of them. "If you guys aren’t busy, could you help me with something small?"
Sheng Zhou’s gaze swept over the cat tree and the scattered parts in the living room. "Assembling this cat tree?"
"Mhm," Yanxi nodded. "When I bought it, the seller said it could reach all the way to the ceiling. But I’m terrible at this kind of thing, so I only managed to assemble this much. I’m completely stuck on the top sections."
"As a thank you, I’ll treat you both to dinner tonight. We can have hot pot."
Jin Xiuyu was already rubbing his hands together eagerly. "This looks like fun! Teacher, I’ll help you!"
Sheng Zhou had already taken off his wool overcoat and was now shrugging out of his suit jacket. "Sure, it’s nothing. Is there anything else?"
Yanxi thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, nothing else, just the cat tree. You two can get started on that. I’m going to order the groceries on my phone for delivery."
Life was becoming more and more convenient; you could order anything on your phone, and the supermarket would deliver it right to your door. Given Yanxi’s cooking skills, this was for the best. She only knew how to make Korean food. When it came to Chinese cuisine, hot pot was probably the option that required the least technical ability.
Tan You had made plenty of hot pot soup base in the past, and there was still a lot left. All that remained was to prepare the various ingredients, which Yanxi could handle by herself. As she glanced at the two men busily working in the living room, a smile unknowingly touched her eyes.
Tan You suddenly appeared beside her. "Feeling generous today? Actually treating someone to a meal?"
"Listen to you. Am I that stingy?" Yanxi chided. "I’m only treating Sheng Zhou because Xiuyu is here. If it were just Sheng Zhou by himself, I would never have done this."
"I guess it’s also a way to make it up to Sheng Zhou. After all, those two boxes of salmon he gave me weren’t cheap."
Tan You let out a laugh but didn’t say whether she believed her. She may not have had any romantic experience herself, but she’d seen more than her fair share of it. In any case, Tan You felt there was something special in the way Sheng Zhou looked at Yanxi. As for whether Yanxi had noticed, Tan You certainly wasn’t going to be the one to point it out.
"I plan to practice my cooking during winter break," Yanxi said to Tan You while they waited for the groceries. "I can’t have Dad feasting like a king when he’s with you, only to be eating scraps when he’s with me. That would be too miserable for him."
Tan You gave a token round of applause. "Well, good luck. It’s not actually that hard."
"I’ll do my best," Yanxi sighed. "As for the students, I really don’t have enough time to tutor them all right now. I had another idea... what do you think about me setting up a scholarship fund at the school?"
Tan You replied, "You could, that’s a wonderful thing to do. Since you’re mentioning it now, I take it you’ve been mulling it over for a while?"
Yanxi smiled, pressing her lips together. "I was actually thinking about that food truck you bought. It seems like such a waste to just let it sit there. My idea is to let the scholarship students try running it. The recipes and everything are all ready to go, after all."
"If it generates some income, it would also ease some of their financial pressure."
Tan You smiled. "That’s a great idea. I’m all for it."
"It’s nothing compared to what you did, though," Yanxi sighed. "This is all I’m capable of. I can’t take care of so many people the way you could. It makes me feel a little ashamed."
"Kindness isn’t measured by scale," Tan You said, her tone serious. "As long as the intention is there, that’s what matters. If you’ve made up your mind, then do it. I was only ever following my own heart. I never demanded that you do the same. That would be unfair to you."
"Then I’ll do it. As for the tutoring classes, I’ll probably still run them, but I might only focus on math. I haven’t completely mastered the other subjects yet."
Yanxi mulled over her future plans. ’I’m actually looking forward to it. A life of just routinely teaching and preparing lessons seems a bit too uneventful. Being with the students will make me feel young again.’
"You’re not old to begin with. Thirty-five is the prime of your life," Tan You said calmly. "Youth isn’t about age, it’s about your state of mind."
"You’re right," Yanxi said, raising an eyebrow. Suddenly, their eyes met, and they both smiled.
"But seriously, every time I see you, I get this strange feeling of dissonance. You’re young enough to be my daughter." As she spoke, a sad look clouded her eyes. "If my child... if she were still here, she’s be about your age now."
Tan You knew who she was talking about. Yanxi and Jin Taiyuan were supposed to have a child, but tragically, the baby hadn’t developed properly. One day, its heart just suddenly stopped beating.
