“No need, no need, it’s fine that you come back home first, put down the things and go together with me.” Li Lanying said hurriedly; her tone sounded somewhat fishy.

However, Xu Moyan’s attention was now all placed on the matter of her father being hospitalized so she actually did not notice it.

“I didn’t bring much.” Xu Moyan said. As she was only going to live for two nights, she dressed in a light and simple way.

“When you arrive, it’s still early from noon. It just so happens that I want to go give your dad lunch. You come home and we’ll go together.” Li Lanying said.

Xu Moyan calmed down at this moment and thought this would do as well. Plus, Xu Qingrui seemed like he indeed did not have a huge issue upon hearing Li Lanying’s words. Since Li Lanying was not anxious at all, Xu Moyan then agreed.

The change of the modern city was too rapid. Although she did return during Chinese New Year and it was merely about two months ago from now, Xu Moyan still could feel the change in the city as she stepped out of the train station.

Along the way, some of the many locations in the memory were dismantled and rebuilt or new high-rise buildings were being constructed.

Although Jin City was also a big city, it did not have a fast rhythm that existed in the major cities. For some unknown reason, the people were always at ease and the pace was very slow.

After getting used to the pace of B City, living for a long time could feel somewhat stifling. Therefore, Xu Moyan’s heart would always become slow and calm every time she returned.

Even if the surroundings were the same and had skyscrapers as well, looking at the variety of snacks and hearing the sound of hawking by the streets made the atmosphere different from B City.

Maybe it was because her home was here after all; hence, she felt differently.

Xu Moyan’s house was located in the old city district of Jin City. The neighborhood was not completely new, unlike Sheng Town.

The district of Sheng Town was quiet amidst the chaos. Every high-class residence district was all in its surroundings, automatically forming a residential area. Spreading outwards, there were high-class shopping malls, supermarkets, and office buildings. Everything was very orderly under such an environment.

The restaurants tended to be expensive as there was a big indoor farmer’s market which was clean and tidy. Certainly, the same vegetables and fruits cost slightly more expensive than the other marketplaces. Its advantage was buying vegetables and fruits which could not be purchased in other markets. This was related to the purchasing power since the inhabitants in the surroundings were willing to spend money. The sellers were able to sell the stock acquired so they were willing to acquire more stock. Thus, this formulated a cycle.

Not many snacks were available by the streets; one or two breakfast stalls would appear occasionally and they would pack their stuff early once the time to have breakfast had passed. The roads were wide and bustling yet they were not crowded.

This had caused Xu Moyan and Zheng Yuntong to always crave some snacks yet they were helpless, making both of them travel very far away and yet really dislike to budge.

The merit was the good living environment whereas the shortcoming was that livelihood was not considered particularly convenient.

However, the house of Xu Moyan’s parents was here and located in the old city district where the roads were narrow and the cars were numerous, making the streets crowded. The houses were ordinary and short, maintaining at the height of six floors.

What bustled by the streets were all sorts of snack stalls and snack carts which had Jianbing guozi (TN: Jianbing guozi is a popular street food in Tianjin and hailed as “one of China’s most popular street breakfasts”. If interested, you can read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jianbing_guozi), fried chicken fingers, deep-fried skewers, and the small tables surrounded by the streets had skewers dipped in mala sauce outdoors, liangpi (TN: Liangpi or cold skin noodles is a Chinese dish served cold. If interested, you can read more here: https://www.yumofchina.com/liangpi/), crayfish, shou zhua bing (TN: Shou Zhua Bing or Chinese crispy pancake is a deliciously wonderful cousin of the scallion pancake that translates to “hand grab pancake” because the layers can be easily pulled apart. If interested, you can read more here: https://thewoksoflife.com/shou-zhua-bing-chinese-pancakes/), egg pancake (TN: Egg pancake or ji dan guan bing is a type of breakfast in Beijing which the egg is poured into the air pockets that form as the dough puffs up. If interested, you can read more here: https://thewoksoflife.com/chinese-breakfast-jidan-bing/) fried chicken, fried corn, pizza corn, spicy hot pot and so much more that could not be counted.

When the weather was warm, a strong barbeque fragrant would pervade the streets.

Xu Moyan had returned early; if it was during the evening, the night market would open with all sorts of stalls setting up by the streets and the crowd would walk shoulder to shoulder in the middle. She also had to take care of her purse so as to avoid being visited by the thieves.

The surroundings emitted the tempting smell of every snack. Although it was crowded, it was lively. Everyone wandered about with slow paces, having a relaxed aura.

In her free time, Xu Moyan would be willing to come out and have a stroll, especially in the night of summer where the insects would make noises and the wind at night would blow slightly coldly. Wearing a normal cotton tee shirt, a pair of short shorts and a pair of flip-flops, she then walked into the crowd and bought a roasted sausage, eating and ambling at the same time.

Getting off the taxi, there were boys running and playing in the courtyard; small girls were playing hopscotch. At the pedestrian street nearby, boys were riding their skateboards while wearing their helmets and knee pads; girls were playing with the roller skates that they put on and there were some who were riding bicycles. In addition, some kids were playing on the public gym equipment of the neighborhood. The sound of laughter seemed to have stopped the time.

Carrying the small bags and climbing up four floors, Xu Moyan pressed the doorbell of the house.

Lin Lanying’s voice saying “Coming.” was heard inside the door yet the back boor was opened

“Mom.” Xu Moyan smiled and called as she stood outside the door. She carried the bag while entering.

However, Li Lanying’s smile was slightly not the case. Not only it had happiness, but also concern.

Xu Moyan also realized something wrong. She did not bother changing her shoes, and asked right away, “Mom, what’s wrong? Is it because dad’s condition is bad?”

“No, don’t you worry.” Though Lin Lanying’s mouth spoke of such words, her expression was a completely different matter.

Xu Moyan still wanted to ask again but she was dazed.

However, Xu Qingrui who was originally supposed to be laying in the hospital walked out of the living room with a guilty look on his face.

“Moyan…” Xu Qingrui called with hesitation. It was hard to come by that Xu Qingrui the head of the family would actually have such guilty moments while confronting Xu Moyan.

“Dad, didn’t mom say that your lower back is hurt and you’re at the hospital?” Xu Moyan asked as her expression sank.

Although she did not know why they lied to her, fury brewed in her heart.

“Moyan, don’t be angry. We did this because we wanted to have you return home.” Xu Qingrui smiled apologetically with awkwardness painted all across his face, feeling terribly guilty.

“I’ve already returned now, have I not? I’ve returned without needing you guys to feign illness as an excuse. In any case, you two are the people’s teacher. What time is it now to still use such a matter of malingering to lie to your own children? You guys keep telling me not to lie but what are you guys doing right now? Do you have any idea how anxious my heart was after I heard that dad was sick?” Xu Moyan said angrily. She was truly enraged by both of them.

She always thought her parents were reasonable people but they actually used such a ridiculous trick until now.

“Aren’t you the one who previously doesn’t even return when you have this type of three-day holiday? So only then ——” Xu Qingruin said, embarrassed.

“Change the shoes first and we’ll talk once we go into the house.” Li Lanying said.

Xu Moyan pursed her lips. If she had not come to an agreement with Wei Zilin, she could even leave immediately at this moment.

Taking a few deep breaths and slightly pacifying the wrath of being deceived in her heart, she still changed her flip-flops, placed her bag on the table and followed her parents into the living room.

“Yes, I normally won’t return during such short holidays but if you guys want me to return, just let me know. Why do you use such an excuse?” Xu Moyan said angrily. It had clearly entered spring already when the weather was cool and refreshing and the temperature was appropriate. However, Xu Moyan was so furious that her entire body became hot and her face became red.

“How can I still not return if you guys tell me that you miss me?” Xu Moyan said helplessly.

“Isn’t it because we’re afraid that you’ll ask a lot? Since we normally don’t take the initiative to ask you to come back, you definitely will ask us some questions if we suddenly say that we miss you and ask you to return.” Xu Qingrui mumbled.

Li Lanying glared at him in an instant, ‘Why are you saying all these? Aren’t you too eager to make the child have doubts?’

At Xu Family, Xu Qingrui was someone who was particularly honest and not scheming. He usually concentrated on only teaching and did not care about other things. Li Lanying was certainly much more astute than Xu Qingrui as she could defeat so many competitors and took the post as the Head.

Squinting her eyes, Xu Moyan could tell something was wrong from hearing Xu Qingrui’s words.

“What do you mean? Why exactly do you guys want to trick me to come back?” Xu Moyan asked in a bad mood. Apparently, it was not as simple as merely missing her.

If they were afraid that she would ask questions, it meant that they were scared to spill the beans and that she would realize something.

An absurd idea grew in Xu Moyan’s heart but she felt that it was rather too absurd. After all, her parents were teachers. They would be unlikely to go so far in such a way.

In the end, the doorbell of the house rang again at this moment.

Li Lanying then said, “You guys sit down first and talk slowly. I go open the door. This matter is our fault but you’ve originally planned to return today anyway and you didn’t suffer any damage. Do you really still want to wrangle like this with your parents? You’ve returned with great difficulty and everyone is happy.”

Xu Moyan opened her mouth and wanted to speak yet Li Lanying had already went to open the door.

Xu Moyan could only stop first but could this matter be spoken in such a manner?

They used this excuse today and they could find another excuse again tomorrow. Could she know which words they uttered were the truth?

This was a matter of crying wolf.

She loved, respected, and showed filial piety towards her parents but it did not mean that she wanted to be deceived by them in such a way.

Essentially, being lied to was the reason why Xu Moyan was angry.

No matter what the purpose existed, could they not tell their own daughter in a generous and natural fashion?

Besides a blind date, she certainly would not agree.

Blind date…

Xu Moyan suddenly thought whether she said it appropriately or not but she felt that it was too absurd and ridiculous.

She could not help looking at Xu Qingrui who chuckled twice towards her with guilt.

Subsequently, Li Lanying’s voice was heard, “Why do you still have to bring things since you just come here? Come in quick, you must not do this anymore next time. You come here just to have a simple meal. As you’re so courteous, how can I still have the nerve to call you again?”