Chapter Seventy-Five: Just a Little More

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After three cups of wine, little chef Jin’er was drunk. Her cheeks flushed, her gaze hazy as she looked at everyone and smiled, then suddenly collapsed onto the table with a thud.

“Sister, sister, what’s wrong? Don’t scare Xier!”

Little Xier was startled by Jin’er’s sudden collapse. The tiny girl quickly reached out, grasping her grandmother’s hand, nearly on the verge of tears.

“Xier, don’t worry, it’s alright. Your sister just drank too much. She’ll be fine after a nap. I’ll help her to the bedroom.”

Mother Bai, seeing the child about to cry, hurried to comfort her. She reached out to support Tan Jin’er, but was unable to lift her.

“Sister-in-law, let me help.”

Yang Qing stepped forward, bent down and picked up Jin’er, carrying her toward the room.

Little Xier followed closely behind, her face still full of worry.

Back in the bedroom, Yang Qing tucked Tan Jin’er beneath a blanket. Xier obediently sat at the bedside, tightly holding her sister’s hand as she asked,

“Brother Qing, will sister really be alright after a nap?”

“Yes, she’ll be fine. She just drank a bit too much. I’ll pour her a glass of water; she might wake up soon and need it.”

Yang Qing affectionately stroked the child’s head, then poured a glass of water and set it aside. He gently asked, “Do you want to stay here with your sister?”

“Mm-hmm,” Xier nodded vigorously. “Xier wants to stay with sister, keep her company until she wakes up. Xier doesn’t want sister to be like Papa, sleeping and never waking up. Xier doesn’t want…”

Her childish voice, laced with tears and fear, struck Yang Qing’s heart.

He tenderly gathered the little one in his arms, gently patting her back as he soothed her,

“Don’t worry, sister will wake up. Brother Qing would never lie to you.”

“Tap tap…”

Just then, two more little ones ran in—Qiuer and Bai.

“Brother, come quick! Sister Qin is throwing up!” Qiuer cried.

Bai waved his hands anxiously, “My aunt is collapsed at the table too!”

Yang Qing: “…Alright, I’ll go check. You all stay here with Xier and Jin’er.”

“Mm-hmm!”

After instructing the three little ones, Yang Qing hurried outside and found Qin Xue and Bai Lingyue slumped over the table.

“Hey, not bad!”

As Yang Qing arrived, Bai Zhijun slurped down another cup of wine, then looked at Bai Lingyue sprawled across the table and grinned, “Qingzi, isn’t my sister something?”

“What’s something?”

Yang Qing was baffled. What’s going on? You’re still drinking and admiring, shouldn’t you be helping her?

“You don’t get it,” Bai Zhijun laughed cheerfully. “My sister’s out after only three cups—means she didn’t fool around in school. Just for that, I’ll drink another three myself!”

“Drink, drink, drink—drink yourself silly! Is this how you act as a brother? Hurry up and carry Lingyue inside to rest!”

At that moment, Mother Bai, supporting the tottering Qin Xue, overheard Bai Zhijun and immediately glared and scolded him.

“Ah!”

Comrade Bai stopped showing off.

Yang Qing shook his head with a smile, though he agreed with Bai Zhijun’s reasoning. Then he looked at Qin Xue, whose cheeks were flushed, and asked with concern,

“Are you alright? Let sister-in-law help you to the bedroom for some rest.”

“No… no need.”

Qin Xue, a little dazed, shook her head with a smile. “Just a bit dizzy, I’ll be fine after a while.”

“Alright, then I’ll pour you a glass of water.”

Yang Qing then looked at the two little girls trailing behind Qin Xue, Chun’er and Xia’er, whose faces were full of worry, and spoke gently,

“Chun’er, Xia’er, go check on Jin’er and Qiuer in the bedroom. I’ll take care of your sister Qin.”

“Mm-hmm!”

The two hurried off to the room, and Yang Qing poured a glass of water for Qin Xue, then turned to Bai Zhijun and his wife,

“Brother Bai, sister-in-law, should Lingyue stay here tonight? Little Xue as well. The three of them can sleep together, and I’ll trouble you to look after them.”

“Yes, that’s fine…”

“No, I… I have to go home.”

Mother Bai had just agreed when Qin Xue shook her head and said, “Tomorrow… tomorrow morning I need to go to work, there’s… there’s a document at home I need…”

Well…

Yang Qing was a bit bewildered. Mother Bai tried to persuade Qin Xue to stay and go for the document in the morning, but…

Drunk people tend to be stubborn!

Helpless, Yang Qing turned to Mother Bai, “Then, sister-in-law, let Lingyue stay here. Sorry to trouble you. I’ll take Little Xue home.”

“Alright, it’s no trouble. Be careful on the road.”

Mother Bai reminded him, then nudged Bai Zhijun, who was about to speak, and said coldly,

“What are you standing there for? Go carry Lingyue inside to rest!”

Bai Zhijun: π_π

…

In the dim alley, Yang Qing carried Qin Xue, slowly leaving the small courtyard behind.

Feeling the softness on his back and the warm breath at his neck, his heart stirred.

Qin Xue wrapped her arms gently around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder, savoring the sense of security he brought her. She softly asked,

“Am I heavy?”

“Not at all. I’ve carried cement bags at the construction site before—you’re much lighter.”

Qin Xue: …

You really are the king of small talk!

“By the way, why are you insisting on going home? Tomorrow’s the Dragon Boat Festival—aren’t you off?”

Qin Xue rubbed her temple with her fingers, trying to clear her head, and replied,

“It’s still about the show. Fang Du selected some musical accompaniments and sent them to my email. I need to review them and discuss with him in the morning, then I can rest in the afternoon.”

“Oh.”

Yang Qing nodded, then fell silent, but Qin Xue laughed,

“Jin’er and I talked about this at lunch—we said we’d ask you.”

Yang Qing paused, “Ask me? About what, the music?”

“Mm-hmm. Your ‘Galloping Horses’ stunned a lot of people.”

“Heh… that was just luck, pure luck…”

Luck…

Qin Xue was instantly amused by his words and teased, “Since you’re so lucky, help me with the music, will you?”

“Uh… well… I only know a little, honestly.”

Qin Xue didn’t know how to retort—another ‘little’! Just how many ‘little bits’ do you have?

After a moment’s speechlessness, she smiled, “So, will you give it a try?”

“I…”

“Will you? If it works, you’ll win fame and fortune.”

“There’s… there’s money? How much?”

Qin Xue: “...So you…”

“Ahem, I’ll try, I’ll try…”

Yang Qing interrupted her with a cough, leaving her helpless. She wasn’t unreasonable, after all.

It was only fair—effort deserves reward. And if she could help him earn money, she was happy to do so.

After all, with money, she could give the little ones a better life. That was what she liked about him.

Kindness, integrity, diligence, reliability, sincerity, persistence, and talent.

Thinking about it, her heart suddenly fluttered. She shook her dizzy head and suddenly spoke,

“Do you like me?”

“Tap!”

Yang Qing’s steps halted abruptly. After a moment, he continued walking, shaking his head with a smile,

“You’re drunk.”

“No, I am drunk, but I know what I’m saying. Do you like me?”

“I…”

Yang Qing fell silent for a moment, then softly replied, “I do.”

“Mm.” Qin Xue’s voice was tinged with joy and excitement.

“Then why don’t you say it?”

“I… I’m not good enough for you.”

“You are!”

Qin Xue’s voice suddenly rose. Yang Qing remained silent, carrying her forward. For a while, only the sound of footsteps echoed in the alley.

“Say something, why are you quiet?”

“I… I’m an orphan, with four younger sisters, so…”

“I like you, and I like Qiuer and the others. I don’t care about that, do you understand?”

“I understand—you might not care, but… your parents, they will.”

Yang Qing spoke sincerely, “Maybe I’m greedy, but I want lasting happiness, not just a fleeting joy. Do you understand?”

“I do. So I can wait for you!”

Qin Xue’s tone was resolute, unwavering. “I’ll wait until the day you feel you’re worthy of me. I believe in you! Do you believe in yourself?”

“Yes, I do! One day I’ll make it happen, and it won’t be too long. Then I’ll say those three words to you, and let everyone bless us.”

With each word, Yang Qing’s heart grew firmer. This was his first solemn promise to her.

“Mm!”

Joyful tears welled in Qin Xue’s eyes. She gently kissed Yang Qing’s neck and said again,

“I’ll wait for you.”

“Mm, I’ll work hard.”

That night, in a slightly battered alley, their hearts drew closer.