Chapter 157: We really slept in the same bed!

By the eighth day of the first lunar month, most of the festive atmosphere had faded.

The red lanterns on the street haven't been taken down yet, but people are going to work and businesses are opening, and the once quiet city is slowly returning to normal.

With Secretary Huang back, Wenjing and Ding Heng moved back to the Chujiang Hotel, where they were shameless and indecent every day.

Baima would occasionally come over as a third wheel, and incidentally get a free meal of crayfish.

Hua Qing also moved back to her own house from her hometown to continue teaching after the New Year.

Zhao Yanxi, however, remained in Zhuzhou to avoid arousing her mother's suspicion...

Zhuzhou, a large supermarket.

Zhao Yanxi pushed the shopping cart ahead, with Wen Jing following beside her.

"Just buy a carton of milk and some fruit."

Zhao Yanxi picked up a carton of milk and put it in the car: "Don't buy anything too expensive, my parents will think it's strange."

Wenjing pouted: "I know, it's not like it's my first time at your house."

In order to return to Xingcheng as soon as possible and spend some quality time with Ding Heng and Wen Jing, Zhao Yanxi came up with a wicked plan.

She planned to have Wenjing come to her house to pay New Year's greetings and give her a ride along.

Wenjing was honest, well-behaved, and good at academics from a young age, and never caused trouble. Zhou Rongmei trusted her completely, otherwise she wouldn't have allowed her to stay by her daughter's side from childhood to adulthood.

With Wenjing accompanying her, Zhou Rongmei felt that her daughter wouldn't do anything too outrageous.

Zhao Yanxi casually picked up a box of cherries and put it in the car before starting to explain the important matters.

"When you get to my house later, just tell them that there's a school event and you need to go back early to prepare."

"We don't even go to the same school!"

"Just make something up, something about joint volunteers or competition rehearsals, think of something quickly!"

"But……"

Wenjing looked troubled.

Zhao Yanxi's parents both have professions that excel at seeing through people's lies, while she is quiet and least likely to lie.

Zhao Yanxi said with exasperation, "But what? Can't you try harder and think about my happiness?"

Wenjing pouted, looking unwilling.

Zhao Yanxi continued, "Don't you want to enjoy time with your family?"

Wenjing replied directly, "I don't want to."

In Wenjing's view, she was the one being played by Ding Heng. Although she was tormented a lot, she gradually got used to it.

But as soon as Zhao Yanxi joined, the style completely changed.

I don't know where my best friend learned all these tricks... role-playing, stacking games, one after another.

Wenjing always blushed with embarrassment.

Zhao Yanxi said irritably, "Xiao Jingjing, how can you be so selfish!"

Wenjing rolled her eyes: "You have the nerve to say that, a threesome? It was clearly you and him messing with me!"

"Hey, the way you're talking makes it sound like I'm taking advantage of you!"

"That's how it is."

"Quiet!"

Zhao Yanxi reached out to pinch her, and Wenjing quickly dodged to the side. The two of them circled the shopping cart twice, and in the end, Wenjing gave in first.

"Okay, okay, I'll try my best, alright?"

"That's more like it."

Zhao Yanxi then stopped and nodded in satisfaction.

After paying the bill, the two carried their belongings to the parking lot.

A black Mercedes was parked in a parking space not far from the entrance.

The car window rolled down, and Ding Hengchong waved to them.

The two girls opened the back door and climbed in, placing their belongings at their feet.

Zhao Yanxi reached out and touched the seat, asking curiously, "Brother Ding Heng, why did you drive a Mercedes to Zhuozhou today?"

Ding Heng started the car, his tone casual: "Wasn't I just worried your dad would recognize that car?"

Zhao Yanxi stuck out her tongue: "That's true."

Twenty minutes later, the Mercedes stopped at the entrance of the residential area.

Ding Heng turned off the engine and turned to look at the back seat: "I won't get in; I'll wait for you in the car."

Zhao Yanxi picked up her things, pushed open the door, and got out of the car. Wen Jing followed, but her pace noticeably slowed down.

Stepping into the elevator, Zhao Yanxi turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"

Wenjing took a deep breath, her face revealing her nervousness.

"It's nothing... I'm just a little nervous."

"What's there to be nervous about? It's not like this is your first time at my house."

"But this time is different..."

In previous years, Wenjing would visit Zhao Yanxi's home for the New Year as an ordinary "classmate" of Zhao Yanxi.

Now she is Zhao Yanxi's bedmate and "sister," and she also has to help Zhao Yanxi lie to her parents.

Wenjing walked slower and slower, her heart beating faster and faster.

"Yan hope".

"Um?"

"Will my aunt and uncle realize I'm lying?"

"If you're scared, just say less. I'll do the main thing, and you can just nod in agreement."

"But……"

"No buts."

Zhao Yanxi finally reassured Wenjing: "Even if my parents find out you're lying, they won't think that way, so don't worry."

"Oh……"

Wenjing thought about it and agreed.

The current absurd relationship between the two is something Zhao Yanxi's parents could never have imagined.

A moment later, Zhou Rongmei opened the door, still wearing an apron, looking like she was preparing lunch.

She said politely, "Wenjing's here? Come in, come in."

Wenjing stepped forward and said obediently, "Happy New Year, Auntie."

"Okay, okay."

Zhou Rongmei took the things from her hands and warmly invited, "Come in and sit down, don't stand."

The two changed into slippers and walked into the living room.

Zhao Xingguo was sitting on the sofa looking at his phone. When he saw them come in, he put down his phone and got up.

"Uncle Zhao, Happy New Year."

Wenjing greeted him politely once again.

Zhao Xingguo nodded: "Happy New Year! I was just talking to my aunt about you. I wonder if you'll be coming this year?"

Zhou Rongmei put the things on the coffee table and then went to the kitchen to get some fruit.

Zhao Yanxi casually slumped onto the sofa. After Zhou Rongmei glared at him, he obediently put his legs down again.

Wenjing sat quietly to the side, her back ramrod straight, a model student.

Zhou Rongmei came out carrying a fruit platter and looked Wenjing up and down: "Wenjing, have you lost weight?"

"Is there?"

Wenjing touched her face: "Maybe."

Didn't you eat well during the Lunar New Year?

"No, no, the food was quite good."

Zhou Rongmei nodded, then asked about her parents' situation, her younger sister Wenshu's studies, and what she did during the winter vacation.

Wenjing answered each question in a quiet and respectful manner.

As they chatted, Zhou Rongmei suddenly asked, "By the way, I heard from your mother that you didn't go home for the Chinese New Year?"

Wenjing was taken aback, not expecting that her mother and Zhou Rongmei had exchanged ideas during the Chinese New Year.

Zhao Yanxi interjected, "Mom, are you checking the household registration?"

Zhou Rongmei glared at her: "I was just asking casually, why are you in such a hurry?"

Wenjing quickly replied, "I didn't go back, I stayed in Changsha."

Zhou Rongmei was slightly surprised: "Alone?"

Wenjing blushed slightly: "With my boyfriend."

"Are you in a relationship?"

"Um."

"When did this happen?"

Last summer vacation.

"summer vacation?"

Zhou Rongmei clicked her tongue twice: "Isn't that around the same time as Yan hope? It'll be about half a year, won't it?"

Wenjing nodded, bowing her head even lower.

More than just around the same time...

"You two kids, how come you started dating right after graduating high school?"

A complex look appeared in Zhou Rongmei's eyes.

In her memory, Wenjing had always been an honest and well-behaved girl. But quietly, she started dating in her freshman year of college and even spent the Chinese New Year with her boyfriend in another city.

Zhou Rongmei continued to probe, "You two... get along quite well?"

"fine."

"What does that boy do?"

"Also a student, from Hubei University."

"That's not bad... She goes to the same school as Yan hope's boyfriend."

Zhou Rongmei's professional instincts kicked in, and she began to speak earnestly.

"But Wenjing, let me say something. Although you are already university students, you are still young. You need to be careful about what you do, especially since you are a girl and you need to learn to protect yourself."

"Um."

Wenjing blushed slightly and lowered her head to respond.

Seeing her obedient appearance, Zhou Rongmei couldn't help but add, "Auntie isn't saying your boyfriend is bad, just reminding you that there are a lot of bad people these days, and you two don't have much social experience..."

Zhao Yanxi rolled her eyes. "Mom, why are you so nagging? Isn't it okay that Xiaojing is lucky to have found a good man?"

Zhou Rongmei glared at her: "Good men? There aren't that many good men out there!"

"So you're saying my dad isn't a good man?"

"Stop bringing up your dad."

Zhou Rongmei slapped her irritably: "Your mother has taught so many students, hasn't she seen more than you?"

Zhao Yanxi muttered under her breath, "An old relic..."

"What did you say?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Zhao Yanxi quickly waved her hand, changing the subject: "By the way, Mom, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

Zhao Yanxi gave Wenjing a wink.

Wenjing took a deep breath and recited the lines she had prepared beforehand.

"Auntie, it's like this... Yanxi and I have a volunteer activity before the start of the school term, so we need to go back early to prepare. I thought Yanxi didn't have anything to do anyway, so I wanted her to come back to Xingcheng with me."

Zhou Rongmei pressed further, "Volunteer activities? What kind of activities?"

"It's...it's something organized by the school, like helping out in the community."

Wenjing's voice grew softer and softer, she was extremely guilty.

Zhao Yanxi quickly chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, you even get academic credits! Anyway, I'm bored at home!"

Before Zhou Rongmei could ask for clarification, Zhao Xingguo spoke first, bluntly pointing out the truth.

"You wanted to go to Xingcheng to see your boyfriend as soon as possible, so you asked Wenjing to lie for you, right?"

The living room fell silent instantly.

Wenjing lowered her head and dared not speak.

Zhao Yanxi pouted at Zhao Xingguo, "Dad... what are you saying! I just wanted to spend time with Xiaojingjing!"

Zhao Xingguo remained unmoved, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Zhou Rongmei couldn't help but get angry: "Zhao Yanxi, you're only a freshman. Dating is fine, but can't you have some self-respect? You've only been back for a few days for the New Year, and you're already going out again?"

"I'm not going there to have fun, I'm going to keep Xiaojing company!"

Stop using Wenjing as an excuse.

"I don't!"

The mother and daughter took turns talking, their voices growing louder and louder.

Zhao Xingguo finally waved his hand, acting as a peacemaker: "Alright, alright, stop arguing."

The mother and daughter stopped at the same time, turned to look at Zhao Xingguo, and waited for his decision.

Zhao Xingguo didn't rush to give an answer; he first asked Wenjing, "Where will you stay when you return to Xingcheng?"

Wenjing honestly replied, "I'll stay in a hotel."

How many people live there?

"Three..."

Seeing that Wenjing didn't dare to lie, Zhao Yanxi quickly answered.

"Mom and Dad, don't worry, I'll share a room with Xiaojing!"

"Sure?"

Zhou Rongmei frowned: "You two are sharing a room?"

"right."

Zhao Yanxi raised her hand and swore, "I promise to sleep in the same room as Xiao Jingjing tonight! We will never be separated!"

Wenjing sighed silently to herself.

Weren't we sleeping together...?

Zhou Rongmei ignored her daughter and turned to look at Wenjing.

Wenjing felt incredibly guilty, but she still forced herself to say, "Don't worry, Auntie, Yanxi and I sleep together every night."

We did sleep together, so I wasn't exactly lying...

After receiving Wenjing's assurance, Zhou Rongmei finally relented: "Alright, you can go ahead."

Zhao Yanxi cheered and jumped up from the sofa: "Mom, you're the best!"

Stop flattering me.

Zhou Rongmei said coldly, "But I have to make this clear: you can't go for months at a time during the second semester. Come back and visit during the holidays, understand?"

Zhou Rongmei said coldly, "But I have to make this clear: you can't go for months at a time during the second semester. Come back and visit during the holidays, understand?"

"I heard it! I heard it!"

Zhao Yanxi readily agreed, grabbed Wenjing, and ran towards her bedroom: "Come on, come on, help me pack my things."

The two of them slipped into the bedroom one after the other. As soon as the door closed, Zhao Yanxi let out a long sigh of relief.

"That scared me to death."

She patted her chest: "My dad almost saw through me... Wenjing, you too, you answered every question he asked?"

Wenjing sighed, "I can't help it, I really can't lie."

"Alright, alright... as long as the matter is resolved."

Zhao Yanxi looked indifferent and turned to open the wardrobe to start rummaging through things.

"Quiet".

Zhao Yanxi suddenly called her by her full name.

"Um?"

Were you particularly nervous just now?

"A little."

"A little?"

Zhao Yanxi teased her best friend, "Your face looks pale."

Wenjing said, feeling wronged, "Uncle's eyes are too scary..."

Zhao Yanxi stopped teasing her and turned back to rummage through the wardrobe, muttering, "Bring this one... bring this one too... and this one..."

Wenjing, sitting on the edge of the bed, suddenly spoke up as well.

"Yan hope".

"Um?"

"What do you think we should do now?"

Zhao Yanxi's hands didn't stop moving: "What? What do we do?"

"that is……"

Wenjing carefully chose her words: "What if our aunt and uncle find out?"

Zhao Yanxi chuckled lightly, as if she didn't care at all.

"Why are you thinking so much? Didn't Ding Heng say he can handle it?"

"You really trust him that much?"

"Of course I believe you! It's my own man, why wouldn't I?"

Why?

"Um……"

Zhao Yanxi pondered for a long time, then shrugged.

"I can't really explain it...it's probably just a gut feeling."

"intuition?"

"yes."

Zhao Yanxi took out a piece of clothing, folded it, and put it in the box, raising an eyebrow smugly: "I've always had good luck since I was a child, and my intuition is pretty accurate, so you can rest assured..."

Wenjing didn't say anything more. Zhao Yanxi had already filled most of the suitcase, and then started rummaging through the wardrobe.

Suddenly, Wenjing noticed two slightly different pieces of clothing mixed in with the suitcase.

Their high school summer uniforms were blue and white, made of a light and thin material.

Wenjing picked it up and looked at it: "Why are you still wearing your high school uniform?"

Zhao Yanxi glanced at it and said flippantly, "Men like it, that's all."

Wenjing asked incredulously, "Ding Heng would like this?"

"Of course."

Zhao Yanxi took back the school uniform, folded it, and put it back into her suitcase: "If you don't believe me, try wearing your own and see how he'll torment you."

Wenjing blushed again and didn't reply.

In high school, to conceal her figure, she deliberately bought her school uniform two sizes too big, so that it could cover most of her body.

It's ugly, unfashionable, and incredibly boring.

But now that I think about it...

If I were to wear it for Ding Heng to see, it wouldn't be a bad idea.

She looked down at herself, then at the school uniform in Zhao Yanxi's suitcase, and began to hesitate.

However, the school uniform is still at home.

If you want to wear it, you'll have to go back and get it.

But she wasn't ready to go back yet.

That home was no longer a place she could feel safe entering.

Zhao Yanxi noticed Wenjing's concerns and didn't bring it up again, changing the subject: "Alright, alright, help me pack up first."

Wenjing hummed in agreement and squatted down to help Zhao Yanxi fold her clothes, but her mind was still on the school uniform.

Should I go back or not...?

Half an hour later, the two dragged their suitcases and prepared to leave.

Zhou Rongmei saw him to the door and then added, "When you get to Xingcheng, don't just play around; you should study. Also, don't associate with shady people..."

"Okay, okay!"

Zhao Yanxi waved without turning her head.

Zhou Rongmei then pulled Wenjing aside and handed her a red envelope: "Wenjing, this is your New Year's money, don't be shy! Please keep an eye on Yanxi for me, and let your uncle and aunt know immediately if anything happens."

Wenjing accepted the red envelope, feeling even more guilty, and answered irrelevantly, "Don't worry, Auntie, I will take good care of Yanxi."

Zhou Rongmei then let go and watched the two of them go downstairs.

Fearing her mother might change her mind again, Zhao Yanxi ran out of the residential compound, exclaiming, "Finally out!"

Wenjing followed behind, panting, "Why are you running so fast?"

"I'm afraid my mom will change her mind."

Zhao Yanxi chuckled and pulled Wenjing along, saying, "Come on, come on, Brother Ding Heng must be getting impatient."

The black Mercedes remained parked in its original spot, as if it had been waiting motionless for more than two hours.

Zhao Yanxi opened the back door and was about to get in when she suddenly noticed several bags on the back seat.

"What is this?"

She curiously peeked out to look.

The plastic bag contained several boxes of eggs, a bundle of cured meat, and a bag of clothes.

Ding Heng turned around and said casually, "The eggs and cured meat belong to Wenjing's maternal grandmother's family. Her mother insisted that I take them."

Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing were both taken aback.

Wenjing asked softly, "Did you just go back to my house?"

Ding Heng smiled and said, "It's not far, I'll just go along the way. What's wrong, are you unhappy?"

"No, no! I just... didn't expect..."

Wenjing quickly shook her head, her voice a little anxious, and her eyes a little hot.

She never expected that Ding Heng would make a special trip to her home today when she returned to Zhuzhou.

He knew she hadn't gotten over that hurdle in her heart, knew she was afraid to go home, and knew she felt sad every time she thought about her family.

So he went in her place.

They even deliberately drove a Mercedes-Benz to make a grand entrance.

What do Ding Heng talk about with his parents?

Will Mom make any unreasonable demands of Ding Heng...?

She opened the bag of clothes, pulled out a blue and white short-sleeved shirt, and unfolded it: "Isn't this your school uniform, Wenjing?"

Wenjing held back her tears that hadn't yet fallen and leaned closer to look.

It really is.

"Why did you take my school uniform out...?"

Wenjing asked the question knowingly, revealing a hint of shyness.

"I asked Wenshu to help you pack; the bags are full of your high school clothes."

Ding Heng glanced at the two girls through the rearview mirror and grinned.

"Yan hope, you..."

"I've brought it! I've brought it! Jingjing and I will change into them together tonight!"

Zhao Yanxi quickly answered, putting one arm around Wenjing, her smile ambiguous and flirtatious.

"Do you want to be Teacher Ding, or Director Ding?"