Joy Brightens the Spirit

Shen Yi's parents both looked over, causing him to jump in surprise. Hastily, he covered Fu Nanzhi's mouth and laughed awkwardly,

"She's had a bit too much to drink..."

"Pet name... Hehe... Just a pet name."

Shen's Father scratched his head, accepting the explanation. These days, young people were more open than in their time, so strange nicknames weren't a big deal.

Shen's Mother also sighed, shrugging it off, assuming her son was skilled enough to handle it without her worry.

Fu Nanzhi suddenly poked her head out from under Shen Yi's arm, mumbling,

"Don't block me, honey."

She then picked up her wine glass with enthusiasm, saying,

"Come on! Mom and Dad, let me toast you again!"

Without waiting for their reaction, she downed the drink in one go, then sat there staring blankly, entering a daze.

This time, she was completely out of it, blurting out "Mom and Dad" without hesitation. Shen Yi had no way to cover for her.

Shen's Father and Mother just stared at their wine glasses in shock.

"This... this... this..."

The meal ended in mixed emotions, a mixture of laughter and embarrassment.

Under Shen Yi's explanation, the two could only attribute Fu Nanzhi's behavior to being overly friendly due to drunkenness.

Seeing how drunk she was, Shen Yi decided to take her upstairs to rest.

In his arms, Fu Nanzhi twisted and struggled, mumbling,

"Let me go, I'm happy, I still want to drink with Mom and Dad."

The smell of alcohol hit Shen Yi, who tightened his grip to prevent her from moving too much as he climbed the stairs, opened the door to his room, and placed Fu Nanzhi on the bed.

Although Shen Yi rarely returned home, Shen's Mother still cleaned and aired the room regularly, so it was spotless, with fresh bedding.

Shen Yi turned on the air conditioner and knelt to remove her shoes.

Watching her wriggle on the sheets, he shook his head helplessly and pulled the blanket over her.

Heading back to the kitchen, he poured a glass of warm water. When he returned to the bedside, he helped Fu Nanzhi sit up and whispered in her ear,

"Here, open your mouth and have some water."

He held the cup to her lips, and she obediently took a couple of sips.

Placing the glass on the nightstand, he carefully tucked in the blanket before closing the door and leaving to let her rest, hoping she would sober up by afternoon.

As he descended the stairs, he found Shen's Father sitting on the couch watching TV,

his left hand playing with a bracelet while his right hand held a brush,

alternating between the two.

When he saw Shen Yi, he asked,

"Is she asleep?"

"Yes."

Nodding with satisfaction, Shen's Father eventually added,

"The girl... has a lively personality. Treat her well."

"Of course," Shen Yi replied.

"Where's Mom?"

"Your mother went out to play."

"Oh."

The conversation between father and son was brief and wooden, as usual for them.

The afternoon in the countryside was leisurely. Without work, people often gathered to play mahjong, a mild form of entertainment.

It was no different for Shen's Mother, who had a regular circle of mahjong partners. After tidying up the house after lunch, she headed out to join them.

In such a small township, news traveled fast. Before long, everyone knew about Shen Yi bringing a girlfriend home.

Around the mahjong table, four hands moved the tiles as Shen's Mother sat facing north, her face glowing with excitement.

Today was doubly rewarding, with her son bringing home a girlfriend and her luck at the table at an all-time high.

"Hui Juan, I heard your son brought a girlfriend home!"

"Oh my, when will we get to drink your son's wedding wine?"

Sister Ma casually tossed a tile onto the table while chatting.

Nine of Clubs!

"Pong!"

Shen's Mother's eyes lit up, seizing the opportunity and taking the tile, modestly replying,

"There's no rush! They're still getting to know each other, not even at the stage of discussing marriage yet."

Liu Huimin, sitting opposite, threw out a tile and said,

"Little sister, you're not being honest."

"Second Uncle Liu told me; you know, Shen Yi may look ordinary, but that girl is as stunning as a celebrity. You're lucky! It seems they'll definitely get married."

Liu Huimin, Liu Huijuan's older sister, was generally well-intentioned but loved to compare.

Her words sounded like praise, but the underlying envy was hard to miss.

"Since she's come all this way, you should at least treat everyone to a meal, don't you think?"

"Don't you agree?" she pressed, glancing at the others at the table.

The other two chimed in,

"Yes, wedding wine is secondary, but you must host a meal so we can see what she looks like."

Shen's Mother concealed a smirk, maintaining her smile as she replied smoothly,

"Of course! Of course we'll treat everyone, but not just yet. She's only just arrived, and overwhelming her with too much hospitality might scare her off."

She knew Shen Yi wouldn't stay long, planning to leave the next day. When they were gone, the obligation for a meal would be forgotten.

Pushing the tiles forward, she announced smugly,

"Self-draw!"

"Pure luck! Pay up."

The game concluded as the evening approached, with Shen's Mother triumphant, sweeping every hand.

Walking home with a satisfied grin, she greeted neighbors along the way, her steps light and lively.

Though the winnings were modest, the thrill of victory was priceless.

Such joy brought back memories of when Shen Yi was accepted into college—another time she had been this proud.

Back home, she got to work preparing dinner.

Fu Nanzhi had already woken up and come downstairs, greeting Shen's Father before sitting next to Shen Yi.

Still hungover, she vaguely recalled some moments from earlier and blushed as she quietly asked Shen Yi for details.

Smiling, Shen Yi gently tapped her nose and avoided confessing the truth, not wanting her to feel awkward during dinner.

The trio chatted casually. Most of the conversation revolved around Fu Nanzhi asking questions, Shen's Father responding, with Shen Yi filling in details.

They soon found themselves discussing Shen's Father's bracelet collection, a topic that sparked fascination—and humor—especially when he pointed out the beads' vibrant colors and explained the meticulous care required.

"This color is beautiful, right? It has to be carefully brushed; otherwise, it won't shine. It should be wrapped in cloth regularly to keep it clean."

Fu Nanzhi nodded along, less interested in the details and more in casually deepening their rapport.

By now, they were browsing photos hanging on the wall, focusing on those of Shen's family.

Entering the room, Shen's Mother cheerfully inquired,

"What are you all chatting about?"

Fu Nanzhi warmly replied,

"We're admiring your photos from back then. You looked so beautiful!"

Shen's Mother laughingly dismissed the compliment, but her eyes gleamed with joy as she announced,

"Oh, I'll go get the photo album. Let me show you pictures of Shen Yi as a child!"

Fu Nanzhi eagerly agreed, her eyes sparking with curiosity.

Though she'd seen some earlier, much of it was blurry now, and reliving the stories was always entertaining.

Turning page after page, Shen's Mother proudly narrated,

"This was from his full moon, one year, his first day of kindergarten..."

Fu Nanzhi's finger stopped, pointing at one photo: Shen Yi, dressed in a costume from an old opera - his lips painted red, a tiny ruby dot between his brows.

The outfit looked absurd to modern eyes, an ironic relic of a different era.

Shen Yi turned a shade redder knowing she was making fun of him.

Fu NanZhi couldn't contain her giggles,

"Heehee, you looked so adorable!"

Giggling at every snap, reimagining Shen Yi growing up, Fu Nanzhi found her earlier questions coming back to her lips.

"Oh, by the way, ShenYi, I heard he had a different name before. Does that memory still exist somewhere?"