Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales

Chapter 342 – Applaud for Love! (1)

The night was quiet and comfortable.

Two people strolled under the orange street lights’ illumination, their silhouettes growing longer and longer as they gradually blended with their dark surroundings.

“Your little sisters are so cute! How did your family have so many children?”1

“Don’t ask.”

“It would be nice if I had younger siblings too.”

“What’s good about that? They’ll just bother you to death.”

“You’re taking things for granted.” Holding onto Chen Yu’s wrist, Xing Biqi said softly, “Actually, I am quite envious of you. Both Uncle and Auntie seem to be sensible people. Your little sisters are intimate with you as well. Your family really is a happy one.”

“Kekeke…” Sneering, Chen Yu said, “This family is far from being as normal as you think it is.”

“…How can you speak of your family like that?!” Xing Biqi pinched Chen Yu’s waist, feigning anger.

“…” However, Chen Yu remained indifferent to the girl’s actions and asked, “Why are you touching me?”

“D-Doesn’t it hurt?”

“I won’t feel pain even if you use pliers to pinch me.”

“Amazing…” The girl was surprised. “I never thought that the skin on the rest of your body would be as thick as the skin on your face.”

“…You’re asking for a beating.”

“Heh.” Sticking out her tongue, Xing Biqi said, “Come beat me, then.”

“No can do. You’re a wealthy woman now. I don’t wish to work hard, so I need to maintain a good relationship with you.”

Hearing this, the girl immediately became depressed. “Speaking of which, I sometimes feel that your attitude towards me has changed.”

“Changed? How did it change?”

“You don’t like me as much as before.”

Hearing this, Chen Yu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why would you say that?”

“You would bully me every day before, and sometimes even push me around physically. But now…you won’t even say anything mean to me.”

“?”

“Did I do anything wrong?” Lifting her head, Xing Biqi looked at Chen Yu with widened eyes. “You can be honest with me. I’ll change.”

In response, Chen Yu also looked at Xing Biqi with widened eyes. “???”

“Why aren’t you talking?”

“I-I don’t know what to say…” Reaching out, Chen Yu touched the girl’s forehead and said, “If I have to say something, then I would recommend you see a psychologist.”

“Meanie~”

Xing Biqi rolled her eyes charmingly, her response shocking Chen Yu senseless.

“By the way, we’ve been walking for a long time now. Where are you bringing me?”

“The forest,” Chen Yu responded curtly.

The girl’s cheeks flushed red immediately. “T-The weather is cold. Why don’t we go to a hotel instead?”

“Hotel? What for? We’re going to the forest.”

“Isn’t it cold?”

“You’re wearing clothes, so what’s there to be afraid of?”

“S-So you like that kind of stuff…”

“What do you mean I like that kind of stuff?” Suspiciously, Chen Yu asked, “It’s such a cold day. If you don’t wear clothes, won’t you freeze to death?”

“Alright…” Burying her head into Chen Yu’s averagely-wide shoulders, Xing Biqi said softly, “I’ll do what you say.”

“?”

…

As the two walked along the street, they quickly arrived at Jinzhou City’s People’s Park.

At this time, they could still see several youngsters having a snowball fight in the park under the street lights’ illumination.

“There are still people playing here so late at night.”

“It’s because spring is coming soon.” Bending down, Xing Biqi grabbed some snow from the ground and asked, “Should we have a snowball fight as well? Once the temperature rises and the snow melts, we won’t have any more chances to play.”

“What’s fun about snowball fights?” Leading the girl to the grove behind the park, Chen Yu said, “I’ll let you see what real fun is now.”

The girl immediately tossed the snow in her hand. Lowering her head and squeezing the corner of her jacket, she muttered, “To have our first time outdoors… You’re too much…”

“What are you mumbling about?”

“N-Nothing.”

Bypassing the large billboard and crossing the cobblestone path between two rockeries, Chen Yu led Xing Biqi straight into the depths of the snow-covered woods.

Xing Biqi had her head lowered throughout the journey. After entering the forest, she bit her lip and slowly took out a Durex product from her purse. Taking a deep breath, she mumbled to herself, “I can do it…”

“We’re here.”

Chen Yu stopped his footsteps.

“C-Come on, then…” The girl closed her eyes tightly.

“Take off your jacket.”

“Won’t it be cold?”

“It won’t. You’ll be warmed up in a moment.”

“Mhm~” Xing Biqi squeezed a reply out of her throat. She then unbuttoned her down jacket while simultaneously lifting her head. “Darling, I brought con—Huh? Why is there a door here?!”

“Isn’t it normal for forests to have doors in them?”

“It’s not normal at all!”

“What’s that in your hand?”

“Huh? This… Nothing!” The girl immediately hid the object she held behind her.

“Is it bubble gum?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Give me one.”

“No! It doesn’t taste good!” Decisively changing the topic, Xing Biqi asked, “W-What’s up with this door? Who put it here?”

“I did.” Taking a step forward, Chen Yu arrived in front of the Interstellar Portal and gently caressed its frame. “Do you recognize it? I bet you don’t. After all, I’ve never had it take on this form in front of the camera.”

Her mouth widening gradually, Xing Biqi asked, “W-What do you mean…”

“Look.” Stretching out his hand, Chen Yu pointed at a bright star in the sky and asked, “Do you know the name of that star?”

“…”

“Well, do you?”

“S-Sirius…” Xing Biqi covered her mouth and nose with her trembling hands, doing her best to suppress her increasingly rapid breathing.

“It seems you have a good understanding of astronomy.” Chen Yu nodded. “That’s right. That star is called Sirius. It is also called Alpha Canis Majoris. On Earth, it is the brightest star we can see after the sun. In fact, it is often brighter than Mars, which is within the solar system. Then, do you know how far it is from us?”

“Eight-point-six light-years.”

“That is correct. It is nearly nine light-years away. What a great distance, right? But reality is often theatrical. When you look at a distant object, it might very well be very close to you.”

Drops of glittering tears rolled down the girl’s face.

However, despite her blurred vision, the girl still stared at Chen Yu’s face.

“Why are you crying?”

“I-I don’t know either…”

“Sirius also has a romantic and beautiful legend. Do you want to hear it?”

“Yes!”

“Then… According to legend, a long, long time ago, a match-selling girl pursued after an orangutan named Sirius. However, Sirius felt that nothing good would come from two people of different races interacting. Yet, it also couldn’t bear to reject the girl for fear of hurting the girl’s heart. Hence, Sirius killed the girl. The road to the underworld was long and dark. Sirius knew that the girl was afraid of the dark, so it did not hesitate to light itself with the matchstick in the girl’s hand. In the end, Sirius sacrificed itself to illuminate the road to the underworld.”

“When a passing god saw this scene…” Sobbing, Xing Biqi said, “The god caused Sirius to burn even more fiercely. In the end, Sirius became the brightest star in the night sky, forever… forever…”

Stepping forward, Xing Biqi buried her head into Chen Yu’s chest. While listening to the raging heartbeat inside, she whispered, “…Burning for that match-selling girl.”

“Isn’t this story romantic?” Chen Yu revealed a warm smile.

“Mhm!” The girl nodded heavily.

“Do you like it?”

“I like it!”

“Then…” Looking at Sirius, Chen Yu asked, “Do you want to visit that star?”

“I do.”

“Make a wish to it, then. If Sirius hears your heart, it might grant your wish.”

“I’ve already made my wish.” Wiping off the tears on her face, the girl looked up and stared at Chen Yu, “I’m not going to that broken place even if it kills me…

“Unless it is with you…”

TL Notes:

1How did your family have so many children?: Fyi, Xing Biqi isn’t asking this question because she thinks it is physically impossible for a couple to have four children. Instead, she is asking it because she is wondering how Chen Yu’s family managed to get away with having four children, as China has implemented the one-child policy up until 2015. And even after 2015, the policy has only been revised to a two-child limit. Hence, it is strange for the Chen family to have four children, especially considering their financial situation.