Chapter 120: Waning Enthusiasm

“Oh? What kind of cat is it if not an ordinary one?” Xia Nianhong didn’t believe You Xue.

“It’s really smart,” You Xue said.

“Smart enough to get a job and earn money?”

“Although it doesn’t work, Xiaohei really can earn money.”

“Can it earn money? How much?” Mentioning money, Xia Nianhong became interested.

“This much.” You Xue mysteriously spread both palms.

“One hundred?” Xia Nianhong guessed a reasonable number.

“Higher.”

“One thousand?” Xia Nianhong’s breath quickened slightly.

“It’s ten thousand!”

Seeing the surprised expression on her grandmother’s face, You Xue felt very proud.

“Turtle turtle.” After exclaiming in astonishment, Xia Nianhong pulled You Xue closer, asking how the money was earned.

Knowing it was just the appearance fee for the black cat’s two performances, she looked at the black cat with even more enthusiasm.

Taking the cat food bag from Xia Yu’s hand, Xia Nianhong filled the bowl: “Eat more.”

She looked at Xia Yu again: “You too, why are you only giving the cat biscuits? Get some fish or mice or something.”

“This isn’t a biscuit, it’s cat food. Cats should eat this.” Xia Yu stopped Xia Nianhong from adding something extra for the black cat, somewhat amused yet exasperated.

Xia Nianhong, no longer disliking the black cat as before, went to pour a bowl of cooled boiled water and placed it beside the cat, then reached out to stroke the black cat.

After feeding the cat, Xia Yu no longer paid attention and returned to his room, played some games, and then lay on the bed.

Recently, he had always been entering An Siyao’s body; it was time to switch. Tomorrow he would go see Xu Youxiang.

After making some plans in his mind, he fell asleep.

The moon outside the window slowly tilted eastward and set, and then the sun rose.

In the morning, after washing up, Xia Yu, as usual, went downstairs to help at his grandfather’s noodle shop, but today his grandparents no longer needed him.

Yesterday had already been a day of showing off, and Xia Yu and You Xue had already fulfilled their roles.

Xia Nianhong told the two to go to the only teahouse in town to find Kong Han, as she had already spoken with Kong Han’s grandmother.

Thus, Xia Yu took You Xue to the teahouse.

It was a two-story wooden building, constructed by a meticulous owner long ago. It was said to have been very popular in earlier years, but now the younger generation mostly preferred coffee and milk tea, and had lost interest in traditional tea.

After walking around the shop, Xia Yu and Bingxue couldn’t find Kong Han; apparently, she hadn’t arrived yet.

There were many people in the teahouse, mostly elderly, the kind who would chat all day with a cup of tea and a pack of cigarettes.

But there were also some young people, about six or seven.

This puzzled Xia Yu a bit; when had the young generation started liking tea?

And why was the tea so dark in color? Why was it served in paper cups with straws?

“Do you also sell milk tea here?” he asked the owner’s daughter who was helping in the shop.

“Milk tea is also tea,” she replied.

Xia Yu was momentarily speechless.

He ordered two milk teas, sat down with You Xue, and waited for Kong Han.

“Why don’t we just go directly to Hanhan’s house?” You Xue asked.

“Maybe grandma feels it’s more ceremonious to meet at home,” Xia Yu replied.

“…We’re old friends, who needs ceremony? Do you really think it’s a blind date?” You Xue curled her lips.

“It’s also good. If things are still the same as before, we can just have fun together. If not, we can just leave immediately,” Xia Yu said.

It would be hard to leave if they went to someone else’s house.

“If things are the same, are you really planning to develop something with her?” You Xue was unimpressed by Xia Yu’s somewhat pessimistic comment. She remembered that when Kong Han was little, she liked his older brother. Now his older brother had become even better, how could she not like him?

She felt a bit unhappy. Compared to Kong Han, she preferred Yan Wei. When they were little, Kong Han often tricked her into leaving Xia Yu alone, while Yan Wei never did such things.

She now somewhat regretted not continuing to help Yan Wei.

“Do you only think about developing something?” Xia Yu tapped You Xue’s head, saying it was impossible, to reassure her.

“She’s coming,” You Xue suddenly said.

Looking toward the door, Xia Yu saw a face that was both unfamiliar and familiar.

Although there were some changes, he could still recognize her as Kong Han.

Meeting an old friend after many years, Xia Yu wasn’t excited. Instead, he slightly frowned.

Beside Kong Han, a boy had also come.

He was about the same age as Xia Yu, wearing a red and blue long down jacket.

Xia Yu also knew the boy, though they had never interacted.

It wasn’t strange for childhood friends to meet with another friend in tow, but Xia Yu’s intuition told him he wouldn’t be able to enjoy a joyful reunion.

Kong Han’s gaze swept around the teahouse. She spotted Xia Yu and You Xue, and with the boy, walked toward Xia Yu.

She greeted them casually, introduced the boy beside her, sat down, and ordered two milk teas.

She examined the Xia Yu before her.

At the sight of the youthful face, she recalled the bygone days.

Back then, as a child, she had been obsessed with this seemingly strong and intelligent youth, believing he was the best.

But just like how she used to think the town was the entire world, these were all false imaginations.

Looking back now, the youth was merely an ordinary peer, slightly more mature and better-looking than others.

After leaving the town and coming to Kaiyang, Kong Han’s image of the youth had gradually faded. She thought she would never think of him again, yet unexpectedly, they met again.

To avoid trouble and prevent the other party from having bad thoughts due to childhood matters, Kong Han brought Lu Zhiwen beside her.

Lu Zhiwen had been unremarkable back then, but now he was a fairly excellent young man with talents in music, painting, and other areas.

In comparison, the youth who had once captivated her was quite ordinary.

Taking a sip of milk tea, Kong Han casually brought up a few childhood topics. She observed Xia Yu’s expression, feeling somewhat disappointed when she didn’t see him eagerly approaching her as she had imagined.

But she thought, perhaps Xia Yu was feeling inferior, and her mood improved again.

On the other side, Xia Yu half-heartedly responded to her words, completely uninterested.

“I only got second place in the oil painting competition in Su Province,” Kong Han pretended to sigh.

It was just a provincial competition, and only second place at that—it was indeed something to be disappointed about.

But he knew the girl’s real intention was to show off.

“Amazing, amazing,” he responded.

“It’s all because of this competition that my grades dropped a lot. I might not get into Donggong University.”

Donggong University was a tier below Huad University, where Zhong Yunze planned to apply.

“Shameful, shameful,” Xia Yu continued to respond.

“My family now lives in Kaiyang. You’re welcome to stay at my house if you come to Kaiyang. We have two spare rooms, enough for you two siblings.”

Okay, I know you have a four-bedroom house in Kaiyang.

“Definitely, definitely.”

Xia Yu had already determined that this was a sparrow who had suddenly entered a phoenix’s nest, believing herself to be extraordinary, always wanting to show off at every moment.

It was also a form of teenage arrogance.

He felt dispirited.

Human relationships, due to changes in money, time, etc., can drastically change. Maintaining childhood feelings is a luxury.

He pondered whether to entrust this matter to Tuoguan Yu, as Tuoguan Yu would be adept at handling it.

He looked at Lu Zhiwen beside him. This was actually a pretty good kid. From the moment he came in, he had maintained the posture of “I don’t exist,” obviously dragged along by Kong Han.

If it were someone not good, they would now be showing off together with Kong Han.

Xia Yu’s perfunctory attitude was noticed by Kong Han. The girl gritted her teeth, angry at Xia Yu’s lack of cooperation.

In her imagination, Xia Yu should have exclaimed in admiration.

“Just a country bumpkin, pretending to be calm!”

“It’s getting late. We’re leaving.” Kong Han stood up unhappily and pulled Lu Zhiwen, who was in a daze.

Standing up, Lu Zhiwen, out of Kong Han’s sight, gave Xia Yu a shrugging gesture, expressing his helplessness.

Xia Yu smiled, indicating that he didn’t mind.

After the two left the table, three girls from a nearby table, who had been staring at Xia Yu for more than five minutes, excitedly approached him.

“Are you Xia Yu?” Their faces were flushed with excitement.