Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets

Chapter 1004: Chapter 1004: You Didn’t Bully Her, Did You?

The surge of emotion that Jin Yan had just felt vanished without a trace in an instant. She glared at him fiercely and said, "Lian Xiaoyang, who asked you to meddle? Who said I wanted to depend on you? What kind of person do you take me for?"

"As long as you don’t depend on me, that’s fine." Lian Qingyang chuckled and urged, "Quickly drink the brown sugar ginger tea, it’ll help you feel better. Don’t overindulge in ice cream anymore."

"Who asked you to interfere?"

Jin Yan gave him a glare and said, "Isn’t Sister Xiao Yue looking for you for something? I don’t need your help, just go back."

"My sister told me to go back in the evening. You get some rest, and I’ll make you lunch later." Lian Qingyang showed no intention of leaving.

Jin Yan leaned on the sofa, couldn’t help but glance at him and said, "My grandpa might come back any moment now."

"I’m your..." Lian Qingyang paused, then said, "friend. At least we’re friends, right? Is it wrong for a friend to care about a friend?"

Lian Qingyang was oblivious, and Jin Yan was anxious. If her grandpa found out, he would definitely try to set her up with Lian Qingyang.

"Are you really not leaving?" Jin Yan scrutinized Lian Qingyang, seeing that he had no intention of leaving, she couldn’t help but raise her voice, saying, "If you’re here, I wouldn’t dare to sleep."

"Why wouldn’t you dare to sleep?" Lian Qingyang still hadn’t caught on.

Jin Yan widened her eyes. Today, her hair was braided to one side, her pale face looked anxious as she urged, "Lian Xiaoyang, are you stupid? Who knows if you might take advantage and do something inappropriate while I’m asleep?"

Lian Qingyang was thoroughly shocked. He scanned Jin Yan up and down. Today, she seemed even more pitiful than usual, with those big eyes appearing even larger... but was he the type to take advantage like that?

"You’re overthinking it." Lian Qingyang’s mouth twitched. Thinking of the matters at the factory, he decided to leave.

Jin Yan let out a huge sigh of relief after seeing him leave. Looking at the empty bowl of brown sugar ginger tea, her stomach felt warm, as did her heart. Suddenly, she remembered Lian Qingyang’s words; her briefly uplifted mood sank again.

Blockhead.

Muttering under her breath, Jin Yan finished the medicine and brown sugar ginger tea, returned to her room, curled up on her soft bed, and with the fan blowing, soon fell into a deep sleep.

*

"Sis, what delicious meal did you make today?" Lian Qingyang hurried back before dinner, seeing the delicious food on the table, exclaimed, "Sis, you’re the best. You made beef stir-fry for me."

"Whack."

Tang Yue tapped him with her chopsticks, saying, "You’re an adult now, and you’re still picking food with your hands. Did you wash them?"

"Sis, I’m eating crackling pork." Lian Qingyang stuffed a piece of crackling pork into his mouth, savoring its crispy outside and tender inside with its rich meaty aroma.

"Crackling pork is still food. Can’t you wash your hands before eating?" Tang Yue couldn’t help but give him a look, warning against setting a bad example for the kids.

"Uncle is dirty." Chenchen climbed onto the small stool with a look of disdain.

Zaozao, after washing his hands, confidently sat down. Though he said nothing, his exaggerated hand-wiping motion was quite obvious.

Lian Qingyang: "..."

Is he being despised by his two little nephews?

All he did was pick a piece of crackling pork. How’s that worth despising?

Lian Qingyang obediently went to wash his hands.

After dinner, Lian Qingyang played wildly with the two kids. Looking at their happy smiles, he said, "So, you don’t despise your uncle now, do you?"

"Still do." Chenchen beamed, eyes curving into smiles.

Zaozao’s expression was one of disdain.

Lian Qingyang instantly felt a pang. So all that playing — being their horse, acting as a clown — was all in vain?

"Haha."

Chenchen laughed, covering his mouth.

Zaozao’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

"You two little ingrates." Lian Qingyang panted, sitting on the floor; playing with these two little ones was more exhausting than a full day’s work.

Tang Yue sat nearby, reminding the kids it was time for bed.

Zaozao and Chenchen obediently went to their room to sleep, signaling the start of sibling chat time.

In the living room, Tang Yue settled on the sofa, motioning for Lian Qingyang to sit down.

"Sis, do you, have something to say?" Lian Qingyang inquired.

"Where did you go today?" Tang Yue asked instead of answering.

Lian Qingyang blinked and said, "I was at the factory today."

After saying that, catching Tang Yue’s gaze, he recalled and asked, "Did you also visit the hospital today?"

"Yes." Tang Yue nodded.

Before Tang Yue could ask, Lian Qingyang hesitantly recounted Jin Yan’s painful condition and further said, "Sis, she’s your employee too. When I encountered it, I couldn’t just stand by, right?"

"Seeing her unable to stand because of the pain was really pitiful," Lian Qingyang added.

Tang Yue looked him over keenly and asked, "Xiao Yang, you didn’t bully her, right?"

"No, I didn’t." Lian Qingyang shook his head, sipping his tea.

Tang Yue asked more bluntly, "You haven’t, you know, had relations with Xiao Yan, have you?"

"Pfft~"

The tea that Lian Qingyang hadn’t yet swallowed sprayed out.

He looked at Tang Yue in shock, saying, "Sis, what nonsense are you talking about? We’re just friends, nothing... of that sort happened."

Lian Qingyang blushed deeply, having never even had a girlfriend; he was very innocent.

"You’re not in a romantic relationship?" Tang Yue pressed.

"No." Lian Qingyang replied with certainty.

Tang Yue couldn’t help but rub her forehead and asked, "What do you think of Xiao Yan?"

"She’s kind of silly, puffs out her cheeks when angry, and her eyes widen — very cute," Lian Qingyang shared his thoughts.

"And you don’t have any other thoughts?" Tang Yue asked further.

Lian Qingyang shook his head quickly, looking blankly at Tang Yue, "What thoughts could I have?"

Tang Yue stared at him for a while and finally said, "Alright, go back to sleep."

Tang Yue yawned and went to bed.

Lian Qingyang returned to his room, somehow opening the bottom drawer of his bedside cabinet, taking out a book and finding a photograph inadvertently taken years ago.

A sideways shot of Jin Yan under warm yellow lighting, the photo was beautiful in a blurred way, making one want to take a closer look at the female subject.

After gazing at it for a while, Lian Qingyang randomly stuffed the photo back, lay on his bed, and closed his eyes, seeing Jin Yan from the photo, her pale and pitiful face from today, and her cute angered look.

"Stop thinking, stop thinking."

Lian Qingyang couldn’t sleep, so he got up to play computer games until he felt sleepy before crawling back into bed.