My Youth Begins With Loving You

Ch. 40 (1)

Year-end was always the busiest time for Chen Mo. Various kinds of anti-terrorism practices were arranged, set after set. Daily pick-up and drop-off service for Miao Yuan had been delayed. Even the matters regarding interior decoration had to be fully taken care of by Miao Yuan. Luckily, she was homely and headstrong about her residence. She also had the courage and desire to take on the task. Chen Mo just brought several soldiers to be porters while buying furniture, and the rest was completed peacefully without him. 

Chen Mo handed his salary card to Miao Yuan, which contained all his work salary for the past two years. He usually didn’t spend much and had saved nearly 50,000 yuan1. 

The house was already decorated, and now they were just restyling it, with Miao Yuan’s meticulous planning and careful accounting, the expenditure was much lower than Chen Mo had expected and the process was also quick. It just so happened that Miao Yuan’s landlord wanted to create a new atmosphere for New Year and came to discuss the new rent. She, under a fit of anger, simply canceled her tenant contract at the end of the month. The female student tenant looked at her with envy, elating her mood.

Although Chen Mo’s proposal was full of oversights, it was undeniable that proposal is a man’s greatest praise to a woman, and consent is a woman’s greatest trust in a man. Miao Yuan felt that right now, her relationship with Chen Mo was outstanding; she felt so content that she didn’t notice the obvious large problems in front of her eyes. 

On moving day, Chen Mo was called by the team to make an anti-terrorism plan, so Yuan Jie called several soldiers to help Miao Yuan move. Yuan Jie was flexible with his behavior and afraid Miao Yuan would have any complaint, so he ‘secretly’, put in good words about Chen Mo in the lady’s ears. She was easy to persuade; whenever someone praised her husband, she believed it blindly and brooded how he was truly a good person. After moving, she invited all the soldiers to have a meal in a restaurant. Those inexperienced young soldiers, who received their sao zi’s2 good graces were deeply moved and expressed their gratitude excessively. The young lady, who was on the receiving end, couldn’t help but complain, “You all, don’t call me sao zi again, ok? Hearing that makes me feel like my wrinkles are coming out. Feels so old ah!”

Yuan Jie felt worried and replied quickly, “What should we call you then, if not sao zi?” Miao Yuan proudly said, “Call me Miao Miao!” 3 The soldiers were dumbfounded.

 Yuan Jie coughed awkwardly. “I’ll just stick to Sister Miao.” 

Miao Yuan felt upset and protested, “You are obviously older than me. Why do you insist on calling me sao zi?” 

Yuan Jie lowered his head and thought to himself, If I call you Miao Miao, will I live to tell the tale? The captain will probably snipe me in one shot.

That night, after work, Chen Mo was about to head back to his dormitory when he was halted by Yuan Jie. He was rueful as he initiated the conversation. “Hey, now that sao zi’s house is fully furbished, it looks like a real home.” 

For Chen Mo, these words felt like claws scratching on his heart. He halted at the doorstep and changed his direction. Enduring his itchy heart with much difficulty, he reached out into his pocket and tightened his grip around his house’s key. 

As soon as the car drove into the district of family members, Chen Mo spotted his house’s lit window at the first sight, it was warm and crystal yellow, like a soft fire. He looked at it with a longing gaze as he sat in the car seat. After a while, he abruptly acknowledged it was his house! He slapped himself lightly and bitterly smiled, feeling his foolishness was unsightly. 

Two days ago, Chen Mo drove to that house to move items. In the depth of the night, he was in a rush and bumped into the door while carrying a large bag of sundries. Things had been sorted more or less, but it still looked empty. One of the windows wasn’t properly shut, making curtains flutter with the wind. He put down his baggage and left immediately after, not even turning on the lights. Now standing in front of the same door, Chen Mo clasped his hand around the key, soon ringing the bell. If someone opened the door from inside, he wouldn’t have to use this piece of cold metal. 

Miao Yuan had just finished washing her hair. With a big towel wrapped around her head, she sat cross-legged on the bed, watching TV and enjoying apples. She was in her new home and a new bed. This was her first night here, so she was in high spirits. She was going to call Chen Mo when the hilarious variety show ended to show off to him and to look down upon his unadorned dormitory. She was startled when the doorbell rang. “No way. Chen Mo? Why didn’t he call?”

Chen Mo stood in the doorway silently. Everything in his vision seemed to have changed, despite the sofa remaining the same and the dining table still transparent and hard, there emanated an ambiguous air in the room which softened all the edges and corners. Miao Yuan took a bite of the apple in her hand and waved in front of him, smirking. “Chen Mo, are you an idiot? Why didn’t you call beforehand?”

Chen Mo stepped forward and hugged Miao Yuan before saying, “Why do I need to make a call when I go back to my home?” 

Miao Yuan blushed, struggled to break free from his hands, and complained, “You’re so smelly. Chen Mo, when did you last take a bath?”

“Just yesterday…” Chen Mo tilted his head and took a sniff. Rolling and crawling all day, the accumulated sweat and dirt had mixed, radiating an awful stench. The smell made anyone taking a whiff dare not compliment.