Reborn in the 80s: Everyone Falls For Me
Chapter 159 - 158: Hold Tight (2nd Update)

Chapter 159: Chapter 158: Hold Tight (2nd Update)

She actually ordered three large meat dishes.

And the portions were so generous.

After resolving the issue of food and warmth, Xu Niannian and Jin Yu hurried back to the hospital. Though Xu Zhiqiang had been injured, his bones were fine, he only suffered some minor concussions.

He could be discharged from the hospital after a few days.

Xu Niannian didn’t know, so she specifically went to ask the doctor.

Xu Zhiqiang could have been discharged the day before, but the discharge procedures weren’t completed.

The doctor had asked Xu Zhiqiang, who said he was waiting for his sister.

Hearing someone inquiring about whether Xu Zhiqiang could be discharged, the doctor looked up disapprovingly, "He could have been discharged yesterday..."

Seeing Xu Niannian’s face, the irritated doctor’s attitude did a 180-degree turn, becoming extremely gentle and eager.

"He could have been discharged yesterday. You’re the patient’s sister, right? Just complete the discharge procedures and he can leave. Do you know where to do it? Do you want me to take you there?"

As a man himself, Jin Yu could easily tell why the doctor’s attitude had changed.

With a large hand draped over Xu Niannian’s shoulder, he pulled her to his side and said coldly, "No need, we know where to go."

With those words, not giving the doctor a chance to speak, he turned around and walked away, arm in arm.

Xu Niannian looked at the hand Jin Yu had placed on her shoulder in a daze, "What are you doing?"

Jin Yu raised an eyebrow, looked down at her and said, "Didn’t you notice I was helping you?"

"Huh? Helping me?" Xu Niannian shook her head, "What did you help with?"

Jin Yu casually threw shade at the doctor, "His gaze at you was off, be careful."

Upon hearing this, Xu Niannian immediately became alert.

After what happened with Du Jiahao, she was like a frightened bird.

It seemed she had to learn some self-defense techniques quickly.

She couldn’t be concerned about whether Jin Yu’s hand was still on her shoulder or not, she grabbed his clothes and said, "No, starting tomorrow, you’re going to teach me self-defense techniques."

"No problem," Jin Yu agreed with an eagerness that was readily apparent.

After completing the discharge procedures for Xu Zhiqiang, they immediately went to pick him up from the hospital.

Jin Yu drove; this was the first time Xu Zhiqiang had sat in a sedan, and he was somewhat uneasy, sitting up straight with his back rigid, hands resting on his knees.

Xu Niannian playfully tapped his shoulder, "Don’t be nervous, lean back and rest for a bit, we’ll be there soon."

Since it was too late, Xu Niannian didn’t take Xu Zhiqiang to see the shop, they went straight to Nanshui Street.

Seeing such a large mansion, Xu Zhiqiang opened his mouth wide in surprise, "Sis, is this where we’re going to live from now on?"

"Sort of," Xu Niannian said. For the short term, it seemed to be the case.

After all, this was Jin Yu’s house, and who knows when he might want it back.

When he finds his true love, she would have to move aside. It wouldn’t be right to let the Young Aunt misunderstand, would it?

Jin Yu clicked his tongue, wanting to correct her wording.

What do you mean ’sort of’? It’s certain.

She could live there as long as she wanted.

Being tired from a long day, Xu Niannian was longing to go to bed.

Xu Zhiqiang’s room had been cleaned by Xu Niannian from the start, she even made his bed for him.

They were definitely going to live here for a short time, and although tired, Xu Niannian could not resist the urge to show her brother around the whole house.

Even though the house wasn’t hers, it signified the beginning of a better life for them.

She wanted to tell Xu Zhiqiang, to tell her family, that she wouldn’t let them struggle forever; life would get better and better.

After showing him around, Xu Niannian was even more tired, while Xu Zhiqiang was still in amazement.

The house was simply too big.

The rooms were big, the beds were big, completely unlike the small room in their house.

And there were so many items in the house.

Closets, desks, and even two pretty chairs.

Even for someone as emotionally reserved as Xu Zhiqiang, he couldn’t help but feel his emotions surge.

"Sis, is this really my room?" Xu Zhiqiang asked in disbelief.

Xu Niannian smiled and nodded, "Yes, this is your room. From now on, you, Zhicheng, and Duoyu don’t have to squeeze into a single small bed. Zhicheng and Duoyu each have their own rooms."

Even if they didn’t live at Jin Yu’s place in the future, once she had saved up, she could buy a big house like this on her own.

The price of houses was really cheap right now, nowhere near as significant as in later periods and not so expensive.

Xu Zhiqiang’s focus, however, was on something else.

"Sis, will you bring Zhicheng and Duoyu here in the future?" He excitedly grabbed Xu Niannian’s hand.

If just now there were emotional waves, now there was a surge of excitement, his face flushed with it.

Xu Niannian nodded smilingly, "They’re my brothers too. Whatever you have, they will also have. But we’ll have to wait until my business stabilizes before I can bring them up here."

If she were to bring her family here, it meant she had to be able to provide for them.

Otherwise, why would she let her family suffer with her?

"Go back and sleep; I’m tired too, and tomorrow we have to keep working at the shop."

Xu Zhiqiang looked at Xu Niannian, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion, and he nodded at her vigorously.

"Sister, I will definitely help you in the future," he said.

Although these words didn’t mean much to Xu Niannian, they were an important promise to Xu Zhiqiang.

After escorting Xu Zhiqiang back to his room, Xu Niannian also planned to go to sleep.

But having been tired all day and sweating a lot, she had to take a bath before going to bed.

However, bathing also meant heating up the water.

The thing about Nancheng’s weather that made her most uncomfortable was that no matter how hot it was during the day, it always became cool at night.

Dripping sweat during the heat of the day, one couldn’t even take a cool bath, let alone without heating up the water first—it was such a hassle.

Grumbling to herself, Xu Niannian still resigned herself to going to the kitchen to heat the water.

Just as she was pushing the kitchen door open, she heard the crackling sounds of a wood fire and saw a big pot of water boiling on the stove.

Xu Niannian was stunned for a moment. Had she got her memory wrong?

When had she heated the water?

Just as she had this thought, she saw a head pop up from the edge of the stove, and Jin Yu stood up with a face smudged with charcoal.

At first glance, Xu Niannian got a little startled.

Upon closer inspection, Xu Niannian bent over laughing, her sweet laughter echoing through the kitchen.

Jin Yu raised an eyebrow, looking at the little girl who couldn’t straighten up from laughing, and reached out to pull her up by the arm.

"Funny?"

"How did you get yourself this dirty?"

Xu Niannian pointed at his face.

Jin Yu had been fussing with the wood fire under the stove, his hands were covered in soot, and he had wiped his sweating brow several times—it was easy to guess that his face wouldn’t look pretty.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be laughing so hysterically.

With a pout, ’Ungrateful little wretch,’ he thought, ’Who am I doing this for?’

After she had her fill of laughter, Xu Niannian finally stood up straight: "You’re heating water for a bath?"

Jin Yu gave a snort: "Do I, a grown man, need hot water for my bath?"

Never mind it was summer; even in winter, he didn’t need hot water to bathe.

"Then why are you boiling water?" Xu Niannian asked.

Jin Yu pinched her cheek: "Haven’t you not bathed yet?"

Xu Niannian: "..."

Taken by surprise, she was pinched again, and to make matters worse, it was by his blackened fingers.

After a brief pinch, Jin Yu released her, and sure enough, her fair cheek now bore the dark markings of two fingers, matched with her moist, wide eyes—she looked like a little cat with spots.

Jin Yu pursed his lips, tempted to pinch again to make it symmetric.

Scared, Xu Niannian quickly ducked to avoid him.

His pinching attempt thwarted, Jin Yu clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

Having dodged him, Xu Niannian approached the stove, then suddenly asked him, "Why are you so good to me, even boiling water for my bath? You don’t have some ulterior motive, do you?"

Jin Yu looked at her, a smile hidden in his eyes, as he had guessed right.

Of course, he wouldn’t admit it.

What he wanted was to subtly blend into her life, getting her to the point where she couldn’t do without him.

"What ulterior motive could I possibly have?" he asked, his tone filled with disdain.

Xu Niannian: "...Then why on earth are you boiling water for me?"

Jin Yu clicked his tongue, why was she fixating on that?

"I’m a man. Being with a tender tofu like you, shouldn’t I offer some support? How would it look if I didn’t?"

Tender tofu...

Geez.

Xu Niannian really wanted to drown him with her spit.

What kind of terrible metaphor was that?

Seeing her face darken, Jin Yu went on to say, "You still have to make money for me, can’t have you catching a cold now."

So this was the reason he had boiled water for her bath?

Well, Xu Niannian grudgingly accepted it.

Using the water he had heated, she quickly took a shower and climbed comfortably into bed to sleep.

There were still matters to tend to at the shop tomorrow, and Xu Niannian felt energetic at the thought.

Jin Yu, with a towel in hand, went to the bathhouse to shower and upon seeing the large tank there, suddenly remembered the bath could be filled with hot water.

Their house had a source of underground water in the backyard that was warm throughout the year; his grandfather had turned it into a well.

Though they hadn’t lived on this side for many years, last year he had a pipeline installed from there to the bathhouse.

Alas, he got himself all smoked for nothing.