Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 201 - 198: Entering Teacher He’s Home

Chapter 201: Chapter 198: Entering Teacher He’s Home

He City is a county-level city. Although named a city, it’s actually a county.

The two got off at the high-speed train station, with Qin Guanglin following He Fang out of the station. Once outside, the entrance plaza bustled with various stalls hawking their wares—a lively sight.

"One egg pancake, add two eggs, extra lettuce, mildly spicy, please," He Fang stood in front of a stall and took out her wallet. "Thank you."

"Weren’t we just saying we’d go back for lunch? Are you hungry?"

"No, I always have to eat one of these every time I come back." She pointed to the sizzling pancake that the stall owner was flipping. "Without a few bites, it feels like something’s missing."

"It must be the taste of home," Qin Guanglin understood. The flavor produced by these small stalls is unique to each place.

He Fang nodded and waited for her pancake to be ready. She took a bite and then handed it to Qin Guanglin, "You must be hungry after sitting on the train for so long. Have some to tide you over."

"You’re only having that one bite?" Qin Guanglin held the pancake up to her mouth. "Have a few more bites."

"That’s enough. Just a taste is fine. Otherwise, I’d have ordered two." She unscrewed her bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and looked up at Qin Guanglin, asking, "How does it taste?"

"Delicious."

"Hehe, you can’t get this flavor in Luo City. It’s unique to He City, and it has to come from one of these small stalls."

He Fang led him slowly toward another bus stop, "In Luo City, the eggs are just poured on top of the pancake, so it can only be called a rolled pancake. Here, a double-layered pancake has a hole poked in it with chopsticks to pour the egg inside; that’s what makes an authentic filled pancake."

"Can you make it?" Qin Guanglin asked.

"Of course not. If I could, I’d just make it myself."

"From how expertly you describe it, I thought you knew how to make it yourself." He followed her, eating the pancake, and he had to admit—the filled pancake really was tasty.

"Should we just go straight there? Shouldn’t I find a place to stay first, freshen up, and get dressed before..."

"Aiya, let’s hurry, or we’ll miss lunch."

He Fang quickened her pace, arm in arm with him, and after about fifteen minutes, they stopped at an intersection.

"Waiting for the bus here?"

"Mm, the number two bus will stop here."

"There’s not even a bus stop sign..."

"Of course, it can’t compare to Luo City. What, you think He City is too poor?" She wrinkled her nose and looked at Qin Guanglin on purpose.

"How could I? Even if you lived in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn’t mind."

As Qin Guanglin spoke, he tossed the packaging bag into a nearby trash can and took out a piece of candy, "Want one?"

"Yes."

Watching He Fang’s cheeks bulge with candy, he smiled fondly, his and her hands squeezed tightly together, and he looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath.

Already in He City, just a number two bus ride away from her house.

The number two bus was different from what Qin Guanglin had expected. There were only two long benches, taking up very little space, with the rest being a large area for standing. The driver drove as if he were a retired professional racer. The rickety bus was surprisingly quick, almost as if it were about to take off, and he even wondered whether the bus was going to fly.

"Is it always like this?" Qin Guanglin clutched the handle above to steady himself, one arm around He Fang in case she was thrown out.

He Fang knew what Qin Guanglin was asking. She hugged his waist and chuckled quietly, "You’ll get used to it. This is normal speed. One of these days, I’ll take you on the number seven bus. That driver can drift."

"..."

Qin Guanglin silently looked out the window, not wanting to experience the drifting at all. He missed Luo City’s buses, so slow and steady.

"Okay, we’re here."

After a sudden stop, He Fang threw herself into Qin Guanglin’s arms. Once she steadied herself, she dragged him out of the back door, pointed towards the entrance of the residential complex ahead, and said, "That’s my home over there."

"Is this the place where you grew up?" Qin Guanglin looked around; it was now noontime. There were only a few sparse pedestrians on the streets, and fruit vendors were lazily sitting under umbrellas, fanning themselves with palm fans.

"You hardly have anything here... I should’ve insisted on us buying things in Luo City and bringing them over." He complained upon seeing no shopping malls or the like nearby.

Yesterday, he had wanted to take He Fang shopping, but she had cajoled him, saying everything was available here, and they could buy it upon arrival.

"Maybe you should go back first and I’ll wander around to prepare, and then I can visit your home this evening." Qin Guanglin was already starting to back out.

"Just buy some simple gifts." He Fang forcefully pulled him towards a nearby shop. "We’re already at the doorstep; wouldn’t it be rude not to enter? Just buy the gifts here. My dad loves tea; you can buy a couple of tins of tea leaves, a box of milk for my nephew, and some fruit for my brother’s family, and that should do it."

"..."

The anxious Qin Guanglin didn’t want to be casual about this at all. After reluctantly buying those items, he also picked up a lively carp weighing over three pounds, flipping and flopping in his hand, and added two bottles of Green Flower Lang alcohol to the haul. He had wanted to buy Red Flower Lang Wine, which would have been more festive, but since the store didn’t have it, he settled for the next best thing. After all, saving face was important.

He Fang, carrying the fruits and tea leaves ahead, led the way into the residential complex, with Qin Guanglin following behind, carrying the other bulky parcels. They turned left and right inside until they finally reached a building where she stopped, turned around, and looked at Qin Guanglin, "We’re going in."

"... Let’s go."

"Do you need to adjust your mood a bit? Don’t be too nervous when meeting my family."

Qin Guanglin took a deep breath. The carp in his hand slapped his thigh with its tail. He looked down at it for a moment, then lifted his head and urged He Fang, "Alright, I’m ready."

After all, like a fish on a chopping board, he was prepared for whatever came his way, having painstakingly thought over what might be asked several times already. He figured there wouldn’t be any major issues.

With a smile, He Fang playfully bit his arm. "Go for it." Then she turned and went inside, climbing up the stairs to the second floor. She shifted the fruits and tea leaves into one hand and knocked on the door with the other.

Knock, knock, knock.

Qin Guanglin’s heart raced, and he pursed his lips to adjust his expression, standing behind her like a little follower, anxiously staring at the black security door.

The doorknob rattled twice, and then the door swung open. A young man who looked somewhat like He Fang appeared at the doorway. His eyes squinted in a smile when he saw He Fang, "You’re back, that..." He glanced over He Fang’s shoulder and paused mid-sentence.

"Hello, I’m a friend of Teacher He— He Fang’s friend," Qin Guanglin stuttered, almost accidentally addressing her as Teacher He.

"What kind of friend?" He Fang turned to look at Qin Guanglin, then handed the things she was carrying to the man, "Bro, this is my boyfriend, Qin Guanglin."

"Hello, hello, I’m Fang’s brother, He Shan." He Shan said as he opened the door wider and took the stuff from He Fang’s hand. "There was no need to bring so much... come on in."

Qin Guanglin found He Shan to be quite amiable. He followed He Fang inside, bending down to place the other items on the ground and handing the lively carp to He Shan, "Just brought a little something... this one needs to be put in water."

"Wow, it’s huge, must be three or four pounds... sheesh." He Shan examined the fish by the rope and turned to head to the kitchen, "You guys have a seat. I’ll find a basin for it."

"Dad, sister-in-law."

He Fang greeted the people sitting in the living room.

It was only then that Qin Guanglin turned his head to look at the others, instantly stiffening and freezing where he stood.

He’s Daddy, the sister-in-law, and the nephew were all sitting on the sofas on either side, staring straight at him.

"..."

"..."

"..."

There was a mutual gaze, none spoke, and the living room fell into an eerie silence.