The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 186 The Self-righteous Huo Yingqi (1140+) _1

Chapter 186: Chapter 186 The Self-righteous Huo Yingqi (1140+) _1

When Zhou Yuanyuan was giving the gift, she was thinking that once the adults saw her giving a gift to Huo Yingjie, as long as Huo Yingjie accepted it, their parents would also acknowledge their relationship.

She had always thought that the ever-smiling Huo Yingjie had a good impression of her, but she hadn’t expected him to be so difficult to talk to. He had rejected her in front of everyone.

Zhou Yuanyuan couldn’t save face, her blush moving from shyness to anger and fury. Snatching up the scarf, she ran out.

Just as Huo Yingqi came out of the house, she saw Zhou Yuanyuan running away and quickly went up to her and said, "Second Brother, how can you be like this! Yuanyuan is just trying to keep you warm with her scarf. If you don’t accept it, at least speak kindly. Why be so heartless!"

The members of the Zhou Family, hearing Huo Yingqi’s words, also felt that Huo Yingjie was being too harsh. No matter what, Yuanyuan was a young lady and deserved some respect.

Huo Yingjie wasn’t angry because of his sister’s actions, but said politely, "In my heart, Yuanyuan is like you, she’s my sister. I have no romantic feelings towards her. If knowing my own heart, I were to still accept Yuanyuan’s kindness, that would be harming her. You’re young and don’t understand, but Uncle Zhou should see the goodwill in my refusal."

Zhou Zhengqi was taken aback but then realized that it was true. Although the Zhou Family and the Huo Family were once closely matched, they had lost a bit after several conflicts and were temporarily outmatched by the Huo Family. Huo Yingjie’s straightforward rejection of his daughter might seem unsightly on the surface, but in matters of the heart, it’s better to make a clean break than to be indecisive and drag things on.

"Yingjie is right, Yuanyuan is still young, she’ll understand your difficulties in time," said Zhou Zhengqi, believing his daughter was not so desperate as to beg for someone’s affection.

Huo Yingqi was stunned. Hadn’t Zhou Yuanyuan said that her parents agreed to her dating Huo Yingjie?

When Zhou Yuanyuan was knitting the scarf, her parents asked her about it. Hearing that it was for Huo Yingjie, they were very supportive, after all, the two families had been friends for generations, and Huo Yingjie was also a talented young man.

With such an attitude, it was imperative that Huo Yingjie also had an interest in their daughter. If not, they were not pleased to see their daughter throw herself into the endeavor so wholeheartedly.

After all, love is not a transaction to be pursued aggressively. Even in the New China, where love is free, such a pursuit was not supported.

Seeing Uncle Zhou speak in this way, Huo Yingqi panicked, stomped her feet, and chased after Zhou Yuanyuan. Her good friend was so fond of her Second Brother. Now that he had not given Yuanyuan any face, Huo Yingqi feared how heartbroken Yuanyuan must be now!

By the time Huo Yingqi caught up to the Zhou residence, Grandma Zhou saw her granddaughter run back, anxious and unaware of what had transpired; she was at the door trying to offer comfort.

But Zhou Yuanyuan had locked herself in, and Grandma Zhou couldn’t get in, fretting powerlessly outside.

When Huo Yingqi arrived, Grandma Zhou saw her granddaughter’s close girlfriend and came over to say, "Qiqi, come here and help me ask what’s wrong with Yuanyuan?"

Huo Yingqi knew what had happened but was too embarrassed to tell Grandma Zhou, so she quickly nodded and said, "Grandma Zhou, please go downstairs. I’ll go in and ask."

After Grandma Zhou went downstairs, Huo Yingqi began to knock on the door, saying, "Yuanyuan, open the door! Please open the door!"

Hearing Huo Yingqi’s voice, the girl inside began to cry even louder.

"Yuanyuan, don’t be like this. Although my second brother rejected you, you’re both still young. He’s unmarried, you’re unmarried—who knows what the future holds. By crying all the time, you’re ensuring there’s no chance at all," Huo Yingqi said, desperately hoping that Huo Yingqi could become her sister-in-law. If only Zhou Yuanyuan liked her elder brother instead of her second brother, she would have done everything in her power to have her elder brother marry Yuanyuan, instead of Zhao Huanhuan, who hardly ever came home.

Hearing Huo Yingqi’s words, the sobbing from inside grew softer.

Seeing that Zhou Yuanyuan was not indifferent to her words, Huo Yingqi continued, "That woman is three years younger than my second brother and she is a sent-down youth, which means they can only meet during the New Year. Just think about it, even the deepest feelings fade with such long separations. That’s when your chance comes."

"Pat," Zhou Yuanyuan opened the door, letting Huo Yingqi in.

Downstairs, Grandma Zhou was slightly relieved to see that her granddaughter had stopped crying.

"Yingqi, do you think I still have a chance?" Zhou Yuanyuan asked hopefully, looking at Huo Yingqi, "After what your second brother said just now, how could I have any face left to confess to him again?"

Huo Yingqi smiled mysteriously and said, "I’ve heard that the woman won’t be able to return and reunite with my second brother in the short term. If you get the chance to be with my second brother day and night, ’the early bird catches the worm,’ and your chances would be very high."

After all, my second brother is at an age brimming with vigor. If a young girl were to care for him attentively, he would surely be moved.

"But..." Zhou Yuanyuan has always been the pride of her family, the one who others sought to please. She had never before stooped so low to beg for someone’s affection.

Her pride told her that she couldn’t be so humble.

Yet she couldn’t control her own feelings. Just the thought of being with Huo Yingjie in the future made her feel like she could overcome any obstacle.

Huo Yingjie was the man she had liked since she was little—so handsome, so capable. Although they hadn’t spent much time together, she just liked Huo Yingjie.

"If you don’t seize this opportunity, by the time that sent-down youth and my second brother are transferred together and can meet more often, it will be too late for you to do anything. Just yesterday, I heard that not only does my second brother like that girl, but my second uncle and aunt like her too, having watched her grow up since she was a child. If she wasn’t outstanding, she would never be liked by so many people," Huo Yingqi reasoned correctly. This was Yuanyuan’s only chance.

After listening to this, Zhou Yuanyuan seemed to make up her mind and said, "Anyway, I’m about to start working at my unit now. Since I’m going to work anyway, why not work at your second brother’s place. Just like you said, ’the early bird catches the worm.’ I don’t believe that with constant contact, I can’t warm your second brother’s heart."

"Exactly, that’s the spirit," Huo Yingqi said, heartened, "The revolutionary Long March was 25,000 miles, and you’ve only just begun. Giving up now would be a disservice to your years of affection."

But Huo Yingqi didn’t consider what would happen if Huo Yingjie still didn’t like Zhou Yuanyuan, with her deep-seated feelings for him.

Still too young and like a flower in a greenhouse, unaware of the viciousness outside, she was willful and wishful thinking.

"Yes, I must be strong, I must strive, and I cannot give up easily, to make that woman succeed," Zhou Yuanyuan declared firmly, her obsession replacing her sorrow.

"That’s more like it," Huo Yingqi cheered, "With your intelligence and beauty, you’re sure to reach your goal. Besides, I’ll also do my best to go with you. Even if we can’t be at the same unit, being closer means we can still see each other often!"