Ji Ying saw her second uncle and youngest uncle’s entire families.
The second uncle’s family included two daughters who were married off, and Ji Shuhong, who had just been admitted to university.
The eldest son of the youngest uncle’s family, Ji Shuming’s family.
She still remembered what they looked like as children. Since they had come to South City, contact had almost completely ceased, so their appearances had changed quite a bit. She also didn’t enjoy chatting with people she wasn’t familiar with; the only one she knew well was Ji Shuyuan.
It was Ji Shuyuan who was the most familiar among all her cousins, be it in the past or during the feast last year, up to now.
"Nian’an, can you do me a favor?" Ji Shuyuan quietly pulled Xu Nian’an aside.
Soon after, Xu Nian’an called Ji Ying out.
In the ward, everyone was crowded together, their faces oozing with joy and looking like a happy family reunion.
"Shuyuan, you specifically asked me to come out, what’s going on?" Ji Ying looked puzzled as she turned to Ji Shuyuan.
Ji Shuyuan took out a handkerchief and unfurled it, revealing a stack of money inside, mostly in tens, some fives, and one fifty.
"This is..." Ji Ying looked at the money.
"I said I’d do my part for grandpa," Ji Shuyuan explained.
Ji Ying couldn’t possibly accept it. She said, "Shuyuan, don’t worry, we’ve already raised enough money. You should give this back to people. Just focus on your studies."
"No." Ji Shuyuan was very stubborn, not backing down until he had convinced Ji Ying to take the money.
"Wow, there’s so much delicious food here."
Pei Yining looked at all the food. She tried a bit here, a bit there, until she was positively stuffed to the brim, and it wasn’t until the last shop where she managed to eat half a bowl of fried rice noodles that she could not move anymore from being so full.
"I can’t anymore, brother. I’m not moving. My belly is about to burst," she said.
Pei Yining, rubbing her rounded belly, leaned back against the chair without a care for her image, the very picture of someone who had overindulged.
Pei Yicheng frowned as he looked at the half bowl of leftover noodles and then at her belly. Since they had entered that street, she hadn’t stopped eating, continuing right to the last shop where she still ate almost half a bowl of rice noodles. He hadn’t expected his skinny little sister to be able to eat so much.
"Brother, I really ate enough," Pei Yining raised her hand as a gesture to show she did not waste food.
"Sit up," Pei Yicheng scolded, frowning.
Pei Yining said with a pleading face, "Brother, I ate too much, and this is the most comfortable position."
Pei Yicheng stood up, paid for the meal, and then led Pei Yining away to walk off the food.
"I don’t want to walk," she complained.
Pei Yining, touching her overfed belly, remembered the delicious taste and hadn’t noticed how full she was while eating.
Pei Yicheng slowed his pace, strolling back to the hotel. The evening streetlights cast a yellowish glow, stretching the shadows of the two of them. It seemed like a long time since he had taken a walk with his sister.
"Brother, next time, let’s bring Nianhua along to eat," Pei Yining suggested.
Her suggestion earned a roll of the eyes from Pei Yicheng, his gaze falling on her belly as if to say: You’re already uncomfortably full, and you’re still thinking about coming to eat again next time?
Pei Yining felt a bit embarrassed, puffing her cheeks as she said, "I overate because it was so tasty."
Suddenly, Pei Yicheng stopped in his tracks, prompting Pei Yining to bump straight into him.
Pei Yining, touching her sore nose, looked up to see Pei Yicheng intently watching a certain spot. She followed his gaze and under the dim yellow streetlight, the woman there looked very familiar.