Your Rival in Love Gets Prettier Every Day

Chapter 144: Warm Feet

After Xu Xingchen came back, he learned that Xu Dahai's illness turned out to be Alzheimer's Disease, which had progress to a serious state. Last month, he forgot to turn off the stove when he was cooking, and the kitchen was almost burned down. Thanks to the timely discovery of his neighbor Aunt Zhao, it did not cause too much damage.

On the surface Xu Xingchen didn't see anything unusual about Xu Dahai. Xu Dahai is a strong, taciturn man. He had always been unsmiling. Seeing him back, Xu Dahi rarely talks to him, spending his days smoking and occasionally coughing.

Ten years have passed, and the cracks were still there. After the neighbors have dispersed, the father and son returned home, saying nothing to each other.

Xu Xingchen had returned not so much for his father but to avoid his boyfriend, Sun Mingzhi. He wanted some space so he could think about what to do in the future. After being gone for so many years, he spent the first two days exploring the town. It had changed a lot, as there was now construction of many high-rise buildings in the south and a new park was added. On the way home, he passed by the farmer's market and planned to buy a fish to stew in the evening.

This market had been around for a long time. Not much has changed from ten years ago except some of the stalls looked a bit run down. He first bought a piece of tofu and then went to where they sold aquatic products. He saw a young man, wearing an ink-green leather apron, carrying goods outside. Seeing him coming, the young man put down the box and said with a smile: "What are you looking for?"

After speaking, he was taken aback when he saw him, and then smile more brightly.

Xu Xingchen went straight to see the live fish in tanks. The water was bubbling with a heavy fishy smell: "A crucian carp."

The other party didn't respond. Xu Xingchen glance up and saw the young man was still looking at him with a smile. His complexion was a bit tan, but his teeth were exceptionally white. This caught Xu Xingchen by surprise. He felt a familiar feeling coming from the other person.

"Xingchen?" The young called tentatively.

Xu Xingchen instantly recognize him: "Yu Chenglin."

Yu Chenglin smiled and said: "When did you come back?"

"About two days ago." Xu Xingchen felt a bit embarrassed. He stood up and said: "I almost didn't recognize you. You have changed too much."

The former Yu Chenglin was tall, thin, and fair, far less sturdy than he is now.

"You haven't changed much." Yu Chenglin said.

"Is this your shop?"

"Well, I don't have much skills, so I can set up a stall here. I heard that you are working in Beijing now? "

Xu Xingchen responded with a "Nn" but then smile awkwardly as he didn't know what else to say.

"You want fish, right? Crucian carp?"

Xu Xingchen nodded, and Yu Chenglin bent over and grabbed two for him, put them in the bag, added some water to the bag, and handed them to him.

"How much is it?"

"Are you kidding?" Yu Chenglin said.

Xu Xingchen embarrassingly took the bag and said: "Thank you then."

"You're welcome."

The memories and feelings of the past suddenly came back causing Xu Xingchen face to turn hot as he hurriedly said: "If you're free... let's have a meal together."

"Okay." Yu Chenglin said.

Xu Xingchen hurriedly left the farmer's market and inhaled in the cold air outside, making him feel better. He looked back and saw Yu Chenglins till standing in front of his stall staring at him. Yu Chenglin was his first love that he had deep feelings for, but in these ten years, he had almost forgotten such a person existed.