Absolutely Spoiled - Chapter 63.1

Chapter 63.1 – Tingyu x Luobai 9

Almost every house started to sparkle with lights and lanterns, creating a vibrant vibe. 

Wen Tingyu got a call from Yunyang City, and it was that familiar voice on the line. “Tingyu, this year…” 

“I’ll be back.” 

This time, Wen Tingyu’s stepmother, Ren Xin, didn’t need to come up with any excuses because Wen Tingyu was also planning to return home. 

As she grew up, she could see things clearly. 

‘There’s really no clear right or wrong, just a bunch of tangled threads holding me back. But I’ll figure out how to untangle them.’ 

After Wen Tingyu returned to Yunyang City, she chose to stay in her childhood home instead of the one her mom had left her. 

With only three weeks there for the New Year holiday, she didn’t pack much, planning to buy what she needed there. But winter clothes were bulky, and just one coat took up most of her suitcase. 

While Wen Tingyu was organizing her stuff in her room, there was a knock at the door. 

“Come in.” 

Ren Xin slowly opened the door after getting permission to enter the room. 

Wen Tingyu turned around to see Ren Xin holding two bottles of wine, likely the red wine her dad had been hoarding lately. 

Ren Xin stepped inside once she was sure there was no sign of annoyance from Wen Tingyu. She raised the bottles and said, “Your dad’s been eyeing this wine, so I had to stash it away. I figured your room is the safest spot in the house.”

Wen Tingyu might not be a wine expert, but she could tell from the sign that it wasn’t cheap. 

“Let’s hide the wine at my daughter’s place.” 

This whole situation was pretty amusing. 

Wen Bin used to enjoy collecting red wine and sipping it slowly, but now the doctor has put a stop to his drinking. Still, he couldn’t shake the habit of collecting and sneaking a drink here and there. 

Ren Xin pondered how to stop that habit and finally decided to just hide the wine bottles. 

‘Is there anywhere in the house that Wen Bin can’t go? The only place he’d hold back is his daughter’s room.’ It was what Ren Xin thought before bringing them to Wen Tingyu’s room.

Wen Tingyu silently supported Ren Xin’s plan. 

Noticing that Wen Tingyu was less hostile than before, Ren Xin decided to open up a bit, saying, “Your dad…” 

Everything Ren Xin brought up was about Wen Bin. 

“Your dad is someone who refuses to accept getting older. He can’t stand a few grey strands and insists on dyeing them. He even believes certain foods can bring back his natural colour. He’s tried it all.” 

Wen Tingyu listened quietly, finding Ren Xin’s chatter comforting rather than annoying. 

In the end, she sincerely thanked Ren Xin, saying, “Auntie, I really appreciate all your efforts.” 

Ren Xin was taken aback for a moment. 

Then she smiled back at Wen Tingyu, saying, “It’s no trouble at all. We only live once, so we should enjoy everything.” 

She didn’t see taking care of the family as a burden; it was something she genuinely wanted to do. All her little complaints about her husband came from a place of love and concern.

Wen Bin brought up his daughter’s job situation at the dinner table. “Your senior year is coming to an end, so your internship is just around the corner, right? Any thoughts on where you want to work?” 

Wen Tingyu replied casually, “I’m looking at Yunyang City.” 

Wen Bin nodded. “That’s good. Heng City is quite a trek, and I hardly get to see you. If you head back to Yunyang and need help finding a job, I can reach out to some contacts.” 

Wen Tingyu set her chopsticks down and politely turned down her dad’s offer, saying, “Thanks, Dad, but I can handle it on my own.” 

Wen Bin shrugged it off, waving his hand. “Do what you want; I’m just telling.” 

Ren Xin subtly nudged her husband and gave him a look, hinting that he should watch what he said. 

*****

During the New Year, many people come to their hometown to celebrate it. 

After Yu Zhiyi and Shi Yi returned to Yunyang City, Wen Tingyu made an appointment with her friend.

Although Wen Tingyu didn’t have many friends, she liked to hang out with Yu Zhiyi because she knew Yu Zhiyi was a great listener and could keep a secret. 

Chatting with Yu Zhiyi was always good. 

The coffee shop they chose was perfect for her—warm lighting, cosy corners, and a peaceful vibe. 

In that quiet spot, with a cup of coffee in hand, they could easily spend hours together. 

Being close friends, they had endless topics to dive into as soon as they started talking.

Neither of them was a chatty type, so their conversation flowed slowly, almost like they were taking their time to really dig into the meaning behind each word. 

Yu Zhiyi turned to her and asked, “So, what are your plans for the future? You’ve got that internship coming up next semester, right? Have you figured out what you want to do?” 

“I’m coming back to Yunyang for work. You took the postgraduate entrance exam, didn’t you? Are you set on that?” Wen Tingyu’s plans weren’t exactly long-term, but she was certain about one thing: she wanted to return home. 

“Yeah! I want to study for the postgraduate exam. I think I did pretty well last time.” 

Yu Zhiyi was doing fine financially and didn’t want Shi Yi to face the complexities of the world too soon, so she encouraged her to stay in school a bit longer. 

Wen Tingyu lowered her gaze, gently tracing the rim of her coffee cup with her fingers, and let out a soft sigh. “It’s wonderful.” 

“It’s wonderful to pursue what you love and be around the people you care about.” 

Yu Zhiyi was aware of the situation between Wen Tingyu and Shen Luobai but hesitated to bring it up, worried it might upset her. 

Suddenly, the phone next to Yu Zhiyi lit up and vibrated. 

Yu Zhiyi quickly grabbed it, gestured to Wen Tingyu, and stood up to step outside to take the call.

Wen Tingyu recalled seeing the caller’s name pop up earlier; it was a special contact. 

But she knew it was Shi Yi. 

The coffee was nearly finished, yet Wen Tingyu’s hand lingered on the cup. 

She glanced around, lost in thought.

There was a guy and a girl sitting across from each other by the window. The guy would occasionally make little gestures. The girl tilted her head slightly, making her long wavy hair brush against her ears. Her fingers were naturally curled, covering her lips, as if she was smiling at something amusing she heard.

In front of her, there were two girls chatting. Their voices weren’t loud, but if she could catch snippets about who was dating whom and the latest breakup drama.

Yu Zhiyi finished up her call pretty quickly. When she returned, she had a bright smile on her face that was hard to ignore. Even Wen Tingyu couldn’t help but admire how stunning she looked.

Yu Zhiyi didn’t have the look that “knocks you off your feet at first sight; instead, she had a charm that would make others want to stick around and enjoy her company.

“Yiyi, let’s go,” Wen Tingyu said.

As they stepped out of the coffee shop, Yu Zhiyi noticed the temperature had dropped significantly, and she quickly wrapped a scarf around her neck.

Wen Tingyu, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind the cold. While most people bundled up in layers during winter, she only needed a couple of pieces and was perfectly fine.

It was always fascinating to witness Yu Zhiyi’s subconscious reactions to cold, like a little creature huddling up against a chilly breeze, pulling all its defences into a cosy shell. 

Wen Tingyu casually remarked, “You’ve got a nice habit.” 

“Hehe…” She didn’t need to say anything sweet or put on a show; her demeanour already had a hint of playfulness. 

‘This little girl just has a way of making people want to spoil her.’

Even though it was very cold, the excitement of the New Year brought a lively vibe, and the sidewalks were bustling with people. 

Yu Zhiyi casually scanned the crowd and spotted something surprising. 

“Tingyu… is that Shen Luobai?” she exclaimed, tugging at Wen Tingyu. 

Her arms were shaking, mirroring the calm water in her heart that suddenly started to ripple, threatening to spill over. 

Wen Tingyu followed her friend’s gaze, and the hazy figure that had haunted her dreams began to sharpen in her vision. 

Just that one look captivated her, making it impossible to look away. 

But he wasn’t alone. 

Beside him stood a fashionable young woman with long black hair with bangs, dressed in a pink coat, a white skirt, and beige boots, exuding a pure charm. She was all in light colours, looking both innocent and enchanting. 

They were only about ten meters apart, separated by a billboard. 

Tears welled up in her eyes, and the figure started to fade behind a thick veil of mist. 

“Tingyu…” Yu Zhiyi was momentarily speechless.

Yu Zhiyi didn’t realize there was someone next to Shen Luobai, so she called out to Wen Tingyu. Even though she wasn’t sure what the relationship was between Shen Luobai and her friend, she knew things were already a bit tense between them. But after seeing the woman beside the man, Yu Zhiyi felt uneasy, thinking this would increase the crack between the couple. 

Wen Tingyu calmly looked away, acting like nothing was wrong, and said, “Let’s go.” 

Yu Zhiyi was aware that she hadn’t seen Shen Luobai in ages, but he was always on Wen Tingyu’s mind. It was a bummer that they had to part ways just when they crossed paths on the street. 

She took Wen Tingyu’s hand and encouraged her. “If you want to see him, you should go after him.” 

Wen Tingyu asked, keeping her face neutral, “How would you feel if the person you saw was Shi Yi?” 

“Hmmm…” Yu Zhiyi shook her head slowly, replying, “I wouldn’t think much of it.” 

Even if Shi Yi were talking to other girls, she wouldn’t have any wild thoughts. It was all about trust. 

Wen Tingyu could see Yu Zhiyi’s thoughts in her expression. 

She smiled and said, “You know what? You have a really endearing quality.” 

The sudden shift to talking about herself caught Yu Zhiyi off guard, and she could only respond, “What?” 

As she moved, her scarf slipped from her shoulders to the front. 

Wen Tingyu smiled at her and helped Yu Zhiyi roll up the long scarf, gently touching the soft fabric. She wrapped it around her neck and tucked it behind her back, saying, “I always feel at ease when I’m with you; it’s such a nice comfort.”

Yu Zhiyi was caught off guard by the fantastic praise she got. “Maybe it’s because I’m the one who got better.” 

She often seemed a bit lost, but she didn’t act like a kid; her thoughts were sharp and clear. 

From the start, she wasn’t just some delicate flower in a greenhouse. She was fortunate enough to cross paths with someone who appreciated her, someone who created a home for her. With a little love and care, she finally found her footing and started to bloom again.

Have a nice day!