Orange Storm chapter 77
Happy New Year
Early on the morning of New Year’s Eve, Fang Xing opened his eyes and checked the time on his phone. It was seven o’clock. He sent a “Happy New Year” message to Jiang Zhijin before getting out of bed to freshen up.
Around lunchtime, his phone rang twice, finally a sign from Jiang Zhijin.
Jiang Zhijin transferred some money to him, 888 yuan, with a note below saying, “New Year’s gift.”
Fang Xing chuckled for a while but accepted the money and replied: “Thanks, boyfriend.”
Jiang Zhijin responded: “You’re welcome. It’s what boyfriends do.”
Fang Xing: “What are you doing?”
Jiang Zhijin: “Grocery shopping with Gu Xun and Zhou Hong. They’ve been debating whether to buy butter or vegetable oil for the hotpot base for half an hour. The aunt selling hotpot base is probably cursing them as fools in her heart.”
Fang Xing laughed for a while, then Jiang Zhijin asked him what he was having for dinner.
Steamed fish, sautéed prawns, free-range chicken soup, braised beef brisket, stir-fried green asparagus… Fang Xing listed several dishes without pausing and replied: “Cooked by my mom.”
The hourly house help had already taken leave and gone home. In previous years, Fang Chenglin would take charge of the New Year’s Eve dinner, with Zhou Ling assisting. This year, as Fang Xing descended the stairs early in the morning, Zhou Ling was already busy alone in the kitchen.
He went in to help with washing the vegetables, then was instructed by Zhou Ling to clean the house.
Fang Chenglin didn’t dare enter the kitchen; he went outside to water the flowers in the yard and then pasted window flowers alone. After finishing the window flowers, he took a pair of couplets and went to the front door.
Pasting couplets alone was quite challenging. Aligning them horizontally and vertically was not easy, especially with the slightly elevated entrance of the house. Fang Chenglin took a stool, climbed up and down to adjust the couplets.
Fang Xing watched for a while and eventually went over to help align the bottom of the couplets for Fang Chenglin.
“Keep going,” Fang Xing said.
Fang Chenglin was first surprised, then somewhat excited. After finishing pasting the couplets and coming down from the chair, Fang Chenglin dusted off his hands, smiled, and said, “I’ll buy some fireworks later. We’ll play with fireworks in the yard tonight; you used to love that when you were a child.”
Fang Xing didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly.
Anyway… today is New Year’s Eve.
Everything can be discussed after today.
The New Year’s Eve dinner at Fang Xing’s home was a bit late, starting around seven o’clock. After he finished his afternoon review, it was still a bit early. Every channel on the TV was full of lively drumming or firecracker sounds. Against this background music, Fang Xing leaned on the sofa and continued messaging Jiang Zhijin.
“Gu Xun and Zhou Hong bought nearly a thousand yuan worth of fireworks. They plan to set them off in the community square all night.” Jiang Zhijin messaged Fang Xing. “I’m afraid someone will come down to beat them up halfway through.”
Fang Xing laughed while replying, “Don’t you want to help them?”
“It would be too embarrassing; forget it.”
“With you acting like this, how are you still a boss?”
“If I weren’t the boss, I would have slapped them when buying the hotpot base.”
“Xiao Xing.” Zhou Ling patted Fang Xing from behind, “Who are you chatting with?”
Fang Xing was caught off guard, stopped looking at the phone, and then spoke, “Jiang Zhijin.”
“I thought it was some little girl.” Zhou Ling laughed.
Before Fang Xing could respond, Zhou Ling waved her hand and quickly ordered, “Go to the supermarket and buy some cooking wine. You can wash your hands and have dinner when you come back.”
“Okay.” Fang Xing said.
After leaving the house, Fang Xing sent a message to Jiang Zhijin and walked to the supermarket outside the community.
It was just getting dark when he bought the cooking wine outside the community. He carried the wine and walked slowly back home. The road was quiet, with only the sound of the wind, and people should be having their New Year’s Eve dinner at home by now.
Fang Xing could faintly hear the firecrackers from somewhere, crackling and lively. There was also music playing not far away.
Happy New Year, happy New Year, wishing everyone a happy New Year—
It sounded nice, and he hummed along with a few lines in the cold wind.
After a few minutes, when he was about to reach his front door, he looked up.
When he first came out, the door was closed. But at this moment, the front door of the house was wide open. The light in the living room spilled out, accompanied by a loud crash.
It was the sound of something breaking.
Fang Xing’s heart skipped a beat. He quickened his pace and ran a few steps toward the house before rushing inside.
The living room and dining room were connected without any partition. Upon entering the living room, Fang Xing immediately saw Zhou Ling standing angrily by the dining table. On the side, Fang Chenglin wore an expression of panic.
In the center of the living room stood Zhai Wan, who was crying uncontrollably.
Zhai Wan’s hair was disheveled, tears streaming down her face, making her look extremely disheveled. Due to her intense emotions, her face appeared somewhat distorted, and her tone was filled with agitation.
“What’s wrong with me? Is it wrong for me to want you to spend New Year’s Eve with your son?!” Zhai Wan, upon seeing Fang Xing enter, immediately turned in his direction, pointing at him vehemently and shouting with an almost hoarse voice, “Do you think you only have this one son, Fang Chenglin? Don’t forget, you have another son lying in the hospital, much younger than him!!”
Zhou Ling’s face turned pale with anger, pointing at Fang Chenglin and saying, “Take her and get out.”
Fang Chenglin immediately took a few steps toward Zhai Wan, attempting to assist her.
“If there’s anything, let’s discuss it outside…”
“What’s there to discuss outside?!” Zhai Wan forcefully pushed Fang Chenglin away, then turned to Fang Xing, taking a few steps toward him.
“Fang Xing, do you want to come with us to see your younger brother? If you were willing to save him, he would have been fine by now. He wouldn’t need rescuing on New Year’s Eve, lying in the intensive care unit—”
Zhou Ling was trembling with anger, picking up a bowl from the dining table and smashing it on the floor again. “Get out! Otherwise, I’ll call the police!”
Fang Xing walked over, supporting Zhou Ling and glaring coldly at Fang Chenglin.
“Make her leave.”
Fang Chenglin took a few steps toward the mother and son duo and hastily explained, “I really didn’t expect her to come—”
Zhai Wan sneered, “Of course, you didn’t expect it. Do you even think about your son in the hospital?”
” Zhai Wan!”
“Did I say something wrong? In your heart, there’s only your wife and son! Have you ever thought about me and An An?” Zhai Wan turned her head and stared at Zhou Ling with her already swollen eyes.
“If you want to call the police, go ahead, let the police come and see these heartless people—”
“Shut up.”
Fang Xing pointed at Zhai Wan, his tone icy. “Your son is still lying in the hospital waiting for you to return. Say one more word, and I guarantee you won’t see him tonight.”
Zhai Wan’s words were abruptly cut off. Fang Xing then turned to Fang Chenglin.
“You wanted us to chat that day you came back, right? Let’s talk now.”
Without waiting for Fang Chenglin to react, Fang Xing continued.
“Firstly, there’s absolutely no way I’m donating bone marrow for your son. Call me heartless, immoral, or devoid of conscience—whatever you like, it doesn’t matter.”
“Secondly, you and this woman.” Fang Xing pointed at Zhai Wan. “It’s better if you don’t appear in front of my mom again. If it happens again, I’ll call the police. The two of you will be locked up, and that younger one can lie alone in the hospital.”
Zhai Wan’s face lost its color, looking at Fang Xing while crying and scolding, “How can you be so heartless? Aren’t you afraid of retribution—”
“Yes, I am this heartless.” Fang Xing nodded, even giving her a slight smile. “Rest assured, if there’s retribution, it will definitely fall on you and Fang Chenglin first.”
He turned to Fang Chenglin, pointing towards the door. “Now, take her and leave.”
In the end, Fang Chenglin dragged Zhai Wan away.
The dining room was a mess; The floor was covered with broken plates and spilled food—ribs, steamed fish…
Fang Xing cleaned up with a broom and mop, tidying everything. After finishing, Zhou Ling on the sofa suddenly woke up as if from a dream, smiling at Fang Xing.
“Let me heat up the dishes.”
“No need, they’re still warm,” Fang Xing said. “Let’s eat.”
The Spring Festival Gala on TV had already started. The hosts spoke with a festive tone, wishing everyone a happy New Year. Fang Xing and Zhou Ling sat at the dining table, silently finishing their meal, and then watched TV for a while.
Before ten o’clock, Zhou Ling stood up. “I am a bit tired and want to take a nap in my room. As for you—”
“I’ll go back to studying,” Fang Xing immediately said.
“It’s fine, take a day off. Rest, watch TV, or go out for a walk.”
Fang Xing shook his head and went upstairs with Zhou Ling. When Zhou Ling was about to return to her room, Fang Xing called out, “Mom.”
“Happy New Year.”
Zhou Ling was initially stunned, then her eyes immediately turned red. She quickly turned her head, responding with a heavy nasal sound, “Hmm.”
“Happy New Year.”
Back in the room, Fang Xing didn’t freshen up or change his clothes. He simply threw himself onto the bed, turning over and covering his eyes with his arm.
Outside the window, people were setting off fireworks, the sound was deafening, accompanied by the laughter and screams of children. The song heard on the road just now should be playing nearby, and it continued playing incessantly.
Happy New Year, happy New Year, wishing everyone a happy New Year, we sing, we dance, we wish everyone a happy New Year…
Fang Xing lay on the bed, slowly exhaling.
When his phone vibrated, he was too lazy to move. After five or six minutes, he climbed up, took the phone, and opened it.
Jiang Zhijin sent a short video clip. Zhou Hong and Gu Xun were in the distance lighting fireworks, quickly running towards this side. Then the camera moved up to the sky, capturing the fireworks soaring and bursting into brilliant colors.
Fang Xing watched this video five or six times before typing a message.
“Did they get beaten up?”
“Not yet, the neighbors in the community are kind.”
Fang Xing chuckled, and Jiang Zhijin sent another message.
“What are you doing?”
Fang Xing thought for a moment and replied, “Sleeping.”
After a few seconds, Jiang Zhijin’s call came directly.
As soon as the call was answered, Jiang Zhijin’s voice, filled with laughter and the background noise of fireworks, entered Fang Xing’s ears.
“Sleeping so early?”
Jiang Zhijin’s voice carried a smile, still lazy but very gentle. Fang Xing suddenly felt a pang in his nose and took a moment before responding.
“Tired.”
The smile on Jiang Zhijin’s face paused for a moment, slowly fading away. He found a quieter place and called out from the other end of the phone, “Fang Xing?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Fang Xing suppressed his emotions a bit, not wanting the other party to sense it. “Happy New Year.”
Jiang Zhijin stayed silent for a few seconds before saying, “Yeah.”
“Do you understand manners?”
Fang Xing’s mood was initially not great, but now Jiang Zhijin made him want to laugh.
“Normally, shouldn’t you reciprocate with New Year greetings at this time?”
“…Fine.” Jiang Zhijin on the other end audibly sighed and then continued with a tone reminiscent of reciting a text.
“I was afraid that there would be too many New Year’s Eve wishes, and you wouldn’t see my greeting… I’m afraid the firecrackers on the first day of the new year would be too loud, and you wouldn’t hear my wishes. So, at this moment, I want to say in advance…”
“I love you.”
Jiang Zhijin said softly.