The Older Brother of My Student is My Secret Crush

Chapter 139

A slap rang out with a stern criticism, "Yu Na has never eaten this before, yet you tricked her," Grandma said, snatching the frozen pear from his hand, "Can you eat this straight away?"

Xiao Chen righteously responded: "I was just joking around; we've always interacted like this."

At this time, Yu Na would definitely not stand by Xiao Chen's side. He tricked her so of course she could not let him off easily. So she pretended to be hurt as she covered her mouth, "Grandma, my teeth really hurt."

Xiao Chen: ?

Grandma shoved the frozen pear to Xiao Chen, "You just gave this to her like that to eat, finish it or else no dinner for you."

After saying that, she walked over to Yu Na's side with concern and asked: "Yu Na, do your teeth hurt? Grandma will take you to the dentist, there is one right downstairs in our building, the doctor is very professional."

Yu Na shook her head with the most innocent expression, pretending to look pitiful, "It's okay, it won't hurt after a while, my teeth were just frozen."

Grandma glared angrily at Xiao Chen, "This brat."

At this time, Xiao Chen finally tried to defend himself with the frozen pear in hand, "No, look at her does she seem bullied? I treat her like a princess every day—"

Before he could finish speaking, Grandma hurriedly got up and said to Yu Na: "Come with Grandma to the kitchen."

Yu Na obediently said: "Okay."

Just then, Grandpa walked by carrying a large bag of snacks, "Yu Na, this is—"

When he got to the living room, he found that only Xiao Chen was left alone on the sofa.

"Where is Yu Na?"

Without even lifting his head, Xiao Chen poured a bowl of water to thaw the frozen pear, "Sorry, your darling and my darling are both in the kitchen. I'm the only unwanted one here."

Not only did Grandpa not comfort him, but he even said, "Oh I'll go take a look in the kitchen."

Xiao Chen let out a mocking laugh: Huh.

In the kitchen, Grandma washed a plate of strawberries for Yu Na.

She said: "Grandma, the strawberries here look so fresh."

Grandma smiled and replied: "Of course, our fruits are all fresh here." She secretly asked, "Yu Na, does Xiao Chen really bully you? If he bullies you tell Grandma."

Yu Na shook her head: "Not really, he's usually pretty nice to me."

Grandma handed her the strawberries: "If he bullies you, tell me. Here, bring the strawberries out to the living room and eat them yourself, don't let him take them."

Just as she was speaking, Grandpa also walked over carrying a bag of snacks, "Yu Na come eat snacks, Grandpa bought them for you this morning."

Grandma interrupted and said: "Let the child eat her meal first before snacks."

With one hand holding the fruit platter and the other holding snacks, Yu Na happily returned to the living room.

"Yo—" Xiao Chen glanced at her playfully, his tone impatient, "The apple of the eye has returned?"

"Yes I have."

Yu Na put the things down in front of her, "The strawberries here look so delicious!"

Naturally, Xiao Chen picked up a bright red strawberry about to eat it, but Yu Na snatched it back, "Grandma said you bullied me, so you're not allowed to eat them."

Xiao Chen:???

Yu Na smiled triumphantly, "It was Grandma who said it, we have to listen to the elderly right."

As she spoke, she placed a platter of large fresh strawberries by her side—out of Xiao Chen's reach.

He clicked his tongue twice, "Quite protective of your food."

Yu Na ignored him and bit into a strawberry.

The sour and sweet juice burst in her mouth, ice-cold and fragrant.

She looked delighted, "So good!"

Yet Xiao Chen sat resentfully to the side, ignoring her.

Yu Na quietly moved closer to him and deliberately taunted: "Baby, you really want to eat them right?"

He still refused to pay attention to her.

Yu Na picked up another strawberry, hugged his arm, looking perfectly harmless and well-behaved. With this expression, no one could resist softening a little towards her, let alone when she used it to act coquettishly. "I'll feed you, hurry up and eat it."

Xiao Chen: "......"

Just as he was about to open his mouth, he suddenly had a stroke of inspiration and pretentiously said: "As a despicable villain like me, I should eat the leftover strawberries from my wife."

Yu Na: ?

Xiao Chen took the strawberry Yu Na had half-eaten from her other hand and glanced at the large bag of snacks. Lifting the candy placed right on top, he sincerely said: "There's also candy that I should eat from my girlfriend's mouth."

Nodding heavily as if his words made perfect sense to himself, Xiao Chen emphasized: "Yes, I should eat your leftovers."

"......" Yu Na didn't really want to pay any attention to him.

...

Grandpa and Grandma had already prepared the food. She took out each dish from the steamer into the dining room one by one while Grandpa was responsible for gathering them.

Dry fried string beans, spicy beef, and fried bean curd with peppers.

Every dish was heaped high, afraid that they wouldn't eat their fill.

While eating, Yu Na complimented repeatedly, delighting the old lady who kept putting food in her bowl.

"Xiao Chen likes sweet and sour pork ribs, we originally wanted to make it but were afraid it wouldn't taste good if we let it sit for too long. So we'll make it for you tonight."

She smiled gently: "Alright."

After eating, Yu Na stood up on her own initiative to clear the table but was swiftly stopped by Grandma, "Go rest, Grandpa will take care of it."

Yu Na froze. She watched as Grandpa very dutifully cleared the bowls and chopsticks. "You guys go rest, I'll clean up."

Grandma ushered them into the living room, leaving Grandpa alone to tidy up.

Yu Na felt a little bad and whispered: "Is it okay to make the elderly work?"

Xiao Chen: "There's a dishwasher."

The two young people went for a walk to aid digestion while the two elderly at home continued preparing for tonight's meal. Seeing their keen enthusiasm, they didn't seem tired at all—it was as if cooking brought them joy instead.

Holding Yu Na's hand, Xiao Chen strolled aimlessly on the streets of Beicheng.

Yu Na tucked her hands into his pockets and said: "See, Grandpa volunteered to do chores, you have to be like this in the future too."

Xiao Chen looked as if he had just heard something ridiculous and retorted: "Let me ask you, when have you ever done any housework?" He helped remind her: "I cook, I clean, and today I even dressed you!"

"......"

After walking two steps, Xiao Chen added: "Oh right, I hand-fed you breakfast this morning!"

Yu Na didn't have an ounce of energy that morning so she felt a little guilty now.

But she stubbornly refused to admit it was her problem and pushed all responsibility onto him instead, "I satisfy you so well every night and yet you still question me."

Xiao Chen: ?

He suddenly burst into laughter and compromised: "You make a fair point."

Yu Na grumbled angrily: "You scoundrel."

During New Year's, Beicheng was the liveliest time of the year. Many who worked or studied elsewhere had all returned home to celebrate New Year's together. For this not-so-big city, it suddenly came alive during this period.

Many shops brought out an attitude to crush their competitors and show off their best products during New Year's. All sorts of eye-catching goods were displayed outside the shops, like flowers embellishing this city.

Yu Na was fascinated as if she had seen a wonder, no longer minding the cold one bit.

"They sell ice cream straight out like this?" Yu Na pointed not far away.

Rows of diverse ice cream flavors were placed directly in cardboard boxes outdoors.

"Yup," Xiao Chen said. "Like a natural freezer. When I was little Grandpa would often buy them for me."

"Then I want some too!"

"...You?" Xiao Chen frowned, sizing up her outfit. "With what you're wearing?"

"I want to eat it. I've never had ice cream during winter before."

Unable to refuse her, Xiao Chen could only buy her an ice cream cone.

He gently persuaded: "Just two bites okay?"

"Okay, okay!" Yu Na readily agreed.

But after the first taste, she couldn't stand it already. Though it was in her mouth, it froze her ears till they hurt.

Holding the ice cream, Xiao Chen watched her with amusement.

She stomped her feet repeatedly from the cold, hands covering her ears. Exhaling white mist from her mouth, she hopped about and couldn't get a word out for half a day.

He pinched her cheek. "I knew you were asking for trouble!"

Yu Na quickly waved her hand. "I can't eat anymore, can't eat anymore. Eating this in winter, how am I different from Ling Chi?"

No longer having much of an appetite for ice cream, Xiao Chen felt both exasperated yet doting. Still holding her barely eaten ice cream cone, he continued eating it.

When they arrived at the candied haws stand, Yu Na pestered him to buy that too.

This time Xiao Chen didn't say much, only reminding: "Just so you know, I won't eat it."

"I won't even give you any if you want it."

Xiao Chen bought her a stick of candied haws, the crisp candy shell wrapping tangy Chinese hawthorns within.

She really didn't let him have a single bite.

After a while, she finally recovered from the ice cream and clamored to eat more again.

Just then, Xiao Chen still had some unfinished ice cream in his hand and let her have another bite. The two of them finished up the ice cream together.

The streets were full of the taste of the New Year, surprises waiting around every corner. Bright red spring couplets, colorfully frozen fruits, fresh frozen seafood, lollipops of all sizes and shapes, figures of people and animals made out of brittle sugar, steaming hot baked sweet potatoes...

Yu Na's parents rarely celebrated festivals, so she had never experienced any. She had seen some on TV shows before. But in reality, the place she was in now was even livelier than those TV shows.

They walked among the chatter and laughter, blending into the hustle and bustle. Yu Na wanted to buy everything; Xiao Chen indulged her every whim.

He said, "Your holiday this time is too short. We'll wait until next year. Next year I'll take you to see the Lantern Festival."

"Great! Is it fun?"

"Of course."

"I'm so jealous of you. Did you get to do this every year when you were little?"

"Yeah," Xiao Chen said. "Before college, every year I would celebrate New Year with Grandpa and Grandma. Back then they would take me to the market with them. When I grew up I would go with my friends."

"Girl friends?" she asked suggestively.

"..." Xiao Chen answered, "Yeah."

Yu Na was furious. "Yeah?!"

Xiao Chen calmly continued, "My brother's girlfriend."

"..."