Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 473: The Women at Home

After the commotion earlier, Yang Chen decided not to return to work. With Wang Ma out shopping and just the two of them at home, he spent the afternoon watching TV with Guo Xuehua and chatting about things they hadn't had time to discuss before. Gradually, it was time for dinner.

When Wang Ma returned with groceries, Zhenxiu also came home from school. Recently, Liu Minghao had been persistently harassing her, making Zhenxiu give up the idea of staying at school longer. Yang Chen had stopped teasing Zhenxiu about the incident, knowing it wouldn't be pleasant if he pushed the former "bad girl" too far.

Neither Yang Chen nor Guo Xuehua mentioned the incident with Yang Pojun and others showing up at their door. Such troubling matters didn't need to be shared with everyone.

Lin Ruoxi returned home earlier than usual. Although she didn't say anything, she knew something had happened at home. However, her keen mind chose not to ask questions. Seeing everything was fine, she let it go.

The dining table was filled with the aroma of delicious food, and the family rarely gathered for dinner, making it a pleasant and harmonious meal.

Halfway through the meal, Guo Xuehua suddenly remembered something, "Oh, I forgot to ask, how did Huilin's competition go today? With her voice, she must have made it to the finals."

Lin Ruoxi smiled faintly and nodded, "Yes, I watched it on TV. She made it to the finals. The final round to determine the top three will be in a few days."

"Does it even need to be decided? Sister Huilin will surely be first," Zhenxiu said with a smile.

"I think it doesn't matter what place she gets. It's just a shame that Huilin has been so busy and hasn't come home for dinner for several days," Wang Ma said with some pity.

For a moment, the women all had similar expressions, happy for Huilin's success but also feeling sorry for her.

Yang Chen continued eating, feeling a bit sentimental. When he first came to this house, there were only Lin Ruoxi and Wang Ma. Now, with Zhenxiu, Huilin, and Guo Xuehua joining, it had become a family of six. The joyful and sometimes worrisome days made it feel like a real family.

After dinner, Zhenxiu helped with the dishes and then hurried upstairs. With the college entrance exams approaching, she was the busiest in the family. Living here had greatly improved her living conditions, but she had still lost some weight.

Lin Ruoxi chatted with Guo Xuehua for a while before returning to her study to work. If not for maintaining a good "mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship," Lin Ruoxi wouldn't have spent this time.

Yang Chen often wondered how his wife never gained weight despite not exercising and spending all day working while sitting.

As the night deepened, Yang Chen returned to his room. Just as he was about to take a shower, his phone started vibrating. He glanced at the number and frowned; it was an international number. Answering it, he found it was just as he had guessed.

"Yang Chen, I've arrived in Sakura. I'll be in Zhonghai tomorrow," said a playful voice in Japanese on the other end of the line. It was Jian.

Yang Chen raised his eyebrows. "I already told you there's no need to rush. But why are you transferring flights in Sakura? You don't need to accommodate the airline."

"Of course not. I just have some things to do here that will help with treating the person you're bringing me to Zhonghai for," Jian replied proudly.

Yang Chen didn't ask further. Although he wasn't stupid, he often couldn't fathom the thoughts of Jian, this scientific prodigy. He figured many things she thought of but wouldn't say out loud; only when things happened would her foresight become evident.

"What time will you arrive at the airport? I'll come to pick you up," Yang Chen said.

"Really? I thought you'd have someone else pick me up. Tomorrow morning at nine, Zhonghai International Airport. See you then," Jian said happily.

Yang Chen smiled wryly. At moments like these, Jian would reveal a youthful tone fitting her age. He didn't know whether to feel honored or troubled by it.

After the call, Yang Chen couldn't sleep right away. He left his room and decided to take a walk in the yard. Suddenly, he noticed a warm light coming from Zheng Xiu's room. He sighed, thinking that being a student wasn't easy; she was still studying late into the night.

Considering he was like a big brother to her, Yang Chen decided to go and encourage her. He walked to Zheng Xiu's door and knocked.

After a while, there was no response from inside the room.

Yang Chen hesitated for a moment, then turned the doorknob and walked in.

Zheng Xiu, dressed in blue pajamas with cartoon patterns, was indeed in the room, sitting at her desk. The soft light from the desk lamp illuminated the room gently.

"What's going on? Studying so hard that you didn't hear the knock?" Yang Chen asked with a smile as he approached.

Zheng Xiu seemed startled. She turned around in a panic and stood up, her clear, watery eyes looking at Yang Chen with a mix of shyness and fear.

"Yang... Yang brother, why did you suddenly..."

"I knocked, but you didn't respond for a long time. I thought something happened to you," Yang Chen said, puzzled by her anxious expression. "Is something wrong? You don't look well."

Before Zheng Xiu could answer, Yang Chen's eyes caught sight of the desk. He burst into laughter.

Zheng Xiu blushed with embarrassment, knowing her little secret had been discovered. She pouted and stomped her foot in frustration.

On the desk, there was a pile of scattered papers and, more surprisingly, seven or eight folded paper frogs. It was clear that Zheng Xiu hadn't heard Yang Chen's knock because she had been engrossed in folding frogs!

"I didn't expect my little sister to have such a hobby. Not studying late at night, but folding frogs," Yang Chen said with a smile as he picked up a paper frog, pretending to admire it. "Hmm, nicely done. This frog looks a lot like you."

"It looks like you! Annoying!" Zheng Xiu huffed, snatching the frog from his hand. "Yang brother, you're the worst! Who said you could just enter a girl's room like that?!"

"Hey, don't get really mad. It's just folding frogs. I know you have a lot of study pressure and need to relax. But why so many frogs? Can't you fold something else?" Yang Chen chuckled.

Zheng Xiu turned her head shyly and murmured, "I only know how to fold frogs."

Hearing this, Yang Chen laughed even more. He had always thought this girl was very mature for her age, but now it seemed she still had a very childlike side.

Zheng Xiu, enraged, mustered all her strength to push Yang Chen out of the room and slammed the door shut!

Yang Chen, in a great mood, wasn't upset about being kicked out. He was just about to tease Zheng Xiu further when he heard some noise coming from the yard outside.

"Another strange girl," Yang Chen sighed. In a flash, he was downstairs at the entrance, opening the main door.

As expected, it was Hui Lin, who had used her light-footed skills to jump into the yard and was preparing to fly up to the second-floor balcony.

Dressed in a black trench coat, looking like a secret agent, Hui Lin saw Yang Chen open the main door and looked at her with a peculiar expression. She immediately acted like a child caught doing something wrong, twisting her hands nervously as she walked up to him.

"Brother Yang, I didn't want to disturb you," Hui Lin said softly.

"I've told you many times, come in through the door when you're home. You're supposed to be a celebrity, not a thief. And are you afraid of disturbing your family?" Yang Chen signaled Hui Lin to come inside while lecturing her.

Hui Lin stuck out her pink tongue, but knowing Yang Chen wasn't really angry with her, she breathed a sigh of relief and entered the house, complaining slightly, "I don't want to either, but those paparazzi are so annoying. They follow me everywhere, so I couldn't help but use my light-footed skills to lose them."

"Why do you need to hide? You're not doing anything illegal," Yang Chen asked.

"But... but I feel so much pressure. After today's competition, I suddenly thought that if I listened to Grandma and went back to Yan to help her manage the Lin family affairs, it might suit me better," Hui Lin said softly, her head hanging low.

Yang Chen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "Are you giving up?"

Hui Lin didn't dare look Yang Chen in the eyes. She bit her lip, "I know I'm useless. I didn't realize fame would be like this... but I really feel so tired and uncomfortable. Brother Yang, am I being weak? Useless? Wanting to give up just when it's starting?"

In the dimly lit hall, Hui Lin raised her head. Her delicate features showed a mix of helplessness and confusion, evoking sympathy.

Yang Chen's smile faded. He gently placed a hand on Hui Lin's forehead, his thumb smoothing her soft hair. "Everyone has moments of weakness. Everyone has people and things that make them feel weak. As long as you face and acknowledge your weakness, then you're strong. You haven't failed. Facing weakness is what makes people stronger."

Hui Lin's eyes glistened with a few sparks of light. After a long pause, she asked, "Everyone has weaknesses. What about you, Brother Yang? Aren't you afraid of anything?"

Yang Chen curled his lips into a conflicted smile and sighed, "Me? Haven't you noticed I've always been afraid of your sister? Even now, I'm still alone."

"Pfft," Hui Lin couldn't help but laugh out loud at this, tears of laughter streaming down her face.

Upstairs, the door to Lin Ruoxi's study opened. Dressed in a silk nightgown, her hair down, Lin Ruoxi leaned against the railing with a frosty expression, looking down at the two.

"It's midnight. Aren't you going to sleep? Do you want to keep telling jokes?" Lin Ruoxi said coldly, her brows furrowing.

Yang Chen and Hui Lin both stiffened, their smiles freezing.

"Ahem, I'll just get a drink of water and go to bed right away," Yang Chen said, giving Hui Lin a look, then quickly ran back upstairs.

Hui Lin, blushing with embarrassment, bowed her head and followed him upstairs.

Once they had both shut their doors, the frost on Lin Ruoxi's face gradually melted away. In the darkness, she sighed softly, a gentle smile forming at the corners of her mouth.