Chapter 22: New Year’s Eve 1
New Year’s Eve, Lin Xia was busy preparing for the New Year. Putting up couplets, preparing a big meal…he was incredibly busy. Luckily, he had the little hamster and Tang Yinlang to help him.
Tang Yinlang had arranged with his grandparents to spend New Year’s Eve at Lin Xia’s place, returning to their home on the first day of the New Year.
Tang Yinlang’s grandparents knew he was pursuing someone, so they didn’t pressure him, even hoping he would bring the person home soon.
Lin Xia’s work phone rang.
“Yinlang, answer it for me.” Lin Xia was preparing soup and didn’t have free hands.
“Okay.” Tang Yinlang answered the call for him and held the phone to his ear.
Their actions were intimate at the moment, but neither of them paid attention. The ambiguity between them was just right; neither dared to easily break that thin layer of paper.
“Hello…”
“Lin Xia? Come quickly, my Da Mao is not doing well!”
“Sister Jin? Where are you?” Lin Xia recognized the voice on the other end, Sister Jin, who brought a Golden Retriever for parasite control every year.
“At the pet shop!” A childish voice, clearly Sister Jin’s child, Wang Mingming.
The voice on the other end sounded very anxious, and Lin Xia didn’t hesitate. After a hasty explanation, Lin Xia drove out.
Lin Xia usually didn’t need to drive to the pet shop, but in emergencies, it was necessary. The car was a gift from Chen Mingjie after he bought a new car; otherwise, Lin Xia wouldn’t have been able to afford one.
Lin Xia quickly arrived at the pet shop. As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Jin Juan and Wang Mingming; Jin Juan was holding Da Mao.
“Lin Xia, please save Da Mao…” Jin Juan’s face was injured, quite seriously. And Da Mao, held in her arms, also looked very bad.
“What happened to Da Mao?” Lin Xia asked as he opened the shop door and quickly went to the operating room to prepare.
“Da Mao… protected me from a kick, and then he became like this.” Jin Juan’s voice was choked with emotion, barely able to speak the truth.
“Where was he kicked?” Lin Xia started examining Da Mao.
“I think it was his hind leg.” Jin Juan still remembered when her husband kicked her, Da Mao suddenly jumped in front of her to protect her from the clearly forceful kick. Da Mao’s hind leg was hit, and then Da Mao let out a painful “Aw” and rolled away…
“Lin Xia, you must save Da Mao. Da Mao is like this because of me…” Jin Juan’s face was full of guilt.
“I will.” Lin Xia didn’t say much, but devoted himself entirely to treating Da Mao.
After examining Da Mao, Lin Xia sighed in relief. Da Mao’s hind leg was broken, but thankfully his internal organs weren’t injured—it was fortunate in misfortune.
Lin Xia focused all his attention on Da Mao. Only after he had treated Da Mao’s injuries and put him to sleep did he notice his surroundings.
“He’s going to be fine. Da Mao will be okay after resting for a while.” Seeing Jin Juan and Wang Mingming’s worried expressions, Lin Xia comforted them.
“That’s good.” The stone that had been hanging in Jin Juan’s heart finally fell.
“Sister Jin, let me treat your face.” Lin Xia saw that Jin Juan’s face was also injured, some quite seriously.
“I… I’m fine, I’m used to it.” Jin Juan waved her hand, looking exhausted.
Used to it? Lin Xia was puzzled but didn’t say anything, instead turning to get medicine for wounds.
“I have Yunnan Baiyao and iodine here, take them.” Lin Xia handed the medicine to Jin Juan.
“Thank you…” Jin Juan couldn’t help but be touched. This was the first time someone had given her medicine after she was injured. As for her husband… well, let’s not talk about him.
“Awoo!” Dad, Uncle Tang is calling!
It was Bai Tuanzi’s new ringtone, a special ringtone for Tang Yinlang.
“Awoo?” Dad, when are you coming back? As soon as Lin Xia answered the phone, he heard Bai Tuanzi’s soft and sweet voice.
“Just a little longer, Dad will be back soon.” Lin Xia said gently, checking the time. Unknowingly, two and a half hours had passed. No wonder Bai Tuanzi had called.
After reassuring Bai Tuanzi, Lin Xia awkwardly looked at Jin Juan. Now that Da Mao was settled, he also needed to go back to celebrate the New Year.
“I’m really sorry to trouble you on New Year’s Eve. You should go back quickly!” Jin Juan understood his intentions and felt embarrassed. It was all because of her that Lin Xia had to come over on New Year’s Eve.
“What are you planning to do?” Even if Lin Xia was in a hurry, he couldn’t leave the mother and son behind. He had to make sure they were safe.
“We…” Jin Juan hesitated, not knowing how to answer.
Today, her husband beat her again over a trivial matter, even kicking her hard. Thankfully, Da Mao blocked the blow; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to stand here now. When had she ever gotten away easily?
After Da Mao was injured, Jin Juan didn’t think twice. She picked up Da Mao and rushed to the pet shop, her son following behind, ignoring her husband’s yelling.
Now that Da Mao was settled, Jin Juan knew she should go back. It’s New Year’s Eve, how could the family not be together? She’d go back and apologize to her husband, maybe if he was in a good mood, they could have a peaceful day.
“Mingming, let’s go home. Your dad is waiting for us to celebrate the New Year.” Jin Juan tried to speak gently to her son, but the injuries on her face and the newly applied iodine made her look disfigured.
“You go back and stay with that devil; I’m staying with Da Mao!” Wang Mingming, who hadn’t said a word since Lin Xia arrived, suddenly yelled at his mother with a heartbroken voice. His hands were clenched tightly, looking like he had been suppressing his emotions for a long time.
Author’s Note: My stock of drafts is almost finished. Melancholy…
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