The journey to the Chen mansion passed quickly with snacks and songs. The friends were chatting their hearts away as time like this when they have no worries about their work and assignments, is very rare.
"How's Xiaofeng? He must have grown into a handsome man now." XiaoLi asked trying to be casual about it.
"I am not sure about fengju but Lisheng gege is sure very handome."
Xixi said with a suggesting look on her face. She knew XiaoLi has a tini-tiny crush on her elder brother, so she wanted to tease her a little.
"Why are you telling me about Sheng gege? I asked about Fengju..." XiaoLi was avoiding eye contacts with her bestie. She was frustrated and shy. But when she saw the teasing look on Xixi's face, she exploded with fury.
"WhAt ArE YoU TrYinG To ImPly HUH? I don't want know about any Lisheng gege!"
Xixi laughed out loud on this attempt of XiaoLi to deny of her crushing on her gege.
"Okay okay. I won't tease you now."
Xixi tried to coax the sulking girl. XiaoLi turned her head to opposite side as an answer. 'Maybe coaxing won't work' Xixi changed her approach.
"Why are you so worked up? I only mentioned him cause you mentioned my another brother. Isn't it unfair to mention one and forget another? Or is there something I don't know?" Xixi can't help but want to tease her.
"You started it again?" XiaoLi whined.
"Okay okay. I won't do it anymore. Here eat this chocolate. We'll reach there soon." Xixi was happy that XiaoLi took her bait and forgot about sulking.
Chen Mansion
Mr. and Mrs.Chen were waiting for the girls in the living room. Though it was past midnight but they wanted to receive them. After all, the kids are coming back after 6 months.
"Mom! Dad!"
"Aunty! Uncle!"
Both Chen Xixi and Shen XiaoLi greeted the old couple cheerfully. It felt so good to come back home after so long. The feeling of being home was soothing to them. The Chen family treated XiaoLi just like Xixi as she was a frequent visitor since last 5 years.
Mrs. Chen hugged XiaoLi first as she was very happy to have this daughter of hers back to her. Shen XiaoLi's parents divorced when she was very young. Her mother left XiaoLi under her father's care. So XiaoLi found the mother-figure she have been craving for, in Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Chen found the daughter she always wanted. Even though Chen Xixi was her daughter, she became a tomboy thanks to her brothers and father. She disliked many girly things. So Mrs. Chen was able to fulfil all her daughter fantasies with XiaoLi.
"Oh my dear! Look honey, our Lili has become more beautiful. But Lili why does it seem that you've lost some weight too?"
Mrs. Chen never liked the idea of dieting in order to become slim. She believed that one can be healthy and beautiful even when eating to their heart's fill. What's the benefit of that beauty which will cost you your health?
"Aunty, it's beacuse I wasn't able to eat and sleep well. It's my intern year at the college so I need to work hard and my regular routine is very hard to maintain. They think we are some machine. It's really unfair. Bohoo" XiaoLi complained about the 'bullying' she has been enduring. She loved her sleep the most but this intern-drama was taking away the most precious thing to her.
"Don't worry my daughter¹. Aunty will make your favourite dishes and help you to recover." Mrs. Chen smiled lovingly. "Now go and rest."
"Mom! Have you even noticed me? I'm also tired. Bohoo" Chen Xixi tried to gain her mother's attention by acting pitiful.
"Hump! Who's your mother? You go and have your karate lessons from you gege. Back then you weren't interested, now I'm not interested." Mrs. Chen walked away after saying her piece of mind, leaving a dumbstruck Xixi behind.
"HAHAHAHA! You should not act like that Xixi. You looked so stupid." XiaoLi was laughing her heads off. It was so funny to see this exchange between the mother-daughter duo.
"Have you forgotten whom you're sharing your room with?" Chen Xixi threatened with a deadpan face.
"Xixi you're best actor ever. Who told you otherwise? I'll beat the crap out of them." XiaoLi buttered her friend up a little cause she wanted to see the next day.
"Hahaha. Okay stop it now both of you. Go to your room and rest. Xiaoxi, your brothers are arriving early in the morning. Don't you want to greet them when they come?"
Mr. Chen was delighted to see the cheerfulness that seemed to engulf the mansion from these girls' bickering. Every parent wants their house to be filled with the laughter and naughtiness of their children.
"Ok dad. Good night."
"Good night Uncle!"
"Good night sweethearts" Mr. Chen was beaming with joy. He went to his bed with a big smile. Indeed daughters are the key to happiness for their father.
Chen Xixi and Shen XiaoLi were lying on their respective beds in their common bedroom. Since XiaoLi frequently stayed over, the Chen couple suggested to give her a room of her own. But XiaoLi refused it and asked for an extra bed in Xixi's room instead. She liked to have fun with her bestie whole night which was impossible back in the college.
"Xixi let's binge watch this drama tonight." XiaoLi jumped on Xixi's bed while waving her phone at her face.
"Go away. I want to sleep. I'm tired. I don't want to look like a ghost tomorrow. You can carry on with your drama if you want to be a panda." Xixi shooed her best friend out of her bed.
'She's right. I don't want to look ugly in front of Lisheng gege. Now that I see the drama doesn't looked that appealing. It can wait. I'll be beautiful for my Lisheng gege'
"Okay then. I will sleep too. We can binge watch tomorrow. Good night, my love. Muaah~" XiaoLi went back to her bed like an obedient cat. Xixi smiled fondly at her.
"Good night sweety."