Chapter 174 Fallen Out of Favor

The two of them arrived carrying a great number of bags and parcels.

"Second Uncle and Second Aunt, these are for Grandfather, Grandmother, and the two of you." Luo Yun smiled as she thrust the items into Yu Wenjing's hands.

Yu Wenjing had already been quite displeased with their family to begin with, and now that they had caused Song Chengyi to suffer a setback, she had not worn a pleasant expression since the moment the two stepped through the door.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Luo Yun took Cao Jialei with her to the backyard to find Luo Yixia.

In the backyard, Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi were sitting together playing a video game. Luo Yixia was being chased and attacked by the opposing team, suffering a miserable defeat. Whining and acting spoiled, she begged Song Chengyi to help her fight back.

She had originally chosen a very powerful hero; it was simply that Luo Yixia's operational skills were poor.

Luo Yixia was currently draped over his back, watching him play the game while cheering him on and shouting encouragement.

"Right there, right there, beat him up! He just ambushed me twice."

"He looks way too ugly, thrash him."

"Just now he trapped me right under the defense tower, hit him!"

...

Luo Yun and Cao Jialei witnessed this exact scene as they approached.

Luo Yun had barely slept a wink the entire previous night.

No matter how hard she tried, she could not understand why Luo Yixia was so blessed by fate. The moment she was born, her parents were already earning money and running a company outside, taking her to the big city for her education from a young age, and eventually getting her admitted to a prestigious university.

Clearly, from childhood until now, she had always excelled beyond Luo Yixia, with better grades and a prettier face.

She too was a graduate of a prestigious university, yet in the end, she had to rely on her parents' connections to secure a job with a handsome monthly salary, and now she had found Cao Jialei.

Indeed, she had deliberately chosen Cao Jialei. Firstly, because he was a native of City A, worked in City A, and was employed by a large corporation with an annual salary of several million, not to mention his decent appearance, pleasant temperament, and the way he treated her so well.

Yet why was it that she still could no match for Luo Yixia?

Compared to Luo Yixia's boyfriend, he seemed so utterly inferior.

Song Chengyi had captivated her at a single glance, and her clouded mind throughout the previous night had been entirely filled with him.

Coming in and seeing this scene now, she unexpectedly found it glaringly offensive.

"Xiaxia," Luo Yun said, her voice slightly strained.

Hearing the voice, Luo Yixia turned her head down, then immediately slid down from his back and stood properly to the side.

Meanwhile, Song Chengyi continued playing the game without even lifting his head.

"Sister Yunyun."

"What is Xiaxia playing?" Luo Yun asked with a smile as she walked over.

"Playing a game," Luo Yixia said, taking a step forward. Right as Luo Yun approached, she smoothly and casually blocked the way, preventing her from getting close to Song Chengyi.

"Is that so?" Luo Yun noticed the gesture as well and smiled awkwardly.

"Does Sister Yunyun need something?" Luo Yixia asked with a smile, casting a faint glance at Cao Jialei standing nearby.

"Your sister hasn't seen you in a whole year, so I wanted to catch up and chat. Besides, since Jialei works at the same company as Song Chengyi, I thought we could let the young men talk." All of this had been coached by Cao Jialei on the way here, instructing her to find an excuse to take Luo Yixia out so he could have a word with Song Chengyi.

Before Luo Yixia could reply, Song Chengyi's cold voice cut through the air: "My dad's company has nothing to do with me, and I won't be joining the company in the future. There's nothing to talk about."

With that, he picked up his phone, stood up, and prepared to leave.

All three of them watched him.

Yet just as he reached the door, he turned back with an indifferent expression, glanced at Luo Yixia, and frowned slightly, revealing an annoyed look.

"Didn't you say you wanted to take me out for a stroll? Aren't you coming?" His tone was thoroughly impatient.

"Oh, right," Luo Yixia immediately assumed the persona of an obedient and docile young wife.

"Sister Yunyun, he has a bad temper, so I'll accompany him outside first." She spoke and hurried to follow him.

The two greeted Yu Wenjing in the living room and stepped out of the house.

The front doors of every household stood wide open, and voices could be heard from quite a distance away.

As soon as they stepped outside, Song Chengyi thrust his phone into Luo Yixia's hands.

Luo Yixia took it and saw the word "Victory" displayed on the screen, lifting her spirits immensely. She had promoted to Star tier! Hahahahaha.

"Let's stroll outside for a little while; by the time we return, they should be gone." Song Chengyi leaned in close to her.

"Mhm."

"Though your acting was really good just now; I almost thought you were genuinely mad at me."

"I really was mad," Song Chengyi said with a straight face.

Luo Yixia glanced at him. Although there was no particular expression on his face, he was definitely not angry.

"You would never get angry over irrelevant people," Luo Yixia pouted.

"You're right about that part. The only person I've ever fallen for is you."

Hearing this, Luo Yixia found it both amusing and immensely delightful.

As they walked and walked, they eventually reached the waterside where vehicles were once washed.

"I heard a story about this lake when I was very little, and it's a true event. Do you want to hear it?" she asked, deliberately withholding the punchline.

"I don't want to hear it." In the end, he showed her zero courtesy.

"Don't be like that, just listen to me. I heard it from Grandmother when I was in the small world. She said someone in the village was walking home at midnight and passed by this river. The moon was very bright at the time, and when that person reached the edge, they suddenly saw a group of children playing ahead, making giggling sounds." Luo Yixia gestured wildly with her hands and feet, shuddering slightly herself as she recounted it.

"And then that person got a bit scared and wanted to wait for those people to leave before walking past. While waiting out of boredom, they pulled out a cigarette and just as they struck a lighter, all the children blocking the path ahead jumped straight into the water."

After she finished speaking, a brief silence ensued.

Luo Yixia blinked her eyes and stared fixedly at Song Chengyi. Was her story not engaging? Yet it was clearly so terrifying!

"You have no idea. Ever since I heard this story as a child, I've always been terrified. Every time I walk down this path, it feels eerie, and whenever I pass by here after dark, I always feel like someone is chasing me... Yingyingying." As she spoke, Luo Yixia's eyes actually reddened.

Yet Song Chengyi looked at her as if she were mentally deficient.

"Don't you think it's terrifying?" Luo Yixia finally couldn't help asking.

"I'm wondering why it's funny, but it really isn't funny at all."

"This is obviously a ghost story! And it's a true one!" Luo Yixia was deeply dissatisfied with his attitude.

"First of all, your 'true' event is full of loopholes. Since it's something you heard by word of mouth, it certainly isn't from recent decades. Lighters were invented in the sixteenth century and were introduced to China during the late Qing dynasty. By the time they spread to this remote place, it would have been delayed by several decades. Therefore, a lighter shouldn't exist in your 'event,'" Song Chengyi stated calmly.

"Well, maybe I remembered wrong, it was matches," Luo Yixia argued petulantly.

"You've studied Marxism for so many years, you should know about atheism. Do you still believe in feudal superstitions? Aren't mirages clear to you? Don't you understand moonlight reflection?"

Luo Yixia silently closed her mouth. What else could she possibly say?! Why had chatting become so difficult nowadays?

She had merely wanted to ease the atmosphere by telling a little story; why did he have to take it so seriously?

Good grades made him amazing or something?

"I think dinner at home is ready, and I'm hungry. Let's go back." With that, she turned around and strode off in huge steps.

"Oh," Song Chengyi followed closely behind her.

Hearing the footsteps behind her, Luo Yixia suddenly found her anger flaring up out of nowhere!

She immediately walked even faster, though naturally, with Song Chengyi's long legs, he caught up to her effortlessly.

Throughout lunch, Luo Yixia remained sullen, entirely lacking her usual talkative self.

She would only reply to someone if directly asked, and otherwise kept her mouth shut, eating her meal in silence.

The crucial part was that absolutely no one paid her any attention anyway.

Every ounce of focus at the table was centered on Song Chengyi!

"Chengyi, the chicken Grandmother cooked tastes really good, have a bite."

"Chengyi, today's soup was simmered quite well, try some."

"A young man shouldn't be bad at drinking; you need to practice more. From now on, whenever you're back, drink a couple of cups with this old man of mine. I'm determined to train your capacity up."

"Young man, your family has someone currently serving in the military, right? Military personnel are outstanding, protecting the home and country. Your parents raised both of you quite well."

...

Luo Yixia used to be the household's precious gem, but now she was just a blade of grass...

She angrily gnawed on her chopsticks.

Song Chengyi reached out and placed a piece of chicken into her bowl.

This happened to land right in the line of fire.

"I'm not eating it." She then transferred it right back into Song Chengyi's bowl.

"You child, you've been spoiled rotten usually. Chengyi put food in your bowl, why won't you eat it? Is Grandmother's cooking not to your taste?"

"Chengyi, eat your own food and pay her no mind. If she won't eat, let her starve."

...

Luo Yixia felt so aggrieved. Simply because she didn't want to eat a single piece of chicken, she had earned herself a barrage of criticism.

Everything had changed; they no longer loved her at all!!!

Yingyingying...

In the afternoon, just as she wanted to find an opportunity to go pester Song Chengyi, that cousin of hers popped up from who knows where and directly took Song Chengyi out!

That wasn't even the crucial point; the crucial point was that they didn't take her!

"I want to go too!" Luo Yixia protested.

"We're a group of guys going out, what are you tagging along to make a fuss for?" her cousin retorted ungraciously, cutting her off.

She looked pitifully toward Song Chengyi, hoping he would speak up for her.

Yet Song Chengyi simply replied: "Be a good girl and stay home this afternoon."

He then reached out to ruffle her hair, smoothing it down just like one would stroke a dog's fur, and walked away.

Luo Yixia was left fluttering in the wind...

Everything had changed, this world had completely changed!!!

Song Chengyi returned after dark. If she had gone out to play until dark, Yu Wenjing would have nagged her to death first, not to mention that Grandfather and Grandmother were both at home. No matter how Luo Yixia thought about it, she figured those two elders would definitely have a few words to say.

As a result...

"You must be tired after playing all afternoon. Have you eaten?"

"I ate outside, Grandmother."

"You young men burn a lot of energy. What time is it now? Let your grandmother go make you a late-night snack."

"Alright, Grandfather."

Luo Yixia felt as though she must have been picked up from a garbage heap; now that the real favorite had returned, it was time for her to bid farewell...

Luo Yixia dragged herself dejectedly back to her room, washed up, and lay down on the bed.

Not long after, Song Chengyi gently opened the door. Luo Yixia intentionally pulled the quilt over her head and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Song Chengyi moved very quietly to wash up, and when he came out, he even tucked the blanket in for Luo Yixia with utmost care.

He pressed a kiss onto her smooth, exposed forehead and softly whispered, "Goodnight."

Then he stepped outside, pulled the door shut behind him, and turned off the light.

In the darkness, Luo Yixia opened her eyes. Her eyes were red, her nose was sore, and she felt a sudden urge to cry.