Chapter 91: A Sky Full of Longing Hearts

Chapter 91: Love Confessions Under a Sky Full of Hearts

Because he had just been scolded by Rong Shaoting, Fan Xiaoyang now looked at Fan Xiaoyao with nothing but hostility. His tone was sharp and unfriendly as he shook off her hand.

“Don’t pretend to care about me like a cat weeping over a mouse. I can’t take your fake sympathy!”

With that, Fan Xiaoyang rushed downstairs, leaving Fan Xiaoyao standing at the top of the stairs, her voice hoarse as she shouted after him, “Xiaoyang, I’m sorry! Wasn’t I wrong? Isn’t that enough?”

Rong Xiaoyu saw Fan Xiaoyang coming down in a hurry and quickly pulled him aside. “Come on, let’s go out and talk. You need to calm down right now.”

Since childhood, Fan Xiaoyang and Rong Xiaoyu had always been close, so Fan Xiaoyang obediently let himself be led outside. Just as they were heading out the door, they ran into Rong Jinfeng.

Rong Jinfeng tried to reason with Fan Xiaoyang. “Xiaoyang, your sister acted out of concern for you. She just got a bit carried away. You need to be sensible.”

Fan Xiaoyang, seeing Rong Jinfeng taking Fan Xiaoyao’s side, huffed, “Sometimes I wonder if I’m really your son, or maybe you just picked me up from some garbage dump…”

Hearing him question his parentage again, Rong Jinfeng’s eyes filled with mist.

“Fan Xiaoyang, if you’re so dissatisfied with me as your mother, you’re welcome to go find someone else to call mother. Let me tell you once more: I carried you for ten months and nearly lost my life giving birth to you. And now, even after all these years, you throw such rebellious words at me…”

Seeing his second aunt in tears, Rong Xiaoyu hurriedly nudged Fan Xiaoyang. “Xiaoyang, apologize to your second aunt! How could you say she picked you up? That breaks her heart, don’t you know?”

Fan Xiaoyang just stood there, staring at Rong Jinfeng as she wept in front of him, a hint of regret flickering in his heart. Yet, his pride wouldn’t let him admit his fault.

With the pair locked in a silent standoff, Rong Xiaoyu tried to smooth things over, turning to Rong Jinfeng. “Second aunt, don’t be upset. Xiaoyang didn’t mean it. He was just speaking without thinking. I’ll take him out for a walk and talk to him.”

Looking at her stubborn son, Rong Jinfeng felt a wave of sorrow. Even her youngest nephew was so understanding—why did her own son have to be so rebellious? Troubled, she furrowed her brow and looked at Rong Xiaoyu. “All right, the two of you have always been close. Xiaoyang listens to you, so please talk some sense into him.”

Impatiently, Fan Xiaoyang called out to Rong Xiaoyu, “Hey, are we going or not?” He shook off Rong Xiaoyu’s hand and strode outside.

“Why are you walking so fast? No one’s chasing you!” Rong Xiaoyu called after him, grabbing his arm.

“Are we going or not? Stop nagging!” Fan Xiaoyang snapped.

As Rong Jinfeng watched the two boys head out, the tears that had welled in her eyes finally spilled over. From behind, Fan Xiaoyao wrapped her arms around her mother and began to cry as well.

“Mom, don’t be sad. When Xiaoyang grows up a bit more, he’ll understand. Don’t take it to heart.”

Noticing Wang Guocheng standing nearby, Rong Jinfeng quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile. “Guocheng, I’m sorry you had to see that.”

Wang Guocheng pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “It’s all right, Auntie. I was a handful myself back in school. Xiaoyang will grow out of it.”

Ever since Fan Xiaoyao had slapped him, Fan Xiaoyang had ignored her the entire afternoon. Even at dinner, with the whole family gathered to watch the New Year’s Gala, he didn’t speak a word to her.

Seeing the cold war between the siblings, Wang Guocheng tried to break the ice. “After dinner, why don’t we go buy some fireworks and set them off?”

He knew both siblings loved fireworks, so he made the suggestion on purpose.

Yet their responses were equally stubborn: “If Xiaoyang doesn’t go, I won’t go!” and “If my sister goes, I won’t!”

Not even fireworks could coax Fan Xiaoyang out of his mood.

Wang Guocheng leaned close, tempting him, “Tonight, you can set off any fireworks you want—even the ones your family usually won’t allow.”

Fan Xiaoyang hesitated. He loved fireworks, but he didn’t want to set them off with Fan Xiaoyao—not while he was still holding a grudge over that slap. Still, the lure of forbidden fireworks was strong, and after some thought, he whispered to Wang Guocheng, “Brother Guocheng, I’ll go set off fireworks with my sister.”

After New Year’s Eve dinner, Fan Xiaoyao, Wang Guocheng, Fan Xiaoyang, and Rong Xiaoyu went out and bought a huge assortment of fireworks.

Seeing Fan Xiaoyang piling every kind of firework onto the checkout counter, Fan Xiaoyao felt as if he was planning to buy out the entire store. Just how extravagant could he get? She anxiously patted her thin wallet, worrying how they’d pay.

Rong Xiaoyu, watching Fan Xiaoyang haul armfuls of fireworks to the counter, called out, “Hey, are you trying to buy every firework here? You look like some nouveau riche. Don’t tell me you’re trying to stick Guocheng with the bill?”

Fan Xiaoyang rolled his eyes. “Please, I’m not scamming him. He said I could set off as many as I wanted tonight, to my heart’s content.”

Rong Xiaoyu wasn’t wrong. When they finally paid, the bill for Fan Xiaoyang’s fireworks alone had reached five digits—now that was extravagance.

As the sky bloomed with heart-shaped fireworks, Fan Xiaoyang turned to Fan Xiaoyao and said, “Sis, I forgive you. These heart-shaped fireworks were Brother Guocheng’s idea—they’re his New Year’s gift to you. Sis, he’s truly good to you. He even said he wants to confess his love under the fireworks.”

Most people had stars filling the sky, but above Fan Xiaoyao’s head tonight, it was hearts.

Wang Guocheng pulled Fan Xiaoyao into his arms, and together they gazed up at the heart-shaped fireworks bursting overhead. With deep feeling, Wang Guocheng shouted, “Fan Xiaoyao, I like you! Fan Xiaoyao, I love you! Fan Xiaoyao, I want to marry you!”

Behind them, Fan Xiaoyang and Rong Xiaoyu joined in with a duet:

“Watching the dazzling fireworks light up the sky, I thank you for sharing the most beautiful moments of my life. Through every step, with you by my side, you bloom for me like fireworks. I make a wish to the heavens above, to keep happiness and joy forever by my side. Quietly basking in the happiest sunshine, I’ll stay with you until the end of time…”