Love Affairs in Melbourne-Chapter 166 - 163: Where to Begin

"Where in Europe are you planning to go?" Lu Bingran asked excitedly.

Lu Bingran and Yan Dabang had both retired early, and the most important thing coming up was fulfilling Lu Bingran’s dream of traveling around the world.

At the mention of travel, Lu Bingran’s eyes lit up.

"The place where there are the most people from Wenzhou, Italy," Lei Zhaodi answered Lu Bingran’s question.

The Lei Family had only had one son for six generations, and Lei Pili’s maternal grandfather had been so desperate for a son that he named his daughter Zhaodi, hoping to invite the arrival of a brother. However, Lei Zhaodi never brought a brother into the world, which was precisely why Lei Pili’s grandfather insisted that Pili carry the Lei surname.

Lei Pili’s grandfather used to say to Lei Zhaodi often when she was just ten years old, if she didn’t marry someone with the Lei surname, she would have to ensure her son carried the Lei surname.

Fortunately, Lei Zhaodi had two sons; otherwise, Wei Fengsui might have been schemed by his grandfather into taking the Lei surname every day.

"Italy, huh? Our Yan Yan will be going to Italy in a month, too. She’ll continue studying design at Polimoda Fashion Institute in Florence," Lu Bingran accidentally spilled Yan Yan’s upcoming itinerary.

When Lei Pili heard the word "Florence," she couldn’t help but think of that intangible thread connecting events. Seeing Yan Yan holding Qi Yi’s arm, Lei Pili chuckled at herself sardonically, pondering if there really was such a thread in the unknown.

Qi Yi stood there graciously; he had neither the interest nor the need to shake hands with Lei Pili.

For Yan Dabang, Lei Pili was a guest who had come to his home; for Qi Yi, she was just a stranger, and one who had just behaved somewhat inappropriately at that.

Yet, there was not a trace of displeasure on Qi Yi’s face. He stood there, quietly smiling, as inviting as a spring breeze.

Qi Yi also had many questions, but instead of showing hostility toward Lei Pili at that moment because of these doubts, he preferred to ask Yan Yan in private later.

With so many parents watching, Qi Yi would not allow himself to make a discourteous gesture; he didn’t want to become someone who also behaved improperly.

"Hello, Qi Yi, I’m Lei Pili." Lei Pili, now in the Department of Commerce, approached in a very business-like manner, extending her right hand for a very business-like handshake with Qi Yi.

Lei Pili aimed to shake the right hand that Yan Yan was holding.

The situation started to become a bit awkward again.

To prevent the awkwardness from escalating, Yan Yan timely let go of Qi Yi’s arm.

The men completed a very business-like, courtesy handshake.

.........

Wei Fengsui returned to the car and started it.

The families got into their cars one after another.

Nobody would have thought that a simple joint outing with the neighbor could dredge up so much from the past.

Yan Yan didn’t occupy any "prime seat" this time. As soon as she got on the bus, she pulled Qi Yi to sit in the back row.

The last row of a midsize vehicle was the least comfortable, but Yan Yan wasn’t in the mood to care. She just wanted to find a seat as far from the co-driver as possible.

Yan Yan’s mind was a bit chaotic, though she actually had no need to feel guilty.

She and Lei Pili had no history between them—not even a shared past.

But today’s bizarre encounter left Yan Yan at a loss for words.

If the roles were reversed, and she saw Qi Yi inexplicably embracing another woman, Yan Yan’s heart would certainly not be devoid of thoughts.

If only she had known, she wouldn’t have come home so early today, letting the adults go out and play by themselves, and none of this would have happened.

Lei Pili still returned to the passenger seat, and didn’t take the opportunity to follow Yan Yan to the back row.

Wei Fengsui was driving a fifteen-seater today. Though said to be big, it actually wasn’t much bigger. In any case, everyone could hear everything that was said.

The last one to board, Lei Zhaodi, despite several empty seats in the front, went straight to the last row and sat next to Yan Yan.

As a mother, Lei Zhaodi was just too curious about the relationship between Lei Pili and Yan Yan.

Especially since her youngest son had grown up apparently never showing any interest in girls.

Lei Pili’s mom couldn’t help but go to Yan Yan to get some clarity.

"Yan Yan, you’re from Xiamen University, too?" Lei Zhaodi got straight to the point and started chatting with Yan Yan.

"Um, Aunt Lei, I spent my freshman year at Xiamen University," Yan Yan answered Lei Zhaodi.

If Lei Pili insisted on joining the conversation with Yan Yan at this moment, Yan Yan would simply choose to ignore him.

But since Aunt Lei was an elder, Yan Yan could only respond with good grace while feeling frustrated inside.

Yan Yan glanced at Qi Yi, that guy with the poker face, who still maintained a warm and inviting smile.

Qi Yi did not interject. He, too, wanted to understand certain puzzling matters through the conversation between Yan Yan and Lei Pili’s mom.

"Oh, is that so? Then you must be from the English department as well?" Lei Zhaodi continued to inquire.

"No, I’m from the journalism department." Yan Yan replied, answering whatever was asked without much elaboration, and not as lively as she usually spoke.

"So you and our Pili must be several years apart? How did you two meet?" Lei Zhaodi’s gossip instincts started to take over.

"I audited a senior class in the English department during my freshman year, and I met Senior Brother Lei because of that class," Yan Yan said, not really wanting to continue the topic.

What more could she talk about next? Should she tell Lei Pili’s mom, "Your son confessed to me six times during my freshman year, and I never accepted"? Or should she say, "If you want to know anything, you can go ask Lei Pili"?

In any case, whatever she said wouldn’t be quite appropriate. Although, in reality, Lei Zhaodi should indeed ask her son, it was a pity that there were no longer empty seats next to the passenger seat, but there were next to Yan Yan.

"Then the two of you really do have quite the affinity," Lei Zhaodi remarked with a hint of emotion.

Faced with such sentiment, Yan Yan really couldn’t continue the conversation.

"Auntie, I don’t think I can sit in the back row. I’m starting to feel a little car sick now. I’ll find a luckier seat toward the front—a "feng shui treasure seat"... I said I wanted to be the first one on the bus to find a ’feng shui treasure seat,’ and I forgot as soon as I got on," Yan Yan said playfully as she moved to the seat next to her Aunt.

Yan Yan leaned on her Aunt as soon as she sat down.

"What’s wrong?" Aunt asked Yan Yan.

"Motion sickness~" Yan Yan said with a smile, sticking out her tongue at her Aunt.

According to Yan Yan’s observations over the past few days, her Aunt was completely charmed by Qi Yi. Now at this moment, there was no one better to find than her Aunt.

"We’ve just started, and you’re like this already; well, just lie down then," Aunt said with concern in her voice.

"Yeah, Aunt is the best. How’s the investigation into our family Qi Yi’s background going?" Yan Yan continued to stick out her tongue playfully.

"I haven’t finished checking yet," Aunt was extremely cooperative.

"I see. Well, after we eat, you call him over. It’s going to be such a long drive to the Great Ocean Road. You can check Qi Yi’s background while enjoying the scenery outside the window.

I’ll go to the City later and buy some motion sickness medicine, to act like the most typical tourist—’sleep on the bus, take photos when off.’ You just wake me up when we get to the Twelve Apostles, okay?" Yan Yan cheerfully made the most "reasonable and proper" arrangement.