Xia Xiaolan looked at him strangely:
“Why wouldn’t I know? You’re quite the prominent figure in Hong Kong now, the newspapers write about your every move.”
Of course, the newspapers would write about it, but Xia Xiaolan could choose whether to filter out that information.
A joy bloomed in Du Zhaohui’s heart, like a flower. But just as its bud began to open, an inexplicable bitterness spread through his chest.
He was sick again!
Du Zhaohui understood why he felt happy, but couldn’t comprehend the source of his bitterness.
Xia Xiaolan finally asked about the rumors, and he casually offered his prepared answer:
“You’ve seen the news, didn’t you recognize who it was? The newspapers are writing nonsense. I would never date her.”
Xia Xiaolan only knew the news had been trending recently. It wasn’t that she was gossiping – Zhang Bailun from Qihang Capital had mentioned it occasionally, but she hadn’t seen any photos.
“I only know she’s a TVB actress called Ye Jiawen, right?”
Du Zhaohui chuckled, “Ye Jiawen is her stage name. You two are old acquaintances – she used to go by He Shiyuan.”
He Shiyuan?
He Shiyuan was also a fake name.
Ye Jiawen might not be her real name either.
But she was still the same person.
Although Xia Xiaolan held no prejudice against sex workers in general interactions, the dating market was different. Men had the right to be selective about their partners, and society indeed held different standards for men and women. No matter how much of a playboy Du Zhaohui had been before, when it came to marriage, he couldn’t marry a former prostitute… Similarly, Xia Xiaolan completely understood the discrimination against male sex workers.
Society simply couldn’t accept such a couple.
Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but conform to these views. Even though the former ‘He Shiyuan’, now Ye Jiawen, had qualities that Xia Xiaolan admired, that was merely appreciation.
After all, her friendship with Du Zhaohui ran deeper, and her stance was biased. As a friend, she hoped Du Zhaohui’s future partner would be someone better.
If it were true love, Xia Xiaolan would give her blessing.
But since Du Zhaohui denied they were dating, why should Xia Xiaolan try to force them together? She wasn’t crazy!
She had thought Du Zhaohui finally had a serious girlfriend, someone to spend the New Year with, but the answer she got was completely different from what she’d imagined.
Xia Xiaolan didn’t know what to say.
Du Zhaohui couldn’t understand the source of his bitterness.
Shouldn’t he be happy that Xia Xiaolan cared about him so much?
The incomprehensible emotion made Du Zhaohui uncomfortable, so he playfully changed the subject:
“Worried I’ll be lonely during Spring Festival? Please! Regular people care about these traditional holidays because their daily lives are full of troubles, and only during festivals can they temporarily forget their worries and mindlessly eat and drink. I’m already happy every day! Not everyone can understand my kind of happiness!”
Xia Xiaolan’s seriousness instantly crumbled.
The statement itself wasn’t wrong, but coming from Du Zhaohui’s mouth, the tone was incredibly irritating.
The two parted ways in Pengcheng, with Du Zhaohui waving to her:
“What are you worried about? Every day is a festival for me!”
Xia Xiaolan nodded: “Well, Happy New Year in advance, and may everything go well.”
Xia Xiaolan had returned to Pengcheng to spend time with Old Tang and Comrade Afen. Old Tang wouldn’t have days off during New Year’s Eve and the first day of the lunar year, staying busy until the third day when he could finally rest for a few days.
Xia Xiaolan was planning to stay in Pengcheng until the third day before heading to Beijing, but her mother lectured her:
“Last Spring Festival, you and Zhou Cheng were newlyweds and busy looking for your aunt, so everyone understood why you couldn’t visit the Zhou family. But this year is different. Zhou Cheng’s work is special, and as a daughter-in-law, you need to look after his family more. So go to Beijing first, and after the second day, Uncle Tang and I will come to Beijing.”
Only Xia Xiaolan needed to go to Beijing for her in-laws, as most of her own family had settled in Pengcheng.
Liu Fen wanted to return to Beijing not only to accompany her daughter but also because Tang Hongen would pay New Year’s respect to Old Song every year.
Her mother was being quite generous. Xia Xiaolan asked Tang Hongen’s opinion, and although he usually had issues with Zhou Cheng, this time he supported Liu Fen’s suggestion:
“Go ahead first. You have plenty of time to see us but little time to be a daughter-in-law to the Zhou family. During New Year’s, you should spend time with Zhou’s elders.”
Well then, Xia Xiaolan packed her things and headed to Beijing again.
It wasn’t that she had never stayed with Zhou Cheng’s parents before – she had spent one night at the Zhou house before marriage.
But it was just that one night.
Xia Xiaolan was clueless about what she should do as a daughter-in-law.
She had no experience and couldn’t even seek online help!
Should she rush to do housework and cooking?
Her cooking wasn’t good – hopefully, the Zhou family wouldn’t be too picky.
When Xia Xiaolan returned to Beijing alone to spend New Year at the Zhou house, Guan Huie didn’t say anything but was quite pleased. The house had already been cleaned a few days ago, and she had left work early to clean Zhou Cheng’s room again with Auntie Zeng.
So it wasn’t just Xia Xiaolan who was nervous – Guan Huie also had no experience being a mother-in-law, and both were cautiously trying to get along.
No matter how well they got along normally, living under the same roof was different – they didn’t know if their living habits would match or if conflicts would arise.
Zhou Guobin laughed at her excessive nervousness, and Guan Huie glared at him:
“What do you know? It’s easier for you men, you don’t have to deal with mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships!”
Zhou Guobin put on a serious face, “My wife is so open-minded, and our daughter-in-law Xiaolan is sensible and understanding. You’re both excellent women – who has time for mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts?”
Guan Huie was amused and called him a flatterer.
But Zhou Guobin’s distraction did ease Guan Huie’s tension.
Indeed, what was there to worry about? She just needed to be herself when interacting with her daughter-in-law Xiaolan. The girl was the type to return kindness tenfold and wouldn’t deliberately pick on small details.
Guan Huie had originally wanted Zhou Cheng to find a virtuous housewife, but when he ended up with a career woman like Xia Xiaolan, she found it acceptable now.
First, Zhou Cheng loved her, which was most important.
Second, Xia Xiaolan was a career woman with a broad mind and vision not limited to in-law matters, making it difficult to even create conflicts.
Xia Xiaolan was busy year-round and didn’t spend much time at the Zhou house, but she never forgot to send greetings and gifts during festivals. Since Zhou Cheng wouldn’t have time off during New Year’s, it was thoughtful of her as a daughter-in-law to accompany the elders for a reunion. What was there to fear about those few days?
As Guan Huie had anticipated, when Xia Xiaolan returned to Beijing, she headed straight to the Zhou house with her belongings instead of going to her and Zhou Cheng’s apartment.
But Guan Huie’s nervousness proved unnecessary. Just as Xia Xiaolan had put down her things and was explaining to Guan Huie which gifts were for Zhou’s parents, which were for the eldest uncle’s family, and which were for Zhou Cheng’s aunt’s family – just as she mentioned his aunt’s family, her uncle-in-law Gu Zhengqing called:
“Xiaolan, news from the Northwest – your senior schoolmate Sun Yujun who went there to teach has met with trouble!”
Bang.
Xia Xiaolan was still holding the gift for Gu Siyan when it crashed to the floor.