In mid-November 2015, Lin Zhixia happily returned to China.
With her postdoctoral work coming to an end, Lin Zhixia felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation. She slept for an entire day at home, simultaneously adjusting her biological clock.
The next morning, her parents went to the market and returned with an abundance of vegetables, fruits, and seafood.
The family’s supermarket was temporarily closed. Her father and mother spent most of the day in the kitchen, preparing a delicious “seafood feast,” including steamed crabs, oyster sauce scallops, cold squid salad, spicy clams… as well as Lin Zeqiu’s favorite green pepper beef stir-fry and Lin Zhixia’s beloved shrimp and corn dumplings.
When Lin Zeqiu returned home from work and pushed open the door, Lin Zhixia immediately called out: “Brother, come eat, tonight’s dinner is especially sumptuous.”
The late autumn and early winter chill had swept through the entire city, with cold night winds gusting into the corridor. Yet Lin Zeqiu’s home presented a warm and comfortable scene, filled with the atmosphere of home cooking. The steaming hot dishes instantly dispelled his fatigue. As he sat at the dining table, Lin Zhixia placed a plump crab on his plate: “Brother, have some crab.”
“These are sea crabs,” Father said with a beaming smile, “Qiuqiu likes seafood, right? Eat as much as you want!”
Lin Zhixia held her bowl with both hands and exclaimed: “This is so delicious.”
Mother asked: “Xiaxia hasn’t even started eating yet, how do you know it’s delicious?”
Lin Zhixia honestly replied: “When I was in America, I would occasionally dream of eating at home. In my dreams, I would eat until I was full, but when I woke up in the morning, I’d realize my stomach was growling with hunger, and the refrigerator only had cold milk and bread.”
She lifted the crab shell and continued: “The food Mom and Dad make has a special flavor. When I cook for myself or eat at restaurants, I can never taste anything similar…”
Mother’s eyes glistened with tears. She wiped the corner of her eye before saying, “Xiaxia is home now. Dad and Mom will cook for you, you can eat whatever you want. Our family’s life has improved.”
“Mom, don’t cry.” Lin Zhixia handed her mother a napkin.
Father explained: “Your mother is just too emotional. The children have grown up and become successful. Your father and mother are truly happy… Qiuqiu found a good job, and Xiaxia is going to be a university professor…”
At this point, Father drank heartily, downing another glass of wine. He patted Lin Zeqiu’s shoulder: “Qiuqiu, Dad knows it’s been hard for you… For this family, you didn’t stay in Beijing.”
Lin Zeqiu calmly replied: “Beijing’s housing prices are too expensive, and it’s difficult to get a household registration. I’m doing quite well now, and my year-end bonus will be several tens of thousands.”
Father exclaimed in surprise: “Qiuqiu is impressive at earning money, much better than Dad.”
Lin Zeqiu remained silent. He glanced at Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia picked up a small hammer and forcefully cracked open the crab claws. She hammered two crabs in succession, gathering the translucent crab meat into a porcelain bowl, piling it as high as a small mountain.
Lin Zeqiu was about to ask why she hadn’t taken a bite yet when he saw her place the bowl of crab meat in front of their parents: “Our family’s life has improved; my brother and I can both earn money now. Don’t hesitate to eat. I noticed you haven’t touched the crabs at all.”
Father repeatedly responded with “good,” but couldn’t form a complete sentence. He scooped up a spoonful of crab meat, savored it carefully, then wiped his face and sincerely sighed: “Ah, Xiaxia is back. Your mother, your brother, and I can all rest easy now. Our family of four is reunited.”
Lin Zhixia casually mentioned, “Brother works at the Software Technology Park, which is very close to University Town. I’ll buy a house in University Town, and that will be our new home for the four of us.”
Lin Zeqiu added, “Mom and Dad can retire early.”
Lin Zhixia smiled warmly: “Yes, Mom and Dad should retire, and my brother and I will support you.”
“Ah, how could that be?” Father rejected without hesitation, “Your mother and I are still young, we can still earn money.”
Mother agreed with Father. She said gently, “Xiaxia, Qiuqiu, you two siblings have just entered society. Dad and Mom aren’t like other parents, we don’t have connections or backgrounds to help you two… so we’ll save some money for you.”
Father echoed: “Yes, we need to save money for you.”
Mentioning “saving money,” Father paused, seemingly remembering something. He put down his wine glass and told Lin Zhixia that over the past year, Jiang Yubai had visited their home during every major holiday, bringing various gifts. For instance, during this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Yubai had brought mooncakes, osmanthus cakes, hairy crabs, and olive oil.
In front of Lin Zhixia’s parents, Jiang Yubai never mentioned luxury items, focusing on practical gifts instead.
When meeting Lin Zhixia’s parents, Jiang Yubai would also proactively discuss Lin Zhixia’s situation in America, explaining her work content—this was exactly the news Lin Zhixia’s parents always wanted to hear, as they were extremely concerned about their daughter.
Jiang Yubai’s efforts had continued for an entire year, successfully moving Lin Zhixia’s father.
Therefore, at tonight’s dinner table, Father spoke well of Jiang Yubai, Mother also slightly praised him, while Lin Zeqiu still maintained his serious “that guy hasn’t passed the probation period” attitude.
Lin Zhixia focused on her meal, her heart full of longing for him.
That night, Lin Zhixia messaged Jiang Yubai, saying without any disguise: “I miss you so much.”
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Jiang Yubai replied instantly, “The new home is renovated.”
Near University Town, there was a high-end residential area with extremely expensive prices per square meter, which had shown a sharp upward trend this year. Jiang Yubai spent an enormous sum to purchase an eight-hundred-square-meter penthouse and hired the nation’s best design team. After more than a year of renovations, it was finally completed this summer.
Recently, Jiang Yubai had officially moved into this house. He invited Lin Zhixia to visit his home, and she gladly agreed.
*
On Sunday morning, Jiang Yubai drove personally to Ancheng Residences and successfully picked up Lin Zhixia. For eleven whole months, he and Lin Zhixia had not seen each other. One of his ways to alleviate the pain of longing was to trim the golden camellia branches and leaves in his office.
Jiang Yubai often dreamed of Lin Zhixia.
But he never mentioned it.
He appeared very calm.
He brought Lin Zhixia back to his new home.
Passing through the entrance hallway, they arrived at the living room. Brilliant sunlight penetrated through rose-colored skylights, and the vast, expansive 360-degree panoramic terrace caught Lin Zhixia’s attention. She walked quietly on the exquisite, soft carpet and whispered, “Your new home is really beautiful.”
Jiang Yubai stood behind her: “This is your home too.”
Lin Zhixia paused her steps.
Jiang Yubai called her again: “Xiaxia.”
Lin Zhixia turned to face him: “Jiangjiang.”
He laughed softly and murmured: “Lin Lin Lin Lin Zhixia.”
Lin Zhixia spoke very softly: “Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai.”
This was originally a secret code they had invented as children, but when said as adults, it sounded like lovers’ intimate whispers, always carrying an inexplicable sense of ambiguity.
Cool wind blew in from the sky garden, spreading refreshing fragrance everywhere. Lin Zhixia sat in a soft chair on the spacious terrace and pointed to a bottle of wine on a nearby wooden rack: “I’m in a good mood today, let’s have some wine.”
Jiang Yubai asked her: “Has your alcohol tolerance improved?”
Lin Zhixia moved closer to him, seemingly about to speak, but stole a kiss on his cheek—this fleeting, intimate gesture acted like a switch, triggering Jiang Yubai’s intense reaction. He tightly encircled Lin Zhixia’s waist, pinning her to the chair with a deep kiss. The melancholy of eleven months of separation without meeting transformed in this moment into a surging tide of passion, almost completely submerging Jiang Yubai. In the intervals between kisses, Lin Zhixia said: “You’ve… you’ve become so proactive, so passionate, I like it.”
Jiang Yubai stopped all movement: “I can be even more proactive. Would you like to try?”
Lin Zhixia laughed softly.
She placed her hands on his shoulders: “Do you think of me often?”
“Every day,” Jiang Yubai looked at her, “What about you?”
Lin Zhixia gazed into his eyes, seeing her reflection in them. His appearance was so deeply affectionate, incomparable, as if the entire world contained only Lin Zhixia, and he had created a new world through his gaze upon her. Her heartbeat was very steady, yet filled with a floating sweetness, like being stuffed with deliciously sweet honey.
So Lin Zhixia took his hand and pointed at her heart: “Of course, I think of you. I don’t just miss you with my mind, but also with this.”
After hearing her words, Jiang Yubai grasped her right hand and brought it to his lips. He lowered his head to gently kiss her fingertips, starting from the index finger and ending with the little finger. The entire process was silent, both passionate and solemn, both devout and tender. A fire suddenly ignited in Lin Zhixia’s heart, the intense flames instantly reaching their peak.
Lin Zhixia’s breathing became slightly disordered, and she said without thinking: “I’ve returned to China, we won’t be separated again, we can see each other every day.”
“Can you move in here?” Jiang Yubai asked her.
Lin Zhixia avoided his direct gaze: “I’ve told you before, I want to buy my own house.”
Jiang Yubai stood up from his seat. He took out a bottle of champagne and two flutes, handed the glasses to Lin Zhixia, and personally poured champagne for her. The champagne bubbled with clear, delicate effervescence. Lin Zhixia smelled the wine’s aroma and took a small sip.
“It tastes so good,” she said.
Jiang Yubai clinked glasses with her: “You can move in with your family, your father and mother, and brother…” He leaned back in the soft chair, savoring the wine leisurely, his gaze toward the distant sky: “I suppose I count as your family too.”
This sentence made Lin Zhixia’s heart flutter again.
Jiang Yubai seemed to be saying, I’ve belonged to you for a long time.
Since Lin Zhixia stepped into his home, his series of words and actions had completely disrupted her thoughts. She drained the champagne in her glass in one gulp, and with a slightly intoxicated feeling, confessed to him: “Yes, you are my good friend, the person I like most, my family…”
Before she could finish, Jiang Yubai approached her again, inducing her to turn her head and kiss him. This deep kiss contained the sweetness of champagne. She was quite drunk, her hands holding him tighter.
Lin Zhixia lay back on the soft couch, her black hair spread out. The blue sky and white clouds formed the background behind Jiang Yubai as he pressed on top of her and formally proposed: “Let’s sleep together tonight.”
Lin Zhixia almost agreed.
But then she recalled last Christmas in the hotel bathtub, the sensual, wonderful, and heart-shaking scene she had witnessed. So besides curiosity, Lin Zhixia also felt a trace of worry and trepidation: “Will it hurt a lot? I’m very afraid of pain.”
Yes.
Lin Zhixia was very afraid of pain.
She not only possessed video-like memory but also sensory memory.
Jiang Yubai hesitated. In that matter, he had no experience at all. He just really wanted to try with Lin Zhixia, but he also feared hurting her. After careful consideration, he cast aside his desires and resolved: “Let’s forget it for now. We’ll take it step by step.”
*
That night, Lin Zhixia didn’t go home. She stayed at Jiang Yubai’s home, sharing a bed with him, chatting until midnight about her career plans.
This June, Lin Zhixia submitted her evaluation materials for the “Youth Thousand Talents Program,” and her interview was scheduled for the end of November. If all went well, by March next year, her name would appear on the “Selected Candidates List,” and by September next year, she would join the best university in the provincial capital, obtain a formal teaching position, and receive generous research funding.
Staff from the university’s personnel department had already contacted Lin Zhixia.
She had been assigned to the “Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute,” and both the dean and vice dean thought highly of her.
The only issue was that Lin Zhixia was still too young. When she began recruiting graduate students next year, most of her students would be older than her.
“My age,” Lin Zhixia said, “is still a bit problematic.”
In the dark bedroom, Jiang Yubai comforted her in a low voice: “You’re so smart and hardworking, finishing your undergraduate degree in three years, not returning home during winter and summer breaks, studying in the UK with early mornings and late nights, working in the US with early risings and late bedtimes, spending so much time on academics…”
Lin Zhixia turned and nestled into his embrace, listening as he said: “You can handle any job. I believe in you and support you.”
Lin Zhixia felt somewhat moved: “Thank you.”