Before Jiang Yubai could answer, Lin Zhixia raised another question: “Can I give your parents some handcrafts I made myself?”
“Of course,” Jiang Yubai explained, “Gifts express sincerity, and your sincerity is precious.”
Lin Zhixia hugged his neck: “I told you that day, marriage is a bit troublesome as it involves two families, and I don’t know much about your relatives.”
Jiang Yubai soothingly patted her back gently: “Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. My parents are very busy with work and don’t stay in the provincial capital for more than a few months each year. I don’t have many opportunities to see them either.”
With her chin resting on his shoulder, he continued: “You enjoy research and teaching students, so spend your time at school. Leave family matters to me.”
Jiang Yubai’s voice grew softer: “Do whatever you want to do. Don’t go out of your way to interact with anyone for my sake.”
Lin Zhixia stammered: “You’re so…”
“What?” he asked.
Lin Zhixia sighed: “I think you’re too good.”
She said softly, “I’ve met your parents before, and I quite like them, but… there’s a sense of distance, you know? It’s not about money. I don’t care about money.”
Jiang Yubai remained silent for two seconds before answering: “I understand.”
Lin Zhixia exclaimed in surprise: “You understand me so well?”
Jiang Yubai calmly reminded her, “I grew up reading your diary since childhood.”
Lin Zhixia turned off the bedside lamp with her right hand while her left hand slipped under his pajama top. Her fingertips explored in the dim darkness, sometimes light, sometimes slow, until they reached his chest. She blew air against his ear: “So that’s how it is…”
Jiang Yubai tilted his head slightly, allowing her to do as she pleased.
Lin Zhixia clung to him even tighter, expressing her feelings more directly: “I like you so much.”
Jiang Yubai seized the opportunity to ask: “Do you want to move in and live with me?”
Lin Zhixia seriously considered for a moment. She came up with a compromise: “How about this—I’ll stay at my place for three days each week, and at your place for four days. How does that sound?”
Jiang Yubai negotiated with her: “This apartment is also your home, and it’s closer to your school. You can stay here Monday through Friday, and I’ll drive you to and from work…”
Lin Zhixia pointed out a fact: “Walking from your home to school takes at most fifteen minutes. For such a short distance, you don’t need to drive me.”
Jiang Yubai didn’t respond.
He lay down on the bed, covering himself completely with the blanket, even hiding his shoulders.
Lin Zhixia was about to die laughing. She leaned beside him and teased: “Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai, you’re so interesting. I’ve discovered that every time we chat and you feel awkward, you cover yourself up. It’s been this way since you were little.”
Jiang Yubai said, “It’s very different from when we were children.”
“How is it different?” Lin Zhixia insisted, “I feel it’s about the same.”
Jiang Yubai suddenly lifted the blanket and directly covered Lin Zhixia with it. Lin Zhixia immediately dodged to the side, laughing more cheerfully. They played around on the spacious bed, and eventually, their playfulness turned into passion, filling the entire bedroom with sweet intimacy.
Close to midnight, Lin Zhixia fell asleep from exhaustion.
Jiang Yubai pulled her over with one arm as she drowsily grasped his fingers. At this moment, he thought that Lin Zhixia was right—marriage involves two families, but his situation was very special. His personality and habits had all been influenced by Lin Zhixia; she was the most important part of his growth experience. He often described Lin Zhixia as “perfect”—she was perfect, and he couldn’t tolerate a life without her.
Back when they were studying abroad, Lin Zhixia had once said something that deeply impressed Jiang Yubai.
Lin Zhixia said that if Jiang Yubai broke up with her, she would be extremely sad, but given some time, she could emerge from the shadow and focus on her work.
Putting himself in her position, Jiang Yubai couldn’t do the same.
Therefore, he occasionally felt a sense of crisis.
In the darkness, he slowly tightened his arms, pressing Lin Zhixia’s back against his chest. Reality was as beautiful as a dream. Whether before falling asleep or after, he was always thinking of her.
*
The next day was Sunday, and Lin Zhixia woke up early. She changed into a new outfit and sat in front of the mirror to apply makeup. Her skin was very good—snow-white, moist, and extremely lustrous—so she didn’t need foundation. She simply used mascara and eyeliner, and also had Jiang Yubai help her choose a lipstick color.
After finishing her makeup, Lin Zhixia asked enthusiastically: “How is it? Give me your evaluation.”
Jiang Yubai stood in front of her, lifted her chin, and gazed into her eyes. He said, “Perfect.”
Lin Zhixia replied: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
Jiang Yubai gently caressed her with his fingertips: “Everyone knows how beautiful you are.”
Lin Zhixia’s eyes sparkled with laughter. She pushed away Jiang Yubai’s index finger from under her chin, stood up from her seat, and passed by him, leaving behind a refreshing fragrance.
Jiang Yubai took a deep breath.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He lit up the screen and saw a message from his uncle: “Urgent news, your grandparents have also arrived.”
Jiang Yubai’s grandparents were originally vacationing in the Maldives. However, they had ended their vacation early, returned to the provincial capital, and wanted to participate in today’s meeting between the families.
Fortunately, Jiang Yubai’s uncle played the role of informant.
His uncle sent him a long message: “My parents and your parents didn’t expect you would get engaged directly. They haven’t met Lin’s family before and have concerns, which is normal. From their perspective, your engagement with Lin was indeed too sudden.”
Jiang Yubai asked him: “Have you discussed this matter at home?”
The uncle answered indirectly: “One night when I was drunk, I told your aunt about the mix-up at the wedding. Your aunt likes Lin and has prepared several gifts for her.”
Jiang Yubai politely expressed his gratitude and asked his uncle to list the specific gifts.
His uncle began to count: “A diamond necklace, a platinum handbag, an unlimited free book card, and a VIP beauty service card from the Sands Hotel. Just these four items.”
The Sands Hotel was a luxury hotel in Singapore with a branch in the provincial capital, known for its extremely high consumption level. Jiang Yubai knew his aunt meant well, but she came from a top-tier Singaporean wealthy family, with her name ranking on the world socialite list, and even had paparazzi following her when vacationing in the United States. Among the carefully prepared gifts, except for the “unlimited free book card,” the other three… Lin Zhixia would probably not accept.
So Jiang Yubai said to his uncle, “Lin Zhixia is shy. If auntie gives her so many gifts at once…”
His uncle caught his implied meaning. He quickly said, “I’ll talk to your aunt right away and tell her to bring fewer items.”
Jiang Yubai said, “Thanks to you, uncle.”
His uncle replied instantly: “No need to thank me. Lovers are destined to be together.”
*
The weather was beautiful today, with a blue sky, not a cloud in sight, and sunshine that made everyone feel warm.
Lin Zhixia stood at the entrance of her family’s apartment building, meeting up with her father, mother, and brother.
Her father showed hesitation: “Xiaxia, how about this—Dad will go with you to the commercial street and buy some branded bags and wallets to give to Jiang’s parents…”
“Don’t bother,” Lin Zeqiu said, “No one in our family has bought luxury goods before. There’s no need to put on airs.”
Lin Zeqiu’s gaze was unwavering, even his shadow stood straight. He wore his only suit, his black leather shoes polished to a shine, his right shoulder carrying an expensive briefcase worth four hundred yuan bought from Taobao, and his left hand wearing a Casio electronic watch he had won at his company’s annual party. His parents were both wearing their best clothes—their family had never dressed so formally, even during New Year celebrations.
Lin Zhixia sensed the unusual atmosphere.
She immediately opened a paper bag: “Look, these are quantum computer models I made myself. Palm-sized models, three in total… I originally intended to use them as teaching aids, but they’re not needed at the moment. I discussed it with Mom, and we thought we might as well give these models as gifts to Jiang Yubai’s parents.”
Lin Zeqiu glanced into the bag and felt a sense of foreboding.
He followed Lin Zhixia forward and got into Jiang Yubai’s car.
Jiang Yubai was a competent driver. He drove steadily with a relaxed attitude, easing the tension felt by Lin Zhixia’s family.
They arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early, and everyone was still chatting and smiling when they got out of the car. Especially Jiang Yubai, who already had terms like “father-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law” on the tip of his tongue, quickly integrated into Lin Zhixia’s family. Although the brother-in-law remained neither warm nor cold toward Jiang Yubai, the father-in-law and mother-in-law both acknowledged that Jiang Yubai “is a solid and reliable young man.”
Jiang Yubai led his father-in-law and mother-in-law into the restaurant.
This restaurant was high-end, with a private room on the top floor featuring floor-to-ceiling windows facing a panoramic river view. Under the crystal chandelier, the tableware was as transparent as jade. Jiang Yubai’s parents, grandparents, uncle, and aunt—a total of six people—sat around one side of the round table. They stood up to welcome Lin Zhixia’s family at the door. Jiang Shaoqi was the most enthusiastic: “Here comes the in-laws! I’m Jiang Shaoqi, Jiang’s uncle.”
Lin Zhixia’s father immediately responded: “Hello, good afternoon, I am… I am Lin Zhixia’s father. My name is Lin Fugui. This is my wife, Ke Yanhong, my son Lin Zeqiu, and my daughter, Xiaxia… Lin Zhixia.”
On the way here, Lin Fugui had prepared what to say.
However, when he met Jiang Yubai’s family and saw their clothing, accessories, manner of speaking, and temperament, he unconsciously stuttered. He couldn’t even tell who was Jiang Yubai’s mother—all three ladies present were extremely well-maintained and wore expensive earrings and necklaces.
Noticing his father-in-law’s embarrassment, Jiang Yubai immediately looked toward his parents.
Jiang Yubai’s parents walked over in turn and also introduced themselves, closing the distance between the two families. Lin Zhixia greeted them: “Hello, uncle and auntie.”
Jiang Yubai’s mother smiled and said, “Hello, everyone.”
Lin Zhixia didn’t feel the slightest bit of awkwardness, though she found the current atmosphere somewhat strange. To break the ice, Lin Zhixia proactively presented her gift: “This is the meeting gift I prepared, quantum computer models I made myself…”