When Han Qishan heard this, he instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.
“Yueyue, you’re still young. There’s really no rush to date,” Han Ke said rationally upon seeing this.
“Mm-hmm!” Han Heng immediately echoed. “Exactly, better ones come later, the next one will be more well-behaved~ Trust your little uncle, can’t go wrong!”
Jiang Fuyue thought for a moment and asked seriously, “Will there be someone better than Xie Dingyuan?”
Uh!
That question stumped Han Heng.
Although he worked in the entertainment industry and had seen countless handsome men and beautiful women, if he really had to pick a man more outstanding than Xie Dingyuan, he honestly couldn’t think of one right away.
Not to mention IQ and education, there are plenty in the entertainment circle who never went to university, and even those so-called “professionally trained” ones merely attended some film academy or drama school. Compared to Xie Dingyuan, who graduated properly from Q University, studied abroad, and is now a renowned scientist, they weren’t even on the same level.
As for looks and physique, those are the strengths of people in the industry, right?
Yet they still couldn’t compare to Xie Dingyuan, who stood over 1.9 meters tall and had heaven-defying long legs.
Han Heng quickly shot his eldest brother a look, signaling him to help out.
Han Shen shrugged: sorry, I can’t find anyone better than Xie Dingyuan either.
“Well, Xie Dingyuan isn’t 100% perfect either,” Han Heng’s eyes rolled. Since he couldn’t find someone better, he’d magnify Xie Dingyuan’s flaws. “I’ve heard this guy has a bad temper, a stubborn personality, lots of demands, and is super nitpicky!”
“And,” Han Ke immediately chimed in, “he’s nearly ten years older than you. As the saying goes, three years make a generation gap, there are three gaps between you. Your ways of thinking and values are definitely different.”
Jiang Fuyue listened carefully. After her uncles finished, she spoke—
“But I like him.”
Just those words were more effective than any rebuttal.
The spacious living room fell silent in an instant.
Finally, the old man spoke, breaking the silence first: “If he bullies you, you must tell us, don’t endure it. The apple of our family’s eye doesn’t suffer such grievances. When the time comes, Grandpa will bring your three uncles…”
“Woof woof!”
“Oh, and Little Mang too, we’ll take care of him together!”
Han Shen: “Agreed.”
Han Ke: “That’s right!”
Han Heng directly rolled up his sleeves, showing off the burly biceps he’d just trained for his next movie.
Little Mang immediately performed a “ferocious dog, baring teeth online”~
Jiang Fuyue nodded and said okay, smiling like a flower.
……
Compared to the Han family’s four mighty men feeling as though flesh had been carved from their hearts, depressed and reluctant, the Xie family was in an entirely different mood of joy.
Fu Wanxiu: “Little Nine really has a girlfriend? You’re not lying to me?”
Beside her, Xie Zhendong also widened his old eyes in anticipation.
Xie Yunzao handed the phone to the two elders: “The official account released the news, how could it be fake? Look at this photo…”
“Oh my!” the old lady exclaimed. “That really is Little Nine! Look at the way he’s looking at that young girl, utterly infatuated.”
“No wonder…” Fu Wanxiu nodded, talking to herself. “Yueyue is so beautiful and smart, she’s simply a perfect match for our Little Nine!”
“Let me see…” Xie Zhendong leaned in. Two seconds later: “Mm, our son has good taste, just like me.”
Old lady: “…” Shameless.
Xie Yunzao: “…” Dad seems to be getting more and more narcissistic.
The other sisters were also looking at the photo, and not only that, they were scrolling through the Weibo comments.
Xie Yunxiang let out an “oh,” sounding somewhat surprised: “Yueyue has so many fans?”
Xie Yunlan immediately nodded. “Right? Her popularity online has always been high. Everyone calls her a genius girl, even ‘Goddess Yue.’ She’s already ascended to godhood. Come to think of it, it actually matches our Little Nine’s ‘aloof flower on a high peak’ title, both untouchable by mortal dust.”
“Then what about little brother’s fans? Why don’t I see any in the comments?” Xie Yunshu scrolled for a long time. It was all “Sister Yue this,” “Goddess Yue that.” Even when Xie Dingyuan was mentioned, it was only in passing, the focus was still on Jiang Fuyue.
She felt a bit uncomfortable inside.
“Give it a rest,” Xie Yunjun twitched his lips. “With Little Nine’s dog-like temper, plus disappearing for ages, and dodging interviews whenever possible, he’d be a miracle if he had fans!”
“Listen to the old lady, calling her Yueyue over and over. She couldn’t be more satisfied. She’s set on Jiang Fuyue as her daughter-in-law.”
“The girl really is outstanding. Recently she developed the Schankwo vaccine and discovered F-active enzyme. Global media have been scrambling to interview her. Also rarely, she’s not arrogant or impetuous. Since returning to the country, she hasn’t appeared publicly at all. CCTV is practically craning its neck, but still has to line up and wait for her consent…” Second sister Xie Yunxiang gave an objective evaluation, her words revealing admiration.
A girl not yet twenty, able to maintain such composure after achieving tremendous success, it really wasn’t simple.
Xie Yunmiao nodded. “Qiaoqiao shares a dorm with her. That girl goes on all day with ‘Sister Yue’ this and ‘Goddess’ that. I’ve never seen her worship a peer like this. Anyone who can make Qiaoqiao, that little proud thing, speak so highly, her character must be impeccable.”
“How does Qiaoqiao evaluate her? Sixth sister, tell us.”
Even the old lady couldn’t help perking up her ears.
“Qiaoqiao says,” Xie Yunmiao imitated her daughter’s tone, “‘Sister Yue is beautiful and smart, decisive and formidable. She’s got all of Ming University under control, I admire her to death~’”
Just as the sisters were nodding repeatedly, Fourth sister Xie Yunshu wasn’t buying it at all. She frowned the entire time and said nothing.
“Fourth sister, what’s wrong?”
Xie Yunshu pondered for a moment, then decided to voice her concerns. After all, this involved Little Nine, the Xie family’s only male heir.
“Qiaoqiao said Jiang Fuyue is decisive and has even straightened out that mess at Ming University. That kind of personality must be extremely strong. Little Nine doesn’t talk much and usually doesn’t care much about many things, but deep down he’s actually very stubborn. With both of them so strong-willed, wouldn’t that lead to endless conflict?”
Xie Yunshu’s speculation wasn’t without reason.
From Jiang Fuyue daring to go to Continent F alone, it was clear she was a girl with strong opinions. But being too opinionated, was she really suitable for Xie Dingyuan?
“Little Nine’s ideal wife should be gentle and considerate, cultured and refined. She doesn’t need to do research, discover active enzymes, or save countless lives. She just needs to center her life on her husband, have enough time and energy to care for the family, and be Little Nine’s virtuous support.”
After hearing this, Xie Yunjun couldn’t help muttering softly: “That’s just a full-time housewife, isn’t it? No career of her own, stuck all day with pots and pans, husband and kids… boring as h*ll…”
Xie Yunshu shot him a glare: “What do you know? The man works outside, the woman manages inside, only then is a family balanced. Like back when Mom and Dad started their business together. Later when it grew, didn’t Mom come back to take care of the family and stop interfering in company matters?”
Xie Yunmiao disagreed. “Fourth sister, your parents’ era isn’t the same as now. Nowadays it’s all about independent women, women can stand on their own. What’s more, with Jiang Fuyue’s abilities, her future achievements may not be lower than Little Nine’s. Asking her to be a housewife, spending her days shopping or having afternoon tea and mahjong with other ladies, not to mention she wouldn’t agree, even the country wouldn’t allow it.”
Even though Xie Yunmiao wasn’t in the field, she knew that top scientific talents like Jiang Fuyue were priceless treasures to the industry, to Huaxia, and even to the whole world.
Trying to confine her within the narrow bounds of a wealthy household was simply impossible!
She should, like Little Nine, be an eagle soaring shoulder to shoulder above the nine heavens, battling the sky and destined for boundless horizons!
Xie Yunshu: “I’m not asking Jiang Fuyue to give up her career, no one has the right to ask that. But doesn’t this precisely show that she’s unsuitable for Little Nine?”
Xie Yunmiao: “How is she unsuitable? Shared goals, shared ideals, equal abilities, couldn’t be more suitable!”
“Then let me ask you, after marriage, who takes care of the household? When there are children, who raises them? Who teaches them? Who handles social interactions? Who deals with all the trivial, messy things?”
Xie Yunmiao was momentarily at a loss.
“Don’t just look at the surface,” Xie Yunshu snorted coldly. “Speaking of ability, I even have doubts about whether A+ Seedling and F-active enzyme are truly her own research results, or whether Little Nine got carried away and, to build momentum for the official announcement, foolishly handed over his own work to his girlfriend to make her shine.”
As soon as these words fell, everyone froze.
“…Fourth sister, what do you mean by that?” Xie Yunzao frowned, his tone turning stern.
Xie Yunshu: “Nothing more than what you think.”
“Fourth sister, are you saying Little Nine gave his own research results to Jiang Fuyue?” Xie Yunjun sucked in a sharp breath.
Xie Yunshu pressed her lips together slightly, her gaze flickering. “I didn’t say that…”
But that was exactly what she meant.
“Anyway, I think the two of them are unsuitable.” With Jiang Fuyue’s personality, and Little Nine never having dated before, lacking experience, he’d probably be completely dominated.
“You can’t just make such conjectures offhand, that’s academic fraud! That’s extremely serious!”
“Right. Without evidence, you can’t say things recklessly. Fourth sister, you absolutely must not spread this outside.”
Xie Yunshu’s lips twitched. “Am I stupid enough to say this outside? If it were true, Little Nine wouldn’t be able to escape responsibility either. I’m not going to smash a precious vase just to kill a mouse.”
She actually compared Jiang Fuyue to a mouse…
Xie Yunzao’s expression darkened slightly. “Fourth sister, you’ve gone too far!”
Xie Yunshu curled her lips. “Anyway, that’s my opinion. Whether you listen or not is up to you. I ask myself, I have not a shred of selfish intent. It’s all for Little Nine’s sake.”
Xie Yunzao: “Even so, you can’t…”
“That’s enough!” the old lady spoke up, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. “Yunshu, don’t ever say such things again! If you truly want what’s best for Ah Yuan, then even if you don’t support him, you should respect his choice, rather than making wild guesses about his girlfriend without evidence and splashing mud on a young girl’s head!”
“Mom! I…”
“Shut up! In your eyes, is Ah Yuan really someone who would fabricate data and deceive superiors and subordinates for personal feelings?”
Xie Yunshu froze.
If A+ Seedling and F-active enzyme were truly Xie Dingyuan’s research results, then they would belong to the team, with honors shared.
How could it be something he could just give to whoever he wanted?
Wouldn’t the other team members cause an uproar?
“Do you think those people are idiots or fools? If you’re going to make up stories, use your brain. Don’t say such unrealistic jokes and make a laughingstock of yourself!”
Don’t be fooled by the old lady’s cultivated demeanor nowadays, her ability to scold her children hadn’t diminished in the slightest.
Xie Yunshu was so angry she didn’t even eat dinner and went straight home.
“Fourth sister, ” Xie Yunjun wanted to chase after her.
Old lady: “Old Fifth, you come back here and sit down! Dinner is starting immediately!”
Xie Yunjun: “…Okay.”
The other sisters didn’t dare make a sound and behaved themselves.
Even the old man subconsciously sat upright, straightening his back.
It wasn’t that he was timid, it was that his wife was too fierce.
Back then, the family had also opposed him and Wanxiu being together.
In the end, before he even had time to act, Wanxiu had swept away all obstacles and made the whole family submit obediently.
No wonder she liked Jiang Fuyue so much.
……
Xie Dingyuan knew nothing about his family’s reaction, and even if he did, he wouldn’t care.
Jiang Fuyue was his girlfriend. No one had the right to comment or meddle.
Including his own parents and sisters.
How good she was, only he knew.
How much he loved her, only he himself understood.
After the official announcement, the two no longer had to deliberately avoid crowds when going out.
Xie Dingyuan: “Anyway, whenever I’m with you, I’ve never thought about avoiding anything, and I’ve never avoided it. You, on the other hand, first you make me wear a mask, then you put on a hat yourself. Am I really that unpresentable?”
“Ahem…” Jiang Fuyue coughed lightly, her eyes full of innocence. “Do I do that?”
“You do!” Firm and decisive, with just a tiny bit of grievance.
“I’m just worried it might have a bad impact on you. You know how high your national recognition is. What if someone says you’re improper for your age, preying on a young girl, what then?”
Jiang Fuyue wasn’t afraid exactly, she just thought it would be troublesome.
If something could be solved with a mask or a hat, why make a huge fuss and exhaust yourself?
With that time, she’d rather do a few more experiments.
Clearly, Xie Dingyuan didn’t think that way. “Silly! If I’m not afraid, what are you afraid of? If people want to talk, let them talk, what does it have to do with us?”
Arrogant, unrestrained, even somewhat brazen.
But Jiang Fuyue believed he could do it.
Because he was Xie Dingyuan, someone who always kept his word and followed through.
……
Not only could the two openly date, one day they even conspicuously wore matching couple T-shirts.
Unexpectedly, the moment they appeared on the pedestrian street, eagle-eyed netizens snapped photos.
At the time, the two were stopped outside a dessert shop. Xie Dingyuan was lining up to buy her favorite mille-crepe cake, while Jiang Fuyue obediently accompanied her boyfriend, chatting with him from time to time. Soon she even pulled a tissue from her bag to wipe his sweat.
Just like ordinary young couples around them, the only difference being their exceptionally outstanding looks.
Standing there, they were unmistakably cranes among chickens.
Once the photos were posted online, they instantly triggered a wave of “sweet screams”,
【How can these two be this compatible?】
【Oh my god! A sudden bite of old candy, so sweet it hurts!】
【YuanYue bravely fly, mama will always follow!】
【Wait… CP fans are starting to ‘mom-ify’ too?】
【Not quite ‘mom-ified,’ but fans really are watching YuanYue with a mother’s heart】
【See that? With this pair around, other couples automatically back away, maybe that’s aura】
【Am I the only one who thinks Professor Xie lining up to buy sweets for Sister Yue is insanely charming?】
【Me too! Absolutely incredible! Even someone as aloof as him has been touched by worldly warmth】
【Our Sister Yue has descended to the mortal realm too, keeping him company and wiping his sweat. Professor Xie’s treatment is something countless men could only dream of】
【Ah! Only by the professor’s side does Sister Yue show such gentleness, so nice~】
【Another day of being sweetened until my teeth ache~】
【Please get married on the spot, thank you!】
【Do you need me to move the civil affairs bureau here?】
【Xiuer, hurry and move it! I’ll help!】
……
In the blink of an eye, September arrived. The Schankwo virus was effectively brought under control in the Northern F region, and the effectiveness of the A+ Seedling and the immune function of F-active enzyme were once again confirmed.
Seeing the feedback reports, Xie Dingyuan and Jiang Fuyue simultaneously let out long sighs of relief.
Soon, domestic factories began ramping up production of the A+ Seedling and the special-effect drug, then exporting them overseas.
Now the entire world was watching these two things, calling it the focus of all eyes wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Unfortunately, the patents were firmly in Huaxia’s own hands, leaving many countries desperately short of even a single shot (or dose).
These two extremely busy people, Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan, ended up completely free.
For a whole week, the two of them went wild traveling and playing everywhere.
During this time, Jiang Fuyue’s makeup exam results came out, twelve subjects, all perfect scores.
Teachers and students at Ming University were already used to it, and netizens were exceptionally calm as well.
Mm, just get used to it.
Your Sister Yue is just that bad*ss!
Besides that, there was another piece of good news: the Lasker Award announced in September, Jiang Fuyue was also on the list!
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)
