She stuffed a bag full of trophies and certificates into Xie Dingyuan’s arms, freeing both hands to take the roses.
“Very beautiful.”
He knew she liked purple, so every time he gave flowers, they were purple.
Xie Dingyuan looked at the woven bag in his arms. Printed on it were the words and logo of “Some Supermarket.” Those who knew would know it contained trophies; those who didn’t might think she had just gone to the supermarket to wholesale Chinese cabbages.
Although for Jiang Fuyue, these things seemed no different from cabbages anyway…
“There’s even a card?” Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow.
Xie Dingyuan coughed lightly. “Just… wrote it casually.”
She opened it,
I only wish that you, my dear, live a hundred years in peace.
A few characters, written with powerful strokes, bold and expansive.
He did not wish for her beauty to last forever, nor did he covet glory upon her, only that she could live a hundred carefree years, safe and joyful.
“Thank you…”
Jiang Fuyue smiled gently. Their eyes met, and suddenly she really wanted to kiss him.
So she actually did.
Unfastening her seatbelt, she put the flowers on the center console. Before Xie Dingyuan could react, Jiang Fuyue had already leaned halfway across, tilted her head, and kissed his lips.
The man froze.
Then his eyes curved with a smile as he pulled her completely into his arms, turning from passive to active.
Jiang Fuyue sat sideways on the man’s lap, one hand wrapped around his neck, responding generously and enthusiastically.
Xie Dingyuan shuddered, his hands becoming increasingly bold.
Some things were truly men’s nature, instinctive without needing to be taught.
By the end, the string called “reason” was about to snap, and only then did Xie Dingyuan force himself to end the kiss, even pushing Jiang Fuyue away a little in panic.
“You…”
Xie Dingyuan lowered his eyes, lips slightly tight, his whole body stiff. “Sorry, I… lost my composure.”
Jiang Fuyue was still sitting in his arms and could clearly feel…
“It’s okay,” she said.
The man’s eyelids trembled violently. His breathing grew heavy, his chest rising and falling noticeably.
“What? Are you shy?” Jiang Fuyue leaned casually against his shoulder.
Xie Dingyuan jolted as if electrocuted. “Y-Yueyue… can you… sit properly?”
Jiang Fuyue shifted slightly and brought her legs together. “I’m sitting properly.”
“Not that…” The man leaned back, trying to escape the temptation, but behind him was the seatback. Where could he retreat?
“What I mean is,” his Adam’s apple rolled, his voice hoarse, “could you sit back in the… passenger seat?”
Jiang Fuyue looked up, somewhat surprised. “You don’t want to hold me?”
“…I do, but I can’t control myself.”
The girl’s eyes tilted upward at the corners, and she smiled wickedly. “Then don’t control it.”
“Yueyue, you’re going to kill me…” he sighed, helpless and restrained.
Xie Dingyuan was feeling very uncomfortable now.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore.” Jiang Fuyue straightened his slightly messy collar.
Then she returned to the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt again.
“Let’s go, time to go home.”
“Okay,” he replied.
…
Since it was Jiang Fuyue’s birthday, the Han family naturally had to celebrate.
But this year they didn’t throw a party like the year before last, just a private gathering with the family.
For this reason, Jiang Da and Han Yunru brought Jiang Chenxing and flew from Linhuai to the capital a day early.
At this time last year, Jiang Fuyue had been busy applying to go to F Continent and hadn’t even celebrated her birthday.
Later, on New Year’s Eve, she hadn’t been there either. That had always been a regret in Jiang Da and Han Yunru’s hearts.
This year was better. Not only was their daughter by their side, but the prospective son-in-law would also come.
Speaking of which, this was the first time Jiang Da and Han Yunru would see Xie Dingyuan after Jiang Fuyue and him publicly announced their relationship.
Early in the morning, Jiang Fuyue had just left to receive her awards, and the couple got up right afterward to wash up and go downstairs for breakfast.
Han Shen said, “Little Ru, why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?”
Han Ke nodded. “Exactly! It’s not even eight yet! You arrived so late yesterday too, traveling all that way…”
Han Yunru said, “I couldn’t sleep anymore. Lying there was just lying there, so I might as well get up and accompany Dad for breakfast.”
The old master smiled and nodded. “Little Ru is still the most obedient~”
Han Yunru was already in her forties, and being called “obedient” by her father made her a little embarrassed. But seeing that no one else reacted much, she accepted it calmly, though her cheeks were slightly red.
Han Shen asked, “Are you used to the room? Yesterday we had Aunt Liu change the bedsheets and covers.”
“I’m used to it.”
Han Ke put a siu mai dumpling into his younger sister’s bowl. “Try it, does it still taste like before? Aunt Liu got up early just to make it for you.”
Han Yunru took a bite, then nodded in satisfaction. “It hasn’t changed at all. It’s still the same taste.”
Han Qishan said, “If you like it, eat more. Ahem… Jiang Da, you eat too. Don’t be polite.”
“Yes, I’m eating. Thank you, Dad.”
Jiang Da spoke relatively little. Unless someone addressed him directly, he usually wouldn’t take the initiative to talk.
But he didn’t feel bored. While eating, he listened to them chat, occasionally chuckling foolishly, quite content with himself.
“Oh right, when Yueyue left earlier, she said Xie Dingyuan would also come today.”
Han Shen’s casual remark startled Han Yunru.
Jiang Da paused slightly, seeming a little slow to react. He was still holding a cabbage dumpling in his chopsticks. Because he paused too long, the sauce slid off the wrapper and ran down the chopsticks onto his hand.
Jiang Chenxing had just picked up some noodles but hadn’t put them in his mouth yet; they slipped back into the soup.
Seeing this, the old master coughed lightly. “Why are you all so surprised? It’s Yueyue’s birthday. Bringing her boyfriend home for a meal to celebrate together, isn’t that perfectly normal?”
Jiang Chenxing spoke first. “Then we’ll be able to see brother-in-law later?”
Jiang Da said, “Not yet. Don’t call him that.”
This time he reacted quickly.
“…Oh.”
Aside from the initial surprise when she heard the news, Han Yunru gradually calmed down.
Thinking about it, she was even a little happy. “It’s good to have a meal together and get to know each other better.”
After all, the prospective son-in-law would have to meet the father-in-law and mother-in-law sooner or later, right?
Han Qishan and the others had also slowly begun accepting Xie Dingyuan’s presence.
Only Jiang Da stayed silent, focusing on eating.
Unfortunately, his sense of presence was so low that no one noticed.
After breakfast, Han Yunru returned to the room and started rummaging through the suitcase.
Jiang Da asked, “What are you doing?”
“Changing clothes. Husband, help me see, does this one look better, or this one?”
“Why suddenly change clothes? Didn’t you just change into that?”
“Our daughter’s birthday today. Shouldn’t I dress up a bit?”
Jiang Da curled his lips. “It’s obviously because Xie Dingyuan is coming. Don’t make excuses.”
Han Yunru wasn’t annoyed at being exposed and admitted it openly. “It’s our first time meeting the prospective son-in-law. Of course it should be a little formal. At least we should leave a good impression on each other, right?”
As she spoke, she stood in front of the mirror, holding up two qipaos to compare against herself. “I think the dark teal one is better, gentle and dignified…”
Jiang Da didn’t really look. His mind was filled with the phrase “prospective son-in-law.”
Good grief. They hadn’t even met yet, and he already had a title. Once they actually met, what then?
“What nonsense are you calling him? Nothing’s even started yet and you’re already calling him son-in-law. That’s too…”
Han Yunru asked, “Too what?”
Uh!
After a long moment Jiang Da finally squeezed out, “…too unreserved!”
Han Yunru lifted her eyelids and looked at him through the mirror. “Do you have a problem with Xie Dingyuan?”
Jiang Da muttered and refused to admit it. “What problem could I possibly have…”
That made Han Yunru even more certain. “You do have a problem.”
Jiang Da lowered his head and said nothing.
Han Yunru knew her husband’s personality well. She put the qipaos down, turned around, took his hand, and sat with him on the edge of the bed.
“Tell me honestly, what are you thinking? You didn’t react this strongly before.”
Jiang Da scratched his head. “I’m not against it. I just think… Yueyue is still young. There’s no need to rush things like marriage.”
Han Yunru couldn’t help laughing. “Who said anything about marriage?”
“If we’re meeting the parents, doesn’t that mean the same thing?”
“Who said that?”
“…That’s how it always goes in TV dramas.”
Han Yunru said, “It’s just a simple meal to celebrate Yueyue’s birthday. Don’t overthink it.”
“If it’s so simple, then why are you changing clothes?”
Han Yunru was momentarily speechless. For the first time she realized Jiang Da might have the talent to be a contrarian.
“Oh, according to you, we should just not tidy ourselves up and meet our daughter’s boyfriend looking sloppy? What are you thinking? If that happens, it’ll be Yueyue who loses face!”
Jiang Da’s whole body shook.
Han Yunru decided to add more fuel: “Xie Dingyuan comes from the Xie family. Among the direct descendants of his generation, he’s the only one, an unquestionable heir of a top-tier wealthy family. And with his own achievements, many people outside say Yueyue is the one reaching above her station…”
“Bullsh*t!” Jiang Da blurted out. “The Xie family may be rich and powerful, but we’re not bad either!”
Han Yunru nodded. “Exactly! So are you going to change clothes or not?”
“Change! I’ll change right now!”
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