After Xie Dingyuan and Jiang Fuyue left, the Xie family all gathered in the living room.
The old madam clicked her tongue twice. “Our son has made something of himself.”
The old master nodded in agreement, look how capable he’s become; so he’d been pretending to be silly all along.
Xie Yunzao: “Dad, Mom, you can rest assured now, right?”
“I think the girl is very good, well-behaved in appearance, graceful, and most importantly, Little Nine likes her.”
“She’s just a bit young, only just turned twenty.”
“What do you mean young? She’s already of legal marriage age. Besides, is our Little Nine that old?”
“Fourth sister, why are you nodding along too?”
Xie Yunshu let out a “heh.” “Why can’t I nod?”
“Didn’t you dislike Jiang Fuyue?”
“Don’t talk nonsense! When did I?”
“You used to…”
“That was before. Don’t bring up the past.”
“Oh~ so you like Jiang Fuyue now?”
Xie Yunshu paused awkwardly for a moment. “She’s… alright.”
The sisters covered their mouths and laughed.
“Huh? Where’s brother-in-law?”
“Ahem… there are so many brothers-in-law, which one do you mean?”
“Eldest sister’s husband, he’s the only one not here.”
Only then did Xie Yunzao realize, where was he?
…
At the top floor of the old residence, there was a huge glass greenhouse.
Inside were all kinds of flowers the old madam grew for making incense; even in the cold of winter, they bloomed brightly.
Zhong Yunyi leaned leisurely against the railing, holding a phone.
“…I’ve seen her, just left. After today, their matter is basically settled. You’re really not worried at all?”
It was unclear what the person on the other end said, but Zhong Yunyi laughed. “As expected of you, getting shrewder with age. I just don’t get it, with so many women in the world, why did you pick this one?”
“I admit, she’s beautiful and smart, but the age gap between you is too big…”
And hadn’t this person always been thinking about that bright moon from the Lou family who had already passed away?
For more than twenty years, he had guarded that memory, with no woman by his side. Despite having immense wealth and high status, he lived like an ascetic, staying far from the capital, drifting with the tide.
All for one woman?
Was it worth it?
Zhong Yunyi didn’t agree, but didn’t dare comment.
And now, again for Jiang Fuyue?
Heh…
This lifetime, he was probably destined to be at odds with “yue.”
“Uncle, if you really like her, come back from Duofu quickly. Otherwise, once she becomes the Xie family’s daughter-in-law, you’ll have even less chance.”
The other side remained unmoved, only saying: “No need to return, because she will come sooner or later.”
Zhong Yunyi: “?”
…
After New Year’s Eve, in the blink of an eye came the Lantern Festival.
Xie Dingyuan organized a gathering, inviting both families’ parents to have a meal together.
Before that, he asked Jiang Fuyue if she had any opinions.
“No opinions, you decide.”
Xie Dingyuan was slightly stunned, so easygoing?
“Ahem… this meal counts as the two families officially meeting, right?”
“Mm.” Jiang Fuyue held her iPad, flipping to the next page.
Xie Dingyuan still felt a bit uneasy and confirmed again and again: “Do you know what a meeting between parents means?”
Jiang Fuyue glanced at him with amusement. “Didn’t I already say you decide? Why are you still asking me? Since when is Professor Xie so lacking in confidence?”
“Since meeting you.”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “So I’m that impressive?”
The man actually nodded seriously.
“……” That’s just ridiculous.
“What did I even do to give you that impression?”
Xie Dingyuan listed them one by one: “Before we got together, you threw me over your shoulder and kept hooking me without letting me get anywhere. After we got together, you forced kisses, forced hugs, forced flirting, making me completely unable to stop.”
“So you have quite a bit of resentment? Fine, then no more kissing, hugging, or flirting. Stay away from me from now on.”
“Don’t…” Xie Dingyuan grabbed her hand, rubbing it ingratiatingly. “I was joking.”
“Really? But I’m not joking.”
Xie Dingyuan: “……”
Jiang Fuyue put down the iPad and stood up from the sofa.
“Where are you going?”
“To make sure you’re not so resentful, I’ve decided to go home tonight.”
“In your dreams!” The man picked her up in a bridal carry and strode toward the bedroom.
Some people had been so principled at the beginning, refusing to take the bait again and again, with incredible self-control.
And now?
When night came, he was more proactive than anyone. Well, Jiang Fuyue did enjoy it too, ahem!
Xie Dingyuan: “Yueyue, have some pity on me, you can’t let me taste sweetness once and then kick me back to suffering.”
At that moment, Jiang Fuyue’s face was flushed red, breathing softly: “You, hurry up!”
“Okay.”
“Not that kind of hurry, I mean hurry up and finish!”
The man selectively went deaf.
Another night of chaos.
…
The next day, after Jiang Fuyue returned, she told Jiang Da, Han Yunru, the old master, and her three uncles about the two families having a meal together.
“It’s set for the Lantern Festival. Do you want to go?”
She asked lightly.
But those listening felt inexplicably heavy.
Han Shen: “This is arranging for both families to meet, right?”
Han Ke: “Heh, that kid from the Xie family moves pretty fast.”
Han Heng: “How did it already get to meeting parents? Does that mean next comes discussing marriage?”
Jiang Da didn’t speak, just stared straight at his wife.
Han Yunru glared at him with a smile. “Why are you looking at me?”
Jiang Da scratched his head. “I’ll listen to you. If you say go, we go. If not, we don’t.”
The next second, Han Qishan also looked toward her.
Finally, the three uncles also let her decide.
“Little sister, we’ll all listen to you.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Han Yunru thought for two seconds and made the decision on the spot: “We’ll go!”
As the saying goes, when buying a pig, look at the pen.
If you want to understand what kind of person Xie Dingyuan is, you can tell a lot from his family.
Anyway, since the two kids are together, this day would come sooner or later.
Sooner is better than later.
…
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.
Xie Dingyuan booked a private room at Changfu Palace.
On Jiang Fuyue’s side, Old Master Han, Jiang Da and his wife, three uncles, plus the two younger ones Jiang Chenxing and Han Ting, all came.
From the Xie family, the old master and old madam naturally attended, and among the seven sisters, only Xie Yunzao’s family came.
If all of them had come, one private room wouldn’t have been enough.
Besides, the sisters had their own families and in-laws; on a reunion day like the Lantern Festival, it wasn’t appropriate to leave their families to come out.
“Uncle, Auntie, this way…” Xie Dingyuan greeted everyone and arranged their seats.
After settling everything, he called Zhong Yunyi to go choose wine together.
“Not bad, you move fast. On the second day you visited, and by the fifteenth both families are already sitting together,” Zhong Yunyi teased.
But inwardly, he couldn’t help sighing, the uncle probably really had no chance anymore.
Xie Dingyuan: “Speed is key in war.”
Zhong Yunyi: “You’re impressive.”
Xie Dingyuan frowned. “So is there anyone else coming?”
Uh!
“No… who else could there be? Don’t be too nervous, although for a big day like this, it’s kind of unrealistic not to be.”
Xie Dingyuan: Am I nervous?
Not at all.
Zhong Yunyi secretly sighed in relief, almost let something slip.
“Ah Yuan, what do you think of this Cabernet Sauvignon?”
“Old Master Han prefers white liquor.”
“White it is, then let’s go look at the Moutai…”
……
Zhong Ziang woke up late today. According to Xie Yunzao, it didn’t matter whether he came or not, if he was late, he might as well not rush.
But Zhong Ziang insisted: “I want to come.”
“Then drive safely.”
“Got it.”
Xie Yunzao shook her head helplessly. She was understanding young people less and less.
On the second day of the New Year, he had clearly been free, and she told him to come to the old residence to meet his future little aunt, but the brat refused no matter what, lazing at home like a shar-pei.
And now today he was rushing over on his own?
Han Qishan and Xie Zhendong sat at the main seats, with Jiang Da beside them.
Fu Wanxiu took the initiative to sit next to Han Yunru.
Since it was the first time both families met, some awkwardness was inevitable.
Especially since Xie Zhendong was originally friends with Han Qishan, but because of Xie Dingyuan and Jiang Fuyue’s relationship, he and Jiang Da ended up being in the same generation.
This way, he was forcibly one level below Han Qishan.
And even the forms of address became a bit messy.
According to the previous generation’s relationship, Han Yunru should call Xie Zhendong “uncle,” then Jiang Fuyue should call him “grandpa.”
But now Han Yunru had to change and call the old master… Brother Xie?
And call the old madam… Sister Fu?
It felt extremely awkward, like sitting on pins and needles.
Fortunately, the old couple of the Xie family understood and stepped in to smooth things over: “It might feel unfamiliar at first, but after saying it a few times, it’ll become natural.”
Han Yunru and Jiang Da nodded. “That’s true, first time unfamiliar, second time familiar…”
Not long after, Xie Dingyuan and Zhong Yunyi returned.
They had chosen two bottles of fifty-year Moutai.
At this time, Zhong Ziang also arrived. It was obvious he had rushed over, his breathing was uneven, and his hair slightly messy from the wind.
After greeting everyone, he obediently sat beside Xie Yunzao.
Han Yunru suddenly let out a “huh,” recognizing at a glance that Zhong Ziang was a frequent customer from Jiang Ji Pancakes.
Back when they had their shop in the back alley of No. 1 High School, Zhong Ziang often brought friends and classmates to support the business, ordering dozens at a time, and sweetly calling out “Uncle” and “Auntie,” warm and cheerful.
At that time, Han Yunru had thought the boy was very good-looking. When she asked, she found out he knew Yueyue, and they seemed to have a pretty good relationship.
“Auntie.”
“You’re actually Professor Xie’s nephew? Then we really have fate.”
Zhong Ziang nodded. “Mm, quite fated.”
Actually, it could have been even more fated, but unfortunately, someone cut in first.
…
With everyone present, the dishes were served one after another.
Both families chatted and laughed, and for a time, the atmosphere was excellent.
Midway, Jiang Fuyue went to the restroom.
On her way out, she ran into Zhong Ziang standing in the corridor smoking.
The once carefree, unreliable boy had tanned and grown up.
Every movement now carried the maturity and steadiness of a man.
Three years of military life had completely stripped away his former frivolity.
“Why did you come out?”
Zhong Ziang smiled at her. Only this smile retained the same simplicity as before, faintly carrying a bit of foolishness.
He said, “There are female comrades inside, it’s not convenient to smoke.”
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “You should still smoke less.”
“Mm. The army doesn’t allow it, only during leave can I have a couple.”
“Then I’ll head back to the private room.”
“Jiang Fuyue…” Zhong Ziang suddenly called out.
She paused and turned back. “What is it?”
“You and my uncle… are you settled now?”
“More or less.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Zhong Ziang took a drag of his cigarette. In the swirling smoke, his features blurred. “Are you happy now?”
“Mm, I’m very happy. Xie Dingyuan…” At this point, she paused slightly, the corners of her lips lifting unconsciously. “He’s very good.”
Zhong Ziang choked on the smoke and coughed twice, then laughed as well. “That’s good. You go back, I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Fuyue left.
Zhong Ziang quietly waited for the cigarette to burn out, then crushed it and threw it into the trash.
He had long known the outcome, he should let go.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth, giving a faint, cool smile.
Was he unwilling to accept it?
Not really.
Rather than saying he liked “Jiang Fuyue,” it was more accurate to say he liked that light from his youth, the one he once looked up to, desperately wanted to hold in his arms.
That was the version of himself he most longed to become, excellent, confident, independent, dazzling.
And Jiang Fuyue had become exactly that kind of person.
So he chased, admired, and couldn’t forget to this day.
Fortunately, now he too was gradually moving in that direction.
Perhaps that was the power of “liking Jiang Fuyue.”
So he had no regrets.
Only a bit of jealousy: how could his old uncle, so picky, rigid, clueless about romance, like a block of wood, be the one to possess the light?
It really made one… angry!
…
After the Lantern Festival, Ming University welcomed the new semester.
The Peiya Class began choosing majors.
As mentioned before, the Peiya Class was a mixed program, you could learn anything, but specialize in nothing.
By junior year, the academic office would provide an opportunity to choose a specific major direction.
Of course, you could also continue staying in the Peiya Class.
Most people chose to stay, because a new major meant new knowledge and a new environment. With junior year already starting, even if they transferred, they might not keep up.
Since that was the case, why bother?
Wouldn’t it be better to just lie flat?
According to statistics, in previous Peiya Classes before Jiang Fuyue, not a single student chose a new major or direction.
They stayed, coasted to graduation, and completed the journey.
Although this year’s situation was somewhat different, many students had become more motivated under a positive atmosphere, they were still ordinary people with limited ability. Even if they wanted to transfer, they would first weigh whether they had the capability.
So, 80% gave up,
“Actually, I quite like mechanical automation, but if I transfer now, I’d have to start the major courses from scratch. I thought about it seriously for two days and decided to forget it. Anyway, after graduation, when I take over my family’s factory, I can learn slowly, just treat it as a hobby.”
“Yeah, getting the diploma and degree is the most important thing. The risk of failing and delaying graduation is too high if you transfer, not recommended.”
“Agreed, graduate first. Our Ming University is now a first-tier university, its diploma and degree carry a lot of weight.”
Another 19% chose to transfer majors, but not at the same level, instead, they transferred and started again from freshman year, relearning the major courses.
Most of these people switched to finance and economics.
Previously, they didn’t study it because Ming University’s “Finance” degree didn’t carry much value, but now it was different, a bachelor’s degree in finance from a first-tier university was quite promising.
As for the remaining 1%, possibly even less, they chose to transfer at the same level, and into fields with extremely large differences.
And this “1%” was…
Jiang Fuyue.
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