Chapter 142 Prospective Son-in-Law

The next morning, Lin Yu and Jiang Chuan spent the night at Qi Sheng's house, then got into his car parked in the underground garage and headed towards Lin Yu's hometown.

When Jiang Chuan first visited, he was still quite polite and reserved.

Two years later, he returned carrying carefully prepared gifts. Before he could even greet them, Liu Wenbin and Lin Min warmly pulled him into the living room, leaving his biological daughter, Lin Yu, standing there in the entryway, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

She leaned against the door frame, watching Lin Min hand the peeled orange to Jiang Chuan, and couldn't help but chuckle to herself. He was no longer just an ordinary junior; he was clearly a great contributor to the family.

He had genuinely risked his life for Liu Wenbin and Lin Min back then. With such a life-or-death bond between them, his position as the prospective son-in-law was naturally very secure.

Lin Yu even felt that if it weren't for his connection, Liu Wenbin would probably have tried to become sworn brothers with him.

On New Year's Eve, it was still just the four of them at home. Before dinner, Jiang Chuan volunteered to go into the kitchen to help wash vegetables and cut meat, and he and Liu Wenbin sat around the stove discussing details of improving the recipe.

After the meal, without waiting for anyone to speak, he cleaned up the dishes and plunged into the kitchen to get busy. He was so diligent that it seemed he wanted to make up for all the chores he hadn't done for her family throughout the year on New Year's Eve.

After settling in, the four of them squeezed onto the sofa to watch the Spring Festival Gala. Lin Yu comfortably lay across the middle, his legs crossed on Jiang Chuan's lap, his head tilted to the other side, resting on Lin Min's shoulder.

Jiang Chuan would occasionally refill everyone's tea and water, and then feed Lin Yu sliced ​​apples. He completely lost the awkwardness of being a guest and truly integrated into this big family.

Lin Yu knew that the New Year was the time when Jiang Chuan, who had lost his loved ones, was most likely to be reminded of his past. She didn't want him to face the empty room alone and suffer the loneliness of being alone.

So I brought him home on a whim, hoping to use the warmth and familiarity of home to comfort his unspoken vulnerability.

She longed for her family to become his new family, so that she could also have the opportunity to support him in his life.

She knew that her family genuinely liked Jiang Chuan and wanted to accept him from the bottom of their hearts.

On the surface, we made him busy with various tasks, but in reality, we wanted him to feel valued and expected in this new family relationship, and gradually regain a sense of belonging, that he has a home to return to and someone to care about him.

As the clock struck midnight, Lin Min and Liu Wenbin, who were getting older, couldn't resist their sleepiness and got up to go back to their room to rest early.

Thinking about visiting Lin Jian's family for the New Year the next day, and not wanting to disturb the elders' rest, Lin Yu simply turned off the TV and pulled Jiang Chuan upstairs.

Since they weren't married yet, they needed to be discreet in front of their families. So, just like the last time they went home, they stayed in the two bedrooms of the upstairs suite.

Lin Yu went to wash up first, while Jiang Chuan checked the things he needed to bring tomorrow in his room.

The sound of running water in the bathroom continued for a moment, then stopped, followed by Lin Yu's wet voice. "Jiang Chuan, the water's been going from hot to cold, can you come and check it for me?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuan put down what he was holding, got up, and walked over. The bathroom door was ajar, and without thinking, he pushed it open and went in.

The air was filled with misty steam. Through the glass of the shower room, Lin Yu stood with her back to him, her fair and smooth body appearing and disappearing in the mist.

This glance made Jiang Chuan's heart tighten, and he couldn't help but wonder about her intentions in calling him in.

He gently locked both doors behind him and stepped over. When he opened the shower door, he deliberately avoided looking at her, focusing solely on helping her solve the immediate problem.

The room was dry and hot from the heating. Jiang Chuan was only wearing a thin house dress. He had his back to Lin Yu, one hand holding the showerhead and aiming it at the corner wall, while the other hand reached out to the water curtain to feel the temperature changes.

Looking at his focused and restrained back, Lin Yu couldn't help but recall the scene at Qi Sheng's house a few days ago, and suddenly felt a little like teasing him.

She crept closer, her cool fingertips slipping under Jiang Chuan's clothes, lightly skimming his muscular back, and lingering along his well-defined abs.

Jiang Chuan was facing the wall. Although Lin Yu couldn't see his expression, she could clearly feel the body under her palm tense up instantly under her caress.

Lin Yu couldn't help but smile, but his tone remained serious. "How is it? Can it be fixed? Do you need my help?"

"Help?" Jiang Chuan chuckled, feeling the water in his palm gradually rise. Suddenly, without warning, he turned around, raised his arm, and drenched her with the showerhead. "I think I should help someone cool down first."

Lin Yu hadn't expected Jiang Chuan's reaction. Remembering that Lin Min and Liu Wenbin were downstairs, she didn't dare to make a sound. She quickly closed her eyes, raised her hand to block the view, and closed the sliding door of the shower room. She scolded in a low voice, "What are you doing? You've gotten everything wet!"

"Where's it wet? Let me see," Jiang Chuan said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Hearing this, Lin Yu covered his mouth and chuckled. "You scoundrel! How come I never knew you were this kind of person before!"

The water temperature gradually rose, and the heat continued to gather in the enclosed space. Her body, separated by layers of water vapor, resembled a freshly steamed white steamed bun from a northern morning market, stimulating Jiang Chuan's taste buds and making him want to take a bite.

Taking advantage of the moment Jiang Chuan was staring at him absentmindedly, Lin Yu swiftly snatched the showerhead from his hand and mischievously sprayed water back at him. "I'll show you where you're wet right now!"

Jiang Chuan's clothes were instantly soaked through, his body outline faintly visible beneath the semi-transparent fabric. Lin Yu looked in the direction of the water, her face flushing red.

The situation was getting a little out of control. Fearing that the noise would reach the downstairs, she was about to stop and put the shower back in place when, in the next second, Jiang Chuan pulled her around the waist and into his arms.

The showerhead slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. His arm gripped himself tightly like an iron band, and his other hand smoothly flipped the overhead shower switch, unleashing an even larger curtain of water that cascaded down from above, completely enveloping the two of them.

The soft curves clung tightly to the hard chest, creating a striking yet harmonious contrast.

"What, you can't put out the fire?" Jiang Chuan smirked triumphantly at Lin Yu's panicked expression. "Now I'll show you what it means to play with fire and get burned."

Lin Yu clearly felt the changes in his body and quickly looked up to beg for forgiveness: "I was wrong, okay... it's really not appropriate right now."

Hearing this familiar excuse, Jiang Chuan couldn't help but chuckle. He leaned close to her ear and deliberately repeated what she had said before.

"What's inappropriate about it? Who says you can't practice boxing in the shower?"

"You..." Lin Yu raised her hand, as if to hit him, but Jiang Chuan grabbed her wrist and pressed her against the glass of the shower room.

Her wet hair clung to her flushed cheeks, and warm water continued to fall, droplets trickling down her smooth skin and outlining the graceful curves of her body, as if inviting Jiang Chuan's gaze to trace them.

A sudden surge of intense hunger welled up in his stomach. He freed one hand, grabbed his collar from behind his neck, ripped off his soaked t-shirt, tossed it to the ground, grabbed a handful of wet hair from his forehead, and then eagerly pressed himself against it.

Behind him was the cold glass, and in front of him was Jiang Chuan's hot, burning chest. Amidst the interplay of hot and cold, Lin Yu's body went limp from his kisses, and he could barely cling to Jiang Chuan's body to avoid slipping to the ground.

For a moment, her consciousness went blank, and she could only let out soft sobs from her throat on instinct.

"Keep it down..." Jiang Chuan bit Lin Yu's lips, swallowing all her alluring moans. He then intensified his teasing, greedily absorbing every tremor she felt, giving her no chance to catch her breath.

It was as if he had transformed her desires into nourishment for his own passion, determined to merge into one in this endless entanglement.

Lin Yu was at a loss, teased by Jiang Chuan. She looked up at him with a mixture of shame and indignation. Her eyes were filled with shimmering water, which was not intimidating at all, but it softened his heart and made him unconsciously loosen his grip on her wrist.

Lin Yu seized the opportunity and shoved him away. Caught off guard, Jiang Chuan crashed into the wall with a muffled groan. She took the initiative, pressing closer, her fingertips hooking his belt, her eyes filled with a mocking smile.

"Does Attorney Jiang usually shower with his pants on?" Before the words were finished, and before he could react, she untied the knot and pulled down his loose waistband.

As Lin Yu moved, a square box fell out of her pants pocket and landed on the ground. She glanced down at it, paused for a moment, then looked up in realization.

"Oh, so you already..." Before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Chuan grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, leaning down to seal her lips with his, swallowing all her unfinished questions.

While Lin Yu was still dazed from the kiss, Jiang Chuan bent down, picked up the box again, and skillfully took out a coin from it and put it in his mouth.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on her. He slowly and deliberately tore open the packaging with his teeth, took her trembling hand, and guided her to put it on for him.

Jiang Chuan grasped Lin Yu's delicate shoulders with both hands, lowered his head, and gently kissed her. After a moment, he turned her around so that her back was to him, and pressed her against the shower glass again.

His figure completely enveloped her from behind, his strong chest pressed against her back, trapping her between his burning body temperature and the cold glass.

Lin Yu felt as if the surrounding air had been instantly sucked away, his vision gradually blurring due to the misty steam and rising temperature, fading into a white blur. Only the dim yellow light from the bathroom heater above his head swayed violently with their intertwined bodies.

Looking at the person beneath him, lost in passion, Jiang Chuan's Adam's apple bobbed. He leaned down again and couldn't help but kiss her slightly parted lips.

Considering the situation downstairs, he restrained his strength, and just before the wave of ultimate pleasure arrived, he tightly held her hand pressed against the glass, lowered his head with suppressed breaths, and buried his face in her shoulder.

"Banban, thank you..."

Lin Yu nestled dazedly in his arms, her thoughts scattered, unable to grasp the deeper meaning of the gratitude. She felt like a lone boat carried to the other shore by raging waves, bobbing up and down in a state of extreme exhaustion and satisfaction, still carrying the lingering echoes of the past.

He could only instinctively respond softly, "Um...you're welcome."

......

The next day, Lin Yu and Jiang Chuan went to see Lin Jianguo together. Their father was in much better spirits than before and looked more energetic.

When discussing the development of Lin Yu's company, Lin Jianguo stated frankly that hiring external experts can only solve the immediate problem, not a long-term solution. The optimization of core technologies must still be in the hands of their own team.

Following his father's advice, Lin Yu once again extended a serious invitation to him, hoping that he would seriously consider working for his company.

As they were chatting, she suddenly remembered the earrings her grandmother had left her, and quickly took them out of her bag and handed them to her father.

"I didn't come back last year, so I didn't have a chance to visit you." Grandma has been staying with my uncle and aunt these past few days, and I haven't had a chance to visit her yet.

Lin Jianguo glanced down at the jewelry box in her hand, but pushed it back to her. "Keep it, wear it when you get married."

"Isn't this inappropriate? My sister's side..." Lin Yu hesitated, his outstretched hand hanging in mid-air, before he was interrupted by Lin Jianguo.

"There's nothing wrong with it. Your grandmother has the right to decide what to do with her things."

“I’ve already spoken with your aunt and uncle, and no one in the family has any objections. It’s just a piece of jewelry; don’t overthink it.”

Hearing her father say this, Lin Yu's worries subsided considerably. She nodded and put the earrings back into her bag.

......

After the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Yu and Jiang Chuan returned to the farm to visit their maternal grandparents. Compared to their last meeting, the two elderly people were in significantly better condition.

Grandpa still maintains the same pace of life as he has for decades, and Grandma, as always, buys groceries, cooks, and cleans the yard every day, seemingly having gotten used to life without her daughter.

But the empty egg basket was never filled again; the snow in front of the courtyard was never cleared; and the weeds growing in the vegetable garden would grow wildly and unchecked as the garden was neglected day after day.

Lin Yu knew in her heart that the grief of losing a loved one was like a long rainy season. And in the days that followed, her grandmother would think of her aunt again and again in countless unexpected moments.

She never mentioned these small, painful moments to her family.

After dinner, Jiang Chuan drove to a nearby gas station. As it gradually got dark, Lin Yu accompanied his grandmother outside to digest their food.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the sound of footsteps of an old man and a child passing each other, and the occasional bark of a dog in the distance.

When we reached the corner, Grandma suddenly stopped, pointed to the empty space in the corner and said, "The snowman you built when you came back the year before last didn't melt away until the tenth of the lunar month."

She turned her head, a hint of a smile in her eyes. "The scarf you put on the snowman, your aunt washed it before she left, and it's still in my closet."

Lin Yu looked in the direction her grandmother was pointing. The empty corner seemed to be filled again by the comical snowman wearing a cashmere scarf and her aunt standing next to him, hands on hips, laughing heartily.

She remembered the scarf; it was one she really liked. She casually put it on the snowman that day and forgot to take it home, thinking it was lost. But her aunt quietly put it away for her.

"Really?" Lin Yu said softly, "My aunt seems carefree, but she's actually very thoughtful."

Grandma stopped and patted Lin Yu's hand, which was linked with her arm. "She just can't sit still. She can't stand things being messy or dirty; she has to tidy them up before she feels at ease."

A wave of heat suddenly welled up in his eyes, and Lin Yu hurriedly lowered his head, burying his face in the collar of his down jacket.

"Grandma..." Her voice choked with emotion. "Do you still... often think of your aunt?"

"How could I not want to?"

She looked around the tidy courtyard and said slowly, "Look at this courtyard, the fact that it's always been so neat and tidy is largely thanks to your aunt."

"The broom she used to sweep the floor was made by her from sorghum stalks from her own field, and she carefully put away all the old things in the shed. Even your grandfather's habit of checking the weather forecast every day without fail was something she cultivated in him over the years."

Grandma's voice didn't carry much sadness, only a calmness washed away by the years. "She's gone, but the things she did and the words she said will leave their mark."

"As long as we remember her and continue to live our lives as she wished, she will always be there for us."

Lin Yu nodded, the heavy sadness in his heart seemingly melting away in his grandmother's gentle words, seeping into his heart and transforming into a longer and warmer longing.

She tightened her grip on her grandmother's arm, leaning against her thin but warm shoulder, and whispered, "From now on, every year when we come back, we'll build a snowman in the yard, just like... before."

Upon hearing this, Grandma gently grasped Lin Yu's hand and nodded. The old woman and the young boy leaned on each other and walked towards the lit room.