"Auntie, don't worry, I will never abandon him. No matter how cold he is, I know how good he is, and I will stay with him."
"With your words, I feel at ease." Zhang Xueqin's eyes reddened even more, and she held her hand tightly, reluctant to let go.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door, and Jiang Linchuan's deep voice came through, "Mom, Xinghe, have you... finished talking?"
He stood outside the door for a long time, becoming more and more uneasy. He was afraid that his mother's indifference would frighten Xu Xinghe, and even more afraid that she would say something that would create a rift between them.
In the end, I couldn't resist knocking on the door.
Zhang Xueqin seemed to have been switched on, instantly losing the warmth on her face, and her eyes behind her glasses regained their previous calm.
Seeing her sudden change in demeanor, Xu Xinghe couldn't help but say, "Auntie, why can't you tell Lin Chuan the truth? You're deliberately acting to keep your distance, and he's shutting himself off because of the misunderstanding. This isn't solving the problem; it's like you're hurting each other."
Zhang Xueqin gave a bitter smile, "It's been more than ten years, it's like a thick scab has formed. We're afraid that if we pick at it, the underlying wound will be even harder to heal. He's finally been able to live a normal life all these years, we don't dare to take the risk."
She looked at Xu Xinghe, her eyes gradually filled with anticipation, "But now that you're here, perhaps... one day I'll really have the courage to try."
After saying that, she called out, "Come in."
As soon as the door opened, Jiang Linchuan looked at Xu Xinghe almost immediately. His gaze swept over her face, and only after confirming that she looked normal and showed no signs of grievance or displeasure did his tense shoulders relax slightly.
He quickly walked over and sat down beside her, his fingertips lightly touching the back of her hand, silently inquiring about the situation.
Xu Xinghe grasped his hand in return and gave him a reassuring smile.
Auntie is such a good person, she would never let herself be wronged.
Zhang Xueqin picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip, trying to make her tone sound calm and natural, neither overly enthusiastic nor cold and distant, "Now that you're here and determined to get married, you should also meet the other relatives in your family."
She put down her water glass. "I'll call your grandpa and uncles and tell them to come to Suyang. No matter what they're doing, they have to come even if they have to take time off."
"No need for that trouble!" Xu Xinghe quickly waved her hand, somewhat embarrassed. "There will be plenty of time in the future, no need to make everyone come all this way."
"We absolutely must meet him." Zhang Xueqin insisted, her tone still somewhat cold, but her eyes softened a bit. "You are the person Lin Chuan has chosen, and you are also our Jiang family's prospective daughter-in-law. We are the groom's family; if even our relatives don't show up, wouldn't that seem insincere? We can't break the rules."
Our son has finally achieved his wish, and we, as his family, must not hold him back!
Jiang Linchuan sat to the side, listening to his mother's words, his fingertips trembling slightly.
He never imagined that his family would take him so seriously, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
Since she had already said that, it would be impolite for Xu Xinghe to refuse again, so she could only nod and say, "Then... I'll listen to Auntie."
Zhang Xueqin got up and went outside to make a phone call.
Only the two of them remained in the office.
Jiang Linchuan couldn't help but ask, "What did my mom just say to you?"
Xu Xinghe winked playfully, "Women's topics are only for women to hear."
Since Zhang Xueqin wants to keep this secret, she certainly won't reveal it on her own initiative.
A short while later, Zhang Xueqin returned. "The relatives should all be here by the day after tomorrow, so we can have a meal together. I've found two adjacent dorm rooms for you in the school dormitory building; you can stay there tonight. Tomorrow, you can explore Suyang; it's a rare opportunity to come all this way, so have a good time."
"Thank you for your help, Mom."
“It’s no trouble at all.” Zhang Xueqin paused, her voice gentle. “It’s what I, as a mother, should do.”
Seeing her like this, Jiang Linchuan felt a little uncomfortable, and his shoulders tensed up.
Seeing this, Xu Xinghe quickly took his hand and offered silent comfort.
Zhang Xueqin's expression turned cold again. "Alright, you guys go out and have fun. I still have experiments to do."
The two walked out of the laboratory building.
The sun was shining brightly outside.
The weather in Suzhou is warmer than in Shanghai, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of flowers.
Jiang Linchuan held Xu Xinghe's hand, and the two prepared to take a walk on campus to relax.
The university has long since ceased operations. The walls of the red brick teaching buildings are covered with dark green vines, and the entire campus is so quiet that only the sound of the wind and birdsong can be heard.
Xu Xinghe walked slowly along the track of the playground, her gaze sweeping over the empty teaching building, her eyes filled with envy.
"The environment here is so nice. I used to want to go to university, but it's a pity." She stretched out her hand, feeling the breeze caressing her fingertips.
She had actually finished high school and was looking forward to the college entrance examination, but her parents suddenly passed away, and the college entrance examination was suspended not long after, so her dream of going to university was shattered.
She knew that the college entrance examination would not be reinstated for more than a decade.
By then, she'll be middle-aged, and even if she could take the exam, she wouldn't go.
Some things, once missed, are missed forever.
In this lifetime, I may never have the chance to experience it again.
“There’s nothing to regret.” Jiang Linchuan held her hand, his eyes serious. “Not going to university doesn’t mean you can’t learn. If you want to know something, I’ll find you some books. If you find it difficult to study on your own, I’ll help you find a teacher. I know a lot of professors in my family who are knowledgeable in literature, history, mathematics and physics. I can ask them for help.”
Xu Xinghe felt a warmth in her heart. "No need for that trouble. I can learn it myself. If there's anything I don't understand, you can write to me and ask."
The two strolled around the school and waited until sunset before going out for dinner.
Zhang Xueqin couldn't join because she was busy with experiments.
After finishing their meal, they returned to their assigned dormitory to rest.
The next morning, the two of them went shopping in Suzhou and Yangzhou together.
Xu Xinghe walked slowly along the bluestone path. The white walls and black tiles on both sides were arranged in a pleasing manner, and the blue cloth banners hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the wind.
The covered boats glided silently along the small river that flowed through the town.
The boatwoman's soft, melodious Wu dialect drifted along the water, carrying the unique gentleness of Jiangnan.
When Xu Xinghe got tired, he leaned on the stone bridge railing and watched the fish swim around in the water. The aroma of Longjing tea wafted from the teahouse next door.
These are all unique to Su Yang.
It's very different from Heilongjiang Province.
Jiang Linchuan bought a bag of roasted chestnuts and held the peeled chestnuts to her lips, saying, "I just tasted them, they're very sweet."
"Hmm, it's very sweet, and delicious."
Xu Xinghe simply took the chestnuts and started peeling them herself.
The two strolled around and ate until dusk fell, then slowly walked back to school.
The school's dormitories were the old-fashioned tenement buildings, with dim incandescent lights in the corridors. Occasionally, other researchers would walk by, their steps hurried. When they saw them, they would only glance at them and not say a word. The whole building was so quiet that you could hear your own footsteps.
Jiang Linchuan escorted Xu Xinghe to the dormitory entrance. Just as he was about to say something, he saw her tiptoe and quickly hug him, lowering her voice, "Goodnight, I'm going in now. It's too quiet here, I don't even dare to speak."
After saying that, she quietly pushed open the door and went inside, even closing it carefully, afraid of making the slightest noise.
Jiang Linchuan stood at the door, smiled as he looked at the closed door.
The wind blowing in through the windows of the corridor carried the unique warmth of Jiangnan, completely different from the cold of Heilongjiang Province.
He turned around and went back to the dormitory next door, where he experienced the meaning of that sentence for the first time.
It turns out that being with someone you like, even just taking a quiet walk or enjoying the scenery, is a precious and precious time.
He didn't understand it before, but now he understands it deeply.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
