In mid-November 2015, Lin Zhixia returned home happily.
After finishing her postdoctoral work, Lin Zhixia felt more relaxed than ever before. She slept at home for a whole day and adjusted her biological clock.
The next morning, Mom and Dad went to the market and bought a bunch of vegetables, fruits and seafood.
The supermarket at home was temporarily closed, so Dad and Mom were busy in the kitchen for most of the day, making a very delicious "seafood feast", including steamed crabs, scallops with oyster sauce, cold squid, spicy clams... as well as Lin Zeqiu's favorite stir-fried beef with green peppers and Lin Zhixia's favorite shrimp and corn dumplings.
Lin Zeqiu came home from get off work. As soon as he opened the door, Lin Zhixia greeted him, "Brother, come and have dinner. Today's dinner is especially sumptuous."
The chill of late autumn and early winter swept across the city, and the cold wind at night poured into the corridor. Lin Zeqiu's home was a warm and comfortable scene, full of the smell of fireworks. The steaming hot meal swept away his fatigue. He sat at the dining table, and Lin Zhixia picked up another fat crab for him: "Brother, eat crab."
"This is a sea crab," Dad said with a big smile, "Qiuqiu, you like seafood, right? Eat it with your stomach full!"
Lin Zhixia held the bowl in both hands and exclaimed, "It's so delicious."
Mom asked again: "Xia Xia, you know it's delicious even before you even pick up your chopsticks?"
Lin Zhixia said honestly: "When I was in the United States, I would occasionally dream of myself eating at home. In my dreams, I ate very well, but when I woke up in the morning, I found that my stomach was growling with hunger, and there was only cold milk and bread in the refrigerator."
She opened the crab's shell and said, "The food my parents cooked has a special flavor. I can't get a similar taste when I cook for myself or eat out at a restaurant..."
Tears welled up in my mother's eyes. She stretched out her fingers, wiped the corners of her eyes, and then said, "Xia Xia is home. Your parents will cook for you. You can eat whatever you want. Our family's life has improved."
"Mom, don't cry." Lin Zhixia handed her mother a napkin.
Dad explained: "Your mom is so excited. The children have grown up and have made great achievements. Mom and Dad are really happy... Qiuqiu found a good job, Xiaxia is going to be a university teacher..."
At this point, Dad opened his mouth and drank another glass of wine. He patted Lin Zeqiu on the shoulder and said, "Qiuqiu, Dad knows that you have worked hard... For the sake of this family, you did not stay in Beijing."
Lin Zeqiu said slowly: "Housing prices in Beijing are too expensive, and it's hard to get a hukou. I'm living well now, and my year-end bonus is several tens of thousands."
Dad was surprised and said, "Qiuqiu is really good at making money, much better than dad."
Lin Zeqiu said nothing. He glanced at Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia picked up a small hammer and smashed the crab pliers hard. She knocked two crabs in a row, and the crystal clear crab meat was collected by her into a porcelain bowl, piled up like a small mountain.
Lin Zeqiu was about to ask her why she hadn't eaten a bite when she picked up the bowl of crab meat and placed it in front of her parents: "Life has improved for our family now. My brother and I can earn money. Don't be reluctant to eat it. I see you haven't picked up the crab with your chopsticks yet."
Dad kept saying "OK" but didn't utter a complete sentence. He scooped up a spoonful of crab meat, tasted it carefully, wiped his face, and said with deep emotion: "Hey, Xia Xia is back. Your mother, your brother and I are relieved. Our family of four is reunited."
Lin Zhixia said casually: "My brother works in the Software Technology Park, which is very close to the University Town. I bought a house in the University Town, and that will be our new home for our family of four."
Lin Zeqiu echoed: "Mom and Dad can retire early."
Lin Zhixia smiled and said, "Yes, Mom and Dad, please retire. My brother and I will support you."
"Well, that won't work?" Dad rejected it without hesitation, "Your mother and I are still young and can still make money."
Mom and Dad agreed. Mom said slowly, "Xia Xia Qiu Qiu, you two have just entered society, and your parents are not as good as other people's parents. We have no connections and no background, so we can't help you two... so I'll save more money for you."
Dad responded, "Yes, I will give you money."
When the topic of "saving money" was mentioned, Dad paused, as if he remembered something. He put down his wine glass and turned to tell Lin Zhixia that in the past year, Jiang Yubai would visit their home on every major festival and bring all kinds of gifts. For example, this year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Yubai sent moon cakes, osmanthus cakes, big crabs and olive oil.
In front of Lin Zhixia's parents, Jiang Yubai never mentioned luxury goods, and the gifts were mainly practical.
Whenever Jiang Yubai meets Lin Zhixia's parents, he will take the initiative to talk about Lin Zhixia's situation in the United States and explain the content of Lin Zhixia's work - this is the news that Lin Zhixia's parents always want to hear, and they pay great attention to their daughter.
Jiang Yubai's efforts lasted for a whole year and successfully impressed Lin Zhixia's father.
Therefore, at the dinner table tonight, Dad said a few good words for Jiang Yubai, Mom also praised Jiang Yubai a little, but Lin Zeqiu still had a serious attitude as if "that kid didn't pass the probation period."
Lin Zhixia buried her head in her meal, her heart filled with thoughts of him.
That night, Lin Zhixia sent a WeChat message to Jiang Yubai, saying without disguising, "I miss you so much."
"I'm waiting for you," Jiang Yubai replied in seconds, "The new house has been renovated."
There is a high-end residential area near the university town. The price per square meter is very expensive and has been rising rapidly this year. Jiang Yubai spent a huge amount of money to buy an 800-square-meter penthouse and hired the best team of designers in the country. It took more than a year to renovate the house and it was finally completed this summer.
Not long ago, Jiang Yubai officially moved into this house. He invited Lin Zhixia to visit his home, and Lin Zhixia readily agreed.
On Sunday morning, Jiang Yubai personally drove to Ancheng Community and successfully picked up Lin Zhixia. He and Lin Zhixia had not seen each other for eleven months. One of the ways he relieved his longing for her was to trim the branches of Camellia chrysantha in the office.
Jiang Yubai often dreams of Lin Zhixia.
But he said nothing.
He behaved very calmly.
He took Lin Zhixia back to his new home.
After passing through the entrance hall, they came to the living room. The bright sunlight penetrated the rose skylight, and the large and spacious 360-degree panoramic terrace attracted Lin Zhixia's attention. She walked quietly on the delicate and soft carpet and whispered, "Your new home is really beautiful."
Jiang Yubai stood behind her: "This is your home too."
Lin Zhixia paused.
Jiang Yubai called her again: "Xia Xia."
Lin Zhixia turned and faced him: "Jiang Jiang."
He laughed and murmured, "Linlinlinlinzhixia."
Lin Zhixia said in a very light voice: "The river is getting whiter."
This was originally a secret code they invented when they were children. Now that they had grown up, it sounded like the whispers between lovers, with an inexplicable sense of ambiguity.
A cool breeze blew in from the sky garden, spreading a refreshing aroma everywhere. Lin Zhixia sat on a soft chair on the spacious terrace, pointed to a bottle of red wine on a nearby wooden rack and said, "I'm in a good mood today. Let's have a drink."
Jiang Yubai asked her, "Has your alcohol tolerance increased?"
Lin Zhixia leaned close to him, seemingly wanting to talk to him, but in fact she secretly kissed his cheek - this light and intimate gesture was like a switch, triggering Jiang Yubai's intense reaction. He tightly wrapped his arms around Lin Zhixia's waist, pinned her to the chair and kissed her deeply. The loneliness of not being able to see each other for eleven months turned into a surging tide of emotions at this moment, almost drowning Jiang Yubai completely. In between kisses, Lin Zhixia even said, "You...you have become so active and passionate, I like it."
Jiang Yubai stopped all his actions: "I can be more proactive, do you want to try it?"
Lin Zhixia chuckled.
She put her hands on his shoulders: "Do you miss me often?"
"I think about it every day," Jiang Yubai looked at her, "What about you?"
Lin Zhixia stared into his eyes and saw her own reflection in his eyes. He looked so affectionate and incomparable, as if the whole world was just Lin Zhixia, and he created a new world by looking at her. Her heartbeat was very steady, and filled with a light sweetness, as if it was filled with sweet honey.
So, Lin Zhixia pulled up his finger and pointed it at her heart: "Of course I miss you. I miss you not only in my head, but also here."
After listening to her words, Jiang Yubai took her right hand and brought it to his lips. He lowered his head and gently kissed her fingertips, starting from her index finger and ending with her little finger. The whole process was silent, passionate and solemn, pious and lingering. Lin Zhixia's heart suddenly ignited a fire, and the blazing flame burned to its highest point in an instant.
Lin Zhixia's breathing was a little disordered, and she said without hesitation: "I'm back home, we won't be separated anymore, we can see each other every day."
"Can you move here?" Jiang Yubai asked her.
Lin Zhixia avoided his gaze and said, "I told you before, I want to buy a house myself."
Jiang Yubai stood up from his seat. He took out a bottle of champagne and two goblets, and handed the glasses to Lin Zhixia. He poured the wine for Lin Zhixia himself. The champagne gave off clear and delicate bubbles. Lin Zhixia smelled the aroma of the wine and took a sip.
"It's delicious." she said.
Jiang Yubai clinked glasses with her: "You can move here with your family, your father, mother and brother..." He leaned back in the soft chair, sipping the wine slowly, his eyes cast towards the sky in the distance: "I guess I can be considered your family too."
These words made Lin Zhixia's heart beat again.
Jiang Yubai seemed to be saying, I have belonged to you for a long time.
Ever since Lin Zhixia stepped into his home, his words and actions completely confused her thoughts. She drank the champagne in the glass in one gulp, and said to him with a little drunkenness: "Yes, you are my good friend, my favorite person, my family..."
Before she finished speaking, Jiang Yubai approached her again and tempted her to turn around and kiss him. This time the deep kiss was filled with the sweetness of champagne. She was quite drunk and held him tighter with her hands.
Lin Zhixia fell on the soft bench, her dark hair spread out. The blue sky and white clouds were the background behind Jiang Yubai. He pressed on her and proposed in a very formal way: "Let's sleep together tonight."
Lin Zhixia almost agreed.
But she then thought of the beautiful and soul-stirring scene she saw in the hotel bathhouse last Christmas. So, in addition to curiosity, Lin Zhixia also had a little worry and fear: "Will it hurt? I am very afraid of pain."
Yes.
Lin Zhixia is very afraid of pain.
She has not only a video memory, but also a sensory memory.
Jiang Yubai hesitated. He had no experience in that matter. He just wanted to give it a try with Lin Zhixia, but he was also afraid that he would hurt Lin Zhixia. After careful consideration, he put aside his selfish desires and made up his mind: "Forget it, let's proceed step by step."
That night, Lin Zhixia did not go home. She stayed at Jiang Yubai's house, shared a bed with him, and chatted with him until midnight, talking about her career plan.
In June this year, Lin Zhixia submitted the review materials for the "Qingqian" project, and her interview was scheduled for the end of November. If everything goes well, her name will appear on the "selected public list" in March next year, and in September next year, she will join the best university in the provincial capital, obtain a formal teaching position, and receive generous research funding.
In fact, the staff of the university's human resources department has already contacted Lin Zhixia.
She was assigned to the "Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute", and the dean and vice dean were both optimistic about her.
The only problem is that Lin Zhixia is still too young. When she starts recruiting graduate students next year, most of her students will be older than her.
“My age,” Lin Zhixia said, “is still a bit of a problem.”
In the dark bedroom, Jiang Yubai whispered to comfort her: "You are so smart and hardworking. You didn't go home during the three years of undergraduate study. You studied in the UK, went out early and came back late every day, and worked in the United States. You got up early and went to bed late every day, and spent a lot of time on academics..."
Lin Zhixia turned over and leaned into his arms, listening to him say: "You can handle all the work, I believe in you and support you."
Lin Zhixia was touched: "Okay."
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