Chapter 12
Qiu Yayu and Lü Xiaoyan's romance, like a gentle warmth quietly blossoming in early winter, spread steadily across the campus. They attended classes together, went to the library together, and spent most of their time in the darkroom filled with the smell of chemicals and the red safety lights. He taught her more complex darkroom techniques, and she used the rangefinder camera to capture more and more moments of his focused, relaxed, and even occasionally amused moments.
Time flowed by sweetly, and winter break was just around the corner. An unexpected first snowfall adorned the A University campus with a silvery white coat, bringing a pure and clean end to the semester.
It was on this snowy weekend that an event, which Qiu Yayu privately referred to as a "major diplomatic meeting," quietly arrived—the first meeting between the two sets of parents.
The location was chosen to be an elegant and quiet Jiangnan restaurant. Qiu Yayu had been nervous for several days in advance, repeatedly confirming her parents' preferences with Lü Xiaoyan. She even deliberated for a long time about what to wear, and finally chose an apricot turtleneck sweater and a dark long skirt that looked both well-behaved and elegant.
Lu Xiaoyan appeared calm as always, but Qiu Yayu could sense his subtle tension from his tighter-lipped lips and the occasional unconscious rubbing of the camera strap. He was wearing a crisp dark blue sweater today, over which was the dark gray down jacket she had "handpicked," making him look handsome and composed.
They arrived at the private room early. Qiu Yayu's parents arrived first. Qiu's father, dressed in a crisp shirt and wool vest, had a hearty smile. Upon seeing Lü Xiaoyan, he patted him on the shoulder and said in a strong voice, "Xiaoyan, right? I've often heard Yuyu mention you. You're a very spirited young man!" Qiu's mother, on the other hand, was much gentler. Dressed in an elegant cheongsam jacket, she held her daughter's hand, but her eyes were smiling as she looked Lü Xiaoyan up and down. She said softly, "Hello, Xiaoyan."
"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie." Lü Xiaoyan bowed slightly, her manners impeccable. Her voice, though as calm as ever, conveyed respect.
Not long after, Lü Xiaoyan's parents arrived. Lü's father, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, possessed a refined and composed demeanor, a stark contrast to Qiu's father's enthusiasm. His handshake was firm and steady, and his sharp gaze was not intimidating. Lü's mother, on the other hand, was a woman of exceptional elegance, wearing a well-tailored beige suit with a silk scarf around her neck. Her smile was gentle, and upon entering, she smiled at Qiu Yayu first: "This must be Yayu? She's indeed a bright and intelligent child." Her voice was soft and scholarly.
"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie." Qiu Yayu immediately stood up, her smile sweet and her voice clear.
The parents exchanged pleasantries and took their seats. The initial atmosphere was somewhat polite and tentative. Mr. Qiu enthusiastically introduced the local customs and specialties, while Mr. Lü nodded occasionally, speaking little, but whenever he did, he quoted extensively and offered unique insights. The two mothers quickly found common ground, chatting about everything from flower arranging to recent art exhibitions, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
Qiu Yayu sat down next to Lü Xiaoyan and quietly reached out from under the table to gently grasp his hand, which was resting on his lap. His fingers were slightly cool, and upon feeling her touch, he returned her hand and held it tightly. They exchanged a glance, both seeing a sense of reassurance in each other's eyes.
During the meal, the conversation inevitably turned to the two young people.
“Xiao Yan has always been a quiet child, his mind is always on his camera,” said Mrs. Lü with a gentle helplessness as she looked at her son. “Ya Yu will have to be more tolerant of him in the future.”
“Auntie, please don’t say that,” Qiu Yayu quickly said, with a sincere smile on her face. “Xiaoyan is very good, very thoughtful, and… his photos are especially great; they show people a different world.” She said this with pride in her voice.
Lu Xiaoyan glanced at her sideways, loosened her grip on her hand slightly, and gently ran her fingertips across the back of her hand.
Qiu's father took a sip of tea and said to Lü's father with a smile, "I heard from Yuyu that Xiaoyan has won many photography awards. Like father, like son! Your family has strict discipline, and the children you raise are indeed outstanding."
Mr. Lü pushed up his glasses, a faint but genuine smile appearing on his face: "Ya Yu is lively, cheerful, and optimistic, which is truly rare. Xiao Yan is rather introverted, but with her around, we all feel he's become much more cheerful." Although he was speaking to Mr. Qiu, his gaze swept over the two children sitting side by side, carrying a barely perceptible hint of approval.
This was almost the clearest confirmation of their relationship. A huge weight lifted from Qiu Yayu's heart, and her smile widened even more. Lü Xiaoyan also breathed a slight sigh of relief, picked up her teacup, and took a sip as if to conceal her discomfort.
The meal drew to a close in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Outside the window, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the unmelted snow, giving it a golden glow.
As they left, the two families stood at the restaurant entrance to say goodbye. Qiu's mother held Lü's mother's hand, promising to go to a concert together next time. Qiu's father and Lü's father exchanged contact information, agreeing to play chess together sometime.
"Xiaoyan, come over to our house often with Yayu during the holidays," Qiu's mother invited gently.
“Okay, Auntie.” Lü Xiaoyan nodded in agreement.
Lu's mother smiled and said to Qiu Yayu, "Yayu, when you have time, have Xiaoyan bring you to our house. Auntie will show you his childhood photos."
"Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Auntie!" Qiu Yayu replied with delight, her eyes sparkling.
The adults left first, leaving the space to the two young people.
The air after the snow was crisp and fresh. Qiu Yayu let out a long sigh of relief and patted her chest: "Oh dear, I was so nervous! Your dad looks so serious."
“He’s just not used to expressing himself.” Lu Xiaoyan looked at her relieved expression, a smile appearing in her eyes. “You did very well.”
"Really?" Qiu Yayu looked up at him, took his arm, buried half her face in the sleeve of his down jacket, and said in a muffled voice with a hint of coquetry, "Your mother is so elegant, I don't dare to speak loudly."
“She likes you a lot,” Lü Xiaoyan said confidently, raising his hand to tuck a stray strand of her hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her ear. He was doing this gesture more and more naturally than ever before.
"That's good!" Qiu Yayu immediately looked up, her smile brightening again. "It seems we've passed the 'official certification'!"
The setting sun cast long, intertwined shadows of the two. The chill of the first snow seemed to have been completely dispelled by this successful meeting, leaving only a warm feeling in their hearts. Hand in hand, they walked slowly back to school, planning their upcoming winter break and all the hopeful things that belonged to them.
The successful first meeting was like a reassuring pill and a gentle spring breeze, foreshadowing that their relationship had received the most important blessing.
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