Chapter 58 Waiting
Ever since Lin Yan called out "Dad" and my dad's drunken sigh of "My granddaughter's dream is shattered", the atmosphere in the house has become noticeably more lively.
Although my father would still subconsciously glare at Lin Yan occasionally, the "murderous intent" in his eyes had faded, and was more of a kind of awkward scrutiny and curiosity.
The dinner table was no longer filled with Lin Yan's one-sided "Dad" bombardment and my dad's silent resistance. Occasionally, I could hear my dad proactively ask, "Xiao Lin, try this fish. Your aunt just learned how to cook it."
At noon that day, the food smelled delicious and the family sat around eating.
The atmosphere was unusually harmonious, and my dad even took the initiative to pick up a piece of pork ribs for Lin Yan.
Just when I thought that this "harmonious relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law" would continue smoothly until the end of the New Year, my father suddenly put down his chopsticks, as if remembering something, and asked naturally:
"Hey, Xiaolin, you've been to our house so many times, helping out here and there. Xiaorui,"
He turned to me, with a bit of fatherly concern, "Have you ever visited Xiaolin's home? Met his parents? You must be polite."
"Puff——" I almost choked on a mouthful of soup, and my face turned red from coughing.
Go to Lin Yan's house? Visit his parents?
This question was like a needle, accurately piercing the soft spot that I had deliberately ignored.
Lin Yan’s empty and cold “home”, his almost absent father, and his mother who passed away early flashed through his mind... A huge feeling of embarrassment and heartache surged up.
"Cough... cough cough..." I waved my hands randomly, avoided eye contact, and spoke vaguely, "Ah? Oh... that... well... when I'm free, I'll definitely go when I'm free! No rush, no rush..." I tried to use the universal method of perfunctory to get away with it.
Just when my father frowned slightly, obviously dissatisfied with my perfunctory attitude, Lin Yan next to me spoke calmly.
His voice was not loud, and even had a touch of his usual gentleness, but it was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, clearly creating ripples:
"Uncle and aunt, actually... I may have mentioned my family situation to Ruirui, but I didn't go into detail."
He put down his chopsticks and looked at my parents calmly. He also glanced at me, as if trying to comfort my bewilderment. "My mother...died in a car accident when I was fourteen."
The dinner table suddenly became quiet.
Even the subtle sound of dishes and chopsticks colliding disappeared.
The sunlight from outside the window shone in obliquely, falling on Lin Yan's calm profile, outlining a clear outline, and also reflecting a subtle pain deep in his eyes that had been accumulating for many years.
"Now I have my father and a younger brother at home."
He continued, his tone as steady as if he were recounting someone else's story. "My father... is very busy with work and rarely intervenes in family matters. My younger brother, Lin Heng, is very sensible. Perhaps... he doesn't want to cause me any trouble or require my care, so from the age of eighteen, I rarely stayed at home. Although I would go back during the holidays."
He paused, as if he was organizing his words, or as if he was giving everyone some time to digest his thoughts.
The air seemed to freeze, with a heavy, cautious silence.
My mother's eyes fell on Lin Yan with an unprecedented concentration and complex emotions.
My dad also forgot to pick up the food, his chopsticks stopped in mid-air, his face showing undisguised surprise and...heartache?
I was completely stunned.
I knew his family situation was not good and that he didn't want to talk about it, but I didn't expect that he would choose such a seemingly ordinary lunch time to reveal this old scar so calmly and frankly to my parents.
My heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by something, making it feel sore and swollen.
It was my mother who broke the heavy silence.
She picked up the serving chopsticks, picked up the largest piece of braised pork, and placed it steadily into Lin Yan's bowl. Her movements were so natural as if she hadn't heard anything just now.
Then, she raised her eyes and looked at Lin Yan, her eyes were gentle and firm, her voice was clear and calm, with an unquestionable power:
"Xiao Lin, from now on, just treat this place as your home."
My dad seemed to be enlightened by this. He immediately put down his chopsticks and nodded in agreement, his tone eager and sincere: "That's right! Xiaolin, don't be so formal! Originally, there was only Xiaorui at home, so lonely. Now it's great, the whole family can have a meal together, it's so lively!"
He even tried hard to force out what he thought was a very kind smile, but it looked a little stiff and funny with his always serious face.
Me: “…” I dug my toes into the ground in embarrassment.
Mom and Dad, aren't you accepting this a little too quickly?! Just after hearing about someone's heavy family situation, the next second they're all "family," "our own home"? This enthusiasm... is simply overwhelming!
Lin Yan was obviously stunned for a moment.
He looked at the shiny piece of braised pork in the bowl, then at my mother's calm eyes that contained great tolerance, and then at my father who was trying to express his kindness but seemed a little clumsy, and the corners of his mouth slowly and little by little curled up.
That smile was no longer the usual gentle and effortless one, but instead carried a real touch of warmth, with even a barely detectable glimmer of tears in the eyes.
"Thank you, uncle and aunt." His voice was a little hoarse, but filled with sincere gratitude.
Then, as if recalling some fond memory, his smile softened a little, and he added, "Actually... if my mother were still alive, she would definitely have a great chat with you. She... is a very gentle person."
When he mentioned his deceased mother, there was no sadness in his tone, only warm nostalgia, which made the atmosphere even softer.
My dad seemed to have opened up, or perhaps it was the "aftereffects" of the alcohol. He rubbed his hands, a look of worry on his face, and asked cautiously, "Well... Xiaolin, your family is so well-off, your dad... he... he has no objection to you and Xiaorui's relationship... right?"
He obviously remembered Lin Yan's previous casual remark, "Find eight nannies."
Lin Yan shook his head, his tone very calm: "My dad...he already knows about Ruirui and me. However, I haven't officially brought Ruirui back yet."
He paused, looking at me with a look of comfort and explanation, "I thought, after... our jobs are stable and our lives are completely on track, I will bring Ruirui back to visit him formally. Right now... he basically doesn't care about our affairs."
Hearing that Lin Yan had a clear plan and arrangements, and that he had taken his father's attitude into consideration, my parents looked at each other, and saw recognition and a subtle sense of relief in each other's eyes. They nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
After staying comfortably (and cautiously) at home for a few more days, the New Year atmosphere became stronger and stronger, and it was time for Lin Yan to return to his nominal "home".
Before leaving, his sharp-tongued brother Lin Heng called him again.
Lin Yan was packing his luggage while using the hands-free mode. Lin Heng's voice on the other end of the phone was clear and filled with electric irritation: "Brother! When are you going to get back?! If you're any later, the few New Year's goods in the house will be taken away by that 'hellish mother and son'! You don't know, that woman asked me what kind of filling I like in dumplings today. I really wanted to reply to her, 'Arsenic filling'! What bad luck!"
I was helping Lin Yan fold his clothes, and hearing his undisguised disdain, I couldn't help but grumble, "Tsk, a year has passed, and Lin Heng's fighting ability hasn't decreased, but increased? He still holds such a deep grudge against this guy?"
Lin Yan hung up the phone, smiled helplessly, and put a folded sweater into the box: "Actually... it's not bad to have someone to compete with him. At least this kid is living with a sense of purpose now. He's studying even harder. Maybe he wants to prove that he's better than his stepbrother?"
There was a hint of brotherly indulgence in his tone.
I watched him close his suitcase, and suddenly I felt a little empty inside: "I didn't expect you to go back so soon... I thought you could stay a few more days."
Lin Yan zipped up the suitcase, turned around, and looked at me with raised eyebrows: "Can't bear to leave me?"
"Nonsense!" I rolled my eyes at him and said unhappily, "Everyone else's family reunites during the Lunar New Year, but we're the only couple of days we have to be apart from each other all year! What the hell is going on?"
Lin Yan came over, rubbed my hair, his eyes gentle and firm: "I won't do that again. We will definitely be together during the next New Year." His promise was like a reassurance.
After Lin Yan left, the house felt empty. After the New Year, I didn't stay long. I packed up and went back to my little nest with Lin Yan.
Just as I settled in, Xiaoyou called. His voice was so excited that it could have blown the roof off the roof: "Brother Rui! I passed the civil service exam! The score is pretty high! As long as I don't do badly in the interview, I'm basically in! Hahahaha!"
"Awesome, brother!" I was really happy for her.
But after I hung up the phone, a surge of anxiety washed over me like a tide. Xiaoyou's good news was like a mirror, reflecting my own uncertainty about my future—my postgraduate entrance exam results were coming out soon!
The agony of waiting can drive you crazy. Talking to Lin Yan that night, I couldn't help but pour out all my anxiety: "It's over, it's over! I feel like I've failed the test... I think I got the steps wrong on that big math problem... My English essay is terrible too... Lin Yan, what if I don't pass..."
Lin Yan listened to my ramblings patiently, his eyes gentle as if he could tolerate everything: "Ruirui, don't scare yourself. Before the results come out, everything is unknown. Even if you really don't pass the exam, the sky won't fall. We still have Plan B and Plan C. Have you forgotten what your man does?"
He tried to ease my tension with a lighthearted tone.
But anxiety is like a vine, tightly wrapped around my heart. Lying in bed at night, I toss and turn, unable to sleep, my mind full of all kinds of terrible possibilities.
Lin Yan came out of the shower, feeling refreshed, and lay down beside me, naturally holding me in his arms.
His body temperature came through the thin pajamas, bringing a reassuring power.
But I still couldn't help but get distracted and frowned.
"Are you still thinking about your grades?" Lin Yan's low voice sounded in his ears, with a helpless smile.
"Hmm..." I responded muffledly, like an anxious little animal.
His warm palm slid down my back, with a soothing meaning, but gradually the taste changed.
Wherever his fingertips passed, tiny flames ignited. My body tensed involuntarily, then slowly relaxed under his skillful touch.
"I have a way..." His lips touched my sensitive earlobe, his breath hot, "It can make you... forget your nervousness temporarily."
"What's the solution?" I immediately asked, as if grasping at a life-saving straw.
Lin Yan didn't answer, but just chuckled and turned over.
His kiss was so powerful and full of burning desire that it could not be refused, and it instantly took away all my ability to breathe and think.
What followed was a more direct and violent possession.
"Um...Lin Yan...you..." My protest was blocked, and my body sank honestly under his control.
He seemed to want to completely scatter the chaotic thoughts in my mind. Every time, he had the force to push my soul out of my body and domineeringly occupied all my senses.
"Don't be distracted... Ruirui..." He panted and ordered in my ear, his movements becoming more and more fierce, "Look at me... Feel me..."
All the anxieties about grades and fears about the future were temporarily dispelled by this stormy intimacy. My mind was blank, and only the most primitive and intense reactions of my body and the man in front of me who controlled everything about me remained.
Later… Later, nothing really came to mind. Only exhaustion, contentment, and the peacefulness of sleeping in each other's arms, soaked in sweat. As for the postgraduate entrance exam results? Well… I'll tell you when I wake up tomorrow…
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