Chapter 28: Aunt's Visit
Standing outside the door was indeed my aunt Wang Meifeng and her son, Wang Hao, a recent college graduate with a rather arrogant look on his face. Wang Meifeng was carrying a fruit basket that looked like a supermarket sale. An overly enthusiastic smile was plastered on her face, but her eyes, like searchlights, darted around as soon as she entered the room.
"Oh! Lingling! Long time no see, I miss you so much!" Zhang Guifang said in a loud voice, squeezing in without saying anything. Her eyes swept across the cozy but definitely not luxurious living room, and a hint of subtle contempt flashed across her eyes. She saw Yu Jianbang and Li Xiulan sitting on the sofa and exclaimed exaggeratedly: "Sister! Brother-in-law! You are here too! What a coincidence! Haohao and I happened to be working nearby, and we thought of Lingling, so we came to see her." She turned her gaze to Zhao Chen, who had just walked over, and looked him up and down, lingering for a few seconds on his "affordable" shirt and jeans, and curled her lips.
"Aunt, Haohao, come in and sit down," Yu Ling said, suppressing her discomfort. Wang Hao followed behind, perfunctorily calling out "Auntie, Uncle." He didn't even glance at Zhao Chen, instead pulling out his phone and playing with it.
Wang Meifeng casually placed the shabby fruit basket on the entrance cabinet (a clean countertop Zhao Chen had specially cleaned that morning) and plopped down on the sofa, occupying the best seat. She took Li Xiulan's hand and exchanged seemingly warm greetings, but the topic quickly turned to Yu Ling.
"Sister, I'm not saying anything bad about you," Zhang Guifang patted the back of Li Xiulan's hand, her voice filled with exaggerated regret. "I advised you from the beginning. Lingling has such good conditions, is good-looking, and is a college student. She works in a big city. She must find a local man with a house and a car! Look at her now..." She deliberately dragged out her tone and glanced at Zhao Chen meaningfully. "She's renting a house and living a tight life. How unfair it is to our Lingling! A girl's youth is only a few years long. You can't afford to waste it!"
Yu Ling's face instantly darkened. Yu Jianbang also frowned, but due to their relationship, he didn't react immediately. Li Xiulan's smile froze, and she looked at her daughter and son-in-law with some embarrassment.
Zhao Chen came over with a plate of cut fruit, a gentle smile still on his face, as if he didn't hear the sting in Wang Meifeng's words. He placed the fruit on the coffee table and said politely, "Aunt, Haohao, have some fruit."
Wang Meifeng seemed not to hear and continued her performance, pointing the finger directly at Zhao Chen: "Xiao Zhao, don't mind your aunt speaking frankly. Which company do you work for? How much money can you make in a month? Is it enough for Lingling to spend? I heard that the cost of living in big cities is very high now!" As she spoke, she crossed her legs and tapped her knees with her fingers painted with bright red nail polish, looking down at her.
Wang Hao also raised his head at the right time and sneered with the sarcasm typical of young people: "Mom, do you even need to ask this? Looking at his appearance, he is probably just a low-level programmer, making tens of thousands of yuan a month at most. What can he do? Sister Lingling won't be able to afford a decent bag if she follows him, right? My girlfriend's bags cost tens of thousands!" He shook the obviously imitation brand-name watch on his wrist, feeling very superior.
The atmosphere in the living room instantly plummeted to a freezing point. Yu Ling was trembling with anger, her fingers tightly clutching the corner of her clothes. Yu Jianbang's face turned pale, and he was about to start a scolding.
Zhao Chen, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly smiled. It wasn't a sneer, but a smile that was a bit shy and awkward, as if he'd been asked an awkward question by an elder. He scratched his head, like a young man who had just entered society, his tone sincere yet a bit silly:
"Auntie, you're right. My job relies on my skills, and I earn my money through hard work. I really can't compare to Haohao's girlfriend." He paused, as if suddenly remembering something. He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious, with an anxious concern that made him panic. "By the way, Auntie! You and Haohao haven't been involved in any high-return investments lately, right? I've been reading the news these past two days, and it's really scared me!"
When he asked this question, the tone of the scene suddenly changed and everyone was stunned.
Zhao Chen took out his cell phone (an ordinary-looking domestic thousand-yuan phone), and swiped his fingers clumsily across the screen, his brows furrowed, his tone worried: "It's that 'Jinxin Wealth'! The news said it was a big scam! It specifically defrauded middle-aged and elderly people! They promised an annualized return of 30 to 40 percent, but ended up running away with tens of billions! Many elderly people like you, my aunt, who have lived frugally all their lives, have had their savings swindled out of them! Oh, that scene, with so much crying and wailing, it was so tragic!" As he spoke, he brought the phone screen close to Wang Meifeng, on which was a shocking headline push from the local news APP about the collapse of "Jinxin Wealth".
The smugness and harshness on Wang Meifeng's face froze instantly, as if she had been punched in the face. The blood drained away completely, and her eyes were filled with fear! She stared at Zhao Chen's phone screen, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word.
Wang Hao's movements of playing with his mobile phone also froze, his face became extremely ugly, and his eyes avoided.
Zhao Chen seemed to be completely unaware of their abnormality. He was still immersed in his own "worry", and his tone became heavier: "And that 'original stock of overseas mines'! It's also a scam! What about Australian gold mines and African diamond mines? They are all exaggerated, but in fact they are just pyramid schemes! Many people have lost their fortunes and their houses have been mortgaged! The police said that this kind of case is the most difficult to recover money! Aunt, you and uncle, and Haohao, please keep your eyes open and don't be fooled by these fancy things! It's not easy to save some money!" He spoke earnestly, his eyes were sincere, and he was full of deep worry about the safety of his relatives' wallets. He was just like a simple and honest young man who was too concerned and spoke without restraint.
"I...we..." Wang Meifeng's face turned pale, cold sweat instantly breaking out on her forehead. She glanced in horror at her equally pale son, Wang Hao. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she suddenly jumped up from the sofa, her voice distorted: "Um...Big sister! Brother-in-law! Lingling! Xiao Zhao! I...I suddenly remembered that the gas stove at home seems to be on! I have to go back and check! Haohao! Let's go!"
She spoke incoherently, pulled up the still dazed Wang Hao, and almost fled, forgetting even to take the shabby fruit basket. Her hurried back looked so miserable, and there was no trace of the harshness and superiority she had just had.
"Bang!" The door was slammed shut.
The living room was silent.
Yu Jianbang and Li Xiulan exchanged bewilderment, still struggling to process this sudden turn of events. Yu Ling, however, stood stunned, her heart awash with turmoil! Zhao Chen… How did he know her aunt's family had been scammed out of money by Jinxin Wealth? And that he even knew about Wang Hao's obsession with "overseas mines"? His words, seemingly innocent and caring, were actually piercing, striking directly at the most painful wounds for Zhang Guifang and her son! How could this be called "unbridled speech"? This was clearly a bloodless, soft-hearted attack! The pinnacle of playing the pig and catching the tiger!
She suddenly looked at Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen had put away his phone, and the expression of concern for the country and the people on his face disappeared instantly, returning to a gentle and harmless smile, as if he had just casually chatted about social news. He picked up an apple and handed it to the still dazed Li Xiulan, saying in a relaxed and natural tone, "Mom, eat an apple. Auntie's memory... is really impulsive."
Yu Ling looked at his gentle, respectful, and modest face, then at the lingering confusion and growing approval of Zhao Chen's "sincerity" and "concern for his relatives" on her parents' faces. A chill mixed with an indescribable shock shot from the soles of her feet to her head. This man... was terrifying. His mind was as deep as the ocean, and his methods... were subtle yet always effective.
Yu Ling's parents are retired teachers from Yicheng Middle School in a third-tier city. This time, the school organized a tour for the retired teachers near Haicheng. They came to see their daughter and son-in-law in advance. After seeing them, they felt relieved. After giving them many instructions, they said goodbye to their daughter and son-in-law and went to meet up with the school teachers.
After seeing off the delighted parents, who were effusive in their praise for their son-in-law, the door to 1601 gently closed, shutting out the outside world. The living room instantly fell silent, save for the city lights outside the window and the warm yellow light overhead.
The warmth and bustle of the moment receded like the tide, leaving only a shrouded silence and a faint sense of awkwardness. Yu Ling leaned against the wall of the entrance hall and let out a long, silent sigh. Her nerves, strained all day, finally relaxed, and with them came a profound sense of exhaustion. Acting was truly exhausting. Especially in front of her parents, with this enigmatic man beside her, performing a play called "Peaceful Years."
Zhao Chen also withdrew the impeccable, gentle smile he had worn towards his parents-in-law, a subtle hint of fatigue etched across his brow. He walked over to Yu Ling, not getting too close, but simply looking at her quietly, his eyes complex, a hint of cautious inquiry and the calmness of awaiting judgment.
Silence stretched between the two.
In the end, it was Yu Ling who spoke first, her voice a little hoarse, filled with fatigue and confusion: "Zhao Chen... who are you?" She raised her head and looked directly into his deep amber eyes, trying to find a trace of real cracks in them, "You did a great job tonight... so good that it scared me. So good... that it made me feel like I've never known the real you." There was no anger in her voice, only deep confusion and a sense of powerlessness of being isolated.
Zhao Chen's Adam's apple rolled. He didn't avoid her gaze; it was honest, yet also filled with a heavy sense of helplessness. "Lingling," he whispered her name, his voice strangely soothing. "I'm still me. The Zhao Chen who wants to fry you an egg, pick you up from work, and protect you from any grievances. That hasn't changed."
He paused, took a small step forward, closing the distance, and lowered his voice. "As for the rest... I admit, I've hidden things. A lot," he admitted frankly, his eyes earnest. "But I can assure you, none of what I've hidden was out of malice, and it will never hurt you in the slightest. Quite the contrary, Lingling, it's precisely to protect the peace we have now, to shield you from those... disturbances you don't want to be involved in, that I've chosen this temporary disguise."
His eyes swept across the living room - the simple furniture that was temporarily replaced and the discounted coasters from the supermarket all spoke of the efforts he made to maintain this "ordinariness".
"Just like tonight," he continued, his tone tinged with a barely perceptible hint of self-mockery. "If Mom and Dad knew the truth, they might be shocked, or ecstatic, but what would follow would be endless worry, speculation, and even some... troubles beyond our control. They'd worry that you wouldn't be able to handle this kind of life, that you'd be wronged, that this relationship would sour. Lingling, do you want to see them like that? Do you want our relationship to be burdened with those heavy things that don't belong to it from the very beginning?"
He reached out his hand, this time, slowly and firmly, and gently grasped Yu Ling's slightly cold hand. His palm was warm and dry, with an unquestionable strength.
"Give me some time, Lingling." He stared into her eyes, each word clear and solemn. "When the time is right, a time when you can be free from any interference and truly understand and accept it, I will tell you everything. Without reservation. And now..."
He exerted a little force and held her hand tightly, his eyes filled with an almost pious promise and an inextricable tenderness:
"Please believe that all my initial intentions and my ultimate goal are only you. To protect you, to make you feel at ease, to make you happy, and to keep you safe from all wind and rain. This is my 'identity', my only and eternal identity - your husband, Zhao Chen."
His words were deep and powerful, like a warm current, trying to melt the ice and doubts in Yu Ling's heart. Under the warm yellow light, his eyes were crystal clear, reflecting her pale face. Complex emotions surged within them—honesty, helplessness, pleading, but at the deepest level, a deep and burning love that she could not deny.
Yu Ling's heart was deeply scorched by the burning gaze and solemn promise. All the anger, suspicion, and fear seemed to become somewhat powerless at this moment. She looked at him, this mysterious man, the man who tied an apron for her, shielded her from rumors, and carefully wove a "normal" world for her. His palms were so warm, his eyes so sincere...
Fatigue surged over her like a tide, drowning out those sharp emotions. She was so exhausted, too exhausted to discern, to tear them apart. Maybe… maybe it really just took a little time? Perhaps, trusting the warmth in his eyes at that moment was the only thing she could cling to?
She didn't break free from his hand, nor did she nod. She simply lowered her eyes wearily, her long lashes casting a small shadow beneath them. Her voice was so soft it sounded like a sigh: "...I'm tired, Zhao Chen."
Zhao Chen looked at her exhausted and fragile appearance, feeling as if something had tugged at his heart. He said nothing more, simply squeezed her hand tighter, then released it naturally, wrapping his arm around her shoulders instead, his movements gentle yet filled with an undeniable care.
"Okay, let's rest." His voice was low and gentle, like coaxing a frightened child. He held her in his arms and walked towards the bedroom step by step, using his body to block her from the still unknown and silent living room behind her.
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