Chapter 34. Chapter 34. It really is my dad...that would be great. ...
Spring has arrived.
Jin Huan went to the mall again yesterday. Zhong Yan didn't have time, so she went shopping by herself and bought quite a few things.
She used the supplementary card that Zhong Yan gave her.
Zhong Yan was in a meeting when his phone kept receiving text messages about deductions. None of the amounts were large, but the frequency was just too high. So he messaged Jin Huan: "Let me know when you're done, and I'll send someone to pick you up."
Jin Huan is picking out clothes here.
In spring, I like bright and vibrant colors, like blooming flowers. A variety of colors can brighten my mood.
However, perhaps it's because I'm getting older now, I've started to prioritize comfort over style. I simply can't resist clothes that are really comfortable to wear, as soft as lying on a cloud. This is now my primary criterion for choosing clothes.
I bought four or five sets, and also purchased new pajamas.
She bought pajamas not only for herself, but also for Zhong Yan.
It's a couple's style.
Even now, when choosing pajamas, Jin Huan picks one up and imagines how Zhong Yan would look in it, measuring his figure. After all, except for the few days when she was physically unwell, she could be shoulder to shoulder and chest to chest with him almost every night, so she was quite confident in his physique.
So I decisively bought this set.
Wearing such soft clothes makes her even more eager to cuddle with Zhong Yan.
When she saw Zhong Yan's message after coming out, she couldn't help but laugh and replied, "No need, I have made plans to have afternoon tea with my aunt."
She bought a bit too much, but she knew what she was doing and wouldn't buy any more when she couldn't carry them anymore.
It was a little after 3 p.m. when we came out of the mall. Jin Huan took a taxi to her aunt's place.
Fang Shuyun has been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately.
When Jin Huan arrived, she was busy in the kitchen wearing an apron. She had just made a double-flavor tiramisu that morning and was putting it in the refrigerator to set. The whole kitchen smelled wonderful.
"This is a tomato and beef rib stew. I had it in Norway last time, and it was delicious. I found a tutorial and tried to recreate it when I got back." Fang Shuyun stewed the tomatoes until they were soft, then added the blanched beef ribs and put them in a clay pot to simmer over low heat. She followed the tutorial steps strictly, so it shouldn't turn out badly.
Fang Shuyun finished everything, washed her hands, took off her apron, and told Jin Huan to go to the refrigerator and get the tiramisu.
"This time we have mango and matcha flavors, I'm sure you'll like them." Fang Shuyun said as she prepared to make coffee. Jin Huan turned around and saw this, saying that she could try it too.
Fang Shuyun chuckled and teased, "You all know how to use a coffee machine now?"
She doesn't actually like drinking coffee that much, so of course she doesn't like touching the coffee machine. Fang Shuyun had mentioned teaching her a few times at home, but she always gave perfunctory answers and didn't want to learn.
Jin Huan smiled sheepishly: "Mr. Zhong taught me."
Zhong Yan loves coffee, so she also tries different coffee beans with him. Occasionally, when he is busy in his study, she makes herself a cup of coffee and brings it in for him.
Zhong Yan always praised her for doing a good job.
With his praise, she became more motivated, and now she can even make latte art on her own.
She was very proud of this and insisted on showing it to her aunt.
Make one for my aunt and one for my uncle, so they can both taste her cooking.
Fang Shuyun was right next to him, watching Jin Huan with a big smile on her face.
In the past six months, Jin Huan has gained a little weight. At her age, she is at her most attractive. With her head slightly lowered and her profile revealed, she is gentle and graceful, making it impossible for anyone to look away.
Jin Huan noticed, looked up, and smiled shyly: "Auntie, why are you staring at me like that?"
"You're getting prettier and prettier." Fang Shuyun reached out and pinched her cheek. "You've gotten a little chubby, like a round pebble."
Jin Huan is 1.65 meters tall. She used to be only in her early 90s. Her collarbone and waist were very thin. Over the years, Fang Shuyun had been trying to get her to gain some weight, but given her constitution, she couldn't eat too much and never gained weight.
Now is the perfect time.
Gaining about five or six pounds would be just right for her.
Jin Huan opened her mouth, still not quite believing she had gained weight, and exclaimed in surprise, "I exercise every night."
How can I gain weight even when I exercise?
Fang Shuyun teased her, "Looks like you ate too well."
The sun was shining brightly today. The aunt and niece sat on the balcony, eating desserts and drinking coffee. Fang Shuyun shared with her the flowers she had recently been growing. The season had arrived, and some had sprouted new buds, while others had already formed flower buds. Soon, they would all bloom.
Speaking of flowers, Jin Huan recalled that when Zhong Yan went on a business trip last time, she also bought two potted plants. She always forgot to water them and almost forgot about their existence. She wondered how they were doing now.
They even said they were waiting for it to bloom.
As they chatted, the topic turned to Zhong Yan.
Fang Shuyun knew that Jin Huan had liked him from the beginning, and that being able to like someone was a very precious thing, so when she said she wanted to get married, Fang Shuyun did not object.
Zhong Yan is a decent and reliable person. Whether he likes it or not, he will never let anyone suffer any grievances with him.
This is what reassured Fang Shuyun the most.
“Mr. Zhong taught me a lot.” Jin Huan’s eyes lit up when she mentioned him, and the sweet taste of cream lingered on her tongue, rolling around like his name.
Needless to say, Zhong Yan would help her monitor her data and organize it before each group meeting. He would listen to her about the difficulties she encountered in her thesis and work with her to find solutions. Zhong Yan would also spare no effort to teach her some ways of dealing with people and principles.
Jin Huan was certain that she would rarely meet someone as good as Mr. Zhong again.
It's not so much difficult as it's almost impossible.
That sounds really good. Fang Shuyun nodded and asked, "Does he like you?"
Jin Huan paused for a moment when asked this question, then softly replied, "I like it."
Zhong Yan was much older than her, and he loved her more from the perspective of an elder, like a mother doting on her child, much like an aunt would dote on her.
Jin Huan could sense this; after all, compared to him, she was too naive, and she felt that such affection was enough for her.
People shouldn't be too greedy. Having always lost and gained little since childhood, I know even more that I shouldn't be greedy.
She felt very happy living her life this way.
In two days it will be Jin Huan's father's birthday, who is also Fang Shu Yun's brother. After he remarried, he and his new wife have not had any more children. This year on his birthday, he specifically told Fang Shu Yun that he hoped Jin Huan could also come and have a meal with them.
As people get older, they begin to yearn for family affection, which is a principle close to the laws of nature.
Fang Shuyun was still hesitating whether or not to tell Jin Huan about this.
Fang Shuyun knew that Jin Huan hadn't had much contact with her father over the years and wouldn't send her messages during holidays. On the other hand, he was indeed her father, and blood ties couldn't be erased.
She's married now and has her own family, so it's better for her to make some decisions for herself.
Thinking of this, Fang Shuyun still told her.
Jin Huan had absolutely no recollection of this date.
He hadn't mentioned having dinner with her on his birthday for so many years, but now that he was saying he wanted to, Jin Huan hesitated and asked, "Does he want me to come?"
Fang Shuyun nodded, that's what she meant.
Jin Huan's first reaction was unwilling.
She and his new wife had barely met, and had no communication or contact whatsoever. It was the same with him; asking her to come over for dinner by herself would be incredibly awkward.
She had long since stopped caring about this father.
Jin Huan lowered her head and fell silent.
She didn't know what to do.
When she was little, she really envied other people who had such good fathers. A father is a solid wall that will shield you from storms, but she had never had such a wall.
Jin Huan didn't immediately refuse. She cautiously asked Fang Shuyun, "He wants to see me...is there something he needs?"
Fang Shuyun hesitated, clearly prioritizing her enjoyment over her brother's instructions.
So she briefly explained the situation to her.
So that's how it is... The reason he thought of her again after so many years was because he was nearly fifty years old and still didn't have any new children, so he resorted to thinking of her, the abandoned child.
But Jin Huan didn't refuse immediately; she said she'd have to think about it.
When she got home in the evening, Jin Huan first went to look at the flowers she had bought last time.
Although she often forgot to water it, her aunt had been taking care of it, and several small flower buds had sprouted from the green shoots. It looked like it would bloom in a couple of days.
Jin Huan stared at the flowerpot in front of her, unable to help but recall the past.
Her father was a very traditional and old-fashioned man. He was not very close to her when she was young. Even if Jin Huan fell down and cried, he would not carry her on his back. He would just tell her to wipe away her tears and get up by herself.
Jin Huan gradually learned to stop having any hope for him.
In the end, the result will be the same anyway.
Jin Huan was lost in thought when she saw Zhong Yan's figure reflected in the glass. She turned around and, sure enough, saw that it was him who had returned.
Jin Huan was pleasantly surprised to see him come back half an hour early today. She rushed over and hugged him, instantly smiling and excitedly saying, "You're back so early today!"
Zhong Yan smiled and asked her, "What are you daydreaming about?"
He only noticed it when he was already behind him.
“Look at the flowers I bought.” Jin Huan pointed to the balcony and proudly told him, “They will all bloom together soon.”
Zhong Yan: "You raised it?"
Jin Huan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Zhong Yan's eyes were full of laughter as he casually exposed her: "I told Auntie to remember to water it."
Jin Huan smiled sheepishly and admitted, "That really only counts as half of my responsibility."
Jin Huan ran to the sofa and showed Zhong Yan the spoils she had bought that day.
She wouldn't show him a few of her clothes; that was a secret. It would be more interesting to wear them later. What she wanted to show him were the matching pajamas she bought for him, and two ties she specially bought for Zhong Yan.
A brown textured tie and a light silver irregular-edged tie, both with an Italian style, immediately reminded Jin Huan of how Zhong Yan would look wearing them.
Jin Huan suggested that Zhong Yan try it on next time.
She had it all planned out. He had several suits in his wardrobe that would go well with this, as well as matching tie clips. Jin Huan thought they would look amazing together.
Zhong Yan ran his fingers over the fabric of the tie; it was velvet, and it felt wonderful to the touch. He seemed to appreciate it; his taste in choosing things was excellent, which was commendable. Zhong Yan said softly, "Thank you."
Jin Huan couldn't help but laugh again, and reminded him apologetically, "It was your money that was spent."
“What’s mine is yours,” Zhong Yan corrected her.
Zhong Yan took off his coat and draped it over his arm. He saw Jin Huan staring at him thoughtfully. Then she sighed and muttered softly, "I was thinking... I wish you were really my dad."
“Where is it good?” Her voice was very soft, but Zhong Yan still heard it. He looked at her intently and said, “Jin Huan, I will not do such a heinous thing.”
He shouldn't be capable of doing something like that.
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