Chapter 50
Zhou Wenjuan sat beside her daughter, her back straight, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, a hint of unnatural tension etched in her. She looked at the imposing young man in the front row, then at her daughter beside her. She leaned back in her chair with an unprecedented sense of relaxation, even... dependence? Meanwhile, Jiang Yu, though pale and slightly stiff from his injuries, remained upright, his profile stern. Only when he occasionally glanced at his daughter through the rearview mirror would a hint of restrained gentleness slip through his lips.
The gap. A vast disparity stretched before Zhou Wenjuan like an invisible chasm. Her daughter's faded cotton and linen shirt, compared to Jiang Yu's exquisitely crafted, impeccably tailored dark gray trench coat; her daughter's delicate soapy scent, compared to Jiang Yu's subtle, high-end perfume; her daughter's fingers, slightly calloused from long hours at a desk, compared to Jiang Yu's hands, resting on her knee, their distinct joints, a look of pampered luxury...
Every detail silently reminds Zhou Wenjuan of those words: not a good match.
She thought back to her daughter's words last night, and Jiang Yu's solemn bow and promise at her late husband's grave. She felt his sincerity, but the cold reality left her feeling unable to truly reassure herself. She even regretted her compromise last night. This Jiang Yu was too brilliant, too dazzling, and too... complicated. Could her daughter's humble background and the vast family behind him truly be compatible?
The car pulled into Jincheng's old town, and familiar street scenes flashed past the window. Dilapidated buildings, narrow streets, a bustling market... all of this seemed so out of place with the silent, reserved man in the back seat. Zhou Wenjuan's heart sank, her fingers clenched so tightly they almost dug into her palms.
"Driver, please stop at the next intersection. I need to buy something." Xia Wan's voice broke the silence. She pointed to an old-fashioned bakery on the side of the road that had been open for many years. "Dad used to love the peach cakes here the most." Her voice was soft, with a hint of nostalgia.
"I'll go down with you." Jiang Yu spoke almost at the same time in a low voice.
"No need, just sit down!" Xia Wan replied immediately, "Your injury hasn't healed yet, don't move. I'll be back soon." She pushed open the car door without saying a word and walked quickly towards the slightly old pastry shop.
Zhou Wenjuan watched her daughter's nimble figure disappear at the door of the store, and then looked at Jiang Yu, who was sitting on the seat and really stopped moving after being "commanded" by his daughter, but his eyes were always following his daughter's back. The complicated feeling in her heart became even stronger.
There were only three people left in the carriage, and the atmosphere became even more subtle.
Jiang Yu's gaze withdrew from the pastry shop and fell on Zhou Wenjuan's tense silhouette. He was silent for a few seconds, as if considering his words. Then, he spoke, his voice low and clear, with the respect he expected of an elder, yet still composed:
"Auntie, I'm really sorry for coming here without permission. I should have visited you earlier, but I heard that Xia Wan was back, and it happened to be...Uncle Xia's death anniversary, so I followed you here abruptly." His wording was extremely appropriate, explaining the act of "following" as concern after "hearing" and the coincidence of "coinciding".
Zhou Wenjuan hadn't expected him to initiate the conversation, much less to apologize so politely. She awkwardly turned around, forcing a forced smile. "Mr. Jiang... you're so polite. It's so thoughtful of you to... come visit Wanwan's dad."
"It's my duty." Jiang Yu nodded slightly, looking frankly into Zhou Wenjuan's scrutinizing and worried eyes. "I know that my presence and my family background may cause you a lot of concerns and worries."
His direct statement made Zhou Wenjuan stunned, and the polite words she had prepared got stuck in her throat.
"I understand your concerns." Jiang Yu's voice was calm, without any excuses, only statements. "'Equally matched' is a reality, and it's the basis for many people to judge marriage. My family... is indeed somewhat special. My mother's attitude must have put pressure on Xia Wan, and it must have made you uneasy."
He mentioned Jiang's mother! Zhou Wenjuan's heart suddenly jumped and she looked at him nervously.
"I can't promise you that the road ahead will be smooth sailing and without obstacles." Jiang Yu's eyes were calm and frank, without any evasion. "My family has its own rules and barriers. If Xia Wan joins it, she will inevitably face challenges and scrutiny, and even... grievances."
His bluntness was almost cruel, and Zhou Wenjuan's face turned pale instantly.
"But," Jiang Yu changed the subject, his tone becoming unusually firm, carrying a heavy weight, "What I can promise you is that no matter what happens, I will stand in front of Xia Wan and do my best to withstand those storms. I respect everything about her, including her background, her family, her work, and her dreams. She doesn't need to change herself to please anyone. She just needs to be Xia Wan."
He paused, his eyes sweeping across the old pastry shop outside the car window. Xia Wan was walking out carrying a plain brown paper bag. The sunlight fell on her, giving her a warm halo.
"As for my parents," Jiang Yu retracted his gaze and looked back at Zhou Wenjuan with a deep look in his eyes. "I will communicate with them and strive for their understanding and acceptance. This takes time and requires a method. But this is my responsibility, not Xia Wan's." His tone was filled with unquestionable responsibility. "Please... give me some time. And please believe that I chose Xia Wan not on impulse, but because she is Xia Wan. She is the light I have found again... amidst the ruins."
Those last words struck Zhou Wenjuan like a hammer. "Above the ruins," "rediscovered light"… Though she didn't fully grasp the meaning, she could sense their weight and… an indescribable sense of vicissitude. This young man, it seemed, also had a dark and burdensome past.
"Sister, your future son-in-law is great..." The driver also sighed after hearing this.
Zhou Wenjuan just smiled and said nothing.
Xia Wan opened the car door and got in, bringing with her a sweet scent of peach crisps, breaking the solemn atmosphere in the car.
"I bought it. It's fresh from the last batch." She handed the paper bag to her mother with a smile, then looked at Jiang Yu naturally, "Would you like to try it? My dad said that the taste of this peach cake has remained unchanged for decades."
"Okay," Jiang Yu agreed, naturally reaching out to take a piece from Xia Wan. There was no hesitation or disdain in his movements, as if this ordinary snack from a roadside shop was some kind of delicacy.
Zhou Wenjuan looked at the natural smile on her daughter's face, looked at Jiang Yu's calm attitude when he took the peach cake, and then recalled his heavy words just now. The high wall called "family status" in her heart seemed to have quietly loosened a little.
Back at the familiar old residential complex, Xia Wan and Zhou Wenjuan got out of the car.
"Mom, you go up first. I want to talk to Jiang Yu." Xia Wan said to her mother.
Zhou Wenjuan glanced at her daughter, then looked at Jiang Yu, who was standing by the car, his posture upright but his sickly face could not be concealed. She nodded and went upstairs with her things.
There were only two people downstairs. The early summer afternoon sun was warm and the neighborhood was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
"The wound... does it still hurt?" Xia Wan looked at Jiang Yu's still pale face, her eyes fell on his right arm covered by his windbreaker, and her voice was full of concern.
"Not bad." Jiang Yu moved his shoulders, frowning slightly out of habit, but his tone was relaxed, "I'm used to it."
Xia Wan looked at him trying to hold on and felt uncomfortable: "How did you know I was here? And... you came here so early?" This was the biggest question in her heart.
Jiang Yu was silent for a moment, his deep gaze falling on her face, with a complex emotion: "Didn't you say there was a meeting in the hospital? Just ask your dean and you'll know, you little liar. As for why you came..." He paused, his voice lowered a little, "Yesterday afternoon I wanted to... pick you up after get off work."
"And then?" Xia Wan asked.
"And then... we didn't find him." Jiang Yu avoided the main point and looked away. "I heard Lin Wei mention that your father... passed away at this time. I guessed you might be in a bad mood. It just so happens... I also want to go out for a walk."
Xia Wan saw his averted gaze and understood. She didn't ask any more questions, but just sighed softly: "Don't do this next time. Your injury..."
"Xia Wan," Jiang Yu suddenly interrupted her, his voice strangely low and tense. He turned his head, his gaze fixed on her, as if to penetrate her soul. "You were too polite yesterday. I was afraid you'd just disappear. Don't leave like this without a word. You promised me!"
Xia Wan's heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, aching and aching, yet also enveloped by a surge of warmth. She looked at the man before her, stripped of all his glory, wounded and vulnerable, revealing his vulnerability and self-blame. She saw the heavy, almost humble plea in his eyes, and all her defenses instantly crumbled.
She didn't say anything, but stretched out her hands and hugged him back tightly with all her strength. She buried her face deeply in his embrace that smelled of medicine, greedily breathing in his soothing scent.
Jiang Yu's body suddenly stiffened, and then he used his uninjured left arm to tightly embrace her, with a sense of cherishment that had been lost and regained. He rested his chin on the top of her head and let out a long, contented sigh.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling onto the two people hugging each other. Downstairs in the old residential complex, time seemed to become gentle and long at this moment.
"Wanwan, ask Mr. Jiang to come up for dinner!"
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