Chapter 17 Climbing Mountains
"Song Yilin, right? Don't be nervous. I mean you no harm. Aqing often talks about you, and his eyes are always full of smiles when he does. It's just that these past few years, Aqing has been going to Yishi to see you almost every week, and it breaks my heart as his mother. I know you two are seriously dating, so there are some things I need to tell you first. Our family isn't exactly rich, but we're considered well-known in Jianghai City. Aqing will most likely inherit his father's business in the future, so you need to learn some manners and etiquette. We can't do too much for the men in the family, and we can't bring shame to them, right?"
Song Yilin finally understood. On the surface, Ms. Xu did not object to her being with Xu Qingmin, and even if Xu Qingmin insisted on marrying Song Yilin, Ms. Xu would agree. However, she would have to adapt to many of the rules of the Xu family.
Ms. Xu paused for a moment and then said, "Aqing will be attending many occasions in the future, so you need to learn how to dress, your style, and your sense of fashion. If you have the chance, ask your parents to arrange for you to study abroad to enrich yourself, so that you and Aqing will look like a well-matched couple in the future."
Ms. Xu never explicitly said she didn't want her son to marry her, but every sentence she uttered mentioned that Song Yilin was unworthy of her.
Anyone who lives here can figure out that Song Yilin doesn't have the means to go abroad. Even if she did, it would cost her parents their entire life savings.
If Song Yilin were to gamble everything on marrying into a wealthy family and go abroad to study, preparing her entire outfit, her family would be burdened with enormous debt. At that point, even without Ms. Xu's intervention, Xu Qingmin would not like someone who acts without considering the consequences.
They're not fools; they're all cunning. They can tell whether someone truly wants Song Yilin as their daughter-in-law.
Ms. Xu left after she finished speaking. Her lips were already chapped when she left, but she never drank the water that Song Yilin had prepared.
After Ms. Xu left, Song Yilin made a point of looking at her from the balcony.
As soon as Ms. Xu left the building, she deliberately looked back at Song Yilin's balcony.
An auntie in the neighborhood was selling lemonade with two shoulder poles. Ms. Xu bought a cup and drank it all in one go.
That auntie often comes to her neighborhood. There's old mud in that basket, and flies often follow the lemonade.
If Ms. Xu didn't buy this water, Song Yilin would assume that she was just a germaphobe who didn't drink other people's water. But clearly, the water sold by the rural woman carrying a shoulder pole was not as clean as the water Song Yilin had prepared, which was a cup that Song Yilin had repeatedly sterilized.
Song Yilin knew that her desire to break up with Xu Qingmin wasn't just because of her mother's disdain for her; her mother's visit had only fueled her determination to end the relationship.
This relationship was exhausting, but she felt guilty when she thought about all the effort Xu Qingmin had put in over the past period.
She could give Xu Qingmin nothing.
Xu Qingmin texted her, inviting her to go hiking that afternoon.
Perhaps this was their last date.
She carefully applied makeup, changed into a dress, and put on a pair of high heels.
When Xu Qingmin saw her, he almost died laughing.
"Song Yilin, why do you look like a New Year's painting?"
Song Yilin's skills were limited, and this was her first time wearing full makeup. Xu Qingmin's laughter made her want to dig a hole and run away, but thinking of her purpose today, she stayed.
"I just wanted to make a good impression on you."
Xu Qingmin paused for a moment before realizing what he meant: "You're willing to dress up for me? Let's go, tell me if you're tired."
Xu Qingmin's strong hands led Song Yilin up the mountain.
Halfway up the mountain, Song Yilin was too exhausted to walk any further. She had been so focused on looking beautiful that she had forgotten what kind of shoes she should wear for hiking.
Xu Qingmin squatted down in front of her: "Get on, I'll carry you."
"No need, I'll insist. This mountain isn't that high."
This mountain could be considered a park, and most elderly women could easily climb it. She was so young, and she only made it halfway up before having to be carried, which made her a laughingstock.
But Xu Qingmin wouldn't let her, insisting that she come up. Song Yilin couldn't persuade Xu Qingmin otherwise, so she let him carry her.
Xu Qingmin carried her up to the top of the mountain in one breath. Looking at the city's night view, Xu Qingmin hugged her from behind.
"Song Yilin, let's get married after graduation, okay?"
A tear fell from Song Yilin's eye onto the back of Xu Qingmin's hand. Xu Qingmin truly loved her with his utmost sincerity; it would be a lie to say she wasn't moved.
Xu Qingmin tried his best to be with her, but there were too many problems between them that could not be solved by effort alone.
"Why are you crying? Are you too moved?"
Xu Qingmin kissed away her tears and whispered in her ear, "From now on, I will protect you from the storms of this world. You can live a quiet and peaceful life as a beautiful lady, arranging flowers and strolling around town every day."
Xu Qingmin's words forced Song Yilin to suppress her emotions.
She didn't want to be a rich lady, nor did she want to be a caged bird. She was herself and didn't want to depend on Xu Qingmin for survival.
But Xu Qingmin's identity requires a sophisticated and charming socialite, a canary mingling in the social circles of wealthy women.
"It's getting late, let's go back."
"Then I'll carry you on my back."
"No need, I'll ask you to carry me if I can't walk anymore."
Xu Qingmin didn't insist. Halfway there, he stopped in front of her again: "Come on up."
On Xu Qingmin's back, Xu Qingmin's arms were tightly wrapped around her legs.
"Song Yilin, you're quite heavy."
Song Yilin struggled to get down.
"Put me down."
"I'm not talking about weight, but that you are my whole world, so you are heavy."
Song Yilin tightly hugged Xu Qingmin's arm with both hands, resting her head on Xu Qingmin's shoulder.
Xu Qingmin felt Song Yilin's head resting on his shoulder: "You're so easily moved? Then I'll say more in the future."
Song Yilin bit Xu Qingmin's shoulder: "You smooth talker."
After descending the mountain, Xu Qingmin was covered in sweat. It was already hot in the summer, and he had carried her up and down the mountain.
Xu Qingmin pointed to the hotel next door: "Let's go there and get a room to take a shower, I'm so hot."
Book a room?
Book a room?
Does it mean booking a hotel room as a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship?
Song Yilin's mind snapped back to reality as if she'd been electrocuted.
Xu Qingmin pinched her cheek: "I'm hot, why are you thinking so much? Let's walk faster, I'll buy you some flat shoes at the hotel while I'm at it."
With a flushed face, Song Yilin followed Xu Qingmin into the hotel. After checking in, Xu Qingmin didn't rush into the room but first bought Song Yilin a pair of beach shoes.
"Try it on and see if it fits."
Song Yilin took off her high heels and put on beach shoes, her feet seeming to have been reborn.
Let's go.
Xu Qingmin took her hand and led her into the room.
Xu Qingmin expertly inserted the card and turned on the light: "Why don't you watch some TV, and find a movie while you're at it? We can watch it together in a bit."
After arranging things for Xu Qingmin, Song Yilin went to take a shower. She was a little confused and randomly picked a movie to watch.
Song Yilin randomly picked a foreign movie, which looked like a pure romance film. She watched the beginning and Xu Qingmin left.
"Go take a shower."
Song Yilin's heart skipped a beat when she heard Xu Qingmin's voice: "No, I'll wash it when I get home."
Xu Qingmin laughed and leaned his head close to Song Yilin: "I told you, if I wanted you, I would definitely ask if you agreed. I've already paid for the room, isn't it a waste if you don't take a shower?"
Song Yilin dawdled into the bathroom. After climbing the mountain for half a day, taking a shower was indeed very comfortable.
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