Chapter 116: Ending 2: Happy Ending
In the Lu family, with the second treasure Lu Ziyi getting engaged, the fourth treasure Lu Zimo falling in love, and the third treasure Lu Ziyu also finding a good match, the lively atmosphere in the family is becoming more and more intense. However, the lifelong affairs of the eldest treasure Lu Ziqian and the fifth treasure Lu Zichen are still like two heavy stones, pressing on Jiang Ruoxi's heart.
Lu Zichen spends the whole day at the research institute, and is often elusive. Jiang Ruoxi has difficulty finding a chance to worry about him; and Lu Ziqian is often at home, so he becomes the subject of her thoughts.
The repeated urgings were like a tight hoop that Lu Ziqian could no longer resist. Finally, he left a message saying he was going out to collect folk songs, then fled in a hurry with his bag on his back, looking for a quiet place.
This time, Lu Ziqian stepped into a quaint town. On the first day we arrived, the weather was not good and dense rain fell like silver threads.
In order to avoid the rain, he hurriedly ran under an eaves, but was pleasantly surprised to meet Lemon, a girl from Beijing who was also there to collect folk songs. This rain seemed like an opportunity specially arranged by fate, bringing two strangers' hearts closer together.
Lemon was wearing a plain long dress and holding a light blue parasol. She looked like a person in a painting in the misty rain. The two hid under the eaves and started chatting naturally. Lu Ziqian learned that Lemon was a painter and this was not her first time to come to this ancient town.
"Every time I come here, it seems to have magical powers, and it always brings me different inspirations." Lemon's eyes are sparkling, full of love for the ancient town.
Lu Ziqian listened quietly. The irritability caused by the rainy day quietly dissipated in her gentle words, and was replaced by the tranquility that welled up from the depths of his heart.
After the rain stopped, the two walked towards the B&B together. Fate seemed to be particularly kind to them. Not only did they book the same B&B, but their rooms were also adjacent.
Lemon suggested enthusiastically: "Let's change our clothes and go out for dinner together! I'm familiar with this place and can take you to try authentic food and visit some fun places." Lu Ziqian readily agreed.
Over the next fifteen days, every bluestone road in the ancient town was left with their footprints. They walked through the ancient streets, tasting the soft, sweet osmanthus cake and steaming wontons; in the shops filled with exquisite handicrafts, they picked out small items that carried memories; together they climbed the small hill at the edge of the town and overlooked the curling smoke and sunset glow of the entire ancient town.
With Lemon's company, Lu Ziqian not only gained rich writing materials, but also an indescribable warmth and happiness.
The day of separation finally arrived. The two stood at the intersection of the ancient town, left each other their home contact numbers, and agreed to have coffee together when they were free in the future.
After Lu Ziqian returned home, life seemed to have returned to normal, but his mind often wandered away. He often sat at his desk, staring at the little gift Lemon gave him, his eyes full of longing and attachment.
Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi quickly noticed something was wrong with their son. Jiang Ruoxi was filled with worry and urged Lu Tingxiao to go and ask about the situation. Carrying his wife's instructions, Lu Tingxiao knocked on Lu Ziqian's door.
"Please come in." Lu Ziqian's voice came from inside the house.
Lu Tingxiao opened the door, walked over to sit next to his son, and asked softly, "Ziqian, you've been distracted these past few days. Is something bothering you? Your mom is so worried, so I came to ask you."
Lu Ziqian hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Dad, I seem to have fallen in love with a girl, but I don't know how to tell her. I feel very conflicted."
"Do you need help from your parents?" Lu Tingxiao asked with concern.
Lu Ziqian thought for a while and said, "I want to try it myself first. If I can't solve it, I'll come to you."
Lu Tingxiao patted his son's shoulder and said earnestly, "Okay, just keep this in mind. If you encounter difficulties, don't handle them alone. Your mother and I will always be your support. I hope you can handle it as soon as possible and don't let your mother worry."
"I understand, Dad." Lu Ziqian nodded.
After his father left, Lu Ziqian picked up the small gift on the table, took a deep breath, and made up his mind to take the initiative. He picked up the phone and dialed Lemon's number. The moment the call was connected, his heart rose to his throat: "Hello, Lemon, it's me, Lu Ziqian, I...I have something to say to you..."
On the other end of the phone, Lemon's voice was clear and pleasant: "I was just looking for you. I recently finished a painting that is full of our memories in the ancient town. When are you free to come to my house and have a look?"
Lu Ziqian raised his lips, and the haze in his heart instantly dissipated: "Okay, I'll go when I'm free in the next two days!"
After hanging up the phone, Lu Ziqian looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly. He knew that his beautiful story had just begun.
On the other side, Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao looked at the smile that had reappeared on their son's face, smiled at each other, and the stone in their hearts finally fell to the ground.
On a sunny afternoon, Lemon invited Lu Ziqian to her home to appreciate her newly completed paintings.
When Lu Ziqian heard this, his heart felt like a feather was gently brushing against his chest. He was filled with anticipation and readily agreed without hesitation. After hanging up the phone, he suddenly became nervous. For the first time in his life, he was particularly concerned about his image.
After much thought, he decided to ask Jiang Ruoxi for help. Jiang Ruoxi looked at Lu Ziqian's anxious expression, and thought about the situation of his date with the girl, and carefully selected an outfit for him.
The upper body is a beige casual shirt, the soft fabric fits the skin well, as comfortable as a spring breeze, and it is matched with a vest of the same style and color on the outside, which adds a sense of layering to the overall look; the lower body is worn in iron gray suit pants, the straight lines modify the leg shape, and the feet are wearing black casual leather shoes, every step is taken with confidence. Wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, he instantly exudes a unique temperament that is casual yet formal, just like the protagonist who walked out of a fashion magazine.
After going out, Lu Ziqian passed by a fragrant cake shop. The smiling face of lemon appeared in his mind, so he walked in and carefully selected a lemon-flavored cake, thinking of giving her a sweet surprise.
As agreed, the two met at a coffee shop near Lemon's home. The moment Lu Ziqian saw Lemon from afar, his steps stopped involuntarily.
Lemon was wearing a beige dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the breeze. She was wearing black leather shoes with low heels, and every step she took was in an elegant rhythm. Her long hair was loosely braided into a side braid, which was casual and gentle. She wore a casual straw hat on her head, which added a bit of playfulness and agility to her.
The moment Lemon saw Lu Ziqian, her eyes also lit up. His style today was so compatible with hers, like a destined couple.
Lu Ziqian walked up quickly and handed the cake in his hand to Lemon. With a gentle smile on his face, he said, "Lemon, I know you like coffee, so this is the cake I bought for you."
Lemon's eyes lit up instantly, like twinkling stars in the night sky. She took the cake and said happily, "Thank you. It's just the lemon flavor I like."
Afterwards, Lemon took Lu Ziqian to her home studio. The studio was filled with the faint aroma of paint, and paintings were hung all over the walls. She took Lu Ziqian and introduced him to the paintings created with the ancient town as the background one by one. Each painting contained their memories of the ancient town.
During the conversation, Lu Ziqian learned that Lemon was just the name she used in her paintings. Her real name was Ning Meng, and Lemon was the homonym of the name she chose, implying that life is like lemon, which is sour but also full of freshness and sweetness.
The two became more and more engaged in the conversation, from the art of painting to the little things in life, from childhood fun to future aspirations. Unconsciously, the love in Lu Ziqian's heart grew stronger, and finally, he plucked up the courage to confess to Ning Meng.
When Ning Meng heard the confession, her face flushed and her eyes sparkled with emotion and joy. She did not agree immediately, but said softly: "Ziqian, can you give me some time to think about it, okay?" Lu Ziqian looked at her, his eyes full of understanding and tolerance, and nodded gently without any reluctance.
Since then, Lu Ziqian and Ning Meng have continued to communicate frequently. They strolled together in the streets and alleys, exploring every corner of the city; they read quietly together in the library, immersed in the ocean of knowledge; they had a picnic together on the lawn in the park, enjoying the sunshine and delicious food.
As they spent more and more time together, they got to know each other better and were more attracted to each other. Ning Meng was deeply fascinated by Lu Ziqian's thoughtfulness, humor and ambition; and Ning Meng's gentleness, kindness and talent also made Lu Ziqian believe that she was the love of his life.
Finally, on a starry night, Lu Ziqian and Ning Meng sat side by side on the beach. The waves gently hit the shore and the sea breeze gently blew their hair. Ning Meng turned her head and looked at Lu Ziqian, her eyes full of determination and affection, and said softly: "Ziqian, I have made up my mind. I am willing to be with you."
After hearing this, Lu Ziqian's eyes suddenly filled with tears of excitement. He hugged Ning Meng tightly, as if he was hugging the whole world. At this moment, the stars shine for them, the waves cheer for them, and they start a new chapter of happiness in each other's arms.
For the rest of their lives, no matter what the storms are, they will walk through it hand in hand and write their own romantic story with love.
The news that Lu Ziqian has sweetly ended his single life was like a stone thrown into the calm lake of his family, creating ripples. The originally eagerly expectant gazes of the elders in the family seemed to be drawn by an invisible force and all focused on Wubao Lu Zichen.
In an instant, Lu Zichen felt his shoulders sink and pressure came over him like an overwhelming tidal wave. The heavy weight made it almost impossible for him to breathe. As the only remaining "bachelor" in the family, he became the center of the storm of urging marriage. The questions from his aunt and uncle, and the hesitant but expectant eyes of his parents, all made him feel extremely tormented.
Just at this critical moment, the gears of fate began to turn quietly. News came from the research institute that Lu Zichen had been selected to study abroad on business for a full two years.
This sudden opportunity was like a timely rain for Lu Zichen, instantly extinguishing the fire of anxiety ignited by the pressure to get married. He accepted the task almost without hesitation, secretly feeling lucky that he could avoid this "marriage-urging war".
While packing his bags, Lu Zichen felt very complicated. There is both anticipation for an unknown journey and a hint of guilt for escaping the current situation. But when the plane broke through the clouds and soared into the distance, he looked at the gradually shrinking city outline outside the window, and the pressure in his heart gradually dissipated.
In a foreign country, Lu Zichen plunged into study and research. In the laboratory, he often stays for a whole day, accompanied by various data and instruments; at academic exchange meetings, he actively communicates and exchanges with scholars from various countries to absorb cutting-edge knowledge. The busy life made him temporarily forget the worries of his family urging him to get married.
However, when the night is quiet, the feeling of loneliness still comes like a tide. Looking at couples walking hand in hand on the streets of foreign countries, he would sometimes feel envious and start to think about the fate of his own relationship.
By chance, Lu Zichen met Lin Yue, a girl who also loved scientific research, at a local cultural event. The two had a great conversation, chatting about everything from scientific research to interesting things in life, from hometown culture to future ideals, and before they knew it, their hearts were growing closer and closer. They looked up information together in the library, discussed academic problems together in the park, and tasted local delicacies together on the streets. In the second year of Lu Zichen's study abroad, they officially got together.
Two years passed in a flash. When Lu Zichen returned to his hometown with full harvest and sweet love, he was greeted not only by the warm embrace of his family, but also the expected topic of urging marriage. But this time, he was no longer panicked. A confident smile appeared on his face. He held Lin Yue's hand and slowly walked towards his family.
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