The threshold of home
After receiving his acceptance letter from B University, Su An felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, but another, more important matter also surfaced, weighing heavily on his mind. He knew it was time. Before embarking on a new chapter in his life, he needed to let his closest people see the complete and authentic version of himself.
He chose a quiet Friday evening. His mother had prepared a table full of his favorite dishes, and his father, unusually, was home watching the news, free of social engagements. The dining room was warmly lit, and the atmosphere was cozy and ordinary.
Su An put down his chopsticks; half the rice remained in his bowl. He took a deep breath, his fingers clenching quietly under the table, his nails digging into his palms, bringing a sharp pain that helped him maintain his composure.
“Dad, Mom,” his voice was a little tight at first, but when his parents looked at him with concern, he forced himself to relax and his tone became clear and calm, “I have something I want to tell you.”
The mother smiled and asked, "What's the matter that you're so serious about? Is there something planned for university?"
Su An shook his head, looking directly at them, and said, word by word, "It's not about university. It's... about someone I like." He paused, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. "His name is Jiang Qi, and he's my classmate. We... are together."
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
The smile on her mother's face froze instantly, as if she hadn't understood: "Classmate? Jiang Qi... is that boy who always gets first place?" Her eyes were full of confusion, as if she was trying to understand the surface meaning of the sentence.
The father's brows furrowed suddenly, and he put down his wine glass with a crisp clinking sound. He didn't immediately lash out, but his expression darkened, and his sharp eyes fixed on Su An with scrutiny and disbelief.
“Su An,” her father’s voice was low and laced with suppressed anger, “explain yourself clearly. What do you mean by ‘together’?”
“It means exactly what you think.” Su An met her father’s gaze without flinching. “We are lovers.”
"Nonsense!"
The father slammed his hand on the table, the dishes rattling loudly. He stood up abruptly, his chest heaving, his face ashen: "Do you know what you're saying? Huh? Two boys, what kind of behavior is this! This is not normal! Are you under too much pressure from your studies and your mind has gone foggy!"
Tears welled up in the mother's eyes instantly. She covered her mouth, looking at Su An with eyes filled with pain, confusion, and panic: "An'an... are you sure you're not mistaken? How could you... is it that Jiang Qi...?"
“No, it has nothing to do with him!” Su An immediately interrupted her mother, her tone urgent and firm. “It’s my own feelings. Mom, Dad, I’m not confused, I’m very clear-headed. He’s very good to me, respects me, helps me, and I feel very safe and happy with him.”
He tried to keep his voice steady and began to recount the little details hidden in the story: the warm milk Jiang Qi silently placed on his desk every day; the way she took him home without hesitation when he was sick; the hand that held his tightly under the desk when he was troubled by rumors; the map that was spread out and the calm yet supportive analysis when he was confused about the future…
“He’s not just acting on impulse,” Su An said, looking at her parents with clear and earnest eyes. “He’s someone I’ve thought about seriously and want to be with for the rest of my life. I know it’s hard for you to accept, but I hope… I hope you can try to understand him and our relationship.”
"Understand what? What's there to understand!" The father paced back and forth in the living room, his finger trembling as he pointed at Su An. "I sent you to school so you could study, not to learn this nonsense! Break up with him right now! Do you hear me!"
"I will not leave him." Su An's voice was not loud, but it carried an unprecedented stubbornness and determination.
"You!" The father raised his hand, but ultimately brought it down heavily, slamming it against the back of the sofa. He was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with disappointment, anger, and a hint of embarrassment at having his authority challenged. He stopped looking at Su An, turned and walked into the study, slamming the door shut behind him.
Tears streamed down her face as her mother held Su An's hand, repeatedly asking, "Why, An'an... how could this happen... what will people think of you now? This path is too difficult to walk..."
That night, the lights in the house seemed to turn cold. Su An sat alone in his room, able to hear the suppressed arguments and his mother's low sobs coming from his parents' bedroom next door. He knew it would be a tough battle, but the moment he spoke it aloud, he felt a sense of relief. He no longer needed to hide; he could openly and honestly love someone.
At the same time, Jiang Qi learned from Jiang Zhao about the storm Su An was facing.
He listened in silence, said nothing, and simply turned and went back to his room. That weekend, he locked himself in his room for a long time, with various documents spread out on his table instead of physics books. The next day, he did something that left Jiang Zhao speechless—he didn't call or text beforehand, but simply showed up downstairs at Su An's house with a file folder.
He dialed Su An's number, his voice steady: "I'm downstairs at your place. Is it convenient... could you please ask your uncle and aunt to come down? Or, I can come up."
Su An was startled and almost ran downstairs. He saw Jiang Qi standing under the shade of a tree in the summer sun, her posture upright, wearing a neat white shirt, and her expression more solemn than ever before.
"Why are you here?" Su An asked, both surprised and anxious. "My parents are..."
“I know,” Jiang Qi interrupted him, her gaze firm. “It is precisely because I know that I had to come.”
He gently squeezed Su An's hand, gave him a reassuring look, and then walked towards the apartment building where Su An lived. Su An watched his resolute back, gritted her teeth, and followed him.
The person who opened the door was Su An's mother, her eyes still red and swollen. She was clearly stunned when she saw Jiang Qi outside the door.
"Auntie, hello." Jiang Qi bowed slightly, her tone respectful but not humble. "I apologize for bothering you. I am Jiang Qi. There are some things I would like to say to you and Uncle in person."
Su An's father came out of his study upon hearing the noise. When he saw Jiang Qi, his face instantly darkened, but due to his composure, he did not immediately lash out.
Jiang Qi was not deterred by the tense atmosphere. He walked into the living room, but instead of sitting down, he placed the file bag on the coffee table, took out several items from it, and spread them out one by one.
At the top was a photocopy of his guaranteed admission letter to the Physics Department of University A, followed by a thick stack of competition award certificates he had received, ranging from provincial to national. Then came a handwritten, well-organized future plan, including his academic goals during university, plans for participating in research projects, and even preliminary ideas for his career development after graduation (entering a national-level research institute or a top technology company) and financial independence.
Finally, he raised his head, his gaze meeting the scrutinizing, even slightly hostile, eyes of Su An's parents with composure. His voice was clear and calm, yet contained immense sincerity and strength:
"Uncle, Aunt. My name is Jiang Qi, and Su An and I are classmates. We like each other, and it was a decision we made after careful consideration. I'm very sorry for coming here so abruptly today. But I just wanted to tell you both in person:"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the papers that represented his abilities and future.
“I have the ability and the plans to create a stable and hopeful future for myself and…the people I care about. My feelings for Su An are serious, not just youthful impulsiveness. I respect him, cherish him, and will do my best to protect him and support him in pursuing his own dreams.”
His gaze finally settled on Su An's father's face, unwavering: "Please give me a chance, a chance to prove that I can take good care of Su An."
A deathly silence fell over the living room. Su An's mother looked at the heavy certificates and plans on the coffee table, then at the composed, determined young man before her. Her initial rejection slowly gave way to a complex, shaken expression. She seemed to be beginning to understand what her son meant by "he's very good."
Su An's father pressed his lips together, scrutinizing Jiang Qi with sharp eyes, remaining silent for a long time. His anger remained, but faced with Jiang Qi's composure beyond her years, her excellence, and her undeniable sincerity, his pure denial seemed to crack slightly.
Jiang Qi didn't urge him, but stood quietly, like a tall tree, waiting for the judgment of wind and rain.
This moment represents more than just crossing a threshold; it represents a clash and exchange of understandings about love, responsibility, and the future between two generations. And this is just the beginning.
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