Chapter 92 (End of Main Text) You also have something you can't...
The UK feels like it's cold for most of the year. It's said that last year during winter time, the northern regions had a total of only 18 minutes of sunlight for 11 consecutive days.
It is August when I arrive in Cambridge, the height of summer, the hottest time of the year.
After her wedding with Meng Yanxi, she officially began preparations: confirming details with Cambridge, going through the visiting scholar process, applying for a visa... The process was complicated, and although Meng Yanxi helped her, she still had to handle many things herself. Fortunately, the new students at Sui Shi University hadn't enrolled yet, and the teaching secretariat hadn't scheduled classes for the teachers. Jin Zhao had also just finished her maternity leave, so she didn't have any teaching assignments to reschedule.
However, the little one became increasingly attached to her. At this stage, the baby is entering the period of secure attachment formation and begins to show obvious separation anxiety towards his mother, crying if he doesn't see her for a while.
As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Meng Yanxi originally planned to send Jin Zhao to Cambridge and stay there with her for a month. They were newlyweds, and before they even had a honeymoon, they were going to be in a long-distance relationship for a year. He secretly felt wronged, so as revenge, he wanted to squeeze out some time to enjoy some alone time before school started.
As a result, his son was the first to disagree.
The little dumpling starts fussing if she doesn't see her mother for a while. She's a bit better when her father is around, but if her father also disappears, she can't be calmed down at all, and even sending her back to the Meng family doesn't work.
That day, he had just driven away and hadn't even gotten home when he received a call from Meng Shixu: "Come back quickly, the baby is crying so hard I'm starting to suspect you're secretly abandoning him behind our backs."
Meng Yanxi: "..."
What could she do? She had no choice but to resign herself to her fate and go back to pick up her son.
When they got back, the little dumpling had cried so hard that his eyebrows were red and tears were streaming down his face. Meng Yanxi felt sorry for him too, so he picked up the baby and gently comforted him for a couple of minutes. The little dumpling stopped crying, wrapped his little arms around his neck with his two little hands, pressed his little face against him, and made "ba" and "ba ba" sounds.
Meng Yanxi's heart was almost melted by his coaxing. She gently patted the little guy's back with her big hand, but her mouth was still tough: "How come you're as good at coaxing people as your mother? Don't try to play tricks on me. You're not Lingling, and I won't let you have your way."
Meng Shixu, who was listening from the side, wanted to kick him a couple of times, but in the end, he touched the baby's head and said with heartache, "Our little dumpling has suffered because of a father like this."
Meng Yanxi: "..."
You might not believe it, but his father was actually quite aggrieved as well.
In the end, Meng Yanxi had no choice but to take the human cub with him, and the two of them accompanied Jin Zhao to England.
But what he told Meng Shixu was that they were going on their honeymoon.
Meng Shixu has recently become almost obsessed with his grandson, unable to bear seeing the little boy cry, and when he feels sorry for him, he scolds him without any mercy. If you were to tell Meng Shixu that Jin Zhao is going abroad for a year of academic research, Meng Shixu would definitely be unhappy. He's too lazy to try to reason with Meng Shixu; they're both just human, and between a daughter-in-law and grandson, the old father is destined to side with his grandson. Even if you managed to persuade him, he would still have reservations about Jin Zhao.
There's no need for that. His wife should be pampered by the whole family without any reservations.
As for the bad guy, let him be the one to do it.
Anyway, he's familiar with this matter.
Meng Yanxi was never one to feel guilty about lying, and she resorted to her old tricks to deceive both sides.
He Jinzhao told Jinzhao that the Meng family fully supported her study abroad trip, and that Meng Huai and Meng Shixu were experienced in raising children and would personally help take care of the little one, so she could go with peace of mind; she also told Meng Huai and Meng Shixu that the three of them were going to England for a month-long honeymoon.
As for what to do a month from now? Well, he'll just have to rely on his acting skills again.
Jin Zhao is on the Michaelmas holiday semester, which is the fall semester in China, and she will start her job in late September. Meng Yanxi was worried that she would be reluctant to leave, so she brought her little dumpling to accompany her there a month in advance to help her adjust.
Cambridge University is located in the town of Cambridge, 80 kilometers north of London. It is an open university with its colleges scattered throughout the town.
Jin Zhao confirmed her study abroad date too late, and university dormitories are usually allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so she definitely wouldn't be able to get one. Before coming, she was initially a little disappointed, but Meng Yanxi said, "My family has a house."
Since the wedding, Meng Yanxi has used the word "home" with exceptional skill, which has made Jin Zhao realize for the first time that she already has her own home.
She is no longer the girl who trudged alone in the torrential rain, nor the rootless duckweed who had wandered aimlessly for so many years. She is married, has a lover, children, and her own little family. She no longer needs to struggle to seek recognition and love from others; she can now give love to others.
Jin Zhao originally thought Meng Yanxi would rent a house there, since she was only going for a year. Unexpectedly, Meng Yanxi said he really meant it and bought a detached villa.
It's right in Cambridge, very close to King's College where she'll be working, and you can see the River Cam and the Bridge of Sighs in the distance just by looking out the window.
Jin Zhao once again marveled at the omnipotence of "money power".
Is there a trick to it?
The house had already been prepared in advance, and they moved in directly upon arrival in Cambridge. Jin Zhao had always moved alone before, handling everything herself, keeping her belongings to a minimum, as she would be overwhelmed by too much. This time, however, Meng Yanxi packed for her, accumulating as much luggage as possible. Three other people followed behind, carrying things inside, with Meng Yanxi holding Tuanzi in one arm while directing the workers to put things away.
Hearing Jin Zhao's voice, he turned around and asked, "What's the secret? The secret to buying a house?"
Jin Zhao: "No, the secret to reincarnation."
Meng Yanxi raised an eyebrow.
Jin Zhao sincerely wished: "In my next life, I also want to be reborn as someone like you."
They were born with the destiny of a god of wealth, and even winning the lottery is easier than for others.
Meng Yanxi was taken aback, then nodded: "Okay, I'll let you be reborn as someone like me in your next life."
Jin Zhao smiled, pursing his lips: "You talk as if you really have the final say."
She truly envied his inexplicable confidence that made him act on his word.
Meng Yanxi chuckled again and said, "As long as you still love me, that's enough."
*
Meng Yanxi and Xiao Tuanzi stayed with Jin Zhao for a month.
The family of three also traveled to other places, including London, Shakespeare's birthplace, and other European countries such as Paris and Switzerland. However, they did not travel much; most of the time, they stayed in the town of Cambridge.
They went to see the Corpus Christi bells, to museums, to overlook the town of Cambridge from the Great Church of St. Mary, to Newton's apple tree, and to experience rowing on the River Cam.
But most of the time, apart from taking the baby out for a walk in the stroller every day, they stay at home.
Watching TV shows, reading books, cooking... cooking in two different ways.
There are also times when my interest is just about to be interrupted by the little dumpling.
—That's right, that's why Meng Yanxi didn't want to bring the baby at first.
But the little dumpling is such a grateful baby. I don't know if it's because his dad keeps subtly telling him that he'll be separated from his mom for a year soon and that he's really going to miss her, but the little dumpling has learned to sleep through the night and often naps for the whole afternoon. This made Meng Yanxi extremely happy, as if she wanted to enjoy all the sweetness of the coming year in advance, and she let loose.
They were in bed, by the window, in the bathroom, in the study...
Happy times fly by, and by the end of September, summer was almost over, and it was time for Meng Yanxi and Xiao Tuanzi to return home.
Jin Zhao is a typical slow-witted person, slow to react emotionally and even in matters of the heart.
Meng Yanxi was reluctant to part with her as soon as she arrived, and the thought of being in a long-distance relationship for a year made her feel sad in advance. At first, she didn't feel anything, but it wasn't until the time of parting was approaching that she belatedly realized how sad she was.
During those days, she was even more enthusiastic than Meng Yanxi. Meng Yanxi no longer needed to put in the effort to seduce her; she would take the initiative. She even took the initiative to try new positions, which made Meng Yanxi's scalp tingle and made her even more reckless and spare no effort.
That afternoon, after a blissful and unrestrained indulgence, Jin Zhao fell into a deep sleep.
When I woke up again, the pale golden sunlight streamed through the French windows, slanting into the carpet in front of the bed. Meng Yanxi wasn't beside me, but a lingering sense of happiness remained in the air.
The villa was quiet; the little dumpling hadn't woken up yet.
Jin Zhao found Meng Yanxi in the study on the second floor.
Meng Yanxi brought her too much luggage on this trip, and she had been packing many small items on and off for a month without finishing.
The man, with his back to her, helped her organize the bookshelf; there was a cardboard box on the floor.
There's a small terrace outside the study, and the osmanthus tree downstairs reaches just up to it. A breeze rustles the leaves, and pale yellow osmanthus petals fall to the floor.
A rich, sweet fragrance filled the air.
Meng Yanxi took the books out of the cardboard box and placed them one by one on the bookshelf. When she came across A4-sized printed materials, he helped her put them in the drawer next to her.
Jin Zhao stood outside the door watching this scene for a long time, feeling a sense of peace he had never felt before.
She tiptoed toward him, but he was engrossed in a book and didn't even notice her approaching.
The open cover vaguely revealed a black and white book cover design, but Jin Zhao couldn't immediately recall which book it was.
"What are you looking at?" she asked as she walked up behind him.
Meng Yanxi turned around, meeting her clear eyes, and a natural smile curved his lips. He closed the book in his hand and showed her the figure on the cover.
Camus.
Jin Zhao chuckled: "Camus's Notebooks, why did you bring this one with you? I don't study him, I've just read his writings before."
Meng Yanxi stared at her with his dark eyes: "Do you like it?"
Jin Zhao nodded: "I like it, it's very powerful."
"Is this the sentence?" Meng Yanxi turned the book back to the page he had just been reading and showed her the page he had just looked at.
In the Chinese translation, on the light-colored pages, there is a line of text that Jin Zhao has underlined in black pen: "I do not expect life to be smooth sailing, but I hope that when I encounter difficulties in life, I can be its opponent."
Jin Zhao's gaze fell on it: "I actually forgot when I first saw this sentence, but when I saw it, it was like a sudden enlightenment, and I found the reason why I have been working hard to grow upward all these years."
Meng Yanxi closed the Camus Notebook in his hand and placed it on the table. He took a step back and leaned against the edge of the desk, his long legs relaxed in a leisurely manner.
He took Jin Zhao's hand and pulled her towards him. Jin Zhao stepped forward and stood between his legs, and he naturally wrapped his arms around her waist.
He gently rested his chin on the side of her neck and whispered, "Lingling, I'm sorry."
Jin Zhao was stunned: "What?"
Meng Yanxi: "Last time, I made you and the baby cry."
Meng Yanxi only made her and the baby cry once. She didn't tell him about the accident that happened at school last time, and he got very angry when he found out.
She hugged his waist and murmured, "I was wrong last time. Even if things are resolved, I should have told you."
"No, you don't know that I had some bad thoughts at that time."
"What bad thoughts?" Jin Zhao looked up at him.
With the passage of time, Meng Yanxi was actually somewhat ashamed to talk about it.
But at that moment, he was truly furious, unable to suppress his sharp and violent temper, his mind filled with all sorts of bad thoughts. He was angry at the student who had caused Jin Zhao innocent suffering, angry at the school that was so indecisive and demanding, angry at Jin Zhao's refusal to rely on him, angry at her reserved love for him. Especially the last point, his possessiveness was unacceptable to him.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with possessiveness; love is inherently a one-on-one giving and taking, a two-way journey.
He loved her, he gave her his love unconditionally, and naturally wanted her to reciprocate in kind.
It wasn't until later, when he happened to pick up a copy of Camus's Notebooks from her bookshelf and saw the sentence she had marked, that he suddenly realized that it wasn't necessary.
She doesn't have to love him unconditionally.
His love was known to him, but unknown to her. There was nothing wrong with her accumulating strength to weather storms in the unknown. What was wrong was him; his possessiveness was too strong.
She's right, things definitely need to be changed.
But he didn't intend to bring it up again. He wrapped his arms around her waist and said casually, "It's all in the past. You just need to know that there is only one person in this world whom you can love more than anything else, without reservation."
Jin Zhao: "Who?"
Meng Yanxi: "You."
“Lingling, I will love you without reservation as well.” Meng Yanxi looked steadily into her eyes. “Without reservation, I mean that I will become a better person for you, including myself.”
The houses in the town of Cambridge are mostly brick and tile with spires, and the overall style is medieval. Occasionally, a horse-drawn carriage will pass through the town, as if you have traveled back in time.
A breeze wafted in through the open French windows, carrying the sweet, rich scent of osmanthus blossoms. The distant sound of horses' hooves striking the stone slabs drifted on the wind, mingled with the faint tinkling of bells.
"jingle."
"jingle."
Jin Zhao looked up at him, her eyes seeming to tinkle like bells.
She suddenly smiled, hugged his waist, buried her head in his chest, and whispered, "Meng Yanxi, but I'm willing to love you without reservation."
*
Later, as the two were tidying up the bookshelves, Jin Zhao suddenly asked, "When was this house bought?"
She initially thought it was a house he bought temporarily, but after living there for a month, it didn't seem like it.
Meng Yanxi thought for a moment and said, "About eight years ago, during my junior year of college. I came here once and someone handed me a flyer. I thought the location was good, so I bought it."
Jin Zhao paused as he put down the book, his expression somewhat numb: "...When I was a junior in college, people would hand me flyers for hair salons on the street, but I didn't dare to take them, afraid of being ripped off."
Meng Yanxi deliberately asked, "Oh? How much will you be ripped off?"
"Alright, stop talking, or you'll really start resenting the rich." Jin Zhao snatched a book from his hands without any politeness, feeling a bit like hitting him.
Meng Yanxi smiled at her and said frankly, "The person who bought your house back then said, 'You've come to Cambridge.'"
Jin Zhao's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked up at him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I shouldn't have told you about going abroad back then."
They thought they were from two different worlds, and that their brief encounter at school meant they would never see each other again. Little did they know, he had always been looking forward to seeing her again.
Meng Yanxi: "It's okay. I didn't buy this place entirely because of what he said. As you can see, this place has many advantages. The house is nice, it's near Cambridge, and it's freehold."
Jin Zhao said sincerely, "Yes, I like freehold ownership."
Meng Yanxi: "Oh, I see. Then I'll give it to you and take you to transfer the ownership tomorrow."
Jin Zhao raised an eyebrow: "President Meng, have you always been this wealthy and powerful?"
Meng Yanxi: "Giving it to Mrs. Meng doesn't mean being rich and powerful."
Jin Zhao: "What's it called?"
"Call me..." Meng Yanxi chuckled lightly, "I've finally waited for you."
Jin Zhao was taken aback: "What?"
Meng Yanxi looked down at her, his dark eyes reflecting her looking up at him.
He said softly, “I’ve always had a feeling that one day you would come here, that you would come to Cambridge.”
Even if you encounter obstacles for a moment, you will eventually grow upwards and become invincible.
His gaze fell on the book in her hands. It had a red and green cover, with a photograph of Camus in the upper right corner.
Camus's essay collection, "An Invincible Summer Within Me".
“Lingling, you also have an invincible summer within you.”
-----------------------
Author's Note: The main story is now complete!
I'm giving away 200 red envelopes this chapter to thank all my readers for your patience and support along the way! I really have to work during the day, my typing speed is incredibly slow, and I get writer's block as soon as I set a goal, which has caused my updates to be inconsistent. I'm truly sorry for the unpleasant experience this has given you all. Thank you for your understanding! [crying emoji]
I was originally going to do a giveaway after the main text was finished, but the backend said I can only do it once every 30 days, so I can't do it for now... Also, some people didn't fill in their addresses for the last giveaway, so hurry up, they'll be sent out together with the book giveaway on Weibo on New Year's Day!
Starting tomorrow, I'll be updating the side stories, just a few chapters, I'll finish them quickly. The initial plan is a crossover, a long-distance relationship, and CEO Meng taking care of the baby. The "what if" storyline is just too long to write; I'd need to completely restructure the world-building and outline. My writing speed is so slow; other authors finish a book in two months, I finish one in five months, and I still have fewer words. If I were to write another "what if" storyline, it could take me a year. I don't plan to write that for now. [heart emoji]
The next book will be about Meng Yanxi's uncle, Meng Shiyan. Perhaps we can consider using the "what if" storyline from this book as a secondary couple. This way, we can satisfy everyone's desire to see the "what if" storyline without making this book too long (? Of course, this is just an immature idea... If you think it's not good, then don't do it. I haven't tried it).
By the way, here's a link to Meng Shiyan's upcoming book, "Things Are Getting Better Now"—
Straightforward girl x Green tea childhood friend / Boy secretly loves girl
——
Song Ying never dreamed that she would end up with Meng Shiyan.
The two met by chance when they were young, but their meeting was purely accidental, and they were essentially completely unrelated.
Meng Shiyan was born into privilege, possessing superior looks and immense power; his greatest achievement in life was spending money.
Song Ying is obsessed with studying fortune-telling instructions and tries every means to get DeepSeek to tell her how to become rich overnight.
No need to work, no need for capital, no side effects, money comes from all directions, and it would be best if you could even find a romantic partner.
DeepSeek told her to go find Doubao.
After flirting with her crush for half a year, Song Ying finally decided to confess her feelings. On the day of the confession, Meng Shiyan drove her there, and it started to drizzle.
Song Ying: "It's a natural progression, a good omen!"
Meng Shiyan glanced at her expressionlessly: "Ying, fire. Water overcomes fire, so that man is your nemesis."
Song Ying called him a jinx.
Before the confession could even begin, Song Ying started arguing with Crush.
Meng Shiyan tried to mediate the fight, but was pushed to the ground by the scumbag. Glass shards cut his finger, which angered Song Ying so much that she broke off all ties with the scumbag on the spot.
Outside the pharmacy, Meng Shiyan let Song Ying tie his fingers into a bow, his expression remorseful: "I'm sorry, it's all because of me. I'll make it up to you."
Song Ying said, "No need, it has nothing to do with you."
Meng Shiyan suddenly leaned down and kissed him, repeating, "I'll make it up to you."
*
After the two got together, Song Ying recalled Meng Shiyan's actions and felt more and more familiar with them, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
Until one time when we were eating hot pot, the TV in the neighborhood shop was showing an idol drama. It was a scene where a scheming female supporting character was trying to break up the male and female leads, and the second female lead was pretending to be pushed to the ground by the female lead.
Song Ying suddenly realized and slapped her thigh.
When men become "green tea" (a manipulative woman), life gets better!
#Why did the childhood sweetheart defeat the newcomer?
#Because my childhood sweetheart is both competitive and manipulative^_^
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