Jiaqi Ruxu

Translator’s note: The title plays on the heroine’s name, You Jiaqi (佳期, “happy occasion,” also used for a wedding day), plus 如许, “just like this,” echoing the classical line 佳期如梦, “the happy meeting is like a dream.”

That day, after the graduation dinner, I got drunk and crashed on my own gege’s sofa. Half asleep, I saw a tall, handsome guy wrapped in a bath towel walk through the living room.

Translator’s note: Gege (哥哥) means older brother.

I sobered up instantly. Through the slits of my eyes, I saw the man’s taut lines, his fair skin, and that cold, ascetic face.

Drops of water streamed down the firm lines of his back.

Pssht.

He cracked open a can one-handed.

As his Adam’s apple rolled, I heard the drink being swallowed.

Such a vividly sexy, beautiful man, really… too exciting…

Then someone shuffled closer in slippers and said in a low voice:

“Why’d you come out! Get back in there! I’m not done yet!”

The speaker was my own gege.

The pink bubble popped, mercilessly burst. At that moment, a peal of heavenly thunder struck my forehead.

This man was my saozi?!

Translator’s note: Saozi (嫂子) is an older brother’s wife, i.e., sister-in-law.

1

Midnight, 12 o’clock.

Like a puppet, I lay stiffly on the sofa with my eyes squeezed shut.

My brother was having final negotiations with the man.

“Time’s up.” The man’s voice was cold, stingy with words.

“I’ll pay for more. I’ll top up, okay?”

I listened, heart pounding. What the hell was my brother doing?! Even paying money?!

Our parents were both decent, upright people, and my brother and I both had bright futures. I couldn’t stand by and watch him make a huge mistake.

I opened my eyes and slowly rose from the sofa, revealing a messy head:

“You Chuanze, if you dare do money transactions, I’ll call the police and have you arrested.”

They probably hadn’t expected me to be lying there.

The midnight moonlight, reflected off the water in the fish tank, flickered across my face. The aloof man choked on a sip and wiped the water from the corner of his lips with his wrist. His long legs took a step, and he turned to put my brother between us to block his body.

My brother, like a frightened groundhog, shrieked, grabbed a coat and threw it over my head like a sack.

“Hey, I’m telling Mom and Dad!”

“Shh! Shh! Shh! Don’t, your brother only has this bit of face left. Don’t go yelling about it.”

My brother is tall, but I hadn’t expected “saozi” to be even taller, a whole half a head over him.

By the time I struggled free of the coat, the man had already put on a bathrobe, his chest tightly covered.

He leaned casually against the back of the sofa, his dark eyes slowly sweeping over me once, and asked my brother: “Your sister?”

My brother acted as if facing a great enemy and shielded me behind him like a mother hen: “You’re not allowed to look at her!”

Yo, so jealous, afraid his man would fall for someone else.

I was still thinking about getting my brother sent in to eat prison food, and kept pressing: “Why are you giving him money?”

My brother hemmed and hawed: “Ah… I failed an exam… so I hired him to help me review.”

My brother, a doctor at the busiest hospital in the city, often had all sorts of strange exams.

But I didn’t understand why he’d call a man over in the middle of the night to review with him shirtless…

Maybe this is love.

The man said nothing, silently drinking soda; the can was soon empty.

“I’m leaving.”

The can went into the trash can, knocking the other things askew. The man dropped a lukewarm line and turned to walk out.

“Sheng Yanshu! Get back here, damn it!”

My brother jumped up, hooked his neck and dragged him into the bedroom.

My “saozi” narrowed his eyes slightly and, expressionless, let You Chuanze drag him away.

Seeing such a heartwarming scene, I teared up with emotion and prepared to cover for my brother for the long haul.

Bang!

The door closed, and I said silently:

“Gege, don’t worry! I’ll keep your secret!”

2

After graduation, the company I’d interned at started the first round of interviews.

My brother’s place was very close to the company. I got up early, did quick makeup, and before 7, I ran into Sheng Yanshu in the entryway, about to go out.

He wore a simple white shirt, broad-shouldered, changing his shoes methodically.

Last night had been too hazy to see clearly; only today did I get a proper look at my “saozi.”

He was tall, strikingly handsome, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and had a bit of an intimidating aura when he looked down at people.

Thinking of last night’s steamy scene, my face suddenly went red. How rude of me. Last night I’d actually had thoughts about him…

I shyly called out: “Good morning, saozi.”

He glanced at me lukewarmly and said, “Mm.”

I looked around: “Where’s my brother?”

“Not up.”

Seeing how refreshed Sheng Yanshu looked, I had an epiphany and cast him a look of “as expected of you.”

He took the keys from the cabinet and asked me: “Where to? I’ll drive you.”

Is this a saozi’s care?

“Chengyi Tower. Thank you, saozi!”

I followed like a lapdog, my pink pointed-toe heels clicking on the floor.

Sheng Yanshu frowned and glanced at the ten-centimeter heels with bows, but said nothing.

The car was parked downstairs. Sheng Yanshu opened the door and got into the driver’s seat.

I hesitated between the passenger seat and the back. The window rolled down, revealing Sheng Yanshu’s calm face: “Sit in front.”

“Okay, saozi!”

My brother always said his passenger seat was reserved for his future wife. Now I was sitting in his passenger seat. Would my brother be angry?

While I was letting my thoughts run wild, I gave the address and watched Sheng Yanshu silently start the car.

“Just graduated?”

After a while, I realized saozi was talking to me.

I nodded like pounding garlic and sneaked a glance at Sheng Yanshu.

I have to say, my brother has had good taste since he was little. His exes were all beautiful as flowers. If not the school flower, then the class flower; anyway, there had to be a “flower” in there somewhere.

And this one could be called the pinnacle: a flower on a high mountain peak.

Plucked down by my brother, that veteran of love.

The atmosphere in the car was very awkward.

In the door pocket I saw the sunglasses I’d given You Chuanze for his birthday. Truly true love.

I cleared my throat and asked: “Where does saozi work?”

Sheng Yanshu lowered the window a crack; a breath of cool air blew in.

“I’m your brother’s colleague.”

I went “oh.” Love that grew from long days together.

No wonder, no wonder he didn’t seem to like my perfume, or my bow heels.

But it’s fine, as long as he likes my brother.

The car stopped downstairs at the office building, and I bowed and scraped saying goodbye to the big shot.

As soon as I turned around, I ran into some fellow interns.

The car had tinted windows; you couldn’t see inside.

They only knew I’d gotten out of a car, and their faces were full of insinuation: “Jiaqi, got a boyfriend?”

I firmly denied it and proudly showed off: “That’s my saozi! An OB-GYN!”

The consequence of showing off was that they gathered a pile of health questions for me to ask.

I’ve lived 24 years, and harassing You Chuanze had become a habit.

This 30-year-old old gege, after seeing the question “What’s the difference between breastfeeding and formula feeding for postpartum mothers,” finally exploded.

Dense voice messages flooded the screen. When I played them, he was like a roaring lioness:

“You Jiaqi! If you dare get cheeky again, I’ll spill the beans about you secretly dating a little boyfriend in college!”

I stuck out my tongue and behaved myself a lot.

My brother and I share the same flaw.

We like good-looking people, regardless of age, and we take the initiative.

But I’m blinder than You Chuanze and terrible at judging people. Growing up, I chased boys a few times. The first one used my pocket money to buy spicy strips for the class flower; the second had me do homework for other girls.

Because my brain isn’t good, my parents forbade me from dating, and said I’d go on blind dates after graduation.

In college, I rebelled and dated a junior three years younger than me. A real relationship in every sense. We didn’t even get to hold hands before I got dumped.

The day we broke up, I threw up on three of You Chuanze’s bedsheets and nearly drowned in the washbasin.

It was You Chuanze who took care of me while cursing, and kept this scandal hidden for me.

I thought that was a big brother’s love, until later, when he used it to blackmail me into handing over pocket money to buy ice cream for his girlfriend, and I realized his sinister intentions.

Now, facing You Chuanze’s threat, I jolted:

“Don’t! I’m just asking… workplace relationships, you know… I’m so pitiful…”

A few minutes later, he shared a contact card.

The name was simply three characters: “Sheng Yanshu.”

Followed by one character: “Scram.”

With a sacred feeling, I got my saozi’s WeChat as I’d wished.

He accepted quickly and asked: “Who’s this?”

“Saozi! Saozi! It’s me! You Jiaqi!”

A few seconds later, he sent: “Oh, something up?”

I hesitated for half a second, then shamelessly one-click forwarded “What’s the difference between breastfeeding and formula feeding for postpartum mothers,” plus: “Please answer!”

Two minutes later, a long, dense block of text appeared in the chat.

I was so moved I teared up, completely forgetting my brother’s bad attitude, and praised Sheng Yanshu to the skies in front of him:

“You should learn from saozi how to treat people! He hasn’t even married in yet and already knows to think of the family. Unlike you, who does nothing but scold me!”

My brother: “???”

“When did I get married? Where’d you get a saozi from???”

“Wah! You Chuanze! You’re disowning him! Sheng Yanshu is such a good person, don’t toy with his feelings!”

This time my brother started a video call directly. As soon as it connected, his twisted big face filled the whole screen, and the lioness roar began:

“I’m straight! I’m straight! I’m straight!”

My nose suddenly stung. Family love peaked at that moment: “Ge, say no more. I give you two my blessing.”

3

The interview went smoothly, and thanks to my excellent internship performance, I soon got the job offer.

When the onboarding physical exam report reached my phone, I happened to be near the hospital. It said uterine fibroid. I searched online, and the results started at cancer…

I gave up on online diagnosis and started browsing the hospital’s registration app. Unexpectedly, I found Sheng Yanshu was seeing patients.

I decisively booked an appointment with saozi, and 30 minutes later I happily showed up at the gynecology clinic.

There were lots of people on the weekend; a long line had formed outside the consultation room. Near noon, I finally walked into Sheng Yanshu’s room.

He had his head down and asked mechanically: “What’s wrong?”

Sheng Yanshu wore gold-rimmed glasses. The shirt under his white coat was buttoned right up to just below his Adam’s apple; the standard ascetic male god. His tone was flat as water, making me inexplicably nervous.

As expected of my brother. He even managed to land Sheng Yanshu.

I cleared my throat and called: “Saozi!”

Sheng Yanshu’s slender fingers stopped on the pen.

He looked up, saw it was me, leaned back in his chair, and changed the question: “Why are you here?”

I held up the report, dangling it in front of him, and wailed: “I think I have a terminal illness…”

Sheng Yanshu didn’t take it. He silently read the report, narrowed his eyes, and slowly spat out two words: “Terminal illness?”

“Isn’t… isn’t it?” He pulled the record booklet from my hand, lowered his head with a scoff, and said lightly: “Doesn’t look like it.”

Ah… struck by his handsomeness. This damn sense of security.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” he suddenly asked, while writing a flourish of characters in the booklet.

I froze and nodded shyly: “I… used to…”

Though it wasn’t a good experience.

“Are you sexually active?”

His tone was as flat as if he were asking about the weather.

A mouthful of spit got stuck in my throat. I clenched my fingers hard and raised my voice: “No!”

Sheng Yanshu’s pen paused. He raised his eyes slightly and, through his gold-rimmed glasses, scrutinized me sternly: “Tell the truth.”

A sudden sense of pressure locked onto me.

I raised my hand and swore: “Saozi! I really haven’t!”

Sheng Yanshu stared at me for a while, made sure I wasn’t lying, nodded, and continued: “Periods normal?” If I hadn’t known who Sheng Yanshu was, I’d long since have turned red and found a hole to crawl into.

I widened my eyes: “Uh, pretty regular. Once a month, 4 days each time, sometimes cramps.”

My face flushed red; I’d basically told him everything.

Sheng Yanshu put down his pen and tossed out a few words: “Keep monitoring it.”

“That’s… it?”

Sheng Yanshu raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips: “What else?”

Having made it through a high-pressure consultation, I walked out relieved, wandered around aimlessly, bought a whole case of soda and carried it back.

Clang!

The whole case of soda landed solidly on the floor.

Sheng Yanshu was rubbing his neck. Hearing the noise, he looked up and stared at me in surprise.

I wiped the sweat off and smiled: “Thanks, saozi. I’m treating you to drinks.”

I remembered that last time at my brother’s place, he’d been drinking this kind.

After saying that, I headed out with my head down. He called after me: “Wait a bit. I’m off soon. I’ll take you to eat.”

I figured my brother would be there too. I didn’t want to be the third-wheel light bulb.

I found an excuse to decline, closed the door and slipped away.

Yesterday on a video call with Mom and Dad, I’d agreed to go home for dinner today, but halfway there, I got a call from my brother:

“A water pipe burst at home. Mom and Dad are getting someone to fix it. Your room’s been commandeered, so stay at my place for now.”

The news came too suddenly; I stammered: “That… isn’t good. Won’t it get in the way of you and saozi…”

You Chuanze immediately roared: “You Jiaqi! I’ll say it one more time: there’s nothing between him and me!”

Ignoring his bashfulness, I sighed: “Fine, fine, fine, whatever you say.”

Sheng Yanshu had already admitted it. What was my brother being so awkward about! So pretentious!

Knowing my brother and saozi had a date tonight, I planned to just grab something to eat.

Around four in the afternoon, I got a message from my college class monitor:

“Jiaqi, the school’s holding a mixer for graduates. You have to come! Tonight’s hype squad is counting on you!”

As the class’s former arts officer, warming up a crowd was my specialty.

I had to eat anyway. What did it matter where?

I hurried back to my brother’s place and found my luggage packed and put in the small south-facing bedroom.

I dug out a water-blue spaghetti-strap dress with pearls, did pretty makeup, and got ready to go.

When I reached the entryway, the door opened. You Chuanze and Sheng Yanshu had come back early.

You Chuanze was carrying a bag of groceries and bumped right into me.

“Tsk, slow down. What’s the rush? What are you doing?” You Chuanze pushed me away, saw my outfit, and his face fell. “What are you doing?”

Sheng Yanshu’s gaze traveled from my face, over my collarbone, down to my thighs. He frowned slightly, and that intimidating feeling was back.

“A mixer…” I blinked. “All college classmates! I’m just going to warm up the crowd!”

After a 3-second standoff, I suddenly ducked and ran for it.

You Chuanze skillfully grabbed the ponytail I’d worked so hard to braid, gave a light tug, and pulled me back:

“Why are your shoulders out? And no wearing such a short skirt.”

I slapped his hand away, resentful: “Freedom of dress!”

“If you weren’t my sister, I wouldn’t bother! If you don’t change today, you’ll have to step over my corpse!”

I couldn’t beat You Chuanze, so I went around and ran behind Sheng Yanshu, whining: “Saozi… look at him… I just want to wear it!”

You Chuanze bared his teeth and pointed at me: “You Jiaqi, let go of him. Get away from him.”

Sheng Yanshu didn’t move. He lowered his head and said to me: “Listen to your brother.”

I pouted, the full resentful-wife face.

Sheng Yanshu laughed and said softly, head lowered: “Don’t provoke the old TCM doctor. Careful, he’ll stick needles in you.”

I wailed, reluctantly changed into a baggy T-shirt, and left without a word.

The moment I closed the door, my brother drawled in an extremely punchable tone: “Call me when you’re done. No staying out overnight.”

Bang!

The door shut, cutting off his voice inside.

“Old nanny.”

I muttered and went downstairs.

The first all-department mixer after graduation; about 100 people came.

Unfortunately, I saw my ex-boyfriend there, which indirectly led to me knocking over the microphone when I went up to give a speech. For the second half I had to rely entirely on shouting, and it was a total mess.

I, You Jiaqi, once the famous little queen of speeches, was mortified on stage. It was the class monitor who dragged me off.

Off stage, I asked furiously: “What’s a current student doing here!”

Back then, my gossip with Tong Jiaye was known all over campus. He’d gotten genuinely famous off me. Who doesn’t love watching gossip…

The class monitor spread his hands innocently: “His girlfriend graduates this year…”

F*ck! Bad luck all year!

As we were talking, Tong Jiaye leisurely made his way through the crowd toward me.

“Xuejie, long time no see.”

Translator’s note: Xuejie (学姐) means senior female schoolmate.

I put on a fake smile: “Yes, long time no see.”

Tong Jiaye tilted his head, sized me up for a while, and suddenly said: “I heard you’ve been telling everyone I’m dead?”

I laughed dryly: “Maybe I remembered wrong. I apologize.”

Tong Jiaye wasn’t angry. He waved toward the others: “Xuejie has to show some sincerity. Have a few drinks with us.”

The class monitor pushed up his glasses: “Is that necessary? A few grown men bullying a girl…”

Tong Jiaye said: “My girlfriend wants to make friends with her. No forced drinking.”

I took a deep breath and silently chanted: forget it, just treat it as visiting a grave.

Where there are lots of people, there’s egging on, especially when the stars of gossip that once rocked the whole school show up.

I drank with restraint, but the alcohol still went to my head a bit.

In the end the class monitor took a drink for me, pulled me up and left.

I followed him: “Thanks, monitor.”

He sighed, parting the crowd: “Where do you live? Is anyone picking you up?”

I thought for a moment, slowly took out my phone, and called You Chuanze. Someone answered quickly: “Hello?”

I giggled: “Gege, I’m done. Come pick me up…”

The other end paused: “Been drinking?”

I nodded hard: “Drank!”

“Give me the address.”

You Chuanze was so easy to deal with today. He didn’t make me hand over pocket money first.

I pressed the phone to the class monitor’s ear: “You tell him.”

The class monitor clearly reported the address and held me up as we stood under the streetlight: “Jiaqi, don’t drink alone from now on.”

I nodded, leaned against the lamppost, and closed my eyes to rest.

I hadn’t eaten much; drinking a bit on an empty stomach, the alcohol hit, and my eyelids got heavy.

Soon, headlights lit up the road.

A silver car stopped in front of us. It looked a bit familiar.

The door opened; a tall figure stepped on the shadow under the streetlight and walked straight toward me.

The class monitor asked: “Jiaqi, is this your brother?”

I looked up, opened my eyes, saw the man walk into the light with a dark face, and said happily: “Yes… hic… it’s my sao—”

A big hand suddenly covered my mouth, cutting off the words, and a cool voice said: “Sorry for the trouble.”

The class monitor’s gaze shifted between Sheng Yanshu and me.

I knew I couldn’t call him saozi in front of other people, so I pulled free of Sheng Yanshu’s hand and laughed: “Yes, it’s my brother.”

Only then did the class monitor wave, reassured: “Jiaqi didn’t drink much, she just can’t hold her liquor…” “Okay. Thanks for looking after her.”

Sheng Yanshu picked me up by the waist, put me in the passenger seat, leaned down and fastened my seatbelt. A cool woody scent diluted the sting of alcohol.

Soon, the car started.

I shifted uncomfortably, pressing my forehead: “Saozi, drive slower, I’m going to spill… put the lid on… ugh… put it on…”

Sheng Yanshu said flatly: “Throw up in the car, two hundred.”

My saozi must be angry. Rounding up, my brother’s angry too, and so my parents are angry too.

Thinking of it that way, my chest felt tight, and I suddenly started crying.

Sheng Yanshu ignored me and let me vent.

By the time the car turned into the neighborhood, an emotional drama had begun inside it.

I poured out all the rotten business between Tong Jiaye and me like spilling beans.

Finally I leaned my head against the window and complained in a muffled voice: “My brother won’t let me date, and my parents won’t either. They say I’m blind and unreliable.”

Sheng Yanshu shut his door, walked around the front of the car, opened the passenger door and squatted in front of me: “Jiaqi, we’re here.”

I suddenly stopped talking, sobbed a few times, and staggered out of the car.

Sheng Yanshu held my arm, and we walked toward the stairwell together.

The midsummer breeze was muggy.

I hugged Sheng Yanshu’s arm and kept going:

“Saozi, I’m going to find a boyfriend! I won’t admit defeat! Tomorrow I’ll find one, uh, no, tonight! I’ll download a dating app, I’ll—”

As we passed under a wall of blooming flowers, Sheng Yanshu suddenly pushed me against the wall.

His left hand rested beside my ear, and his tall body bent down, trapping me in the narrow space of his embrace.

“What kind of boyfriend do you want?” he asked unhurriedly, head lowered.

His warm breath brushed my hair; it tickled.

My brain, numbed by alcohol, slowly turned over. A few seconds later, it crashed.

“Good-looking.” I bit my lip and smiled: “Like saozi.”

“Like me?”

I hummed: “Saozi’s handsome! Do you have any brothers you could introduce me to?”

Sheng Yanshu laughed; the sound, carried on the night breeze, rippled across my heart.

“I’m an only child.” I shook my head, trying hard to sober up:

“Then… forget it… I can’t like saozi… I can’t make my brother a bachelor…”

Pocket money can be shared, but partners can’t!

Absolutely not!

Even if my brother and I had both tragically fallen for the same man!

He leaned close to my ear and said softly: “But I don’t like your brother. I like you.”

My mind went into chaos; my eyes were full of Sheng Yanshu’s face. I rambled: “No, no… my brother already has a hard enough time getting married… I can’t—”

My lips were sealed, cutting off my words.

At that moment, the only thing left in the whole world was my heart still thumping.

I was being kissed!

He mercilessly breached the city gates and took my last scrap of reason.

Even scarier, in that gentle yet irresistible rhythm, I actually started learning to respond.

So damn sweet… and intoxicating. Suddenly, a string snapped in my head.

I struggled violently!

I’m a bastard!

I actually!

Kissed my saozi!

Sheng Yanshu felt me resist, let go, and ruffled my hair.

He’d just said “You—” when I ducked out from under him and, like a fleeing rabbit, ran upstairs.

I’m dead!

Bang bang bang!

My frantic knocking echoed in the stairwell.

“Who is it! Are you trying to summon death?!”

The door opened. My brother, in an apron and holding a spatula, stood impatiently in the doorway, the very picture of a good wife and mother.

He could have had a happy old age, and now I’d ruined everything.

I dropped to my knees with a thud.

Under You Chuanze’s look of having seen a ghost, I said in grief: “Ge, I’m sorry. I’ve fallen in love with saozi!”

Deathly silence.

The neighbor’s door, propped open a crack because of the heat, clicked shut and locked.

A bewildered woman walked out from inside and said to my brother: “Darling, is she… talking… about me?”

I looked at myself in the entryway mirror, eyeliner mixed with tears running down my face in rivers, then at the beautiful jiejie standing inside, and murmured as if sleep-talking: “Who exactly is my sao… zi?”

Translator’s note: Jiejie (姐姐) means “big sister,” also used for any slightly older young woman.

She came over half wary, half curious, and hid behind my brother: “You’re Jiaqi, right… I know about you… this is a bit sudden… I… sorry…”

Footsteps came from behind. My brother looked back, suddenly understood, and as if he’d swallowed a fly, hauled me off the floor by the back of my collar.

“You Jiaqi, straighten your tongue and tell me who you like?”

I was forced to turn around and face Sheng Yanshu walking toward us. Seeing the bite mark I’d left on his lower lip, I screamed: “I didn’t say anything! I didn’t say anything!”

Sheng Yanshu likes me!

What had I done?

I’d told him what day my period comes and how many days it lasts! I’d asked him about postpartum care!

And because I lost to my ex, I got wasted and bawled in his car!

Sheng Yanshu walked over unhurriedly, ignored me, and said directly to my brother: “If you have a problem, take it up with me. Don’t scare her.”

“You kissed her?” The voice behind me was icy.

Sheng Yanshu said shamelessly: “Yes. I confessed to her.”

“Sheng Yanshu! I’ll shovel you into the ground!” My brother, like a mad dog baring its fangs, charged waving the spatula, spit spraying onto my neck. “You old uncle, how dare you touch her!”

“Sorry, I’m the same age as you, old uncle.”

“Sheng Yanshu! If I don’t beat your teeth out, I’ll take your surname!”

Sheng Yanshu laughed: “No need for you to take my surname. Your nephew taking it will do.”

“You’re dead!”

In the chaos, the gentle saozi pulled me inside, away from the bloodbath.

She held back laughter, wiping my face as she asked: “You like Yanshu?”

I sniffled, still drunk, and nodded pitifully: “A little…” Then I opened my mouth and bawled: “I’ve lost all my face… he knows everything… he even knows how many fibroids are in my uterus…”

My saozi laughed until she cried, but still patted my back to soothe me.

In my grief, I still pried open my swollen eyes and asked between sobs:

“Sao… saozi… when… when did you get together with my brother?”

My saozi pressed her lips together and smiled: “About half a year ago. We’re colleagues…”

Why is everyone around my sloppy brother an immortal?

And saozi was gentleness incarnate.

Now I was sure. You Chuanze really did like… women.

And Sheng Yanshu also liked women…

“Saozi.” I hugged her and whined in a muffled voice. After a while, I said: “I didn’t mean it like that just now.”

My saozi laughed like crazy: “If you told me you weren’t Chuanze’s sister, I wouldn’t believe it.”

We were both ridiculous…

I don’t know how long passed before it got quiet outside. I quietly stuck an ear out to listen, then stood up: “I’ll go take a look.”

When I opened the door, my brother was standing in the doorway with an ashen face. The head of the spatula had flown off, leaving only a bare handle.

He pressed one finger to my forehead and pushed me back in: “I’ve cut ties with him, and you’re breaking up with him! Don’t even think about it!”

Finally a man who liked me. How could I let that go?

I talked back, unconvinced: “He’s not your man! What right do you have to control us!”

You Chuanze gritted his teeth: “What’s a little thing like you doing going after someone that old! Are you starved for love?”

“You’re the old thing! Sheng Yanshu isn’t old at all!” I flailed, trying to pry his finger off.

My brother hooked my neck with his arm and dragged me back to the living room: “Every time he comes I’ll beat him up.”

“You’re being unreasonable!”

“No need to reason with a love-brain like you.”

My brother made me cry. No matter how my saozi tried to talk him down, he acted like he’d taken crazy pills and wouldn’t give an inch.

I went back to my bedroom, slammed the door so hard it shook, sat fuming for a while, opened my phone, and found Sheng Yanshu had sent me a WeChat message.

“Your brother and I are fine. Tomorrow at 7:30, wait for me downstairs.”

The spatula head had flown off. How could it be fine?

I calmed down for a while. Just then, my brother suddenly sent me several WeChat messages.

“I’m telling you, give up!”

“I don’t agree!”

“Mom and Dad won’t agree either!”

“Sheng Yanshu can forget about ever walking through this family’s door!”

“What crap was he talking! My nephew is not taking his surname!”

I quickly replied: “Okay gege, then the kid can take mine.”

The other side suddenly went quiet; angry pounding on the wall came from next door.

I rolled myself up in the blanket and excitedly replied to Sheng Yanshu: “Okay.”

To the sound of my brother pounding the wall, I happily fell asleep.

4

The next day, I got up extra early and sneaked out of the house.

Sheng Yanshu’s car was already parked downstairs, and he was leaning against the door waiting for me.

When he saw me, he raised his wrist to check the time and said: “Have you eaten?” I shook my head: “Not yet, sao—”

My teeth chattered and I nearly bit off my tongue.

My second time properly dating someone. Do we just hold hands right away?

My fingers twitched. Just as the wicked thought arose, Sheng Yanshu laughed softly and stepped aside: “Get in.”

I awkwardly tucked back a nonexistent strand of hair and coughed lightly: “Okay.”

“Oh my, isn’t this Jiaqi?” The old lady from next door, carrying a basket of vegetables and walking a dog, came toward us, smiling kindly. “I just ran into your mom at the market. She said a pipe burst at your place and you’re staying at Xiao Ze’s.”

I nervously clutched my crossbody bag and nodded: “Good morning, Liu-nainai.”

Translator’s note: Nainai (奶奶) means grandma, also used for any elderly woman.

At the same time I nervously used my body to block Sheng Yanshu.

Grandma Liu looked up past me and saw Sheng Yanshu, a head taller than me. Her eyes lit up: “And this is—”

“My shushu!”

I stood ramrod straight, practically saluting.

Translator’s note: Shushu (叔叔) means “uncle,” used for any man of one’s parents’ generation.

The dog barked, enthusiastically sticking out its tongue. I was so scared I stepped back, and Sheng Yanshu caught me.

Grandma Liu’s gossipy gaze slowly lit up: “Oh, a shushu… that’s nice too, that’s nice too.”

Watching the old lady walk away, I wanted to cry but had no tears.

I guarantee that before the afternoon, my mom will know I’m dating.

As soon as I looked up, Sheng Yanshu was calmly looking down at me: “Shushu?”

I found myself trapped between the car and him and said weakly: “My mom can’t find out…”

“Call me something else.”

“Uh… ge… gege?”

“Don’t lump me in with that old TCM doctor.”

I made a bitter face and finally tried: “Yanshu-ge…”

He lowered his head and asked earnestly: “You don’t consider calling me husband?”

My face went red at once. I slowly slid down the car, wanting to escape like last time…

Sheng Yanshu laughed and let go: “Not teasing you anymore. Let’s go, niece.”

That teasing made me blush all over again.

On the way to work, Sheng Yanshu and I had breakfast. Sitting at a roadside stall, I nervously watched the passersby, afraid my mom would catch me.

Sheng Yanshu leisurely picked up a baozi for me and said: “How old are you this year?”

I held the baozi, blinked, and said, puzzled: “24.”

“Mm, not puppy love.” He peeled an egg and put it in my bowl. “The way you act always makes me feel like I’ve tricked a minor.”

I froze, and suddenly felt my back straighten: “Right! I’m 24! What right does my brother have to control me! He’s an old bachelor himself, so he won’t let me get married?”

Sheng Yanshu nodded: “Well said. You should get married.”

I was like I’d been injected with chicken blood. I chattered the whole way, and even when we reached the office building I still wasn’t done.

Before getting out, I hesitated a moment, then quickly leaned over and kissed Sheng Yanshu’s cheek.

Then I quickly shut the door and ran giggling into the building.

At lunch break, I saw Kaihui-jie sitting at her desk looking worried, so I went over.

“Kaihui-jie, you don’t look well.”

Kaihui-jie came back to herself and said: “I’m 6 months along. It started hurting when I got up this morning. I might have to go to the hospital later.”

The old boss slowly lifted his head from his desk, teapot in hand, and looked at me over his reading glasses: “Jiaqi, go with your Kaihui-jie. Nothing’s happening this afternoon anyway. I’ll give you both half a day off.”

I agreed readily, helped Kaihui-jie downstairs, and hailed a taxi.

Sheng Yanshu’s appointments were full, so we booked with another doctor.

It was hot that day.

After we came out of the consultation room, Kaihui-jie went for tests, and I waited, eating a popsicle.

From a distance, I suddenly heard someone call my name.

I looked toward the voice. Sheng Yanshu waved at me.

The little deer in my heart started bumping around again. I bounced over and said: “I have a friend, she’s pregnant—”

Sheng Yanshu turned sideways and made a shushing gesture. Only then did I see the Bluetooth earpiece in his other ear.

He was on a call.

I covered my mouth and smiled at him apologetically.

Soon he hung up and said: “Your brother.”

My heart was suddenly all over the place: “He didn’t hear, did he?” “He heard.”

I wailed and turned to sneak off.

Sheng Yanshu hooked my collar and gently pulled me back: “What were you saying about your friend?”

I slapped my forehead: “Right, my friend is pregnant and not feeling well. I came with her to see a doctor.”

As soon as I said it, the slap of running footsteps came from a distance.

I poked my head out and jolted.

You Chuanze, white coat on, slippers on his feet, steel needles in hand, charged into the obstetrics waiting area with an ashen face.

He looked around, spotted my quietly hiding head, roared, and ran over: “You Jiaqi! Say that again! Who’s pregnant?!”

I stammered: “My… my friend.”

Nanny You shrieked: “You’re pregnant?!”

Then he snatched the popsicle out of my hand, whipped his head around, and glared at Sheng Yanshu, roaring: “You did this?!”

In a secluded corner of the hospital, I shrank behind Sheng Yanshu like an ostrich and cautiously reached for the popsicle in my brother’s hand. You Chuanze held it up high, face cold: “Eat what, eat? Come here!”

Sheng Yanshu suddenly raised his hand, took it from You Chuanze and handed it to me: “Go eat it over there. This doesn’t concern you.”

“Sheng Yanshu, don’t spoil her.”

Sheng Yanshu stared coldly at my brother: “I meant it last time. I don’t think the age gap is a problem.”

I licked the popsicle and nodded: “Neither do I.”

You Chuanze took a deep breath, more serious than I’d ever heard him:

“I’ll tell you plainly: my sister’s brain is no good. She can’t tell a passing crush from love. She likes you, damn it, because of your face!”

I looked blankly at Sheng Yanshu.

He suddenly laughed and said lightly to You Chuanze: “I know. So what?”

You Chuanze stared at Sheng Yanshu like he was a madman: “Are you sick?”

“I’m 30 this year. I know exactly what I’m doing. If Jiaqi doesn’t know how to love someone, I can wait.”

I slowly raised my hand and imitated Sheng Yanshu: “I’m 24 this year. I know exactly what I’m doing—” “Shut up.” You Chuanze cut me off irritably. “Mom and Dad know. Tonight, you two are coming home with me for dinner.”

Kaihui-jie’s tests showed nothing serious, so we took her home.

At 6 p.m., I sat properly on the sofa, hands flat on my knees, back straight.

All the aunts and uncles of the You family had come.

They split into two factions: men and women.

The elders, led by my mom, brought stools and surrounded the sofa so tightly not even water could leak through.

On the other side, led by my dad and my old gege, the table was covered with bottles of erguotou. Sheng Yanshu, in a crowd of grown men, answered every question fluently.

Slap.

My mom tapped the table, signaling me to stop looking over there.

“How did it start?”

I pointed at You Chuanze: “My brother set us up.”

“What do you like about him?”

“Handsome, tall, good to me.”

“Do you know what his family’s like? How many girlfriends he’s had? How’s his character? What do his parents do?”

I scratched my head: “My brother knows all that better than me…”

For the next few hours, You Chuanze took my place as the elders’ interrogation target.

I drifted over to my dad’s side and, by pestering endlessly, pushed back every drink meant to get Sheng Yanshu drunk.

My dad laughed and scolded: “Little brat, not even married off yet and your elbow’s already bending outward.”

Sheng Yanshu raised a glass and said to my dad: “Shushu, I’m the same age as Chuanze, an only son. My parents are doctors, my grandparents were teachers, and my family is strict. I will never in my life do anything to wrong Jiaqi.”

My dad was silent for a while and said: “Chuanze told me all this. I’m not worried. But you and Jiaqi haven’t known each other long. Talking about marriage is a bit hasty.”

Sheng Yanshu smiled faintly: “To be honest, over these past few years, I’ve eaten Jiaqi’s cooking more than once.”

I froze, caught his look, and suddenly understood something.

When my brother had just started working, Tong Jiaye and I were hot and heavy, and You Chuanze caught us.

To shut him up, I got up early and stayed up late making him love lunchboxes as bribes. In case he had a girlfriend and it wasn’t enough, I made them for two. It only stopped after I broke up with Tong Jiaye.

After that I switched to video-calling You Chuanze every few days to pour out my troubles.

You Chuanze didn’t actually listen. He’d often toss the phone on the desk with the camera pointing at the ceiling, completely still.

In those lost days, I faced that motionless ceiling alone, crying and laughing, and toughed it out.

Sheng Yanshu toasted my dad: “Shushu, as long as you allow me to date Jiaqi, I can wait on marriage.”

When the family dinner broke up, You Chuanze fell asleep on the sofa hugging a bottle of erguotou, so seeing Sheng Yanshu out fell to me.

The evening breeze was blowing, and he and I walked side by side down the little path.

Taking advantage of the thick darkness, I quietly reached for Sheng Yanshu’s hand. To my surprise he was ready for it and wrapped his hand around mine first.

Neither of us spoke. Almost at the neighborhood gate, Sheng Yanshu suddenly stopped: “Jiaqi.”

“Ah?”

Before I could react, Sheng Yanshu put both hands around my waist and lifted.

Then my feet landed on a step, putting me a little higher than him. Hearing water, I realized the neighborhood’s fountain plaza was behind me.

Every night at 8 sharp, a brilliant neon fountain shoots high into the night sky.

My heart raced. My hands rested on Sheng Yanshu’s shoulders, and my cheeks burned.

“Jiaqi, the name Tong Jiaye, I really know it well…” He smiled, his eyes deep. “You went on about it for half a year. My ears grew calluses.”

I froze: “How do you know my ex’s name?”

Sheng Yanshu said: “Your brother was afraid you’d do something drastic. At the start, the video calls would stay on all day. He and I were both busy, so we took turns keeping an eye on you.”

I covered my face and said quietly: “It’s over. You know every embarrassing thing about me.”

How was I supposed to know that beyond the ceiling, there’d been a Sheng Yanshu sitting there too?

“Why are you suddenly bringing this up?” I asked.

“Because I don’t want you to think I’m not serious, or that I have ulterior motives.” Sheng Yanshu’s eyes seemed to melt into the night. “All my life, I’ve done everything steadily, aiming to win for sure. Only with you have I been too hasty. What Shushu said tonight reminded me: you’re still young, we should take it slow.”

I thought seriously: “Actually I’m very loyal. As long as you don’t give up on me, I’ll keep liking you.”

“What if I get old and stop being good-looking?” I tilted my head and thought, and made myself laugh: “Then I can only like you 70%. The other 30% will be family love.”

“That’s already very high.” Sheng Yanshu smiled and ruffled my hair.

I asked: “What about you?”

“My love for you will never decrease.”

Boom!

8 p.m. sharp.

The lights of the fountain plaza instantly lit up the night sky.

A column of water shot up from the pool into the sky, flashing with five-colored neon.

Sheng Yanshu’s hand pulled lightly, closing the distance between us in an instant. He stepped onto the step, lowered his head and kissed me.

The scream inside me broke through my heart and carried my soul floating through the deep night sky.

My ears burned. Before I knew it, he’d lifted me to sit on the edge of a flower bed, and my arms were around his neck.

I was wearing a skirt that ended just above my knees; whenever the breeze blew, it brushed my thighs.

I kicked off my shoes and happily swung my bare feet. When we paused for breath, Sheng Yanshu suddenly pressed a hand on my legs: “Can’t even kiss without fidgeting.”

The heat of his hand pressed against my skin. I moved, and Sheng Yanshu suddenly let go and pulled my hem back down to my knees.

“It’s late. I’ll take you back.”

Faced with this unusual Sheng Yanshu, I was lifted down in a daze and led back by the hand.

“We’re… just… this? What’s the next step?”

“No wild ideas.” Sheng Yanshu took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You don’t understand anything yet.”

Just because I’m not sexually active doesn’t mean you can insult my intelligence!

He walked me to the bottom of the building, and I said glumly: “I was supposed to be seeing you off.”

Sheng Yanshu leaned down next to my ear: “No need for you to see me off.”

Seeing my puzzled look, he added: “I’ve wanted to kiss you all night. It was just an excuse.”

I froze there, tingling all over.

“You two downstairs, why so close?”

I looked up. My brother’s big face was pressed flat against the second-floor window screen, his tone gloomy. Under You Chuanze’s murderous glare, I jumped up, provocatively wrapped my arms around Sheng Yanshu’s neck and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

“You Jiaqi, have some reserve, damn it!” My brother screeched like a monkey caged in a zoo.

Before he could charge downstairs with a broom, I quickly said goodbye to Sheng Yanshu and ran upstairs.

5

With family support, Sheng Yanshu’s and my relationship progressed smoothly.

The honeymoon phase lasted several months.

Only You Chuanze couldn’t stand us.

When I went to have lunch with Sheng Yanshu, he became the highest-wattage light bulb around. Later I got fed up and invited my saozi too.

So in the hospital cafeteria, you’d always see the four of us sharing a table.

One noon, the three of them were all late. I got there first, and because it was hot, I waited in the cafeteria.

Just as I’d gotten my food and sat down, a woman in high heels suddenly appeared in front of me.

I slowly looked up, a roast chicken wing in my mouth, and saw chestnut wavy long hair, exquisite makeup, and an elegant, intellectual outfit. Very beautiful.

She smiled at me and said softly: “You’re Yanshu’s sister, right?” I shook my head: “I’m not—”

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Yanshu’s ex-girlfriend.”

I was stunned. I put down my chopsticks and held out my hand too: “Hello, hello, I’m his current—”

“You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?”

“…”

I pulled myself together and frowned: “I’m his—”

“I want to win your brother back. I hope you can help.”

“No!” I finally got a word in and flatly refused: “He’s mine.”

The woman’s lips curved: “He’ll always be your brother. And I’ll like you a lot in the future, too.”

I was furious. How could this woman not let people finish a sentence!

A cup of cola was suddenly set in front of me, and a gentle female voice cut in:

“Yalin, let me introduce her. She’s Yanshu’s girlfriend, and my future sister-in-law. If you want to go after Yanshu, I’m afraid that’s not appropriate. Also, as I recall, Yanshu never acknowledged the title of ex-girlfriend.”

I looked up and saw saozi’s smiling profile. Many years later, remembering this scene, I still thought saozi at that moment shone with ten thousand rays of light.

The woman held her ground for a while, her gaze traveling over me: “Are you sure Yanshu would like a… half-grown child?”

Saozi smiled: “Yanshu doesn’t like children. He just likes young, pretty girls.”

She stressed “young” and “pretty” heavily.

The woman’s face changed, and she turned on me:

“Little girl, you haven’t graduated yet, right? Love between adults involves a lot. It’s not as simple as you think.”

I picked up the cola can and held my hand out toward the woman.

She frowned: “What?”

I smiled: “Yanshu-gege, I can’t open it.”

Sheng Yanshu walked up from behind her, brushed past her, took the can with one hand and popped it open. Foam came rushing out.

He held it to my lips, and I sipped the foam off the top from his hand.

Halfway through, he took it away and said: “Eat first.”

Then he turned and said to the woman: “Please move aside. I’m going to eat with my girlfriend.”

The woman forced a smile: “Yanshu, I’m Yalin.”

“I know.”

“She said she’s your ex-girlfriend.” I blinked, a little aggrieved.

Anyone who ran into their boyfriend’s ex out of nowhere and got lectured would be unhappy.

Sheng Yanshu casually rubbed my head:

“We studied in the same classroom a few times and had rumors about us for a few days. If I’d known it would make my girlfriend misunderstand today, I’d have cleared it up back then.”

I remembered the first time I met Sheng Yanshu: I’d chased him around calling him saozi, and he hadn’t explained either. He just didn’t seem to be someone who liked explaining himself.

The woman left in defeat.

Sheng Yanshu sat down across from me and looked at me through his glasses: “Angry?”

I shook my head: “You and saozi both helped me. Not angry.”

“If you’re not angry, why have you stabbed your rice into this?”

I looked down and found a pit in the middle of my rice. Saozi laughed: “Yalin talks without any sense of tact. Even I got angry listening.”

Sheng Yanshu nodded: “I’ll go talk it out with her clearly. Don’t worry.”

My brother didn’t come that day. Saozi got her food and left us to our two-person world.

Suddenly, the crowd around us scattered like startled birds.

It suddenly got a lot quieter.

Gnawing on my chicken wing, I looked around, confused, and found a middle-aged man had suddenly sat down next to me.

Hair streaked with white, stern face, and… somehow familiar.

Someone who hadn’t escaped in time cried out in fright: “Dean Sheng.”

Hearing that, I shot up out of my chair and stammered: “Hello, Shushu.”

Sheng Yanshu’s expression was cold: “I told you, it’s not time yet. Don’t scare her.”

He pulled me over, took a napkin and wiped my hands clean: “Full?”

I nodded.

“Then let’s go.” Sheng Yanshu shielded me as I got up.

His dad coughed lightly: “I just came to take a look.”

I suddenly felt that just walking off wasn’t right. An ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws sooner or later. I said quietly:

“Shushu, I’m Sheng Yanshu’s girlfriend. Nice to meet you. Please look after me.”

His dad’s expression was exactly like Sheng Yanshu’s, but the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes gave away how pleased he was:

“Look how sensible this little girl is. I raised you all these years for nothing. Jiaqi, right? I’ve heard about you. Much better than our Yanshu.”

Hearing someone praise me, I grinned happily: “Have you eaten?”

“Hm…” His dad seemed to think of something: “Not yet.”

I looked up at Sheng Yanshu, wide-eyed: “You haven’t eaten either. Have a bit more.”

There was always a stiffness between Sheng Yanshu and his dad.

During the meal, I couldn’t join their conversation; it was mostly academic discussion.

His dad asked, Sheng Yanshu answered, and it soon went cold.

I slipped out and bought two sodas, one for Shushu and one by Sheng Yanshu’s hand, his favorite.

Sheng Yanshu said: “He doesn’t drink it, give it to—”

Shushu gave me a rare smile: “Thank you, Jiaqi.”

Then, under Sheng Yanshu’s strange look, he skillfully popped the can open with one hand.

“Shushu’s just like you.” I smiled at Sheng Yanshu on the sly.

“Mm.” He stroked my head, his gaze gentle.

The atmosphere eased a lot, and Shushu started talking to me.

Once I start talking it’s hard to stop, so I chattered animatedly on my side.

Shushu listened with great interest, and Sheng Yanshu, head lowered, leisurely kept adding food to my plate.

The meal was very pleasant. Before leaving, Shushu smiled:

“You and Xiao You are both good kids. Come over to our place more often.”

I nodded quickly, then realized that the Xiao You he meant was You Chuanze.

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives.

Over there, You Chuanze came shuffling up, panting: “Yo! Dean! Eating here today?”

Shushu returned to his former dignity, his face stern: “Came to see my future daughter-in-law.”

You Chuanze laughed dryly: “My sister’s a bit lively. I think Sheng Yanshu’s too stuffy; someone like her suits him.”

Shushu nodded: “I think so too.”

Then he patted You Chuanze on the shoulder: “Xiao You, you’re a lucky man.”

You Chuanze didn’t get it, staring at me with his two big eyeballs.

I grinned: “Xiao You, the dean’s praising you.”

You Chuanze shot me a warning look, saw the dean off, then came over still shaken: “The Miejue Master has appeared. Where’s Abbess Miejue?”

Translator’s note: Abbess Miejue is the ruthless, rigid nun from Jin Yong’s Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber; her name has become shorthand for a terrifyingly strict person.

“My mom’s on a business trip. She’s not here,” Sheng Yanshu said.

You Chuanze jumped with anxiety: “How could you let Jiaqi run into him! Do you still want this to work out!”

He grabbed me and looked me over: “He didn’t scold you just now, did he?”

“No.”

“Don’t eat here anymore. Warn your parents first and work on their thinking,” You Chuanze advised Sheng Yanshu.

Only then did I learn that Sheng Yanshu’s parents were affectionately called by their colleagues: the Miejue Couple.

Never smiling, only talking business, long in leadership positions, decisive and swift.

In short, one word: domineering.

No wonder Sheng Yanshu was so cool-tempered and didn’t like to mention his parents.

At first You Chuanze strongly opposed Sheng Yanshu and me being together because he was afraid I’d get bullied after marrying into his family.

“I think Shushu is pretty nice.”

You Chuanze looked pained: “It’s over. She’s been brainwashed.”

On the way back, I tugged at Sheng Yanshu: “I’m not afraid of going home with you to meet your parents.”

Sheng Yanshu looked down at me and didn’t say anything for a while.

“Hey! Do you look down on me?”

Sheng Yanshu sighed and pulled me into his arms.

A faint smell of disinfectant surrounded me. Above my head, he said softly: “Jiaqi, are you sure you want to marry me?”

I grinned: “Not necessarily. You haven’t proposed. Someone always wants to take it slow, but he forgot there’s a kind of person in the world who does everything fast. You all keep saying I’m young, but I’m 24, an adult for 6 years. What makes you think I can’t be responsible for myself?”

Something flickered in Sheng Yanshu’s eyes. He cupped my cheeks and lowered his head.

A car slowly drove through the hospital gate and finally stopped beside us. The window rolled down: “Yanshu, come home for dinner tonight.”

I screamed, covered my face and buried it in Sheng Yanshu’s chest.

Sheng Yanshu held me and asked: “Mom, why are you back early?”

Was today a bad day for going out? I’d run into both future in-laws.

The ayi in the car said coldly: “To settle your lifelong matter first.”

Translator’s note: Ayi (阿姨) means “auntie,” what you’d call a friend’s or partner’s mother.

My little face went bright red. I awkwardly turned around and bowed:

“Hello, Ayi. I’m Sheng Yanshu’s girlfriend. Nice to meet you. Please look after me.”

Exactly the same lines.

Ayi in the car wore a black suit, her hair pulled back in a tight bun.

The standard career woman.

Ayi’s gaze fell on me, and she suddenly asked: “Want some candy?”

“Ah?”

She passed a bag of candy out the car window:

“I came back in a hurry and didn’t buy any local specialties. The candy there is good. Take it.”

“Thank you, Ayi…”

“Have you proposed?” Ayi turned to ask Sheng Yanshu. Sheng Yanshu said: “No.”

Ayi nodded: “If you’re sure, get on with it. Is Jiaqi free tonight?”

Before Sheng Yanshu could speak, I hurriedly nodded: “I’m free, Ayi.”

A faint smile appeared on her face: “Good. Come together.”

The car slowly drove away. Holding the bag of candy, I screamed: “I’m meeting the parents! What do I do, what do I do! I haven’t done my makeup or dressed up!”

Sheng Yanshu sighed: “You’re fine like this. They like you a lot.”

“How do you know?”

Sheng Yanshu smiled: “To be honest, all these years, my dad has never drunk soda, and my mom has never eaten candy.”

“I haven’t even had a chance to show my charm… how did they already start liking me?”

“Your brother has always been very popular with the two of them.”

So love the house, love the crow on its roof?

I’d benefited from You Chuanze.

6

That evening, I showed up at Sheng Yanshu’s door as agreed. When we went in, Sheng Yanshu took a pair of pink slippers with long bunny ears out of the shoe cabinet, completely out of place with the style of his home.

“No, just give me an ordinary pair.”

“I bought them for you. Wear them.”

He knew I liked pink bunnies, but I had no idea when he’d gotten them.

When we got to the living room, Shushu and Ayi were in the kitchen. Hearing us, they both looked over. The kitchen was full of all kinds of pots and pans; you’d think they were making a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast.

Only the kitchen was a bit of a mess right now, and the two of them looked a bit disheveled.

They came out and shut the kitchen door, as if hiding something.

Sheng Yanshu frowned: “Mom, Dad, did you turn off the stove?”

A long silence. Sheng Yanshu resignedly put on an apron and patted my head: “Sit in the living room for a bit. I’ll cook.”

As soon as he opened the door, a pungent burnt smell rushed out.

Shushu and Ayi looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.

I strode in right behind Sheng Yanshu: “I’ll help!”

Having escaped the suffocating scene, I let out a long breath.

Sheng Yanshu deftly turned off the heat, opened the window to air it out, and washed the dishes.

The kitchen had basically become a battlefield.

You could tell Shushu and Ayi really wanted to make a table of good food, but they weren’t good at cooking.

I didn’t dare stay in the living room alone, so I followed Sheng Yanshu around as his helper.

He didn’t shoo me away either; now and then he’d find a moment to sneak me a bite.

“You’re really good at this?” I bit into a carrot and chewed slowly.

“Mm. My parents were busy. As a kid I cooked on my own. Got used to it.”

Hearing that, my heart ached for him: “If I’d known, I’d have made more back then.”

My brother told me their cafeteria food wasn’t fit for dogs.

“It’s fine. I ate my fill,” Sheng Yanshu said with a smile. “Your brother couldn’t out-grab me.”

Sheng Yanshu cooked fast. The mess of ingredients on the floor gradually shrank and turned into a table full of dishes.

“Jiaqi, come here.”

Shushu smiled and beckoned me.

I went over shyly, and he took out a red envelope as thick as a book for me.

“A meeting gift from your Ayi and me.”

I put my hands behind my back, not knowing what to do. “Thanks, Dad, Mom.” Sheng Yanshu took it naturally, stuffed it into my little crossbody bag, and said: “Let’s eat.”

Shushu glared at Sheng Yanshu, then smiled at me: “Jiaqi, eat lots. Make yourself at home.”

I nodded: “Thank you, Shushu.”

Ayi pushed a box toward me: “This is for Jiaqi. Open it.”

I was flattered: “Thank you, Ayi.”

When I lifted the lid, inside lay a perfectly round emerald-green jade bracelet.

I knew it was precious and wanted to refuse. Ayi said:

“When I got married, Yanshu’s grandmother passed this bracelet to me. Now I’m giving it to you. We’re very happy you and Yanshu are together.”

“Mom,” Sheng Yanshu said, and then suddenly: “Thank you.”

Later at the table, Shushu drank too much and said that over the years my brother had come to mooch meals at Sheng Yanshu’s home a lot.

Their family was small, and not many people visited during holidays. Only my brother, when he’d just started working, thought home was too far away and shamelessly came over every few days.

Gradually, they all knew You Chuanze had a little sister. Shushu said:

“Seeing Xiao You, I knew the You family’s girl couldn’t be bad. I remember one New Year’s Eve, you and your brother were on a video call, and you were laughing so happily. We were happy just listening. You two chatting was livelier than the Spring Festival Gala.”

“Yanshu is cold by nature and much older than you. Your Ayi and I didn’t dare dream of such luck. Didn’t expect he’d actually make a move, haha. The boy’s got my boldness from back in the day.”

Sheng Yanshu coughed lightly as a reminder: “Dad, you’ve had too much.”

Shushu smiled at Ayi: “Look, they don’t believe me. When I was chasing you back then, wasn’t I bold?”

Ayi sipped her tea and smiled subtly.

The meal ended in a relaxed, pleasant atmosphere. As we were leaving, Ayi called me back:

“Jiaqi, give me your mom’s number. Leave the rest to us parents. You and Yanshu don’t need to feel any pressure. Whether it works out in the end or not, you’re always welcome at our home.”

On the way back, Sheng Yanshu pinched my cheek: “Happy?”

I smiled: “How could you tell?”

“Your face is red.” Sheng Yanshu smiled and pulled me along.

My phone rang. When I answered, my brother’s voice came through: “How’d it go?” “Shushu and Ayi were really nice to me.”

“Tell the truth. If they made you feel bad, I’ll beat Sheng Yanshu up for you.”

“They really were nice.” I glanced at Sheng Yanshu; he was listening closely. “Also, you’re not allowed to hit him.”

“Fine. Come back soon. There’s food at home, I’m keeping it warm for you.”

“I’ve already eaten—”

Beep—

My brother hung up. The dial tone conveyed his displeasure perfectly.

“He’s being ridiculous,” I complained to Sheng Yanshu glumly. “We’ve been together so long, and he still meddles in my freedom.”

“Jiaqi, let’s get married.”

At his sudden proposal, I froze.

“I told myself to slow down, but I don’t want to wait anymore. In half a year, let’s get married, okay?”

“In half a year it’ll be winter…” I said slowly. “But I want to wear a pretty wedding dress…”

Sheng Yanshu took a deep breath: “Okay. Next spring.”

“—Next month.” I said it at the same time, then stuck out my tongue.

Sheng Yanshu flicked my forehead: “What are you thinking? I said I’d give you time. What if you don’t like me?”

“I do!” I jumped up and hugged Sheng Yanshu: “You all keep doubting me!”

Sheng Yanshu laughed: “Okay, I believe you.”

Looking at his intoxicating smile, I suddenly said quietly: “They say before getting married you should try it out…”

“Try what?”

My ears burned, and I pressed up close against him: “You know… try… that…”

Sheng Yanshu’s whole body suddenly went stiff, his eyes fixed on my face.

His Adam’s apple rolled: “No. You’re too young.”

I rubbed against him: “Where am I young?”

“Stop messing around,” Sheng Yanshu scolded softly, holding my waist still.

I hugged him and whined: “Are you scared of my brother!”

“You Jiaqi, I’m scared of making you cry.”

I stared at him, unwilling to give up, for a long time. Sheng Yanshu smiled and patted my head: “Let’s go, little lecher. I’ll take you home.” The car stopped below my brother’s building, and Sheng Yanshu turned off the engine: “Your brother’s on night shift tonight. Are you scared to be home alone?”

“Scared,” I said shamelessly.

Sheng Yanshu nodded, picked up my bag and got out. He knew the way well by now and even had a key to my brother’s place.

No one was home. Before leaving, my brother had covered the warm dishes on the table; there was enough food to feed a pig.

I quietly checked the time: 11:30. There was supposed to be a rainstorm tonight.

“I want to watch a movie.”

“Sleep.”

“No.”

Sheng Yanshu gave in and dug a disc out of a drawer.

I took the chance to change into loose pajamas, let my hair down, and came to the living room with snacks.

Sheng Yanshu glanced at me and looked away.

The movie was boring, and my eyelids got heavy.

Just as I was about to fall asleep, a muffled clap of thunder outside scared the sleep right out of me.

I instinctively shrank toward Sheng Yanshu. A pair of big hands covered my ears. Looking at Sheng Yanshu’s calm face, I slipped my arms around both sides of his neck, crossed them behind him, and gently kissed him.

“I want to try.”

A muffled peal of thunder rolled in from the edge of the sky.

Something was pried open; spring buds broke through the soil.

An arm suddenly went around my waist, and with a little effort, Sheng Yanshu lifted me up.

My heart was pounding. I pointed at the bedroom and said quietly: “In there.”

Sheng Yanshu’s Adam’s apple rolled, and his voice was hoarse: “You Jiaqi, don’t cry later.”

That night, outside the window, rain poured down in torrents, mist dripping everywhere.

Gurgling drops gathered into streams and fell along the windowsill into the soil, nourishing the lush green plants.

The rain grew fiercer, beating the banana leaves outside the window until they swayed.

The fragile thin stalk sang under the unbearable weight, and finally, with a clear crack—snap!

It broke.

The clear pool gathered in the leaf shattered into a thousand petals in an instant.

The heavy rain was at its height.

Much later, the rain gradually let up. Only the low, mournful chirp of crickets remained.

“Hot?”

Sobbing, I nodded: “A bit stuffy.”

“Want me to open the window?”

“Mm.”

The rain pattered outside the window.

Sheng Yanshu carried me into the bathroom. After a shower, he changed me into a cotton nightgown.

I lay on his shoulder, drowsy.

After that, I remembered nothing.

7

You Chuanze’s roaring came from far away and grew clearer and clearer.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Seeing where I was, last night’s memories flooded back, and I suddenly smiled and rolled over on the bed.

Just then, You Chuanze’s voice came clearly from outside the door.

“Sheng Yanshu, why did you just come out of her room?”

“I’m sorry,” Sheng Yanshu said. Bang!

The dull thud of a fist hitting someone.

I pushed the door open and saw You Chuanze glaring, and Sheng Yanshu with his face turned aside, the corner of his mouth red.

I rushed over and stood in front of Sheng Yanshu: “Ge, what are you doing!”

“You Jiaqi, move! Watch me beat this grandson to death!”

“I wanted to! Hit me instead!”

You Chuanze nearly died of anger on the spot.

Sheng Yanshu turned me around, bent down, and patiently did up the few buttons on my pajamas:

“It’s okay. Go back to sleep. I’ll talk with him.”

“Is this talking? This is a brawl! I’m not leaving!”

“Be good—”

“No.” My eyes went red, and I started crying: “My heart hurts for you.”

My brother hadn’t seen me cry in a long time. He froze, then suddenly grabbed a handful of tissues and shoved them at my face: “Fine, fine, no more hitting, no more hitting.”

Sheng Yanshu picked me up, and before going into the room he said: “We’ll talk about the rest later.” In the room, I sat silently crying: “Does it hurt?”

Sheng Yanshu held me without moving: “It’s fine. He didn’t hit hard.”

“I’m sorry you got hit because of me.”

Sheng Yanshu said: “It’s because I couldn’t hold back.”

“Is this really serious?”

Sheng Yanshu smiled helplessly: “A bit.”

Later I eavesdropped on You Chuanze and Sheng Yanshu talking in the living room. Because of Sheng Yanshu’s “slip-up” last night, You Chuanze forced him to sign an “unequal treaty.”

I, the biggest beneficiary, was barred from the signing.

One of the terms: unconditionally cooperate with Party A’s exam review.

One night when I got up to drink water, I heard my brother’s and Sheng Yanshu’s voices.

This time I mustered my courage and knocked. A few minutes later, You Chuanze appeared at the door with a handful of steel needles. Behind him, Sheng Yanshu’s upper body was stuck full of them like a hedgehog.

“Ge, you’re bullying him!”

“Go back to sleep.” You Chuanze shut me out expressionlessly.

In the end it only got resolved after I told our parents. A month later, the two sets of parents met formally for the first time.

My parents had just met saozi’s parents and rushed off to meet Sheng Yanshu’s. As the saying goes, good things come in pairs: my brother’s and my weddings were held one right after the other.

By late April of the next year, the You family had one happy event after another.

For the honeymoon, I’d rather die than go on the same route as You Chuanze.

In the end, You Chuanze took saozi east to see the sea, and I went to Dunhuang with Sheng Yanshu.

The two families parted at the airport.

Saozi said gently: “Jiaqi, I’ll bring you souvenirs.”

“Me too!”

You Chuanze wore sunglasses: “You Jiaqi, stay safe.”

“Oh.”

On the way there everything was fine, but after a bumpy trip, as soon as we arrived, I started throwing up.

Whatever I ate came back up.

Sheng Yanshu took me straight to the local hospital. At first we thought it was the change of climate, until he saw the blood test report. Sheng Yanshu said stiffly: “We’re going back tomorrow.”

Afraid the bumps on a plane would make my pregnancy worse, the next day Sheng Yanshu took me home on the high-speed train. Watching the scenery fly past the window, I didn’t feel much disappointment.

Actually I don’t care how many beautiful sights a trip lets me see.

Because with Sheng Yanshu, everywhere in the world is scenery.

THE END.