Chapter 40: It’s been a long time since I hugged her like this

Zhōng Yì agreed, saying she was free.

She should visit the elders; no matter how busy, she had to find time.

She took the chance to mention to him that she planned to have a dinner with Níng Quē in a few days: [You’re treating us.]

Zhōu Shíyì replied: [Alright.]

Then added: [Of course, I’m treating.]

His gaze lingered on the words “us” for a moment: [Are you seriously treating it like an alumni reunion?]

Zhōng Yì: [Mm. That day, I’ll treat you like a fellow alumnus, just like I’m meeting you for the first time.]

She asked again: [When shall we meet?]

Zhōu Shíyì: [Next Saturday. Ask Níng Quē if that works for him.]

Zhōng Yì looked across: “Zhōu Shíyì asked if next Saturday works for you.”

Níng Quē replied, “I’m easy, anytime is fine.”

He swallowed a salty taro pastry with difficulty, silently vowing never to try anything new again!

Grilled fish and spicy chicken were still more suited to him.

He took a sip of water and continued: “Next week is just a few days before your wedding. You must be busy; will you have time?”

Zhōng Yì: “We have time. We’re free the night before the wedding.”

Níng Quē:

This wedding is being taken lightly.

After he and Zhōng Yì finished eating and left the tea restaurant, Tang Nuoyun and her boyfriend, who had arrived earlier, were still eating.

Níng Quē couldn’t understand how couples could take so long just to finish a meal.

Perhaps that was one reason he didn’t have a girlfriend. @Infinite good stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City

Zhōng Yì returned to the office, pulled down the blinds to nap, when Níng Quē’s message came in: [Congratulations! Zhōu Yúnlián has decided to take over Kuncheng Group. Your proposal is likely to pass.]

Navigation.

This was the best news before the wedding.

Her father-in-law was willing to take over the group at his age, and her mother-in-law was the biggest contributor.

If it weren’t for her mother-in-law digging up old issues, her father-in-law might not have agreed.

She planned to find time to invite her mother-in-law out to dinner.

The proposal was advancing more smoothly than she expected, and her drowsiness vanished.

Zhōng Yì pulled up the blinds and sat back at her computer to work.

Níng Quē notified the group chat: The team meeting would be at 3 PM.

Zhōng Yì, as usual, took only a cup of red bean latte to the meeting room.

She never forgot anything work-related, but when driving, she basically couldn’t do without coffee.

***

At the meeting, Níng Quē reminded everyone to take their May vacations promptly.

Once Kuncheng Motors’ project proposal passed in June, they wouldn’t have much time afterward.

Cross-industry cooperation and communication between teams was a big subject.

Zhōng Yì entrusted this important task to Níng Quē.

Níng Quē didn’t say a word for a long moment after hearing this.

No wonder Zhōng Yì said the project couldn’t do without him—turns out it wasn’t because of technical reasons.

Just thinking about Kuncheng’s Du made his head ache.

At 5:30 PM, Zhōng Yì left work on time, taking prepared gifts, and drove to Yáng Xī’s rented apartment.

Yáng Xī sent her location; the place was near the Huazhan Qingshengyan hotel, easy to find.

Besides the gifts, Zhōng Yì bought a bouquet from the flower shop across the neighborhood.

When she knocked, Yáng Xī was steaming fish in the kitchen.

“Here you are!”

She wiped her hands on her apron and hurried to open the door.

“Happy holiday.” Zhōng Yì handed over the flowers.

“Thank you! Today feels so happy!” Yáng Xī had been single all her life and had never received such a big bouquet.

She hurried her in: “Come in quickly; the place is small, so just make do.”

She had learned about Zhōng Yì’s background from that afternoon tea comment section.

She had thought Zhōng Yì’s family was similar to hers: from a small town, simple and harmonious, with loving parents.

She never expected it to be so complicated, like a TV drama.

Zhōng Yì put down the gift and looked around the room.

Though small, the apartment was fully equipped.

Yáng Xī’s taste was exquisite, and the little home was cozy and uniquely stylish.

“What are you cooking? It smells so good.” Zhōng Yì followed the aroma to the kitchen.

Yáng Xī turned: “Adjusting the dipping sauce for white-boiled fish; steamed a sea bass.”

“I’m in for a treat today.”

“The kitchen’s smoky. Zhōng Jiě, you should go to the living room. We’ll eat in about ten minutes.”

Zhōng Yì leaned against the kitchen doorframe, chatting with Yáng Xī.

“Zhōng Jiě, I got promoted! Starting this month, I have a raise. Next time, I’ll treat you to Western food.”

Zhōng Yì congratulated her first, smiling: “I like your little place even better.”

Yáng Xī cooked two meat dishes and one vegetable, and boiled two bowls of fish soup noodles.

She took out two cans of ice-cold cola from the fridge and popped them open; the two clinked cans in celebration.

The folding dining table was small, barely enough space for several dishes, two bowls of noodles, and a plate of fruit—almost no room left for the cola.

“The place is too small; Zhōng Jiě, you’ll have to make do.”

Zhōng Yì tapped her cola can: “I like such a warm little home.”

She chatted about her childhood in the Jiangcheng small town.

Old houses were basically like this: reasonable layouts, compact and cozy.

Her dad planted cherry trees, apricot trees, and various flowers in the yard.

Those were times when life moved slowly.

Yáng Xī laughed: “It’s hard to imagine Jiang Dong as a stay-at-home dad.”

Zhōng Yì picked fish bones and said: “Next time, I’ll invite you to my place so you can see how a full-time dad takes care of kids.”

Yáng Xī quickly waved her hands, laughing at her own cowardice: “I wouldn’t dare.”

Having meals with Jiang Jingyuan and Zhōng Zhuóhuá at the same table would definitely have you sweating bullets. @Infinite good stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City

***

During her few days off, Zhōng Yì finally had time to lie down and scroll her phone.

She’d come across many rumors and even some posts about Jiang Jingyuan’s first love, surprisingly sharing the same surname—Yáng.

The posts revealed that Yáng Jiayuan’s child was a few months older than Zhōng Yì.

The comment section was heated with gossip.

She hoped Zhōng Yì wouldn’t be affected by this.

Yáng Xī changed the subject, opening her phone and handing it over: “Zhōng Jiě, look at the renderings of the Kuncheng press conference.

If you want to surprise Zhōu Zǒng that day, I can take you in directly—no invitation needed.”

Zhōng Yì smiled: “I’ve got a backdoor now too.”

Yáng Xī: “You must have one.”

Zhōng Yì stared at the renderings and felt her heart soften, wanting to go support Zhōu Shíyì on site.

Even if the journey that day was a hassle.

Zhōng Yì’s recent dinners had been so frequent, almost matching the total from the previous three years.

The next morning, her father had already prepared gifts for her visit to Zhōu Shíyì’s grandparents’ house.

Whenever she rested, her father was always home.

Jiang Jingyuan brewed coffee for his daughter, adding honeyed red beans and handed it over.

“Don’t be nervous. Just think of it as going to your own grandparents’ house.”

Zhōng Yì scooped some red beans and chewed the soft grains.

“With Zhōu Shíyì there, I’m not nervous.”

In fact, she felt more restrained going to her own grandparents’ house.

With the wedding approaching, she looked forward to her new life but also felt wistful thinking about not seeing her dad every day.

“Dad, after I get married, who will have breakfast with you?”

Jiang Jingyuan: “You make me sound like an empty-nest old man.”

Zhōng Yì laughed: “Once Zhōng Jiě gets back to work and filming, it won’t be a problem.”

“…” Jiang Jingyuan rubbed his daughter’s head.

“Can you watch your mouth? You’re always teasing me!”

He told her not to worry: “Where your mother goes, I go.”

He flew back to see his daughter whenever he had time.

“How was dinner at Yáng Xī’s last night? Did you have fun?”

Zhōng Yì smiled: “You really think I’m a kid going to a friend’s house from kindergarten?” She said, “We just got along well, so we hung out.”

Of course, she had to admit: “It was relaxed. We even talked about you and Mom.”

Talking about her parents no longer required hiding or scripting.

Before, she had to invent lies about her parents and always remember them, afraid one day she wouldn’t keep up the facade, making people think she was a liar with bad character.

So later, she stopped getting close to anyone, which made people see her as cold and aloof.

Many men who met her for the first time immediately asked for her contact info.

But those who knew her well basically never chased her, keeping their distance out of respect.

Zhōng Yì had just finished her coffee when Zhōu Shíyì’s car arrived to pick her up to his grandparents’ old residence.

On the way, she asked: “Do Grandpa and Grandma know about our past?”

Zhōu Shíyì: “No, we haven’t told them.

If we did, given Grandpa’s nature, he’d ask every detail relentlessly.”

Zhōng Yì nodded silently and opened her document.

Zhōu Shíyì tilted his head and saw her editing it.

The font was too small to read.

“Zhōng Yì.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you this busy just when you’re alone with me?”

Without looking up, she typed quickly: “I only get inspired when I’m alone with you.”

Zhōu Shíyì had no retort and chatted about the wedding: “What kind of bouquet do you want?”

Even if his mother hadn’t said that at the family meeting, he would still try his best to make the wedding perfect.

Zhōng Yì hadn’t thought of it yet.

Zhōu Shíyì said: “If you can’t decide, I’ll just tie one myself.”

Only then did Zhōng Yì stop typing and look up into his eyes: “Is this an apology?”

He had said yesterday that he would apologize when they met and that it would be sincere.

Zhōu Shíyì: “How is this an apology? I’m just discussing the wedding.”

Zhōng Yì saved the document, her mood long since settled.

He said they weren’t right for each other; she wasn’t angry because it was true, just sad.

Later, hearing he had found someone particularly suitable, the words made her even sadder.

The topic was heavy; she didn’t want to dredge up the past.

She pulled two chocolates from her canvas bag and gave him one.

“Wedding candy, try some.”

Zhōu Shíyì: “Whose wedding candy? Your colleague’s?”

Zhōng Yì had already unwrapped hers and put it in her mouth, mumbling: “Mine and yours.”

Zhōu Shíyì hadn’t planned to eat it but peeled his chocolate when she said that.

At a red light, Zhōng Yì handed two more to the driver.

“Zhāng Shū, here.”

“Alright, I’ll take some of the luck.” The driver accepted the chocolates.

Zhōng Yì had changed a lot, completely different from the impression he had of her.

Zhōu Shíyì had changed too.

He had worried about how their married life would go.

Now looking again, those worries seemed needless.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in the courtyard of the old residence.

Seeing the grandparents, after chatting all afternoon, Zhōng Yì finally understood whose stubborn temperament the family had inherited.

Grandma had been a doctor before retirement, open-minded and easy-going.

At her age, she still insisted on reading medical journals in full English and usually ignored the strong-willed and stubborn Grandpa.

Old Master Zhōu sipped his tea and looked at his youngest grandson.

“Your eldest uncle said you got your marriage certificate, but no one’s seen it.”

Zhōu Shíyì: “It looks the same as eldest uncle’s marriage certificate.”

Zhōng Yì:

Old Master Zhōu: “I hope it’s real! If you dare bully Zhōng Yì, I won’t spare you!”

After what happened last time, the credibility of Zhōu Shíyì’s words was zero with him.

Over the years, he had arranged four or five matchmaking matches for his youngest grandson.

But the grandson had declined them all with the excuse of “no common topics” and said he didn’t want to repeat his parents’ failed marriage.

Though he valued arranged marriages, he cared about his children’s happiness.

He lowered the bar for matches, no longer insisting on perfect family backgrounds, focusing more on personal compatibility.

Later, he introduced a high-IQ girl whose family was quite well-off.

The girl’s looks and personality were flawless—generous and natural.

The whole family was satisfied, and the grandson himself agreed.

Feeling reassured, the Old Master arranged their engagement banquet.

But when the date was set and hotel arrangements started, the grandson told him not to bother, giving no reason!

He didn’t know what had happened between them.

The girl’s parents said since the two had known each other a short time, it was reasonable to be cautious about marriage.

It wasn’t about who was right or wrong—it was a matter of insufficient fate.

He didn’t press further.

Afterward, the grandson was firm in rejecting all matchmaking introductions, until Jiang Family Third introduced Zhōng Yì.

They said they had their marriage certificate, but he still felt uneasy.

After all, the wedding was still ten days away with many uncertainties.

Who knew if that scoundrel would suddenly call him before the wedding, telling him to stop all preparations?

He warned his grandson: “Zhōu Shíyì, I’m telling you now—if you dare not get married, don’t ever come back to this family!”

Zhōng Yì reassured the Old Master: “Grandpa, he won’t back out. All our invitations were written by him.”

Old Master Zhōu: “Hearing that, I can rest easier.”

As they spoke, a car entered the courtyard.

Old Master Zhōu looked out the window, too far to see the license plate clearly.

He put on his reading glasses on the armrest and, after recognizing who got out of the car, took off the glasses and said to Zhōng Yì:

“You young people keep talking. I’m going upstairs to rest.”

One grandson had already driven him crazy; if another showed up, he wouldn’t be able to take it.

Zhōng Yì turned to see that the visitor was Zhōu Jiaye, the future successor of Kuncheng Group, who had exchanged succession for freedom to marry.

After greetings, Zhōu Jiaye sat beside his cousin.

Seeing Old Master Zhōu was not in the living room, he asked, “Where’s Grandpa?”

Zhōu Shíyì: “You drove him upstairs with your nonsense.”

Zhōu Jiaye laughed: “Then I came just in time—saved your life.” @Infinite good stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City

He turned to Zhōng Yì and asked who the bridesmaid was.

Zhōng Yì: “You know her, Jì Fánxīng.”

Good. He had worried the bridesmaid might deliberately cause trouble during the wedding.

Jì Fánxīng was tactful—not only would she not make things difficult, she might even secretly create opportunities for the bride and groom.

They stayed at the grandparents’ house until evening before leaving.

Grandpa never came back downstairs.

On the way home, Zhōng Yì received a call from her father, telling her to directly tell the housekeeper what she wanted to eat.

“We won’t be home tonight. I booked a restaurant to treat your mother.”

“No need to worry about me; have a good date.”

She wasn’t hungry, having snacked on fruit all afternoon, listening to grandma’s stories.

After hanging up, Zhōu Shíyì asked: “Want to go see the wedding room again?”

Zhōng Yì: “No need. I have time today and need to start packing.

In about ten days, I’ll be living there. No need to get more familiar.”

After dropping her off, Zhōu Shíyì got out too.

Zhōng Yì closed the car door and urged him to go back: “Don’t you still have work?”

He had been getting nonstop calls at grandma’s place and finally switched to silent mode.

Zhōu Shíyì said: “Didn’t I say yesterday I’d apologize today?”

Zhōng Yì looked at him over the roof of the car: “No need to apologize again.”

Zhōu Shíyì walked around to her side, reached out his hand: “I don’t want you to have regrets on our wedding day.”

Before she could react, his strong arms wrapped her close.

Zhōu Shíyì held her to his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head.

It had been a long time since he’d held her like this.

One hand tightly encircled her, the other gently rubbed her short hair.