Chapter 12.1 (1/2)

What is normal life like for Zhousheng Chen and s.h.i.+ Yi?

Chapter 12.1 – To Have Ever Been Free From Worry? (1)

Since Zhousheng Chen had officially returned to the country, she would have to bring him to formally pay a visit to her family.

There had been no official wedding, and hence, s.h.i.+ Yi had tactfully explained that the two of them had decided to be together, but due to the numerous and complicated rules of his family, the wedding reception needed to be delayed for a little while. In regards to their status now as legally married husband and wife, she truly did not dare admit this to her parents because they would, without a doubt, be furious. Already legally married, yet the elders on each side had not even met yet… Even she knew that this was unacceptable.

Although her parents were not very happy about it, when they saw how insistent s.h.i.+ Yi was, they reluctantly accepted that the two were “together.”

“Oh, ’a grown daughter cannot be kept at home.’” While s.h.i.+ Yi was was.h.i.+ng her face, Mother, who was standing behind her, took the opportunity to lament in a low voice, “Good thing Little Zhou looks like he’s an honest, reliable boy, otherwise I’d really ––“

s.h.i.+ Yi patted her face dry and picked up a wooden comb. “Mm-hm. I also think he’s honest… and reliable.”

“But it’s not enough for two people to be in love. You need the protection of having a legally recognized status, too.” Mother took the comb from her, put her hair up into a ponytail for her, and then tied it simply. “And also, don’t start living together too early.”

Contrary to expectation, s.h.i.+ Yi did not utter a word in response.

Her mother detected that something was odd, and when she saw her awkward expression, she immediately understood.

She cuffed s.h.i.+ Yi lightly across the back of her head, then with a frown, sighed, “Forget it. You young people… Just different from our generation.”

s.h.i.+ Yi took the comb back from her and set it back where it belonged as she answered quietly, “No matter what, in this lifetime, I will only be with him. That will never change.”

“A lifetime? One lifetime is a very long time ––“

Mother wanted to say more, but s.h.i.+ Yi had already slipped away and smilingly evaded the issue.

The household norm was that her father was the one who cooked. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she discovered that Zhousheng Chen was also in the kitchen, and she hurriedly walked over. He was leisurely carrying out a conversation with her father, and when she walked in, he was handing her father a freshly peeled and washed green onion. Smiling at him, she instructed, “You go out. I’ll help here.”

He looked at her, and with the back of his right hand, he gently b.u.mped her ponytail. “It’s alright.”

This was the first time he had seen her with this hairstyle, so naturally, he stared at it a little longer.

The two of them gazed at each other behind her elderly father, who was busy cooking. Red tinged her cheeks slightly from his gaze, and she stretched her arms forward and helped him roll the sleeves of his dress s.h.i.+rt slightly higher. Then, she noiselessly stood on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

In that instant before her father turned around, she quickly took two steps backwards. “Um… I’m going out now. You put on a good showing here, then.”

“Little Zhou, here, pa.s.s me the green onion.”

Zhousheng Chen was still clutching the green onion in his hand, and finally, half a beat behind, he managed to recover and and hand it over.

And she had already fled the scene.

A very peaceful, simple lunch.

The scene of Zhousheng Chen and s.h.i.+ Yi sitting together, side by side as they quietly ate, was very harmonious, and even Mother, who still had considerable murmurs of complaint, had to admit that they were very fitting for one another. Before they left, s.h.i.+ Yi’s parents pulled him back to have a conversation.

Essentially, her parents would ask questions and he would answer them one by one, entirely conducting himself in a manner of saying what knew and speaking without any reserve.

Her mother’s [paternal] aunt had once been a lady of wealthy background in olden day Shanghai, and having witnessed this, Mother naturally used it as a model to speculate about Zhousheng Chen’s mother. Probingly, she asked whether he had grown up under the care of a nanny and his mother had not really looked after him. Zhousheng Chen did not deny this. s.h.i.+ Yi’s mother smiled in what could be considered relief. As s.h.i.+ Yi was leaving, her mother told her softly, “I’m guessing his mother was the young miss of one of those rich families in the past. People and children from those types of families are not approachable, and they will have a bit of a temper, too.”

Even though it was not quite accurate, there were similarities.

s.h.i.+ Yi promised that she would carefully try to get along with his mother.

Her parents’ home was approximately a thirty-minute drive away from where she lived.

Stopping before an intersection, they got off the car and walked side by side, following the street toward her community compound. Recalling the dialogue earlier with her parents, she pretended to casually ask, “When you were a kid, you didn’t grow up under your mom’s care?”

“Yes, but also not quite.” Zhousheng Chen chuckled, “Why did you wait so long to ask?”

Her bluff exposed, she pursed her lips and reflected for a moment before saying, “I was scared if I asked you outright, you would get mad…”

“It was more or less like what your parents are thinking. My mother did not personally raise her own children. Myself and my younger brother and sister were all raised by other people, and moreover, each of us had a different nanny.”

With an “oh,” she commented, “No wonder I get the sense that you and your brother… aren’t very close.”

He did not deny this. “Indeed, we are not well-acquainted with one another. I moved away from home very early, and it was only when he was about to be married that we started having somewhat more contact with each other.”

While she was speaking, two small teddy bear poodles darted over, running circles around her before suddenly breaking out into loud barking.

Zhousheng Chen swiftly reached out and pulled her into his arms to s.h.i.+eld her. It was only until after the dog owner had dashed up, stopped the dogs with a loud scolding, and hurriedly apologized to them did Zhousheng Chen finally relax. Initially, she had been shocked, but she had not really been afraid. Rather, it was Zhousheng Chen’s protective behavior that caused her to be somewhat surprised.

He squeezed her hand. Their palms were both a little sweaty.

She had broken out in a cold sweat because she had been frightened by the dogs, and his reason was because he was worried for her.

“I’m not that scared of dogs,” s.h.i.+ Yi protested softly when he loosened his embrace around her.

She seemed to hear him give an “mm” in reply. After a brief pause, he said, “I was scared.”

“Huh?” s.h.i.+ Yi turned her eyes to him.

His manner was very calm as he looked at her, and after several seconds pa.s.sed, he suddenly smiled and stroked her ponytail with his hand. “Scared they would bite you.”

A subtle feeling of intimacy.

But even this was enough to cause her heart to melt, and she reached over to hold his hand.

He was protecting her, worried that she would be hurt.

When they arrived at home, s.h.i.+ Yi tidied up the study for him and placed in there the books he frequently read and his laptop computer that he had packed and moved over. He really did not have many day-to-day items. Besides a few men’s essential items, books, two computers, and clothing, he did not have any other unnecessary things. One of his computers seemed to be dedicated to his laboratory work while the other was for his personal use.

Normally in the study, she only required her laptop computer and a single desk lamp, so her electrical outlet was the most basic type.

Now that there were these two computers, she was afraid there would not be enough sockets to use.

“These two computers of yours, will they ever be on simultaneously?”

From the living room, Zhousheng Chen answered, “Yes.”

“There likely won’t be enough sockets to plug into, then.” She pondered, “You sit for a while first. I’ll go downstairs to the convenience store and buy a larger one with more sockets.”

“The convenience store downstairs?” He had walked up to the door of the study as he asked her.

“Mm-hmm. Otherwise, there won’t be enough sockets to plug in the lamp…”

“Alright. I understand.”