Lin Aiyun and Zhang Wenyue chatted for a long while about the embroidery, packing as they talked. Before they knew it, they were done.
When they opened the door, they found Xiao Cheng waiting outside—no one knew how long he’d been there. He nodded at Zhang Wenyue, then said politely: “Auntie, could I have a word with Aiyun alone?”
The gold-rimmed glasses framed his dark eyes, lending him a refined coolness that tempered his usual fierceness. His measured tone made him sound both serious and pleasant.
Zhang Wenyue inwardly clicked her tongue. This Xiao Cheng was truly thick-skinned—she’d just told him not to call her “Auntie,” and now he was back at it, as if her words had gone in one ear and out the other. He said “Auntie” even more naturally than Aiyun did.
But he was Aiyun’s boyfriend after all, and his words were impeccable—polite, proper. And the two were clearly in the throes of new love, deeply attached to each other. If she, as an elder, wouldn’t even let them say goodbye, she’d seem petty and unreasonable.
“I’ll wait for you downstairs. I need to use the bathroom anyway.”
The implication was clear: they had only as much time as a bathroom break would take—no more.
With that, Zhang Wenyue gave Lin Aiyun one last long look, shot a warning glance at Xiao Cheng, and headed downstairs with some of the luggage.
Soon, Auntie Wang’s voice drifted up: “What a shame—the bathroom downstairs got clogged the day before yesterday, and it’s still not fixed. You’ll have to go outside. It’s just to your right, straight ahead. Let me show you—I’ll leave your things here for you to pick up on the way back.”
“Oh, thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Lin Aiyun knew for a fact she’d used that bathroom just that morning. There was no way it had broken in such a short time. Auntie Wang had clearly overheard their conversation and was helping to buy them time.
“Give her a raise later.” Xiao Cheng was very pleased with Auntie Wang’s quick thinking.
“Huh?”
Still straining to listen to the sounds downstairs, Lin Aiyun’s hand was suddenly caught and pulled. The two of them slipped into the study next door. The door was left slightly ajar—closed enough for privacy, but not locked, to keep up appearances.
Hearing his amused tone, she shot him a playful glare.
“Where did you get those glasses?” Trapped between the desk and him, she reached up and tapped his frames, asking the question she’d been wondering all along.
“How do I look? Very refined, aren’t I?” Instead of answering, Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow, letting her fingers dance around his brow. A smile tugged at his lips before he added: “Especially pleasing to elders?”
The last word fell, and Lin Aiyun felt the distance between them shrink again. Instinctively, she leaned back against the desk, but he followed, pressing closer. To keep her balance, she braced her elbows on the desk. As she tried to lower her other hand, he caught it and wrapped it around his neck, giving her something to hold onto so she wouldn’t wobble.
“Do you think you pleased her?” Lin Aiyun stayed put, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescent moons, her voice soft as she tossed the question back at him.
She’d changed out of her running clothes and now wore a lotus-pink dress. With summer here, her pale, slender arms were bare, and wherever her skin touched his, it was smooth and hot.
God, this was dangerous.
Xiao Cheng chuckled, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed—the faint sound was deafening in her ears, drawing her gaze to that sharp, full prominence.
“I don’t know.”
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his chiseled features—the picture of an elegant, refined young master. But then he leaned down, his breath warm against her ear, and laughed softly: “But I definitely pleased you.”
“Nonsense.” A blush crept across Lin Aiyun’s cheeks. His scorching breath made her go weak, and her arms unconsciously tightened around his neck. Her lashes trembled. “Xiao Cheng, you’re shameless.”
Instead of being embarrassed, he laughed even more. Her face burned at the sound, and she punched him lightly, struggling to leave: “I have to go. Auntie will come looking for me.”
“Aiyun.” His serious tone stopped her. She looked up and met his eyes.
“Everything I said earlier was sincere.”
Somehow, Lin Aiyun knew he was referring to the promises he’d made in front of her aunt in the living room. Her heart raced faster. And then he confirmed her guess.
“Though we’ve never formally talked about marriage, the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry is you, Lin Aiyun. In the past, now, and in the future.”
“I love you. I want to take responsibility for you. I want to spend every day from now on with you.”
“So, Aiyun, will you marry me?”
His arms caged her loosely, his expression as calm as ever—but the tips of his reddened ears and the stiffness of his body betrayed his true emotions.
Simple, plain words—but they made her heart tremble.
Lin Aiyun had thought that some of what Xiao Cheng said in the living room might have been because her family was there, forcing his hand. They hadn’t been together long, and he was in the prime of his career—still young, with no rush to marry.
But she never expected him to be serious.
And what was this—a proposal? Lin Aiyun suddenly understood his meaning. In an instant, the heat on her cheeks spread to her neck, then down to her chest.
It was so sudden—she hadn’t had time to prepare. But thankfully, Xiao Cheng spoke again, easing her tension.
“I just wanted to tell you what I’m thinking. I’m not pressuring you to decide right now. We can talk about it properly after I’ve met your parents. Besides, your expression already told me the answer.”
Xiao Cheng’s lips curved. His fingertips brushed over the top of her head, then slid down to gently pinch the soft skin at the back of her neck. He leaned in and kissed her. The cool metal of his glasses brushed against her nose, but she didn’t pull away—instead, her arms tightened around his neck.
Just as she wanted to deepen the kiss, he pulled back, breathing heavily. His glasses had fogged up from their mingled breaths, so he took them off with one hand, hooking them on a finger.
“After you come back…” He left the rest unsaid. Neither of them needed words to understand.
But Lin Aiyun thought it was a shame to stop there when the mood was so perfect. She licked her still-glistening lips, hooked her finger around his, and coaxed in a soft, honeyed voice: “One more kiss.”
It was rare for her to initiate, and Xiao Cheng treasured it—but…
“Are you sure you’ll be presentable?”
She followed his gaze downward and saw that her once-neat dress was now creased in several places, her collar slightly disheveled. And she knew without a mirror that her face must look exactly like what they’d just been doing.
If her aunt noticed, she’d die of shame.
Lin Aiyun quickly shoved all those messy thoughts aside, even shooting a glare at Xiao Cheng. This was all his fault—why did he have to provoke her at a time like this, saying all those heart-fluttering promises? Was he afraid she’d run off and not come back?
What she didn’t know was that she was half right.
Compared to her, Xiao Cheng was more insecure about their relationship. This was his first relationship—everything was new, which meant he had to learn everything from scratch, feeling his way forward. His original plan was to wait until they were more stable, until things here were wrapped up, before discussing marriage.
But fate had other plans. Aiyun’s aunt had shown up so suddenly that he’d had to say things he’d buried in his heart at a less-than-ideal time and place.
He was more afraid than anyone that she’d refuse. But thankfully, her reaction told him she was willing.
But as an outsider, winning over the precious daughter her family had raised with such care wouldn’t be easy.
Aiyun was filial—that much was clear from the letters and gifts she sent home every week. Whenever she talked about her family, her face lit up with a happy smile. She’d grown up in a loving home, with parents who clearly adored her.
And with her qualities, there were plenty of local men lining up to marry her.
In these times, marriages were decided by parents and matchmakers. What if her parents absolutely refused, and she—being soft-hearted—gave in? What would he do then? He couldn’t just force them apart, could he?
Before, Xiao Cheng wouldn’t have cared. He had a hundred ways to take her away without leaving a trace. But now it was different—he had someone to worry about. If he did something like that, Aiyun would resent him for life. That wasn’t what he wanted.
Despite his trust in her, he couldn’t gamble on that tiny chance of loss.
So before her parents arrived, he needed to secure her heart. At least he should make his feelings and intentions clear, so she’d know she came first. Then, step by step, he’d win them over. He was confident he could make them willingly give their daughter to him.
And if they were agreeable, he even had a two-pronged solution in mind.
“You’re one to talk—look at yourself.” Her shy voice snapped Xiao Cheng out of his thoughts. He looked down nonchalantly and saw the very obvious bulge straining against his trousers.
He stood there unbothered, not even shifting his stance, and even had the nerve to tease her: “Teacher Lin’s got quite the eyesight.”
That long-unused title, paired with his words, made Lin Aiyun blush furiously. She stammered: “It’s that obvious—I’m not blind.”
Her voice grew smaller as she spoke.
“And don’t call me Teacher Lin anymore—it’s improper.” It had been so many days since she’d been hired as a calligraphy teacher, and they hadn’t had a single real lesson. How could she bear to be called that? It just sounded like a joke.
“If not Teacher Lin, then what?” Xiao Cheng stroked his chin, pretending to think hard. Finally, as if struck by brilliance, he raised an eyebrow: “Wifey?”
She’d thought he was actually being serious, but he was still teasing her. She gave him a playful slap: “Get lost—don’t take advantage of me. There’s no guarantee yet.”
“Soon.” Xiao Cheng was confident. He opened his mouth to say more, but knowing they didn’t have enough time, he let it go. “I’ll drive you both back.”
“Mm.” Lin Aiyun nodded, not refusing. Xiao Cheng personally escorting them home was a way of showing sincerity to her aunt—no reason to stop him.
“When aunt and brother arrive, take a couple of days to rest with them. I’ll come to visit on the third day—do you think that’s appropriate?” Xiao Cheng had no experience meeting a girlfriend’s parents and didn’t know much about Lin Aiyun’s family, so his voice carried an unusual hint of nervousness and uncertainty.
“That works.” Seeing him so cautious, Lin Aiyun found it amusing. She reassured him: “My mother likes good-looking young men. You should… fit her taste pretty well.”
Hearing that, Xiao Cheng’s eyes sparkled. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a smug smile playing on his lips: “So you think I’m good-looking?”
This guy sure knew how to pick out the “important” details.
Lin Aiyun rolled her eyes and ignored his question. Figuring her aunt should be back from the bathroom by now, she decided to get the important things out of the way and head downstairs.
“Anything else you need to ask?”
“Remember to put in a good word for me.” Xiao Cheng also knew Zhang Wenyue would be back soon, so he didn’t press her on whether he was handsome or not—there’d be plenty of chances to “interrogate” her later.
“That depends on how you perform.” She didn’t commit, giving him an ambiguous smile as she pushed him away with one finger. Then, glancing down at his waist, she said helplessly: “Maybe Zhou Jin should drive us instead.”
Xiao Cheng frowned, took a few deep breaths, and finally said: “I’ll grab a jacket.”
“Hurry up. I’ll go down and wait for you.” She patted his shoulder, but before she could leave, he caught her and stole another kiss. Just as she was about to scold him, he gave her a pitiful look: “You said one more kiss.”
“…” Fine. She’d brought this on herself.
Moments later, her graceful figure disappeared through the study door. Xiao Cheng stood there for a while, waiting until he’d cooled down before heading to his room to grab a slightly longer jacket.
By the time he came downstairs, Lin Aiyun and Zhang Wenyue had just rejoined each other.
“A house this big, and only one bathroom—and it’s broken! We had to walk almost the whole way around before finding another one.” Zhang Wenyue wiped the sweat from her brow, irritated by the rising sun.
Lin Aiyun gave a guilty dry laugh. She didn’t dare tell her the truth—and certainly not that there was another bathroom on the second floor.
“Why is your face all red too?” Zhang Wenyue noticed the slight flush on Lin Aiyun’s face but didn’t think much of it.
Lin Aiyun’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly made up an excuse: “It’s hot out—this weather is killer.”
“Tell me about it.” Zhang Wenyue agreed wholeheartedly. “Let’s get going, then—it’ll only get hotter by noon.”
Before Lin Aiyun could respond, someone cut in: “Auntie, Aiyun, let me drive you.”
Zhang Wenyue looked up and saw that Xiao Cheng had added a black suit jacket despite the heat. It made him look even more formal and handsome—but seriously, wasn’t he roasting?
“No need to trouble yourself—it’s just a short walk.” Zhang Wenyue instinctively refused.
Having an extra person walk them back was completely unnecessary. Besides, she’d wanted to use the walk to pry more information out of Aiyun. With him tagging along, how could she ask?
“Auntie, don’t be polite. A car ride is much faster.” Xiao Cheng glanced at Zhou Jin, who had appeared at the door. Understanding the look, Zhou Jin handed him the car keys: “Brother Cheng, the car’s parked out front.”
“Put some fruit in the trunk.” He said this in a low voice, not letting the others hear.
“Yes.”
Zhou Jin moved quickly. Soon, he’d carried a large crate from the kitchen and disappeared through the door, leaving no room for refusal.
“Shall we?” Xiao Cheng smiled, gesturing for the ladies to go first with a gentlemanly wave.
Lin Aiyun no longer stood on ceremony with him. She linked arms with Zhang Wenyue and walked out, murmuring softly: “Auntie, he’s free right now—let him drive us.”
Zhang Wenyue nodded absently, her heart pounding. It wasn’t until she saw the big black car parked out front that she drew in a sharp breath. She’d guessed right.
Xiao Cheng really did own a car!
Watching Lin Aiyun expertly open the door for her, reminding her to mind her head and step carefully, Zhang Wenyue felt a swirl of complex emotions—while her eyes couldn’t help taking in every detail.
Good heavens—she, Zhang Wenyue, was actually getting to ride in a car in her lifetime! Something she’d never even dreamed of before—all thanks to her niece.
Zhang Wenyue couldn’t help thinking: if the two of them got married, Aiyun would be living like a wealthy lady.
Who could resist such extravagant fortune?
The concerns about long-distance marriage, secretly dating, living together… all of it faded in the face of such lavish living conditions. After all, as long as her own family was well off, that was what mattered.
And Zhang Wenyue noticed that after closing the car door, Xiao Cheng pulled a fan and a water bottle from the passenger seat and handed them to Aiyun—clearly a well-prepared routine. That thoughtfulness earned him some mental points from Zhang Wenyue.
On the drive, Xiao Cheng took the initiative in conversation. Knowing Zhang Wenyue had questions but felt awkward interrogating him directly, he casually shared the gist of his background through storytelling.
Zhang Wenyue found it gripping—running a business across the country during these chaotic times was no easy feat, especially without parents to lean on.
He was a pitiful child—but also a man of drive and capability.
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