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Psst! We're moving!
Though Lin Zhiyi and I now enjoy a blissful love life and happy family, our relationship faced numerous challenges in its early days. Among them were the classic hurdles of long-distance love, discussions about dowries, and pressure from our families. Moreover, many doubted our relationship for three main reasons: First, college romances are often romanticized and impractical, needing to break the “break up after graduation” curse. Second, we hailed from vastly different places—I from Jiangsu, he from Guizhou—meaning differences in lifestyle habits that would be difficult to reconcile. Third, neither of us came from wealthy families; without money, property, or cars, we had to start from scratch.
Looking back now, all those obstacles only strengthened our bond. The long-distance aspect taught us the meaning of “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” as separation deepened our longing for each other. Skipping the dowry and wedding allowed us to remain in a perpetual state of romance, like a never-ending courtship. And the pressure from our parents pushed us to work together, creating a loving and fulfilling life that eventually put their minds at ease.
Amidst the doubters, there was one person who steadfastly believed Lin Zhiyi and I were meant to be together—and that our future would be filled with happiness. That person was my college roommate and best friend, Yu Qiao. Even back in college, she once said, “One day, you’ll have a daughter, and she’ll be wonderful.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked, puzzled.
“People always say daughters resemble their fathers. Since Lin Zhiyi is good-looking, your daughter will definitely inherit his beauty.”
As it turned out, Yu Qiao was something of a prophet. I did end up having a daughter. Her eyes resemble mine, but her eyebrows take after Lin Zhiyi’s. Her nose is like mine, but her mouth mirrors his. When she smiles, her crescent-shaped eyes light up her face, and a faint dimple appears on her right cheek.
Lin Zhiyi chose her name. Her formal name is Lin Muning, and her nickname is Xinbao, inspired by the lyrics of a song: “The most romantic thing I can imagine is growing old with you, until we’re too old to go anywhere, and you still treasure me as the jewel in your palm.”
Lin Zhiyi promised to treat me like the precious gem I am for the rest of my life. With Xinbao’s arrival, the three of us became the “three treasures” of our home, adding a unique kind of joy to our lives.
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One day, after reading a book about female self-growth, I decided to impart some wisdom to Xinbao, planting seeds of excellence early on. I asked her, “Do you know what’s most important for girls?”
“Talent,” she replied confidently.
“And?”
“To read more books and become smarter.”
“Those are both true, but the most important thing for a girl when she grows up is independence—both emotional and financial independence.”
“Standing on one leg? I can already do that!” She promptly lifted one foot off the ground, balancing on the other.
“...” Suddenly, my heartfelt advice felt like it had gone awry.
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I noticed that many people around me were obsessed with mobile games, and Xinbao wasn’t immune to the allure of electronic devices. Whether watching cartoons or playing games, she spent much of her free time glued to screens. At the end of every year, people often lamented, “Where did the time go?” but the truth was, most of their leisure hours were consumed by gaming.
One afternoon, while resting against the wall after lunch, I absentmindedly played a game myself. Not only did it eat up time, but it also cost me money. Frustrated, I sighed, “Games really poison young minds!”
Xinbao chimed in from the side, “Homework poisons young minds even more!”
“...”
“Even middle-aged and elderly people!” Lin Zhiyi, who was helping Xinbao copy corrections, chimed in supportively.
“...” Speechless, I couldn’t argue with their counterpoints.
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One evening, while brushing teeth and washing faces together, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and noticed I appeared slightly fairer than Xinbao. Seizing the opportunity, I said, “Applying sunscreen helps keep your skin fairer. Look, am I fairer or are you?”
After studying our reflections, Xinbao declared, “I’m yellow.”
Impressed by her self-awareness, I continued, “That’s why you should apply sunscreen when we go out!”
She responded, “I’m talking about being ‘Her Majesty,’ and you’re ‘Bazhahei.’“
“...” Ah? Her Majesty referred to the arrogant cat from Bai Cha’s comics, and Bazhahei was the pitiful dog. It seemed that in our household, Xinbao truly held the position of “Her Majesty.”
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One day, Xinbao asked me, “Mom, which older sisters at your workplace like to play games?”
“I don’t think anyone does. I don’t play games.”
“You’re an auntie, so you don’t count,” she retorted matter-of-factly.
“I’m not old! I’m still young—I’m still a baby! Don’t believe me? Ask your dad!”
Turning to Lin Zhiyi, she asked, “Dad, is Mom still a baby?”
Without hesitation, he replied, “Yes.”
Xinbao looked utterly baffled. “Huh?”
“She’s the big baby, and you’re the little baby,” Lin Zhiyi clarified.
“Hmph! You’re such a bad guy!” she pouted.
Later, when Lin Zhiyi called Xinbao to dinner, she delayed, engrossed in play.
“Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner!” he urged patiently.
“But Mom hasn’t gone to eat yet!” she argued.
“Don’t compare yourself to her. She’s already set in her ways. No matter how much she eats, she’ll only gain weight. But you’re still growing taller!” Lin Zhiyi explained.
“...” Another accidental jab at me.
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Xinbao adored horses, especially unicorns and flying horses, likely influenced by the cartoon My Little Pony . Just as we loved Harry Potter , she was captivated by the magical world of My Little Pony . Her obsession with unicorns ran so deep that during trips, she’d scour souvenir shops for unicorn-themed memorabilia. During pretend play, she often used a unicorn doll, assigning roles to everyone. One day, she asked me to play one of the characters. As we immersed ourselves in the game, Lin Zhiyi walked over and teased, “You know, you should really play the role of ‘Unicorn Fatso!’“
Xinbao burst into laughter. “Mom, Dad says you’re fat because he thinks ‘unicorn’ means ‘skinny!’“
“...” He knew exactly what he was doing—it was deliberate teasing.
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Xinbao enjoyed listening to bedtime stories told by a broadcaster named “Cola Sister.” One day, Cola Sister’s public account introduced a tipping feature. Xinbao declared, “I want to tip Cola Sister too!”
Lin Zhiyi stepped in to handle it. “Let’s tip her a lucky number, 6.66 yuan.”
“Why didn’t you tip 520 yuan?” Xinbao questioned.
“What about your mom?” I whispered, chuckling quietly.
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One day, after returning from the gym, I stood in front of the mirror and muttered to myself, “To look good in photos, I need to lose a bit more weight.”
“Aren’t you jealous of my figure?” Xinbao quipped.
“Not at all,” I replied.
“But don’t you want to lose weight?” she asked, confused.
“Being too thin isn’t flattering either. For example, wearing a qipao requires curves for elegance.”
“You’re trying to attract jerks!” Xinbao blurted out.
“...” I laughed, unsure where she’d learned such terms. Quickly regaining composure, I countered, “I’m attracting your dad.”
“What does this have to do with me?” Lin Zhiyi interjected innocently, walking in just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation.
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During meals, Xinbao often grew distracted, picking up a book mid-dinner.
“Xinbao, don’t read while eating. Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking is bad—for instance, walking while looking at your phone is dangerous.”
“But you can watch movies while eating popcorn!” she countered.
Before I could respond, she added, “And you can snore while sleeping!”
“...”
Lin Zhiyi chuckled nearby. “Behold, the birth of a post-2010 contrarian.”
Xinbao grinned. “Dad can love Mom and love me at the same time.”
Both Lin Zhiyi and I gave her a thumbs-up. “That’s absolutely possible!”
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Xinbao eagerly anticipated buying “Snow Maiden” (a dessert) on Saturday morning and asked me to place the order immediately. I complied without delay.
Lin Zhiyi remarked, “Kids these days get satisfaction so easily. When I was young, I waited years for a bicycle, a TV, a digital watch...and even longer for a girlfriend.”
At his last comment, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I waited years for a boyfriend too!”
No matter how long the wait, no matter how late, as long as the person you’re waiting for is you, it’s worth it.
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Just before bed, Xinbao suddenly mused aloud, “Dad is truly a trustworthy man.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Just now, when I asked him to smooth out my blanket, he did it right away.”
“He’s very considerate, isn’t he? But yes, your dad is an exceptional man. When you grow up and look for a partner, use him as a model.”
“I’ll take a picture of Dad and find someone just like him!” she exclaimed.
“...” I laughed. It wasn’t about finding someone who looked like him—it was about finding someone who treated her as lovingly as he treated me!
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A few days ago, Xinbao was reviewing for her final exams, with Lin Zhiyi and me sitting beside her. Suddenly, she paused, pen in hand, and looked up at us. “Are you two in the honeymoon phase again?”
We hadn’t been doing anything special—just leaning close together, reading the same book, reminiscent of our college days.
“We’ve always been in the honeymoon phase,” Lin Zhiyi said, pulling me into a quick embrace.
Without missing a beat, Xinbao began pelting us with pencils, erasers, and workbooks. “Now I understand why you didn’t sign autographs earlier—you said it was a ‘seven-year promise.’“
Lin Zhiyi nodded. “I wanted to grow alongside my readers. Love that fades quickly is fleeting; true feelings endure over time.”
“No,” he corrected himself. “It’s because I didn’t want to get hit with workbooks.”
“...”
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One night, as Xinbao brushed her teeth in the bathroom, I prepared to join her when Lin Zhiyi passed by. He wrapped his arms around me, and I happily returned the hug.
In that moment, Xinbao, still brushing her teeth, exclaimed excitedly, “I saw it!” We turned to see her staring at our reflection in the mirror. To cover any awkwardness, Lin Zhiyi lifted me effortlessly. “Let’s see if I can still carry your mom,” he joked.
“Try a princess carry!” Xinbao suggested.
I intervened. “Your dad has been moving heavy luggage lately—he must be tired. He probably can’t lift me anymore.”
“No way! Dad has to give Mom a princess carry, just like he does for me!” she insisted.
Lin Zhiyi stretched his arms dramatically. “I think I’ve got this.”
“Really? I’ve gained some weight recently. Maybe I should lie down first—if you drop me, at least I won’t hurt myself,” I teased, half-joking as I lay on the bed.
To my surprise, Lin Zhiyi effortlessly lifted me into a princess carry!
Xinbao erupted in laughter. “Dad, give me a princess carry too!”
Later, during our bedtime chat, Xinbao asked, “Why were you hugging in the bathroom while I was brushing my teeth?”
“Because your dad and I are still dating,” I replied.
“Oh,” she said thoughtfully. Then, after a pause, she asked, “Are you happy that Mom and Dad are dating?”
“No,” she answered bluntly.
“Why not?” I asked, surprised.
“Because then you’ll forget about me.”
I laughed gently. “How could we ever forget you? The happier your mom and dad are, the better we’ll treat you.”
She nodded solemnly. “That’s why my mom and dad are never mean—they’re always gentle.”
Sweet child, the greatest gift we can give you is a loving home. After all, you are the beautiful product of our love.
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