Jian Xi was a little dazed.

Grandma squinted, scrutinized for a moment, and her eyes brightened. “Look, look, it’s Xihong.”

Tao Xihong stood in front of her. “Teacher, you still remember me. It’s been so many years.”

“Oh, it must be decades,” Grandma said, holding her hand and patting it repeatedly. “The world is so small. If you take your time, you can meet people no matter how far apart.”

Tao Xihong supported her, nodding repeatedly. “Teacher Li, I came to look for you after graduation, but the school said you had already resigned.”

“I stopped teaching after your class graduated.” Grandma chuckled. “I could tell back then that you were a capable and promising child. You even raised your daughter so well.”

Talking about the past was always filled with sighs and emotions.

Mentioning her daughter, Tao Xihong remembered Jian Xi beside her. She turned her head and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, she’s helping me pay the fees, such a good girl,” Grandma answered for her.

Jian Xi secretly inhaled, a new joy of hope gradually blossoming in her heart.

She looked up at Tao Xihong. “Mom, is she the Teacher Li you often mentioned?”

Tao Xihong hummed in agreement. “Yes.”

Jian Xi pursed her lips and said, “It’s such a coincidence. She’s your Teacher Li, and also He Ran’s... grandma.”

Tao Xihong: “...” The joy of reunion quickly overshadowed this temporary emotion. She said, “Teacher Li, would you like to have lunch together? Is that okay?”

Grandma nodded. “Okay, okay, call Xiao Xi to join us.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they went for their respective medical check-ups. Tao Xihong was a bit faster. After finishing her tests, she went to find her former teacher and quickly helped her complete the remaining items.

Jian Xi left work a little earlier at noon and took them to a Chinese-style restaurant, finding a quiet private room.

“Beef stew with glass noodles, braise it until it’s very tender. And a soup.” Tao Xihong handed back the menu, instructing the waiter.

Grandma was surprised. “Back then, you were so thin and didn’t like to eat at all, very picky. But every time I made this glass noodle dish, you could eat two bowls of white rice. Such a good girl.”

Hearing this, Tao Xihong laughed. “Teacher Li, I’ve had this dish at many restaurants over the years, but it’s strange, none of them taste like yours did back then.”

“That’s easy,” Grandma said, following up on the conversation. “Come often in the future, bring your whole family. I’ll have He Ran pick you up.”

Jian Xi’s hand pouring tea paused, nervously awaiting her mother’s reaction.

Tao Xihong lowered her eyes, her expression unreadable, temporarily silent.

Grandma was relaxed and continued leisurely, “Xihong, now that you’re a mother, you have to consider everything for your children. You’ve done this particularly well.” She even gave her a thumbs up. “Good mother, good woman.”

Tao Xihong remained silent, offering the cup of Biluochun tea that Jian Xi had poured to Grandma with both hands.

Grandma took the tea and sighed softly. “I’m old, but my mind is clear. Just like back then, the school wanted to force you to drop out because of your family background.”

Tao Xihong was moved. “Teacher Li, so many people were against it, but you vouched for me in front of the principal, and that’s how I was able to continue my studies.”

Tao Xihong’s ancestors could be considered part of a semi-political family. They were implicated during turbulent times, and the school, as a precaution, considered expelling the younger generation of the Tao family. Even though Tao Xihong had excellent grades, she couldn’t escape this fate.

It was He Ran’s grandma who was willing to be her guarantor, and that’s how she barely kept her place.

Tao Xihong lived up to expectations, advancing smoothly all the way, studying abroad, and then starting her own business from scratch, which led to the current Jiexi Daily Chemicals.

Grandma cooled the tea and took two sips. “Hmm! Good tea. Oh, right, Xiao Xi, go outside and tell the chef to put less chili oil in the dishes.”

After finding an excuse to send Jian Xi away, only the two of them remained in the small private room. Grandma suddenly held Tao Xihong’s hand.

The old woman’s skin was rough and wrinkled, and with all her strength, she said, “Once upon a time, I bet you were a good seed, so I was willing to invest in you. Thank you for letting me win with dignity.”

Tao Xihong’s eyes welled up with tears. “Teacher Li.”

“This time, please trust this old woman one more time.” Grandma’s voice trembled slightly. “Let the two children be together. My grandson has suffered, he knows how to cherish people. He has the ability and talent, he just lacks a little bit of luck.”

Tao Xihong’s expression was restrained, nodding, then nodding again.

“Don’t worry that Xiao Xi will suffer with He Ran. I’ll help you keep an eye on both of them. If she marries into our family, He Ran and I will cherish her together, letting her have happiness besides her parents. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Grandma was sincere and calm, gently patting the back of Tao Xihong’s hand. “Promise Teacher, okay?”

Having said this much, Grandma knew her limits and stopped persuading. She called out to the door, “Xiao Xi, tell the chef to serve the dishes.”

Jian Xi, who had been waiting outside the door, quickly came in. Four dishes and a soup were served, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables. The main dish was beef stew with glass noodles, slightly grilled over charcoal, bubbling with heat.

After a harmonious lunch, Tao Xihong warmly invited her former teacher to visit her home, but Grandma shook her head repeatedly. “Yes, I definitely will go, but not now.”

Tao Xihong understood her meaning but was really worried about an elderly person taking the bus.

“Teacher Li, please let me take you. Next time, next time I’ll follow your wishes, okay?”

Jian Xi didn’t understand, but Grandma instantly beamed. “Okay, you take me.”

After the two elders left, Jian Xi hurried back to the clinic to work.

An hour later, Tao Xihong dropped Grandma off on Yati Road. She called Jian Xi from the car.

“Xiao Xi.”

“Mom?”

Tao Xihong stared at her own reflection in the rearview mirror. The sharp anger faded like smoke, and she let out a very soft sigh. “Tomorrow, have He Ran come home for dinner.”

Jian Xi, who was seeing patients, had a three-second blank in her mind. It was a reminder from a family member that brought her back to her senses.

The sun was shining brightly today, and the pothos on the windowsill swayed gently in the breeze. Jian Xi lowered her eyes, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curving upwards.

The winter sun was approaching the warmth of spring.

The world was warming up, and joy appeared on her face.

———

On Yati Road at night, occasional dog barks could be heard.

After dinner, He Ran swept the chicken bones on the table into a bowl and went out to dump them at the alley entrance. This was usually a gathering place for stray dogs. As soon as they smelled the meat, they wagged their tails and rushed over.

He Ran watched for a while, quite amused. “Today, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll let you have some meat. After the mistress comes to the door, we’ll slaughter chickens and ducks every day and give you bones to eat.”

He said to one of the big black dogs, “I saw it early on, you’re the top dog here. Remember this, next time you see Jian Xi being bullied on the street, bite the bad guys hard.”

The black leader was quite cooperative, responding with two “woof woof woofs” and crunching on the bones.

He Ran stood up with a smile and went back inside.

Grandma had just finished washing the dishes, shook the water off her hands, and came out saying, “We’re going to Xiao Xi’s house tomorrow. Have you prepared everything?”

He Ran helped boil water and said, “Everything’s ready. Three red envelopes, one for each of her parents and younger brother. And a gift money.”

“How much gift money?”

“Sixty thousand.”

Grandma thought for a moment, then walked into the bedroom with small steps and took out a cloth bag. “It’s too little, too little. This is what I withdrew this afternoon, add it in. Her family is big and wealthy, what they value is sincerity, but we still have to fulfill our due etiquette.”

It added up to eighty thousand, a lucky number.

Grandma wrapped it carefully with traditional red paper and sealed it with rice paste as glue.

Just as He Ran was about to speak, Grandma interrupted him. “Don’t you dare refuse. Sixty thousand is from you, twenty thousand is my old woman’s sentiment. I’ll write this down in my book, and next year, you’ll return it to me with interest.”

After a long silence, He Ran finally nodded, as if making a solemn promise.

The next day.

The Jian family rarely gathered together, and even Jian Yanqing specially planned to return home early.

Tao Xihong spent the whole day in the kitchen, preparing the ingredients for dinner. Tao Xinglai’s crime of stealing the household registration book was truly hateful, and Tao Xihong had ignored him until now.

“I, Little Tao, am the first to disagree!” Tao Xinglai was very sad. “Clearly you were the culprit, why drag the Best Actor into it?”

Jian Xi scoffed at him. “Your IQ is too unstable, I can’t be bothered to talk to you.”

“My god, are you picking on me because I’m better looking than you?” Tao Xinglai had a full plate of sunflower seeds. “Don’t ask for my help in the future, you married woman.”

Jian Xi, upon hearing this new title, said, “You’ve been quite arrogant lately.”

Tao Xinglai made a face at her, sticking his tongue out very far.

Jian Xi was amused. “It’s so lifelike. Have you considered playing a non-human role?”

“Damn it. Calling me an animal.” Tao Xinglai got agitated, and the full plate of sunflower seed shells scattered on the ground.

Jian Xi quickly got up and ran to the kitchen to complain. “Mom! Tao Xinglai is making a mess again!”

Tao Xihong was just bringing out the braised beef brisket and didn’t have time to pay attention. “The feather duster broke, and the new one hasn’t been bought yet.”

Jian Xi smiled and leaned her head closer. “Wow, it smells so good.”

“Didn’t you say He Ran likes to eat beef? I don’t know if it suits his taste.” Tao Xihong picked up a piece for her to try.

Jian Xi opened her mouth and took the meat, praising it endlessly. “Delicious.”

Tao Xihong was very pleased to be praised.

Jian Xi’s lips moved slightly, and she suddenly reached out and hugged her from behind. “Mom, thank you.”

“Silly child.” Tao Xihong patted the back of her hand. “You’re my daughter, and you’ll always be my priority. It’s also fate, I guess, that he’s the grandson of my former teacher.”

Tao Xihong also found the unpredictability of life surprising, shaking her head with a smile. “Without his grandma back then, I wouldn’t have been able to go to school. Sometimes, you have to believe in fate, there are always countless connections. Well, I trust my former teacher’s judgment. The child she raised might really have some extraordinary qualities.”

Jian Xi felt a soft, warm feeling of gratitude in her heart. “Mom, don’t worry, I will be happy.”

Tao Xihong said seriously, “That promise should come from the man. Alright, go clear the table a bit, put out the cold dishes first.”

He Ran came to visit at four-thirty, just in time Jian Yanqing at the door. The old and the young greeted each other with smiles and entered the house together.

Jian Xi showed a smile. “Dad.”

Tao Xihong, seeing this scene, felt inexplicably moved. She realized that even with the addition of He Ran, it looked very much like a family.

“Auntie, Xiao Tao.” He Ran nodded in greeting.

Tao Xihong nodded, her tone gentle and smiling. “You’ve come all the way, you must be tired. Come, let’s eat.”

This family dinner was peaceful and simple, without grand gestures or deliberate speeches, just like relatives returning after a long absence.

After dinner, everyone sat in the living room. He Ran sincerely took out the prepared gift money.

He said, “Being able to meet Jian Xi, perhaps all my good luck in the past thirty years has been given to her.”

Jian Xi glanced sideways, her eyes soft.

Tao Xinglai clutched his heart, sincerely giving him a thumbs-up in secret.

He Ran took a deep breath and said, “I’ve made a fortune before, and I’ve also been penniless. I’ve been a scoundrel, I’ve been lost, but I won’t be anymore. Please believe me, give me some time, and I will earn a good tomorrow for her.”

Jian Xi looked at him, her eyes a little moist, so she quietly took his hand, their fingers intertwined tightly.

Receiving silent support, He Ran’s emotions calmed down a bit. He stood up and respectfully said to Jian Yanqing, “Uncle, I beg you to agree and let me take on this responsibility.”

A brief silence allowed time for the deep emotions to settle.

Jian Yanqing also stood up from the sofa, accepting his sincerity very solemnly.

He nodded. “Take care of her more in the future, treat Jian Xi well.”

The two men, as if completing a formal handover ceremony, father, daughter, husband, the two men were like inheritors in parallel universes, using love and protection to quietly wait for a flower to bloom.

Tao Xinglai felt the sentimental scene was too tear-jerking. He turned his head to ease his emotions, only to see his mother beside him, already in tears.

———

“Look, this is Xiao Xi at three years old, isn’t she especially fair?”

“And this one, she’s in her third year of junior high, isn’t she especially tall?”

“Look, she’s studying for her master’s in the UK. She’s still in touch with these foreigners, very good friends.”

Upstairs in the study, Tao Xihong took out the family photo album, flipping through the pages for He Ran to see.

Jian Xi was beautiful even as a child, not much different from how she looked now.

Tao Xihong’s face was full of smiles, and He Ran was also quite interested. Tao Xinglai on the side munched on strawberries. “Brother He He, do you know what our family heirloom is?”

“Hmm?” He Ran looked up.

Tao Xinglai pointed at himself, looking particularly embarrassed. “Hehehe, it’s me.”

Jian Xi finished tidying up and came in just in time to hear this sentence. She walked over and tapped his head. “I was just about to go out to throw out the trash. You自觉 go stand by the door, I’ll throw you out with it later.”

Tao Xinglai was particularly sad and went to hug He Ran’s leg. “Brother-in-law, roast her!”

He Ran smiled kindly at him, then pried his hands off. “I’ll listen to your sister from now on.”

“Oh my god.” Tao Xinglai held his forehead. His status at home might be moving further down the line.

After staying at the old house for one night, Jian Xi went to work the next day. Ten minutes before getting off work, she asked the director for half a day off. On the way back, she deliberately took a detour to the mall and bought a new dress before going home.

When He Ran arrived, she was just trying on clothes, feeling pleased with herself in front of the mirror. “Does it look good?”

A soft touch on her waist, and He Ran hugged her from behind. He said in a deep voice, “Those lace panties in your closet are even prettier.”

Jian Xi reached back and pinched his waist. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“Where’s the nonsense?” He Ran licked her earlobe with his tongue. “Seriously, when are you going to wear them for me to see?”

Jian Xi bit her lip and quickly kissed him on the cheek. “Tomorrow.”

It was the day they would get their marriage certificate.

Jian Xi set an alarm clock, but when she woke up, she found it was completely unnecessary. It was only five fifteen, and she was already wide awake.

He Ran had a bad habit when sleeping, he particularly liked touching her chest. As soon as she moved, he would hold her tightly like squeezing a sponge, not letting her leave his embrace.

Today was really too early, He Ran was still sleepy and wasn’t touching her chest. He turned over and continued sleeping without a second thought.

“Hurry up and get up, or we won’t get a number!”

Jian Xi called out several times, but there was still no response. She simply burrowed into the quilt like a fish and woke him up completely.

When they went out, Jian Xi’s legs were still weak, so He Ran drove the car.

The Civil Affairs Bureau opened at eight o’clock, and they got the first number.

ID cards, household registration books, exchanged for two little red books.

Routine vows, taking photos on stage. Both of them were wearing white coats today, making them look fresh and clean, very photogenic.

Finally, the steel stamp “click” sealed it—

Husband and wife in this life, inseparable in life and death.

Jian Xi looked at the marriage certificate again and again, as if trying to see a lily flower bloom from it. She kept smiling, took a picture, and posted it on her Moments, which hadn’t been updated for almost half a year.

Two words: “Married.”

Instantly, the number of likes soared, and WeChat kept exploding with messages.

He Ran bit his unlit cigarette, smiling. “Showing off our affection?”

Jian Xi looked at him and said softly, “Showing off my husband.”

Her eyes were full of gentle, settled smiles, and He Ran was a little mesmerized.

He Ran’s eyes were hot. “Wife.”

“Hmm?” She looked up, her smile bright.

He Ran hugged her, his voice warm above her head. “...Let’s kiss.”

He had been alone in this world, going forward fearlessly, all he smelled was the strong smell of alcohol.

But at this moment, the floating clouds dispersed, the heat settled, and it turned out, this was the feeling of making peace with happiness.

After their lips and teeth intertwined,

came a harmonious and long-lasting marriage.

———

The two held hands and went home. The initial excitement had been filled with a strong sense of presence.

Jian Xi realized that this was the real feeling of living together.

After dinner, He Ran showered first, then it was Jian Xi’s turn.

He dried his hair and casually picked up his phone to look at his Moments.

The first post was from Jian Xi five minutes ago. He Ran silently read the words in his heart:

[White tea, clear joy, nothing else, I am waiting for the wind and also waiting for you.]

He smiled faintly. Doctor Jian had posted two updates on her Moments today, it seemed she was quite satisfied with this husband.

He thought for a moment and also posted a reply in coordination.

When Jian Xi came out after showering and was drying her hair, she happened to see it. She was stunned, then burst out laughing. “What is this? It even rhymes.”

What He Ran wrote was:

[Simple meals, plain tea, but with a goal, I am earning money and also earning you.]

Alright, both of them had been overwhelmed by happiness.

Jian Xi looked at it two or three times, and finally even took a screenshot to keep forever.

She gently bit her lip, looked at the closet, and had an idea.

Five minutes later, He Ran hung up the washed clothes and started calling from the balcony, “Wife, do you want an apple?”

The bedroom door was ajar, and a hazy light shone through the crack.

He pushed open the door, the word “wife” hadn’t even left his lips when he almost knelt on the ground.

Jian Xi in front of the mirror was wearing his white shirt from last time. The length could be a short skirt, making her legs look slender and straight.

He Ran’s mouth was dry. He saw at a glance, “No bra?”

Jian Xi’s eyes were full of affection, enticingly walking towards him. She put her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in his ear, “Feel lower.”

He Ran’s hands trembled as he carefully reached down to explore.

“Damn it... a thong...”