MC - Chapter 31

On Friday, Zhang Rufan clocked out on time after work. Remembering her appointment with Shen Mingjin, she had planned to go to Jindu to find him, but as soon as she stepped out of the office building, she unexpectedly saw him standing by the fountain.

“Why are you here?” Zhang Rufan walked over.

Shen Mingjin reached out his hand to her. “Under orders to pick you up for dinner.”

“Huh?”

“My grandma just called to ask when we’d arrive. She’s already wrapped the dumplings and is just waiting to cook them.”

Zhang Rufan took Shen Mingjin’s hand. Hearing this, her expression turned serious, and she quickly started walking. “Then let’s hurry.”

“Slow down.” Shen Mingjin tugged her back, saying helplessly, “The car’s over there.”

After getting in the car, Shen Mingjin drove toward Huai’an District. Although he had said it wasn’t necessary, Zhang Rufan still bought some fruit to bring along.

The road was congested, with constant stops and starts. It took Shen Mingjin some time to drive from Jinghua District to Huai’an District.

“We’re almost there.”

Zhang Rufan looked out the window and realized that Shen Mingjin’s grandparents’ home wasn’t far from the neighborhood she used to live in.

Shen Mingjin drove into the neighborhood and parked in the garage before turning to look at Zhang Rufan. She had already unbuckled her seatbelt, and her expression showed no sign of nervousness—she seemed rather composed. He had prepared a whole stomachful of comforting words, but seeing her so calm, none of them had any use.

After getting out of the car, Zhang Rufan carried the fruit basket in one hand. When Shen Mingjin offered to carry it for her, she refused. With no other option, he took her hand instead—only to realize her palm was slightly damp.

Earlier in the car, he hadn’t turned the heating up very high, so she shouldn’t have been sweating. Shen Mingjin thought for a moment, then suddenly understood, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.

“Don’t be nervous,” he said.

Although it had been Zhang Rufan’s idea to meet his elders, deep down she was uneasy, though she didn’t want to show it. Hearing Shen Mingjin’s words, a trace of panic finally showed in her expression.

She recalled how her relatives and elders used to say she lacked the spirit a young girl ought to have, acting instead like a little adult. Among her peers, she had been the least likable.

“Didn’t I tell you before? Grandma and Grandpa are easy to get along with—they won’t make things hard for you.” Shen Mingjin gently patted the back of her hand, finally finding the chance to speak the comforting words he had prepared.

“I’m here with you.”

Shen Mingjin’s words were like an anchor. Zhang Rufan took a deep breath, steadied herself, and nodded at him.

They took the elevator upstairs, and Shen Mingjin led Zhang Rufan to his grandparents’ door. After ringing the bell, someone soon came to open it.

Zhou Ci peeked out from behind the door. Shen Mingjin was surprised to see her. “Why are you here?”

“This is my parents’ house—why wouldn’t I be here?”

“Grandma and Grandpa invited us to dinner today. Why are you crashing uninvited?”

“Brat, eating at my own home doesn’t count as crashing.”

After exchanging a few sharp words with Shen Mingjin, Zhou Ci finally turned her gaze to Zhang Rufan standing behind him. Her expression instantly softened with affection, as if Zhang Rufan were her very own flesh and blood.

“You must be Mingjin’s girlfriend.” Zhou Ci pushed Shen Mingjin aside and warmly welcomed Zhang Rufan inside.

Zhang Rufan looked at the well-kept young woman before her, feeling momentarily awkward. From Shen Mingjin’s earlier exchange with her, she had already guessed who this was—which only made her more nervous.

“Hello,” Zhang Rufan greeted politely.

Zhou Ci raised her hand to measure Zhang Rufan’s height, not putting on any airs as an elder, and openly praised her for being tall.

She smiled and said, “I thought it’d be a while before I got to meet you. I didn’t expect…”

As she spoke, Zhou Ci glanced at Shen Mingjin, clearly teasing her son.

“They’re here, right?” someone asked from the living room, coming closer.

Zhang Rufan looked up and saw two older elders, instinctively straightening her posture.

“My grandma and grandpa, and my mom.” Shen Mingjin introduced them to Zhang Rufan before formally presenting her to his family. “Zhang Rufan, my girlfriend.”

“Rufan?” Zhou Ci paused at the name, hesitating for a moment before turning to her. “Did you go to Huaian High School?”

Zhang Rufan nodded.

“In the same grade as Mingjin?”

Zhang Rufan answered truthfully, “We were in the same class during our second and third years.”

Zhou Ci suddenly recalled the discarded drafts of letters she had once found in the trash while cleaning her son’s room, and everything clicked into place.

“So that’s how it is.” Zhou Ci looked at Shen Mingjin with a gleeful expression, as if she had uncovered some secret.

Shen Mingjin frowned. “What are you smiling about?”

“Nothing.” Zhou Ci replied mysteriously, “Just suddenly realized another one of your virtues.”

Shen Mingjin shuddered at the sudden wave of maternal affection.

“Enough, you two. Can’t even meet without bickering—what does that look like?” Grandma Shen spoke up, kindly beckoning to Zhang Rufan. “You must be hungry. Let’s eat.”

Grandma and Grandpa Shen were just as friendly as Shen Mingjin had said—easy to get along with. After exchanging a few words with them, Zhang Rufan’s initial nervousness melted away.

“Mingjin said you don’t eat spicy food, so I didn’t add chili to these dishes. Do they suit your taste?” Grandma Shen asked.

Zhang Rufan nodded. “Your cooking is wonderful.”

Grandpa Shen chimed in, “As long as you enjoy it. Mingjin loves his grandma’s cooking too—he often came here for meals during high school.”

Hearing this, Zhou Ci had a sudden realization and asked, “Rufan, since you went to Huaian High, did you also live in Huaian District?”

“Back then, yes—I lived in XX neighborhood. After high school, I moved to Binhu District.”

“That’s not far at all—right near our neighborhood,” Grandma Shen added.

“You must have run into our Mingjin quite often, right?” Zhou Ci pressed.

Back then, Zhang Rufan often took the bus after school and indeed frequently ran into Shen Mingjin. When she had asked him before, he had explained it was because he came to his grandma’s for dinner, so she nodded.

“I knew it.” Zhou Ci glanced at Shen Mingjin with a meaningful smile. “My cooking isn’t that bad.”

Shen Mingjin pretended not to understand. “Compared to Grandma’s, it’s way worse.”

Putting the pieces together, Zhou Ci could already guess the outline of her son’s romantic story. She hadn’t expected to have raised such a romantic at heart. No wonder he had looked so smug when he’d mentioned being pursued—it turned out the feelings had been mutual all along.

Zhou Ci glanced at Shen Mingjin, a sudden warmth stirring in her heart.

Back then, she had divorced Shen Mingjin’s father and brought him back alone to Shangjing. Afterward, because she was busy with her career, she lacked the time to care for him, but he had never once complained and still grew up well. As a mother, she felt she owed him a great deal.

Thinking of this, Zhou Ci couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Rufan and let out a nearly imperceptible sigh. She said, “Rufan, this boy of mine is still quite good. Although sometimes he can be a little childish and not very reliable, at crucial moments he’s someone you can truly count on. If you’re with him, he will definitely treat you well.”

Shen Mingjin took issue with Zhou Ci’s half-praise, half-criticism, and directly voiced his displeasure. “When have I ever been childish?”

“Ultraman doesn’t exist,” Zhou Ci threw out the words without even turning her head.

Zhang Rufan watched as Shen Mingjin froze on the spot, the light in his eyes instantly dimming, as if struck by a tremendous blow.

“You—you…” Shen Mingjin looked utterly heartbroken, gritting his teeth at Zhou Ci. “Take that back right now!”

“I take it back,” Zhou Ci said crisply.

Ignoring Shen Mingjin’s accusatory glare, she shrugged, gave Zhang Rufan a helpless shake of her head, and looked at her earnestly. “I’ll have to trouble you to be patient with him.”

Zhang Rufan was a little stunned by the way Shen Mingjin and his mother interacted. Watching them bicker with every word, what came to her mind was: Didn’t Shen Mingjin say before that his upbringing had been very strict?

The meal was harmonious. Shen Mingjin’s family was warm and kind, and with him smoothing over the atmosphere, Zhang Rufan didn’t feel awkward at all. On the contrary, she rather liked this kind of family warmth.

After dinner, they moved to the living room. Grandma and Grandpa Shen asked a little about Zhang Rufan’s family and work. She answered briefly, and the two elders didn’t press further. Zhou Ci shifted the topic, asking instead about her and Shen Mingjin back in high school.

After chatting for a while, Shen Mingjin judged that today’s social interaction had probably reached the limit of what Zhang Rufan could handle, so he took the initiative to suggest sending her home.

After saying goodbye, Zhang Rufan left together with Shen Mingjin.

Once outside, while waiting for the elevator, Shen Mingjin smiled and asked, “So? Grandma and Grandpa are easy to get along with, right?”

“Mm.”

Meeting his elders had gone even more smoothly than expected. The weight that had hung in Zhang Rufan’s heart for several days finally lifted. She looked up at Shen Mingjin and said sincerely, “You have a very good relationship with them.”

Hearing a trace of envy in her tone, Shen Mingjin couldn’t help but lift his hand to pat her head. “Earlier, when you mentioned your grandma in Qingcheng, you two must also have a very close relationship.”

At the mention of her grandma, Zhang Rufan couldn’t help but smile. “Mm.”

“When you have some time off, how about I go with you to Qingcheng to see her?”

Since returning to Shangjing, Zhang Rufan had indeed been missing her grandma. Hearing Shen Mingjin’s suggestion, it was hard not to be moved. She nodded without much hesitation, not even thinking about whether it was too soon to bring a boyfriend to meet her elder. After all, Shen Mingjin hadn’t hesitated to bring her to meet his grandparents.

They took the elevator down to the underground garage. Once in the car, Shen Mingjin asked, “Shall I take you back to Binhu District?”

“Mm.”

Starting the car and driving out, Shen Mingjin suddenly remembered something. “Help me tell the Little One that I completed the mission before the snow.”

"Huh? What mission?"

Shen Mingjin curled his lips. "That’s a secret between her and me."

Zhang Rufan turned her head toward him, unable to resist asking, "Did you tell her you can use magic and often save the world?"

Hearing the words he had once used to coax a child being spoken so earnestly by Zhang Rufan, Shen Mingjin felt a bit embarrassed. He coughed lightly and explained, "A child’s innocence is something beautiful that deserves to be protected. The Little One believes I can use magic, so I go along with her imagination. When she grows older, she’ll naturally realize I don’t really have magic."

"However, the saving-the-world part wasn’t made up—that’s Ultraman’s job."

Something stirred faintly in Zhang Rufan’s heart. She gazed at Shen Mingjin, lost in thought.

She thought, his childlike innocence must have been well protected, and that’s why he could grow into such a wonderful person.

Shen Mingjin dropped Zhang Rufan off at the entrance of her neighborhood in Binhu District. Because she already knew from before that cars couldn’t stop there for long, she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt. Before getting out, remembering the relationship notes she had been keeping these past few days, she leaned toward the driver’s seat.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shen Mingjin noticed her leaning closer. He instantly understood her intention and turned his head, so that the kiss meant for his cheek landed on his lips instead.

After the kiss, Shen Mingjin still wasn’t satisfied. He cupped her face with his hand and kissed her lips again, this time with more force.

Heat spread across Zhang Rufan’s face. She blinked and said, "I’m heading back."

"Mm." Shen Mingjin tenderly caressed her cheek. "Get some good rest."

Zhang Rufan picked up her bag and got out of the car, watching as Shen Mingjin turned the car around before she herself turned toward the neighborhood. As she reached the security booth at the entrance, she unexpectedly saw Zhang Shengyi standing there.

"Dad." Zhang Rufan walked over.

Zhang Shengyi looked up, and upon seeing her, said in an ordinary tone, "You’re back."

"Mm." Zhang Rufan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Why are you here?"

"Out for a walk." Zhang Shengyi didn’t explain further. Lifting his foot, he said, "Let’s go back."

Zhang Rufan followed, walking one step behind him.

After a stretch of silence, Zhang Rufan was the first to speak. "Isn’t your hospital check-up next week?"

"Mm."

"Have you already scheduled with the doctor?"

"Mm."

"Which day is it? I’ll take leave to go with you."

"No need." Zhang Shengyi refused quickly. "Just focus on your work."

Zhang Rufan frowned, insisting, "I’ll ask Aunt Hui later."

"You—" Zhang Shengyi began, but when he turned and met Zhang Rufan’s stubborn gaze, the words lodged in his throat and dissipated, finally turning into a sigh.

The night breeze drifted by. Another silence followed, the evening stars flickering quietly above.

"You have a boyfriend?" After a long pause, Zhang Shengyi asked.

Zhang Rufan didn’t shy away from the question and nodded.

"What’s he like?"

"He’s very good."

Zhang Shengyi said nothing more—whether because he had learned what he wanted to know, or because he didn’t know how else to ask.

The conversation broke off again. They weren’t the kind of father and daughter who could speak freely and happily. Years of being together had already set a pattern, and even if either of them wanted to change it, it wasn’t something easily done.

"Is Zhang Zitong asleep?" Zhang Rufan asked again.

"Not when I left." Zhang Shengyi said, "She even asked why you didn’t come back Friday night."

Zhang Rufan lowered her eyes. "If she’s still awake, I want to apologize to her."

Zhang Shengyi turned to look at her. After a brief silence, Zhang Rufan continued, "When I was little, you told me this world has no magic, no fairies, and no Doraemon."

"But today, I realized that maybe they do exist—it’s just that I wasn’t the child they chose." Zhang Rufan smiled faintly, her voice soft as a whisper.

Zhang Shengyi’s chest tightened, a surge of emotions flooding through him. His eyes cycled through regret, self-blame, guilt, and anguish, until at last everything melted into a long, heavy sigh.

1. 小不点 (Xiǎo bùdiǎn) – Little One; a nickname for a child

2. 奥特曼 (Àotèmàn) – Ultraman; a reference to the Japanese superhero

3. 哆啦Ａ梦 (Duōlā Ā Mèng) – Doraemon; the famous Japanese robotic cat from the future

Characters

章入凡 (Zhāng Rùfán) – The protagonist.

沈明津 (Shěn Míngjīn) – A former classmate who wrote Zhang Rufan a love letter in high school, in her copy of Anne of Green Gables.

章胜义 (Zhāng Shèngyì) – Zhang Rufan’s father. 

李惠淑 (Lǐ Huìshū) – Zhang Rufan’s stepmother ("惠姨 Huìyí").

章梓橦 (Zhāng Zǐtóng) – Rufan’s much younger half-sister (~18 years age gap). 

章胜嫔 (Zhāng Shèngpín) – Rufan’s aunt (father’s sister). 

程怡 (Chéng Yí) – Rufan’s close friend from middle school. 

谢易韦 (Xiè Yìwéi) – High school class monitor who is getting married, prompting the reunion.

杜升 (Dù Shēng) – Someone Zhang Rufan didn't want to add as a friend on WeChat at first.

刘品媛 (Liú Pǐnyuán) – The planning department manager at OW.

孙璐 (Sūn Lù) – Zhang Rufan’s direct supervisor at OW, who goes by "Sister Lu" (璐姐, Lù Jiě).

袁霜 (Yuán Shuāng) – A friendly coworker in the planning department.

周慈 (Zhōu Cí) – Shen Mingjin’s mother

Sevyn here ~~~

That made me feel so sad for her and also lowkey her dad. He definitely cared and tried his best to raise her, but his best wasn't what a child needed. 

Enjoy!