In mid-November 2015, Lin Zhixia returned home happily.
After finishing her postdoctoral work, Lin Zhixia felt more relaxed than ever before. She slept at home for a whole day and adjusted her biological clock.
The next morning, Mom and Dad went to the market and bought a bunch of vegetables, fruits and seafood.
The supermarket at home was closed, so Dad and Mom were busy in the kitchen for most of the day, making a very delicious "seafood feast", including steamed crabs, scallops with oyster sauce, cold squid, spicy clams... as well as Lin Zeqiu's favorite stir-fried beef with green peppers, and Lin Zhixia's favorite shrimp and corn dumplings.
Lin Zeqiu came home from get off work. As soon as he opened the door, Lin Zhixia called out, "Brother, come and eat. Today's dinner is very sumptuous."
The chill of late autumn and early winter swept across the city, and the cold wind at night poured into the corridor. Lin Zeqiu's home was a warm and comfortable scene, full of the smell of fireworks. The steaming hot food swept away his fatigue. He sat at the dining table, and Lin Zhixia picked up another fat and tender crab for him: "Brother, eat crab."
"This is a sea crab," Dad said with a big smile, "Qiuqiu likes seafood, right? Eat as much as you can!"
Lin Zhixia held the bowl with both hands and exclaimed, "It's so delicious."
Mom asked again: "Xia Xia, you know it's delicious before you even start eating?"
Lin Zhixia said honestly: "When I was in the United States, I would occasionally dream of myself eating at home. In my dreams, I ate very full. When I woke up in the morning, I found that my stomach was growling with hunger, and there was only cold milk and bread in the refrigerator."
She opened the crab shell and said, "The food cooked by my parents has a special taste. I can't taste the same taste when I cook by myself or eat in restaurants..."
Tears welled up in my mother's eyes. She stretched out her fingers, wiped the corners of her eyes, and then said, "Xia Xia is back home. Your parents will cook for you. You can eat whatever you want. Our family's life has improved."
"Mom, don't cry." Lin Zhixia handed her mother a napkin.
Dad explained: "Your mom is so excited. The children have grown up and have made great achievements. Mom and Dad are really happy... Qiuqiu found a good job, Xiaxia is going to be a university teacher..."
At this point, Dad drank happily and drank another glass of wine. He patted Lin Zeqiu on the shoulder and said, "Qiuqiu, Dad knows that you have worked hard... For the sake of this family, you did not stay in Beijing."
Lin Zeqiu said slowly: "The housing prices in Beijing are too high, and it's hard to get a hukou. I'm living well now, and my year-end bonus is tens of thousands."
Dad was surprised and said, "Qiuqiu is really good at making money, much better than dad."
Lin Zeqiu said nothing. He glanced at Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia picked up a small hammer and smashed the crab claws hard. She knocked two crabs in a row, and the crystal clear crab meat was gathered into a porcelain bowl, piled up like a small mountain.
Lin Zeqiu was about to ask her why she hadn't eaten a bite when she saw her pick up the bowl of crab meat and put it in front of her parents: "Life has improved for our family now. My brother and I can both earn money. Don't be reluctant to eat. I see you haven't picked up the crab with your chopsticks."
Dad kept saying "yes" but didn't utter a complete sentence. He scooped up a spoonful of crab meat, tasted it carefully, wiped his face, and said with emotion from the bottom of his heart: "Hey, Xia Xia is back. Your mother, your brother and I are relieved. Our family of four is reunited."
Lin Zhixia said casually: "My brother works in the Software Technology Park, which is very close to the University Town. I bought a house in the University Town, and that will be our new home for our family of four."
Lin Zeqiu echoed: "Mom and Dad can retire early."
Lin Zhixia smiled and said, "Yes, Mom and Dad, please retire. My brother and I will support you."
"Oh, that won't work?" Dad rejected it without hesitation, "Your mother and I are still young and can still make money."
Mom and Dad agreed. Mom said slowly, "Xia Xia Qiu Qiu, you two have just entered society, and your parents are not as good as other people's parents. We don't have connections or background, so we can't help you two... so we can save more money for you."
Dad responded, "Yes, I want to save money for you."
When it comes to "saving money", Dad pauses, as if he remembered something. He puts down his wine glass and turns to tell Lin Zhixia that in the past year, Jiang Yubai would visit their home on every major festival, bringing all kinds of gifts. For example, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Yubai sent moon cakes, osmanthus cakes, hairy crabs and olive oil.
In front of Lin Zhixia's parents, Jiang Yubai never mentioned luxury goods, and the gifts were mainly practical.
Whenever Jiang Yubai meets Lin Zhixia's parents, he will take the initiative to talk about Lin Zhixia's situation in the United States and explain the content of Lin Zhixia's work - this is the news that Lin Zhixia's parents always want to hear, and they pay great attention to their daughter.
Jiang Yubai's efforts lasted for a whole year and successfully impressed Lin Zhixia's father.
Therefore, at the dinner table tonight, Dad said a few good words for Jiang Yubai, Mom also praised Jiang Yubai a little, but Lin Zeqiu still had a serious attitude of "that kid didn't pass the probation period".
Lin Zhixia buried her head in eating, her heart full of thoughts of him.
That night, Lin Zhixia sent a WeChat message to Jiang Yubai, saying without disguising: "I miss you so much."
"I'm waiting for you," Jiang Yubai replied in seconds, "The new house has been renovated."
There is a high-end residential area near the university town. The housing price per square meter is very expensive, and it is rising rapidly this year. Jiang Yubai spent a huge amount of money to buy an 800-square-meter top-floor luxury house and invited the best designer team in the country. It took more than a year to renovate it, and it was finally completed this summer.
Not long ago, Jiang Yubai officially moved into this house. He invited Lin Zhixia to visit his home, and Lin Zhixia readily agreed.
On Sunday morning, Jiang Yubai drove to Ancheng Community and successfully picked up Lin Zhixia. He and Lin Zhixia had not seen each other for eleven months. One of the ways he relieved his longing for her was to trim the branches of the Camellia chrysantha in the office.
Jiang Yubai often dreams of Lin Zhixia.
But he said nothing.
He behaved very calmly.
He brought Lin Zhixia back to his new home.
After passing through the entrance hallway, they came to the living room. The bright sunlight penetrated the rose skylight, and the large and wide 360-degree panoramic terrace attracted Lin Zhixia's attention. She walked quietly on the delicate and soft carpet and whispered, "Your new home is really beautiful."
Jiang Yubai stood behind her: "This is your home too."
Lin Zhixia paused.
Jiang Yubai called her again: "Xia Xia."
Lin Zhixia turned and faced him: "Jiang Jiang."
He laughed and murmured, "Linlinlinlinzhixia."
Lin Zhixia said in a very light voice: "The river is getting whiter."
This was originally a secret code they invented when they were children, and when they said it again as adults, it sounded like the whispers between lovers, with an indescribable sense of ambiguity.
A cool breeze blew in from the sky garden, spreading a refreshing aroma everywhere. Lin Zhixia sat on a soft chair on the spacious terrace, pointed at a bottle of red wine on the wooden shelf and said, "I'm in a good mood today, let's have a drink!"
Jiang Yubai asked her: "Has your alcohol tolerance increased?"
Lin Zhixia moved closer to him, ostensibly to talk to him, but in fact, she secretly kissed his cheek—this light and intimate gesture was like a switch that triggered Jiang Yubai's intense reaction. He tightly wrapped his arms around Lin Zhixia's waist, pinned her to the chair, and kissed her deeply.