The next morning, Su Zelin opened his eyes.
The refreshing morning breeze blew by, and a faint, intermittent fragrance wafted into my nose.
His heart moved slightly, and he jumped out of bed and walked to the window.
Looking through the window lattice, I saw my childhood sweetheart in the next yard.
Qin Shiqing also does not have the bad habit of sleeping late, and goes to bed early and gets up early almost every day.
Sure enough, she was watering the roses.
The girl planted these flowers when she was a child, and they have now covered the entire courtyard wall.
Summer is the season when roses bloom. On this sunny morning, the yard next door is already full of colorful flowers, full of vitality, proudly showing their most beautiful side.
Today is my childhood sweetheart’s birthday.
It has been more than three years since Qin Shiqing was reborn, and she has grown from a seventeen-year-old high school girl to a prospective college graduate.
Youth is short and a girl's blooming season is fleeting.
At the age of twenty, she has become a grown-up girl!
Su Zelin just secretly looked at the pretty figure of his childhood sweetheart upstairs without saying a word.
Qin Shiqing suddenly realized something, turned around abruptly, and saw the gangster by the window.
"Morning, Xiaolinzi!"
The girl smiled sweetly, and her smile complemented the roses in the garden.
"morning!"
Since he was discovered, Su Zelin did not hide it and asked casually: "Qin Shiqing, do you have any wish today?"
Feeling sorry for his childhood sweetheart in his previous life, he would try his best to fulfill one of the girl's wishes every year, of course, within his ability and not going too far.
"Well, as for my wish, I want to invite my grandma over for dinner. She hasn't been to the city for a long time. Can you accompany me to the countryside in the afternoon?"
Qin Shiqing asked.
"Okay, it's a piece of cake!"
The gangster agreed without hesitation.
This is simple and there is no reason for me to refuse.
"That's it, I'm going to go wash up!"
Su Zelin left the window, walked out of the bedroom, went to the bathroom, and looked at himself in the mirror.
The fair face is still full of collagen, but underneath this youthful body is a heart that has experienced many vicissitudes of life.
It’s just that the experience of rebirth has healed the past pain.
"I am doing very well now, I can't let that kind of pain happen again!"
Su Zelin murmured to himself in the mirror.
The blooming and falling of flowers, the coming and going of fate, are all facts that one needs to accept.
There were no special programs during the day. Qin Shiqing invited two friends, Lu Haoran and Xiao Yanzi, as well as a few girls from her high school dormitory to drink milk tea together. It was a bit more lively than the previous times.
In the Ice Beauty Leisure Bar in the Trade City, the girls were chattering and chatting lively.
The junior year is over and I am about to graduate, and the topics of conversation are obviously very different from before.
In the freshman year, they talked about interesting things and experiences in their respective schools, which clubs they joined, and complained about the climate and food.
In the sophomore year, I celebrated my achievements, such as joining the student union, performing in cultural evenings, passing the CET-4, winning prizes in debate competitions, etc.
At the end of the junior year, people mainly talk about their career prospects, and those who have a partner will also talk about their relationship problems.
"I originally planned to stay in Jiangcheng after graduation and work hard with my boyfriend, but my parents insisted that I go home and said I was not allowed to go outside the province. I was so annoyed that I didn't know how to tell my boyfriend about this. I could only put it off!"
Similar things happened not only to Pan Yun and Liu Yanbin, but Qin Shiqing's roommate also faced the same troubles.
"My son's family is quite wealthy, they are local tycoons, but I'm afraid his parents are too picky, so I don't dare to meet them, for fear that they will be dissatisfied!"
"Just be content. My boyfriend's family is extremely poor, and he has two brothers and three sisters. My God, I don't understand why he would try so hard to have children when he is so poor. I was really blind to fall in love with him for no reason. I am considering whether I should break up with him before graduation!"
"… "
When the girls started complaining like this, it turns out that every family has its own problems.
After comparing them, Xiaoyanzi felt that Lu Haoran was really good.
My boyfriend and I both belong to Jiang Lan, so there is no distance issue.
The honest man's family conditions are not good, but they are not poor either. He has only one son. The most important thing is that he is a native of the country and he owns a house in the city, which is very important.
The two parties have not met their parents yet, but my boyfriend ran into them a few times when he was sent home. My parents later talked to me about Lu Haoran's situation and didn't object. They felt that the most important thing was that the other person was reliable.
Being reliable is the least popular qualification in high school, but when it comes to talking about marriage and starting a family, you find that it is very important. If the man is unreliable, no matter how handsome, rich, talented, or humorous he is, it will be of no use.
That’s right, I’m talking about that kid Su Zelin.
If I really had a boyfriend like this, it would be tiring to watch him attract many women.
Thinking of this, Xiaoyanzi lowered her voice and said to Lu Haoran beside her: "Haoran, why don't you come to my house for dinner in a few days?"
Many people wait until the second semester of their senior year or graduation before bringing their significant other to meet their parents, but Tang Yan's partners are usually long-distance couples, and since she and Lu Haoran are from the same hometown, it doesn't matter if she brings them earlier.
"You want to meet your parents?"
Lu Haoran was surprised and happy.
He really didn't expect Xiaoyanzi to suddenly bring up this matter.
If they really meet the parents, it means not only establishing a relationship between a man and a woman, but also planning to start a family.
Originally he was worried about whether he and Xiaoyanzi would be separated after graduation. Tang Yan's words gave the honest man a reassurance.
"right!"
Little Swallow nodded.
"Well, we'll have to meet sooner or later, so it's better to get to know them sooner!"
The honest man did not hesitate for too long. In fact, he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Xiaoyanzi was very relieved.
Lu Haoran has made great progress over the years. He actively honed himself in school and participated in various campus activities, which played a role. He is no longer the socially anxious kid he used to be.
I have to thank Su Zelin for my boyfriend’s change. It was Hunzi who actively encouraged him to do this after he went to college.
If being too honest and lacking in independent thinking is Lu Haoran's biggest shortcoming, then this shortcoming has been more or less compensated, which is why Xiaoyanzi is becoming more and more satisfied with him.
This guy Su Zelin is really good at teaching others, but it's a pity that he doesn't learn well himself.
Xiaoyanzi thought secretly in her heart.
"Oh, by the way, don't forget to buy some fruit, and it's better to buy some tea. My dad likes to drink tea. This is your first time at my house, so you have to be careful and leave a good impression on my parents. Then you don't have to be so reserved in the future!"
Tang Yan gave another serious warning.
"Yes, I know."
Nowadays, honest people understand the ways of the world. Even if Xiaoyanzi doesn't tell them, he knows what to do.
"Xiaoyanzi, Lu Haoran, what are you two whispering about?"
When Tang Yan and Lao Shiren were discussing how to meet the parents, the other girls turned their attention to the two of them.
"Nothing, just chatting about something."
Xiaoyanzi smiled.
"It's just a small matter, don't worry about us, hehe."
An honest wife follows her husband.
Su Zelin didn't think so. Just now the girls were talking about meeting their parents after graduation, and this couple had a private chat. If nothing unexpected happens, they might have this plan. After all, they are not in different places, so they can meet after the end of the junior semester.
However, the gangster didn't expect that Lu Haoran would lie with his eyes open.
Haozi, you have become a bad person. You don't even need to draft your lies!
"You two are so lucky not to have so many worries!"
When the girls first learned that Xiaoyanzi and Lu Haoran were together, they were not very optimistic, thinking that Xiaoyanzi could find someone with better conditions. But now they realize that others have the best chance of being together in the end.
With Xiaoyanzi's personality, if she were replaced by a boy with a slightly less gentle temper, they would probably quarrel all day long until they were red in the face, unless the boy was strong enough like Su Zelin to hold her down.
But with Su Zelin's conditions, it is impossible for him to look down on Xiaoyanzi.
Isn’t Qin Shiqing attractive
Uh, it seems that Qin Shiqing is not really attractive in Su Zelin's eyes.
They are almost in their senior year, and there is no sign of progress at all for the two of them.
I asked Xiaoyanzi and she said they were just good friends. This is very strange.
What’s more important is that Qin Shiqing is interesting, but the gangster is unmoved.
The girls all wondered if the sun was rising from the west.
As the saying goes, if a man pursues a woman, there is a mountain between them; if a woman pursues a man, there is a layer of gauze between them. However, this saying does not apply to the two of them.
Su Zelin is blind, isn't he, with his childhood sweetheart like this goddess right next to him, yet he still takes the initiative
If Lu Haoran and Xiao Yanzi hadn't been together, they would have suspected that this guy was crooked.
"Su Zelin, I heard that you don't have a girlfriend yet, and Shi Qing doesn't have a boyfriend either, so why don't you two get together?"
Xiao Laba knew what her sisters were thinking and wanted to give Qin Shiqing an assist.
Everyone's eyes fell on the two of them at the same time.
Qin Shiqing felt a little embarrassed.
Su Zelin laughed and said, "It's too familiar. I'm embarrassed to do it. Besides, I'm not worthy."
Everyone couldn't help but feel ashamed.
They always think that “we are too familiar with each other to make a move” is a polite excuse to reject someone because the other party is not good-looking enough, but they didn’t expect that it really exists in reality.
If you say that Shiqing and I are not a good match, we would definitely agree with you when we were in high school.
But you are probably the best performing kid in the class right now. Even your final grades are not worse than Qin Shiqing's. Every time your transcripts are sent back, it is said that you have full marks in several subjects, and Qin Shiqing has to admit defeat.
I really don’t understand how Su Zelin suddenly became enlightened after going to college, as if his Ren and Du meridians were opened.
What's more, you two are a perfect match, you are from the same social class, your families are neighbors, and you even opened a digital store together. It seems like you are made for each other.
"Come on, Yingying, stop pulling the red string!"
Qin Shiqing was still a little arrogant. The girl's cheeks were puffy like a little puffer fish, and she said angrily.
The girls looked at Su Zelin, then at Qin Shiqing, and said nothing, but they all felt very sorry.
Childhood sweethearts becoming lovers should be the most ideal love in the world, but God is not so kind.
After the party in the leisure bar, we went to pick up Qin Shiqing’s grandmother.
On the way back to the countryside, the girl sitting in the passenger seat didn't say a word. She just looked at the scenery outside the window and seemed to be in a bad mood.
Seeing the old lady, the cloudy sky turned to clear and a smile appeared on her pretty face again.
“Grandma!”
As soon as she got off the car, Qin Shiqing ran to the old house and supported her grandmother who was waiting at the door.
"Niuniu, you guys are here."
Apart from her unsteady legs and the need to use a cane, the old lady was in good spirits. When she saw the two younger generations, her wrinkled face seemed to relax a lot.
Su Zelin opened the trunk of the Santana. Every time he came to the Liu family, he would prepare some gifts. He bought Melatonin for the old lady. Although it was a bit of an IQ tax, the key was the thought. You think those who buy Melatonin are idiots, but in fact they just want to make the old lady happy.
As for Qin Shiqing's uncle and other villagers she knew, they gave them fruits, wine, cigarettes, while the children received candies, biscuits, potato chips and other things. Almost all the families she knew were given these things.
Seeing how sensible he was, the girl was no longer angry.
You say this guy is hateful, but sometimes he is really sensible and likable, making people love and hate him.
"Grandma, you have finished your dose of Melatonin, right? I prepared a few boxes for you. Drink more when you have time. You must finish them. They are good for your health!"
Su Zelin walked up and said loudly.
"Xiao Linzi, why did you buy this again!" The old lady pointed at her head and said, "Grandma is very smart, not confused!"
"Yes, yes, grandma, I know everything!" Su Zelin said timidly, "It's not for your brain. Just treat it as a nutritional supplement and drink a few more bottles. I'll put it in your room first."
After saying that, he ran into the hall of the old house. He was very familiar with this place since he was a child. He treated it as his own home and did not bother to be polite with the Liu family.
“This child!”
The old lady kept shaking her head, but she couldn't hide the smile between her eyebrows.
Just like many elderly people, although she said it, she actually really appreciated Su Zelin's filial piety.
After chatting with Qin Shiqing for a while, the old lady realized something was wrong: "Niuniu, what's wrong? Did you quarrel with Xiao Linzi again?"
You know what, the old man is still smart and has a sharp eye.
She watched the two children grow up, especially Qin Shiqing, and no matter what little thoughts they had, they could not be hidden from the old lady.
"No, grandma, today is Niuniu's birthday, I'm so happy, there's no way I would quarrel with him!"
Qin Shiqing originally wanted to cover it up, but the last sentence betrayed her.
The old lady could probably guess why Su Zelin made her granddaughter angry.
When they were children, two people might have quarreled over trivial matters, but now they are no longer children and are not so childish, so it is very likely an emotional problem.
"Xiao Linzi, you are both a bad boy and a good boy."
The old lady sighed.
This is very meaningful.
She knows Su Zelin quite well.
A typical example is that when Su Zelin was a child, he would bully Qin Shiqing, but if someone else bullied Qin Shiqing, he would stand up for Qin Shiqing and even fight with others.
He is very naughty, but not so stubborn and willful that people hate him. Sometimes he does things that really make adults laugh and cry.
For example, one summer vacation, it happened to be the old lady’s birthday, and he made a beggar’s chicken for the old lady to celebrate her birthday.
But where did the chicken come from
He broke into other villagers' chicken coops and stole them.
After learning the truth, the Liu family didn't know whether to be happy or angry, so they could only take Su Zelin to the family's house to pay compensation and apologize.
So in the old lady's eyes, this boy is both good and bad, and his character has two sides, one is an angel and the other is a devil.
Well, the devil is a bit too much, and the little bad guy is almost the same.
"Grandma, he is a bad guy!"
Qin Shiqing pouted her cherry lips and complained aggrievedly.
The old lady thought to herself that it would be better if he was really a bad guy, then you wouldn't scold him, because such a person is not worth scolding.
It's a pity that he is just a little bad guy, a little bad but not completely bad. He is more good to you than bad. Niuniu, you are willing to be angry for him.
The old lady couldn’t interfere in the affairs of young people. She sighed and went in with Qin Shiqing.
The arrival of Qin Shiqing and Su Zelin caused quite a stir in the small village.
Mainly because of the latter.
The gangster now is no longer the naughty kid he used to be. Everyone in the village knows that he is a senior executive in a big company. Even the son of Qin Shiqing's uncle has been promoted because of this and was recommended by him to be the manager of Jiang Lan's digital store. This has become big news in the village and basically everyone knows it.
Qin Shiqing's uncle Liu Guida slaughtered a big rooster, bought a wild rabbit and two squirrels from some villager, and went up the mountain to find some black chanterelles early in the morning to entertain them. It was really a feast of wild game.
Although today is my niece's birthday, she is not treated so well on normal days. It is mainly for Su Zelin.
Liu Guida had never dared to think that his son with such a low level of education could become a manager. He thought that his life would be at most a low-level worker. But suddenly a noble man appeared and gave Liu Caizhi a hand. Naturally, Liu Guida was very grateful.
"Xiao Linzi, my kid is where he is today, all thanks to you!"
As soon as he saw Su Zelin, Liu Guida smiled and offered him a cigarette.
"No, Guidabo, the main thing is that Brother Caizhi is smart and capable of being a manager."
The gangster was being modest but also offered a cigarette in return, and other villagers who came over to watch the fun also offered theirs one by one.
A group of grown men were sitting in the hall chatting about everything, praising Su Zelin for being ambitious, loyal, and sensible, while the women were busy in the kitchen cooking.
Not long after, lunch was ready.
Porcini mushroom stewed chicken soup, braised wild rabbit, fried squirrel, fried and braised river fish...they are all local delicacies.
Liu Guida was in a good mood and opened the Maotai that Su Zelin brought. However, since he had to drive and didn't drink, he could only drink with Qin Shiqing's second uncle and other old drinking buddies.
After the meal, they stayed at Liu's house until after three in the afternoon. Before leaving, Liu Guida brought some dried squirrels, dried mushrooms and a few pieces of Ganoderma lucidum that he himself could not bear to eat and gave them to Su Zelin and Qin Shiqing, one portion for each, and insisted that they take them home. The two could not refuse, so they had to accept it.
After bringing the old lady back to Jianglan, Liu Sufen was naturally very happy to see her mother. That night, the two families celebrated Qin Shiqing's 20th birthday. Liu Caizhi also came to dinner after get off work. Since he came to the city to become the manager of the New Century Digital Jianglan Store, he became a frequent visitor to his aunt's house. Liu Sufen would invite him over for dinner from time to time.
After dinner, I took the old lady for a walk around Jianglan. She hadn't been to the city for a long time. The small city has changed a lot in recent years and the economy has developed well. Once the new district becomes established, it will be even more brand new in the future.
The old man had poor legs and feet, so he mainly took in the scenery from the car. He only walked around when he got to the big square. The big square was quite lively at night, with people taking a walk, setting up stalls, selling snacks, doing square dances, skating and skateboarding.
After walking for a while, the old lady felt a little tired, so I helped her to sit down on a leisure bench.
Suddenly remembering something, the old man took out a wooden box from his pocket and opened it tremblingly. Inside was a jade bracelet that was completely emerald green.
"Niuniu, you are a big girl now. This is a gift from your grandma!"
Qin Shiqing was slightly startled, and quickly waved her hands and said, "Grandma, I'm very happy that you and Niuniu celebrate your birthday together. This gift is too expensive, I can't accept it!"
The jade bracelet was a dowry given to the old lady. She had worn it almost all her life, except in recent years. This was because she was old and had weak legs, and she was afraid of breaking it if she fell.
"Take it. The Liu family has no daughters in this generation. Your uncle and second uncle both have sons. Who else can I give the bracelet to if not you?"
The old lady looked at Qin Shiqing with kindness.
She seemed to see herself in her granddaughter.
Once upon a time, she was a beauty in the village, with a gentle temper, but also a little stubborn.
Qin Shiqing actually doesn’t look that much like Liu Sufen. Instead, she looks more like her grandmother.
Liu Sufen's looks are mainly inherited from Qin Shiqing's grandfather. Her temper is not gentle enough and she is obviously not the same type of person as her daughter.
Originally, the old lady had always planned to give the bracelet to her granddaughter, but she was worried that her eldest son's wife would have objections. Qin Shiqing's aunt was a tigress, and she was also very good at talking, and she had been coveting the bracelet for a long time.
But the woman should not complain at this time. After all, her son is a manager in someone else's store. Compared with this bracelet, her son's future is naturally more important.
Qin Shiqing was about to refuse, but the old lady pretended to be angry and said, "Just take it when I told you to. You don't even listen to your grandma, right?"
"Yes, thank you grandma."
Qin Shiqing then carefully took the jade bracelet and put it on. The contrast between her snow-white wrist and the emerald green bracelet was very beautiful.
It feels soft to the touch, and Su Zelin can tell at a glance that this is top-quality jade.
"Haha, it fits perfectly!"
The old lady was very satisfied.
Compared to the tigress in her eldest son's family, she still hopes that her granddaughter will be the owner of this ornament.
His gaze turned to Su Zelin who was sitting on the other side: "And you, Xiao Linzi."
"Hey, grandma?"
Su Zelin quickly listened attentively.
"Be nice to Niuniu!"
The old lady said solemnly.
Su Zelin fell silent.
Because he cheated on Qin Shiqing in his previous life, he felt guilty towards the Qin family and even more guilty towards the old lady, so he never dared to meet her.
Until one day, he suddenly heard that the old lady was gone, and it was like a bolt from the blue.
The person who told him the bad news was Liu Caizhi.
Although the Liu family had a prejudice against Hunzi because of Qin Shiqing, Liu Caizhi and Su Zelin did not break off contact, mainly because Hunzi took good care of him in business and the two sides had business dealings, so there was nothing they could do.
He also learned from Liu Caizhi that Qin Shiqing had never married and had never found a boyfriend since she broke up with him.
The mixed man is both happy and worried. He is happy that his beloved has not given himself to someone else and may still have feelings for him. He is worried that he has ruined someone else's life.
In this life, he strongly recommended his cousin Qin Shiqing to be the store manager. Not only because the other party was a suitable candidate, but also to thank Liu Caizhi for always keeping him informed in his previous life.
Upon learning of the old lady's death, Su Zelin, who was in the Big Apple at the time, immediately turned down a big business deal that he had already scheduled to discuss in two hours, and flew back to the country. He lost tens of millions due to his breach of trust, but the guy did not regret it at all, as money was just a number to him at that time.
After a flight of more than ten hours, he rushed back to Jianglan as soon as he arrived in Shenghai and finally made it in time for the old lady's funeral.
Naturally, Qin Shiqing's family was at the funeral.
This was also one of the few times Su Zelin saw his childhood sweetheart after breaking up with her.
Qin Shiqing burst into tears when her beloved grandmother passed away.
The hunzi wanted to give comfort, but found helplessly that he was not qualified.
Qin Daqing, Liu Sufen and all the Liu family members did not say anything at the funeral.
Liu Caizhi said some good things about the gangster, saying that he was rushed back from a foreign country.
Seeing that Su Zelin was so willing to see the old lady off for the last time, I couldn’t just chase him away.
The jade bracelet was also given to Qin Shiqing after the funeral. This was the old lady's last wish. Before she died, she called many village elders. In front of so many people, no matter how reluctant Qin Shiqing's aunt was, she dared not disobey the old lady's wishes.
After counting on his fingers, he realized that the old lady still had ten years to live to, but when he thought of the funeral, Su Zelin's mood suddenly became heavy.
How happy the old lady was when she found out that he and Qin Shiqing were together, but how disappointed she was later. She was the elder that the gangster was most ashamed to face.
"I…will."
Facing the old lady's cloudy but all-seeing eyes, Su Zelin finally nodded.
I can't be loyal to Qin Shiqing.
But at least he wouldn't be a jerk to her granddaughter.
This is also the best promise the gangster can make to the old lady.
…