"Mr. Tang, you are too polite, we are going to be family after all, you really don’t need to act like this."
"Even if we are family, I still need to thank you, and when Wanwan is in Beijing, I’ll need to rely on you to take care of her."
"It’s my duty to do so."
This dinner could be described as a joyous gathering of hosts and guests, the only exception being Jiang Jinsang who felt sowhat dispirited because the two fathers-in-law happened to sit opposite him. Aside from making rry with others, their gazes upon him were piercing.
"Dr. Zhou, how is Xiaowu really doing?" Tang Yunxian tilted his head towards Zhou Zhongqing.
"He’s quite well, actually drinking a bit of alcohol isn’t a problem, alcohol activates the blood, it’s good for his health."
"As long as he’s healthy..." Tang Yunxian picked up the small wine cup in front of him and downed the liquor in one gulp.
If he’s not healthy, that wouldn’t be good at all!
After dinner, everyone sat in the living room for a while, and Jiang Jinsang found himself inexplicably sandwiched between the two fathers-in-law. Everyone was present, so obviously they wouldn’t say much, rely making small talk and asking about him and Wanwan’s recent situation.
However, facing their sudden affection, Jiang Jinsang felt sowhat overwheld.
"Sister-in-law, I’m planning to head back now." Shuci had an interview to prepare for.
"Don’t you live in Hexi? Why don’t you go back with Shiyi and Chengsi? They’re driving, and can drop you off on the way," the elder lady promptly said, "It’s hard to hail a cab from here."
Shuci had only arrived recently and had been thinking about buying a car for commuting, but purchasing a car cannot be rushed.
"Miss Shen, where do you live?" Jiang Shiyi asked.
"Left Bank Garden."
"That’s on the way too."
After bidding farewell to everyone, Shuci got into the car with the two brothers, with Jiang Shiyi driving. He managed to drive the high-performance car at a snail’s pace.
"Miss Shen, are you in a hurry?"
"I’m not."
"It’s safer to drive slowly."
Jiang Chengsi, sitting in the passenger seat, couldn’t help but chuckle softly. The two brothers were indeed extres, one liked speeding and chasing velocity, while Jiang Shiyi favored a slow and leisurely pace; one was free-spirited, and the other, a graduate in Chemical Engineering, was frighteningly ticulous in his thods.
Being not very familiar with each other and sharing a ride, the atmosphere was unavoidably a bit stilted. Jiang Shiyi coughed softly, shooting a glance at Chengsi to urge him.
Jiang Shiyi: Talk, chat with her for a bit!
Jiang Chengsi frowned: Why don’t you talk?
Jiang Shiyi glanced at the steering wheel and gestured to him: Didn’t you see I’m driving?
Chengsi had no choice but cleared his throat, hesitated for a long ti, and finally managed to squeeze out a few words: "Miss Shen, the weather is pretty nice today."
Today in Beijing, smoggy with extrely low visibility, even the sunlight was mostly obscured—what was nice about it?
But Shuci still courteously replied, "It’s alright."
"I heard you’re settling in Beijing; we live close by, we should visit each other more."
"Yeah."
"How’s the job hunt?"
"Still looking."
...
Jiang Chengsi coughed, struggling to think of what to discuss. He stole a glance at Jiang Shiyi, who was also looking at him with a rather disdainful expression.
Finally, after dropping off Shuci at her ho and on the way back, Jiang Chengsi breathed a sigh of relief, "That was suffocating, what were you expecting to talk about with her? So awkward."
"Actually, grandmom was right, you really should go on more dates."
"What?"
"You need to learn how to interact with girls, otherwise you’ll end up driving your future wife away."
"Bro, what you said is just..."
"When we get ho, help wipe down inside the car."
There we go, the neat freak is back.
Jiang Chengsi, naturally a carefree and uninhibited person whether in work or life, found it challenging to live with Jiang Shiyi who had a slight obsession with cleanliness; such a person inevitably displayed so compulsive tendencies, making living together feel like being in hell.
He tried to move out, but Jiang Shiyi just smiled at him:
"Don’t you want to live with ?"
"It’s not that, I just..."
"Then don’t move out. I’m scared to live in such a big house alone."
Good grief, you’re kidding , you’ve lived abroad alone since you were young, and now you’re telling you’re scared?
"Bro, that’s a bit far-fetched."
Yet Jiang Shiyi said earnestly, "You know, after big brother left, this house... I’m genuinely scared."
Jiang Chengsi had no choice but to obediently stay at ho, and Qi Zeyan even joked that ever since his brother returned to the country, soone had turned into a well-behaved child.
**
anwhile, Jiang Jinsang, ever since Mr. Tang and Tang Yunxian ca over, his situation was rather troubling.
Mr. Tang often kept company with the elder lady, walking or reminiscing about the old tis, while Tang Yunxian was idle. Whether Jiang Jinsang was reading or starting his rehabilitation, Tang Yunxian would watch; even chatting a bit more with Tang Wan would elicit tender looks from his father-in-law.
If there was anything that needed help, previously Tang Wan would lend a hand, but now it had all changed to Tang Yunxian...
Once, when he woke up from a nap, he opened his eyes to find Tang Yunxian in the room, startling him considerably.
"What’s the matter? Did I frighten you? I was bored, ca to your room to find so books to read, saw you were asleep, so didn’t wake you."
"It’s fine, feel free to read."
"’How to Marry Smart, How to Divorce Smart,’ ’Analysis of Typical Divorce Cases’? Are these the books you’re reading?" Tang Yunxian asked, examining them carefully.
"These were gifts from others."
Tang Yunxian just smiled, but his eyes clearly said:
How co these are the kind of books your friends give you when you just got married? Who are you trying to fool?
Jiang Jinsang could read his gaze, and could only silently curse soone, who wasn’t even in Beijing, for still causing him trouble.
anwhile, the "chief culprit" was sitting in a car, looking out the window at the smog-filled sky, barely able to see anyone beyond ten ters, "How much longer to reach Beijing?"
"Over an hour."
Zhou Zhongqing had once saved his life. After so many years, he was attending his first joyful event; without anything important, he of course had to show up.
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