Waiting for You in a City

“That’s not allowed. Neither your father nor I will agree.”

Xu Qin immediately looked at Meng Huaijin with a trace of nervousness in her eyes.

Meng Huaijin frowned deeply, and sighed very long: “Qin Qin, girls are easily blinded when they are in love. Dad is worried that you will be deceived.”

Xu Qin replied: “He hasn’t deceived me, and I don’t have much to have him deceive me for.”

Meng Huaijin shook his head very lightly, and said earnestly: “You are already blinded when you say this. People’s hearts are complicated, and you can’t understand them thoroughly after spending only a few days together. Regardless of whether he lied to you or not, even if he didn’t, you have too many things, and what he has is not enough to match you. Look at your family backgrounds, education, living conditions, and job prospects. Which one of them aren’t vastly different from each other? It is difficult to have good results in an unequal relationship. When you are in love, you can cast aside everything else, but if you really want to get married, the differences in your outlook on life and money will be exposed sooner or later, and problems, large and small, will emerge one after another.”

Xu Qin calmed down for a while, and said softly: “I don’t see any big or small problems between me and him……except for your objection.”

Fu Wenying frowned, and was about to speak, but Meng Huaijin stopped her with his gaze, and said to Xu Qin:

“Dad knows that you see me and your mother as hostile forces now, but Dad still wants you to think carefully about how short you two have been together. What can it prove? There are no problems now, but it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any in the future. To give a very realistic example, if you like French food, you can eat French food for three or four thousand meals. As for him, he can take you to eat skewers for one or two hundred meals. Of course, you can eat skewers and eat with him everyday, but can he eat French food with you everyday? He will feel that three or four thousand meals of French food are almost equal to his monthly salary, which is too extravagant and wasteful. Clothing, food, housing, transportation……such contradictions and differences exist in all aspects of life.”

“It’s not just the difference in the concept of consumption and money, but also the outlook on life. Your growth environment is too different, which makes your understanding of the difficulty of life different.”

Xu Qin looked at him seriously, and said: “Dad, I understand what you’ve said, and I’ve thought about it for a long time. I’ve been thinking about it for the past week.”

“And the results?”

“I’ve figured it out.” Xu Qin said, “Now, I don’t want to eat French food, and I don’t want to eat skewers. I just want to eat his cooking. I’ve been eating in restaurants every day for ten years, and I’m sick of it. I want to eat in my own home from now on.”

Meng Huaijin and Fu Wenying were stunned at the same time, they didn’t expect her to say these words. For so many years, she had never expressed her own interest, nor had she ever disobeyed her parents’ interests, this was the first time.

It was as if the matryoshka doll that had been sitting in the closet suddenly had a mind and will of its own.

Fu Wenying: “What kind of chicken soup did that person feed you? You won’t even listen to your parents anymore?”

Meng Huaijin stopped Fu Wenying, and sighed again: “Qin Qin, you are still looking at the problem too shallowly. When love is strong, drinking water is sweet. But once love wears off, even sugar water is bitter. When that happens, the ugliness of human nature will be multiplied, fighting for property, tearing each other apart……you can’t even imagine it. To put it bluntly, in this relationship, he is the one who gets to reap what he hasn’t sown. Because of knowing you, how many years less can he work? Look at yourself right now, you don’t care if he has no car, no house, no money, no decent job. Your mom and dad raised you up, pampered you, so many people waited on you, not to send you to someone else’s house to wash dishes, wipe the floors, do laundry, and cook. Buying you the best things and keeping you well fed is not for you to use everything you have to subsidize your husband’s family.”

As for Xu Qin, hearing these few words, she couldn’t help but have red eyes. It was poignant, but emotional.

“Your parents have more experience than you, and we don’t want you to stumble and regret it. You must listen to your parents’ opinions on such a big matter.”

His words were sincere, and Xu Qin was also moved, but……

“Dad, I know you are worried and distressed. You don’t believe him, but I know what kind of person he is. Can you trust me? And……in this relationship, I am the one who is reaping what I haven’t sown. And…… “

It was the first time in her life that she had a conversation with her parents. She wanted to express too much, and she was confused. When she got stuck halfway, the thousands of reasons she had prepared for them faded away, leaving only the most instinctive and primitive one, engraved in her heart.

She calmed down in an instant, scratched the table with her fingers, and her voice softened, “I really like him.”

Her voice was very soft, weak and trembling like yarn,

“I like him very much. It’s the kind of like that makes me want to see him every day…… I’m happy as soon as I see him. I……I just want to be happy, can’t I?”

“It seems like, a day without meeting him, is like I’ve never been happy before. What should I do?”

The tip of her nose was slightly red, she sniffed her nose lightly, and regained her composure, looked at Fu Wenying, and said: “Mom, you said, people can’t want everything. I understand.” She nodded, “If, to be with him, I have to lose everything, making life not so easy anymore; if, to be with him, I have to face the difficulties you mentioned, then……I want to choose him, can I? ……All I want is him, is that okay?”

For so many years, she had never said, Dad, Mom, I want curly-haired dolls, not the straight-haired ones you chose; I want light blue for the color of my room, not the beige you chose; for my birthday dinner I want to eat Liang City’s special dishes, I don’t want to eat the local dishes you choose……

It had never happened before.

She never expressed her own preferences, not even once.

Meng Huaijin frowned and fell silent.

Fu Wenying also remained silent for a long time. She realized the changes in Xu Qin. She couldn’t believe it, and she couldn’t allow it. Such disobedience was like a serious crime in her eyes.

She asked lightly: “If you lose your parents and relatives, and lose your entire family, will you still choose him?”

Xu Qin was startled, and stared at her; her expression was frozen, and she looked back coldly.

“Why does mother have to do this?”

“Otherwise, what should I do? Follow your wishes?! Qin Qin, look at your uncles and aunts, your cousins. The Meng family has gotten to where it is today, not based on following someone’s wishes, nor relying on the word “happiness” that came from your mouth. It was from attaching the most importance to the big picture and putting the family first. If everyone just wanted to be happy, the Meng family would have been crushed by their opponents long ago. I’m not forcing you to marry anyone, but at least choose a decent one.” Fu Wenying thoroughly expressed her attitude, “There is no room for discussion on this matter at all.”

Xu Qin’s complexion was slightly pale, and she didn’t say a word.

Fu Wenying glanced at her face, knowing that she had conveyed her meaning clearly enough, she picked up the chopsticks again.

Xu Qin lowered her head, why was she at home, the home where she had lived for so many years.

Where she sat, the notch on the edge of the table was made by her when she was a child.

Her eyes were hot and her vision was a little blurred, but they were quickly blinked away.

She reached into her pocket, took out a bunch of keys and put them on the dining table.

When she let go, the metal knocked against the wooden table with a soft sound.

Two keys, one for the car and one for the duplex.

“I don’t have room for discussion either.” Xu Qin said.

“You!—” Fu Wenying was startled, the usual elegance and calmness on her face was replaced by anger, “You really want to break up with your family because of a man, and are willing to let go of everything else?”

Meng Huaijin propped up his forehead with his hands, feeling distressed and helpless.

Xu Qin shook her head: “Even if I am kicked out of the house, you will always be my parents. I will repay the kindness of your nurturing. I will come back to see you every week. Even if you drive me out, scold me, and don’t let me in, I will come. ……If you are unhappy, you can scold me once a week. If you don’t even want to scold me, don’t want to talk to me, ……I will still come to see you.”

Fu Wenying felt that she was being outrageous, she sneered angrily: “Do you think that one day I will become soft-hearted if you cajole me like this?”

“No.” Xu Qin looked straight at her and said, “I’m not holding out hope, and I also know that mom and dad won’t be softhearted and won’t forgive me. It’s just that I have no other choice but this.”

“There is another way. Since you want to do it, then go all the way.” Fu Wenying said coldly, “Leave the house now, and don’t come back until you’ve thought it through properly. Otherwise, even if the gate security allows you in, don’t even think about appearing in front of me so easily again.”

Xu Qin’s lips trembled slightly, but she didn’t move;

Today’s conversation had drained everything from her.

After a while, she looked at Meng Huaijin.

Meng Huaijin sighed: “Qin Qin, you make dad so heartbroken.” After speaking, he got up and left the table.

Xu Qin’s heart suddenly felt like it was being stabbed by a knife, she could no longer control it, and a tear fell down.

The familiar dining room twisted into a strange shape and melted into her tears.

……

Song Yan had been busy at home for two consecutive days, Zhai Miao couldn’t help but be surprised, squatting down beside him with the broom in her hand: “Ge, if I remember correctly, these two days it’s the weekend?”

“What’s wrong?” Song Yan was busy with the matter at hand, he didn’t even raise his head.

“Before I went out this morning, I ran to your room to check my sister-in-law’s shift schedule. She is off today. Actually, she has been off since six o’clock yesterday afternoon.”

“What’s wrong?” Song Yan glanced at her and said the same words.

“Why aren’t you together? You have to go back to the barracks tomorrow, and you didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to be lovey-dovey. Did you quarrel?”

Song Yan snorted and laughed: “No.”

“Then that means she’s gotten bored of you and is going to get rid of you.”

“Bullshit.” Song Yan slapped her on the back of the head.

“What are you doing, your hands are covered in dust!” Zhai Miao screamed.

Song Yan got up and walked out.

“Are you going to go find her?”

“I’m going to place an order for the sets I liked last time.” Song Yan turned around, “Let’s go.”

Zhai Miao went crazy: “I’m always called for running errands, treat me to ice cream!”

……

During the two days that Xu Qin lived at home, the pressure in the house was suffocating.

Fu Wenying seemed to have changed her plan, she kept a calm face and refused to talk to her from the beginning to the end, she didn’t reason with her, and she didn’t reprimand or scold her. This silent pressure was on Xu Qin, even worse than when there was sound.

Until that afternoon, Fu Wenying spoke and said, “Go shopping with mom.”

Xu Qin agreed.

Fu Wenying went to the shopping mall she frequented, which was full of luxury stores, and there were not many customers in the shopping mall. Walking into a store, the shopping assistant greeted her eagerly: “Mrs. Meng, Miss Meng, welcome.”

Serving tea and pouring water, they offered refreshments.

“A few limited-edition pieces came to the store last month, and they are specially reserved for you. Recently, many customers have inquired about them and they all want them. The manager specifically wanted you to take a look at them first to see if there are any that you like.”

Fu Wenying sipped her tea, and said lightly: “Take them out to have a look.”

Xu Qin was silent and understood why she brought her here.

……

Zhai Miao walked slowly in the mall with a cup of ice cream in her hand, and sighed: “It’s indeed the weekend, there are so many people.”

No one answered.

Looking back, Song Yan was buying donuts.

Zhai Miao was happy and ran over: “Ge.”

Song Yan tossed her a small bag, holding a large box in his hand.

Zhai Miao looked at hers and his: “Who is that box in your hand for?”

The corner of Song Yan’s mouth curled up, but he didn’t answer.

“Valuing sex over your cousin.” Zhai Miao complained.

Song Yan said: “If I don’t meet up with her before I return to the team, give this to her tonight.”

Zhai Miao rolled her eyes and said sourly, “Aiya, it’s like a box of donuts is as precious as gold.”

Song Yan stopped and saw several lipstick counters. He took a cursory glance at them. Although these brands were all well-known, he couldn’t tell the specific grade. He relied on the most intuitive judgment and finally stopped in front of a counter with the highest overall price.

Zhai Miao still didn’t give up: “I’ve helped you so much recently, do you want to reward me?”

Song Yan picked at the colors without even looking at her: “What kind of kid needs to wear lipstick?”

Zhai Miao was speechless: “Crap, people who have a girlfriend really are different. They think about her all the time. Was your cousin, I, picked up off the street?”

Song Yan heard her words, turned his head to look at her, expressionless, as if her thoughts didn’t stop at him, he turned his head and continued to pick.

Zhai Miao: “……”

She finally gave up, leaned her head back, held a “knife” in her hand, and stabbed her own chest three times.

……

Fu Wenying led Xu Qin out of the store while being sent off by the clerk. The bags they bought would be delivered to their door in person.

Xu Qin didn’t speak all the way, and followed Fu Wenying into the elevator.

“You want to go your own way and fight with me, I can treat you like this.” Fu Wenying smiled quietly and said, “I’ve said it before, I won’t agree. That means, I won’t agree.”

Xu Qin looked at the reflective elevator wall, inside she was expressionless, like a withered person.

The two left the mall and stood on the side of the road waiting for the driver to drive up from the parking lot.

But what came was not the driver and their car, but a black, elegant, yet understated classic Porsche. The car stopped in front of them, and the driver got off. The man was about the same age as Meng Yanchen, dressed in a casual suit, with a handsome appearance.

“Auntie Fu,” he walked around from the front of the car and walked up the curb, his eyes fell on Xu Qin, “Is this Qin Qin meimei?”

Xu Qin was taken aback for a moment, and then remembered that this was probably the blind date Fu Wenying mentioned yesterday.

She didn’t expect her to……

Xu Qin couldn’t even maintain her politeness, she glanced at Fu Wenying, then looked at him, and said, “I have……”

Fu Wenying interrupted: “Driver Chen has gone to pick up your brother, your Han Ting ge will help drive us home. Remember to say thank you.”

Xu Qin stared at her, wondering if what she said was true or not.

“Get in the car.” The man smiled and opened the passenger door.

Xu Qin thought about it for half a second, and was about to get in the car, but she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head suddenly, and saw Song Yan standing not far away, looking at her.

Xu Qin felt chills down her spine.

Song Yan’s expression wasn’t too bad.

Zhai Miao’s expression was extremely ugly, but in the next second, she smiled and shouted: “Sister-in-law!”

Fu Wenying and the man were taken aback at the same time.

Zhai Miao ran over: “Sister-in-law, why are you here?”

The man looked surprised: “What did you call her?”

“She’s my ge’s girlfriend. What should I call her, if not sister-in-law? Sister-in-law, who is this?”

Before Xu Qin could answer, Fu Wenying said lightly: “Qin Qin doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

Fu Wenying looked at Xu Qin with warning eyes, expecting her not to lose face for her under such circumstances. But,

“I have one.” Xu Qin raised her hand and pointed at Song Yan, “He’s over there.”

Fu Wenying’s face changed suddenly, but she maintained her smile in the next second, and said, “It was a short relationship, our family disagreed, so they separated.”

The man didn’t say much, and retreated to the position of a bystander. It wasn’t clear whether he refused to comment out of politeness, or he also acquiesced to this principle.

When Zhai Miao heard this, she couldn’t bear it any longer, and tugged at Xu Qin violently: “Hey, Xu Qin, is this your mother? Is what she said true? You think so too? Short relationship, played around for a while and then separated? ……If you want to separate, you will separate? My brother just said that lightly, Xu Qin, don’t be serious……” She was so angry that her eyes were red, “Don’t deceive others too much.”

Xu Qin was taken aback and shook her head violently.

Looking at Song Yan again, he was standing a few steps away with his hands in his pockets, without saying a word from the beginning to the end, just looking at her calmly.

She knew that he was waiting for her reply. For more than ten days, he has been waiting.

Suddenly she was dying of heartache.

She forgot, some words, she had still not said.

He had said, regardless of the wind and rain tomorrow, they would be together today. Tomorrow, if she wanted to separate they could separate,

But no.

On that snowy day, when she agreed to be with him, she had already realized it. But she forgot to tell him.

She walked towards him and stood a meter or two away from him,

The cold January wind was blowing, her eyes were slightly red, she looked at him, and tremblingly said:

“Song Yan, ……the day of the first snow, I was too hasty, and I didn’t tell you a lot of things. Originally, there were a lot of things that I wanted to tell you at that time. I’m sorry for telling you so late.”

“Song Yan, I will love you.” She said, “I will work hard to love you like I will be with you tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.”

“This time, I will definitely not let you down first.”