Chapter 292: I’d Still Marry Him
Lin Yibai quietly stood far away, watching the two most awkward men in her life slowly warm up to each other like ice cubes left out in the sun.
After talking about the bride price, a short silence fell over the living room.
Xia Changyu carefully set down his teacup, the warmth still lingering on his fingertips. Across the table, Lin Shanwen seemed a little more relaxed now, his shoulders not quite as stiff as before.
For a short while, neither of them spoke. Only the quiet clinking of dishes came from the kitchen, where Lin Yibai’s mother was still busy preparing lunch. The smell of simmering soup filled the room, comforting and familiar.
Then Lin Shanwen spoke again, his voice calm but serious.
“You know, Xiao Bai has always been independent. Ever since she was a child, she didn’t like asking for help. Even when she fell off her bike, she didn’t cry. Just stood up, wiped her knees, and kept going.”
Xia Changyu nodded quietly, listening.
“I wasn’t always the best father,” Lin Shanwen continued. “I was busy with work most of the time. So her mother raised her more than I did. I missed a lot of things. There were moments I wish I could’ve been there for, but sometimes I was too caught up in everything else.”
He looked into his cup, swirling the tea gently.
“But now, she’s grown up. And here we are, talking about marriage. It’s strange. Feels like just yesterday she was still asking me to help her fix her toy robot.”
Xia Changyu sat up straighter, his voice steady but sincere.
“Uncle… I know I can’t promise everything will be perfect. But I can promise I’ll do my best to take care of her. Not just financially, I mean emotionally too. I respect her, and I want us to build something real together.”
Lin Shanwen looked at him for a long moment.
“You know, a lot of boys say that. But it’s not just about taking care of her. It’s about growing with her. You won’t always be strong. She won’t always be perfect. You both need to be ready to carry each other when the time comes.”
The remarks weren’t harsh. They were the kind of quiet words that came from a father who had seen the world and worried for his daughter in it.
Xia Changyu didn’t answer right away. He didn’t give a dramatic promise. Instead, he nodded slowly, seriously.
“Uncle, I know it’s not just about keeping promises. But I can promise this, I'll never treat this casually from the start. I'm so committed to our relationship that I'm here to meet Uncle and Auntie.”
He paused for a moment, his gaze unwavering, then added quietly, “I know that might not fully satisfy you, Uncle, but like you said, it's about growing with her. I’ll listen when she needs to talk, and I’ll be there when she needs me. And when things get hard, I’ll be strong enough to face it with her, not for her, but with her.”
Lin Shanwen didn’t say anything at first. He just looked at him, perhaps weighing the sincerity in his words. After a long beat, he finally gave a short nod, his eyes softening slightly.
“Good,” he said again, his voice softer now. “That’s the answer I needed to hear.”
Just then, Lin Yibai’s mother, Lin Shuyan, poked her head out of the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready! Come help me carry the dishes!”
Xia Changyu stood up quickly. “I’ll help, Auntie!”
He rushed into the kitchen, nearly tripping over a low stool, and Lin Shanwen chuckled under his breath.
Lin Yibai returned and sat beside her father, nudging him gently. “Dad, what do you think?”
Lin Shanwen rubbed his chin. “He’s alright. A little nervous, a little stiff… but honest. That matters.”
Lin Yibai smiled, “Good. Because I’ve already decided on him.”
Her dad looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Oh? And what if I didn’t approve?”
She leaned back and grinned. “Then I’d still marry him. You’d just be grumpy at the wedding.”
Lin Shanwen shook his head. “I raised a little troublemaker, huh? Well, I hope he’s ready for this family.”
He’s not just ready. He wants to be part of it.
And with that, the warm smells of lunch filled the house, and the awkward but genuine laughter of the afternoon echoed through the rooms.
Dinner was warm and filling, pork belly with chestnuts, tender chicken stew with red dates, a big plate of stir-fried greens, and even a surprise dish of Xia Changyu’s favorite, sweet and sour ribs.
By the time dessert was served, steamed egg custard with goji berries, Xia Changyu was nearly too full to move.
He had just taken the last sip of hot soup when Lin Yibai nudged him under the table with her foot.
“Hey,” she said, leaning closer, her voice low. “Want to go out for a bit?”
He blinked. “Now? Where to?”
Lin Yibai grinned. “This is my hometown, I know many places worth visiting.”
They stood up. Lin Yibai grabbed her coat from the hook and called toward the kitchen, “Mom, Dad, we’re going for a walk!”
Lin Shuyan peeked out with a smile. “Don’t stay out too late!”
Lin Shanwen waved from his seat, pretending to be indifferent, though he was clearly listening closely.
Outside, the winter night had cooled down. The air was fresh and quiet, with only a few people out and about. The streetlights cast a soft golden glow on the pavement, and the familiar rhythm of the old neighborhood buzzed gently in the background.
"Where are we going?" Xia Changyu asked, walking with their hands holding onto each other.
Lin Yibai: “There’s an old stone bridge not far from here. I used to go there a lot when I was younger. Thought you might like it.”
They reached the bridge, a simple arch over a narrow stream. It wasn’t anything fancy, but the view was peaceful. Streetlamps shimmered on the water, and there was a gentle breeze in the air.
Lin Yibai leaned over the stone railing, resting her chin on her arms. “I used to come here when I was stressed. Just stand here and let my thoughts float away.”
Xia Changyu stood beside her, looking at her instead of the water. “And now?”
She looked up at him, eyes calm. “Now I come here with you.”
He was quiet for a second, then reached out and gently took her hand. It was warm, steady.
“I like that,” he said softly. “Let’s keep going to places like this. Not just here, but wherever life takes us.”
Lin Yibai smiled. Not the mischievous kind she usually wore, but something softer and genuine. “I was going to say the same.”
After that, they visited a few places filled with memories from Lin Yibai’s childhood, but the night sky had already stretched above them, signaling the end of their little adventure.
But neither of them was in a rush.
The streets had quieted even more. A dog barked somewhere in the distance. The air was cold enough that Lin Yibai tugged her coat tighter around herself, and Xia Changyu instinctively reached over, pulling her hand into his pocket with his own.
Lin Yibai gave him a playful expression, "Wow, my boyfriend is so caring."
He looked at her and smiled. "Cold hands are dangerous for your health. I’m simply being responsible.”
They laughed softly together, and just like that, the walk passed in easy silence.
When they arrived at the hotel where Xia Changyu was staying, they stopped at the entrance.
Lin Yibai turned to him. “Alright, you’re home.”
He nodded slowly, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Actually…”
She raised an eyebrow. “Actually?”
He asked, trying to sound casual, “Do you want to come in for a bit? Just… it’s warmer inside. And I brought some good tea from home. Figured we could talk a bit more.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Hey, I know what you really want, just get straight to the point. Hmph.”
Xia Changyu: “Well, can I, pretty please?”
Lin Yibai: “Aren't you tired? You drove about 700-800 kilometers from Fucheng to get here, and you haven't rested since this morning. Do you have the energy for that kind of thing?”
"Relax, you should already know how awesome I am."
And those were, of course, the last legendary words he ever said that night.