Chapter 43: First Kiss

After Xu Muzhou left, Xiao Qingru lay on her bed, rolling around, kicking her legs a few times to control the waves of emotion swelling within her.

Her face felt hot, as though it might catch fire. She touched her lips, still tingling. It was as if his presence lingered there strong and assertive.

So, this is what kissing feels like: it makes your heart race, your breath short, and your head feel dizzy. It’s like floating in the clouds, ungrounded, relying on his shoulders to keep from falling.

Xiao Qingru couldn’t quite put her feelings into words, but she realized she really liked Xu Muzhou’s kiss. Just thinking about it made her legs feel weak.

Turning over, she buried her head in the pillow and punched it twice. She couldn’t keep thinking about this!

At nineteen, Xiao Qingru had given her first kiss to Xu Muzhou.

No regrets, only sweetness.

After she went upstairs, she didn’t come down again. Her mother saw her new son in law out to the gate, and when she returned, she glanced up at the second floor.

She muttered to herself, “What’s that girl doing up there? Going to bed so early, or maybe practicing?”

Xiao Qingru was the only one who lived upstairs. Apart from her bedroom, there was a room for her to practice martial arts and another one used for storage.

Her family didn’t interrupt her often, and since the elders weren’t overly conservative, nobody minded that Xu Muzhou had gone upstairs with her. It was better for them to meet at home than to be seen outside, which could fuel rumors.

Besides, they all used to be young once too.

Xiao’s mother settled into the sofa. “Qingru just started dating, and my heart already feels empty, like she’s leaving us soon.”

Mr. Xiao was reading the newspaper. “Kids grow up. If we keep holding her back, it will only push her away.”

A child growing up is a lesson for parents on how to let go. Holding on too tightly often results in losing everything. Children aren’t possessions; they’re living, breathing individuals with their own hearts and minds.

Inwardly, Xiao’s mother thought men were so carefree.

“What if they decide to move out after they marry?”

“They should. If they don’t, I’ll encourage them to,” her husband replied.

His wife protested, “It’s just one more person at the table, why push them out?”

“It’s just inconvenient. He’s not our son in law moving in with us.”

“What’s the inconvenience? That kind of thinking is outdated.”

She scoffed. “This is typical of men. They think moving in with the wife’s family is undignified.”

“Mom, don’t lump everyone together,” interrupted Xiao Huaishu. “If it were me, I’d gladly be a live in son in law.”

Xiao’s mother was exasperated. “Must you add to the confusion?”

“I’m serious! Just look at the treatment Xu Muzhou gets in this family. If I could have the same, I’d be a live in son in law in a heartbeat.”

As Xiao’s father, who was traditional at heart, reprimanded him, “If you have time to joke, go practice. Look at all the honors Xu has achieved. Don’t waste time.”

“Dad, is my brother in law getting a promotion soon?”

His father glanced at him. “Wait for the official announcement.”

With this reply, Xiao Huaishu figured the promotion was a done deal. Xu Muzhou had earned accolades, completed major assignments recently, and gathered three years’ worth of honors, so the promotion wasn’t a surprise.

Xiao’s mother beamed with pride. “Xu is wonderful good in every way.”

Her husband nodded. Besides the limited time at home and the risky nature of his job, there wasn’t anything else wrong with him.

“When they decide on their living arrangements, it’s their choice. Don’t interfere,” her husband advised.

“If they move out, it’s not far anyway, just in the same complex, so we’ll see them often,” her son pointed out, reassuring his mother, who immediately felt better.

“That’s true. Even if they live separately, I can still visit them. I’ll help with the housework and cooking, and when they have kids, I’ll look after them while they’re at work.”

Father and son exchanged glances and shook their heads. She wasn’t really marrying off her daughter she was gaining a son.

The next day, Xiao’s mother casually shared the news of their relationship.

“Xu is a good man, but his family isn’t well off. Shouldn’t Qingru consider other options?” someone asked.

“Xu’s family has stable jobs, and they’re Beijing residents. That’s better than most.”

“If he were dating someone else, that’d be great, but it’s Xiao Qingru…”

“It’s all about character. Family background can be important, but if a man’s unreliable, good family conditions mean nothing,” Xiao’s mother replied.

Unspoken, they all thought of Jiang Chuan, whose family was wealthy but whose character was unpredictable. After all, a stable life relies on a trustworthy partner.

When Jiang Chuan heard this, he felt his heart twist.

That evening, he could only hold his child closer, feeling emptier inside.