Chapter 24: Do you want to regret it?

He didn’t mind? 

He was still willing to marry her and take her to the Northwest?

Lost in thought, Lin Yiwan stumbled, tripping over something.

“Careful!”  The man’s deep, strong voice sounded, and Lin Yiwan felt her arm enveloped in a rough, warm hand.

“Tha…thank you…” Lin Yiwan blushed, withdrawing her arm, embarrassed.  Rebirth hadn’t improved her intelligence; she was still clumsy, careless. 

She almost caused a scene at the Song family.

The red envelope Chen Fangying had given her felt heavy in her pocket. In her previous life, she had received a red envelope from Sheng Yuelan, containing sixty-six yuan.

This one was much thicker; Lin Yiwan suspected it held at least three hundred!  She felt uneasy keeping it.

She took out the envelope and handed it to Xie Lin.  “Brother Xie Lin, this is for you!”

Xie Lin frowned, his expression serious.  “Reason?”

Lin Yiwan pursed her lips, her palms sweating.  “It’s too expensive, I can’t accept it.”

“Heh…” Xie Lin chuckled, recalling the scene of her and Song Huaiqing being close at his family home.  “Are you trying to back out?”

His ambiguous smile made Lin Yiwan’s scalp tingle, her heart clenching.

“Back out?”  She hadn’t grasped his meaning, still thinking about Song Huaiqing.

Xie Lin looked at her intently, pausing before speaking slowly. “If you’re not backing out, then as my future wife, you should accept this.” 

He emphasized “wife,” making Lin Yiwan’s ears turn crimson.  Her eyes fluttered, and she swallowed before saying, “No… no…” 

How could she back out?  Going to the Northwest to continue her unfinished research was her goal.

“Good. Keep the envelope.” Xie Lin said calmly.

“Oh, okay.”  Feeling uneasy, Lin Yiwan didn’t dare to disobey, carefully putting the envelope in her bag.

The distance from the compound to the department store was far.  Rejecting Song Zhenguo’s offer of a military escort, they took the bus. 

Lin Yiwan didn’t want to buy the “Four Big Pieces” (sewing machine, bicycle, radio, watch). 

The times were sensitive; even high-ranking officials couldn’t be extravagant.  She wanted peace and quiet, not the outside chaos. 

But Xie Lin was strong-willed; despite her refusal of the Four Big Pieces, he insisted on buying her a radio and a watch.

“We’ll get the other two in the Northwest.”  Transporting large items was inconvenient.

Lin Yiwan couldn’t argue with him and watched him buy a women’s watch and a radio.  They then went to buy fabric.  In those days, the groom bought fabric for the bride’s wedding clothes.  Lin Yiwan remembered the fabric he had left at her place.

“Brother Xie Lin, I still have that fabric from the other day. I forgot to give it back to you this morning.”

Xie Lin looked at her, pausing before saying, “That fabric is a gift for you. Use it to make clothes.”  His voice was calm.

Lin Yiwan: …”Then… we don’t need to buy any more today?”  She summoned her courage.  Wedding dresses weren’t necessary; simple was best a Zhongshan suit, military uniform, or grey/navy shirt. 

Some offices even organized collective weddings. Couples read quotations, and the wedding was done.

Lin Yiwan planned to buy army green fabric for a military uniform.  He had already given her fabric, so she didn’t want to waste money. 

Xie Lin, however, bought three pieces of fabric one light-colored, two army green.  Seeing him spend hundreds of yuan, Lin Yiwan’s brow twitched.

Leaving the store, Lin Yiwan stopped.  Blushing slightly, she whispered, “Brother Xie Lin, wait for me, I’ll go to the restroom.”

Xie Lin nodded.  “Do you want me to accompany you?”

Lin Yiwan quickly shook her head.  “No!”  She ran off, leaving Xie Lin with the bags.

Soon, Lin Yiwan reappeared on the second floor where the watches were sold.  The saleswoman was enthusiastic.  “Comrade, do you need help?”

Lin Yiwan pointed to a men’s watch.  “How much is this?”

Seeing she was buying a watch for her fiancé, the saleswoman became even more enthusiastic. “Comrade, excellent choice! This is the latest military watch from Shanghai, 180 yuan.”

Lin Yiwan bought it without hesitation.  The saleswoman was delighted.  “Is it for the military comrade? I can adjust the strap.”

“Yes, please.”  Fearing Xie Lin would wait too long, she didn’t linger. The saleswoman was skilled, adjusting the strap quickly and wrapping it neatly.

Lin Yiwan put the watch in her bag, secretly storing it in her space. 

Leaving the store, she saw a familiar figure Lin Weimin at a baby supply counter.

What was he doing here?