He Ye: “…”

Grandma He said excitedly, “Oh, is he really that good?”

He Yong nodded, “Yes, he is. He went to the same high school as He Ye and got into Tsinghua University. His family is well-educated, so he has no flaws.”

Wu Li then showed the video she secretly filmed to Grandma and Grandpa He.

They both watched closely, and the more they looked, the happier they became. Grandma He smiled widely: “He’s handsome, really handsome, perfect for our He Ye.”

He Ye held her bowl and muttered, “I didn’t mean that at all. Grandma, don’t listen to what my mom and the others are saying.”

He Yong said, “You don’t get it. I’m a man. Xiao Lu might have liked you before, but now he’s definitely showing he’s interested. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have helped you for two hours. It’s not easy to deal with a bunch of customers.”

Wu Li added, “Exactly, his real reason for coming was not just to help.”

He Ye couldn’t take it anymore, so she quickly finished her meal and went upstairs.

Grandma He asked, “Are you just shy, or do you really not like Xiao Lu?”

He Yong didn’t know how to guess his daughter’s feelings, so he looked to Wu Li.

Wu Li analyzed, “I can’t say if she likes him, but she doesn’t seem to dislike him. He Ye always insists that Xiao Lu doesn’t feel that way about her, which is telling.”

Grandma He suddenly understood, “Yes! I remember a boy who liked me when I was younger, but when he couldn’t catch me, he helped on my family’s farm. I scolded him, and said if my mom let him help again, I would run away from home. If he wanted me, he wouldn’t win me over that way.”

Grandpa He said, “You were fierce, but He Ye is different. Would she really not like him?”

He Yong replied, “Let’s wait and see. After all, Xiao Lu hasn’t made his feelings clear yet. If he wants to pursue her and He Ye doesn’t like him, I will respect her choice.”

No matter how great a guy is, if his daughter isn’t interested, he will just be an outsider.

The others nodded in agreement.

Upstairs, He Ye lay on her bed complaining to Zhu Qing: [Why is my family so eager to set me up with a boyfriend right after I graduated?]

She didn’t mention that her parents’ first choice was Lu Jin.

Zhu Qing replied: [That’s normal. You studied for two more years as a graduate student. I’ve been pressured for two years, and it’s still mild. In another two years, I’ll probably have to try blind dating.]

He Ye asked: […You don’t really like Zhou Xiangming?]

Zhu Qing: […Why would I like him?]

He Ye: […Even if we don’t see each other much, it feels like you two are a couple.]

Zhu Qing: […Same here. Even though you and Lu Jin just reunited, it feels like you’ll get back together in no time.]

He Ye replied: [Don’t say that, or we won’t be able to chat.]

Zhu Qing teased: [If Lu Jin rekindles his feelings for you and wants to pursue you again, would you consider it?]

He Ye: [I don’t like this kind of speculation.]

It started raining outside, and He Ye noticed the raindrops softly hitting the window.

She said: [It’s raining.]

Zhu Qing replied: [Yes, rain is forecast for the next few days until the second day of the Lunar New Year.] 

Their conversation ended there.

He Ye went downstairs to play mahjong with her family and won a small prize of 80 yuan. After washing up, it was already 10:30 PM.

The rain had turned into a drizzle.

He Ye turned off the lights and lay in bed, still awake, listening to the rain.

Maybe because she had thought about Lu Jin too much lately, on this quiet rainy night, she remembered the first time he took her out on a rainy day.

They watched a movie as an excuse, visited the park as a cover, and he kissed her in the heavy rain when no one was around.

“He Ye, try kissing.”

“Open.”

Heat crept up to her face, and He Ye pulled the quilt over herself.

She felt especially cold in her hometown, even with the air conditioning on. 

So, she wrapped herself in a cozy coral fleece pajama set she had bought last year and curled up on the sofa.

Today is New Year’s Eve, and relatives stopped visiting friends and gathered at home.

He Ye watched the Spring Festival Gala ^[1]is a special TV program in China aired on New Year’s Eve featuring performances, songs, and sketches. while listening to her family chat.

He Yong complained, “He Ye is just wasting money. The round-trip airfare is over 4,000 yuan, and hotels are so expensive.”

Grandma He responded, “Don’t be ungrateful. I’m old and lazy; otherwise, I’d have you buy us plane tickets to Sanya for a vacation.”

He Ye smiled: “It’s nice to be home. When the weather clears, I’ll take you and Grandpa to the city to watch a movie.”

Grandpa He asked, “Movie tickets are pretty expensive now, right?”

Wu Li replied, “It’s definitely cheaper than plane tickets. He Ye is rarely available, so we should just go with her plans.”

They discussed good movies to see.

Suddenly, He Ye’s phone lit up. 

Lu Jin messaged: [Spending the New Year in your hometown?]

He Ye replied: [Yeah, what about you?]

Lu Jin: [Me too, at my grandpa’s. My mom mentioned you earlier, and my grandpa asked if you were the one who gave me that necklace years ago.]

He Ye: […Your grandpa has a great memory.]

Lu Jin: [I’ll go to my grandpa’s in a few days. I can already picture my mom bringing it up again, and My Aunt will probably mention that painting.]

He Ye: [……] 

Lu Jin continued: [Do you have relatives who could introduce someone to you?]

He Ye replied: [Well, I think everyone is like that.]

Lu Jin asked: [Is there anyone who would be more appealing to Uncle He than me? If so, neither of us would have to take the blame.]

He Ye: […Yes, many people in our town graduated from Peking University and Tsinghua University.] 

Team leader: [What about their age? Looks? Height?]

He Ye: [Average age is 26, looks above 9 out of 10, average height is 185 cm, and minimum annual salary is 800,000 yuan.] 

Team leader: [Congrats, my mom can relax now.] 

He Ye smiled and put her phone down.

On the second day of the first lunar month, the weather cleared up. He Yong and Wu Li took a taxi to the airport, starting their daughter’s filial piety trip to Sanya. He Ye wasn’t idle either; she asked her grandparents to change into new clothes, and then her grandpa drove them into the city.

There is a large shopping mall near He Ye’s community. The three parked in the community garage and walked slowly, allowing the elders to see their granddaughter’s current living environment.

Grandma He sighed: “Your father might not be good at many things, but he has a great eye for buying houses.” 

Grandpa He: “Your mother is also excellent; let’s take good care of her.” 

He Ye held one of their hands in each and said with a smile, “Dad, Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma are all great. I will be filial to them all.”

When they arrived at the mall, the cinema was on the fifth floor. He Ye took her grandparents to buy milk tea first. Afterward, she asked them to sit in the rest area while she went to get the tickets.

Three tickets for a family movie.

After getting the tickets, He Ye walked back toward the rest area. Just as she sat next to her grandmother, Grandma He suddenly tugged at her sleeve, quietly pointed toward the game area, and asked, “Is that Xiao Lu?”

Before He Ye saw him, her heart raced when she heard “Xiao Lu.” She looked over, hoping her grandmother might have made a mistake.

The game area is connected to the rest area, with a row of claw machines and arcade games. Two people were sitting face-to-face at one of the machines. Besides “Xiao Lu,” who was seriously operating the machine, there was a fair-skinned boy who looked about the age of an elementary school student.

Just then, Lu Jin glanced over. 

He Ye: “…”

She turned away, pretending not to recognize him and secretly hoping he would understand.

When she turned back, her grandmother was waving at her with a smile.

He Ye quickly held her grandmother’s hand and whispered, “We aren’t familiar; why are you saying hello?” 

Grandma He felt wronged: “He smiled at me first.”

When He Ye looked at Lu Jin again, he spoke to the elementary school student, then left his seat and walked toward them.

The student stayed behind, observing curiously, like older classmates watching.

As Lu Jin approached, He Ye stood up and formally introduced him to her grandparents: “Lu Jin, my high school classmate, he’s very good at studying.”

Grandma He said affectionately, “I know, Xiao Ye’s father mentioned him. He’s the one who got into Tsinghua University.” 

Lu Jin allowed the elders to look at him and then introduced the elementary school student who left the game: “My aunt’s son, Qin Yi.” 

He Ye remembered that during the summer before her third year of high school, she and Zhu Qing had seen Lu Jin taking care of children at the community playground. 

The six years didn’t seem to change them, but the kids had grown into elementary school students.

Lu Jin looked at the ticket in her hand and asked, “Which movie did you buy?”

He Ye announced the title.

Lu Jin had bought a ticket for another show and could enter immediately.

He Ye sighed in relief.

Qin Yi was quiet, but as Lu Jin took him away, he suddenly turned and waved to He Ye with a bright smile: “Sister Xiao Ye, I remember now! My mom said she drew a picture for you at the supermarket!”

He Ye: “…”

Sure enough, once the two left, Grandma He asked, “What painting? Has Auntie Xiao Lu seen you?”

He Ye played dumb: “I don’t know; maybe she went to the supermarket. I don’t remember.”

Grandma He didn’t let it go until they sat down in the cinema.

Because of this coincidence, He Ye couldn’t concentrate on the movie.

Her phone vibrated, and she checked it secretly.

Team leader: [What a coincidence! With so many great guys around, you still found time to watch a movie with your family?]

He Ye ignored him.

Team leader: [Your grandma seems to know me.] 

He Ye thought for a moment and replied: [She probably mixed you up with another top student from Tsinghua. Her eyesight isn’t great.]

Team leader: [Does that mean my looks can also get a score above 9?]

He Ye: [More like 8.5, right?]

Team leader: [So, you think I’m not good enough to look at?] 

He Ye: [Yes.]

Team leader: [Is the movie good?] 

He Ye: [It’s nice; I won’t say more.]

There was no reply.

He Ye put her phone away, leaned back in her chair, and sighed in relief.

It was strange; when talking face to face, Lu Jin spoke little, but he was bold in WeChat chats.

She felt the same; without his presence, she could even joke back.

As the movie neared its end, Lu Jin sent another message: [Want to have lunch together?]

He Ye instinctively replied: [No.]

She saw the “typing” indicator for a full minute before a short reply came: [Okay, I’ll do as you say.]