Chapter 069

During the Qingming Festival, the company had three days off, from Saturday to the following Monday.

He Ye returned to Xiaofeng on Friday evening, stayed with her parents all night, and helped at the fruit shop the next morning.

Around nine o’clock, she carried two bags of fruit, turned a corner around the community, and got into a Panamera “online taxi” on the roadside where her parents couldn’t see her.

Lu Jin looked at his girlfriend in the passenger seat and asked, “What’s the exact address of Grandpa’s house?”

Without waiting for her answer, he thought for a moment and said, “I think I’ve asked you this before.”

He Ye: “…”

He had asked.

After she received her admission letter from Jiaotong University, her grandparents held a banquet in her hometown. Lu Jin had asked her during a video call.

At eighteen, He Ye hadn’t told him, worried her clingy boyfriend would suddenly come over for a “surprise.”

She also thought her relationship with Lu Jin was just a school romance that might end before college graduation. There was no need for them to know where each other’s grandparents lived.

Who would have guessed that six years later, Lu Jin’s question would actually matter?

He Ye looked at her boyfriend. Even though his cold, handsome face showed no extra emotions, she sensed a hint of satisfaction, as if time had proved he wouldn’t do anything unnecessary.

He Ye: “…Never mind, I’ll take a taxi there myself to save you the trouble.”

Lu Jin said, “I like this kind of teasing.” 

He Ye had no choice but to give him the address. 

Lu Jin focused on driving while He Ye leaned back in her comfortable seat and closed her eyes to rest. However, her mind kept replaying moments from the past few days, especially last night when Lu Jin drove back to her place before taking her home. 

He Ye felt embarrassed about how her house had traces of both of them everywhere. This time, she chose to return to her hometown for the Qingming Festival partly to spend time with her grandparents and partly to avoid Lu Jin. 

Even though she enjoyed being with him, Lu Jin was too intense. Just thinking about him made her legs feel weak. Before the holiday, Lu Jin asked if she wanted to go out, but she immediately refused, saying she just wanted to enjoy her quiet life at home for a few days. 

There was some traffic, and by the time they reached her town, it was already half past ten. 

He Ye said, “Just stop here; I’ll walk.” 

Lu Jin replied, “The fruit is too heavy. Don’t your grandparents know you have a boyfriend?” 

“I’ll get dropped off a little ahead so you won’t have to show up,” she insisted. 

He Ye agreed, and they drove into town. Because Lu Jin’s car was flashy, it attracted a lot of attention. 

He stopped at a street near her house and wanted to help her carry the fruit, but she told him to stay put. She got out, grabbed two bags from the back seat, and closed the door. 

As she walked away, she noticed Lu Jin still watching her. Feeling bad, she turned around and got back into the car. 

Lu Jin smiled and asked, “Are you really going to take me to see your grandparents? I’m not in a hurry, so if you didn’t look back just now, that’s okay.” 

He Ye replied, “You’re not in a hurry, but I am. Is that fine?” 

Lu Jin said, “You’re just trying to make up for it by doing this.” 

He Ye replied, “I don’t owe you anything.” 

Lu Jin responded, “That’s true, but I can’t leave you.” 

He Ye was silent. 

Lu Jin drove a bit further and stopped in front of her grandparents’ house. 

The He family home was a typical three-story Western-style building with a small yard. The house was old and hadn’t been renovated in years since only her grandparents lived there. 

Knowing He Ye was coming, Grandpa and Grandma He stayed home. One was in the yard with the dog while the other prepared lunch. 

When they saw the extra car, the puppy ran over barking. Grandpa He noticed He Ye first and then recognized Lu Jin. 

Grandpa He was surprised. 

Lu Jin greeted him with a smile, opened the trunk, and took out four big boxes of gifts. 

He Ye stared in disbelief. 

Lu Jin whispered to her, “I prepared these beforehand, but I didn’t expect to actually use them. Thank you.” 

He Ye clenched her teeth. 

Grandpa He looked confused, trying to understand why Lu Jin was there. Grandma He quickly came out and cheerfully said, “I knew Xiao Lu was interested in Xiao Ye! With him around, she won’t be interested in any colleagues!” 

He Ye pouted, “I just like my colleague.” 

Lu Jin quickly clarified, “He Ye didn’t lie. I am indeed her colleague.” 

Grandpa He smiled widely, “Come in and sit down!” 

The grandparents treated Lu Jin like family, serving him tea and fruit while He Ye sat back and watched. 

After a while, Grandma He said, “If I had known Xiao Lu was coming, I would have prepared more dishes. It’s not too late to buy more.” 

Lu Jin insisted, “Don’t bother; I just want to enjoy the home-cooked dishes you made with Xiao Ye.” 

He Ye went to help her grandma in the kitchen while Lu Jin stayed with Grandpa He, trying to make conversation. 

He Ye heard her grandpa mention “Tsinghua”. 

Grandma He added, “You’re pretending to know what that is. Your grandpa only knows that Tsinghua University is in Beijing.” 

He Ye muttered to herself, “He’s just being cocky. He’ll never come here again.” 

Grandma He looked at her in surprise, “So tough?” 

Both young people are very impressive. The granddaughter is beautiful, well-educated, has a good salary, and owns a house, so she shouldn’t feel financially inferior. However, she is very obedient, and Lu Jin has a strong presence. Grandma He thinks that when the young couple interacts, her granddaughter will likely listen to Lu Jin more and consider his feelings, like worrying that Lu Jin might look down on her grandparents, who have spent their lives farming.

He Ye: “…”

What does being tough have to do with anything? If Lu Jin really cares about her, he should respect her family, even if it’s just to save face.

He Ye advised her grandmother: “Just treat him like an ordinary junior. Don’t think he’s superior just because he graduated from Tsinghua University. He’s not like that. Just act normally around him.”

Grandma He: “I know, I know. Our Xiao Ye is also very good. He’s not someone who is too good to be with.”

He Ye lowered her head to wash the vegetables, trying hard not to recall another meaning of “climbing above her station” ^[1]phrase used to describe someone trying to associate with a higher social status than their own..

Lu Jin didn’t help with cooking. After dinner, he insisted on going to the kitchen with He Ye to wash the dishes.

Grandma He tactfully left the kitchen for the young couple.

He Ye glanced at her boyfriend and asked, “Do you think my grandparents talk too much?”

Lu Jin: “If they talk a lot, it means they are happy with me. If they don’t talk much, I should be worried.”

He Ye: “Just wait. As soon as you leave, they will call my parents.”

Lu Jin: “Then I won’t leave?”

He Ye glared at him.

After cleaning the kitchen, they all chatted in the living room for a while.

He Ye looked at the time.

Lu Jin was about to leave.

Grandma He wrapped a lot of green rice dumplings ^[2]a type of traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice and various fillings, often enjoyed during festivals. and put them in two boxes. She asked Lu Jin to take one box to her son and daughter-in-law, who lived nearby, and the other box home to enjoy.

He Ye looked at her grandmother resentfully: “…You’re afraid my dad and mom won’t know, right?”

Grandma He: “So what if they know? Xiao Lu is nothing to be ashamed of. He is tall and handsome. If it were me, I would have taken him out in town a long time ago.”

Lu Jin looked at his girlfriend and explained, “You don’t know, the boys who chased Xiao Ye at Jiaotong University could fill a playground. I’m really just an ordinary one among them.”

He Ye: “…”

She pushed her boyfriend toward the driver’s seat.

Using his body and the car as a shield, Lu Jin held the car door with his right hand, held his girlfriend’s hand tightly with his left, looked down at her with narrow black eyes, and asked softly: “I’ll pick you up tomorrow?”

He Ye lowered her eyes: “Monday afternoon, no earlier.”

After saying that, she pried his hands apart with force and returned to her grandparents.

Lu Jin had no choice but to get in the car and drove away under his girlfriend’s smiling gaze.

After he left, He Ye couldn’t enjoy her free time. First, her grandmother asked her how she got together with Lu Jin, and then her parents, who heard the news, greeted her through video.

He Ye made up a very ordinary office romance and finally escaped back to her room.

She sent a message to Lu Jin, reminding him to stick to this story and never mention that they had been dating after the college entrance examination.

Team leader: [Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare. Uncle He would definitely be unhappy if he knew.]

He Ye: [You’re back to Xiaofeng?] 

Team leader: [Not yet, I stopped by the roadside to reply.]

He Ye: [It’s okay, you can keep driving.]

Team leader: [The scenery in your town is beautiful.]

He Ye: [It’s okay, I’m used to it, so I don’t feel much.]

Team leader: [There is actually a five-star resort hotel nearby.]

He Ye: […You are not allowed to go.]

Team leader: [I’ll go by myself; I won’t ask you.]

He Ye: [It’s useless to ask me; I definitely won’t go.]

Team leader: [OK.]