Chapter 9 My Little Fiancee Has Come to the Capital

Xue Yongkang thought he would be met with a disapproving response. After all, both his grandfather and mother disapproved of his side hustle selling goods. Every time he said he’d stop, he’d secretly continue. His credibility with his mother, Yang Xiaomin, was nearly gone.

But the country had already issued official red-letter documents supporting opening up to the outside world. The massive domestic market was full of golden opportunities, and foreign capital was flooding in, delivering strong shocks to state-owned enterprises. Xue Yongkang never believed himself to be less capable than foreigners. His hands itched with the urge to quit his job and dive into business.

His grandfather had always remained ambiguous in attitude. Xue Yongkang was waiting—waiting for a chance, a chance to prove himself. This trip to the capital, under the guise of checking out some goods and surveying the electronics market, was tacitly approved by the old man, who turned a blind eye.

Xue Yongkang was brimming with passion. His little sister Xue Qingdai’s affirmation was like heavenly music to his ears.
“I know Third Brother would never lie to me,” Xue Qingdai said, holding her thick braids in place. Her hair was heavy, and tossing the braid tugged painfully at her scalp. But her third brother only knew how to braid them that way.

“That tall officer really is like you said—cold, hard to get along with, and kind of fierce.” Xue Qingdai felt bad speaking ill of someone behind their back, but she was only repeating what her brother had told her. As soon as the words left her mouth, her cheeks flushed pink. Her complexion was steadily improving these days.

Xue Yongkang’s mood rose and fell like a rollercoaster, and he missed the bike pedal.
“Little sis is right.”
Sorry, Xie Yan. If she marries a few years later, the misunderstanding might clear up.

“We should buy some things and send them to Second Brother tomorrow,” Xue Yongkang said, changing the topic awkwardly. But Xue Qingdai was already captivated by the lively hustle and bustle of Wangfujing Street.

Xue Yongkang tied their bicycle to a slim willow tree and hurried after his sister, handing her a hat as he caught up.
How had he never noticed before how fast she could run?

Xue Qingdai stood on a smoky, vibrant street corner, truly soaking in the atmosphere of the era. Beneath the slightly weathered brick buildings, there were numerous outdoor barbershops. A wooden board with “Haircuts” painted on it, a small stool, a pair of scissors and a comb—that’s all it took. A particular barber, more refined than the rest, wore a white coat. Nearby, a five-year-old boy nestled in his grandma’s arms eating popcorn, waiting in line.

“Third Brother, want a haircut?” Xue Qingdai asked, rubbing her thick hair, reluctant to part with it. But seeing her brother’s overgrown bangs nearly poking his eyes, she couldn’t help asking.

Xue Yongkang, always stingy with himself to save money for her, folded back the long hair over his ears.
“Let Mom chop it when we get home. I don’t need a fancy look—this face is handsome enough as is.”

“Pfft—hahaha…”
Xue Yongkang rarely praised himself in public and had to laugh it off awkwardly. Xue Qingdai, well aware of her brother’s lack of modesty, joined in the laughter.

At a state-run shop, Xue Yongkang bought her a 40-cent imported Coca-Cola to treat her, and a 15-cent Beibingyang orange soda for himself. He planned to drink it while they walked around.

As they strolled, Xue Yongkang spotted a popcorn stand about to go off. He shouted,
“Daidai! Cover your ears!”

Surrounded by onlookers, the old man working the pitch-black machine pulled out the iron rod—
Boom!
A net bag burst open, and golden popcorn spilled out, instantly swarmed by eager buyers.

Xue Qingdai covered her ears and turned to smile at her brother.

Just then, she felt a gaze boring into her. She turned back and saw, through the glass behind Xue Yongkang, that same cold-faced officer—Xie Yan.

Still remembering the grudge, Xue Qingdai immediately averted her eyes, accepting the Coke her brother handed her. She sipped the black liquid—
It tasted like cough syrup. She didn’t like it.

“Third Brother, you drink it. My throat’s still not fully healed.”

Xue Yongkang downed the whole thing in one go. Only at the very end did the flavor hit him. His body shuddered—it wasn’t as good as Beibingyang.

Xie Yan, wearing his dress uniform, stood inside a women’s clothing store called “New World.”
By some strange compulsion, the moment he heard someone call “Daidai,” he looked outside.

Through the glass, he glimpsed Xue Qingdai just as she turned away, pretending to focus on her mother Zhang Shuying trying on clothes.

“Son, how does this outfit look on Mom?”
“Looks great.”

Zhang Shuying hadn’t even changed clothes—she was pretty sure her son hadn’t looked at all.

“I changed into a new one, look again.”
“Still looks great.”

Xie Yan’s gaze never left the window. Outside, Xue Qingdai’s brother had just bought her a stick of candied hawthorn. The girl smiled brightly at her brother. The emotionless man’s expression softened slightly, his lips curving ever so faintly.

Zhang Shuying thought to herself: Yup, he didn’t look at me at all.

Her son hadn’t been home for years and was still as icy as ever. She had finally convinced him to go shopping with her, and now he kept zoning out.

Well, she wouldn’t be polite about it anymore.

Sigh “The only reason I’m buying new clothes is because your cousin is getting married. He’s only two years younger than you. Why are people so different?”

“I married your father even though he was over ten years older than me. Xie Yan, how much longer do you want me and your dad to wait?!”

Xie Yan stopped looking out the window. He avoided returning to the capital precisely to escape marriage pressure.

His father, Xie Songshan, wasn’t in a rush. He had married Zhang Shuying as a second wife after his first wife tragically died from childbirth complications. For years after that, Xie Songshan refused to remarry. His first marriage, arranged by party officials, had been painful and loveless, leaving him with a fear of marriage.

Many years later, while watching a performance at the cultural troupe, the now high-ranking Xie Songshan was smitten at first sight by Zhang Shuying—and considered marrying again.

Xie Songshan had once experienced a relationship built on true love, and only then did he realize how bitter a life could be when a marriage was arranged by others. Yet, in the end, he became the very person he once despised—he arranged a marriage for his beloved youngest son, without considering the boy’s own wishes. Only the timing of the wedding would be left to the son’s discretion.

Xie Yan said, “Mom, no matter who I marry, I’d just be holding her back.”
When he agreed to an engagement with an especially young fiancée, it had only been to delay marriage. He was alone, and because of his physical condition, he couldn’t have children. Marrying anyone would be unfair to the woman. He had no regrets about this.

Over the years, both his father Xie Songshan and he had quietly supported the Xue family, to whom he was engaged. That adorable little girl who used to follow him around begging for White Rabbit milk candy deserved a husband who was healthy and whole. Once she came of age and found someone she truly liked, they could end the engagement peacefully—it would protect her reputation.

Xie Yan had always been calm about this outcome. But recently, after running into a young woman with a face as fair as jade, an inexplicable sense of reluctance and longing had stirred in him.

Zhang Shuying, in her forties, had maintained her appearance well—her figure remained slender, and she wore pearl earrings. Her phoenix eyes glared sharply at her son Xie Yan. She leaned in and whispered, “Your eldest cousin Xie Wei is back. He got into the University of Industry but isn’t satisfied with the job assigned after graduation. Now he wants your father to pull some strings, and he’s trying to use your connections too.”

“Just because you can’t have children, he thinks he’s the closest junior in the family.”

“He might as well trample all over your face openly to get what he wants.”

“I just can’t swallow this anger. Now they want you to arrange a job for Xie Wei’s girlfriend and even find housing for her mother.”

“Even if you don’t get married, you should adopt a son. I’d rather throw jobs and houses at strangers than hand them over to your eldest uncle’s family.”

Seeing Xie Yan’s calm face and his continued gaze out the window, Zhang Shuying clenched and released her hands, too angry to hold it in any longer. Letting go of her frustration about his attitude, she dropped another bombshell:

“I overheard from your father’s phone call—your little fiancée is here in the capital.”