Chapter 15: Buying a Qipao for

“Brother, are you alright?”

Bai An looked at Lu Jin’an with concern. He was still lying on the ground, eyes tightly closed, his body maintaining the same position it had after the fall.

“I’m fine.” Lu Jin’an sat up and, looking at Lu Demin, said with some annoyance, “Dad, what are you doing right now?”

Bai An helped Lu Jin’an up from the ground and, hearing his words, turned to look at Lu Demin.

Lu Demin was carefully lifting the fallen bicycle, wiping the dust off it with a pained expression. When he noticed a small scratch, he muttered an apology to the bike.

Bai An and Lu Jin’an just stood there, watching Lu Demin fussing over his precious bicycle.

While Lu Demin was still heartbroken over his newly bought bike, he felt two intense gazes fixed on him.

“Dad, what are you doing? Brother’s the one who fell.” Bai An, a little upset, pointed at Lu Jin’an’s elbow. “Look, there’s dirt from the fall! You’re not even checking on your brother, you’re worried about the bike instead?”

“The bike is important, but people are important too.”

Facing Bai An’s reprimands and Lu Jin’an’s hurt eyes, Lu Demin awkwardly scratched his nose.

He walked over to Lu Jin’an, checking him over to make sure nothing was seriously wrong, finally feeling relieved.

“Son, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Lu Jin’an turned his head, refusing to look at his dad.

Lu Demin put his arm around Lu Jin’an’s shoulder and comforted him, “A man doesn’t get upset over a small scratch. When I was learning to ride a bike, I fell even worse.”

While Lu Demin continued to tell stories about when he learned to ride, he turned and saw the look Lu Jin’an was giving him.

“Dad, do you think my brother is upset because he fell?” Bai An, holding Lu Jin’an’s hand, said with sympathy. “Real disappointment isn’t about shouting or crying.”

A cold wind blew, making Lu Demin shiver. He muttered defensively, “I was just worried about the bike. I didn’t want it to get damaged.”

“Dad, didn’t you say you could ride?” Bai An looked at him skeptically. “I almost fell just now.”

Lu Demin gave an awkward smile. “I haven’t ridden in a while, so I’m a bit rusty.”

Faced with the reproachful looks from both Bai An and Lu Jin’an, Lu Demin patted the bike again. “This time, I’ll push you both.”

Bai An shook her head and pointed to a clothing store not far ahead. “Dad, it’s just up ahead. We don’t need to ride there.”

Lu Demin scratched his nose and, pushing the bike, followed Bai An.

As soon as they entered the store, the woman immediately walked over, holding the light green qipao.

“Your kids are so thoughtful, they picked out this qipao for your wife.”

Lu Demin looked at the qipao in front of him, and a memory of the first time he saw Wan Qing came to mind.

It was a cool early autumn day, and Wan Qing had been wearing a light green qipao when she stood in front of him.

Her delicate face like a lotus flower, her thin brows slightly curved, and her gentle eyes gazing at him just like that.

“Dad, we’re still a little short.” Bai An tugged at Lu Demin’s sleeve and held up her fingers to show the amount.

“Is this enough?” Lu Demin pulled some bills from his pocket and handed them to Bai An.

Bai An counted them. “It should be enough.”

The shopkeeper, seeing the money, smiled so wide she looked like a blooming flower and eagerly wrapped up the qipao, handing it to Bai An.

“Come again next time!”

Bai An looked at the qipao from all angles, happily saying, “I’ve never seen Mom wear a qipao before, I wonder if this one fits.”

“It fits perfectly,” Lu Demin said proudly, his voice louder than usual. “Your mom looked amazing in a qipao. I just checked, and this size is just right.”

Bai An eyed her confident dad suspiciously. “Dad, how do you know it fits perfectly?”

Lu Jin’an glanced at Bai An and fell silent for a long time.

Lu Demin didn’t know how to explain to Bai An, so he just casually said, “I’ve always kept your mom’s size in my mind.”

“Oh, Dad, you’re so romantic.” Bai An, holding the bag, narrowed her eyes into a small slit and happily praised her dad.

“Well, do you want me to give you a ride home later?”

“No thanks.”

It was getting dark, and Wan Qing was sitting in front of the door, picking vegetables while glancing out the door from time to time.

The door creaked open.

“Mom!” Bai An ran over to Wan Qing, holding up the bag in front of her. “Guess what we bought you!”

Wan Qing gently rubbed Bai An’s little nose, fondly saying, “I’ll love whatever you two buy.”

“Ta-da!”

A light green qipao shimmered under the twilight, almost like a dream. Wan Qing stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar dress in front of her, a tear glistening in her eye.

“I love it.”

Lu Demin, resting his hand on Wan Qing’s shoulder, teased, “You’re so happy with the gift from the kids, but what about the ones I bought for you before? Why didn’t you seem this happy?”

Wan Qing pouted and lightly pushed Lu Demin, “How can it be the same?”

Lu Jin’an, watching his loving parents, pretended to cough nonchalantly. “Mom, go check if the dress fits.”

When Wan Qing walked into the room holding the dress, Lu Jin’an spoke again. “Dad, go cook.”

Lu Demin looked at Lu Jin’an in confusion.

“You can’t let Mom, in her new clothes, cook, can you?” Lu Jin’an shrugged his shoulders. “I took a pretty hard fall earlier, so I need to rest.”

“You can’t expect Bai An to cook for us, either.”

Lu Demin looked down at Bai An’s innocent expression.

“Then just wait for a delicious meal.”

Lu Demin picked up the basket of vegetables by the door and walked into the kitchen.

Bai An watched her dad’s retreating figure, whispering, “I haven’t had Dad’s cooking in so long.”

Before Lu Jin’an could reply, Wan Qing walked out of the room.

Her fair, flawless face paired with her still graceful figure.

“Mom, you look amazing!” Bai An spun around Wan Qing, more and more stunned by her beauty. “You really look so beautiful.”

Lu Jin’an also praised, “You look great.”

Hearing the commotion, Lu Demin quickly ran out with a spatula in hand. Seeing Wan Qing, his eyes lit up, and he proudly said, “When has your mom ever not looked beautiful?”

Wan Qing, unused to being complimented after so long without dressing up, blushed slightly.

“I’m old now, not as beautiful as before.”

“No way.” Lu Demin walked over, took her hand, and sincerely said, “You’ve always been beautiful.”

Bai An, watching her parents’ sweet exchange, winked at Lu Jin’an.

Lu Jin’an noticed and immediately covered her eyes, leading her into the room.

“What are you doing?” Bai An asked, confused.

Lu Jin’an winked at her, “What? Do you want to be the third wheel?”