The matter of Yuan Shuo’s parents didn’t affect Bian JinYuan and Lu YunFei. They continued to stay at home and followed Lu YunFei’s plans. When it came time for Lu YunFei to leave, Bian JinYuan took out the red packet and card from his wallet that mother Lu had given him, and handed them to Lu YunFei.

    “What are you doing?” Lu YunFei didn’t understand.

    “Salary card★,” Bian JinYuan was all smiles, “According to our country’s traditional custom, shouldn’t the salary card be handed over to the wife to manage?”

    Lu YunFei: …

    Lu YunFei was virtually shocked into a daze by his antics, “Our eight characters❖ haven’t even been written yet!”

    “We’ve already kissed and slept together, now you’re denying them.”

    Lu YunFei: “… This ‘sleep’ is a noun, and not the verb okay?”

    Bian JinYuan calmly stated, “It’s close enough.”

    Lu YunFei was at a loss for words, “If this is how you act while in love, you’ll lose both your partner and money when you break up. You’ll be losing your wife as well as your army♞!”

    Bian JinYuan pulled his hand over, and Lu YunFei immediately clenched his fist. Bian JinYuan laughed, “If I lose my partner, would I still care about money? Money is merely material, my wife is the most important.”

    Couldn’t tell that you’re quite open-minded! Lu YunFei silently spat out.

    “Then treat it as if you’re keeping it safe for me,” Bian JinYuan said.

    Lu YunFei refused, “I don’t even know how much money I’ve got. If I help you to safe-keep, you won’t even know how you’d lose your money.”

    “It won’t happen,” Bian JinYuan was confident, “Our Fei Fei isn’t that careless. Furthermore, this isn’t everything. I left a small amount for myself.”

    Lu YunFei: !!!

    “You still dared to say that out loud.”

    Bian JinYuan smiled, “I’ve got to leave some for me to prepare surprises for you.”

    Lu YunFei looked at him, and said hesitantly: “You really want me to help you safe-keep this?”

    Bian JinYuan nodded.

    “What if I wind up losing or spending it?” At this point, he suddenly thought, “Oh right, I don’t know the password. Don’t tell me the password. That way, I won’t be able to spend it. Even if I accidentally lose it, you’d still be able to make up for it.”

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    However it was too late. Bian JinYuan was reminded by him and stated: “The password is yours and my birthdays 102125. The difference is that the second common number was omitted.”

    Lu YunFei: …

    “Go away!” Lu YunFei said angrily.

   Bian JinYuan smiled as he hugged him and kissed his cheek, saying: “Take it. Since you’ve taken my salary card, you’re mine for the rest of your life.”

    Lu YunFei said in a small voice, “Since I’ve taken your salary card, I’ll abscond with it.”

    “Then I’ll strive to earn more so that when you run away, you’ll be able to stay in a five star hotel,” Bian JinYuan joked.

    Lu YunFei couldn’t help but smile at this. He turned to look at Bian JinYuan. Bian JinYuan met his eyes, emotions in their depths.

    Lu YunFei felt like his heart was about to burst under Bian JinYuan’s gaze. It felt as if his entire heart was warmed under the sun after being drenched in the rain. He turned around to hug Bian JinYuan tightly, and listened to his heartbeat against his ear. Badump badump, Lu YunFei thought, in this world, he would probably never meet someone like Bian JinYuan again.

    He had an amazing fortitude, a genius mind, was indifferent yet gentle. He presented his indifference to every passerby, but saved the sole gentleness and love wholeheartedly to himself without reservation, and without obfuscation.

    He accepted Bian JinYuan’s salary card as well as the red packet that his own mother had given him, because Bian JinYuan said that it was part of his salary. After a whole round, this amount of money wound up back in his hands, even though it was a different method, Lu YunFei still found it amusing.

    After Bian JinYuan saw Lu YunFei off, Bian Jie came back home. He told Bian Jie about the situation with Yuan Shuo’s parents. Bian Jie was surprised, but didn’t say much about it. The next day, she helped him to choose what to wear and said fondly: “Go.”

    The venue where he was to meet with Yuan Shuo’s parents was at a high-end hotel. As Bian entered it, he saw Yuan Shuo sitting on a sofa in the lobby. He was on the phone to someone, but seeing Bian JinYuan appear, ended the call and walked towards him.

    Yuan Shuo brought him upstairs, all the while explaining that he really hadn’t done this on purpose as they headed up. Bian JinYuan blandly said: “I understand, I don’t blame you.”

    Yuan Shuo breathed out in relief.

    The two elders of the Yuan family were already waiting at the restaurant at the top of the hotel. They had reserved this entire floor, and so Bian JinYuan spotted them immediately – an elegant old man and a dignified old lady. Even though they were elderly, this made them look all the more kindly.

    Bian JinYuan walked over, and Yuan Shuo introduced them. Grandpa and grandma Yuan looked at him approachably, and listened to the introductions as they asked him, “What would Jin Jin like to eat?”

    “Anything.”

    “Then let’s get them to serve their signature dishes first,” said grandma Yuan.

    Bian JinYuan gave an “Mmm” in response, expressing his agreement.

    Likely because Yuan Shuo had described in detail regarding Bian JinYuan’s thoughts and personality, this meal with the Yuan family elders didn’t bring up the matter of bringing Bian JinYuan back to the Yuan household. They only asked him about his life and his studies, and encouraged him to do his best for the college entrance exams.

    After the meal, the Yuan family elders wanted to explore the area, and asked if Bian JinYuan could accompany them. Bian JinYuan didn’t refuse, and so the three of them set off. That’s right, the three of them, without Yuan Shuo.

    To this, Yuan Shuo was speechless, but the Yuan family elders were delighted.

    There weren’t many tourists at scenic areas during the new year. Bian JinYuan brought the Yuan family elders to some scenic spots to explore. Even though the elders were up in ages, they still had vigor, and were able to chat with him. As they talked, they came to talk about Bian Ting.

    “Back then, Ting Ting had said that she would invite us over to her place to take us exploring.”

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    Bian JinYuan was a little surprised, “You met my mother?”

    “How could we have not met,” mother Yuan sighed, “they were together since college. I met your mother when I visited Xiao Yuan once. She was very pretty, standing there all slim and graceful. Back then, I’d even thought that the Ting in her name was taken from the idiom#.”

    Bian JinYuan smiled and didn’t respond.

    But mother Yuan heaved another sigh.

    Father Yuan’s expression wasn’t much better than mother Yuan’s. At this, he harrumphed and scolded: “It’s all that scoundrel’s fault! Look at how he didn’t want to marry when he was young, and now that he wants to marry, the person’s no longer here, and even his son doesn’t want to recognise him. He deserves being single and lonely at this age!”

    Mother Yuan said, “Don’t talk about this in front of the child.”

    Bian JinYuan said calmly: “It’s alright, I don’t mind.”

    Mother Yuan held his hand and continued walking with him.

    The Yuan family had brought a bunch of presents over, but Bian JinYuan didn’t accept them. Father Yuan was worried about that, but mother Yuan said, “It’s okay, it’s fine if they’re not accepted. It’s fine if Jin Jin doesn’t want to take them.”

    Only then did father Yuan relent.

    They accompanied Bian JinYuan back to his home, but before they could enter, they heard Bian Jie and Jiang Jian quarrel.

    “Sister-in-law what’s the meaning of this? You won’t agree even after I’ve begged you! That is the child of our leader who’s entering exams later this year. What’s wrong with getting Xiao Yuan to tutor him? Isn’t he good at studies, isn’t he first in his grade? Can’t he even tutor a third grade child?!”

    “Xiao Yuan won’t agree. It’s not like you don’t know his character. What were you overpromising for? Now you even want Xiao Yuan to help you, why should he.”

    “Then try persuading him. You raised him, how could he not listen to you!”

    “I’m not going to persuade him,” Bian Jie rejected the notion. “He’s not a child anymore. He can make his own decisions.”

    “You’re in the wrong here. This matter involves my promotion. Our Jiang family took care of him, so can’t he repay the favour a little?”

    Bian Jie disagreed with that statement, “Him being taken care of had nothing to do with you. It wasn’t the Jiang family who raised him, but me! I raised my nephew without asking for repayment. I just want him to be happy. I will not persuade him. Go back, Jiang Jian.”

    “You…”

    His words had hardly finished when Bian JinYuan pushed the door open and walked in. In an instant, Jiang Jian shrank back.

    Bian JinYuan couldn’t be bothered to waste his time on him. He grabbed him to push him out the door, “Scram.”

    “What are you doing, I’m helping you to find an opportunity. Helping my leader’s kid with tutoring would be good for you too.”

    Bian JinYuan pushed him out unconcernedly, and said right as the door closed, “They’re beneath me.”

    Any company who would hire Jiang Jian couldn’t be a good company.

    He closed the door and asked Bian Jie, “Nothing happen did it?”

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    Bian Jie shook her head, “He wanted you to tutor his leader’s child. I refused, and we were in the middle of an argument when you came home.” As she said this, she asked, “And these two are…?”

    Bian JinYuan then introduced them, “Mister Yuan’s parents.”

    Bian Jie nodded at the both of them. Father and mother Yuan were still caught by surprise at the reference to them as ‘mister Yuan’s parents’, and returned the acknowledgement mutely.

    After Bian arrived home, the Yuan family elders headed back.

    Bian Jie watched them leave and expressed, “Yuan Shuo’s parents look quite nice.”

    Bian JinYuan didn’t reply with a confirmation or denial.

    As father and mother Yuan boarded their car, they continued mulling over the phrase “mister Yuan’s parents” which didn’t sit right when them, and so they called Yuan Shuo up to give him an earful.

    Yuan Shuo said helplessly, “I couldn’t help it, you’ve seen how Jin Jin is like. He has a mind of his own. If he doesn’t want to call me dad, I can’t do anything to change it.”

    “How would it get to this point if you had married Ting Ting back then!” Mother Yuan said regretfully, “Ting Ting was such a fine young lady, with good looks and grades. She even greeted us politely when she met us. Yet you didn’t want her. Look, now that their child is all grown up, he won’t even recognise you as a father, and won’t even recognise us.”

    Father Yuan snorted and scolded, “Shameful!”

    Yuan Shuo: …

    Mother Yuan added, “You too, how could you allow your own child to stay in such a place. Jin Jin has to take the college entrance exams later this year, aren’t you worried! Can’t you provide a better environment, even if Jin Jin’s studies are good, you should worry about him!”

    Father Yuan snorted once more and scolded, “Scoundrel!”

    Yuan Shuo: … Are the both of you performing a crosstalk? One following after another!

    “It’s not that I don’t want to change his environment, but he doesn’t want to. This child is strong-willed. If he doesn’t want to, no one can persuade him, least of all me.”

    “You’re one to talk,” Father Yuan scoffed. He reached out to take the phone from mother Yuan’s hands, “Let me talk to him.”

    Yuan Shuo: …

    “To think that you want to be someone’s father! Are your eyes used for air!” Father Yuan attacked with questions.

    Yuan Shuo: …

    Father Yuan’s voice boomed loudly, “We’ll talk about the house later, first let’s talk about the people surrounding him. Your mum and I met his small aunt today. She’s a good person who treats Jin Jin well. It’s just that her luck ran bad, and so she lost her support early on.”

    “So didn’t I sign an agreement with her company and gave her a promotion and a raise, and even planned to give her an apartment.”

    “Then what about the others?!” Father Yuan asked, “What about his other relatives?”

    “Other relatives?”

    “That Jiang family bunch, the relatives from Bian Jie’s husband’s side. I saw that they didn’t seem to be anything good. They probably made things difficult for Jin Jin and his aunt. Go investigate and settle it.”

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    “Okay,” Yuan Shuo replied.

    He hadn’t investigated the people around Bian JinYuan before, out of respect for Bian JinYuan and Bian Ting. It was because Bian Ting hadn’t liked it when he did that. But now that his father had said so, he must have spotted something, which was why he naturally couldn’t sit around and do nothing.

    Not long after Bian JinYuan arrived home, he received Lu YunFei’s WeChat message asking: Are you home? How was it?

    Bian JinYuan replied truthfully: It was all right, nothing special.

    Lu YunFei asked: Were the cheap grandpa and grandma easy to interact with?

    Bian JinYuan replied: Quite nice.

    To Bian JinYuan, they interacted well. However, to others, their interactions didn’t go so well.

    The first week when Bian Jie went to work, she heard news about Jiang Jian being fired, “Not only him, but even his wife. Didn’t his wife enter a position through connections? It got found out and heavily criticised. Also Xiao Fang, she was also fired. And so was her husband. They seemed to have troubled a large client, so the company let them go.”

    Bian JinYuan wasn’t really affected by the news. In fact he thought that it was only a matter of time for this to happen. Both Jiang Jian and Jiang Fang’s families liked to curry favour with those on top while trodding on those below. These sorts of people were bound to encounter troubles eventually.

    However, this didn’t concern him.

    “It doesn’t concern us, small aunt don’t worry about it.”

    Bian Jie smiled, “I don’t have the capacity to care about it either. For me, I just have to concern myself with you and Shuang Shuang, as well as my own affairs, and I’m good.”

    Bian JinYuan nodded, “That’s right.”

Quack Notes

★ A salary card appears to be just a debit card that a company would top up with a person’s salary.

❖ The eight characters is a well-held belief in checking compatibility using the eight characters of a person’s astrological chart. So basically you compare each person’s eight characters to see if they’re a good fit. I don’t think it’s practiced too much now (at least not that I know of unless you’re very traditional or doing it for fun), but referring to peoples’ eight characters to emphasize on compatibility is still a relevant saying. Here’s a wiki on it. I can’t remember if I made a note about this here – I thought I did but I couldn’t find it!

♞ “Losing your wife as well as your army” is a saying from the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Strategist Zhou Yu tried to marry warlord Sun Quan’s sister to Liu Bei, hoping that he would ambush them during their wedding. However, Zhou Yu and his army were beaten back by Zhuge Liang. And so people laughed at Zhou Yu for offering a wife and having his army defeated. Now, the saying is used to mean that in an attempt to take advantage of the situation, one instead encounters a loss on all fronts. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find an English source for this and translated from this Baidu article (in Mandarin) because I have no clue about this classic apart from understanding some of the main characters’ names through culture osmosis…

# The idiom that grandma Yuan used to describe Bian Ting as ‘slim and graceful’ was 亭亭玉立 (tíng tíng yù lì). She had initially thought that Bian Ting was using the character ‘亭’, but her actual name used this character ‘婷’. They both sound the same.