Almost at the same time, the woman in red also noticed me. The Xitang River wasn’t wide, so I smiled and said to her, “Hi, we meet again!”
“It’s because Xitang is too small.”
Our conversation disturbed Mi Cai, who opened her eyes and looked at the woman in red on the opposite bank. At the same time, the woman in red was also looking at her. This eye contact lasted for five seconds.
However, after the eye contact, the woman in red left, possibly triggered by the loneliness from seeing my togetherness with Mi Cai.
After she left, I asked Mi Cai, “Why did you stare at her for so long just now?”
“Beauty always draws people’s gaze.”
I remarked, “No wonder she also stared at you for quite a while!”
Mi Cai ignored my teasing and seriously asked me, “Do you know her?”
“No.”
“Then why did you approach her?”
“Someone is jealous?”
“You’re just too mischievous!”
I smiled and said, “She’s just a tourist, right? My purpose of approaching her was to find potential customers for our inn.”
“That’s a good reason.”
“Of course.”
“I finally understand your true intention of opening an inn in Xitang!”
“What true intention?”
“To have a legitimate reason to meet various beautiful women!”
“Am I that narrow-minded?”
“You are that narrow-minded!” She paused slightly before continuing, “I think you should go back to Xuzhou with your board dad.”
Looking at her serious expression, I helplessly smiled. It seemed that jealousy was an inherent trait in women, so even Mi Cai, who was usually indifferent, couldn’t escape it. Thinking further, this was actually my good fortune because she loved me. However, the three words “I love you” had not yet been spoken by her, nor had I said them to her.
This made me feel that compared with other passionately dating couples, we always lacked some passion, but it couldn’t be said that we didn’t love each other. This made me a bit confused, though I wasn’t preoccupied with the root cause of this situation, because one day we would eventually say those three words to each other.
…
The next day, Mi Cai got up early. She bought breakfast for us and painstakingly cleaned the guest rooms. All of this was noticed by Board Dad and Mom.
Of course, this wasn’t her deliberate show, because she had already done so the day before.
Board Dad only had two days off. After having an early lunch, Mi Cai and I sent them to the Xitang bus station.
Before parting, Mom called Mi Cai aside for a private chat, while I thus had the chance to talk privately with Board Dad.
Board Dad said to me, “Your Mom and I have discussed your opening an inn in Xitang.”
With some nervousness, I asked, “You don’t object anymore?”
“It’s not that we don’t object, it’s just that we’re really at a loss about you.”
Board Dad’s words made me feel sad. After a while, I said, “Actually, I know I’m quite immature, but please give me this opportunity to transform myself in Xitang.”
Board Dad sighed lightly and patted my shoulder, “Of course we hope you can achieve something, but marriage is the most important matter right now. It’s about time you discussed marriage with Xiaomi.”
I glanced toward Mi Cai but ultimately didn’t promise anything to Board Dad, because the word marriage felt too distant for us at this moment.
If we were to talk about marriage, it would at least have to wait until Zhuo Me successfully listed in the U.S., and my inn, although not yet nationwide, should at least expand beyond Xitang and initially establish its reputation.
Only then could we break free from some of the constraints of reality and talk about marriage in a relatively comfortable environment.
…
The bus gradually pulled away from the station. Mi Cai and I stood side by side, waving goodbye to Board Dad and Mom until the bus completely disappeared from our sight.
I lifted my head and exhaled heavily because I had finally temporarily escaped the pressure from my family. However, the sense of responsibility in my heart became increasingly heavy. This weight drove me to complete my transformation in Xitang, otherwise I would have no face to face them again.
At this moment, I had cut off all retreat routes like a desperate soldier, and my success or failure rested on this inn that was still in its infancy.
Mi Cai beside me took my hand and softly asked, “You must be under a lot of pressure now, right?”
“Yeah… I feel like a soldier who has burned his boats, yet the brutal battle has just begun!”
Mi Cai gripped my hand a bit tighter, her expression very serious. After a long while, she said to me, “Let’s encourage each other.”
Looking at her, although she didn’t say it directly, those three words “Let’s encourage each other” already indicated her current situation. It was very likely that the power struggle between her and Mi Zhongde had reached the most critical stage.
…
Back at the inn, Mi Cai started packing her luggage because tomorrow she would fly to New York from Shanghai.
I asked her, “What time is your flight tomorrow?”
“At two in the afternoon.”
“Then it’s still timely to leave Xitang at noon tomorrow.”
“I also need to handle some business in Suzhou.”
I nodded, but I really didn’t want her to leave so soon. Finally, I thought of a good excuse and said to her, “This time you came here driving Mi Lan’s car. Your own car also needs to be sent back. Let me drive it back to Suzhou for you.”
“No need. Just leave the car with you. Maybe it will come in handy someday.”
Mi Cai’s refusal made me feel disappointed. After a moment of silence, I finally put aside my male pride and softly said to her, “Actually… I just want to spend a little more time with you.”
Her packing suddenly stopped. She looked at me, her eyes full of reluctance, because this separation might last another month or even longer.
She hugged me and said tearfully, “I’m also reluctant to leave… But there are many things I can’t control.”
I held her tightly and whispered in her ear, “I understand, which is why I cherish every single moment we can be together. Let me accompany you to Suzhou, okay?”
Mi Cai nodded gently.
I held her even tighter, kissed her cheek again, but that feeling of reluctance didn’t melt away in this sweet embrace. So I softly sang to her again the song “Restraint,” which represented both her and me.
In the midst of my singing, she cried again, perhaps because of past grievances, or perhaps because two hearts that had been apart were now close once more.
…
Holding hands with Mi Cai, we stood outside the inn. The noon sun today seemed brighter than usual, and the air carried a hint of warmth. I suddenly realized that since meeting Mi Cai, we had already gone through autumn, winter, and spring.
Now spring was almost over, yet our summer had not yet arrived. However, this didn’t stop me from looking forward to it—to the passionate summer, to the day she would appear before me wearing a white dress.
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