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Chapter 12.1 - To Have Ever Been Free From Worry? (1)
Since Zhousheng Chen had officially returned to the country, she would have to bring him to formally pay a visit to her family.
There had been no official wedding, and hence, Shi Yi had tactfully explained that the two of them had decided to be together, but due to the numerous and complicated rules of his family, the wedding reception needed to be delayed for a little while. In regards to their status now as legally married husband and wife, she truly did not dare admit this to her parents because they would, without a doubt, be furious. Already legally married, yet the elders on each side had not even met yet... Even she knew that this was unacceptable.
Although her parents were not very happy about it, when they saw how insistent Shi Yi was, they reluctantly accepted that the two were "together."
"Oh, 'a grown daughter cannot be kept at home[1].'" While Shi Yi was washing her face, Mother, who was standing behind her, took the opportunity to lament in a low voice, "Good thing Little Zhou looks like he's an honest, reliable boy, otherwise I'd really --"
Shi Yi patted her face dry and picked up a wooden comb. "Mm-hm. I also think he's honest... and reliable."
"But it's not enough for two people to be in love. You need the protection of having a legally recognized status, too." Mother took the comb from her, put her hair up into a ponytail for her, and then tied it simply. "And also, don't start living together too early."
Contrary to expectation, Shi Yi did not utter a word in response.
Her mother detected that something was odd, and when she saw her awkward expression, she immediately understood.
She cuffed Shi Yi lightly across the back of her head, then with a frown, sighed, "Forget it. You young people... Just different from our generation."
Shi Yi took the comb back from her and set it back where it belonged as she answered quietly, "No matter what, in this lifetime, I will only be with him. That will never change."
"A lifetime? One lifetime is a very long time --"
Mother wanted to say more, but Shi Yi had already slipped away and smilingly evaded the issue.
The household norm was that her father was the one who cooked. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she discovered that Zhousheng Chen was also in the kitchen, and she hurriedly walked over. He was leisurely carrying out a conversation with her father, and when she walked in, he was handing her father a freshly peeled and washed green onion. Smiling at him, she instructed, "You go out. I'll help here."
He looked at her, and with the back of his right hand, he gently bumped her ponytail. "It's alright."
This was the first time he had seen her with this hairstyle, so naturally, he stared at it a little longer.
The two of them gazed at each other behind her elderly father, who was busy cooking. Red tinged her cheeks slightly from his gaze, and she stretched her arms forward and helped him roll the sleeves of his dress shirt slightly higher. Then, she noiselessly stood on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
In that instant before her father turned around, she quickly took two steps backwards. "Um... I'm going out now. You put on a good showing here, then."
"Little Zhou, here, pass me the green onion."
Zhousheng Chen was still clutching the green onion in his hand, and finally, half a beat behind, he managed to recover and and hand it over.
And she had already fled the scene.