Chapter 6, the greatest words are time and moments

Are you going back to T University for the presentation today? Teacher Yang's mother can always identify students' weaknesses in the shortest time possible. Then why didn't you come back with Lv Pin? Clearly, you can get reimbursed for the taxi fare, yet you insisted on her taking the bus alone!

"Senior Sister," Yang Huan said in a high-pitched voice, raising his hand to form a delicate gesture, "I just want to ask you for a chance to consider my future with you"

Yang Huan looked up, casting an absolute condescending glance at her, and said slowly and deliberately: "I say, can you stop using that innocent face to provoke me, alright?"

The Yang family used to work in the gypsum mine, which is one of the premier sources of high-grade fibrous gypsum in all of Asia. Yang's father worked as an accountant at the main factory, while Yang's mother was a mathematics teacher at the mine's affiliated school. During her school years, Lu Pin was diligent and obedient, and there was not a single teacher who did not like her. Yang's mother often invited her to their home for meals. Later, when Yang's father was promoted to a senior position and found a job in the city, coupled with Yang Huan's acceptance into T University, the entire family moved to the city. While attending university, Lu Pin was almost always pulled back home by Yang's mother every month for nutritional supplements. Even after she broke up with Yang Huan, Yang's mother tried several times to mediate their reconciliation and insisted on recognizing her as a goddaughter. The reason for this, Yang's mother would often furrow her brows and sigh, was: "Perhaps it is because both my relatives and his family have only sons. When I married his father, both families hoped we would have a daughter, and they had already bought clothes for her." Every time she reached this point, Yang's mother would feign disdain and cast a glance at Yang Huan, saying, "How wonderful it is to raise a daughter; a daughter is a mother's close little cotton-padded jacket."

Lu Pin chuckled twice: "It's not much younger, just a year or two, I started studying early."

Yang Huanli stood motionless on the steps, the motion-sensor light in the corridor turned off, and in the dimly lit staircase, only his bright eyes could be seen, which in an instant dimmed, as if he had fallen into a state of despondency

Lü Pin remained silent and only answered after stepping out the door: "Ten thirty."

Yang Huan remained silent, while Lü Pin felt embarrassed and looked at his watch, saying: "You don't need to see me off; someone from my laboratory is coming to pick me up."

Yang Huan glanced around expressionlessly and leisurely swapped the crab roe pumpkin in front of Lu Pin with the pan-fried silver carp in front of himself: "Today I will be giving a presentation at T University, and someone will confess to your precious goddaughter in broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of many in the auditorium. So, rest assured, her market prospects are very promising, and you should hurry up and prepare her dowry."

Of course, Lv Pin also knows that he cannot be too harsh on Baozi's mother. However, what comfort can one expect from someone who can only weep and say to you, "Mom, I am sorry, it is all because of my inadequacy"?

Mom Yang will definitely retort: "By the time I am 27 years old, Yang Huan will already be able to buy soy sauce!"

Lu Pin was provoked by his two sentences, and surprisingly, his mind calmed down: "So what exactly do you want? Just now you said I was teasing you, and I said I wasn't; then you said I was deliberately avoiding you—what exactly do you want from me? Today... if we follow your logic, can I also say that you knew I was coming to see my godmother and deliberately came back to make things difficult for me?"

Mother Yang, inspired and spirited, initiated a series of investigations into Qian Haining's background, family situation, and past relationships. Lu Pin could not withstand it: "Godmother, I still have to catch a flight tonight, and I have to work early tomorrow morning"

It is already commendable that you do not exhaust your remaining strength to comfort her

Yang Huan was momentarily silenced by her overwhelming presence, leaving him at a loss for words

Lv Pin knows that Yang's father and mother truly care for her. Sometimes she even doubts whether she likes Yang Huan or if she simply enjoys the harmonious atmosphere of their family. Perhaps she likes Yang Huan, but feels that being with him would allow her to have such a warm family herself

Father Yang responded leisurely: "Children nowadays tend to marry later. After finishing their studies and working for two years, they are just about the same age as Lv Pin. It is common for those engaged in research to spend a longer time in their studies..."

You think I want to come? I only come after I have confirmed that you won't be back! If I don't come, my godmother will bring the cosmetics and nutritional products you send her every year to school, and I can't let her, at her age, run around carrying dozens of pounds just to have a meal with me, can I? You think everyone is like you, never considering what the family and parents want! Today... today was also something I arranged with my godmother several days in advance. If it weren't for your sudden business trip back, I wouldn't have run into you at all!

Father Yang looked helplessly at the ceiling: "I never knew who said that a daughter-in-law should be obedient, that she wouldn't lead her son by the nose, wouldn't argue with her mother-in-law, and could serve her son so that he would have everything handed to him... Ah, why are you kicking me?"

Ah... he is younger than you," Yang's mother again expressed her disapproval, "it is not suitable for a younger man to be with an older woman; women age quickly.

The airport is also located in the eastern part of the city, and it takes at most half an hour to get there, while it is currently not yet 7:00

What have I done?

She took out her phone to prepare to call Qian Haining, asking him to deliver her luggage directly to the airport to meet her.

Lu Pin was furious, as there are always such people in this world who, no matter what is said, are self-righteous and assertive, as if the sun were born to rise for them and the moon to set for them! Yang Huan is always so unreasonable, self-important, and presumptuous. For instance, when she originally refused to accompany him to celebrate a certain sports team's victory, he felt embarrassed and immediately said, 'If you don't go, I will look bad' or 'You don't love me,' and so on. Lu Pin did not know if other couples also had such conflicts, but what reason did she have to take care of his every need and accompany him with his so-called friends, only to end up being accused of 'not being able to take a joke and being overly concerned about face'?

"Reading has turned her into a bookworm! If only she had stayed at T University, it would have been so much better. We could have helped her find a suitable partner. Otherwise, in the future, she might end up with someone who expects everything to be handed to them, someone who requires constant service from you. You, my child, are so honest and easy to take advantage of..."

While Dad Yang was serving her soup, he advised Mom Yang not to be too hasty—Mom Yang was gently questioning Lv Pin about whether there were any single colleagues at school, and whether the department leaders had any intention of introducing her to someone.

Lü Pin, could you please stop appearing in front of me?

For example, Dad Yang said: "Lu Pincai is 27 years old, what is there to be anxious about?"

Yang Huan seemed to be struck at a sensitive spot, his face suddenly flushed red, but soon after, he reverted to his usual unreasonable and arrogant demeanor: "Whatever I say goes, so should I make a loop with a rope and have you jump in to hang yourself?"

The appointment was with Qian Haining. Because the conversation was not finished earlier, Lv Pin did not know how to respond to his question from the afternoon. However, she felt that at this point, it was time to completely let go of the past and give others a chance, which was also giving herself a chance.

Yang Huan squinted his eyes, displaying a look of extreme disdain: "You say I only go home once or twice a year, so why is it that every time I come back, you have to come over for dinner? It's one thing to come over for dinner, but you always seem to be in sync with my mom. Whether I bring my girlfriend or not, it's always the same—afraid that others won't know how much my mom likes you, wanting you to be our family's daughter-in-law, right? You say we've been broken up for so many years, and you're not getting any younger. My mom keeps nagging me every year about how you don't have a boyfriend. What does that mean? It's one thing to come over for dinner, but you always seem to be in sync with my mom. Whether I bring my girlfriend or not, it's always the same—afraid that others won't know how much my mom likes you, wanting you to be our family's daughter-in-law, right? You say we've been broken up for so many years, and you're not getting any younger. My mom keeps nagging me every year about how you don't have a boyfriend. What does that mean? Are you just teasing me or what?"

Although the Yang couple could not replace her parents, at least at that time, they gave her enough courage to embrace tomorrow

Indeed, she raised her head and for the first time in many years of separation, she calmly gazed into his eyes. "You go find a rope, make a loop for me to jump into, and we will settle everything once and for all. No one will come to provoke you again, nor will anyone deliberately avoid you."

I have had enough, Lü Pin thought, she is always slow to realize everything, even such grievances and heartaches have come late after so many years

Yang Huan stopped at the stairway, remaining completely still, squinting his eyes as he looked down at Lu Pin. Lu Pin felt extremely awkward under his gaze and had no choice but to make small talk: "How come you suddenly returned to recruit?"

I—"Lv Pin blushed, saying, 'When have I ever flirted with you?'"

"Can you please make some sense?" Yang Huan scoffed coldly, casting a sidelong glance at Lu Pin. "Before I could even react, she had already dashed away without a trace! However, that guy is really pathetic; he needs to get approval from his advisor just to pursue a girl. I wonder if he will have to write an evaluation report after they sleep together?"

You said, how can I possibly meet your expectations? This is the last time, I will soon return to school to continue teaching, and I will not come back again. Seize this opportunity, tell me, what do you want me to do?

Lifting her head, she encountered Yang Huan's exaggerated smile, which seemed to stretch all the way to the back of his head, yet his eyes concealed a complex and inscrutable emotion, as if he held a deep-seated grudge against her that spanned ten lifetimes, fierce and menacing. Lu Pin hurriedly turned his head, not daring to contemplate the deeper meaning behind it.

Today

Ah, Yang Huan took two steps at once down the stairs, as if he had caught her in some sort of trap. "So you were deliberately avoiding me? Do you think I would eat you or something? Is that why you don't want to see me? No wonder you were so distracted when you accompanied me to the Mogao Caves last time..."

Mother Yang felt extremely regretful, wishing she could immediately persuade Lv Pin to come back and accompany her for conversation every day. She also directed her son, who was sitting on the sofa with an expression as if someone owed him five million and had not repaid it, saying: "You should take a taxi to send Lv Pin to the airport; it is inconvenient to get to the airport shuttle bus from here"

"Is T a big student? That's great," Yang's mother grasped the essence again and asked Lv Pin with delight, "Are you pursuing a doctorate? Or are you planning to stay at the school afterwards? Staying at the school is good, it would be best if you could transfer back..."

After exchanging a few glances, the elderly couple suddenly united in their resentment and turned to their son, who was drinking fish head and tofu soup, saying: "I saw the news online that your company has started to turn a profit—this business is established, when will this family succeed?"

Lu Pin almost stumbled and missed a step on the stairs, causing her phone to fall and crash loudly. She didn't bother to pick up her phone, and after much effort, she managed to hold onto the handrail, turned around, and spoke with difficulty: "What did you say?"

Whenever I think of Baozi's mother, Lu Pin, I feel a sense of sorrow. It is often said that the personalities of mothers and their children are opposites: for instance, the spirited Huang Rong raises a willful and formidable Guo Fu, while Lu Pin, praised since childhood for her capability, understanding, and independence, has only learned to take care of herself because if she does not, no one else will.

Yang Huan hummed and hesitated, as if he were being asked to get up from the sofa, feeling as if he were walking on the moon. Reluctantly, he put on his shoes and took the bag from Lv Pin's hand: "What time is the flight?"