Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

So, they also hoped their son could meet someone he truly loved, even if it meant waiting a bit longer.

When they reached the doorstep, it was already past eleven at night.

Ji Chuan opened the door, and the room was quiet.

”Please come in.” He brought in the luggage, ”It’s too late today, why don’t you stay here with me tonight? Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to meet my parents.”

Yan Huan was startled: ”So, you don’t live with your mom and dad?”

”Not tonight. They are not in good health and are light sleepers, I’m afraid of disturbing them,” Ji Chuan explained.

”Oh,” Yan Huan nodded.

After putting the luggage away, Ji Chuan gave Yan Huan a brief tour of the room and said, ”Tired? Go freshen up and rest. Tomorrow morning we’ll head back and surprise my parents.”

”Sure.” Since I’m already here, might as well make myself comfortable.

Yan Huan went to the bathroom to freshen up first. When she returned to the room and tried to lock the door, she realized the lock wouldn’t work.

”Ji Chuan! Ji Chuan! Come over and take a look.”

”What’s up?” Ji Chuan came over and, seeing Yan Huan fumbling with the door lock, laughed and said, ”You’re not afraid I’ll sneak in at night, are you? Don’t worry, I’m not that kind of guy.”

”That’s not what I meant,” Yan Huan mumbled softly, ”I just don’t feel secure sleeping without the door locked.”

”It’s just the two of us here, what are you afraid of? Afraid I might do something to you?” Ji Chuan teased, leaning against the doorframe.

”Would you dare?”

”Of course! Why wouldn’t I?” Ji Chuan pointed at the door lock, ”If you’re not afraid, why insist on locking the door?”

”Tch.” Yan Huan said disdainfully, ”If you dare try anything, just see how I handle you!”

”I bet your brother would be all too eager to set off firecrackers! Celebrating that someone finally managed to deal with the family troublemaker!”

”Nonsense! Do you think my brother is that simple-minded?” Yan Huan was willing to bet if she believed her brother would act like that, either his brain or hers must have been kicked by a donkey.

”How about we give it a try?” Ji Chuan playfully leaned in closer.

Yan Huan quickly shrank back.

Seeing her reaction, Ji Chuan smiled helplessly, ”Just kidding. Watch closely, this is how you lock the door!”

..................

The morning sun slowly rose as Ji Shuanglin and his wife Meng Qingmei went for a walk and to buy breakfast.

The neighbors passing by all greeted them: ”Professor Ji, when is your son Ji Chuan coming back?”

”Soon! Soon!”

”When is your son going to invite us to a wedding banquet? Look, all the neighbors around here are married, only your family is left.”

”Soon, soon!”

Meng Qingmei tugged at Ji Shuanglin’s sleeve and said, ”Do you think our son won’t come back? Is it ethical to trick him into coming back?”

”What’s the big deal? You really aren’t feeling well! High blood pressure, remember?” Ji Shuanglin said.

”But I’m fine now, aren’t I? I’m just worried that when our son finds out we lied to him, he’ll be upset with us.” This was the first time Meng Qingmei had tricked her son into coming back, and she felt a bit uneasy.

”What’s there to be upset about? Shouldn’t a son come back and see his parents? Besides, he’s in his thirties, it’s time to resolve the matter of marriage! Let’s fix it for him this time around.” Ji Shuanglin had always respected his son’s choices.

But, this time he’s determined to push his son a bit.

The Dong Family is getting married, the Xi Family is having a baby, and the old couple barely sees their son or gets to cuddle a grandchild. Such a lonely old age...