For the third time after being kicked out by Yang Qingqiu, Lin Zijin finally waited for Lu Jingyu at the entrance of the alley.
The moment she saw him, she almost instinctively ran over. “Lu, Lu Jingyu comrade!”
Seeing her running toward him, Lu Jingyu stopped his bicycle, got off, and a faint smile appeared on his face. “Lin… Zijin, why are you here?”
Lin Zijin glanced into the alley. Seeing that no one was looking, she grabbed his sleeve. “Come with me, I need to talk to you.”
The two of them went to a relatively quiet corner.
Lu Jingyu asked gently, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Zijin took a deep breath, her hand tightly clenched into a fist. “Comrade Lu, I need to tell you something…”
She then told him about the accidental misunderstanding at the state-run restaurant that day, her complicated family situation, and how her stepsister had taken her place in the blind meeting.
After finishing, she gathered her courage and looked at Lu Jingyu. Her clear eyes carried a cautious hesitation. “So… we actually went on the wrong blind date.”
“And my family situation is like this. I… I want to ask—does our marriage registration still count?”
“You…”
Lu Jingyu listened quietly to everything she said. After hearing it all, he only felt a deep sense of heartache.
“How could it not count?”
“We already have the marriage certificate. The state recognizes it.”
“We are husband and wife.”
As for the mistaken blind date, he already knew about it. “The person I wanted to marry was you.”
“Everything else doesn’t matter. What matters is our future.”
Hearing this, the tension in Lin Zijin’s heart finally eased. Her nose tingled and her eyes turned red. “Mm.”
Lu Jingyu raised his hand, about to wipe her tears, but she grabbed his sleeve instead. “Let’s go quickly. My mom is waiting at home.”
“Mm, alright. Let’s go.”
Lin Zijin took a deep breath, blinked away her tears, forced a small smile, and said, “Let’s go.”
By the time they reached the alley, her mood had already calmed down. Quite a few neighbors saw her walking with a young man and immediately began asking who he was.
Lin Zijin politely greeted them and introduced him simply, “This is Lu Jingyu.”
She didn’t say anything more. The neighbors’ expressions immediately turned meaningfully curious.
Smiling faintly, she brought Lu Jingyu back to the Lin family home.
Lin Ziyou had been waiting at the entrance, trying to gather information. Seeing his sister return, he quickly ran inside while shouting, “Mom! Sister’s back! She brought him!”
Hearing this, Yang Qingqiu immediately came out of the house. She had even changed into a slightly newer set of clothes, and her hair was freshly combed.
Seeing the man her daughter brought back, she felt quite satisfied with his appearance—much better than that “bad fish” from yesterday, and also much taller.
Just as her daughter had described, she warmly greeted him. “Jingyu is here? Come, come inside and sit.”
Once inside, Yang Qingqiu even brought out the best chair in the house. “Our home is simple, Jingyu, don’t mind it. Please sit.”
Lu Jingyu sat down without any sign of disdain and handed over the gifts he brought. “Auntie, just a small token of appreciation.”
“Oh my, you didn’t need to bring anything. That’s too much spending.” She accepted the gifts and placed them on the table.
Then she turned to ask Lin Zijin to pour water.
“Auntie, Zijin, no need to trouble yourselves. I’m not thirsty.”
Yang Qingqiu smiled and sat down beside him. “Jingyu, I’m the kind of person who speaks frankly.”
“I just want to ask—about you and Zijin, does your family know about this?”
“And what is your family’s attitude toward it?”
“This marriage…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, leaving it implied.
Lu Jingyu said calmly, “Auntie, don’t worry. My family already knows about me and Zijin.”
“I understand that what happened yesterday was my fault. I was too impulsive and caused you to worry.”
“My parents are already preparing things at home. I came today to visit and also to apologize.”
Yang Qingqiu relaxed visibly and smiled. “Oh, Jingyu, you’re being too polite. There’s no need for apologies. Young people have their own ideas—just discuss things properly.”
“As long as you can live well together in the future, us parents will be at ease.”
“Mm, my parents think the same.”
“We’ve already obtained the certificate. My family will handle everything according to proper customs and won’t let Zijin suffer.”
“When you’re free, Auntie, I’ll bring my parents over for an official visit, and we can decide on the wedding date properly.”
“Alright, alright. I’m always free—it’s up to you young people.”
“However, Auntie would like to understand your family situation. Yesterday when you spoke to the girl, she was too preoccupied and didn’t hear everything clearly…”
Lu Jingyu glanced at Lin Zijin and then smiled before explaining.
“My father works in the public sector. My mother stays at home.”
“I have an older brother and an older sister. My brother is also a civil servant, and my sister-in-law works at the hospital. They have two children.”
“My sister is already married.”
“I’ll be working at the textile factory soon, though I’m still handling the onboarding procedures.”
Yang Qingqiu was very satisfied after hearing this. The family was educated, the structure was simple, and far better than that troublesome Lin family situation she had imagined.
The more she looked at this son-in-law, the more satisfied she became.
“Good, good!”
“Jingyu, I understand your family situation now. Let me also tell you about ours…”
“Auntie, Zijin has already told me.”
Yang Qingqiu looked at Lin Zijin, then back at Lu Jingyu, and became even more satisfied.
She had thought this child didn’t know the details—but he already did. That only showed his character was good.
He wasn’t concerned about Zijin’s background.
Her silly girl really had good fortune.
“Good that you know, good that you know.”
“Jingyu, our Zijin is a good child. It’s just that her life has been a bit hard. In the future, I’m counting on you to take care of her.”
“Auntie, don’t worry. I will.”
Little Lin Ziyou had been quietly listening to the adults talk. After they finished, he walked up to Lu Jingyu and asked innocently:
“Big brother, are you going to be my brother-in-law?”
Lu Jingyu smiled. “Yes, I will be your brother-in-law.”
Although they had already obtained the marriage certificate, the wedding banquet had not yet been held, so it wasn’t announced publicly yet. That way, Zijin’s reputation would not be affected.
Lin Ziyou clenched his fists, straightened his back, and said very seriously like a little adult:
“I’m telling you—you have to treat my sister well. If you don’t, I won’t be polite to you!”
“My fists are not made of cotton!”
As he spoke, he raised his tiny fist.
Lu Jingyu gently held his small fist in his large hand, smiling warmly. “Alright, I will treat your sister well.”
His serious little-adult act made everyone present laugh.