Just then, Lin Shu returned. The moment she stepped into the house, the laughter inside instantly stopped.
Lin Shu curled her lips, glanced around, and let her gaze linger on Lu Jingyu for a moment before saying in a sarcastic tone, “Oh, we have a guest at home.
I guess someone will have to cook lunch now?”
Her voice carried a deliberately provocative edge.
Yang Qingqiu’s expression immediately darkened. This girl was clearly doing it on purpose.
Lin Zijin shot her a glare, thinking this troublesome thing—just wait until she got a partner in the future; she would definitely stir things up for her too.
Lu Jingyu met Lin Shu’s scrutinizing gaze. His expression didn’t change much. He gave her a slight nod as a greeting, though a trace of coldness flickered in his eyes.
“What does cooking or not cooking have to do with you?
Wasn’t I clear enough yesterday?
Anyone who wants to cook for the Lin family can do it. I’m not doing it anymore.
Are you deaf or just can’t understand?
If you’re hungry, do it yourself. Do you think you’re some young lady waiting to be served?
If people find out about this attitude, you know exactly what the consequences will be.”
Lin Shu was so angry she could barely contain herself. She glared fiercely at Yang Qingqiu, stomped her foot, and stormed back into her room, slamming the door with a loud bang.
Little Lin Ziyou puffed up his cheeks angrily. “Lin Shu, you big bully! Bad person!”
Yang Qingqiu forced a small smile. “Jingyu, the situation at home… has made you see a joke.”
She felt somewhat embarrassed in front of her future son-in-law.
“Madam, you’re being too serious. Every family has its own difficulties,” Lu Jingyu replied calmly. Then he looked at her with a more serious expression.
“Because of this, I think it would be better to bring Zijin to my home sooner.
We should sit down and properly discuss the marriage between our two families and settle it.
I want to give Zijin a stable home.
My mother has already prepared a house for me. After we get married, we can move there.
If you and Ziyou are free, you’re welcome to stay there anytime. It’s very convenient.”
Hearing this, Yang Qingqiu’s eyes reddened slightly. She felt genuinely happy for her daughter.
“Good, good… Jingyu, with your words, I can finally feel at ease.
Yes, it should be settled early. The sooner the better.
Just tell us when your family is available—we can do it anytime here.”
“I’ll go back and discuss it with my parents and arrange a time for both families to formally meet.
Please rest assured, everything that should be done and all proper etiquette—we will not miss a single thing.”
“Good, good! Following etiquette is good!”
“It’s getting late now. I’ll go make lunch—Jingyu, try my cooking.”
“Madam, don’t trouble yourself. Next time will do. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
I still have something to do, so I’ll head back first.”
As he said this, he stood up and looked at her.
“Madam, can I come pick Zijin up to my house tomorrow?
My family wants to meet her.”
His gaze shifted to Lin Zijin.
Her heart suddenly tightened, and she froze in place.
Seeing this, Yang Qingqiu quickly nodded with a smile.
“Yes, of course.”
“This is how it should be, of course it should be.” As she spoke, she pushed Lin Zijing lightly. “Zijing, did you hear that? Tomorrow you’ll go with Jingyu to take a look. When you go to his house, be polite…”
“Auntie, it’s just a simple meeting and a meal. No need to be so nervous—it’s not like we’re strangers.”
“Right, right, that’s true.”
Lu Jingyu nodded and looked at Lin Zijing. His gaze was gentle, with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
“Zijing, then I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning?”
Lin Zijing tried her best to suppress her nervousness and met his gaze, nodding.
“Okay.”
“Alright. Auntie, Zijing, Ziyou, I’ll head back first.”
“Okay, okay. Zijing, see Jingyu off,” Yang Qingqiu said.
So Lin Zijing walked Lu Jingyu out of the alley. Just outside the house, many aunties and women were already watching them, whispering among themselves.
Even without hearing them clearly, she could roughly guess what they were talking about.
They were definitely discussing what her relationship with Lu Jingyu was…
After washing her clothes, Xu Cuicui went back and heard people saying that Zijing had brought home a boyfriend. She quickly started asking around in the alley, curious about what kind of man she had actually found.
Unexpectedly, those women all said the man she brought back was very handsome, and he had brought quite a lot of things. Judging from his appearance and clothing, his family probably wasn’t poor.
She didn’t believe it.
So she stood not far from the Lin house, watching. When she saw them come out, she stopped chatting with the others and quickly walked over with a fake smile.
“Zijing, who is this handsome young man?”
Thinking about what Lu Jingyu had said—that their relationship was recognized by the state—Lin Zijing smiled shyly, her voice bright and clear.
“Aunt Xu, this is Lu Jingyu. He’s also my partner.”
Yes… that should count as “partner,” right?
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Lu Jingyu. Seeing that his expression hadn’t changed at all, she felt a small wave of happiness.
Xu Cuicui widened her eyes.
So this girl really did find herself a good man.
She felt sour inside and asked with a slightly sarcastic tone, “Oh? Is that so?
He looks quite good. What does he do for work?
When did you two get together? Just a couple days ago I still heard your mother saying she was arranging a match for you.”
Lin Zijing understood what she meant, but she simply smiled shyly without explaining too much.
“Aunt Xu, we just got together recently.
We still have things to do, so we’ll be leaving now.”
As she spoke, her face turned slightly red as she glanced at Lu Jingyu. The two of them then left the alley.
After they left, the neighbors immediately started gossiping—about her partner, and also about the matter of going to the countryside.
Some said that Lin Xue had already brought someone home yesterday, and today Lin Zijing did the same. They also heard that the street office had begun going door-to-door, requiring each family to send one person to the countryside, and that in the Lin family, it might end up being Lin Shu.
Others said that Lin Shu was Lin Jiancheng’s favorite daughter, the most spoiled among all the girls, so there was no way she would be sent away; they would probably find her a job behind the scenes instead.
Whether it was Lin Xue or Lin Zijing, finding a partner didn’t mean anything for sure—things could still change even the day before marriage.
Everyone was curious: which daughter of the Lin family would ultimately be sent to the countryside?
When they reached the entrance of the alley, Lin Zijing stopped.
She pressed her lips together, her eyes wandering everywhere—anywhere except Lu Jingyu’s face.
“Um… you should head back now.”
Lu Jingyu looked at her slightly flushed cheeks and ears, the corners of his lips lifting faintly.
“Mm. Then I’ll go.
I’ll come pick you up tomorrow at this time and take you to my home.”
Lin Zijing quickly glanced at him, then lowered her head again.
“Okay. You should go.”
Lu Jingyu nodded slightly.
“I’m leaving.”
With that, he got on his bicycle and rode away.
Lin Zijing stood there, watching his tall figure disappear from sight. She let out a long breath, patted her burning cheeks, and turned to walk back inside.