4 – Met for just one day, and already came to propose marriage.
Soon, she wheeled her bicycle back home.
The neighbors all got along well with each other.
As Lu Xiao Ning walked along, people greeted her from time to time.
“Xiao Ning, you’re back.”
“Xiao Ning, Grandma’s family made some glutinous rice cakes. Take some home to eat.”
“Xiao Ning, Dou Dou is struggling with his homework again. Could you help him with tutoring tonight?”
Along the way, Lu Xiao Ning kept responding with “Mm,” “Ah,” and “Okay.” This warmth was something she was experiencing for the first time, making her feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, her body warm and comfortable.
It was truly wonderful to be able to live again…
Arriving home, she didn’t even bother to lock her bicycle, simply leaving it by the door before pushing it open and stepping into the courtyard.
Her mother, Mo Ting Ye, was kneading dough in the yard. Hearing the door open, she immediately looked up and smiled, saying, “Ning Ning, you’re back. I’ve prepared hot water for you. Go wash up quickly.”
She assumed her daughter had just finished a normal night shift and didn’t notice anything unusual about her.
Lu Xiao Ning nodded and walked into the shabby bathroom, where she found two buckets of hot water stored in the narrow space.
Steam was rising from the hot water.
For as long as she could remember, her family had neither a water heater nor a heating lamp for bathing.
Summer was manageable, but in winter, taking a bath was enough to make one shiver from the cold.
Lu Xiao Ning decided that her first earnings would be used to fix up the bathroom.
At the very least, she wanted to ensure her mother wouldn’t have to endure the cold while bathing in the future.
Even though she had already taken a shower at the hotel, Lu Xiao Ning carefully washed herself again.
She didn’t want to waste her mother’s effort of heating water early in the morning.
By the time Lu Xiao Ning finished her bath, Mother Lu had already prepared breakfast.
“Ning Ning, come eat quickly.”
“Ah! Coming!”
When Lu Xiao Ning entered the room, her eyes immediately fell on the items placed on the table.
Wrapped in red silk, there were boxes of various sizes.
Mother Lu had been too busy earlier to remember, but now, seeing the items on the table, she patted her head.
“Look at my memory, Ning Ning. A man came to our house earlier, left these things, and then left. I kept saying we couldn’t accept his gifts, but I couldn’t persuade him otherwise. Later, you should return all these things. We can’t just take things from others.”
“Ah, okay.” Lu Xiao Ning nodded, glancing at the glaringly red gift boxes. Why did they feel like betrothal gifts?
The mother and daughter sat down, and Mother Lu served a bowl of homemade dumplings, placing it in front of Lu Xiao Ning.
Lu Xiao Ning sniffed the aroma and immediately picked up a spoon to start eating.
But it was too hot, and she accidentally burned her mouth.
“Slow down. I made plenty, and no one’s going to steal them from you.”
“Hehe, I’m just too hungry. Who told you to be such a good cook, Mom?” Lu Xiao Ning used the original owner’s tone and demeanor, trying not to give herself away.
Mother Lu smiled knowingly and added a bit of chili sauce to her bowl.
After eating for a while, Mother Lu finally looked up and asked the question that had been on her mind. “Ning Ning, tell me, are you in a relationship?”
“Huh?” Lu Xiao Ning looked up in surprise.
Mother Lu pointed to the items behind her. “These were sent by your partner, right? I met him. He seems mature and steady, and he looks quite sharp. But he seems a bit old, maybe around 30?
However, age doesn’t matter as long as he treats you well. I don’t have any objections.”
“Why don’t you invite him home another day, and let Mom get to know him properly? I can help vet him and learn more about him.”
“Ah…” This time, Lu Xiao Ning was even more surprised. She opened her mouth, “Mom, are you talking about the one in the black suit and white shirt, who seemed quite polite?”
“Yes, don’t tell me you’re dating several people?”
“No, ahem.” Lu Xiao Ning nearly choked. Lu Ma’s imagination was way too vivid.
“Mom, that person isn’t my boyfriend. But… someone did propose to me recently. I wonder if you’d agree?”
“Proposed? So fast?” Mother Lu grew anxious, putting down her spoon and looking at Lu Xiao Ning with a serious, interrogative expression.
“How long have you two been together?”
“We just met last night…”
“What? You just met last night and you’re already talking about marriage? That’s way too reckless! Mom doesn’t agree!”
“But Mom, I’ve already lost…”
“Lost what?” Mother Lu immediately tensed up.
Lu Xiao Ning abruptly swallowed her words, thinking to herself that if she told Lu Ma she had lost her virginity, Lu Ma would be heartbroken.
She loved her daughter so much and definitely wouldn’t want to see her daughter give herself away so casually to a stranger.
Thinking this, she quickly changed her words, “Mom, haven’t you heard the saying? Some people know each other for ten years but remain strangers. Others might have only met once, yet it feels like past and present lives, destined by fate.
Mom, do you believe in reincarnation or rebirth in this world? I think that’s how it feels between him and me.”
Ugh…
After saying this, Lu Xiao Ning almost wanted to vomit.
She and Zongzheng Ting were a cursed fate!
Marrying him in this life was all about destroying him!
“I don’t know what you’re babbling about! But if you really like that person, bring him home for Mom to meet. Then you two can spend more time together before considering marriage, okay?”
“Alright.” Lu Xiao Ning understood Lu Ma’s concerns and, not wanting to worry her, didn’t argue further.
For now, she could only take things one step at a time.
…
The day passed peacefully.
Lu Xiao Ning wandered through the streets and alleys, doing the things the original owner usually did.
Tutoring this family’s child, chatting with that family.
Though the tasks were trivial, the day felt fulfilling.
Lu Xiao Ning realized that in the past, her entire focus had been on Zongzheng Ting, revolving around him every day. She had never truly taken the time to look at the world.
Now, living again, she discovered this was what a real, vibrant life felt like.
Her previous life had merely been an appendage to someone else, a walking corpse!
That night, she slept the most soundly she ever had in this life.
In her dreams, there were mountains and rivers, the chirping of insects, and the songs of birds.
The next morning, noisy chatter from the neighbors seemed to penetrate the walls, disturbing her sleep and making it impossible to laze in bed.
“What’s going on? This group of people looks quite wealthy.”
“I heard Xiao Ning has a very rich boyfriend. These are probably sent by him.”
“Oh my, what a grand display! Looks like our Xiao Ning can finally transform from a country bumpkin into a phoenix!”
“What country bumpkin? No culture! Our Xiao Ning is an uncut gem, finally discovered, okay?”
“Right, right, my lack of education is showing, using the wrong metaphor.”
The aunties and grannies chattered away, creating a lively atmosphere as bustling as a vegetable market.
Meanwhile, Mother Lu directly pushed open the door to Lu Xiao Ning’s room, hurried over, pulled back her blanket, and dragged her up.
“Ning Ning, hurry and freshen up. There’s a whole group of people at home, and the commotion is huge…”