Early the next morning, Shen Qingyu was woken by the noise downstairs.
Still half asleep, she rolled over and groped for her phone. It was nine thirty. She hadn’t slept well with the jet lag the night before and had only finally fallen asleep at four in the morning. Now her whole body felt as heavy as if it were filled with concrete.
Her mother’s voice drifted up from downstairs. She seemed to be on the phone, speaking in the businesslike tone she used only when discussing work. Shen Qingyu pulled the covers over her head and tried to get a little more sleep, but soon she heard footsteps on the stairs, drawing closer.
There were two knocks at the door, then it opened without waiting.
“Qingyu, are you awake?”
Jiang Manlin came in carrying a glass of warm water in one hand and her phone in the other. She wore a sharply tailored navy suit and immaculate makeup; it was clear she had already finished a round of work.
“Mother…” Shen Qingyu poked her head halfway out from under the covers, her voice so hoarse it hardly sounded like her. “It’s only nine thirty…”
“Nine thirty is early? I’ve already finished a conference call.” Jiang Manlin set the water on the bedside table and drew the curtains open. The gray November morning light in Jingbei spilled into the room—not harsh, but bright enough to make Shen Qingyu bury her face in the covers again.
“What time did you go to bed last night?” Jiang Manlin sat on the edge of the bed and touched her hair. “Don’t sleep too much during the day while you’re adjusting to the time difference. We’re going out tonight.”
Shen Qingyu gave a muffled “Mm.”
“Oh, and your father’s coming with us tonight.”
Shen Qingyu pushed the covers away and looked at her mother.
“Dad’s coming too? Doesn’t he have a case?”
“They’ve assigned the case to his team to handle for now. He’s free tonight.” Jiang Manlin stood and went to the wardrobe, opening it to look through the clothes. “What are you wearing tonight? Let’s see… This pale yellow dress is nice. It’ll brighten your complexion. Wear this one.”
“Mother,” Shen Qingyu said, sounding reluctant, “why is Dad coming too…?”
“Of course your father has to come.” Jiang Manlin took out the pale yellow dress and hung it on the wardrobe door. “Auntie Lin messaged me last night. She said she and Uncle Pei will both be there. This is such an important occasion for the two families to meet—what would it look like if your father didn’t come?”
Shen Qingyu fell silent. She had nothing to say. The night before, she’d thought they were just going out to dinner, simply to go through the motions. Her mother had even said, “Don’t overthink it. Just treat it as meeting a friend.” But now her father was coming too—and Pei Huaijin’s parents were coming as well. The two families were having dinner together. It was plainly a discussion about a marriage alliance.
“Enough. Don’t think so much about it.” Jiang Manlin came over and handed her the water from the bedside table. “Drink this first, then come downstairs for breakfast. Auntie Liu made your favorite century egg and pork congee, and the shrimp dumplings you like.”
She turned to leave, but paused at the door and glanced back. “Oh, I’ve booked a stylist for this afternoon. She’ll be here at three, so keep that in mind.”
The door closed.
Sitting on the bed with the glass in her hands, Shen Qingyu looked down at the message her mother had sent yesterday: “Qingyu, get a good rest tonight. Don’t overthink dinner tomorrow night—just treat it as meeting a friend.”
Just treat it as meeting a friend…
Her mother probably didn’t believe that herself when she said it.
Downstairs, after finishing another work call, Jiang Manlin sat at the dining table. Auntie Liu brought her coffee and poured Shen Huaiting a cup of tea.
Shen Huaiting sat across from her, replying to messages on his phone, his brow slightly furrowed.
“Have you got everything arranged with the case?” Jiang Manlin asked.
“It’s taken care of.” Shen Huaiting put down his phone and took a sip of tea. “I’ve moved tonight’s meeting with the client to tomorrow, too.”
“Good.” Jiang Manlin nodded. “When Lin Wanru told me, I thought it wouldn’t look right if you didn’t come. This is an important matter involving a possible marriage alliance between our families. As Qingyu’s father, how could you not be there?”
Shen Huaiting glanced at her. “Marriage alliance? That sounds too formal. It’s just the two families meeting for a meal and letting the kids get to know each other. Don’t put too much pressure on Qingyu.”
“I’m not putting pressure on her.” Jiang Manlin lifted her coffee and took a sip. “I just think the two of them are a good match. You know what Huaijin is like—the Pei family raised him well. His character, ability, and looks are all excellent. And Qingyu is our daughter; we’ve raised her well since she was little, so there’s no need to say more. Our families have such a good relationship, too. Where else would you find a marriage like this?”
Shen Huaiting didn’t answer. He lowered his head and drank his tea.
“Why have you gone quiet?” Jiang Manlin asked, looking at him.
“You have a point.” Shen Huaiting set down his teacup. “I just think Qingyu’s only just come back. Let her take a couple of days to settle in instead of filling her schedule the moment she gets home. She studied abroad for so many years and finally graduated and came home. You, as her mother—”
“What about me?” Jiang Manlin cut him off. “I haven’t scheduled anything for her. It’s just dinner tonight. It’s not as if I’m asking her to do anything.”
Shen Huaiting looked at her but said no more.
Jiang Manlin put down her coffee cup, her tone softening a little. “I know you worry about our daughter. So do I. But Qingyu is twenty-six this year. She’s not a child anymore. Huaijin is such a good catch. If she misses this chance, it won’t be easy to find someone so suitable again.”
“I didn’t say I objected,” Shen Huaiting said. “I just think we shouldn’t push her too hard.”
“When have I ever pushed her?” Jiang Manlin said. “I made it very clear to her: they can meet and see how things go. If she really doesn’t like him, I won’t force her.”
Shen Huaiting glanced at her. The corner of his mouth twitched as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only nodded.
“Fine,” he said. “As long as you know what you’re doing.”
“Of course I do.” Jiang Manlin picked up her coffee, her tone returning to its brisk certainty. “Don’t worry. If she really doesn’t like him, I absolutely won’t force her.”
She paused, then added, “But I don’t think she’ll dislike him.”
Shen Huaiting looked at her. “You’re that sure?”
Jiang Manlin smiled but didn’t answer. She lowered her eyes to her phone.
On the screen was her chat with Lin Wanru. The message Wanru had sent the day before read: “Manlin, seven tomorrow night at the club. Huaijin rarely agrees to something this readily. He must think your Qingyu is wonderful.”
Jiang Manlin’s lips curved into a smile.
She set down her phone and glanced toward the stairs. There was no sound from upstairs. Qingyu was probably still dawdling.
“Oh, right,” Shen Huaiting said suddenly. “How many times have you met the Pei family’s son?”
“I’ve seen him quite a few times,” Jiang Manlin replied. “I run into him when I’m with people who often do business with him.”
“What’s he like?”
“You might not believe me if I just tell you. You’ll see for yourself.” Jiang Manlin smiled. “He’s much more handsome in person than in photos, and he’s exceptionally polite. He’s steady in the way he speaks and acts—not restless and impulsive like so many young people these days.”
Shen Huaiting murmured, “Mm.”
“Don’t just say ‘mm.’” Jiang Manlin looked at him. “When you meet him tonight, talk to him. Don’t sit down and immediately start looking at your phone.”
“I know,” Shen Huaiting said.
“And don’t bring up a ‘marriage alliance’ or anything like that. Just say we’re letting the kids get to know each other,” Jiang Manlin reminded him. “Lin Wanru feels the same way. Let them spend some time together first. There’s no rush.”
Shen Huaiting glanced at her. “Weren’t you just saying this was an ‘important matter involving a marriage alliance’?”
“That’s what I say to you,” Jiang Manlin replied, entirely unrepentant. “Of course we can’t put it that way in front of the kids. Do you think I’m stupid?”
Shen Huaiting couldn’t help laughing.
“Fine,” he said. “You’re in charge.”