manynovel Chapter 54: Family
Chapter 54: Family
On the way back to the resort, the carriage was quiet, snowflakes were falling outside the window, and the streetlights cast a warm yellow glow in the snow and mist.
The car stopped in front of the villa. The two opened the car door and stepped into the yard through the snow. When they opened the villa door, the rich aroma of food instantly dispelled the chill.
The living room was warm and bright with yellow lights. Jiang Yun stood at the kitchen doorway, looking around. Her uncle sat on the sofa watching TV, Shen Shu was picking vegetables, and Jiang Rui was rummaging through sunflower seeds at the dining table.
Jiang Yun was standing at the kitchen door looking around when he saw the two of them come in. He immediately came over to greet them. Jiang Ping and Shen Shu also put down what they were doing and came over. Jiang Rui even jumped up from the sofa and ran to the two of them.
"How is it?" Jiang Yun spoke first, her eyes filled with anticipation and worry. Her gaze lingered on Yu Chen for a moment, with a hint of scrutiny.
"The surgery was a great success. Chris is out of danger for now. She just needs to be observed in the intensive care unit for 24 hours." Nie Xiguang smiled with relief and quickly explained, "It's all thanks to President Lin. He used to be in the neurosurgery department of Huashan Hospital. He guided the entire surgery, which made it a success."
"That's great!" Jiang Yun breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and the worry on her face instantly disappeared.
Shen Shu nodded in agreement: "It's good that she's alright. That girl seemed quite quiet; she really suffered."
"Huashan Hospital?" Jiang Ping's eyes lit up as he looked at Yu Chen, as if confirming, "Is it the top-ranked Huashan Hospital in Nanjing?"
"Yes, that's the one." Yu Chen quickly replied, his tone humble. "President Lin is indeed very capable in the field of neurosurgery."
"That's really amazing!" Jiang Ping exclaimed, his gaze towards Yu Chen becoming more friendly. "Young man, you've really worked hard today, running around with Xi Guang all afternoon and even getting cold."
"It's no trouble at all, it's my duty," Yu Chen quickly waved his hand, his attitude humble.
Shen Shu walked over with a smile, "Hurry up and wash your hands and eat. The food has been reheated several times, just waiting for you to come back."
"These are all home-style dishes: chicken soup, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, braised pork ribs, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables. I don't know if they suit your taste, but please don't be shy, Xiao Yu."
"Thank you, Auntie, you're too kind." Yu Chen quickly thanked her and followed Nie Xiguang to wash her hands.
The table was laden with food, the steaming dishes emitting an enticing aroma.
After the two sat down, Jiang Yun picked up a soup spoon and ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Nie Xiguang. Then she turned to Yu Chen and said, "Xiao Yu, come on, have some chicken soup to warm yourself up. You must be exhausted after running around all afternoon."
"Thank you, Auntie." Yu Chen accepted the soup bowl with both hands, her tone sincere. "The chicken soup you made smells so good."
Nie Xiguang took a sip of chicken soup. The warm broth slid down his throat and into his stomach, dispelling the chill and warming his heart.
At the dinner table, Jiang Rui chattered on about the fun things that happened at the ski resort that afternoon, talking about how fast he skied, how many fun things he saw, and even planning to go to the hot springs the next day.
Yu Chen would occasionally ask his uncle and Shen Shu a few questions, mostly about his work and hometown, which Yu Chen answered patiently.
He spoke clearly and logically, with a sincere attitude and without any perfunctory manner.
He knew that the Jiang family was testing him, so he spoke just the right words, neither trying to please them nor appearing distant.
"Xiao Yu, I heard you've been busy with the Shuangyuan Battery project," Shen Shu placed a piece of pork rib in Yu Chen's bowl. "It must be tough, right? Do you often have to work overtime? Your family must be worried, right?"
These words caused the lively atmosphere around the table to subside slightly. Nie Xiguang's gaze darkened slightly, and he quietly squeezed Yu Chen's hand.
Yu Chen looked up, her face still bearing a gentle smile, her tone calm yet frank: "My parents passed away when I was young, and I've always lived alone, so no one has ever worried about these things. When I'm busy, I don't feel it's hard."
A single sentence, spoken lightly, instantly silenced the dining table.
Jiang Yun's spoon froze in mid-air, and her gaze towards Yu Chen instantly changed.
At first, I was just impressed by this calm and humble young man and took a good look at him, but now I feel a lot of regret and heartache.
For someone who has no one to rely on to get to where he is today, to be so calm and polite, how much hardship and difficulty must he have endured?
Jiang Ping also stopped smiling, his eyes filled with emotion, and he sighed softly: "You've had a tough time, young man, it hasn't been easy for you to get through this all by yourself."
Shen Shu's eyes reddened, and she added more food to Yu Chen's bowl, her voice soft: "Child, eat more. Suzhou is quite close to Wuxi. If you don't mind, come to our house for meals often. Auntie will cook delicious food for you."
Looking at the pile of food in her bowl, Yu Chen felt a warmth in her heart, but still smiled and thanked her, "Thank you, Aunt Shen. I'm used to being alone, so it's nothing."
Jiang Yun looked at him, her eyes slightly red. She picked up the soup spoon again and ladled another bowl of chicken soup for Yu Chen, pushing it in front of him. Her tone was much gentler, with a hint of heartache: "Don't be polite with your Aunt Shen. It's not easy being alone out there. Drink the soup and nourish yourself."
Yu Chen accepted the chicken soup with both hands, a warm feeling spreading through her heart. She said softly, "Thank you."
The atmosphere at the dinner table, thanks to these few words of conversation, was less formal and more heartwarming.
Nie Xiguang looked at Yu Chen with heartache in her eyes and quietly took his hand. Yu Chen returned the grip, his fingertips gentle yet firm.
Looking at everything before him, Nie Xiguang felt a surge of warmth and emotion.
She put down her chopsticks, took a deep breath, looked earnestly at her family, cleared her throat, and mustered her courage to speak: "Mom, Uncle, Aunt, Jiang Rui! Today, since everyone is here, I'd like to formally introduce myself to you."
She turned to look at Yu Chen, her eyes filled with tenderness and determination. "Yu Chen is my boyfriend."
After he finished speaking, the restaurant was silent for a moment, but there wasn't much surprise. Jiang Rui's chatter also stopped.
All eyes fell on Nie Xiguang and Yu Chen, with expressions that said, "We already knew."
After all, anyone with eyes could see something amiss in their interaction today.
Nie Xiguang's cheeks flushed slightly as she was stared at, but she still held her head high, looking at them with a firm gaze. "I've known Yu Chen for a while now. He's a very reliable, gentle, and responsible person. When I encounter problems at work, he patiently helps me analyze them; when I'm in a bad mood, he comforts me and stays with me; when I need help, he's always there for me. He's really good to me, and I cherish him very much."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Yu Chen, her eyes filled with tenderness and love.
Yu Chen put down his chopsticks, reached out and gently took her hand, palm to palm, gave her a firm look, and then looked at Nie Xiguang and his wife, and solemnly said, "Uncle, Aunt, today is the first time I'm officially meeting you. I should have prepared in advance and greeted you properly, but I didn't expect that we would meet in this way due to an accident. It's really a bit rushed."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three people in front of him, his tone becoming increasingly solemn: "I know I have no one to rely on, no family wealth, and may not be good enough to give Xiguang the best life right now, but I promise you, I will do my best to work hard and give her a stable and happy future."
His words, though lacking in flowery language, were filled with sincerity.
Yu Chen's eyes were firm, and his grip on Nie Xiguang's hand was steady and resolute, carrying a sense of relentless devotion.
Looking at their tightly clasped hands, at the happiness and determination in her daughter's eyes, and then at Yu Chen's sincere gaze, Jiang Yun felt a mix of pity and approval. A relieved smile appeared on her face, but her eyes were slightly red: "Xi Guang has been with her grandparents since she was little. She hasn't enjoyed much happiness and has suffered a lot. My biggest wish in this life is that she can find someone who is truly good to her and reliable, to take good care of her, and to let her live a happy and peaceful life."
She looked at Yu Chen, her tone gentle yet expectant, her eyes filled with even stronger heartache and admiration: "Xiao Yu, I've remembered everything you said today. We've seen how good you are to Xi Guang; you protected her at the ski resort just now. I know it hasn't been easy for you to get this far on your own, and your composure and sense of responsibility are truly rare. Xi Guang chose you, which means you have qualities that make you worthy of her affection. I believe you're a good child, and I'm willing to believe you'll treat Xi Guang well."
Jiang Ping nodded in agreement, a gentle smile on his face. He patted Yu Chen on the shoulder and said sincerely, "Young man, you're a good kid. We elders are relieved that Xi Guang is with you. Live a good life from now on. If you have any difficulties, don't bear them alone. Tell us. We're all family."
Shen Shu held Yu Chen's hand, smiling broadly, her eyes still red-rimmed: "Xiao Yu, from now on we're family. Don't be shy, just treat this place like your own home."
Yu Chen's eyes welled up with tears, and his heart was filled with emotion. "Don't worry, I will definitely keep my word and treat Xi Guang well. I will not let her suffer any grievances."
Jiang Rui clapped his hands and cheered, "Great! Brother Yu is my brother-in-law now! Brother-in-law, you have to take me skiing more often and play games with me more often!"
"No problem!" Yu Chen replied with a smile, the loneliness in his heart seemingly melted away by the warmth of the room.
The words of her family were warm and sincere, and Nie Xiguang's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She leaned on Yu Chen's shoulder, a happy smile spreading across her face.
Yu Chen held her hand tightly, the warmth of his palm conveying their mutual affection, and his heart was filled with peace.
He knew that he had not only won Nie Xiguang's love, but also regained the warmth of family that he had long missed.
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It will be available for purchase tomorrow; I'll try to end this world within five chapters.
The next world - passionate love.