The task of ‘meeting with friends’ was completed very smoothly. Mo Lin and Jiang Yuanmu both agreed that their current way of interacting was very workable.
The next day, Mo Lin paid half the bill from their meeting with Cheng Lulu and proposed to Jiang Yuanmu that they could set up an account to handle similar expenses in the future.
Jiang Yuanmu agreed and suggested that Mo Lin should provide a bank account number. They would each deposit money into the account, and Mo Lin would manage the funds. Before marriage, Mo Lin would need to submit weekly reports on the fund’s movements. If they decided to marry, Mo Lin would only need to submit monthly reports after the wedding. Since Mo Lin would be doing more work, Jiang Yuanmu would deposit an additional 1,000 yuan into the account each month to ensure fairness.
Mo Lin also agreed, but she thought that the work of keeping accounts was not very complicated and that she needed to understand the accounts anyway. So, she didn’t require a monthly compensation of 1,000 yuan. After voluntarily reducing it by 500 yuan, the two reached an agreement.
In terms of money and labor, everything was clear and fair, with neither party owing the other.
While working at their respective locations, both smiled with satisfaction as they looked at the agreement reached in their WeChat conversation, once again marveling at their perfect partnership.
On March 9, Jiang Yuanmu arranged for Mo Lin to meet his parents.
It was agreed beforehand that they would meet Jiang Yuanmu’s parents first. Mo Lin’s grandmother was ill, and they both agreed that everything should be ready before informing the elderly lady. All potential risks needed be eliminated beforehand.
Mo Lin appreciated Jiang Yuanmu’s thorough considerations, so she wanted to present herself as appropriately as possible in front of his parents. She found a time when Jiang Yuanmu was free and called him to ask if his parents had any taboos or if there were things to pay attention to during their meeting.
After all, Jiang Yuanmu’s father, Jiang Ling, was a very famous entrepreneur in the city. In a joking manner, she considered herself as marrying into a ‘wealthy family,’ so she had to ask about the ‘rules’ of the wealthy family.
Jiang Yuanmu received the call just after he returned to the hotel.
The hotel room was empty, and he was used to it. Jiang Yuanmu had left home early; he used to study abroad, and after graduation, he still didn’t want to live at home. It wasn’t because of any conflicts with his family; rather, from a young age, his overly busy parents made Jiang Yuanmu accustomed to being alone, and he eventually grew more and more comfortable with it.
Now, Jiang Yuanmu preferred living alone and kept a controlled distance from everyone—including his parents—to avoid friction from different habits, thus preventing conflicts and disharmony.
So, when Mo Lin asked, ‘Is there anything I need to be aware of when meeting your parents?’ Jiang Yuanmu found it hard to answer immediately.
Jiang Yuanmu’s understanding of his parents, and their understanding of him, hadn’t deepened much since he became an adult.
He thought for a moment and told Mo Lin, “Just interact with them as you usually do. No need to be deliberate.”
A generic answer, which essentially said nothing.
Although Mo Lin had read Jiang Yuanmu’s profile, she still didn’t understand the interaction patterns within his family. She looked at the remaining questions she had prepared and was pondering whether to ask them when Jiang Yuanmu answered preemptively.
“Don’t worry, they aren’t difficult to get along with. You’re excellent, and they will appreciate you too.”
The word ‘too’ had an intriguing undertone.
Mo Lin didn’t say much more, politely said goodnight, and ended the call.
As Jiang Yuanmu had said, his parents were indeed not difficult to get along with.
The impression Mo Lin got from his family was very much like the one she had of Jiang Yuanmu himself: calm, rational, and restrained.
When Jiang Ling learned that they were dating with marriage in mind, he smiled warmly at Mo Lin and said that as long as they were happy with each other, that was all that mattered. He then casually asked about Mo Lin’s family and work situation before starting a casual conversation, inviting Mo Lin to visit their home more often when she had the time.
Jiang Yuanmu’s mother, Chen Yan, didn’t say much, silently observing Mo Lin throughout.
After dinner, while Jiang Ling and Jiang Yuanmu were talking about work, Chen Yan took the opportunity to sit next to Mo Lin.
“Did you have enough to eat? I noticed you didn’t eat much.”
“I had enough, thank you, Auntie.”
After exchanging a few polite words, Chen Yan smiled at Mo Lin and said, “In such a short time, I thought he just found someone to fool Old Jiang and me. But it turns out, your personality really matches his. Jiang Yu didn’t misjudge.”
Mo Lin nodded in agreement: “Sister Yu indeed helped us a lot. I am very grateful to her.”
Chen Yan took another good look at Mo Lin and said, “Old Jiang and I have always been busy. Yuanmu has been very independent since young and never caused us any worries. It wasn’t until he grew up that we realized his personality…”
Chen Yan smiled wryly and sighed.
“Everyone has a different personality. Many people say that I have a strange temper, but I am just right for him,” Mo Lin said sincerely. “Before I met him, I never thought I would decide to marry someone in such a short time.”
Chen Yan looked at Mo Lin and remained silent for a while. “The fact that you like each other is the most important thing.” With that, Chen Yan handed a jewelry box to Mo Lin. “Take it, don’t refuse.”
The edges of the box had some yellow marks but were not damaged, suggesting it had been stored for a long time but never used.
Mo Lin was taken aback; before coming, Jiang Yuanmu hadn’t mentioned anything about a gift. However, hearing Chen Yan’s words, Mo Lin couldn’t refuse and respectfully accepted it, thanking her, “Thank you, Auntie.”
“In the past, Old Jiang and I didn’t show him enough care. In the future, please be more tolerant of him.”
Mo Lin shook her head. “He’s great; there’s nothing I need to tolerate.”
Chen Yan was taken aback, then smiled, looking very pleased.
On the way back, Mo Lin sat in the front passenger seat of Jiang Yuanmu’s car and took out the jewelry box that Chen Yan had given her. “This is the gift Auntie gave me when we met. It must be valuable, you should keep it safe.”
Jiang Yuanmu glanced at the box in Mo Lin’s hand while driving, then looked ahead, the streetlights casting patterns on his face. “Since she gave it to you, just keep it.”
Mo Lin hesitated. “I can’t accept this gift; it doesn’t align with our agreement.”
Jiang Yuanmu thought for a moment. “If we get married, we’ll definitely see them again in the future. Keeping it with you is a way to account for it.”
Mo Lin found his reasoning sound and didn’t say more, deciding to return everything when they divorced after five years.
Seeing her about to put the box into her bag, Jiang Yuanmu looked at her again. “Aren’t you going to open it?”
“Valuable items are best not viewed in a moving car. To avoid dropping them”, Mo Lin replied seriously.
Thinking about her profession, Jiang Yuanmu nodded. “Alright, look at it when we get back. You would like it.”
“Do you know what this jewelry is?”
“Yes, she bought it when I became an adult and said it was for her future daughter-in-law.”
Although the situation between Jiang Yuanmu and Mo Lin had come to this, Jiang Yuanmu’s straightforwardness still left Mo Lin a bit stunned.
Mo Lin looked at the jewelry box in her hand and realized that it was a thoughtful gift prepared many years ago. She suddenly felt the box becoming heavy in her hands.
Before, Jiang Yuanmu and Mo Lin were just signing contracts, going over terms, and discussing their future plans for the next five years. But at this moment, receiving blessings from others, the feeling of marrying the person next to her suddenly became real.
Back at home, sitting at her dressing table, Mo Lin opened the box. Under the night lamp, the ruby embedded with diamonds in the box sparkled brilliantly. The gemstone, like blood, revealed a velvety texture. It was a mysterious and passionate ruby brooch.
Mo Lin had guessed that this must be an expensive gift, but she didn’t expect it to be so precious.
Given its texture and size, this gem could easily fetch a seven-figure sum nowadays. The value of the gift, combined with Jiang Yuanmu’s words, made Mo Lin feel a bit uneasy.
‘I will disappoint her expectations.’
After meeting Jiang Yuanmu’s parents, the next week, on March 16, Mo Lin arranged for Jiang Yuanmu to meet her grandmother.
Compared to the politeness of Jiang Yuanmu’s parents, the elderly woman in the hospital bed looked much better than usual upon seeing Mo Lin’s ‘boyfriend.’
Jiang Yuanmu, standing at over 1.8 meters tall, had a straight posture and rugged features. The clothes he usually wore also looked formal, exuding health, politeness, and upright conduct. Such a grandson-in-law was most liked by the elderly. Grandma immediately took a liking to this ‘reserved young man.’ Holding Jiang Yuanmu’s hand, she looked him over with satisfaction.
Mo Lin thought, if she had known her grandmother would be so happy, she would have brought Jiang Yuanmu to meet her sooner.
The meeting with the grandma was very pleasant. Mo Lin didn’t explicitly say when she and Jiang Yuanmu planned to get married; she intended to tell her grandmother once the wedding date was set.
In the middle, Mo Lin was called by a nurse to pay a medical bill, so she temporarily left the ward. When she returned, it was already late, and she decided to leave with Jiang Yuanmu, worrying about her grandmother’s health.
On the way home, Jiang Yuanmu handed Mo Lin the red envelope her grandmother had secretly given him. The envelope was thick, and its edges were somewhat damaged, as if it had been repeatedly opened and handled. The money inside was probably of different denominations, and the thick, bulging envelope had uneven edges.
“The elderly lady saved this money for a long time” Jiang Yuanmu said. “It carries deep sentiment. I’d better not accept it.”
Mo Lin echoed his sentiment from earlier, “Grandma likes you very much too.”
The meaningful ‘too.’
Jiang Yuanmu glanced at Mo Lin.
Mo Lin, sitting in the front passenger seat, looked straight ahead. “She gave it to you; you should accept it.”
Jiang Yuanmu fell silent.
Both Mo Lin and Jiang Yuanmu understood the heartfelt intentions behind the gifts from Mo Lin’s grandmother and Jiang Yuanmu’s mother, but their economic situations were different.
Grandma had saved money for a long time to put together this red envelope. Technically, it shouldn’t have been given to Jiang Yuanmu at their first meeting; she should have waited until they were truly married.
But Grandma gave it anyway.
Perhaps… she was afraid she wouldn’t live to see that day.
After completing the rest of the journey in silence, they arrived outside Mo Lin’s residential complex. As usual, Mo Lin thanked Jiang Yuanmu for driving her home and then got out of the car, intending to walk inside.
Just then, a sudden exclamation came from nearby. Someone shouted, ‘Watch out!’ Mo Lin looked up and saw a basketball flying over the fence from the basketball court inside the complex, heading straight for her head.
Mo Lin seemed preoccupied and didn’t have time to react. Just as the basketball was about to hit her head, a slender hand reached out from the side. With a ‘thud,’ the hand caught the ball just before it could touch Mo Lin and then gave it a push, sending it away.
As the hand hit the basketball away, Mo Lin felt another hand almost instinctively pressing her head down. She found herself being pushed forward and leaning against a solid chest.
Shirt, suit—it was Jiang Yuanmu.
“Are you okay?” Jiang Yuanmu asked her.
Mo Lin glanced at Jiang Yuanmu. The orange-yellow light outside the residential complex cast a glow on his figure. After a moment of being dazed, she took a step back, proactively creating social distance. “I’m fine.”
The people playing basketball in the complex came out, picked up the basketball, and repeatedly apologized.
Jiang Yuanmu remained silent with a stern expression, while Mo Lin told them it was okay and let them leave.
“Thank you, Mr. Jiang.”
“I almost didn’t make it in time,” Jiang Yuanmu said. “Luckily, I got out of the car because there was something I wanted to tell you.”
It must be something important. Mo Lin listened attentively. “What is it?”
“The trial period is over.”
Mo Lin blinked and looked at Jiang Yuanmu. He appeared calm and spoke clearly, “We are very compatible, so there’s no need to waste time. We can finalize the contract’s terms in the next couple of days, and then choose a suitable date to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau.” He looked at Mo Lin, serious and focused. “What do you think?”
Mo Lin stared at Jiang Yuanmu for a moment, then lowered her head. After a brief pause, she looked up again and handed Jiang Yuanmu her phone screen displaying the calendar. She said:
“I think the 20th works.”
