Chapter 121 Side Story 5 — I won’t marry unless I’m deeply in love with you.
Xu Ge watched as Xu Nianshen led Lin Yuejiu away, then slowly turned to face the blind date.
The girl raised an eyebrow at him.
Xu Ge pointed toward the two who had just left and explained seriously, “That was just a joke to lighten the awkwardness of the blind date.”
The girl smiled politely.
As Lin Yuejiu was led away by Xu Nianshen, she glanced back at everyone in the restaurant. “Do you think this is… inappropriate?”
“What’s inappropriate about it? I think it’s perfect.”
Hearing the faintly sour tone in his voice, Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help laughing. “How did you even know I was here? I don’t think I told you… and Xu Ge definitely wouldn’t have.”
“I saw you when I came downstairs that day.”
That day, after Xu Nianshen finished explaining a math problem to Du Zhuo in his room, he had intended to go downstairs to find Lin Yuejiu. At the stair landing, he saw Xu Ge come in, and Xu Nianshen smiled at Lin Yuejiu.
Xu Nianshen knew his brother very well and immediately understood the meaning behind that smile, so he deliberately stayed upstairs, listening silently.
“Xu Ge, what’s wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?” Lin Yuejiu asked.
“Do you have a moment?” Xu Ge asked with a gentle smile.
“Are you looking for me for something?”
“Yuejiu, tell me… if I had trouble, would you help me?”
“Of course I would,” Lin Yuejiu said firmly.
“Then I really do have a favor I need you to do.”
“What is it?”
“You know I’m about to go on a blind date, right?”
Lin Yuejiu nodded. Then realization hit her, and she widened her eyes. “Xu Ge… you don’t mean you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend to turn down your blind date, do you?”
Xu Ge smiled. “Smart as always, Yuejiu. You got it.”
Lin Yuejiu hesitated. “Xu Ge, this isn’t right. Auntie would get angry if she found out.”
“This matter is just between us,” Xu Ge said casually.
“But what if Auntie really finds out? If she knows you’re having your sister-in-law pretend to be your girlfriend, she’d definitely… ban you or something.”
Xu Ge waved his hand. “Even if she finds out, it doesn’t matter. She’ll just realize I’d rather have my sister-in-law cover for me than go on a blind date. Maybe she won’t pressure me anymore in the future.”
“…Hmm…” Lin Yuejiu still hesitated.
Seeing her uncertainty, Xu Ge sighed. “Yuejiu, you just said you’d definitely help me if I had trouble… and now…”
“Ahhh—” he let out a heavy sigh.
Lin Yuejiu bit her lip and finally nodded.
Xu Ge immediately beamed. “Perfect! I knew you were the best, Yuejiu. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. After we turn her down, we’ll leave right away.”
Lin Yuejiu could only nod helplessly.
From the staircase, Xu Nianshen heard everything. Looking at Xu Ge, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
Lin Yuejiu laughed. “You heard all that? Every single word?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you stop him? Just standing there watching your girlfriend being ‘kidnapped’ by your brother?”
Xu Nianshen gently pinched her cheek. “I came for you, didn’t I?”
Lin Yuejiu shot him a side-eye. “You just want revenge on your brother, don’t you?”
“Exactly. He stole you, so now I’m getting back at him. You’re the real reason behind it all.”
Lin Yuejiu snorted happily.
Soon it was Saturday, and both of them were ready. Xu’s father escorted them to the banquet.
He turned to them and said, “I forgot to mention, my friends invited their friends, so the Lin family will be there too.”
Lin Yuejiu shook her head. “It’s fine, I don’t mind.”
“Alright, then let’s go.”
Xu Nianshen held Lin Yuejiu’s hand as they stepped onto the stage. They stood by their respective instruments, bowed slightly to the audience, and then began playing.
In fact, Lin Yimo hadn’t seen Lin Yuejiu for a long time, but he had been quietly following news about her. He knew she had been doing exchange studies abroad, knew she had grown up and gained fame, and knew she now had a boyfriend—Xu Nianshen.
He watched the young girl playing the violin on stage, his eyes full of emotions he couldn’t quite define.
When the piece ended, they bowed again. Xu’s father went up to the stage and addressed the audience: “Thank you all for enjoying the duet performed by my son and my daughter-in-law.”
Someone in the audience teased, “Old Xu, aren’t you being shameless? The girl hasn’t even married your youngest son yet.”
Xu’s father smiled. “Even though she hasn’t officially married him yet, it’s already decided.”
At that moment, Lin Yuejiu laughed and said, “I won’t marry anyone but Xu Nianshen.”
The others were all visibly surprised.
Xu Nianshen held her hand in his, and Lin Yuejiu tilted her head at him, smiling softly.
“Old Xu, you’re really lucky to have such a daughter-in-law,” someone commented.
“That’s right. I used the luck from my past life to get this daughter-in-law!” Xu’s father joked.
Xu Nianshen and Lin Yuejiu exchanged helpless smiles.
Hand in hand, they left the stage and walked out of the banquet.
“Yuejiu.”
They stopped, and Lin Yimo appeared behind them, accompanied by his parents and Lin Rumeng.
Lin Yuejiu asked, “Is there something you need?”
Lin Yimo smiled. “Can we talk?”
Xu Nianshen willingly let go of her hand. Seeing Lin Yimo’s determined stance, Lin Yuejiu realized he really wanted to talk.
Xu Nianshen gestured subtly to indicate he would stay nearby, and Lin Yuejiu nodded before approaching Lin Yimo. She stood in front of him. “What is it? Speak.”
Lin Yimo looked at the girl who was both familiar and yet distant, unsure of how to feel. He pursed his lips and asked, “You’re already considering marriage with Xu Nianshen, right?”
“More or less,” she replied.
“Then… shouldn’t you get to know him a bit more? Marriage is a big deal, he—”
“I won’t marry anyone but him.”
Lin Yimo fell silent.
Lin Yimo’s mother stepped forward cautiously. “Yuejiu, have you been well recently? How’s Madame Xu treating you?”
“I’ve been very well. Xu Aunt treats me very kindly, like her own daughter—she even treats me better than Xu Nianshen sometimes.”
“I see… treats you well, treats you well,” Lin Yimo’s mother repeated softly.
“And how’s school? Have you made friends? Is studying going smoothly?”
“Everything’s going very well.”
“I see…” Lin Yimo’s mother seemed to have nothing more to say.
“I’ll be going now,” Lin Yuejiu said, turning to leave.
“Yuejiu!” Lin Yimo called after her.
She sighed and faced them. “We no longer have any relationship. If you insist on calling it a relationship, it’s a past parent-child relationship. We’ve all gotten what we needed: you got the joy of having a daughter, I got love and care. The parent-child termination agreement has been signed. The past is over. We all need to look forward. You’ve already found your real daughter and sister—you should treat her well and make up for her, not waste time on me. That’s meaningless now. I’ve never held resentment, because we have no connection.”
“I truly thank you for raising me. Really, thank you,” Lin Yuejiu said sincerely, bowing to them.
She then turned and walked toward Xu Nianshen, who approached her as well. Slowly, they met in the middle, held hands, and left together.
