Growing Fond of You, Mr Nian

Nian Xi paused and said, “He chased her all the way to the school and confessed to her during class. He cooked and recited poems for her, then stood below her apartment in the rain hoping for her to change her mind. Even when she ignored him, he persisted.”

Feng Jichuan looked shocked. He didn’t expect Nian Junting to do such things.

“You want me to do that for you?”

“You won’t, because you are too rational. You won’t love me like my brother loves Luosang. You will be fine without me and you can go about your day as normal. You will not sink into despair if I leave you, you will not give up your pride to win me back, I’m just envious of a love like theirs,” Nian Xi said truthfully.

Feng Jichuan pursed his lips before responding, “Everyone handles things differently. I’m not like your brother. You know how I am, I’m more rational, I’m used to this sort of thinking even at work. When you said that you wanted to break up, I thought we were going to take time off to cool down. After the break, we would come to realize how important we are to one another and grow to treasure this relationship more.”

“Yeah, in your world we can take time to cool down no matter what the issue was. After four months apart, you are still the same as before, not fatter or skinnier, the same cheerful man. I lost nearly five kilograms.” Nian Xi shrugged sarcastically and shut the door.

Feng Jichuan pounded on the window. She hesitated before lowering the window. “Nian Xi, I can’t give you such a passionate love if that’s what you’re looking for. I’m past that age now, but I can tell you with certainty that I will treat you well if you marry me. I will dote on you and I will love my family. I will be responsible and I will never do anything to let you down. You’re not a child anymore, we’ve all grown up.”

“Most men in this world are rational. Even if you find another guy that showers you with grand gestures, they will come along with a complicated past and a history of many previous relationships. They could break up today and find someone else. Tomorrow, they might even be after your family’s wealth. Or you could find someone younger, immature, and you would have to take care of them for the rest of your life. Nian Xi, you still haven’t grown up after all, you need someone to take care of you.”

Nian Xi laughed. “This is how you think of me? I think you’ve forgotten that you enlisted when you were eighteen when we were already together. You weren’t around all this time. If I hadn’t grown up, how did I manage by myself all these years? Even though I lead a disorganized life, I’ve been independent for a long time now. I thought I was going to marry you, become a military wife, I was preparing myself to be much more resilient than others. I only act in a childish manner in front of you because you are my lover.”

“You said that you would dote on me and treat me well but have you ever done that each time you were back from camp? How can I count on the fact that you would change once we marry? Perhaps you have forgotten the trigger of our break up; I hadn’t had dinner and I wanted you to deliver some food to me. You said no and you insisted on staying with Leng Shuangwei, you even lied to me about it, is that what you call treating me well?”

Feng Jichuan was stunned.

“You don’t know me, Jichuan.” Nian Xi shook her head and started the car.

Feng Jichuan was still standing in the same spot, he was in a daze. Perhaps he really didn’t know her well. He spent too much of his energy on his work. Would it be too late to know her better now?

…

After sending Grandma Nian to the car, Nian Junting went back for Yu Wen and Murong Ze.

They were taking Jiang Yi’s car and Murong Cheng was in the passenger’s seat.

“You’re really not coming to Feng Forest for dinner tonight?” Murong Cheng asked.

“Nope, I’m staying at home for a candlelit dinner with Sang tonight,” Nian Junting said chirpily.

Murong Cheng said quickly, “She’s pregnant, there’s a lot of things to look out for in her diet, be careful.”

“I know.”

“Bring Luosang over more frequently and I’ll make some tonic for her. She needs a lot of nutrients now that she’s pregnant.” Yu Wen reminded him again, she was excited for her baby grandchild to arrive.

“Ok.”

When the car left, Nian Junting turned to see Nian Qingyun standing gloomily behind him.

“Why haven’t you left?” Nian Junting ignored the look on his face.

“That man… why didn’t you tell me?” Nian Qingyun pointed angrily at the car that was pulling away. “You should have stopped him from coming.”

“How would I know that Ma would bring him along, I didn’t know about her new boyfriend either, it was my first time meeting him,” Nian Junting said coolly. He was very blissful now and he didn’t want to try to understand his father’s feelings.

“Do you really want a step-dad?”

“I told you, I’m ok with whatever makes Mother happy. You should head back, If you really can’t figure it out, you can go find me a step-mom too.” Nian Junting was walking towards the hotel lobby where Sang was still waiting for him.

“If I wanted to find a woman I would have done so long ago; I can’t forget your mother.” Nian Qingyun’s tone of voice reflected his frustration. He was heartbroken watching another man stroke Murong Cheng’s hands.

“Have you ever considered that you two were really unsuitable for each other?” Nian Junting turned around. “She is a strong career woman and you are chauvinistic. Neither of you are willing to bend for the other. You should find yourself a gentle, submissive woman to spend the rest of your life with.”

“Chauvinistic? If I can get my wife back, I will do whatever it takes to change myself. You mustn’t let that man come to your wedding,” Nian Qingyun warned him. “Oh right, what happened in the time that I went to the toilet? Why did your grandma and grandpa start fighting? Your second aunt and uncle seemed to be upset too.”

“Old couples, it’s normal for them to have some conflict.” Nian Junting didn’t sympathize with them at all, especially his grandfather. It was about time that grandma taught him a lesson.

…

Nian Junting found Luosang at the lobby, she was playing with her mobile phone. “Where’s your mother and Liuxi?”

“They’ve left.” Luosang kept her phone.

“You should have asked them to wait for me to come back,” Nian Junting said, “My grandfather’s attitude wasn’t too great.”

“It’s alright, I don’t think your grandma will go easy on him this time. Your second aunt and uncle will be having a difficult time at home too.” Luosang was smiling, she was a little glad about how things had turned out.

Nian Junting glanced over at her. “Your brother shouldn’t be a director, he’s so good at acting, he’s probably still a virgin.”

“So what if he’s a virgin? Weren’t you one until you were twenty-nine? My brother is only twenty.”

“…That’s because… something was wrong with my body.”

Luosang raised her brows. “Are you telling me that you would have lost your virginity much earlier if there was nothing wrong with your body? Who were you planning to lose it to? Leng Shuangwei?”

Nian Junting shut his mouth.