That day Dai Jingcheng secretively said, “Go home with me tonight.”
“Go home?” Actually Jiang Youyou was not mentally prepared at all. She had dropped some hints to Dai Jingcheng that they had been dating for about half a year, if they felt satisfied with each other, normally it was time to meet his parents. But he made no response for a long time. Why should he suddenly ask her to go home with him now?
Although she was puzzled, she promised to go. She had no time to buy some proper clothes for the meeting but got on his car directly.
How could an assistant Manager of Engineering Department live in such a luxury area? She thought so when they drove to Dameisha Beach.
House price here was much higher than that of Downtown, because the houses were facing the sea.
Once when Jiang Youyou was in high school, a poem had made her tears streaming down her face. While now the luxury house made him bewildered.
From tomorrow on, being a happy person,
Feeding the horse, chopping wood and travelling round the world.
From tomorrow on, paying attention to grains and vegetables.
I have a house, facing towards the sea, with spring flowers blossoming.
From tomorrow on, communicating with each of my beloved,
Tell them of my happiness:
What the lightening of happiness has told me,
I will relate everything of it to everyone.
Name every river and every mountain a warm name,
And strangers, I will also wish you happy.
May you have a joyful future,
May you lovers finally get married,
May you enjoy the happiness in the earthly world.
And I only wish to face towards the sea with spring flowers blossoming.
It was true the villa was facing towards the sea, and although it wasn’t the spring, its yard was full of blooming purple Bougainvillea. They were tall and thick. What looking like the pedals were actually the leaves, hanging down to bend into beautiful arcs.
Jiang Youyou began coming back to earth until they got to the gate. “You… how could you live here?”
Dai Jingcheng pinched her on the cheek, “why couldn’t I live here? When we go into the house later, you don’t have to read anyone’s face. I don’t want you to let yourself be wronged because of anyone else.”
Jiang Youyou grinned wryly, “I’m a reasonable person, not a shrew. I don’t know why you should have such a worry.”
A villa like this one must have many hands to take care of-gardeners, cook, housekeeper. She rang the doorbell.
A well maintained middle-aged woman appeared in front of Jiang Youyou. Her hair was coiled up on her headtop and there were friendly smile on her mouth corner.
“Good afternoon, Auntie. Sorry to disturb you. My name is Jiang Youyou.” Jiang Youyou observed her shoes with attentiveness. A pair of kitten-heeled soft lambskin leather shoes, kept clean without a trace pf dust.
Mother Fang Ruxiang had said, you should judge a person first by his/her shoes.
Dai Jingcheng whispered in her ear, “She’s not my mother. She’s the housekeeper. Call her Ms Li.”
Jiang Youyou let out an utterance of “ah” and chuckled. In fact she was just a housekeeper. It turned out she overreacted.
“They haven’t come back, have they?” Dai Jingcheng asked.
Such superior expression was something Jiang Youyou had never see on the face of her boyfriend when they were in the company.
Ms Li welcomed Jiang Youyou to come in and sit down while she answered Dai Jingcheng, “They said they will come back for supper, and asked you to wait at home.”
Jiang Youyou thought their living room could be used as a fitness centre for jogging or some other exercise. If Yellow Tiger came here, it would like the living room very much. Recently it was always complaining in its kennel that its living room was too small.
The living room was a good 80 square meters large. Sitting on the sofa, she could clearly view the sea opposite through the French windows
Jiang Youyou’s heart was pounding. What a splendid house!
“Let me show you around, in case you will be bored to dozing.” Dai Jingcheng said to Ms Li, “Prepare something fresh-squeezed for her.”
Ms Li nodded.
Going out of the gate Jiang Youyou found the yard was actually very large, too. The villa was a three-story building, excluding the top floor.
In the yard the gardening was particularly fastidious. The gardener was old with white beard. He was trimming the flowers and plants. In the garden there were various pavilions, terraces, halls and towers with Suzhou gardening exquisiteness. A Taihu Stone was in one corner, beside it the Loropetalum chinense var had already been in bloom like a shaggy red blanket.
The sea breeze was blowing on their face. The rays of setting sun covered the wooden exterior of the villa. Could the villa be blown off by typhoon?
“Of course not. It was built with wood on the outside and steel on the inside, you know? You little fool.” Dai Jingcheng gave her a hug and said, “Let’s go to the top floor, where you can enjoy a wonderful view.”
Two glasses of guava juice was put on the top floor. The spicewood floor was extremely smooth and there were two mats on it. Dai Jingcheng said they were for his mother to practice yoga.
Standing on the top floor, Jiang Youyou couldn’t find any words to describe her emotion. It was sure enough the 270 degree sea scenery was exactly the same as described in the magazine. Taking a broad view, the setting sun was at the very edge of the vast ocean, fishing boats and yachts appeared and reappeared every now and again in the distance. If you had something that upset you, just came and stood here, at least half of your worry would be gone.
‘How I envied you! What a beautiful scenery you have here!” Jiang Youyou couldn’t help but say.
“What was worthy of your envy? If you like it, you can move in tomorrow.” Dai Jingcheng lay on the mats and summoned, “Come here, let’s get laid here.”
This time Jiang Youyou obeyed him.
It was really very warm to sun yourself. What an attractive dream to watch the sea with one’s own beloved.
“What if your parents don’t like me?” Jiang Youyou was still a little worried, pushing the man on her off.
Gazing at the sun that was slowly setting down in the distance, Dai Jingcheng looked seriously at Jiang Youyou. “If they don’t like you that means they don’t like me, either. I’ll try to persuade them.”
“That’ll be OK. I guess they won’t be in such bad taste.” Jiang Youyou was a little relaxed. She sat on Dai Jingcheng’s legs, smiling. “This is your most favorite pose, I guess.”
Dai Jingcheng pinched Jiang Youyou’s nose, a cute and delicate nose, but immediately let it go.
Jiang Youyou looked back and saw two elderly looking at her, seriously. Judging by their facial expression, they had been looking at them for at least quite a few minutes.
“Dad, Mom,” Dai Jingcheng was a so flustered that he even couldn’t get up. He quickly said to Jiang Youyou, “Get down quickly. My dad and mon have come.”
Both Dai Hui and Wu Zhengmei were pulling a long face. How could there be such an ill-bred girl.
In spite of this, Dai Hui didn’t show his anger. Instead, he only said, “Please make yourself at home, Miss Xu. Just feel free.”
Xu…Miss Xu? Jiang Youyou thought she had misheard.
Sweating.
“You are Xu Nuo, aren’t you?” Wu Zhengmei felt something was a little strange. They allowed him to move out at the outset because the son said his girlfriend was Xu Nuo, daughter of Xu Changchun, who was a famous owner of a medical equipment company. It was said that his company was going public very soon.
Xu Changchun and Dai Hui had once cooperated, and they were rather good friends when they were young. But for some unknown reason Dai Hui offered to part company later.
“I’m Jiang Youyou. Good afternoon, Uncle and Auntie.” Jiang Youyou was sensible enough to introduce herself to them.
Wu Zhengmei could hardly believe that her own son could try to fool her. “Jingcheng, tell me what on earth has happened. Didn’t you say your girlfriend was Xu Nuo, Xu Changchun’s daughter?”
Jiang Youyou was also confused. What on earth was that all about? Why should Dai Jingcheng’s parents would call her Xu Nuo? They two didn’t resemble each other at all.
Dai Jingcheng stood up. “Yes. I know from the very beginning you are going to fix me up with that Miss Xu. Because of my father’s old stories and personal clashes, you just use me as a front for solutions. When I went over to her, I changed my mind. This was the first time in my life I made a choice for myself. I didn’t pick Xu Nuo as my girlfriend. She was surrounded by a large group of men, I loathe such kind of girls, gaining advantages from all sides among the males, counting on her beauty. Is that interesting? I think I like her, Jiang Youyou, much more.”
Till then Jiang Youyou came to learn: so this was what had happened.
Dai Jingcheng continued, “I bring her back with me today out of my respect for you. Whether you like her or not, I’ll be with Jiang Youyou. Mon, we have had enough money already, why do you want me to date a rich man’s daughter? Using me as your chip, aren’t you too low?”
Dai Hui flew into a fit of rage, “What do you mean by ‘low” here? You know nothing about the life, how can you teach your father? Everything you have was given by me, wasn’t it? All I and your mother do are for your own good, are we wrong?”
“It seems that you have your own problems to resolve, I think I’d better call another day. Byebye.”Jiang Youyou grabbed her handbag and went out.
The villa was indeed a luxury and comfortable one and very attracting, yet since it didn’t belong to me, why should I dream it? Jiang Youyou thought.