The whole world was quiet, as if only Lu Jingming's embrace remained.
Xu Yanxia didn't know how long she had cried for; it seemed the tears of two lifetimes were pouring out in this moment.
So much so that when her emotions finally settled, she realized she had cried a large wet patch onto Lu Jingming's shirt.
"I'm sorry,"
she said, straightening up, "I got your shirt wet."
Her voice still carried the nasal tone from crying, and her throat was a little hoarse.
"It's fine."
Lu Jingming looked down at her, a smile at the corner of his lips, his voice very gentle. "I couldn't be happier. I'm going to treasure this shirt properly. It's one of the most important milestones of my life."
Xu Yanxia couldn't help but let out a small laugh at his words. She raised her hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks and then gently thumped his chest. "From now on, no matter what happens, you mustn't hide anything from me,"
"Okay."
He agreed immediately, nodding with a smile. "If I break that promise, I'm a puppy."
He paused, then reached out to take her hand, holding it in his own palm, and said very seriously, "Don't blame yourself. Every choice a person makes is based on their own will. I like you. I want to be good to you as much as I can. These are all things I want to do myself. Whether you respond or not, you're not at fault."
He added another sentence, "Of course, getting your response is what makes me happiest."
"Xiaxia,"
he called her softly, very seriously, "If you're willing, let's be together. Let me be good to you, and don't feel burdened, okay?"
As his words fell, Xu Yanxia nodded.
They smiled together again.
Lu Jingming's smile was one of happiness.
But Xu Yanxia's smile still carried a trace of the complexity that comes after surviving a disaster.
"I'm a person who warms up very slowly,"
she said earnestly. "I've never been in a relationship before. I've always felt that if you start a relationship, it should be for the purpose of being together."
"I understand."
Lu Jingming gently wiped away the remaining tears at the corner of her eye and continued, "I think the same way. If two people aren't together to stay with each other in the end, what's the point?"
Then he added seriously, "It's my first time too."
"I understand your worries. I've also seen plenty of examples where both sides weren't steadfast and ended up going their separate ways."
"But my heart hasn't changed from the beginning until now,"
he said, looking at her. "Just like I said on the beach that day, I sincerely want to spend the rest of my life with you, if you're willing."
"What happened today was my lack of thorough consideration. I neglected your concerns. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."
"Will you forgive me?"
As his words fell, he saw Xu Yanxia nod and say, "I actually understand you. If I were in your position, I might have made the same choice."
"It's just that I'm too shaken by what could have happened."
She frowned, still feeling a lingering fear. "I actually noticed him peeping at our house the day before yesterday afternoon, but I truly never imagined that, without any grudge between us, a person's mind could be so malicious."
Hearing this, Lu Jingming immediately said, "Then that's a strong piece of evidence, proving he intended to harm you. It could lead to a heavier sentence."
"I'll tell the lawyer, have them follow up with the police station on that."
He took out his phone and said to her, "By the way, I'll have the lawyer come over later to handle the procedures with you. That way, the lawyer will represent you throughout the follow-up of this matter, and you won't have to have any contact with his family."
"Mhm."
Xu Yanxia nodded.
She watched as he made the call to the lawyer.
Immediately after, her own phone rang.
It was her sister-in-law, Luo Jiajia, calling. She quickly answered and heard her sister-in-law ask, "Xiaxia, how are you guys? Are you okay?"
"We're fine."
Xu Yanxia paused and said, "I'm sorry, sis. On such an important day for you, we caused this scene..."
"What are you talking about? This isn't your fault! If anyone should apologize, it's that damn pervert!"
Luo Jiajia said immediately. "I feel like going to burn incense right now. Where in the world would I find such a wonderful sister-in-law who buys me such a big gold bracelet! My goodness, thank heavens you're okay."
Xu Yanxia was amused by this and quickly asked, "How are things on your end? Are you wrapping up?"
"We're fine,"
Luo Jiajia told her. "We just discussed it. Since we have nothing else this afternoon anyway, why don't we just help Grandma and Grandpa move today? Better to avoid any more complications."
That was a good idea.
After all, it was only around two in the afternoon, which was plenty of time to move.
Xu Yanxia said, "Then I'll look for a moving company."
"No need for a moving company,"
her sister-in-law said with a laugh. "There are so many people here today, we can just lend a hand. Coincidentally, my uncle's box truck is here too. It should be able to fit everything from the house. It's not like we have any large furniture anyway."
That was true.
During the last relocation due to demolition, they had disposed of many old, unusable items. The new house came mostly furnished with appliances and furniture, and for the things that weren't included, her aunt had taken care of buying them all after they got the keys a few days ago.
So now, they only needed to pack some small belongings.
Especially since they had agreed to move during the holiday, Grandpa and Grandma had already started packing their things a few days prior.
Moving really shouldn't be too troublesome.
Xu Yanxia nodded and said, "Alright then. I'll grab a bite to eat and head over soon."
"See you in a bit."
After her sister-in-law hung up, Lu Jingming had also finished handling his matters and proactively asked her, "Moving today?"
"Yes," Xu Yanxia nodded, "to avoid any more messy complications."
"That's good," Lu Jingming agreed. "Let me change my clothes, and I'll go with you."
—This wasn't because she had cried on his earlier outfit.
Mainly, some of the white vinegar that Lin Hengnan had splashed earlier had still gotten on areas beyond his jacket, leaving a faint sour smell on his clothes.
Also, that suit wasn't really suitable for physical labor.
Xu Yanxia didn't refuse, only saying, "We didn't even get to eat at the banquet earlier, you must be hungry, right? Let's get something to eat before we go."
"Sure."
He nodded, took his clothes, and went into the bathroom.
When he came out a while later, he had changed into sweatpants and a hoodie, looking much younger instantly.
"Let's go."
He picked up his phone and smiled, reaching his hand out to her.
Xu Yanxia smiled too, placing her hand in his, immediately enveloped by his warm palm as he led her out the door.
...
After having a simple meal at the hotel restaurant, the two headed to the Xu family's rental apartment.
When they arrived, the box truck from her sister-in-law's uncle's family was already there, parked in front of the building entrance. Several cousins from both families were busy loading things onto the truck.
Grandpa and Grandma had each put a cat into a carry bag and were just coming out of the entrance.
Her sister-in-law, Luo Jiajia, was accompanying them.
"Xia Xia," Luo Jiajia waved her over. "I asked my parents to take Grandpa and Grandma to the new place first, so they don't get bumped in all this chaos."
"Okay."
Xu Yanxia then said to Luo Jiajia's parents not far away, "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. Sorry to trouble you with my grandparents."
Mr. and Mrs. Luo both smiled and said, "We're all family now, no need for such formalities."
She then bent down and patted each of the plump cat heads poking out of the two bags, saying, "Big Orange, Little Tabby, see you at the new home, okay? Don't fuss in the car, we'll be there soon."
The two little ones, unaware of what was happening, replied with timid-sounding "meows," clearly a bit scared.
Lu Jingming, who had already greeted the Xu grandparents and the Luo parents, also smiled and asked her, "So these are the two big, fat cats?"
"Yes," Xu Yanxia first pointed at the two cat heads to briefly introduce them. "This is Big Orange, this is Little Tabby. Luckily, they were both home today, otherwise someone would have had to stay behind to wait for them."
Lu Jingming copied her, giving each cat head a pet. Then he heard Grandpa and Grandma say to Xu Yanxia, "It's so chaotic today, why did you bring Young Mr. Lu along? How embarrassing."
Lu Jingming quickly said, "Grandpa, Grandma, I'm just here to help, please don't stand on ceremony. From now on, just call me Jingming."
"That's right," Xu Yanxia chimed in, "He's one of us now, no need for formalities."
Luo Jiajia, picking up on the unusual nuance, secretly winked and made a face at her from the side.
