Chapter 163 - 161: Double Happiness

Chapter 163: Chapter 161: Double Happiness

(I’m beat. Chapter 160 got flagged again. I guess it triggered some keyword. I was so careful, but I still manage to step in a trap every now and then.)

...

The couple and her little sister returned home. When they saw the large, red "double happiness" character posted on the door, they both fell silent.

"You did this?" Lin Yanwan asked.

"...Look at my face. Do you really think it was me?" Jiang Xia was stunned himself. ’What on earth is Mom up to now?’

"Are you sure this is a celebration party?"

Lin Yanwan looked at Jiang Xia, speechless. Who the hell posts a "double happiness" character on their door for a celebration party? The last time she saw this character at home was when they got married.

"This... It’s called ’a double blessing’," Jiang Xia explained, his reasoning extremely far-fetched.

"..."

Lin Yanwan was speechless. In terms of symbolism, it barely fit, but no matter how she looked at it, it looked exactly like they were getting married!

’So, the real purpose of today’s dinner isn’t a celebration... it’s an engagement party, right!?’

’I was so careless. I can’t believe I didn’t realize that Mom inviting both our families over for dinner had this hidden meaning.’

"Cough, don’t overthink it. My mom probably just thought the ’double happiness’ character fit the occasion."

Jiang Xia winced internally. He knew his mother; as a Chinese teacher, there was no way she didn’t know the meaning of the "double happiness" character.

’On the surface, she probably wanted to celebrate them getting into good universities, but in reality, she wanted to solidify their relationship further—like, with an old-fashioned engagement arranged by the parents.’

"Mm..."

Lin Yanwan nodded helplessly. What else could she do besides agree? Rip the "double happiness" character down? Besides, seeing it made her feel rather nostalgic.

Scene after scene from the past gradually surfaced from the deepest parts of her memory.

As she stepped through the door decorated with the "double happiness" character again, it felt as if she were marrying him all over again. For a moment, her heart was filled with a complex mix of emotions.

"Hey, Xiao Jiang, getting married? Congrats! Is this your girlfriend? She’s so pretty, beautiful." The next-door neighbor suddenly opened his door, saw the "double happiness" character, and reflexively offered his congratulations.

"Ahem, no, Uncle Zhang. We just got into college, so our family wanted to celebrate," Jiang Xia hurriedly explained.

"Oh, oh, I see. I thought you were getting married for a second. It makes sense, I remember you’re still in high school."

Uncle Zhang said, chuckling as he patted Jiang Xia’s shoulder, "But that’s fine too. A man’s all grown up once he’s past eighteen. You should date if you’re going to date. Remember to invite your Uncle Zhang when you get married in the future."

"Yeah, of course, of course."

"This is... your girlfriend?"

"...Yes."

Watching the old man head down the stairs, Lin Yanwan shot Jiang Xia a blushing glare. ’See? Everyone thinks we’re getting married!’

"Brother-in-law, when you and Sis get married, remember to invite Xiao Man," Xiao Man chirped, mimicking the old man’s tone.

"You and your big mouth," Lin Yanwan said irritably, pinching her sister’s cheek. This precocious little girl would jump on any topic.

"If you’ve got more sweet talk like that, keep it coming. Your brother-in-law will make sure you have all the wedding candy you can eat," Jiang Xia said with a grin.

’Without a doubt, his little sister-in-law was an excellent wingman.’

"Go ahead and spoil her."

Lin Yanwan glanced at the "double happiness" character on the door, then took her sister’s hand. "Hurry up and open the door!"

’If they didn’t go inside, and someone else asked if they were getting married, the embarrassment would be so intense she could probably carve a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with her toes.’

Jiang Xia took out his keys and opened the door. Xia Shanshan was busy in the kitchen, and the aroma of chicken soup filled the air. Hearing the noise, she leaned back to look toward the entryway.

"Yanwan, Xiao Man, you’re here! Come in, come in and sit down."

"Hello, Teacher Xia!"

"Hello, Aunt Xia."

Jiang Xia asked helplessly, "Mom, why’d you stick that ’double happiness’ character on the door? Uncle Zhang next door thought I was getting married."

"Hahahaha," Xia Shanshan couldn’t help but laugh. "Getting married isn’t that simple! This is a celebration party. The ’double happiness’ character signifies a double blessing, celebrating you and Yanwan getting into the universities you wanted."

Jiang Xia’s heart lurched. ’You’d better just be thinking of this as a celebration party and not an engagement party.’

"Alright, I’m going back to cooking. Make yourselves at home."

Lin Yanwan nodded with a blush, holding out her hand to Jiang Xia. "So, where’s the acceptance letter?"

Jiang Xia sighed softly. His wife was truly sparing no effort worrying about him. He went to his room, got the acceptance letter, and placed it in her hands.

Lin Yanwan casually flipped through it. It was indeed from Tsinghua University. Aside from the name and major, it was identical to hers.

Seeing is believing, as they say. Only now did she feel truly at ease.

"You believe me now?" Jiang Xia said.

"Hmph."

She let out a haughty "hmph," her fingers stroking the exquisite acceptance letter. The thought of being able to go to college with him made her heart soar with joy.

"Yanwan, this kid called you to share the good news the second he got his letter," Xia Shanshan said, coming out to grab some green onions. She couldn’t help but smile seeing the young couple whispering to each other.

’Share the good news?’

’More like sharing bad news!’

Grumbling to herself, Lin Yanwan wasted no time in exposing the fraud’s lies to her mother-in-law.

"Aunt Xia, Jiang Xia lied to me! He told me he got into the Central Academy of Fine Arts and put on such a convincing sob story that I actually believed him. I kept trying to comfort him, and then out of nowhere, he tells me he was just joking."

Xia Shanshan paused for a moment. She recalled him running around the house earlier and realized he’d been tricking his future daughter-in-law.

"Don’t worry, Yanwan, Auntie’s got your back. That boy, if you don’t discipline him for a day, he’ll tear the roof off the house." She said this with a grin as she walked into the kitchen. ’As if she’d ever truly get involved in the young couple’s business.’

"Babe, if you’re going to punish me, can you... step on me?" Jiang Xia whispered.

"? Why would I reward you?"

◇

A while later, Jiang Wende came back with a huge pile of groceries. He had taken the afternoon off after Xia Shanshan’s call, playing the part of a dedicated delivery man. After work, Lin Yanwan’s parents followed the address and slowly made their way over.

It wasn’t just Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan; Ji Wanqiu and Lin Gaoyuan were also stunned when they saw the red "double happiness" character on the door. This was a bold move.

’Wasn’t this supposed to be a celebration party? Are they laying their cards on the table, intending for our two families to become in-laws?’

Just as the two of them were beginning to wonder if they’d come to the wrong place, Jiang Wende suddenly opened the door.

The three of them stared at each other, and each saw a glimmer of familiarity in the others’ eyes.

"You must be Yanwan’s parents, right?" Jiang Wende asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Lin Gaoyuan nodded.

"Quick, quick, please come in! I’ve heard Yanwan talk so much about you, it’s great to finally meet you in person." Jiang Wende tapped into his taxi driver’s easygoing nature and smiled. "Just get off work?"

"Yes, that’s right."

Lin Gaoyuan pursed his lips, studying Jiang Wende carefully. The feeling of familiarity grew stronger, as if he’d truly known him in the past, not just seen him somewhere before.

"Are you Jiang Wende from Class 2 of the Experimental Elementary School?" Lin Gaoyuan asked, his voice tinged with confusion.