Chapter 59: Extraordinary

After a while, the door creaked open from within.

Lu Yan’s gaze fell upon his wife. She had changed into a loose white cotton dress, her long black hair half-dried and falling naturally over her shoulders, setting off her small, delicate face to appear even more fair and translucent.

“Come in, I’m fine,” she said gently, her lips curving. The panic and distress from earlier had vanished from her face; her eyes were clear as water as she looked at him.

Lu Yan’s hard-won composure faltered again for a moment.

“That’s good.” He averted his gaze, forcing himself to remain calm, and added, “Stay away from the kitchen for now. I’ll have someone come fix it tomorrow. Come to my place for lunch, and I’ll bring dinner home tonight.”

Shen Qingyi smiled, “Aren’t you preparing for the interview? Focus on your work. I know how to manage these things.”

In the past, when her father prepared for occasions like this, he was always extremely focused; even a minor error in data could be blown out of proportion, so absolute concentration and rigor were required.

She supported his work.

“It’s alright! There’s still a day left.” Lu Yan insisted.

Shen Qingyi hesitated, then nodded.

When Lu Yan returned to the bedroom, he found An An already asleep with a book in his arms. He walked over, gently stroked his son’s head, and lay down beside him.

His wife’s attitude earlier didn’t seem to reject him, did it?

He rested his hand beneath his head, listening to the creaking of the fan, his mind growing anxious and uncertain…

The next morning, when Shen Qingyi woke, she found soybean milk, steamed buns, and two eggs on the table.

Lu Yan had bought them.

During breakfast, An An learned that part of their kitchen and bathroom had collapsed, but the little fellow didn’t quite grasp the situation. Hearing that they’d be having lunch at his father’s cafeteria, he was delighted.

Since there was no need to cook, mother and son didn’t have to go grocery shopping; An An sat quietly on the sofa reading as usual, while Shen Qingyi returned to her room to continue working.

The structural drawing for the bag was finished, just waiting for Xia Xiyue to come by.

“Second Sister-in-law, are you home?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Qingyi put down her work. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Lu Caiqing.

She looked the same as yesterday, with two braided pigtails, dressed in a red floral blouse, carrying a small bamboo basket on her arm.

Shen Qingyi beckoned her in, “Come in!”

Lu Caiqing entered, glancing around. The house was neat and cozy, spotless, furnished with tasteful pieces and appliances—it looked just like something out of a television show.

She smiled and waved at An An, “An An, your aunt is here to see you.”

She fished a packet of sweets from her pocket.

An An turned, looked at the sweets in her hand, then at Shen Qingyi.

Shen Qingyi said gently, “Aren’t you going to thank your aunt?”

Only then did An An reach out and politely take the small packet of sweets, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Lu Caiqing gave an enthusiastic “Aye!” and praised him, “Such a good boy!”

She then placed the basket on the table. “Second Sister-in-law, there’s a packet of red dates and brown sugar in here from me—just a little something for your health.”

Shen Qingyi pulled up a chair and motioned for her to sit. “Thank you!”

She poured her a glass of cooled boiled water. “We’ve nowhere to boil water for tea right now, so this will have to do.”

If Qian Guihua had heard this, she’d surely consider it a veiled barb, but Lu Caiqing found it quite sincere and smiled, “I’m not particular. Thank you, Second Sister-in-law.”

Shen Qingyi knew why she had come and didn’t beat around the bush. “I discussed it with your second brother yesterday. If you can find work here that supports you, you can stay.”

Lu Caiqing was so moved she nearly cried. “Alright! My job watching the stall pays twenty-five a month—that’s more than enough for food.”

As long as she could stay in the capital, there was a chance for better, more stable work. Over the years, picking up odd jobs, she had saved a bit. If not for Qian Guihua taking most of it, she would have saved even more.

With her second brother’s reputation, she could find a good marriage and settle in the capital for good. She didn’t want to go back to the village—living at her parents’ meant working for her eldest brother’s family, and if she married, it’d be endless farm work. She wanted none of it.

It wasn’t that Shen Qingyi begrudged a bit of food money; she simply didn’t know this sister-in-law well enough to be sure she wasn’t idle and gluttonous. If she was, Shen Qingyi would make her stance clear from the start.

“When your parents return, we’ll have to move too. This house is old, and the kitchen and bathroom have both collapsed.”

Lu Caiqing was a bit surprised, looked the house over again, and immediately understood, nodding, “Alright, I’ll help when the time comes.”

“Have your parents started packing?” Shen Qingyi asked.

Since Lu Yan had told them to return, Lu Caiqing had been busy coming and going, but she hadn’t noticed much activity. “Probably won’t start until the last possible day—they’re reluctant to leave.”

The institute’s housing was solid and spacious, especially the unit given to her second brother—it was the best and largest in the area.

Though it had been left in a mess, a bit of tidying and the right furnishings would make it more beautiful than those seen on TV.

Thinking of this, she quickly stood up, “I’ll hurry back and urge them. I have to get to the stall soon. As for the money, when Second Brother’s not busy, I’ll talk to him in detail.”

“Alright!”

After their talk, Lu Caiqing left as briskly as a gust of wind.

That evening, Lu Yan returned home with his monthly wages. He handed the money to Shen Qingyi. “I owed the supervisor a hundred from last month.”

Shen Qingyi counted the notes—three hundred and thirty. She took thirty out and pressed them back into Lu Yan’s hand. “From now on, you should keep fifty each month.”

Lu Yan didn’t take it. “No need. Other than bus fare, I have no expenses.”

“Just take it. If you don’t use it, give it back to me later.” Without further argument, Shen Qingyi stuffed the thirty yuan into his hand.

When Lu Yan went back to the bedroom with the money, he saw a brand-new leather belt laid out on the table.

An An was sitting at his desk, thumbing through his books. When he saw Lu Yan’s gaze fall on the belt, he said happily, “Mom got this for you. She said you should wear it with the ink-colored trousers tomorrow.”

Lu Yan picked up the belt. The texture and feel were like nothing he’d ever owned. He supposed there was no need to be so particular, but in that moment, he suddenly felt it was wonderful to have someone care about such things for him.

The next day, Lu Yan appeared on time in the studio. It was an ordinary science interview, not a major announcement or prime-time slot, so the audience wasn’t large.

Yet the moment Lu Yan arrived, he commanded everyone’s attention, including the hosts and guests of the next program.

From afar, Wang Sisi watched the man sitting on stage for the interview, composed on a black sofa, his long legs crossed, the ink-colored trousers accentuating his tall, elegant figure.

Facing the camera and the host’s questions, he was rigorous yet relaxed. The hand holding the microphone was refined and clean, his fingers as pure as jade. There was no denying that a man fortified by knowledge was truly different.

She had noticed it from the first time she saw him at the Qian family’s banquet—so utterly clean, unlike the men in the world of fame and fortune, tainted by wine and vice. He was truly special.