Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 074

Chapter 74☆, You Were Using My Words.

Xin Xin’s parents insisted on returning the things Zheng Zaochuan had brought, thus demonstrating their disapproval. Objectively speaking, aside from Zheng Zaochuan’s deliberately cultivated rugged demeanor, his manners were impeccable.

The wine was good, and the tea was good too. Xin Xin brewed some black tea, unaware of how familiar she sounded when she talked about Zheng Zaochuan: “Why bring it up? He has plenty of money; it’s fine, just drink some of his tea.”

Xin Zhihe looked at her, who was acting like a boss, with mixed feelings, and said earnestly, “I know that girls in big cities face many temptations these days, but other people’s money is theirs, not yours. Think about Madame Bovary; was she happy?”

Xin Xin called Zheng Zaochuan and laughed, “My dad does not appreciate your kindness. He said your money is not mine. He even used the example of Madame Bovary to show me that vanity has no good end.”

Zheng Zaochuan’s voice was muffled, “Xin Xin, I’m sorry; I made them so unhappy during the New Year.”

“You have a cold?” Xin Xin noticed something was off about his voice.

Zheng Zaochuan said in a deep voice, “It seems so.”

The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors in Northeast China was significant, unlike in Haining, making it easy to catch a cold.

She became nervous. “I’m coming to see you and bringing you some food.”

Perhaps because of his illness, Zheng Zaochuan felt aggrieved. “I wanted to drink porridge, but there was no takeout available. If I had known that the uncle and aunt didn’t like me in the suit either, I should not have taken off my down jacket at the elevator.”

Xin Xin was both amused and exasperated. Although she mocked him verbally, she diligently started cooking porridge.

Lin Fang watched her daughter humming a song as she cooked and said sarcastically, “Oh, so you are starting to act all domestic now?”

Although her initial attempt was unsuccessful, Xin Xin did not take her parents’ disapproval too seriously.

Xin Zhihe and Lin Fang were the kind of open-minded parents who were like Schrödinger’s cat. When they approved of something, they would succinctly express their appreciation for their daughter. When they disapproved of something, they would go on and on about the possible “risk factors.”

But they would never do anything drastic to threaten Xin Xin.

At most, they might say something rather mild: “If you regret it later, do not blame us.”

Xin Xin was fearless and not only cooked plain porridge but also added shrimp, preserved egg, and lean pork.

“Mom and Dad, I’m going out. Remember to drink the porridge left in the pot.”

“Wait a minute.” Lin Fang rolled her eyes as she packed the steamed buns and two dishes into a lunchbox, not forgetting to mock Xin Xin, “Then let your parents try your mediocre cooking.”

Xin Xin smiled, quickly gave her mother a quick “smack” on the cheek, and then grabbed the food and headed out the door.

The hotel she booked for Zheng Zaochuan was right across from their house, only a five-minute walk away. Zheng Zaochuan, wrapped in a blanket, opened the door with snot and tears streaming down his face.

Xin Xin was startled; it seemed he was indeed quite ill.

“This is a strategic mistake that led to tragic consequences. Tell me, if you were wearing a black down jacket and had your hair naturally styled into a buzz cut, you would look so much better, like a male college student.”

Zheng Zaochuan ate the food Xin Xin had brought while sniffling, looking increasingly pitiful.

“I’m afraid your parents will think I’m too weak.”

Xin Xin was both amused and exasperated. “Who told you that people from Northeast China necessarily like rugged people? My parents like gentle, scholarly types. You have no idea how much my dad praised Zhao Xi when he first met him.”

Zheng Zaochuan stared at her with wide eyes, “Xin Xin!”

Xin Xin then slowly added, “But it does not matter if they like it or not; my preference is the only standard.”

This sentence was a carefully crafted romantic phrase by Xin Xin, using a technique of building suspense before revealing the truth.

As expected, Zheng Zaochuan was so moved that he could not speak for a long time. After a while, he said very seriously, “Do not worry, I will try my best and will not let you turn against your parents because of me.”

“Why would I turn against my parents?” Xin Xin could not understand what Zheng Zaochuan was thinking.

Zheng Zaochuan thought for a while and then said slowly, “Xin Xin, I will make your parents accept me, so please do not break up with me suddenly.”

Xin Xin was speechless. “How many melodramatic TV dramas have you been thinking about? I will not turn against you, and I will not break up with you, at least not because of my parents.”

Zheng Zaochuan looked intently into Xin Xin’s eyes with his reddened eyes. “You promise.”

“I promise.”

Xin Xin suddenly remembered something and interrogated him sharply: “Did you break up with someone because your parents did not approve? Why are you so sensitive about this?”

Zheng Zaochuan shook his head. “No, but that’s how it’s portrayed on TV. Besides, you’re still your family’s baby even though you are all grown up. What if you become a mama’s girl?”

You used all my words!

Xin Xin had a strange feeling that ever since they started dating, all of Zheng Zaochuan’s insecurities had been gradually surfacing. She used to think that Zheng Zaochuan was the kind of person who would make a woman feel intensely insecure after entering a relationship.

But Zheng Zaochuan took the initiative and got caught up in his own thoughts first, leaving Xin Xin with little opportunity to experience the troubles of being in love.

After finishing their meal, Xin Xin pinched Zheng Zaochuan’s cheek and said, “I will sleep with you for a while.”

Zheng Zaochuan pretended to be generous. “It’s okay, I will take my medicine and sleep for a while; you go with Mom and Dad.”

Xin Xin could tell that he was not saying anything.

With heartfelt anticipation, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pleaded, “Please, let me stay with you.”

Zheng Zaochuan was very willing but pretended to agree reluctantly.

In the Northeast, it was perfectly fine to wear short sleeves indoors. The two of them cuddled together and slept, and Xin Xin could feel the heat emanating from Zheng Zaochuan’s body.

In this warm atmosphere, Xin Xin felt sleepy. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard Zheng Zaochuan calling her softly, “Xin Xin, are you asleep?”

Xin Xin mumbled “Mmm” in her sleep, then patiently added, “Go to sleep; I’m really asleep.”

Zheng Zaochuan made another request: “If your parents do not agree, do not secretly leave me. I can try again.”

Xin Xin did not take this informal meeting too seriously and said dismissively, “It’s not that serious; go to sleep.”

Zheng Zaochuan fell silent.

Xin Xin slept until lunchtime, then casually took Zheng Zaochuan home.

Zheng Zaochuan followed behind like an unwelcome little wife, feeling wronged and aggrieved.

Xin Zhihe and Lin Fang initially disliked Zheng Zaochuan’s mannerisms, but his cold actually lessened his arrogant demeanor. Consequently, they unconsciously softened their attitude towards Zheng Zaochuan, and the group chatted quite amicably.

After dinner, Xin Xin’s parents discussed it and decided that since Xin Xin had been out with Zheng Zaochuan all day and had not seen him, it would be better for the two of them to stay at home.

So she took the initiative to prepare a guest room and asked Xin Xin to invite Zheng Zaochuan to stay there.

Xin Xin took a new quilt from the closet, turned around, and saw Zheng Zaochuan standing there, stunned. For the first time, she saw the bewilderment on Zheng Zaochuan’s face. “Can I really stay here?”

Xin Xin smiled, “Of course, I will pick up my luggage tomorrow.”

Zheng Zaochuan secretly asked her, “Don’t your parents dislike me?”

“Yes, but they love me, so they love everything about me. Go to sleep and stop thinking about these things.”

That evening, the two went to their respective rooms and lay in bed. Zheng Zaochuan sent Xin Xin a message: “Sigh, I should not have listened to what people online said.”

Xin Xin asked curiously, “Where did these people from the internet come from?”

Zheng Zaochuan sent her a link: “How should I behave when I meet my future in-laws for the first time?”

Xin Xin clicked on the link, and Zheng Zaochuan described in detail the geographical location of Xin Xin’s hometown and her family situation. Netizens offered various suggestions, and Zheng Zaochuan replied, “What should I do? I messed up; my girlfriend’s parents do not like me.”

The comments were all the same: “Break up.”

Xin Xin laughed and sent a message to Zheng Zaochuan, “Why did you not ask me? Why ask netizens?”

The screen lit up briefly, then silently went back off.

Just as Xin Xin was about to fall asleep, a new message from Zheng Zaochuan came in: “Xin Xin, I’ve never had a family. But after being with you, I feel like I’m about to have a family.”

The concept of home was embodied in each person in a different way.

But it was only when Zheng Zaochuan came to Xin Xin’s home that he saw what a normal, warm family should be like.

This feeling, both unfamiliar and longed for by him, evoked both a warm sense of emotion and a sense of fear.

A profound fear of loss.

This was a feeling that Xin Xin could not understand, but she still tried her best to comfort Zheng Zaochuan.

After the third day, his cold improved significantly. Xin Xin took him to stroll through the streets and alleys of the ice city, ate local delicacies, and saw the ice sculptures as originally planned, and greeted the internet-famous little penguin.

After their annual leave ended, Xin Xin and Zheng Zaochuan booked tickets to return to Haining together. Before leaving, Xin Xin’s family committee appointed Xin Zhihe as the negotiator, and he and Zheng Zaochuan went into the study to have a meeting.

Xin Xin peeked out and asked Lin Fang, “What did my dad say to him?”

Lin Fang glared at her and said, “I will give you five million to leave my daughter.”

Xin Xin feigned a look of horror. “Then we cannot let him take this money. Give it to me; do not let the middleman make a profit.”

Lin Fang was amused by Xin Xin but then became serious. “Your dad probably just wanted to tell Xiao Zheng to take good care of you. You know, your parents do not think business people are bad; it’s just that you’ve always been a bit conservative and cannot handle a life full of ups and downs. But if you want to be with Xiao Zheng, you two should get along well, and we trust your judgment.”

Just then, Zheng Zaochuan and Xin Zhihe finished their conversation and came out of the door.

Seeing that he looked normal, Xin Xin felt relieved and happily said goodbye to her parents before leaving.

On the plane, Xin Xin asked Zheng Zaochuan, “What did my dad say to you?”

Zheng Zaochuan asked mysteriously, “Guess?”

Xin Xin showed little interest. “He wanted you to take good care of me?”

Zheng Zaochuan shook his head and suddenly sighed, “Star, Uncle’s exactly the kind of father I’ve always dreamed of. He did not say anything; he just told me why he was not too keen on you finding a businessman, because you are well-behaved but cannot handle big things, and he was afraid that the ups and downs of doing business would upset you.”

Xin Xin found this unoriginal: “My dad did not pull out a bank card to make you leave me?”

Zheng Zaochuan smiled, his eyes crinkling as he looked at her. “Xin Xin, whether you believe it or not, I’m really willing to spend a lot of money to put your parents at ease. I not only like you now, but I also like your family, and I especially want to marry into your family.”

Perhaps because the atmosphere was too relaxed, Xin Xin subconsciously asked, “I have not asked yet; what’s the situation with your dad?”

Before he could finish speaking, Zheng Zaochuan lowered his eyes, a shadow passing over his face.

“One day, I will let you know everything, but please give me some time.”