Chapter 76: Daughter-in-law
Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Daughter-in-law
The June afternoon was scorching hot. The streets seemed to steam with summer heat, making the air shimmer and distort.
Lin Yanwan held a sun umbrella, while Jiang Xia walked nonchalantly under the sun.
According to him, a man’s skin should be a little tan to look more masculine.
Of course, Lin Yanwan didn’t believe a word of it. ’Back when we took our wedding photos,’ she thought, ’who was it that kept telling the photo editor he wanted to look a little paler?’
They arrived at the school and blended in with the crowd of parents waiting for their children. Having been baked by the sun the whole way, Jiang Xia couldn’t take it anymore and had to duck under the umbrella.
’Well, I already blew my cover with Mom last time I picked up my little sister-in-law,’ he thought. Now, he had nothing left to lose, so he might as well give up and go with the flow.
"I thought you wanted to be more masculine?" Lin Yanwan teased.
"Enough is enough! See? A wheat-colored complexion, the healthiest color." Jiang Xia flexed for her, but the part of his arm covered by his short sleeve was still pale white.
She couldn’t help but chuckle. "This is the first I’m hearing that a tan makes you healthy. Besides, it isn’t even."
Unable to win the argument, Jiang Xia muttered, "Next time, I’ll just take off my shirt and lie out in the sun all afternoon."
"And then what? Go from pale to burnt?" Lin Yanwan huffed. "Just so you can beg the photo editor to lighten your skin again when we take wedding photos?"
His face twitched. An old, embarrassing memory suddenly came back to haunt him.
When his wife had worn her wedding dress, her exposed skin was fair and smooth, making her look as beautiful as a goddess. He, on the other hand, had a classic tan. It wasn’t normally an issue, but in the wedding photos, their skin tones were several shades apart, and it just looked odd.
"On second thought, I think being a little fairer is better," he said with a completely serious expression.
’At least, it’s a better match for my beautiful wife.’
"My arm’s getting tired. You hold the umbrella."
Lin Yanwan wrinkled her nose. Jiang Xia expertly took the umbrella, only for her to forcefully adjust its angle.
"It’s the afternoon, so the sun is at an angle..."
"So the umbrella needs to be tilted, I know." Jiang Xia cut in before she could finish. "You’ve been telling me that for more than ten years."
"But you still can’t seem to remember!"
"I just need a moment to sense the sun’s direction," Jiang Xia said, deadpan.
’Hmph. Fine, I’ll believe him for now.’
Lin Yanwan took a tissue from her pocket and raised her hand to gently wipe his forehead. He had been walking directly under the sun and was covered in sweat.
Jiang Xia squinted, enjoying his wife’s tenderness. He breathed in a faint, pleasant scent, unsure if it came from the tissue or from her.
He suddenly ducked his head and sniffed the crook of her neck, instantly certain.
"What’s wrong? Do I smell sweaty?" Lin Yanwan looked at him, confused. ’Strictly speaking, I haven’t even sweat today, and I shower daily.’
"You smell so good. I want to smell it again," Jiang Xia said with a look of blissful intoxication.
"Behave yourself! So many people are watching!" Lin Yanwan’s face flushed red, and she gave him a light, annoyed pinch. ’He’s always such a shameless flirt.’
Before long, music began to play over the school’s broadcast system, signaling that classes were over. Jiang Xia couldn’t help but reminisce; it was the same soothing song from his own elementary school days. He was surprised it hadn’t changed after all these years.
"Where did you go to elementary school?" he asked.
"First Elementary."
"No wonder I never saw you around when we were kids."
"If we had been childhood sweethearts, I most likely wouldn’t have fallen for you," Lin Yanwan said seriously.
"Why not?"
"Because a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its own burrow," she said, the corners of her lips curling into a smile, her eyes twinkling.
"But I’m not grass, I’m a carrot!" Jiang Xia retorted.
"It’s mainly that we’d be too familiar with each other. It’s hard to develop romantic feelings that way."
"And what about how proximity breeds opportunity?"
"Fine, fine, you’re right, happy now?"
Lin Yanwan rolled her eyes. ’He makes it sound like we were destined to be together. If he’s so clever, why did he spend our past life always trying to make me angry enough to leave?’
’Such perfect hindsight.’
A short while later, Xia Shanshan led her class of young children to the school gate. Lin Xiaoman, who was at the front of the line holding the class sign, spotted the couple in the crowd immediately.
"Sister! Brother-in-law! I’m over here!" Lin Xiaoman shouted with a happy grin.
Xia Shanshan froze. Following the girl’s gaze, she saw Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan standing together under a single umbrella.
’It was right for Xiao Man to call Lin Yanwan "Sister,"’ she thought. ’But "Brother-in-law"... she’s calling my son "Brother-in-law"?! Does this mean she’ll be calling me "Auntie" soon?’
Hearing that sweet-sounding "Brother-in-law," Jiang Xia froze on the spot. He could practically see the look of astonishment on his mom’s face.
"Serves you right for teaching her that. Now you’re suffering the consequences, aren’t you?" Lin Yanwan’s face was bright red, and she suddenly didn’t dare to look at her mother-in-law.
"Go on, get her," she urged, giving Jiang Xia a light kick.
Steeling himself, he walked over. He first forced a smile and called out, "Mom," then crouched down to playfully tap his little sister-in-law’s nose.
"You’re calling me the wrong thing again. It’s ’Big Brother,’ not ’Brother-in-law.’"
"Huh? But Brother-in-law, didn’t you say that I should only call you ’Big Brother’ in front of my mom and dad, and ’Brother-in-law’ when we’re out?" Lin Xiaoman asked, blinking in confusion.
Hearing himself called "Brother-in-law" again and again, Jiang Xia was utterly mortified. His painfully honest little sister-in-law had spilled the beans completely. Now, he really didn’t dare look up at his mom.
Xia Shanshan watched the two of them, her face a mask of neutrality. ’I didn’t realize their little game was so elaborate,’ she thought. ’I’m curious to see what other tricks this little rascal has up his sleeve.’
"Oh, oh! Xiao Man gets it! Because Teacher Xia is Brother-in-law’s mom, I can’t call him Brother-in-law right now. I have to call him Big Brother!"
Lin Xiaoman put her hands on her hips, tilted her little head back, and struck a pose that practically screamed, ’Xiao Man is smart, isn’t she? Aren’t you going to praise me, Brother-in-law?’
Jiang Xia wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. ’You’re just too clever,’ he thought, completely unsure how he was supposed to praise her for this.
’It was a no-win situation. I can’t admit it, but I can’t deny it either. Knowing Mom, she probably saw through my little scheme ages ago.’
Hearing that self-proclaimed "clever" deduction, Lin Yanwan felt an overwhelming urge to turn around and walk away. ’That’s my mother-in-law from my past life! We’ve barely interacted in this life, but after a conversation like that, she’s probably already labeled me as her future daughter-in-law.’
She took a few deep breaths, her fingers clenched tightly. Steeling herself, she walked over and said, "Hello, Auntie. I’m here to pick up Xiao Man."
Seeing her beautiful, exceptional, and thoroughly pleasing prospective daughter-in-law taking the initiative to greet her, Xia Shanshan’s face immediately broke into a wide smile. "Hello, Yanwan. You and your sister be very careful on your way home, alright?"
"Mm-hm."
"Off you go, then. Goodbye, Xiao Man, and remember to do all your homework, okay?"
"Goodbye, Teacher Xia."
After saying this, Lin Yanwan grabbed Xiao Man’s hand and spun around to leave, not wanting to spend a second longer in that spot. Her palms were slick with nervous sweat.
"Sister, aren’t you going to wait for Brother-in-law? Oh, no, I mean, for Big Brother?"
Xiao Man asked innocently.
...
(One more Chapter to come.)