AFMWDX Chapter 18

TL: Hua

Chapter 18: Sweetness

Everyone’s eyes followed the man, and from far away, they heard another call: “Dr. Xu? Is that Dr. Xu?”

Aunt Wang, holding a white Pomeranian, ran over, as excited as if she had won the lottery. “Oh my, it really is you! I thought it looked like you from a distance. You look so handsome in this outfit today; I almost didn’t recognize you without the white coat.”

“It’s so hard to see you! Last time, I was even ripped off by a scalper for two hundred yuan; I was so upset.” Aunt Wang rattled on like a chattering typewriter. “Dr. Xu, do you live here too?”

Xu Baizhang: “My mother lives here.”

“Really? That’s such a coincidence; I live in this community too.” Aunt Wang smoothed her dog’s fur. “Dr. Xu, my home is over there in Unit 2. Why don’t you come over for a visit?”

“No, I need to help my mother prepare dinner.”

Aunt Wang didn’t give up. “Dr. Xu, when do you have some time? Could I come and see you?”

Xu Baizhang politely replied, “The Provincial Hospital strictly prohibits ‘scalping’ behavior. Please queue up and register for appointments to see a doctor and get medicine yourself, to avoid inconvenience for you and other patients.”

Without waiting for a response, Xu Baizhang walked directly up to Mother Yu and took the grocery basket from her hand. “Mom, let me carry this.”

Aunt Wang’s eyes widened like glass marbles, and her mouth dropped open as if she’d eaten something unpleasant. “Dr. Xu, is this your…”

“Mom, why are you still here?”

By the shade of the trees in the square stood seven or eight retired aunties, all turning toward the voice. No one had planned it, yet they all shared a similar expectation.

A familiar voice, a familiar face.

But unfortunately, it wasn’t their son.

Under everyone’s gaze, the man stood next to Xu Baizhang and said to Mother Yu, “Didn’t I say to make something simple? Why did you buy so many groceries again?”

Aunt Zhang, standing next to her, was thoroughly confused. “Sister Chen, is this your son too?”

Mother Yu was a little dazed and numbly replied, “Yes, this is my son.”

Yu Qingtang turned to the woman. “Hello, Aunt Zhang. I often hear my mother talk about you.”

Seeing his full face up close, Aunt Zhang looked like she was admiring a landscape painting. “Are you that news channel host? Yu, Yu…”

Yu Qingtang said, “That’s me, Yu Qingtang.”

The others were envious. “Xiao Chen, how many sons do you actually have?”

“Exactly! How did two suddenly show up?”

Mother Yu felt like she had won a super ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ prize. “Before, it was one; now I have two.”

“Hello to all the aunties.” Yu Qingtang smiled politely, his hand naturally looping through Xu Baizhang’s arm. “This is my husband.”

After saying goodbye to the neighbors and walking several meters away, the young couple and Mother Yu could still hear the discussion behind them.

“Who was it who spread that nasty rumor that Sister Chen’s son was no good? That’s outrageous.”

“I knew a good person like Xiao Chen wouldn’t raise a bad son. Xiao Chen is a college graduate, you know.”

“Sister Chen is truly low-key. If I had a son like that, I’d want to walk around the streets with a megaphone.”

“Ah, how can she be so blessed to have such a wonderful son?”

“Not only is her son great, but her son-in-law is also so excellent. The two kids are such a perfect match; one is more handsome than the other.”

“Who was it that said Xiao Chen was exaggerating last time? Look at this—her son-in-law is giving his mother-in-law a back rub!”

“A host and a doctor—they’re talented and filial. Why don’t I have that kind of luck?”

“Her Old Yu is also good to her. They’re sixty years old and still loving; he doesn’t mess around outside and just revolves around her after work.”

Dozens of meters away, Mother Yu walked ahead, her steps light and breezy, with the two young men following closely behind.

They lived in one of the inner units, so they had to walk through the entire community after entering the gate.

They couldn’t walk far without seeing an acquaintance. Mother Yu smiled and greeted them, and the neighbors’ eyes fell on the people behind her.

The men in matching suits were too eye-catching, especially since one of them was a household name.

Before the neighbors could ask, Mother Yu took the initiative to say, “My son and my son-in-law are here for dinner tonight.”

When she described them, pride could be heard in every word.

After saying goodbye to the neighbors, Mother Yu turned her back to them and complained, “It would have been better if you two had used the underground parking garage.”

Yu Qingtang said, “We drove Baizhang’s car today.”

The license plate hadn’t been registered yet, so they couldn’t enter and exit the community garage freely.

“I need to get your plates registered tomorrow. Now everyone has seen you, and I’ll have to introduce you one by one.”

Yu Qingtang said, “Two sons are home. Can’t you bother yourself to introduce us, dear Mother?”

Mother Yu said, “Forget about Xiao Xu; don’t you know the nature of your own job?”

Yu Qingtang smiled. “I’m not doing anything shameful. Just introduce us more often.”

Mother Yu: “I’m afraid of causing you trouble.”

“I don’t mind the trouble,” Yu Qingtang turned to the other side, “and Baizhang doesn’t mind the trouble either.”

“Well, yes, but we should still keep a lower profile in the future.”

“Got it, we’ll listen to Mom.”

After coaxing his mother, Ms. Chen, Yu Qingtang quietly leaned toward Xu Baizhang. “Don’t take what Mom said seriously; she’s thrilled.”

The area near Xu Baizhang’s ear felt a little warm from the whisper. “I know. Mom has been humming ‘Good Days’ the whole time.”

“Dad always says Mom is particularly cute. I never truly felt it before, but I really noticed it today.” Yu Qingtang lifted his chin, his nose brushing against Xu Baizhang’s ear. “She’s adorably proud.”

The two exchanged a knowing smile, their shoulders touching.

Mother Yu suddenly turned around and “caught” them in the act.

Yu Qingtang felt a pang of guilt, stepping back half a pace and taking the opportunity to release his grip on Xu Baizhang’s arm. In that instant, four words flashed through his mind: flirting in front of his mom.

He was so embarrassed.

His throat felt hot.

Mother Yu quickly turned back and waved her hand. “Go ahead and link arms. I’ll go upstairs and wash the vegetables first. Take your time; no rush.”

Despite her words, Yu Qingtang didn’t link arms again. Earlier, holding Xu Baizhang’s arm was intended to show the neighbor aunties their relationship.

Initially, Yu Qingtang considered holding hands but then thought that at their age, it might not be appropriate in front of an elder. Besides, he hadn’t discussed it with Xu Baizhang, worried about his own nervousness and worried about startling him.

Fortunately, Xu Baizhang didn’t seem to mind and readily accepted that level of closeness.

Dinner was prepared by their mother, with Yu Qingtang and Xu Baizhang acting as assistants. Once Father Yu arrived home from work, the whole family sat down to eat, enjoying a warm and happy time together.

The switch from “Uncle and Auntie” to “Dad and Mom” made the two elders beam from ear to ear.

Mother Yu put food on both their plates. “When are you planning to have the wedding?”

It was a perfectly normal question, but it caught both of them off guard.

Mother Yu: “You’re not planning to have one?”

Yu Qingtang tilted his head, asking for Xu Baizhang’s opinion.

Xu Baizhang held his chopsticks. “I’m fine with whatever you, Dad, and Mom decide. I respect your opinions.”

It wasn’t that Yu Qingtang didn’t want a wedding, but he genuinely hadn’t thought about it, plus both of them were quite busy with work.

Father Yu said, “Getting certificates is also considered as marriage. Let them decide about the wedding. Young people are afraid of trouble these days. If they don’t want to have one, then don’t.”

Mother Yu continued to serve them food. “Alright, your father and I won’t interfere. We just want you two to be harmonious and happy. If you ever decide you want a wedding, just tell us in advance.”

“Mhm, thank you, Dad and Mom.”

After dinner, their parents gave each of them a red envelope, which was stuffed full. The amount of money didn’t matter and was never the point; what mattered was the blessing and heartfelt sentiment from their parents enclosed in the red envelopes.

Before they left, Mother Yu took both their hands and placed them one on top of the other. “Your dad and I don’t ask for anything but for you two to be happy and fulfilled, to be considerate and supportive of each other in life, and to live your lives well.”

The two of them nodded to each other, and when they left, they kept their hands linked, maintaining the way their mother had put them together.

Xu Baizhang’s hand was on top, loosely hooking Yu Qingtang’s fingers from the side. With any reverse momentum or slight shake, their hands could easily separate.

They walked very slowly, even taking a ridiculously long route.

Yu Qingtang made very small movements, trying not to let their hands come apart. He saw through his own careful intention, finding it a bit self-deprecating.

He was nearly thirty years old, yet he was acting like he was in his teens. They were married, after all; they could do anything.

The evening breeze swept against his forehead, and his heart was pounding like a bell. Yu Qingtang decided to find a topic. “Dad and Mom truly like you; they are a thousand percent satisfied with you.”

Xu Baizhang gently rubbed Yu Qingtang’s ring, a touch as light as the wind displacing a fledgling’s feather. “And you, are you satisfied?”

Yu Qingtang used his fingertip to scratch his palm, like a wooden stick lightly striking a spark. “The person is already yours. Asking that… is too much.”

Suddenly, the loosely connected hand was grasped, and their fingers interlaced. The spark that had been struck was fully enclosed in his palm. Subject to this external force, Yu Qingtang’s entire body shifted toward Xu Baizhang.

His shoulder pressed against the other’s arm. Yu Qingtang belatedly realized that Xu Baizhang’s strength was truly great, in every sense of the word.

The herbal scent of breath was right beside him, just half an inch below his earlobe. Xu Baizhang said, “I will try my best to be a good husband.”

Yu Qingtang: “Me too.”