Chapter 260 - 257: Professor Xiao
Li Xiu looked up at Zhou Lian with a gentle gaze and smiled softly. His Bao’er was as kind-hearted as ever. He said dotingly, "Alright, whatever Bao’er says. From now on, I’ll be as devoted to them as I would be to our own elders."
’That’s easy enough,’ he thought. ’His grand-uncle and third uncle both have their own sons and daughters. The most I could do was spend a little more money and send some more gifts. With their own children around, they won’t need me, Li Xiu, to support them in their old age or see to their final arrangements. It’s just a matter of being more thoughtful when things come up! Since Bao’er said so, I’ll just do it. It isn’t a big deal.’
By the time they finished putting everything away, it was the middle of the night. They exchanged a helpless smile. ’What a sweet burden!’
With the New Year only about ten days away, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian left the task of taking the kids to Professor Xiao’s house to Sister Fang. The couple themselves went to the mall day after day, buying, buying, buying, and bringing home bags of all sizes. In just a few days, they had gotten everything ready for the festivities, except for new clothes.
One day, Li Xiu had Zhou Lian stay home to rest while he went out alone. He headed straight for the old tailor who made their clothes. He had placed an order with the tailor long ago for new outfits for the change of seasons and the New Year. Initially, he had only commissioned clothes for Zhou Lian, but now the man made them for the whole family of four. It was rumored that the old master’s ancestors had been imperial tailors in the palace. No one knew if it was true, but his craftsmanship was absolutely top-notch!
When Li Xiu returned, he was carrying two huge bags full of clothes. Staring at the pile on the bed, Zhou Lian said helplessly, "Jin Chen, I already have more clothes than I can wear. Why did you buy even more? There are still so many new outfits in my closet that I haven’t even tried on!"
"It’s fine. You can take your time wearing them," Li Xiu said nonchalantly, looking up at her with a gentle expression. He was in the middle of sorting the clothes by color; they all needed a wash before they could be worn. "They’re classic styles made from high-quality material. They aren’t too flashy, so they won’t go out of fashion. You can just slowly work your way through them!"
Zhou Lian sighed and rubbed her forehead as a headache began to form. Watching the perpetually busy Li Xiu, she said softly, "Jin Chen, my closet is about to burst!"
"Huh? Oh, that’s no problem," Li Xiu replied distractedly. "Come spring, I’ll just have someone build you a few more wardrobes. We have plenty of rooms, so there’s space!"
Knowing she couldn’t win against him, Zhou Lian gave up. ’I’ll just let him do what he wants,’ she thought. ’I finally understand: Li Xiu has gone a little overboard, especially when it comes to me. The man wishes he could lock me away in a sterile bubble where my only job is to eat, drink, play, and be happy.’
As the Spring Festival drew closer, a festive mood filled even the streets. This year, Zhou Lian wanted to invite her professor and her husband to celebrate with them. Professor Xiao and her husband didn’t have any children, and besides a few distant relatives, they had no other family. Every year, the elderly couple celebrated the holiday alone. In the past, Zhou Lian’s family would usually go back to their hometown for the New Year, but this year, she felt she had to fulfill her duty as a student.
"Jin Chen, I’d like to invite my professor and her husband over for the New Year. They..." Zhou Lian got straight to the point with Li Xiu. Ever since she’d learned the truth about him, she no longer stood on ceremony.
Li Xiu gazed at her with a gentle, doting expression. "Of course," he said. "I’ll go with you to Professor Xiao’s later. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll persuade them to come, okay?"
’I knew I could count on him.’ Zhou Lian nodded, beaming. She picked up her book from the table and went back to reading. The underfloor heating kept the room as warm as a spring day. Wearing her glasses, Zhou Lian sat on the carpet, leaning against the sofa and reading quietly.
Li Xiu could see her just by lifting his head. He was currently in the middle of writing Spring Festival couplets. Between the three-courtyard house, the small *siheyuan* by the university, the two newly purchased four-courtyard mansions, and the garden villa, it was no small amount of work!
These days, the two children and Sister Fang spent most of the daytime at Professor Xiao’s. The kids would study with the professor and her husband, while Sister Fang helped tidy the house, bought groceries, and cooked lunch. She would then bring the children home in the afternoon.
Around noon, Li Xiu packed up some braised meats and other delicacies from their kitchen, and together he and Zhou Lian went to Professor Xiao’s home. Professor Xiao was delighted to see her student and the father of her "grand-disciples." She cherished Zhou Lian, not only teaching her everything she knew but also having her husband hold nothing back in teaching Zhou Lian subjects she found interesting. As for Nuonuo and Yanyan, she doted on them even more than their own parents, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian, did!
"Professor, Jin Chen and I have come to scrounge a meal!" Zhou Lian was always her genuine self with Professor Xiao, never putting on airs.
Professor Xiao and her husband were delighted to see the couple. Their home was usually quite lonely, only becoming lively when Yanyan and Nuonuo were there. Zhou Lian hadn’t been able to visit as much in the last half-year; she had, after all, just started a new job and was still in the adjustment period.
"Come in, sit down! Your professor and Sister Fang went to the market today and bought a lot of groceries. Perfect! Jin Chen and I will have a drink at lunch!" the professor’s husband said with a smile, looking at the handsome couple. "And Zhou Lian, you’re not allowed to object!" ’This Li Jincheng is a good man in every respect,’ he thought, ’he just listens to his wife a bit too much.’
Seeing how happy her mentor’s husband was, a rare sight, Zhou Lian didn’t want to spoil his fun. She agreed readily, "Of course! I’ll let Jin Chen have a good drink with you today!"
The table was laden with food, and adults and children alike ate with gusto. Zhou Lian saw her mentor’s husband still insisting on drinking with Jin Chen, but she didn’t interfere. Instead, she asked Sister Fang to take the children to a separate room the professor had prepared for them to rest. She then led her professor into the study. After brewing tea and handing a cup to the professor, Zhou Lian sat on the sofa and began to take small sips from her own cup. This was a tea that Li Xiu had gone to great lengths to acquire for her, and she adored it. However, Li Xiu strictly limited her intake. Zhou Lian had had a weak digestive system since she was young and was supposed to avoid things like tea whenever possible. He only let her have a small amount because he knew how much she enjoyed it.
"If you love it that much, then drink up," Professor Xiao teased with a smile. "After all, Jin Chen was the one who brought this tea to me!"
Zhou Lian waved her hand dismissively. "I’ve had a weak stomach since I was little," she said with a helpless sigh. "Jin Chen controls how much tea I drink."
Professor Xiao chuckled and shook her head. "Alright, what is it?" she said suddenly. "Spit it out. Beating around the bush isn’t like you."
Zhou Lian took a deliberately calm sip of her tea and said nonchalantly, "It’s nothing, really. Jin Chen and I just wanted to see you and your husband. Oh, actually, Jin Chen is the one who has business with you, not me!"
"Oh, stop it. You think I don’t know you by now? Just tell me, what is it?"
"It’s about the New Year," Zhou Lian said, her eyes still fixed on her cup. "We’re not going back to our hometown this year, so Jin Chen and I were hoping to spend it with you and your husband. I wanted to ask... should our family of four and Sister Fang come celebrate here, or would you and your husband prefer to come to our house?" She didn’t dare lift her head as she spoke. ’My professor is the most stubborn person I know; persuading her is no small feat. If I look at her, she might just shoot me down on the spot, and then I won’t get another chance to ask!’