Chapter 374 – So Can We Be Together?
Although Huang Yuxian thought that Xu Xiangbei’s dislike for his daughter must be due to poor eyesight, he still asked the question.
“Yueyue, matters of the heart are hard to predict. You like Xiao Bei, but what if he doesn’t like you?”
“If he doesn’t like me, then I can’t force him,” Huang Minyue’s response surprised both Huang Yuxian and Bai Ling.
They had thought that if Huang Minyue, who had fallen for Xu Xiangbei at first sight, found that Xu Xiangbei didn’t like her, she might stubbornly want him to like her.
Unexpectedly, Yueyue’s answer was the opposite of what they had imagined.
“Mom and Dad, even though I like Brother Xiangbei, I also know that matters of the heart can’t be forced.”
“Moreover, I understand that only mutual affection can lead to a happy marriage. Forcing it will not bring happiness.” Huang Minyue was a very perceptive person and had grasped this truth about relationships.
She was someone who could both hold on and let go.
“But, before that, I have to try hard!”
Right now, she was putting in effort to make Xu Xiangbei like her as well.
If, in the end, the outcome was still unsatisfactory, she wouldn’t force it and would choose to let go.
“So, Mom and Dad… if Brother Xiangbei does end up liking me, can we be together?” This was actually the issue Huang Minyue was most worried about.
Because she remembered that her parents had told her that, as their only daughter, they hoped that their future son-in-law could marry into their family. And if that was impossible, she should find someone from Beijing, so they would be close and have some support in times of need.
However, Xu Xiangbei seemed to be different from what her parents had initially hoped for in many ways.
That’s why Huang Minyue felt anxious.
Bai Ling saw the anxiety in her daughter’s eyes, got up, and hugged Huang Minyue, who was sitting on the bed. Gently stroking her head, she said,
“Yueyue, the reason your dad and I hoped you would either marry someone willing to enter our family or find someone from Beijing was not for any other reason. We just wanted you to be nearby or in a place where we could support you if needed, to help you if anything came up, that’s all.”
Bai Ling knew that some families, with only one daughter, hoped she would marry someone willing to marry into their family to continue the family name, so that any future children would carry the daughter’s surname.
But Bai Ling and Huang Yuxian didn’t think that way.
They simply couldn’t bear the thought of their daughter marrying far away, fearing she might suffer hardships out of their sight, and they would be unaware and unable to help.
“But Yueyue, if you’re certain that Xiao Bei is your happiness and your future, then your dad and I have no reason to disagree.”
“Although I haven’t met Xiao Bei many times, I can sense that he is a good person.”
Bai Ling and Huang Yuxian, at their age, still had a good eye for character. Xu Xiangbei did indeed have good traits in terms of personality, character, and appearance.
He was also, as Xu Jinning had said, someone with potential and a promising future.
They weren’t so narrow-minded as to only see immediate benefits.
Of course, they would also accept Xu Xiangbei for another reason: he was Xu Jinning’s brother, and the two had a good relationship.
There was no doubt that Xu Jinning held a special place with them.
It was Xu Jinning’s appearance that had helped them and prevented their family from falling apart.
Xu Jinning was considered a lucky star, and they held him in high regard.
Naturally, Xu Xiangbei, who was recognized by Xu Jinning, was also seen as a good match.
So…
“Yueyue, if you and Xiao Bei both like each other, we won’t be opposed,” Bai Ling continued to repeat.
Huang Minyue was stunned and looked at her father, who gave a nod in agreement.
She hadn’t expected her parents to agree so easily to her relationship with Xu Xiangbei. Hearing her mother explain the reason for their preference for her to marry a local or into their family deeply touched her.
Her eyes began to well up with tears.
She reached out and hugged her mother tightly around the waist. “Mom and Dad, you, you are so wonderful…”
Her parents were truly amazing, always considering her and doing everything they could to provide her with the best.
“Mom and Dad, I’m really lucky to be your daughter.”
How fortunate she was to have such wonderful parents.
As she spoke, Huang Minyue’s tears fell.
“Don’t cry, silly child. Our Yueyue is so lovely, so filial, always so well-behaved and understanding, and like a little ray of sunshine. We’re the lucky ones to have you as our daughter. It makes us very happy.”
Huang Yuxian also came over and silently embraced his wife and daughter.
The family of three held each other close, filling the room with warmth.
By the time Huang Yuxian and Bai Ling left Huang Minyue’s room, they had reached a consensus.
Huang Yuxian and Bai Ling had no objections to Huang Minyue being with Xu Xiangbei.
However, if in the end Xu Xiangbei did not return her feelings, Huang Minyue should not force it or do anything demeaning.
After all, this was their precious child, cherished and pampered as if held in the palm of their hands.
She shouldn’t have to please others.
Huang Minyue gladly agreed.
That night, she slept soundly.
*
When Xu Jinning went back to class, she noticed that the number of students observing her had increased.
There was no other reason but her article.
To say that the article had made her a national sensation was not an exaggeration.
And after her exclusive interview was published in the Beijing Daily, she gained quite a few fans.
Of course, in this era, the concept of “fans” didn’t exist yet, but seeing the adoring and almost heart-eyed looks people gave her, Xu Jinning couldn’t be uncertain.
The buzz generated by the article was not something that would die down anytime soon.
Even if Xu Jinning wanted to keep a low profile, it was no longer possible.
While Huang Minyue continued her efforts to win over Xu Xiangbei, Xu Jinning finally received a task from Mr. Zhang.
The task was to work as a simultaneous interpreter.
It was for a large conference on textile trade held at the Beijing Hall, attended by representatives from various countries, and needed someone to provide simultaneous translation into English.
As the name implies, simultaneous interpretation means conveying the message in real time.
When someone spoke, the interpreter had to translate their words immediately after they were spoken.
This would be a significant test of the interpreter’s language skills, as well as their psychological resilience and adaptability.
Such a role is usually not assigned to an intern.
However, Mr. Zhang proposed Xu Jinning for the position of simultaneous interpreter.
Of course, before making it official, he needed to ask Xu Jinning’s opinion.
He also wanted to know if Xu Jinning was interested or felt capable of handling the task.
Xu Jinning hadn’t expected that her very first task as an intern would be simultaneous interpretation.
She knew what simultaneous interpretation entailed from watching TV in modern times.
Initially, Xu Jinning thought Mr. Zhang might assign her a role to follow and translate for foreign guests, not a demanding task like simultaneous interpretation.
