1979: My fiancée is a goddess

(It was originally written on the second to last page, before Japan was included.)

But if I wrote it in, the atmosphere and feel wouldn't be right, which is why I didn't update yesterday.
The sound of footsteps echoed softly in the quiet morning.

Cheng Kaiyan walked up the stairs step by step, casually looking around.

The wooden handrails, once painted with a bright varnish, are now mottled and rotten, and the iron railings are covered with layers of rough, dark red rust.

The plaster on the walls began to peel and shed dust, and cracks were faintly visible at the corners of the stairs.

Five years have passed, and this former dormitory building of Beijing Normal University has become old and worn, like yesterday's flowers.

What's popular now are rows of small villas rising from the ground, with private bathrooms with hot water, private kitchens, and private balconies...

The old-style tenement buildings, known as the Khrushchev Building, were already a thing of the past in 1987, a special year marked by the booming market economy.

Not just buildings...

This society is rapidly and forcefully changing people's perceptions, thoughts, and moral values.

"It was a really special year. In a few more years, it will be the 1990s."

Cheng Kaiyan shook her head with a sigh and quickened her pace upstairs.

The corridor was bustling with noise, from children crying to arguments and cooking.

He walked to the familiar door and was about to knock.

"Snap!"

The door opened, and a soft, white light seeped out from the crack.

A delicate, cool fragrance quickly entered his heart, as if its owner was eager to know what it was.

"morning!"

Cheng Kaiyan raised her hand in greeting.

"morning."

The beautiful woman glanced at him, and a faint smile slowly appeared on her cold face, but her whole demeanor was like a spring flower blooming on a blanket of snow.

Five years have passed, but time, like melting ice and snow, has left no trace on her.

She will turn thirty-eight this year, and she is as beautiful as ever, as mature as a peach dripping with sweet juice.

Her skin was as fair and tender as a twenty-year-old girl's, rosy and radiant, without a trace of wrinkles or dullness.

Because the living room was heated, she was only wearing a black turtleneck sweater, which contrasted sharply with her swan-like neck and pale skin.

The baby was still plump and full, proud and beautiful, stretching the front of her sweater tightly, making Cheng Kaiyan worry that she might not be able to breathe.

Further down the lines of the sweater is her slender waist, which tapers rapidly.

Unlike Xiaoli's flat and firm abdomen, her lower abdomen protruded slightly like a marshmallow, resembling Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology...

Cheng Kaiyan was somewhat lost in thought, feeling immense satisfaction and pride.

Over the years, Cheng Kaiyan has gradually become aware of her own specialness.

One's own essence and blood seem to contain some unique power that can prompt one to evolve in a more perfect direction, and even more miraculously, it can resist the erosion of time...

While it doesn't achieve the miraculous effect of eternal youth, its effect in delaying aging is quite obvious.

Perhaps it was precisely because of his special nature that Xiaoli tacitly accepted some of his transgressions, such as those involving his aunt...

"Don't just stand there, come in. Have you eaten?"

Jiang Ting glanced at him coldly, her narrow phoenix eyes revealing a hint of disdain, yet also a touch of faint joy.

"not yet."

"I've made dumplings, just have a bite."

Jiang Ting took the initiative to reach out and grasp the wrist of the person in front of her, pulling him into the house.

"They've actually started making dumplings?"

After changing into a pair of his own men's cotton slippers, Cheng Kaiyan stood outside the kitchen, watching the beautiful woman's retreating figure, and chuckled lightly as he teased her.

"I've been learning to cook lately, and I even make dumplings on the train and noodles when I get off."

Jiang Ting explained without turning her head.

"Cooking? What's with this sudden change?"

Cheng Kaiyan asked curiously.

"Let's prepare for...the future..."

Jiang Ting glanced back at him, her usually cold and indifferent face suddenly flushed with a shy blush, and she stammered.

"Then Ah Ting, you should study hard, and then you'll be able to taste your cooking."

Cheng Kaiyan sighed helplessly, suppressing her curiosity.

What a strange and suspicious woman.

"It's not for your sake."

Jiang Ting returned to normal, gave a cold snort, and spoke in a calm and composed tone.

The dumplings were cooked quickly, and the woman even added cold water to bring them to a boil again.

Cheng Kaiyan shook her head. It seemed she had learned it from a recipe, doing it very meticulously.

"Eat up, then we'll pack our things and head out."

Jiang Ting quickly brought a large bowl of steaming dumplings to Cheng Kaiyan.

"It looks pretty good..."

Cheng Kaiyan looked at the white, jade-like dumplings in front of her, their surface drenched in red chili oil. Under the seemingly calm and indifferent but subtly expectant gaze of the icy beauty, she picked one up and popped it into her mouth.

"Mmm! It's delicious!"

The fragrant juices flowed out first, followed by lean pork wrapped in scallions, which made Cheng Kaiyan's eyes light up. He praised it with great delight.

"Eat more if you like it, I have more here."

Jiang Ting nodded calmly and pushed her bowl over. The two of them ate breakfast with relish, and by the time they finished eating and getting ready, it was almost nine o'clock. They quickly went downstairs to catch their ride.

Private car ownership was permitted in 87, and the total number of cars in the country was two to three thousand.

Cheng Kaiyan's royalties over the years, both domestic and international, amount to an astronomical figure, which he can certainly afford.

But that would be too ostentatious for a minor leader in the writers' association, especially since his workplace also provided him with a car, a Santana.

"Secretary-General Cheng, Professor Jiang, good morning."

The driver greeted him respectfully.

"Hello driver, thank you for your help again."

The two of them carried their luggage onto the car and set off.

The car wasn't going fast, but the road was in excellent condition, leading directly to the airport in less than an hour.

Check in, board the plane and take your seat.

With the hum of the engines, a feeling of weightlessness enveloped my entire body as the plane took off.

"Is this a newly introduced aircraft?"

As the plane soared into the clouds, Cheng Kaiyan and Jiang Ting relaxed and chatted casually.

"Hmm, I heard it's Boeing's latest series. I wonder when we'll be able to fly on a domestically produced plane."

"It will happen, isn't that what Jiajia is doing?"

"How long has it been since you last visited her? She's so busy right now, and you don't even bother to see the kids or spend time with her. Do you know how much Tangtang misses you?"

Jiang Ting nodded, then turned to Cheng Kaiyan and pressed her for an answer.

"Cough cough... I'd like to too, but what if I go and get no welcome?"

Cheng Kaiyan gave a helpless bitter smile; this matter was a long story.

These five years have not been peaceful and stable. A major upheaval occurred, with extremely serious impact and consequences, almost leading to the separation of wives and children.

At this very moment, Xiaoli was going to the Beijing Dance Academy for training and would be staying at her aunt's house.

And her aunt's diary, which contained many secrets, was exposed to Xiaoli's eyes after Ning Wanjia carelessly left the drawer unlocked after she secretly read it one day. Also exposed was the gold bracelet that was supposed to be hers...

Cheng Kaiyan didn't know how things ended.

All I remember is that hot afternoon when Xiaoli and he had a huge fight. It was the first time they had ever argued so fiercely and violently...

They were almost on the verge of divorce.

With red eyes, she forced back her tears and left home, never to return.

Cheng Kaiyan drowned her sorrows in alcohol and drank a lot of it.

I vaguely remember my aunt bringing Ning Wanjia over that night to apologize to them and saying that she planned to leave the country and never come back.

Ning Wanjia cried and apologized to him, saying she would do anything to be forgiven.

He drank too much that night and couldn't remember anything except that he seemed to have made a big mistake.

But the next morning, the house was clean and tidy, as if nothing had happened.

Aunt and Ning Wanjia have also disappeared without a trace, as if they had never been here at all.

A few days later, Xiaoli returned.

I don't know what she talked about with her aunt, but the matter just passed by in a blur.

This incident became a taboo subject between them that could never be mentioned.

That drunken night led to the current chaotic yet stable emotional situation.

Fortunately, times have changed.

In short, he also has a daughter, who is his and Ning Wanjia's, and her nickname is Tangtang.

"Hmph! You have the nerve to be afraid of this? Now you know you have some shame? You were drunk that night and..."

Jiang Ting responded with sarcasm, then abruptly stopped, and solemnly instructed, "No matter what, it's your fault. This year you must bring gifts and visit Minghua's family to wish them a Happy New Year."

"Okay, okay, I'll go, alright?"

"That's more like it. Um... Kaiyan, I..."

"what happened?"

Cheng Kaiyan leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed and asked lazily.

"Xiaoli, Jiajia and the others all have children. I...we should have a child too. Auntie wants a child too..."

The beautiful woman leaned close to Cheng Kaiyan's ear, mustered her courage, and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

That once cold and aloof pretty face was now filled with immense shame, so red it seemed to drip blood.

"Ke Xiaoli..."

"Xiaoli agreed, are you really going to let your aunt grow old alone? Auntie, Auntie wants a child too!"

The icy beauty actually held Cheng Kaiyan's hand and swayed it against her soft, perky chest, unusually acting coquettishly.

"Well, that explains why Xiaoli said those strange things to me before she left. You learned to cook because of the child..."

"Of course I have no problem, but Auntie, you're considered an advanced maternal age..."

"Shut up! Don't say anything!"

The usually aloof and composed beauty was overcome with shame and even reached out to cover Cheng Kaiyan's mouth in a fit of anger.

Amidst their quiet banter, the two finalized the matter.

Jiang Ting leaned contentedly on Cheng Kaiyan's shoulder, closed her eyes happily, and imagined a bright and peaceful future.

"Will it be a boy or a girl? Xiaoli and Jiajia are both girls, shouldn't we have a boy by now?"

Hmm... my baby should be a boy, definitely tall and handsome, smart and clever like Xiao Yan! (End of Chapter)