Did the world end today?

Chapter 258 You Can Now

Chapter 258 You Can Now (Third Update)

Half an hour later.

The security personnel had all been replaced with undercover sentries in advance, and Qin Feng had also changed into more inconspicuous civilian clothes and retreated to the other side of the street.

Lin Xu and Jiang Xingye stood at the entrance of their residence, watching the LX570 drive by in the distance.

Although Jiang Xingye spoke casually, Lin Xu was still somewhat nervous.

After all, the two had just agreed on their story, and Lin Xu hadn't even memorized his own "persona" yet.

All I can say is to adapt to the situation.

Anyway, if there are any problems that can't be explained clearly, just pass them on to Jiang Xingye.

The car had already stopped.

At Jiang Xingye's glance, the two immediately stepped forward and opened the back door of the car.

"Dad, Mom!"

"Auntie, uncle."

The two men called out to each other almost simultaneously, and the two men sitting inside responded with smiles on their faces.

"Hey, is this Lin Xu? Wow, this young man is quite handsome. Um, Lao Jiang, you go and move the luggage first."

Jiang Xingye's mother, Xu Jing, got out of the car, smiling kindly at Lin Xu as she extended her hand and said:
"Come on, let's shake hands too."

"Young talent, your aunt is also benefiting from this today."

"You're joking, Auntie."

Lin Xu quickly reached out and shook her hand, after which she asked:

"You live here? Is it a rented apartment or provided by your company?"

"It was arranged by my employer."

Lin Xu replied:
"No other colleagues have come to live with us yet, so I took advantage of the cheap offer."

"That's really great!"

Xu Jing nodded approvingly, then turned around and called out:
"Old Jiang, move the luggage!"

"They won't let me make a move!"

Behind him, Jiang Xingye's father, Jiang Huai, was struggling with the driver, trying to carry his own suitcase. The driver, who was actually a security guard, naturally wouldn't let him do it and picked up a suitcase in each hand without saying a word, and drove off.

"This young man is really strong."

"A soldier, right?"

After he finished speaking, Lin Xu's expression changed.

Fortunately, the driver, who had received prior training, wouldn't falter in such a situation. He simply turned around, smiled, and replied:
"You have good eyesight. I just got out of the army and bought a car to drive a luxury ride-hailing car."

"Very good, very good."

Jiang Huai answered casually and didn't pay much attention to it. Instead, he turned to look at Lin Xu and, like Xu Jing, extended his hand to Lin Xu.

"Lin Xu, right? Hello!"

Lin Xu grasped Jiang Huai's hand. He had expected Jiang Huai to shake his hand firmly like in the movies to intimidate him, but in reality, Jiang Huai just shook it casually and then let go.

"Come on, don't just stand there, let's go inside and see how your little home is doing!"

"no problem!"

As Lin Xu answered, he secretly thought to himself:
Ok?
Is this what a small family is like?
Why does it feel so smooth?

He led the way, and the group entered the room and sat down in the living room. Jiang Huai feigned surprise and said:
"Wow, a villa."

"Your company has great benefits!"

"Just a small perk."

Lin Xu was putting tea leaves into the cup, while Jiang Xingye was pouring boiling water into the cup in perfect coordination.

Seeing their actions, Jiang Huai and Xu Jing exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing a tacit understanding.

"Don't bother."

Jiang Huai gestured for Lin Xu to sit down, and then said:

"Since it's our first meeting, I didn't prepare any gifts for you, so let's each have a red envelope."

As he spoke, Jiang Huai directly took out red envelopes from his bag and handed them to the two men.

Lin Xu was completely stunned.

What the hell?

Although Jiang Xingye had prepared him in advance, he was still completely unprepared for this decisive and efficient style.

He didn't dare to reach out and take it, but Jiang Xingye chuckled and snatched the red envelope, stuffing it into his hand.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad!"

Lin Xu quickly followed up with Jiang Xingye and said:
"Thank you, uncle and aunt."

"Need not."

Jiang Huai waved his hand, leaned back on the sofa, and said:
"Anyway, Ono has already told us about your situation, and she has already made her decision."

"We don't have much say in this regard."

"However, I trust my daughter's judgment; the person she chooses will definitely be fine."

"So, I won't ask any more questions about your relationship."

"So, what shall we talk about?"

He looked up at the ceiling, where the chandelier reflected the sunlight streaming through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a slightly "luxurious" glow.

At this moment, he was truly somewhat bewildered.

After all, it wasn't just Lin Xu; it was also his first time experiencing such a scene.

He had no idea what to say or do.

The only thing I know is...
It seems my daughter, whom I've worried about for over twenty years, is about to get married.

So fast.

Jiang Huai sighed, sat up straight again, and stared intently at Lin Xu. After a long while, he suddenly spoke:
"never mind."

"Let's eat first!"

Lin Xu couldn't help but laugh.

Is this hereditary?

You know what, Jiang Xingye's personality is really quite like her father's. She exudes a calm and carefree vibe, and if she really encounters something she can't figure out, her first reaction is to eat first.
However, this was exactly what Lin Xu wanted.

He was genuinely unaccustomed to and not quite comfortable with awkward conversations with elders.

Maybe after having a couple of drinks at the dinner table, once the conversation starts flowing, we can have a more enjoyable chat?
It was lunchtime, so Lin Xu took out his phone and sent a message. The chef, who had been preparing in advance, immediately knocked on the door and brought in the prepared ingredients one by one.

The dishes were plentiful, even a bit too much for four people.

Jiang and Huai kept saying "It's such a waste," but it was clear they were enjoying their meal.

Lin Xu acted as a tool throughout, pouring wine and serving food while listening to Jiang Huai talk about Jiang Xingye's childhood anecdotes.

After a few drinks, Jiang Huai was also a little drunk.

He switched seats with Jiang Xingye, sat next to Lin Xu, and put his arm around his shoulder, saying:

"Kobayashi"

"To be honest, I'm very unhappy about coming here today."

"I think it's too informal."

"Too informal!"

"How could you do this? You didn't even call us. We only saw the photos Ono sent us on our phones, and then she told us that it was settled. How can this be?!"

After he finished speaking, Lin Xu couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

Honestly, if Jiang Xingye's actions were taken by other normal couples, it would be more than just "unofficial".

That's child's play.

No parent could accept such childishness, so the fact that Jiang Huai didn't turn on him on the spot after seeing him truly shows his high level of self-control.

He wanted to say something to explain, but Jiang Huai had already continued talking.

"Actually, we had already had a fight with your aunt at home before we came."

"Ono asked me to bring my household registration book. I know what she means."

"But I'm not willing to accept it. I'm not willing to let my daughter get married without any explanation."

"I had a huge fight with your aunt and we've been giving each other the silent treatment for a week."

"She agrees, but I disagree."

Jiang Huai, whose alcohol tolerance wasn't very high, was starting to become somewhat rambling, even exhibiting the typical drunken manner of speaking. When Lin Xu tried to speak up for Jiang Xingye and take the blame himself, he raised his hand, glared at him, and said:

"you listen to me!"

Lin Xu had no choice but to shut up.

He looked in Jiang Xingye's direction as if seeking help, only to see that she and Xu Jing had already huddled together and started examining the stroller.

The Jianghuai region here can only rely on itself to cope.

Listen to me.

Jiang Huai leaned close to Lin Xu's ear and then whispered:
“We still brought our household registration book, but I wasn’t originally planning to give it to you.”

"I was thinking, what's so great about you that you can kidnap my daughter like this?"

"But after I arrived, I understood why."

Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat, and his expression stiffened.

Jiang Huai seemed very satisfied with his reaction and said smugly:
"Xiao Lin, your Uncle Jiang isn't so easily fooled."

"Ono said you're working on a project with official cooperation within a private company, and that your work involves classified information, right?"

Lin Xu forced a nod and replied:
"correct."

Jiang Huai picked up a stool and moved Lin Xu away from Jiang Xingye and the other person.

Then, he said mysteriously:
"I don't think it's that simple."

Lin Xu frowned.

Were you seen through?
He didn't speak. Jiang Huai gagged and continued:

"Your uncle used to work in a design institute too."

"Although I later went into business and started a small business, I also had experience with classified projects when I was at the design institute."

"I don't know if it's because you haven't done your job properly, or if you never intended to keep it from us in the first place."

"But if the work is not done properly, then some of you comrades will be disciplined."

"How to say?"

Lin Xu asked softly:

Why should I be disciplined?

“You guys, especially you, are not that simple.”

Jiang Huai continued:

“Your aunt doesn’t know, but I can see it clearly.”

“This villa of yours is not a company dormitory at all.”

"Many of the cars parked around here have passes, so this place isn't just an ordinary villa area."

“There are guards outside your villa; they're all watching us.”

"Also, although the car that picked us up was a ride-hailing vehicle, what luxury ride-hailing car doesn't come with bottled water?"

"The young man driving is also an active-duty officer; he has calluses on his fingers, probably from firing guns."

"You guys are doing something big, aren't you?"

Lin Xu neither nodded nor shook his head.

These things can all be explained, and cannot be considered real "evidence," much less the fault of the security personnel.

However, Jiang Huai is Jiang Xingye's father.

His understanding of Jiang Xingye, combined with what he had seen, was actually enough for him to make a judgment.

Denial is pointless, and he won't believe it anyway.

Seeing Lin Xu's expression, Jiang Huai exhaled a heavy breath of alcohol.

He seemed to have finally let go of the last bit of guard in his heart, and his whole demeanor relaxed.

Patting Lin Xu on the shoulder, he began to speak:
"If you don't say anything, that means you're admitting it."

"It's okay, you don't need to tell me the specifics."

"All I know is that my Xiaoye wouldn't have done this if she didn't have some unavoidable reason."

"It's already very kind of you to be able to see us even once. How many people like you haven't seen their families for decades?"

Jiang Huai's eyes sparkled, and his face showed a hint of pride.

But more than anything, it felt like a sense of "melancholy".

Would he really want his daughter to "do something big"?

Perhaps more than any major event, he hoped that Jiang Xingye could live a peaceful and safe life.

"Okay, no more words."

Jiang Huai picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

That's all for today, that's all for now.

"We brought our household registration booklet."

As he spoke, Jiang Huai staggered to his feet and took out his household registration booklet from his bag on the sofa.

Then, he solemnly handed the household registration booklet to Lin Xu with both hands.

"Today, I am entrusting my daughter to you."

"I don't care who you are."

Jiang Huai lowered his voice.

"No matter what you're doing, you must protect her."

Lin Xu also accepted the household registration booklet with both hands.

Then, he answered solemnly:

"Uncle, I promise you."

"No matter where or where, I will do everything in my power to protect her."

The meal lasted from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the family banquet finally came to an end when Jiang Huai passed out drunk at the table.

Lin Xu and Jiang Xingye took her parents to their arranged accommodation. When they returned, the dining room and living room had been cleaned up.

The security personnel hadn't returned yet, and there were only the two of them in the huge villa.

The two sat on the sofa, looking out at the city lights, with the dark red household registration book on the coffee table in front of them.

"I suddenly have the feeling that I'm already married."

Lin Xu began to speak:
"Don't we look like a newlywed couple who have just seen off their guests and are preparing for their wedding night?"

"You know what, it really does look a bit like it."

Jiang Xingye answered thoughtfully, then asked:

So what do you think of my parents?

"very good."

Lin Xu replied:
“I feel that you have inherited a lot of your father’s good qualities—he has actually realized that what we are doing is not so simple, but he just hasn’t told your mother.”

"You can't hide it from him."

Jiang Xingye sighed.

"They'll find out sooner or later, but it's not a big burden for them."

"At least in this world, we are not in great danger."

"Indeed."

Lin Xu let out a soft breath and was about to reach for the household registration book when Jiang Xingye grabbed it first.

Then, she said with a sly smile:

"Come here, I'll show you something good."

"What good stuff?"

Lin Xu followed Jiang Xingye toward the room, and Jiang Xingye slammed the door shut behind him.

At this point, Lin Xu was still somewhat confused.

But Jiang Xingye had already hugged him.