Today, Friday, Jian Hang was going back to her parents’ place for dinner. She headed there after she got off work in the evening.

At the gate of the community, she saw her mother carrying supermarket bags.

Jian Hang lightly stepped on the brakes and called her from the car window, “Mom.”

Chen Yu turned around but found no one.

“Mom, where are you looking? I’m right here!”

Chen Yu followed the sound of the voice and saw the sports car. She was amused by herself, “I didn’t see you.”

Her daughter’s car was white, but now there was a dark gray car stopped in front of her. Even just seeing its streamlined body from the side, without seeing the logo, she knew that this kind of sports car was worth a lot of money. It was understandable Chen Yu didn’t associate this car with her daughter at all.

Jian Hang lowered her chin and said, “Mom, get in the car.”

Chen Yu put the supermarket bags in the trunk and got into the passenger seat.

She thought about the plate numbers restricted for today’s traffic; but her daughter’s car was not restricted today¹. “Has your car been sent for maintenance?”

Chen Yu thought that her daughter was temporarily driving a colleague’s car.

Jian Hang smiled, “I received this as a Valentine’s Day gift.”

“Cars are not cheap.”

“Yeah. I also received a bag.” Jian Hang changed the subject, “Mom, what did you buy in the supermarket?”

“I bought some candy and chocolate.”

Their family rarely eats candy. “Do you plan to give it away?” Jian Hang asked.

“Your father’s colleague wanted to introduce you to someone. Your father said that you have already obtained a marriage certificate, so they asked your father to give out wedding candies as a joke.”

When the mother and daughter arrived home, Jian Zhongjun had taken out the good tea and was putting it in a gift box.

“Dad, what are you doing?”

“I will send this to Old Gu. When his daughter got married, he gave me wedding candies and cigarettes. Old Gu doesn’t smoke, so I exchanged the cigarettes for tea. It’s good to reciprocate.”

Teacher Gu and her father have been colleagues for almost thirty years, and the two have always had a good relationship.

“Dad, Tan Feng called me today and asked me to say ‘hello’ to you.”

Jian Zhongjun was packing candies and chocolates. When he heard this, he looked up and said, “You plan to cooperate again?”

“No.” Jian Hang did not tell her parents about Mrs. Gao. 

Her parents’ network and relationships were relatively simple, and they wouldn’t know anything that happened in her circle.

She gave a random reason, “He just asked me for a client’s number.

“Tan Feng also said that he will return to China soon and he will visit you then.”

Jian Hang felt that something was different about her father today, “Hey, Dad, turn around and show me.”

“Show you what?”

Jian Hang smiled, “Dad had his hair dyed.”

Jian Zhongjun was a little embarrassed at his daughter’s teasing and pushed her away, “I’m working.”

When she received the marriage certificate, the happiest person was probably her father. He had been in high spirits since the event and even had his hair dyed. Right now, he looked like he was in his early forties.

Before meeting Qin Moling, she had had no intention of getting married and had completely achieved financial freedom. She felt that being alone was very good.

She had a serious talk about this with her parents, and her father was silent for a long time. After careful consideration, he said that as long as she was happy, he fully supported it.

Since that day, her father had given up smoking and continued to exercise every day. He no longer drove to school but walked there, to and fro.

She knew everything without her father having to say anything: he wanted to have a healthy body so he could stay with her for a few more years.

Later, she decided to get the marriage certificate, partly because the Qin family treated her well and Qin Moling has good skin², but also partly to reassure her parents.

… …

On Sunday afternoon, Jian Hang gave herself a half-day holiday.

Her two best friends were both abroad. After returning to China, her life had become extremely monotonous. She only did two things: make money and play online games.

After working overtime until noon, she went directly to her grandparents’ store to have lunch with them.

The store was not busy in the afternoon, so grandpa took this time to go for a walk in a nearby park. Grandma took out a magnifying glass to read the newspaper. Jian Hang leaned on the recliner and logged into the game.

Lin Xiao called Qin Xing. “Where are you?”

Qin Xing: “I don’t have time. My brother is moving, and I have to drive his precious cars to his new home.”

Lin Xiao roped in some other friends to form a team, and he told Little Olive, “Qin Xing is helping his older brother move houses. He has no time. Let’s just play first.”

All of Lin Xiao’s friends in the game were real life friends, with the exception of Little Olive. They habitually called each other by their real names when they were playing.

“Little Olive, let’s meet. Don’t you like sports cars? When we meet up, Qin Xing and I will take you racing. Qin Xing’s older brother, their family’s limited-edition sports cars can’t be counted! We’ll take you for a spin to broaden your horizons.”

Jane Hang: [I have it at home.]

Of course, Qin Moling’s cars could now be counted as her own family’s cars.

Lin Xiao: “How can it be the same? What you drive in the game are just sports car skins.”

Jian Hang: “…”

… advance chapters available @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

Over at the villa, Qin Xing has already driven four cars over. He took the initiative to help today—after all, in one day, he would be able to drive all of Qin Moling’s limited-edition sports cars. He would never have this opportunity in normal times.

Qin Moling treasured these cars very much and basically didn’t lend them out to anyone.

There were limited parking spaces in the villa, so Qin Moling told Qin Xing, “Leave the other cars in the basement.”

Qin Xing was not satisfied with driving yet, “Aren’t there two more parking spaces?” He also wanted to drive two more cars from the apartment’s basement parking.

“The other two spaces are for Jian Hang.” Qin Moling took out a car key and gave it to him. “This car is still in the basement. You can drive it.”

Qin Xing blinked, not believing what he heard. Qin Moling said he can drive it. Did he mean to give it to him?

The dream was indeed a bit too beautiful, but he didn’t dare to dream it during the day.

Qin Moling added, “I’m giving your birthday gift this year in advance.”

Qin Xing grabbed the car keys, fearing that Qin Moling would regret it. His older cousin was actually very generous to him. From college to now, all the cars he received have been given to him by Qin Moling.

It’s just that he has been thinking about this car for several years now, but he couldn’t buy it even if he had the money, so he was deathly afraid that his cousin would take it back.

“Older brother, please thank my sister-in-law for me.”

Qin Moling was confused, “I gave you the car, why are you thanking her?”

“It feels like you’ve become more generous since you got married.”

Qin Xing couldn’t wait to get the car and go to Lin Xiao to show off. The car was still in the basement of Qin Moling’s apartment. He didn’t have time to talk to Qin Moling anymore and asked the driver to take him back to the apartment.

… …

Qin Moling entered the villa, and Aunt Geng and the others were unpacking.

When he lived in the apartment, Aunt Geng did not live there with him. The apartment was no smaller than the villa, but it only had one floor, making it inconvenient to have people stay in. He was not used to having other people in his home.

When moving to the villa, he asked Aunt Geng and a few others to stay. From now on, Jian Hang will also live here and that would make it more convenient to take care of her.

Aunt Geng was opening a package that had just arrived.

Qin Moling asked, “Who sent it?”

“The old madam ordered essential bath oils.” It was intended for Jian Hang, of course. Aunt Geng inspected the bottles and saw that it had specific temperature requirements, and the shelf life was only for six months.

Aunt Geng said, “I will put it in the kitchen refrigerator first.”

“No need. There is a built-in refrigerator in the master’s bathroom,” Qin Moling said.

Aunt Geng only just came here today. She did not clean the villa before, so she didn’t know the design of the bathroom in the master’s bedroom.

Qin Moling reached out and said, “Give them to me and I’ll bring it up.” 

The built-in refrigerator in the bathroom was specially designed for Jian Hang to store cosmetics that she needed to keep refrigerated.

After putting the essential oils in the refrigerator, Qin Moling went to the cloakroom to sort out his clothes. He hung his clothes in the closet and left the portion near the mirror for Jian Hang.

Maarriage First, Love Later translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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Chapter 8.1 — Wednesday Night Phone Call (1/30)
Chapter 8.2 — Wednesday Night Phone Call (1/31)

Chapter 9.1 — Pick Her Up (2/1)
Chapter 9.2 — Pick Her Up (2/2)

Chapter 10.1 — See The Exhibition (2/3)
Chapter 10.2 — See The Exhibition (2/4)
Chapter 10.3 — See The Exhibition (2/5)

1. China is combating road congestion and traffic pollution in its major cities by rationing the available license plates—a portion goes to a lottery system; another goes to an auction, with the auspicious numbers going into special auctions. The ratio between the supply and demand is so bad that you only have 6% chance of winning in the lottery and, of course, only those who can afford it can join the auction. In a lot of instances, the license plate is more expensive than the car itself—it’s why you sometimes see characters in c-novels mention how impressive an ML’s license plate is.
   
   In addition, they regulate the number of cars on the road by designating certain hours of the day as off-limits for plate numbers that end in certain numbers, say, those that end on 1 and 2 are not allowed on Monday morning and evening rush hours.
   
   Chen Yu knew that Jiang Hang’s white car was not restricted for today so she wondered if it was sent for maintenance. 
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2. ‘Skin’ in Buddhist terms refers to the outer form of a person and is different from what’s inside, leading to phrases like ‘not everyone with good skin has a good heart’ or ‘he’s just good skin’ for someone who’s useless everywhere else—like Lin Xiao probably? hahaha. I do love the guy 😅
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