Luo Yuli waited in his car for nearly two hours, parking it directly in front of the tavern. If Chu Lin came, she wouldn’t miss him.

“Linlin, I’m at your tavern.”

That was his first and last sentence. She hung up immediately, without saying a word.

After two hours and fifteen minutes, Luo Yuli couldn’t help but wonder if he was just imagining things. Even if she had opened the tavern to wait for her ex-boyfriend, he wasn’t the only one who fit the bill.

He had spent the past two years in this state of anxiety and jealousy.

She had no idea how hurtful her words, “Anyway, I never loved you,” had been.

In those two and a half hours, Luo Yuli did only two things: look up at the windshield and glance at his watch.

Looking up again, this time, a tall figure came into view.

It was late October, and two cold waves had already arrived, yet she was only wearing a long white shirt, all buttons undone, revealing a dragon fruit-colored knitted vest underneath, and a brown coat in her hand.

Luo Yuli quickly opened the car door and got out.

He had longed for her day and night, yearning to the point of obsession, but now that they were face to face, the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat.

“Where’s your car?”

He could found no more suitable opening line; this one felt the least awkward.

Chu Lin’s eyes were clear and bright, showing no trace of tears.

He looked into her eyes; she wasn’t wearing makeup today, having gone out completely bare-faced.

Chu Lin replied casually, “I didn’t drive.” She had taken off her coat because she was hot from walking.

She took a few more steps forward, her tips of her shoes touching his, her fingertips slipping between the buttons of his shirt, poking his firm abs a few times. 

A smirk played on her lips, “Your first love dumped you again?”

“…”

Luo Yuli knew that with her so close and so direct, there wouldn’t be any pleasantries waiting for him.

“Your first love even showed up at your family banquet, what else do you have to say?”

“By the way, your first love told me herself a couple of days ago that she and her boyfriend are getting engaged soon, and she hopes I can be happy too.”

She looked at him with a half-smile, her eyes like knives, each one stabbing him.

Luo Yuli finally understood why she had walked over, leaving him hanging with hatred and resentment.

He met her gaze, “She was brought by my mother, I didn’t say a word to her.”

Chu Lin still smiled, “You guys are quite health-conscious, emphasizing not speaking while eating. What about in the bedroom? Doesn’t the old saying go ‘no speaking in the bedroom¹‘? Do you talk in bed?”

“Chu Lin!”

Luo Yuli couldn’t bear it any longer, grabbing her waist with one hand and the back of her head with the other, biting down on her lips.

A piercing pain shot through Chu Lin, and tears almost fell.

She tried to kick him, but Luo Yuli was experienced with her, and before she could lift her leg, he pressed it back down with his hand.

Unlike before, he didn’t restrain her or punish her. Luo Yuli simply blocked her thighs and thrust upwards, his kiss on her lips suddenly becoming gentle, lightly sucking and drawing.

Chu Lin tilted her head slightly, adjusting her breathing.

Luo Yuli pulled her into his arms. “Believe it or not, I haven’t dated anyone since we broke up.”

He kissed her eyes. “I love you.”

Chu Lin was stunned for a few seconds.

Luo Yuli kissed Chu Lin’s lips. “She went to you, probably because I told her the person I love is you, and there’s no possibility with her.”

Chu Lin remained silent.

She raised her arms and wrapped them tightly around his waist.

… …

“Huh?”

Luo Yu was surprised and delighted when she saw who it was. “So fast? They’ve already hugged and made up?”

He Xu saw that it was his future brother-in-law’s car and stepped on the brakes. The tavern probably wouldn’t be able to open tonight.

He slowly reversed the car.

Luo Yu became excited, her face beaming, wanting to buy firecrackers and set it off in celebration.

“Oh my, oh my, my eldest brother is so clingy.”

At the entrance of the tavern, the two were hugging and kissing again. It wasn’t appropriate for her to watch, so Luo Yu covered her eyes with her hand.

She was happier today than during the New Year.

“I’ll treat you tonight,” she said to He Xu, turning her head.

He Xu was flattered. “Are you sure you’re not going to split the bill?”

She always split the bill with him, even when buying condoms. He felt frustrated and had nowhere to vent his frustration.

“I said it’s a treat, so it’s a treat, didn’t you understand?”

Taking advantage of her good mood, He Xu finalized the arrangements. “Then I’ll treat you to our marriage certificate on Monday. We’ll go back to Suzhou tomorrow and get it there.”

Luo Yu reached out to touch his forehead, but He Xu pushed her away, goading her, “Luo Yu, you’re like an ostrich, thinking everyone’s like you.”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, “Do you dare get a marriage certificate with me? If you can’t handle it, then don’t get one. If you dare, I’ll call you my ancestor.”

Luo Yu wasn’t fooled, “I don’t want a descendant like you!”

“…”

He Xu laughed angrily.

“You can talk back to two people at once, but you always chicken out when things get tough.”

Luo Yu didn’t let him get cocky, “I am a coward, so you better not be love-struck. Squeeze the water out of your brain before getting the marriage certificate.”

She changed the subject, not wanting to bring up marriage certificates anymore.

“Hey,” Luo Yu turned to face him, “Why do you have such a fondness for a little coward like me?”

“… The water in my brain hasn’t been squeezed out completely.”

Luo Yu laughed in anger, slapping his arm twice from a distance. If he hadn’t been driving, this fight would have been inevitable.

“What exactly do you see in me?”

“Your looks.”

Luo Yu said quietly, “Just my face, nothing about my inner qualities?”

He Xu glanced at her, “I’m a shallow person, for me, beauty is enough.”

He changed the subject, “Hey, can you stop changing the subject? I’ve been proposing to you all day, are you going to say yes or no?”

Luo Yu huffed. “What kind of mouth do you want me to have? Can’t I speak?”

She turned to look out the window.

While waiting at the traffic light, He Xu texted Jiang Shenghe: [Brother-in-law, how’s it going? Chu Lin and Luo Yuli have reconciled, I’m the only one left.]

He planned to go see Jiang Shenghe today to ask him to help him deal with his parents.

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

Jiang Shenghe was on the phone with He Wancheng. He had called him two hours ago, but He Wancheng was in a meeting and only just got back to him.

“Mr. Jiang, what can I do for you?”

Jiang Shenghe smiled, “I wouldn’t dare to ask for anything.” He got to the point, “Didn’t you ask me to keep an eye out for suitable girls and introduce one to He Xu? Well, I have one in mind.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Which family’s daughter?”

“Luo Qi’s cousin, Luo Yu.” Jiang Shenghe didn’t lose confidence because of Luo Yu’s ordinary family background. “If you confirm the blind date with He Xu, and I’ll talk to Luo Yu later. Luo Yu claims to be against marriage, which worries her older sister, but Luo Yu is afraid of me, so she wouldn’t dare to not go if I told her to.”

He Wancheng was just wondering which family’s daughter Jiang Shenghe would introduce to He Xu. It certainly wouldn’t be from the Jiang family because there weren’t any girls of suitable age. Then again, in Jiang Shenghe’s circle, few families could compare to the Jiang family.

But now, with the cousin-in-law connection, it didn’t seem to be bad either. It was Jiang Shenghe who took the initiative to make the match. Luo Qi has no siblings, so Jiang Shenghe would definitely be closer to Luo Qi’s cousins. It was worth considering the future benefits.

Jiang Shenghe added, “Chu Lin and Luo Yuli are also a couple. Luo Yuli is Luo Qi’s cousin.”

He Wancheng asked, “Is that the young pianist Chu Lin?”

“Yes.”

He Wancheng knew Chu Lin’s family background; they were a family that was a good match for the Jiang family.

“I’ll call He Xu right now. If he doesn’t go on the blind date, I’ll go to Beijing myself and drag him there.”

Seventh Year of My Secret Love for You translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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T/N: I’m happy Luo Yuli and Chu Lin got back together but couldn’t they just talk these past two years 😭

Story ends tomorrow. In the meantime, you can still check out my PATREON and leave a tip! Thanks for your support.

FOOTNOTE:

1. ‘Do not speak while eating, and do not speak in bed,’ is the Confucian etiquette. ↩︎