Chapter 54: Sealed Pride (2)
The two stared at each other, Yin Guo’s brows furrowed, still afraid.
“Take your time,” he murmured, his right hand resting against the back of her head. “I’ll go out for a smoke.”
He figured his presence outside the door would only add to her pressure—better to take a walk instead.
Once outside, he patted his pants pocket—empty.
He’d claimed he was stepping out for a cigarette, yet hadn’t brought anything with him. He casually knocked on the door of a nearby dorm, pushing it open to find a room full of shirtless men lounging around. “Got a cigarette?”
The group had just finished training. Some had blockbuster movies playing on their computers, others had more… private films running. Unwashed clothes were strewn everywhere. “Here,” one of them quickly handed over a cigarette and a lighter.
“Watching that in broad daylight—aren’t you afraid of ruining your kidneys?” Lin Yiyang smirked, nodding toward the corner computer.
“Sixth Brother, you’re a taken man now. Don’t discriminate against us single guys,” someone protested.
Amid the jeers, Lin Yiyang shut the door and left.
He stepped out of the building, intending to light the cigarette, but his mind was too unsettled. In the end, he gave up. The cigarette dangled between his fingers, forgotten, as he watched the traffic flow past.
Tired of standing, he sat on the steps and only then noticed the ash that had fallen onto his shoe. Just as he was about to light another cigarette, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his neck from behind.
The sensation was like being at the peak of a rollercoaster—suspended, weightless.
His hand holding the cigarette froze.
“Nothing,” the girl’s voice whispered beside his ear, relieved. “There’s nothing.”
Then, hesitantly, she asked, “That means… everything’s fine, right?”
This rollercoaster of life had completed its loop, soaring and plunging unpredictably before hurtling toward an abrupt stop.
His heart, which had leapt to his throat, was yanked back down—leaving him with an indescribable feeling.
Disappointment? A little, but not much. Relief? More than he’d expected.
Just moments ago, he’d been mentally preparing to face her parents—to beg for forgiveness, to endure their anger, even to convince them to let him marry her. Though he’d told himself to adapt as things unfolded, he knew it wouldn’t have been an easy hurdle.
Turning something joyful into such a mess made him feel guilty toward her.
Thankfully, none of it had happened.
Lin Yiyang tucked the cigarette back into the pack, sealed it, and put it away.
He exhaled softly and smiled.
Reaching back, he touched her face. “Happy now?”
Feeling her smile against his fingers, he grinned too.
Yin Guo tilted her head to look at him. “You seem pretty happy about it too?”
“Of course.” He’d much rather follow the proper steps.
“…But you just said you’d have been happy either way?” Yin Guo was torn between laughter and exasperation.
“That was true too,” he chuckled, seeing no contradiction.
Sitting there earlier, he’d thought back to what he’d been doing at twenty-two. Fresh out of college, he’d landed a decent job but found it unfulfilling. So he’d pushed himself further, working to save money for more education.
If he’d stopped then, the Lin Yiyang of today wouldn’t exist.
The path he’d walked, the world he’d seen, the friends he’d made—everything would have been different. He wouldn’t have the ease in facing the media, the composure under the spotlight of international broadcasts. There’d be no poised, broad-minded man capable of shouldering East New City’s legacy.What exists now is just an ordinary middle-aged man who once won a national championship.
If he had remained stagnant at twenty-two, he would never have been content.
But the current Yin Guo is far more outstanding than he was back then, and she can still improve even more.
Having children can wait—she’s still young.
But marriage should be put on the agenda. After the Asian Games? That sounds about right.
When you love someone, of course you want to give them the very best—including following all the proper steps, winning over the parents, and arranging a proposal with enough sincerity. Even proposing seventy or eighty times wouldn’t be a problem, as long as it made her happy.
Yin Guo had no idea Lin Yiyang was already thinking about marriage plans. With her arms around his neck, she mused that this old man was starting to say one thing while meaning another. At his age, he probably really wanted kids, didn’t he?
Resting her chin on his shoulder, she felt that after their earlier little episode, holding him now felt different somehow...
Just then, someone entering the dormitory building spotted Lin Yiyang and casually remarked, “Oh, Sixth Brother’s here? Cheng Yan was just looking for you—something about discussing the Asian Games registration.”
Lin Yiyang acknowledged with a sound.
Yin Guo lightly bumped her chin against his shoulder. She wanted to say something but was afraid she’d come across as petty, jealous, or unreasonable...
Lin Yiyang was completely open and aboveboard—he hadn’t done anything wrong.
But she still remembered the way Cheng Yan had looked at him when they’d crossed paths on the stairs last time... It felt awful knowing outsiders were eyeing the prized cabbage in her own garden. No matter how many fences she built, it never felt secure enough.
Lin Yiyang could feel her alternately rubbing her left cheek against his back, bumping her chin, then pressing her right cheek against him, which amused him. “She’s the deputy captain of the Nine-ball team,” he explained, tucking his lighter back into the cigarette pack. “Can’t avoid working with her.”
“I didn’t say anything,” she retorted.
Suddenly, he hooked his arms under her legs, lifting her up and raising her line of sight. Before she knew it, Lin Yiyang had her on his back. He was so tall that carrying her nearly made them bump into the doorframe.
“There are so many people,” she protested, squirming. “Put me down!”
“Weren’t you jealous?” Lin Yiyang called her out as he walked back down the hallway. “Just giving you a little reassurance.”
At this hour, the dormitory was bustling with people.
He was doing this on purpose.
At the stairwell, several girls from the Nine-ball team froze in surprise at the sight.
The guy who had just relayed Cheng Yan’s message, currently discussing official matters with a junior teammate, immediately rushed over in concern when he saw Lin Yiyang carrying Yin Guo back to the dorm. “Sis, did you hurt your foot? Need the team doctor?”
“No,” Lin Yiyang said with perfect seriousness. “She’s mad at me. Just trying to cheer her up.”
...
The men’s reactions: Damn, this old rogue really knows his stuff...
The women’s reactions: I want someone like Sixth Uncle too...
He had only meant to tease her.
But carrying her all the way from the entrance to the end of the hallway, Lin Yiyang found himself ignited by her initial struggles and subsequent resigned little movements. It had been two weeks since they’d last seen each other, and their last intimate moment had been in their New York apartment.
Once inside, he tossed her onto the soft air-conditioned quilt and turned on the AC.
His hands worked at unfastening her top while he pulled open the bedside drawer, searching for a small box. After retrieving one and tucking it under the pillow, he pressed her down beneath him and kissed her.
Yin Guo’s clothes were already half-off, and with his body pressing against hers, she found herself wanting him just as much.Her heart still pounded with lingering fear, but after that ordeal, her feelings for him had grown even more distinct. In those few seconds waiting for the result, she had even thought—getting married like this wouldn’t be so bad.
His hands kneaded gently, and soon she was flushed with heat too. She missed him as well—truly missed him: "Keep an eye on the time... there'll be traffic in the evening."
Under his gaze, a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She was still so young—no matter how many times they had been together, she couldn’t bring herself to make loud noises, only soft, husky gasps. At most, during the most intense moments, her breath would hitch audibly near his ear or against his jaw.
……
Later, in the heat of the moment, she accidentally bumped the back of her head against the headboard. She thought he hadn’t noticed, but the next time it happened, before she could dodge, her head collided again—only this time, it met the warmth of his palm.
"Did it hurt?" he asked in a low, breathless voice.
Just a fleeting moment, a single gesture.
Yin Guo’s heart was utterly laid bare by him. Emotions surged uncontrollably, her eyes reddening as she bit down lightly on his arm.
She didn’t understand why such a small action could unravel her like this. It was just a tiny detail, yet it made her feel as though he was always watching over her—attentive and caring, as if by instinct...
Lin Yiyang noticed the redness in her eyes and chuckled deeply by her ear, his voice husky: "That wasn’t hard enough. Try again."
Before she could respond, he sealed her lips with his own.
It was already mid-May, and today was especially hot.
Yet Lin Yiyang still wore the long-sleeved dress shirt and slacks he had prepared the night before—all to avoid standing out too much on his first visit, to appear proper and leave the best possible impression on her family.
He drove into the underground parking garage of Yin Guo’s residential complex, using her family’s designated spot. Before they even stepped out of the car, they were spotted by the neighbor next to them—an uncle who watched with eager curiosity.
Lin Yiyang got out, locked the car, and instinctively straightened his collar under the neighbor’s enthusiastic gaze. He retrieved several bags of gifts from the trunk, then gave a slight nod in greeting as Yin Guo exchanged pleasantries with the neighbor.
"Your boyfriend?" the neighbor asked cheerfully.
"Yeah," Yin Guo replied, her nerves already frayed by the attention. Even before leaving the garage, her palms were damp with sweat.
She led him upstairs, turned left, swiped her access card, and whispered as they entered the elevator: "I forgot to tell you—my mom has a meeting at the bureau tonight. She won’t make it for dinner."
Lin Yiyang nodded.
"With the Asian Games coming up, the bureau’s been really busy," she added. "But she specifically told me to have you wait. She wants to see you when she gets back."
He nodded again. "Got it."
Both of them stared intently at a printed notice taped between the elevator doors—a community announcement about gas pipe maintenance. Yin Guo was far more nervous than he was. The thrill of bringing her boyfriend home for the first time was overwhelming.
……
By the time they arrived, Meng Xiaodong had already gotten there ahead of them and was keeping Yin Guo’s father company over tea.
Clearly, Meng Xiaodong had come specifically to ease the atmosphere for Lin Yiyang. With him as a buffer, the initial awkwardness of the meeting was greatly reduced. Lin Yiyang set down the gifts he had brought, greeted them politely, and shook hands with Yin Guo’s father.
Yin Guo’s father’s first impression of Lin Yiyang was quite favorable.Back in the day, Yin Guo's father hadn’t watched the matches, so his impression of Lin Yiyang was still stuck on the suspension penalty for throwing a cue on the court. Today, the moment Lin Yiyang walked in, his posture and gaze made it clear that the years of education hadn’t been wasted—his personal refinement was evident.
“Your teacher often mentions you. I’ve been around when he called Yin Guo’s mom. Birth, aging, sickness, death—none of us can escape it. You have to take it in stride,” Yin Guo’s father gestured to the sofa. “Have a seat.”
Meng Xiaodong, standing nearby, poured Lin Yiyang a cup of tea and pushed it toward him.
And just like that, an elder and two younger men fell into conversation.
They started with the reforms at East New City. In his early days after retiring, Yin Guo’s father had also been full of passion, wanting to do something substantial in his sport’s association. Like Lin Yiyang, he had faced opposition from conservatives, eventually giving up on association work and turning to business instead.
So when this topic came up, he felt it deeply. Back and forth, the two generations found plenty of common ground.
They were still engrossed by the time dinner started, unable to resist continuing at the table.
Yin Guo’s sister, Wu Tong, had been watching coldly since arriving home. At the table, she served Grandma her rice and said with a smile, “Dad, the guest is here. Let’s eat first.”
“Right, right, let our guest eat first,” Grandma chimed in, smiling warmly at Lin Yiyang. “Xiao Lin, thank you for taking care of Xiaotian in the U.S. That child… her mother passed early, and she grew up by my side. She’s a bit simple, not as polished as Xiaodong. You’ve had to put up with a lot.”
“Grandma, it’s no trouble,” Lin Yiyang said. “Even without Yin Guo, Xiaodong and I have been friends for years.”
“That’s right,” Meng Xiaodong added. “Friends since we were kids.”
Wu Tong glanced at Meng Xiaodong, then quietly picked up food for Grandma without another word.
After dinner, Yin Guo’s father had another engagement. Reluctant to end the conversation, he urged Lin Yiyang to visit again before leaving. Yin Guo accompanied Grandma upstairs. In the meantime, Meng Xiaodong took a call from Yin Guo’s mom and stepped out onto the balcony.
The living room was left with just the sister.
She sat diagonally across from Lin Yiyang.
“You used to be from Seventh High, right?” Wu Tong suddenly said. “We’ve met before.”
Lin Yiyang glanced at her. “Your name did sound familiar when I first heard it. Yan Fu’s girlfriend?”
Wu Tong felt as if a thorn buried in her heart for over a decade had been twisted. It was a foolish teenage affair—she didn’t even know why she had been with that person, let alone liked him. “We haven’t been in touch for years.”
Lin Yiyang nodded and turned back to the sports news.
With that, the small talk and reminiscing came to an end.
There was something undeniably intense about his presence, almost oppressive. If he didn’t feel like entertaining someone, he simply wouldn’t.
Back in New York, he’d heard a few things from Xiaotian—how Yin Guo had been bullied by her sister as a kid, leaving a poor impression. No need to extend extra courtesy. Besides, that “Yan Fu” was just a friend of a friend, and his only encounter with Wu Tong had been at a small barbecue joint north of a pool hall in Gulou. They hadn’t even spoken back then—nothing to reminisce about.
When Yin Guo came downstairs and saw her sister sitting near Lin Yiyang, her heart leapt into her throat.
Protective instincts kicking in, she called out urgently, “Lin Yiyang.”Lin Yiyang looked up to see her taking the stairs two at a time, frantically waving and signaling at him: "Come to the kitchen, help me with a fruit platter. Mom's almost back."
Lin Yiyang smiled.
Thinking to himself: I'm a grown man, you think I can't handle myself? Who do you take me for, a little fool who can't argue like you?
He followed Yin Guo into the kitchen without another word.
Yin Guo's sister remained on the sofa, picking up the remote as if to change the channel but didn't. The sports news playing in the background took her back to her teenage years.
She and Yin Guo had attended the same prestigious middle school, while No. 7 High was the notorious delinquent school nearby. Yet it was that very school that produced a student who was district-honored to give speeches and exhibition matches. On the day of his presentation, a lanky boy with a buzz cut, wearing a white shirt and No. 7 High's uniform pants, stood on the steps of their school auditorium—an unusual sight. Girls crowded by classroom windows just to catch a glimpse of him.
National champion at thirteen, directly admitted to a top high school despite terrible grades and an attitude to match.
Lin Yiyang of No. 7 High—how many girls had scribbled his name in their notebooks or on their uniforms? Even he would never know...
Yin Guo pulled several fruits from the fridge, busily preparing them.
Lin Yiyang was chatting amiably with Yin Guo's father, pleased that the obstacles were clearing smoothly. Noticing her busywork, he decided to tease her. He ruffled her hair, leaned down, and whispered just loud enough for her: "That bump this afternoon was pretty hard, huh?"
Yin Guo flushed and elbowed him away.
Behind them, someone knocked on the open kitchen door.
Both turned to see Yin Guo's mother, freshly returned.
"Xiao Lin, the meeting ran late—sorry to keep you waiting," said Mom, who as an experienced adult recognized the unmistakable glow of new love between them. "Come, let's talk upstairs. Xiaodong, you too. Both of you, follow me to the study."
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