Chapter 55: The Sealed Pride (3)
Should we invite cousin along?
"And Xiaoguo, you all come too," Mom finally said.
Yin Guo was halfway through preparing the fruit platter—unsure whether to put down the knife or keep going. She worked slowly and would need at least another ten minutes to finish cutting and washing the remaining fruit.
Lin Yiyang took the thin fruit knife from her hands and swiftly finished the task in three minutes. Having worked under-the-table jobs at restaurants to pay his tuition, he'd done it all—this was child's play. Give him a few more minutes, and he could even arrange the fruit into decorative patterns.
He turned on the faucet, rinsed the blade, shook off the water, and handed it back to Yin Guo. "Hurry upstairs. Don’t keep your mom waiting."
Yin Guo, both anxious and impressed, couldn’t help but remark, "You’re so much more efficient than me."
Which, in other words, meant he’d endured hardships from a young age.
Yin Guo gently closed the kitchen door and whispered, "In my family, my dad listens to my mom—especially when it comes to me. You get it, right?"
Lin Yiyang nodded.
"My mom is very reasonable and won’t embarrass anyone in person," Yin Guo continued, still uneasy. "If she brings up the past, just listen. Don’t argue. My brother said that because of your mentor, she already thinks much better of you."
"Okay."
"And also, she spoils me the most. She can’t stand it when I act spoiled," Yin Guo added in a hushed voice. "Later, I’ll gauge the situation. If things go south, I’ll act cute, and you just stay quiet. Leave any trouble to me."
Lin Yiyang chuckled. "Okay."
"And also..." Yin Guo racked her brain but, too nervous to think of anything else, sighed anxiously. "Never mind, let’s just go up. My brother’s there anyway."
The two walked out of the kitchen and passed through the living room.
It was now empty.
"What did my sister say to you just now?" Yin Guo asked, noticing her sister had gone upstairs. "Nothing unpleasant, right?"
Lin Yiyang shook his head. "We met once before."
"You’ve met my sister before?" she asked, surprised.
Lin Yiyang nodded. "A friend of a friend. Just a passing acquaintance."
As a man, there was no need to spread a woman’s unrelated romantic history. He pretended not to know.
Yin Guo nodded. "You two are around the same age."
By the time they finished this exchange, they were already outside the study door.
Before pushing it open, Yin Guo squeezed his hand nervously. "No matter what my mom says, it doesn’t represent me."
Then, even softer, she added, "I’ve already decided—you’re the one for me."
Truthfully, she was scared.
The only serious conflict between them had been during that last meeting with her mom.
The memory of Lin Yiyang’s despondency, his frustration, and the way his pride had been crushed that day still pained her. Even though she knew her mom’s attitude had softened and her cousin was present, the moment before pushing open the door and forcing them to face each other, fear gripped her.
Lin Yiyang hadn’t expected Yin Guo to declare something so definitive—a vow of commitment—in such an ordinary setting, outside her family’s study. He couldn’t describe the complexity of his emotions at that moment.
Amidst the turmoil, she forcibly took his hand and spoke the words that could melt even the hardest heart...
Lin Yiyang clasped her hand in return, silent for a long moment.
Without hesitation, he pushed open the study door himself.
Mom was already seated in the armchair by the tea table, while Meng Xiaodong occupied the study chair. Yin Guo seemed to have no choice but to share the long sofa with Lin Yiyang.Before sitting down, she quietly tugged at Lin Yiyang's shirt, wanting him to take the outer seat.
She could sit on the inside, separating Mom and Lin Yiyang.
"What are you doing?" Mom saw through her little scheme first. "Let Xiao Lin sit next to me."
...
Yin Guo pouted and gave Mom a pleading frown.
Mom laughed.
Lin Yiyang moved to the inner seat and sat down. Yin Guo had no choice but to follow, pushing the fruit platter to the center of the coffee table. "He cut all of this."
After a pause, she added, "He did a good job, right?"
Meng Xiaodong, who had been sipping tea, nearly choked on a laugh but held it in.
Yin Guo had no idea that ever since she entered the room, she had been like a cat with its fur standing on end—trying to appear calm while guarding the treasure behind her... And that last remark? It was like holding up that treasure with her paws and asking everyone warily, "Isn't my treasure beautiful?"
Meng Xiaodong shot Lin Yiyang a fleeting glance: Look how scared you've made my cousin.
Lin Yiyang’s eyes held amusement: Adorable.
Yin Guo's mom was straightforward. Smiling, she asked Lin Yiyang, "Do you know why Xiao Guo is so nervous?"
"I'm not nervous," Yin Guo immediately protested.
Mom laughed again. "Alright, I won’t eat him. Let me have a proper talk with him."
Yin Guo forced a smile and stabbed a piece of mango with a toothpick—only for it to slip and land on the coffee table with a plop .
Seriously... the more flustered I get, the clumsier I become.
Beside her, Lin Yiyang handed her a napkin without looking her way. Instead, he politely addressed Mom. "Auntie, please go ahead."
"Last month, when we first met, you came to offer tea," Mom said. "Even then, I could tell Xiao Guo wanted to speak up for you."
Yin Guo slowly wiped the table, ears perked.
"To be honest, I’ve been observing you—from when you applied to join the billiards association to your championship at the China Open. For Xiao Guo’s sake, I’ve watched every one of your matches and post-game interviews, including the one where your mentor was present."
That day, when Lin Yiyang bowed on the court, it marked a turning point in Mom’s impression of him.
She paused briefly before adding with a smile, "I also saw the U.S. Open for Nine-ball."
...
Yin Guo froze, shooting a look at her cousin: Didn’t you say she didn’t see it?
Meng Xiaodong was equally surprised.
Only Lin Yiyang seemed unfazed—he had anticipated this ever since he picked up the microphone in the audience that day.
Yin Guo clutched the napkin, the fallen mango still wrapped inside.
She had meant to toss it in the trash but didn’t move.
Lin Yiyang’s words at the New York tournament had been the height of romance for fans and spectators. But if Mom had seen it, wouldn’t that expose Meng Xiaodong’s lie? Her cousin had claimed he was the matchmaker...
Meng Xiaodong, however, remained composed, pouring tea for Mom. "I didn’t realize you watched."
Mom smiled as she lifted her cup. "If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have known you kids were so afraid of me."
"Your English at the event was excellent," Mom said, clearly not wanting to put Lin Yiyang on the spot as she smoothly shifted topics. "Was studying in America difficult?"
Lin Yiyang matched her tone effortlessly. "It was manageable. In the end, the hardships were worth it."
"Remarkable," Mom mused. "To achieve so much without family support—truly remarkable."Yin Guo's mom finally said with a smile, "Before Xiaotian came back, I didn't know much about your studies. He stayed here with Grandma for a week, talking about nothing but you—your school, your major. I was delighted to hear it all."
Yin Guo was overjoyed, hearing nothing but praise: "Mom, he studies really hard. In the U.S., he could only see me once or twice a week because he was so busy with his studies."
Her mom deliberately responded with an "Oh?" "In the U.S., you mean last year?"
Yin Guo suddenly realized she'd let slip too much and fell silent, blushing as she exchanged meaningful glances with her mother. Please don't call me out in front of others... I'll confess everything privately later.
Seeing her daughter's reaction, Yin Guo's mom decided not to press further in front of everyone. "Alright, that's all from me."
Lin Yiyang, who had been on high alert from the start, now felt a wave of relief. He raised his teacup and said, "Thank you for giving me a chance—a chance to see me anew." With that, he drained the cup in one go.
This was the second time he'd offered tea to Yin Guo's mom.
A completely different situation from the first.
Yin Guo's mom nodded, stood up from the sofa, and walked to the desk to retrieve a folder. When she returned, she pulled out a sheet of paper.
"Let's talk a bit about the Asian Games—nothing too formal," she said, placing the paper in front of the three of them. "Just a casual discussion."
On the paper were the details of the billiards events for the Asian Games:
Women's events: Six-red Snooker, Eight-ball, Nine-ball, Ten-ball, and Women's Nine-ball Team (three players).
Men's events: Snooker, Eight-ball, Nine-ball, Ten-ball, and Men's Snooker Team (three players).
A total of ten events, five for each gender.
Yin Guo's mom briefly explained, "I'd like to hear your thoughts—your registration plans."
Yin Guo was a bit confused. "I'm just doing Nine-ball and the team event."
"This time, for the Asian Games, each billiards event allows a maximum of two participants per country," her mom emphasized.
So that was it...
Yin Guo had been ranked third in the world last year, so her spot was somewhat uncertain.
"I'll sign up for the Qualifying round and try my best," she replied.
"Aside from Nine-ball, I'd like you to consider Six-red Snooker," her mom said, pointing at the paper. "There aren't many strong players in this event, so I hope you can step up."
"Six-red Snooker?" Yin Guo was stunned.
Although she'd learned billiards from Meng Xiaodong as a child and was no stranger to Snooker, still...
"We'll discuss this privately," her mom said.
Yin Guo murmured an "Oh," still processing the idea.
Her mom then turned to Meng Xiaodong. "I know you only play Snooker and never touch other billiards games. But the Asian Games are different—team medals are crucial."
Meng Xiaodong surrendered immediately. "I understand. I'll register for whatever you want me to."
"We'll talk alone tomorrow," Yin Guo's mom said.
Meng Xiaodong nodded, realizing that the main focus of the conversation was today's guest.
Finally, Yin Guo's mom looked at Lin Yiyang.
Lin Yiyang had already guessed that the spotlight was on him.
"Go ahead," he said proactively.
Her mom smiled. "Snooker and the team event are your main disciplines."
Lin Yiyang nodded. "Right, I'll register for those."
"Your achievements in Nine-ball tournaments in the U.S. are undeniable."
He nodded again. "I'll register for Nine-ball too."
"Most players usually compete in both Eight-ball and Nine-ball," her mom added.
"Alright, I'll register for Eight-ball too," he agreed without hesitation."Do you still have the energy to handle Ten-Ball as well?" Yin Guo's mom finally asked him.
...
"All of them," Lin Yiyang grasped the intention, "I'll sign up for everything. As long as I pass the qualifying rounds, I'll compete in all."
The final result was that Lin Yiyang promised his future mother-in-law he'd take on all five events.
Yin Guo couldn't take it anymore.
She thought Lin Yiyang might exhaust himself to death on the court. It might seem like just a few events, but the training load was heavy, the pressure during competitions was immense, and the physical toll was significant.
Wasn't this like making him run the 200m, then the 400m, followed by the 4x100m relay, and finally a marathon?
She spoke up for Lin Yiyang: "What if the toll is too great... and he can't even maintain his main event?"
"Let Xiao Lin decide for himself," Yin Guo's mom replied with a smile.
"If you ask him directly, of course he'll say it's fine..." Yin Guo muttered, giving her mom a pleading look. "No matter how capable he is, you can't push him to the brink of exhaustion."
Meng Xiaodong was amused—she'd grown up, now debating with her mom over a man.
Mom's smile deepened: "There are two spots for each event. He has to go through the qualifying rounds first; he might not secure all the spots."
"If he competes, he'll definitely get them all," Yin Guo said without a doubt.
She remembered her cousin's words about Lin Yiyang—
There was nothing he wasn't good at, only whether he wanted to play or not.
...
This made everyone laugh.
Lin Yiyang patted her knee, signaling: No problem.
Yin Guo met his gaze, seeing his completely unconcerned and unworried expression, and felt slightly reassured. But she still argued logically: "Usually, when someone competes in multiple events, at least one performance suffers. You can't blame him for that."
"Of course not," Mom said again.
After discussing the Asian Games events, the conversation turned to casual topics.
With the Asian Games approaching, Yin Guo's mom wasn't just focused on billiards—there were other events requiring meetings, coaching teams, and national team formations.
By past ten, Yin Guo's mom apologized to Lin Yiyang with a smile: "Auntie still has a lot of work to do, so we'll have to cut it short today. Come visit often—your uncle just called and said the same."
With that, Yin Guo's mom stood up.
They all rose, preparing to leave.
Her eyes warm with amusement, Yin Guo's mom extended her right hand to Lin Yiyang: "Congratulations in advance, Lin Yiyang—Captain of China's Billiards Team."
...
Not just Yin Guo, but even Lin Yiyang and Meng Xiaodong were stunned.
The study's light fell on him, carrying an almost scalding intensity.
If anyone else had said this, he would have thought it a joke.
Just over a month ago, he had returned to the country.
Half a month ago, he won the China Open, joined the billiards association, and was selected for the national team.
Two weeks ago, he suddenly took over East New City...
And earlier that morning, in his yet-to-open billiards hall, Jiang Yang had informed him that billiards was included in the Asian Games.
Now, at ten in the evening,
He was told once more—he, Lin Yiyang, would be the captain of China's billiards team.
In three months, he would lead the team into competition, guiding China's strongest billiards players to conquer each arena and bring home medals...Back in the office at the far end of the second floor in East New City, it felt like just yesterday when eight-year-old him and fourteen-year-old Jiang Yang sat in front of the TV, their teacher pointing at the replay footage on the screen, analyzing match after match, watching players step onto the podium...
Even someone as proud as him had never imagined this day would come.
"This is the result of the anonymous vote," Yin Guo's mom said. "I just got the news before coming back."
It could be said that Lin Yiyang had won over everyone who voted for him with his actions and achievements.
Everyone was willing to believe that the new team captain, Lin Yiyang, would lead the Chinese billiards team into a newer, more glorious era.
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