CHAPTER 202: CHAPTER 202: TIME TO GO BACK

These days, Zhang Yuan has been tinkering with Xiaobai, and in the end, he actually told Lin Xue that he could build an electric vehicle by himself.

Lin Xue marvelled at his remarkable talent.

Zhang Yuan couldn’t wait to write a letter to his teacher, expressing his insights about electric vehicles. A few days later, his teacher sent a telegram suggesting he find a way back to the Capital City, advising against wasting time there.

The implication was not to waste his talent on farming; his time was precious.

Receiving the telegram, Zhang Yuan felt a bit hesitant, as he wanted to return to his position.

It was the profession he loved, the things he enjoyed, yet he couldn’t bear to leave his little girl.

The little girl was still young; marriage was basically impossible now, but he didn’t want to be away from her for a day.

Lin Xue also saw the telegram; she strongly supported his return.

"Don’t act like it’s the end of the world! We can meet anytime when you miss me!" Lin Xue had been trying to persuade him until her mouth was dry.

But this person still seemed somewhat hesitant.

"That place doesn’t feel real, not as safe as being by your side. Plus, once I go back, I’ll be in closed-door training; who knows how long until I can come out. I’m worried! You’re so beautiful, what if someone tries to steal you away?" Zhang Yuan suddenly started rambling.

He also noticed that Wang Zhiyong was looking at her oddly before, but he didn’t pay much attention then. However, now that separation was imminent, that little bit of danger seemed larger than life.

He couldn’t get past it.

"Not everyone is called Zhang Yuan!" Lin Xue said.

She admitted that initially she liked him because he resembled her idol, but now it’s different.

She liked him a little more than liking, adding more to that; she was falling for him now. With the bond between them, she knew she wouldn’t leave him for a lifetime.

But at this moment, no matter what Lin Xue said, Zhang Yuan didn’t feel secure.

"That’s your future, how can you joke about it? Plus, I’m still young, right? Even if you leave for five or six years, I’d only be in my twenties, just the right age to get married! By then, you’ll have fame and beauty, isn’t it just perfect?" Lin Xue didn’t know what else to say, resorting to plain words.

"How about... coming back to the Capital City with me!" Zhang Yuan deliberated for a long time, and this was the only viable option.

"What?" Lin Xue wondered if her ears had gone faulty, asking loudly.

The two were muttering quietly, so the family didn’t pay attention to them, each doing their own thing.

Bai Xianglan watched the two kids in Wang Cuihua’s room, amusing the children.

Wang Cuihua had just come in from the vegetable garden, happened to pass through the living room to the kitchen to drink water.

Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan sat in the living room talking.

Lin Xue’s loud shout startled them both.

Even the two kids playing on the kang were surprised and started crying out loud.

Wang Cuihua hurried over quickly, Bai Xianglan was also busy comforting the two kids, not forgetting to loudly ask what happened on this side.

"What’s wrong, Xiao Xue?"

"It’s nothing, Grandma, I’m discussing something with Zhang Yuan!" Lin Xue rushed to cover her mouth, glanced embarrassedly into the room, then spoke.

Hearing her daughter say it’s nothing, Wang Cuihua felt relieved.

"You two kids, why are you so alarmed while talking? Don’t argue! Mom’s going to make lunch!" After speaking, she headed to the kitchen.

Ever since Zhang Yuan moved in, every night Wang Cuihua would watch her daughter enter her own room to sleep before going to her own room.

But during the day, she didn’t bother whether the two were talking or arguing.

"Got it, Mom! Go ahead! I want to eat your stir-fried tomato and egg for lunch!" Lin Xue playfully stuck out her tongue and said.

This dish was taught to Wang Cuihua by her; otherwise, they wouldn’t know it could be eaten this way.

Tomatoes were only used as cold dishes or eaten raw.

And there’s also the mixed stew, which is Lin Xue’s favorite dish, with beans, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and pumpkins stewed together, added with some meat, it was so delicious one might swallow their tongue.

Once Wang Cuihua agreed and went to the kitchen, Lin Xue hurriedly sat back on the sofa.

Saying it was a sofa, but it wasn’t the soft-cushioned type, just ordinary wooden.

"Xiao Xue, consider it, if not, just come back to the Capital City with me! What lousy factory director? We won’t be that! Okay?" Zhang Yuan, seeing Lin Xue sit down, started persuading her again.

"Big brother, think about it; what would I do in the Capital City? Plus, aren’t you going into seclusion when you return? I’d be unfamiliar with the place; what could I do there? What if I end up lost?" Lin Xue really wanted to touch his forehead to see if this person had a fever.

However, she didn’t doubt Zhang Yuan. If she wanted to follow him, he would definitely be able to move her household registration right away.

"This... I don’t have that much; once I think about going back, and then not seeing you, I don’t want to go back anymore. It’s all because I was impulsive, why did I write that letter to the teacher? Without it, at least I’d have another year to stay here!" Zhang Yuan suddenly blamed himself.

"Alright! Even a brief separation is for a better future together! You strive, and I’ll strive here! We cheer on together! We’re not short of these few years; there’s still plenty of time to be together for the rest of our lives, isn’t it?" Lin Xue said softly.

Listening, Zhang Yuan felt an overwhelming mix of emotions.

Feeling sad because of separation, yet filled with hope for the future Lin Xue spoke of, the words ’for a better future together’ gave him strength and motivation.

If he wanted to give his little girl better things, he had to work hard and become stronger.

Afraid that someone might steal her heart, he just had to become more outstanding, so his little girl’s eyes couldn’t leave him.

"Girl, how about you come back with me to the Capital..." Zhang Yuan’s sentence was interrupted by Lin Xue.

"How come you haven’t figured it out yet? I can’t go back to the Capital with you now; there are many things waiting for me to do, and if I go back with you now, I wouldn’t know what I could do. Plus, I can’t bear to leave my parents, my younger siblings! And my grandma! Even if I go to the Capital in the future, it would be a family relocation; I can’t go alone!" Lin Xue’s words were somewhat harsh.

Her expression didn’t look good either.

She liked Zhang Yuan, loved him, but she questioned herself, she couldn’t leave these family members.

Though her parents were a bit soft, sometimes doing things that were particularly irritating, they truly loved her, and everything they said and did always moved her.

Plus, her younger siblings treated her as the head of the family, listened only to her, and respected her even more than their parents.

In these tough years, she couldn’t abandon such a family.

Added to the mix was her newly recognized real grandmother, who was so gentle and kind, her smile so soothing, and so good to the family.

She couldn’t let go of all this. If she had to choose between her family and Zhang Yuan, she would definitely choose both; she would safeguard love and kinship with her own ways.

Isn’t happiness watching the people who matter to you smile, and then you follow suit with joy?

That’s just the way she is. Watching Zhang Yuan smile makes her heart flutter, watching her grandmother smile makes her feel warm and at ease, and watching her younger siblings smile makes her feel content, giving her a sense of time standing still and serene.

So she doesn’t choose; she wants both. In the world of adults, there are no multiple-choice questions!