My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 113: Everyone loves beauty

Xu Yan had gone back to her hometown for the New Year, leaving only Cheng Yulan and her husband at home. The spacious living room felt a bit empty.

But the two had spent most of their lives together and were long accustomed to each other’s company. Usually, Old Wang would watch TV when he had nothing to do, while Cheng Yulan would go out for walks or play mahjong. She never forgot to buy groceries on time and bring them back.

"That little girl isn’t here, so it’s not as lively. You all stay a bit longer," Cheng Yulan said warmly, pouring tea and inviting the guests to sit. She sat down herself, rubbed her legs, and glanced at Jiang He, who was casually snacking on sunflower seeds. Smiling, she remarked, “Such a beautiful girl!”

“This kid’s got good taste,” Old Wang said as he came out of the kitchen with a plate of cut fruit, clearly happy to have Xu Qing visiting for the New Year. Back when Xu Wenbin and his wife lived nearby, they often dropped by with their daughter. But as the kids grew up and moved away, the visits became less frequent. After Xu Wenbin’s family moved, Xu Qing came back to live here on his own, often hanging out with the older generation.

No one really knew how Xu Qing grew up. He used to squat by the residential gate with a cigarette, chatting with the security guards for an entire afternoon—living like a sixty-year-old man despite being in his twenties.

"Uncle Wang, you should add that I inherited my dad’s good taste. That way, you’re complimenting four people at once," Xu Qing replied without a shred of modesty.

“Still so cheeky,” Cheng Yulan laughed and turned to Jiang He. “This boy’s a smooth talker; you’ve got to watch out for him.”

Jiang He blushed, catching Cheng Yulan off guard. What’s going on? she wondered.

"If I weren’t a smooth talker, how would I have won her over? It took me three whole years to ‘trick’ her into being mine," Xu Qing declared, holding up three fingers with a serious expression. "Three years! Auntie, do you know how I got through those three years?"

“Hmph, even if it took five years, it’d be worth it,” Cheng Yulan huffed. She didn’t dwell on Jiang He’s flushed face, noting that the girl seemed quite straightforward—too straightforward, perhaps, compared to Xu Qing’s livelier personality.

A talkative boyfriend with a quiet girlfriend—what a complementary match.

"What are you doing these days? You always seem to be at home, still fiddling with your computer? That’s nice—no need to go out, no sunburn, and you’ve got your freedom," Cheng Yulan said.

"If only my mom thought the same way! She’s always saying I’m wasting my time. My girlfriend and I stay home together, working on things online. We’re not making much, but it’s enough to live on," Xu Qing explained.

Jiang He quietly listened to the chatter, so absorbed that she forgot her sunflower seeds. She held her cup, blowing on it, occasionally sneaking glances at Xu Qing. If she were more familiar with this setting, she’d probably blurt out, “What the heck?”

Three years? That timeline rewinds all the way to their university days. They’d been officially together for a little over a year, but the details of when they met and how he pursued her were getting increasingly blurred. It was starting to feel like a romantic tale Xu Qing had spun up.

“When will Xu Yan be back? Jiang He really likes that girl,” Cheng Yulan asked.

“After the New Year, just a few days. She’ll stay for half a month before school starts again,” Cheng Yulan replied with a knowing smile, lowering her voice. “If you like kids, you should have one.”

“Absolutely!” Xu Qing promised with conviction. “First, get ready to attend our wedding.”

“She’s such a nice girl. Where’s she from?”

“I used to live in Zhejiang, then I moved here,” Jiang He answered softly, looking down.

“Oh, that’s pretty far. Did you two meet online?”

“No, we met after I moved here. I’ve been in Jiang City for years now,” she clarified.

“Good, good. I thought it was an online romance. If he chased you for three years, he must really like you. You know, back in the day, this guy was wild, always up to no good. He even had red bangs—wait, don’t tell me you only caught her attention after you cut your hair?” Cheng Yulan teased.

"Exactly!" Xu Qing didn’t deny it, pouring himself more tea. They stayed for a long while before finally preparing to leave.

As Cheng Yulan saw them to the door, she returned to tidy the table, shaking her head with a smile. "That boy’s getting more mature, but he still hasn’t changed his personality."

“He’s got a good personality. Not like our daughter, who loses patience after just two sentences,” Old Wang grumbled.

“Is it me or you she’s impatient with?” Cheng Yulan shot back.

“Both of us. Next time, let’s both stop talking to her and see how she reacts.”

“Deal,” Old Wang said, although he didn’t sound very confident.

---

Once outside, Xu Qing turned to Jiang He, "So, you know about online dating?"

Jiang He always managed to surprise him with random bits of knowledge. Who knows what else she’d learned?

“Online dating refers to romantic relationships formed through the internet, a new kind of interpersonal connection made possible by technology,” she replied matter-of-factly. “Two people can meet emotional needs without even meeting in person.”

“Well, well. I’m guessing you looked up ‘how to date,’ huh?”

“I didn’t,” she said, meeting his gaze.

“Then how do you know about online dating?”

“Baidu told me.”

“You didn’t search for it, but Baidu told you?”

“Yes,” Jiang He answered with a perfectly straight face. “I just opened it, and there were lots of little words on the screen. I clicked, and there it was.”

“Alright, I believe you,” Xu Qing said with a shrug. Back home, he opened his computer and searched “online dating” on Baidu. Her explanation matched the encyclopedia entry word for word.

Watching her feed the cat, Xu Qing sighed. He wasn’t sure whether teaching her how to use the internet was a good idea or a terrible one.

“Actually, I like stockings—the long, thin black ones,” he said, suddenly leaning back on the couch to observe her reaction.

“What?”

“Stockings. Original ones.” Xu Qing gave her a meaningful look.

Jiang He froze.

Her reaction piqued his curiosity. “You know what I’m talking about?”

“When you’re out, don’t you look at other people?”

“…”

This time, it was Xu Qing’s turn to play dead.

As dusk settled, the sunlight streamed through the window. Jiang He gamed for a while before heading into the kitchen to cook. Their meal was impressive: four dishes, including stir-fries, a plate of roast duck, a dish of chilled pig head, and egg drop soup—a proper feast to celebrate the New Year.

“You know, I promise I won’t look at anyone else anymore,” Xu Qing declared solemnly, chopsticks in hand. “Not that I ever really stared, just glanced at long legs occasionally. It’s human nature! You can tell, right?”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t look,” Jiang He replied.

“Nope, not looking. Not at all.”

“Why not? Sometimes I look too. Aside from being a little bold, they’re… kind of beautiful.” Jiang He studied his face, curious if her thoughts were normal.

“You think they’re beautiful?”

Xu Qing paused. “Is it the kind of beautiful that makes you want to wear them yourself?”

“No… the kind of beautiful that makes you want to touch them.”

???

Xu Qing decided he needed to consult Baidu again.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!