Adored by Him: My Blissful Days as the Girl Next Door

To welcome Zhao Meimei’s family, Shi Yang’s mother has been busy in the kitchen since morning, making her specialty braised fish, steaming prawns, and frying two plates of vegetarian dishes. The rest Shi Yang ordered from the restaurant downstairs, and he transferred them from takeaway boxes to their beautiful home plates, filling the table completely.

Shi Yang’s home has good heating, especially during the festive season with the radiators scorching hot. Zhao Dazhuang took off his sweater, wearing only a shirt, rolled up his sleeves and got comfortable as if he were at his own home.

Shi Yang’s father was similarly dressed in home attire, making himself comfortable. Ever since Zhao Dazhuang arrived in the afternoon, the two were engrossed in lively conversation.

Shi Yang’s father asked briefly about Zhao Dazhuang’s mother’s health, about the situation over there and things that happened recently, before leading Zhao Dazhuang to talk about his plans.

These words Zhao Dazhuang had already told Shi Yang in the bathhouse, now he was just repeating them.

Shi Yang’s father shared Shi Yang’s thoughts, feeling that Zhao Dazhuang’s decision was somewhat reckless, but as an outsider, it wasn’t appropriate to voice such thoughts.

Shi Yang’s father could only tactfully express his opinions, but unfortunately, Zhao Dazhuang was stubbornly set on returning home to honor his elders, focusing only on the immediate situation without looking further ahead, thus failing to understand what Shi Yang’s father meant.

Shi Yang’s father, being a sharp person, seeing that Zhao Dazhuang was determined to move back south, gave up the idea of persuading him, as a friend, offering words of consolation.

Shi Yang’s father actually admired Zhao Dazhuang greatly, thinking he made a good friend, though at times he was a bit slow-witted, too straightforward and honest. True friends like Zhao Dazhuang are indeed rare around Shi Yang’s father.

Without this, Shi Yang’s father wouldn’t have allowed Shi Yang’s mother and him to be so close with Zhao Meimei’s family.