Adored by Him: My Blissful Days as the Girl Next Door-Chapter 414 - 413: One Family

When Zhang Jiahui first saw Zhao Meimei, her emotions were complicated, a mix of feelings.

The man she had been pining for years had suddenly become someone else’s fiancé—and, frustratingly, that someone held a special spot in Shi Yang’s heart. If anyone had an irreplaceable place there, it was Zhao Meimei.

Back in high school, Shi Yang was exceptionally handsome, tall and slim. His school uniform made him look like a model from a magazine. Everyone else rode ordinary bicycles with baskets to school, but Shi Yang’s was a mountain bike. Sitting with his rear slightly raised and his long legs extended, the taut lines from his waist to his ankles exuded an undeniable charm, capturing attention.

The only person who had ever ridden on Shi Yang’s bike was Zhao Meimei. The mountain bike didn’t have a back seat, so the passenger had to sit on the front bar, their back against the chest of the person riding, an intimate posture.

The first time Zhang Jiahui saw Zhao Meimei was at the beginning of the school term when Shi Yang brought her to the school.

She was passing the playground with friends when one pointed out, "Look, isn’t that Shi Yang? Who’s the person he’s carrying? Could it be his girlfriend?"

The distance was quite far, and Zhang Jiahui could only see someone fleetingly on Shi Yang’s bike from afar.

That scene remained deeply etched in her memory; she could even vividly recall lying to herself at the time, saying, "Someone Shi Yang would carry must be his girlfriend. He’s so proud and handsome; how could he let anyone else ride on the front bar of his bike?"

Little did she expect that her casual words would turn out to be prophetic years later.

Despite the turmoil in her heart, Zhang Jiahui maintained a calm exterior and asked, "Have your dad and brother gone back to the hometown? Did something happen at home?"

Zhao Meimei lied fluently, "...They went back to give offerings at my grandmother’s grave."

Unexpectedly, what Zhao Meimei said turned out to be true, as Shi Yang and Zhao Dazhuang indeed went with the family to visit the cemetery the next morning.

Standing in front of Zhao Meimei’s grandmother’s tombstone, the family burned incense and offered fruit, each reminiscing about the elder resting beneath the earth.

Zhao Dazhuang gripped Shi Yang’s arm and said to the black-and-white photo of the old lady on the tombstone, "Mom, this is Yangyang, our Meimei’s fiancé. The two will get their marriage certificate on May 20."

This was the first time Zhao Dazhuang had publicly announced it, and everyone was stunned.

Shi Yang bowed to the old lady, speaking clearly, albeit softly, "Grandma, my name is Shi Yang, and I’m Meimei’s fiancé. We’ve grown up together since childhood, and I love her very much. We are deeply in love, and after we get married, I will always treat her well, cherish her all my life, and spoil her. You don’t need to worry about my uncle and aunt; I’ll treat them like my own parents and take care of them..."

Spoken with sincerity, Shi Yang’s words moved Zhao Dazhuang. Reflecting on the relationship between the families over more than ten years, the tall and handsome man before him had once been a schoolboy. It felt like only a moment had passed, and he had grown into a man ready to become his son-in-law.

After completing the grave visit, the family gathered back at the old house, bringing the patriarch back from the nursing home. Zhao Meimei’s young aunt, feeling guilty, volunteered to take charge of cooking, while her second aunt, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, joined in the kitchen to help prepare dinner.

The old man cherished Shi Yang, holding his hand tightly and constantly praising his handsomeness. Shi Yang patiently listened and chatted with him. After a while, Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt interrupted, "Alright, Dad, stop holding onto Yangyang. You’ve been saying the same things for years. I could recite them all by heart."

The old man, good-tempered, wasn’t bothered by the comment and laughed heartily, "Alright, alright, I know you all like Yangyang, too. I’ll lend him to you to chat, alright?"

Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt asked in detail about Shi Yang and Zhao Meimei, from how they met to falling in love and deciding to marry, learning everything thoroughly. She also inquired about Shi Yang’s family situation and his current work and business, not forgetting to praise Zhao Meimei.

Actually, Zhao Meimei had only returned to her hometown a few times, and she wasn’t particularly close to her aunts. However, this didn’t affect the elders’ fondness for her due to their affection towards the family as a whole.

Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt had always been fond of Zhao Dazhuang, which naturally extended to liking Zhao Meimei. Whenever she thought of it, she would call Zhao Dazhuang, always including Zhao Meimei in their conversations.

After confirming that Shi Yang and Zhao Meimei were only getting their marriage certificate on May 20—and that the wedding would be held after Zhao Meimei graduated from college—her eldest aunt promised, "Yangyang, when you and my Meimei get married, I’ll definitely bring your second and younger aunts over to attend the wedding. Our whole family will come and help organize. We’ll make sure the wedding is lively and magnificent."

After visiting the grave, Zhao Dazhuang had Shi Yang book return tickets. The trip had been too rushed, and there were still matters at home that needed attention, so they couldn’t stay longer.

Before leaving, the entire family gathered for a meal, where Zhao Meimei’s youngest aunt apologized to everyone. As family, there was no lasting grudge, and after some teasing, things returned to normal.

By the time Zhao Dazhuang and Shi Yang boarded the plane to return, Liu Xiue’s fever had started to improve. Her illness was initially caused by stress and a weakened immune system, but knowing that the matters were resolved put her in a good mood, aiding her recovery.

In just four days, Zhao Meimei seemed to mature overnight. She set an alarm to get up and buy breakfast every morning. After breakfast, she accompanied her mother to the community health center for an IV drip. Once they returned home, while her mother rested, she would clean the house and study. Her days were full, and managing household chores made her realize how overwhelming these tasks could be.

On the fourth day, Liu Xiue’s temperature returned to normal, and after two more days of IV treatment, she wouldn’t need to go to the health center anymore. Only then did Zhao Meimei return to school.

The day before going back to school, Zhao Meimei specially went to the downstairs supermarket and bought a coffee gift set for Zhang Jiahui.

Zhao Meimei expressed her gratitude sincerely. She truly appreciated Zhang Jiahui’s help, knowing that without her assistance in taking leave and arranging study matters, life at school wouldn’t have been as smooth. These kindnesses were etched in her heart, and over time, the grumbling and complaints faded away.

Initially, Zhang Jiahui refused, but Zhao Meimei’s warm insistence made her accept it. They exchanged smiles, feeling a mutual sense of reconciled friendship.