The summer heat wave is raging among the city's high-rise buildings, and people's faces are in a hurry and irritable, and only the air conditioner is silently consuming electricity and spitting out a trace of cold air.
Zhang Jingyi sat in the company's office, and the noise outside seemed to have nothing to do with her. She is dressed in a well-dressed professional attire, elegant yet powerful. Everything seems to be in order, but her heart is in chaos.
"Sister Zhang, you are really the most powerful woman I have ever seen." Subordinate Xiao Li made a joke and wanted to relieve the tense working atmosphere.
Zhang Jingyi smiled faintly, there was too much helplessness hidden in that smile: "If you knew that I had been on a blind date more than 40 times, and each time there was no result, you wouldn't have said that." ”
"Ah, how is that possible? Sister Zhang, you are so good. Xiao Li's face was full of incredulity.
"Excellent? Heh, what's the use of being excellent. In our case, a woman in her 30s who is not married is a leftover woman. Successful career? That won't save the 'leftover girl' hat. ”
Xiao Li opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything. He understands that there are pressures that words can't soothe.
After work, Zhang Jingyi went to the coffee shop alone as usual, where the silence allowed her to temporarily disconnect from this world. Sitting in the seat by the window, watching the pedestrians rushing outside the window, an indescribable feeling welled up in my heart.
"Lao Zhang, you work so well, where can you not find a partner?" Lao Chang, a retired former colleague, comes to the coffee shop from time to time to sit and always likes to come and chat with her.
"Chang, you don't understand, the current blind date market is too complicated." Zhang Jingyi smiled slightly bitterly.
"So many times, is it possible that there is no one who can be eye-catching?" I often don't understand.
"Actually, it's not nothing, but ......," Zhang Jingyi paused, "Some people are afraid that I am too strong, some people disagree with my family, and some people ...... Alas, all sorts of questions. ”
Lao Chang shook his head: "These days, it's really not easy to find a wishful man." ”
Zhang Jingyi looked out the window, and her heart was sour, but she immediately suppressed this emotion again: "Lao Chang, I'm fine, no matter how difficult it is, I have to do it." ”
When she returned home in the evening, Zhang Jingyi's mobile phone vibrate, and it was a message from her mother: "Jingyi, you don't have to work tomorrow, come home, your father misses you." ”
She looked at her phone's screen, hesitating to reply. The atmosphere at home, whenever it comes to marriage issues, is always more awkward and helpless.
"Got it, Mom, I'll go over tomorrow." In the end, she decided to face it.
Zhang Jingyi knows that this family dinner is not just as simple as a meal, and there must be a new blind date plan hidden behind it. But deep in her heart, she still longs for a sincere love, but the road seems to be getting farther and farther away. The next evening, the fragrance of the food at home wafted warmth, but Zhang Jingyi vaguely felt a bad omen.
Zhang Weiguo is a traditional father, and there is always no shortage of talks about traditional family values at the dinner table. The same is true today, for her unmarried daughter Zhang Jingyi, it is undoubtedly another tense psychological warfare.
"Jingyi, you're not young anymore, and everyone in your family is in a hurry. How's that Li Ming of yours? Zhang Weiguo asked tentatively while sandwiching the food.
Zhang Jingyi sighed lightly: "Dad, Li Mingren is very good, we are very consistent in many views, but ......"
"But what?" Zhang Weiguo's brows tightened.
"Neither of us is in a hurry to get married, we want to get to know each other better." Zhang Jingyi didn't want to intensify the conflict, so she tried to be as euphemistic as possible.
"But you've known each other for so long, there has to be a result, right?" Zhang's mother also joined the discussion on the side.
Li Ming is a colleague and friend, and the two have become acquainted since a chance meeting. Zhang Jingyi was attracted by Li Ming's cheerfulness and thoughtfulness, and the two realized each other's common yearning for life and love in many nights of long conversations.
"Dad, Mom, I understand your urgency, but marriage is urgent." Zhang Jingyi tried her best to stay calm, "I discussed it with Li Ming, and we both thought that we should get along for a while longer. ”
"Get along? It's been two years since you guys, can't you see clearly? Zhang Weiguo looked a little excited.
The atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became tense, and Zhang Jingyi fell into the dilemma of wanting to slip away and staying behind.
At this time, the ringtone of the mobile phone broke the awkward silence, and Zhang Jingyi got up to answer.
"Hey, Jingyi, I'm Li Ming." A familiar voice came from the other end of the line.
"Oh, hi, Li Ming." Zhang Jingyi's voice was kept as low as possible so as not to be heard by her parents.
"I heard that you are going home for dinner today, how are you doing?"
"They mention marriage again, Li Ming, I really don't know what to do." Zhang Jingyi smiled bitterly.
Li Ming on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment: "Jingyi, I know it's a lot of pressure, but I don't want us to get married so hastily." ”
"I think so too, but my parents ......" Zhang Jingyi's voice gradually became quieter.
"Why don't you go to your house and talk to your parents face to face?" Li Ming made a suggestion.
"But will this ......" Zhang Jingyi hesitated, worried that it would make her parents more anxious.
"Don't be afraid, we all have our own reasons." Li Ming said firmly.
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Jingyi sat back at the dinner table with mixed feelings. "Actually, Li Ming also wants to meet with you, he will come later."
Zhang Weiguo and Zhang's mother glanced at each other, obviously a little surprised by such an arrangement.
At the end of dinner, the moonlight was like water, and Li Ming's arrival undoubtedly added some warmth and uncertainty to the atmosphere of the Zhang family. The atmosphere of the birthday banquet should have been lively, but Zhang Jingyi's heart seemed to be pressed with a big stone. The table was full of delicate dishes, and the faces of her relatives were full of laughter, but her eyes involuntarily drifted to the door.
"Jingyi, look how happy your dad is today!" Mother Zhang whispered to her, her eyes full of urging, "If you can deliver good news, it will be even more perfect." ”
Zhang Jingyi clenched the chopsticks in her hand, and before she could answer, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"I'll open the door." Zhang Jingyi knew that it was Li Ming who had arrived, so she took a deep breath and stood up and walked.
As soon as the door opened, Li Ming stood there with a smile on his face and a gift in his hand. "Hi, happy birthday, Uncle Zhang." He said to Zhang Weiguo.
"Oh? Isn't this Li Ming? What are you doing here? Zhang Weiguo was a little surprised.
Zhang Jingyi gently pushed Li Ming: "He said he wanted to surprise you." ”
The relatives at the dinner table all looked at Li Ming with curious eyes, and whispered as if they were guessing his identity.
"Come, Li Ming, introduce yourself." Zhang Weiguo motioned for him to speak.
Li Ming cleared his throat and said, "Hello everyone, I am Jingyi's friend, today is Uncle Zhang's birthday, and I also want to bless it." ”
"Jingyi, why didn't you tell us you had such a friend?" A distant relative asked.
Li Ming glanced at Zhang Jingyi and knew that it was a critical moment. "Actually, Jingyi and I have thought about some things, and we both feel that we shouldn't be in a hurry about marriage."
As soon as the words fell, the room suddenly fell silent, and a tense atmosphere permeated.
A hint of displeasure flashed on Zhang Weiguo's face, "Li Ming, you are a good young man, but you should seriously consider the future." ”
"Uncle Zhang, I understand your concern for Jingyi, and we have seriously considered it. But marriage is not just a matter of two people, it is also based on understanding and respect. Li Ming's tone was firm but respectful.
Zhang Jingyi felt the pressure from her father, but with Li Ming's support, she also mustered up her courage: "Dad, Li Ming, he is right. What we need is mutual understanding, not hasty decisions. ”
Zhang Weiguo looked at his daughter's resolute eyes, was silent for a while, and said slowly: "I'm just worried about you, I don't want you to regret it in the future." ”
Li Ming took a step forward and said sincerely: "Uncle Zhang, Aunt Zhang, I promise, I will make Jingyi happy." ”
The banquet came to an end in a tense and warm atmosphere, and although Li Ming's arrival brought an accident, it also made Zhang Jingyi more determined in the choice between father and love. After that birthday party, the atmosphere of the Zhang family eased a lot. Zhang Jingyi felt that her father's attitude was loosened, and at the same time found that her relationship with Li Ming was much more solid.
A few days later, one morning, father and daughter sat on the sofa in the living room, and a quiet conversation unfolded between them.
"Jingyi, you have grown up and have your own ideas, Dad understands." Zhang Wei was concerned in Chinese and looked a little emotional.
Zhang Jingyi responded softly: "Dad, thank you for your understanding." I'll take care of my happiness. ”
"If you are really happy with Li Ming, then Dad will rest assured." Zhang Weiguo took a deep breath, "As long as you don't regret it." ”
Zhang Jingyi held her father's hand: "Dad, my relationship with Li Ming is based on understanding and respect, and I believe it is solid." ”
Not far away, Zhang's mother's soft laughter penetrated into this warm conversation: "Seeing that your father and daughter are talking so much, I can rest assured that I am a mother." ”
As time passed, the relationship between Zhang Jingyi and Li Ming grew stronger. Not only did they understand each other, but they also gradually gained the recognition and blessings of both families.
One night, Zhang Jingyi and Li Ming walked together in the park.
"Jingyi, do you know, since that birthday party, I think we both seem to know how to cherish each other more." Li Ming spoke softly and held Zhang Jingyi's hand.
"Well, that's what growing up is, sometimes it takes some challenges." Zhang Jingyi leaned on Li Ming's shoulder, feeling his warmth, "I'm glad that we can face it together." ”
The two walked side by side, the surrounding scenery gradually settled in the night, and a warm scene showed the tacit understanding and affection between the two.
Li Ming suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at her, and asked seriously: "Jingyi, no matter how far we go in the future and how many things we encounter, will you always maintain this sincerity and trust with me?" ”
Zhang Jingyi smiled, her eyes full of firmness and trust, "Of course, Li Ming." ”
As the night finally darkens, the stars are sprinkled on the lovers who are walking together, their story is just the beginning, and their happiness and growth will continue to be written. On the road of understanding and respect, how many new scenery will Zhang Jingyi and Li Ming usher in?