On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin boarded a plane home.
The plane reached cruising altitude, with an endless sea of clouds outside the window.
Wei Zijin sat by the window, but her palms kept sweating, and her whole body was tense.
She turned her head and asked Wang Xiaoliang beside her in a barely audible voice.
"Xiaoliang, do you think... your parents might not think I'm good enough?"
Wang Xiaoliang had been thinking about Zhou Qiang's plans for next year and almost laughed out loud. He turned his hand to clasp her cold little hand and gently kneaded it.
"Don't be silly."
He leaned close to her ear and lowered his voice.
"Relax. My parents have perfectly good eyesight. Bringing home such a beautiful, capable daughter-in-law? They'll be too busy secretly celebrating."
"That's good... I've really never met a boyfriend's parents before."
"You'd better not have!"
Wei Zijin smiled smugly at her joke.
In truth, Wang Xiaoliang wasn't entirely sure himself.
A few days earlier, he had called his parents to let them know.
He had called his mother, Zhao Xiuqin, first.
"Mom, it's me."
"Oh! Son! Are you running short of money? Have you eaten? What day are you coming home?" A familiar string of questions came tumbling down the line.
"I've eaten. Mom, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it? Why all the mystery?"
Wang Xiaoliang cleared his throat. "I... have a girlfriend."
Even the sound of breathing stopped on the other end.
There were five full seconds of silence.
"Really?!" Zhao Xiuqin's voice suddenly shot up.
"Really. I'm bringing her home with me for New Year."
Zhao Xiuqin immediately shifted her focus.
"Bringing her home? Wait, son, let me ask you something. Are you dating this