Chapter 5 — The Privileges of Ordinary People

12 To avoid being pressured by my family to get married, I began to actively participate in club activities at school, under the pretext of "expanding social contacts", but in fact I wanted to find a quiet place to hide. I participate in the school's Volunteer Association. There, I met Tran Nhien. Tran Nhien is a senior in the Department of Economics and Management, one class above me. He is not the kind of handsome that makes people bewildered, but has a clean, pleasant face, wears black-framed glasses, and when he smiles, he has two faint dimples, extremely warm. He behaves humbly, works carefully, and treats everyone sincerely. We became closer while volunteering at a nursing home. He patiently peeled apples for the elderly, thoughtfully teaching them to recognize words; The sunlight shone on him, making his whole being seem to be glowing. At that moment, I admit, I was a little shaken. This is a normal guy, like me, but always trying in his own way to make the world a better place. He doesn't have the domineering aura of the dragon clan, doesn't have the seductive charm of the fox clan, and doesn't have the superhuman strength of a cultivator. He just has a gentle, warm heart. And that's what I crave the most. We started going to the library together, eating in the cafeteria, and walking around campus together. Everything happens like the most normal student love affair: simple but beautiful. However, I forgot that behind me were three "guardians" who were not normal. Tran Nhien and I's first date took place at a small restaurant outside the school. We were chatting happily, I raised my head... and saw three people sitting at the cafe across the street. My father wore sunglasses and pretended to read a newspaper... but the newspaper was held upside down. My mother wore a sombrero, pretending to drink coffee... but the cup was empty. My brother wore headphones, pretending to listen to music... but his eyes were like radar, locked on us. Me: “…” I held my forehead, feeling my blood pressure skyrocket. I made an excuse to go to the bathroom, then rushed to the coffee shop opposite. "Dad! Mom! Brother! What are you guys doing?!" I suppressed every word. "Survey." – My father said concisely. “First Instance.” – My mother added. “Background investigation.” – My brother finished it. My brother is even more blunt. I was so angry that I wanted to explode on the spot: "People like that will scare him away! He's just a normal person!" “Normal is good!” My mother's eyes lit up: "Ordinary people are stable and don't have many tricks. I just clicked my fingers to calculate, this child's fate is not bad, although he is not rich and wealthy, his life will be peaceful and smooth, and he will be in a good relationship." My father also nodded: "Yes, I just observed his expression, neat and gentle, without evil spirits. It's just that his body is a bit weak. In the future, I will give him two dragon whiskers soaked in wine, ensuring the dragon's spirit and tiger's fierceness." My brother gave me an object smaller than a USB: "This is the latest model of a real-time monitoring and eavesdropping device. Put it in his pocket and we can immediately know all his words and actions." I grabbed the eavesdropper and threw it back to him. "I'm begging you! Please let me love like a normal person, okay?!" I almost screamed. The three people looked at me, all dumbfounded go out. My father quietly folded the newspaper, my mother took off her hat, and my brother also took off his headphones. They looked at my red eyes, their expressions became confused. “Daughter… don't be angry.” My father whispered, "We also... just worry about you." “That's right, Du Du,” my mother's eyes were also a little red, “You're so simple, we're afraid you'll be tricked.” My brother was silent for a long time before opening his mouth: "Sorry." Looking at the three of them like children who had just done something wrong, my anger suddenly disappeared. I know they love me, it's just their way of loving... is too "hardcore". I sighed, my voice softened: "I know everyone is there for me. But dad, mom, brother... I'm grown up. I'm a normal person, I also want to live a normal life, love a normal love." “You may not understand, but please respect me, okay?” "Give me some space, let me try and feel for myself. Even if I get hurt later... that's my own experience." The three people were silent. After a while, my father nodded: "Okay. We promise you." “We… won't interfere anymore.” 13 With my family's promise, I breathed a sigh of relief and happily returned to continue my appointment with Tran Nhien. Tran Nhien seemed completely unaware that a dramatic "family meeting" had just taken place. Seeing me come back, he smiled and asked: "Why were you gone for so long?" “Nothing, met some acquaintances, talked a few words.” I answered through the loudspeaker. Our relationship continued like that, through each simple date, it naturally became clear. There was no shocking confession, just on a moonlit night, on the walk back to the dorm, he held my hand. His hand was warm and dry. At that moment, I felt extremely secure. The days with Tran Nhien were simple but happy. He remembered my menstrual cycle and prepared red sugar water and thermal patches. He helped me localize my knowledge and make notes before the exam. While I was crying while watching the movie, he clumsily handed me a tissue, then sat next to me and scolded the male supporting character. These things... are things that my "generous supernatural" relatives cannot give me. They can give me the whole world, but they cannot give me the simple gentleness of a normal person. Of course, even though the family promised not to interfere, "small movements" still happened non-stop. For example, one time Tran Nhien sprained his leg while playing basketball. The next day my father "coincidentally" met him on the street and gave him a bottle of "secret family heirloom" medicinal wine. After applying it, the next day he ran and jumped normally, even though he was panicking. Or like when he participated in an important startup competition, because of stress he was speechless during the idea defense part. My mother "coincidentally" passed by behind the judges' bench, smiling softly and encouragingly. Tran Nhien recalled that at that time, he felt like his meridians were clear, his mind was clear, his words flowed, and in the end he won the first prize. As for my brother, when he discovered that Tran Nhien's computer had too low configuration and was prone to lag when playing games, he immediately used the name of the "computer store's lucky draw program" to give him an Alienware with top configuration. Tran Nhien always says she's lucky. Since she met me, good things have happened continuously. Every time I hear that, I just smile and don't answer. Stupid, that it's not luck. That's my family... using their own way, clumsily, to love him. 14 After graduating from university, Tran Nhien and I both stayed in this city. I joined a normal company and became a normal office worker. As for Tran Nhien, he used the prize money from the contest to open a small technology company with some friends. Everything gradually fell into place, and "introducing the family" was also scheduled. I started preparing mentally for my parents and brother... a month in advance. “Dad, when that time comes, you must not show your horns!” "Mom, tail! The tail must be retracted!" "You, don't attack! Don't let off steam! Don't use your eyes to kill people!" The three of them were nagged to the point that their ears were about to grow calluses, repeatedly promising that they would definitely play the role of "ordinary people" even tamer than ordinary people. The day we met, I was so nervous that my palms sweated, even more nervous than when I was kidnapped by the Truth Seeking Association in the past. Tran Nhien was no better. He wore his most expensive suit, combed his hair neatly without a stray strand, and brought a bunch of functional foods that "everyone in the elderly likes" as gifts. We met in a private room of the Chinese restaurant. When I pushed the door open, I saw my parents and brother already sitting neatly. My father wore the Zhongshan suit that he liked the most, his face was serious, trying to show the majestic aura of a father-in-law. My mother wore an elegant cheongsam, smiled gently, looking like a gentle lady. My brother wore his usual clothes, bowed his head and played with his phone, trying to minimize his existence. At first glance, everything... is very normal. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Hello uncle, hello aunt, hello brother!” Tran Nhien bowed politely. “Okay, okay, sit down, sit down.” My mother enthusiastically invited him to sit. The meal begins. At first, the atmosphere was still quite harmonious. My parents asked about Tran Nhien's family situation, work and future plans. He answered very seriously, every sentence and every word. Then... came the gift giving. My father cleared his throat, took out a brocade box from inside, and pushed it towards Tran Nhien: "Tieu Tran, the first time we met, there's nothing precious, this is a little bit of my heart, please accept it." Tran Nhien quickly waved his hand: "Uncle... how dare I accept it, I can't..." "I have to accept it!" My father's voice did not allow refusal. My heart thudded, feeling like something bad was about to happen. Unable to refuse anymore, Tran Nhien opened the box. Inside... was a night pearl the size of a pigeon's egg, radiating crystal-clear light, knowing at a glance that it was not an ordinary product. The entire dining room immediately lit up under the jade light. Tran Nhien: “…” Me: “…”