Time Travel Troubles

Chapter 6

Weiwei's evening unfolded with the predictability of a well-worn script, yet the twists and turns it took were anything but expected. Seated in her dimly lit bedroom, phone clutched tightly to her ear, she found herself plunged into the tumultuous aftermath of a conversation with her parents. The echoes of her father's explosive tirade reverberated in her mind, his demands making her frown as she narrated them to her husband. He ordered that she remain tethered to Wuhan so she could live at home so he could better monitor the people that she interacted with, forbidding even the thought of dating until she reached the ripe age of thirty. Each word he uttered seemed to chaff against her independence, leaving her feeling frustrated and powerless, her attempts to soothe his temper falling on deaf ears. Not even her pouty face would crack her father's harsh resolve on the matter.

Reflecting back on the explosive confrontation at the dinner table, Weiwei couldn't help but acknowledge that her delivery might have lacked the needed finesse that her husband would have used. She chose to use blunt honesty, hoping against hope that by being forthright, her father might gradually come to terms with their plans. She shook her head at the memory of the disgruntled father she had introduced Xiao Nai to after her graduation, a memory overshadowed by the whirlwind of moving into their new home, planning the wedding, and setting up their new headquarters. Amidst the chaos, she had nearly forgotten the trials her father had put Xiao Nai through when he had come to ask for her hand in marriage.Reflecting now she realized that her father still thinks that she is still in primary school and needed her father's protection.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, Xiao Nai listened in seemingly disinterested silence as he worked on his computer, his mind a whirlwind of calculations and strategies. Weiwei's voice washed over him like a soothing balm, her words punctuated by the gentle rhythm of his typing. When she finally fell silent, he offered a noncommittal grunt of acknowledgment, his thoughts already racing ahead to the next move.

"Mnn" he acknowledged his flustered wife. Weiwei sighed and was about to start on another tangent. When he calmly asked if her parent's phone number had changed from what they were in the other timeline. Weiwei confusingly giving the affirmative and her beloved enigmatically stated that he will take care of it. Leaving her with slight frustration as he liked to do. It was a pattern she had grown accustomed to, the delicate dance of words and intentions that characterized their relationship.

The separated lovers lingered on the phone for a few more precious minutes, their conversation a tender exchange of reassurances and whispered promises for when she returned to him. Weiwei found solace in Xiao Nai's calm, reassuring voice, a lifeline amidst the storm of uncertainty that raged around them. With a final, tender exchange of goodnight wishes, she reluctantly bid him farewell, her thoughts still spinning as she settled beneath the covers, her head swimming with the promises that she knew all to well that Xiao Nai would fulfill when she returned back to school.

Back in his home, Xiao Nai glanced at his watch, gauging the optimal timing for his next move in their intricate game of familial politics. He knew that her father's after-dinner 'him time' offered the best opportunity for a tête-à-tête, his attention undivided and his defenses momentarily lowered. With a wry smile, Xiao Nai dialed his father in-law's number, his voice steady and composed as he greeted the elder man with practiced ease.

"Good evening, Comrade Bei," Xiao Nai began, his tone measured and authoritative, commanding attention with every word. What followed was a conversation that stretched well past Weiwei's father's usual bedtime, a masterful display of diplomacy and persuasion that left her father's resistance crumbling in its wake.

Xiao Nai addressed each of her father's concerns with finesse, his arguments carefully crafted to resonate with the older man's values and aspirations for his daughter's future. He spoke of dedication and stability, of shared dreams and unwavering commitment, his words painting a vivid picture of the life they hoped to build together. With each passing moment,Xiao Nai could almost feel the tide turning, his beloved's dear father's skepticism giving way to grudging admiration for Xiao Nai's strategic foresight and unyielding determination. Deciding to go in for the kill Xiao Nai brought up how beautiful of a child Weiwei must have been as he did in the former timeline along with how the government were talking about lifting the one child policy. Causing the older man to think about having grandchildren to dote on. By the time the call ended Weiwei's father was Xiao Nai's biggest fan.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, the tension of the previous evening dissolving like mist in the morning sun. As Weiwei sat down at the dining table, she was taken aback by the transformation in her father, his demeanor buoyant and jovial, a stark contrast to the stormy tempest of the night before.

"Good morning, Weiwei," her father greeted her warmly, his smile infectious as he launched into a barrage of questions and plans for their future. Weiwei blinked in disbelief, trying to reconcile this cheerful man with the stern figure of the previous evening. It seemed that Xiao Nai's call had worked wonders once again, turning her father from a fierce critic into an ardent supporter, his praise for Xiao Nai ringing out like a chorus of approval. Her mother was in shock with the change of her stubborn husband's attitude. Looking over in question at her daughter to see if she had any insite only to be met with a confused shrug.

As Weiwei and her mother listened to her father's newfound enthusiasm, she couldn't help but smile, her heart brimming with gratitude and admiration for her husband's devious mind. Xiao Nai had done it again—handled the situation with his trademark efficiency and charm, paving the way for their future together. Her heart swelled with love and admiration for her husband, grateful for his unwavering support and strategic brilliance.

For the rest of Weiwei's visit, her parents bombarded her with questions about her fine young suitor. The closing celebrations of Lunar new year could not come fast enough for Weiwei's nerves. It went without saying that by the time she returned to Beijing, she had been quite put out, much to Xiao Nai's amusement. Frowning as her husband greeted her at the trainstation with a public kiss that he knew all too well would further infuriate his already disgruntled wife. The raven haired beauty stopped out of the train station to her husband's car and stiffly got in not saying anything as her husband opened the door for her. Showing her displeasure, Weiwei sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed and angrily ignoring her husband as he drove them back to campus. All the while having that damnable smug grin stretched across his lips.

Author's Notes: I live. Sort of. Sorry for such a long wait. I returned to college and WAY too many papers to write. (Which explains the upgrade in my grammar.) I am going to attempt to get some more writing out while I am on summer break. I make no promises on how much because I need to also be working on my art portfolio which is the reason why I am not taking summer classes this year.