Chapter 180: Soundproofing, It's Okay

"What are you filming!" Jiang Ran lunged to snatch the camera, and the little boat rocked.

"Stop messing around!" Su Ruan quickly grabbed the boat railing, "What if we fall!"

After playing around for a while, the two boats met in the middle of the lake.

Jiang Jianguo carefully steered his boat over, Li Huijuan handed over a bottle of water: "Drink some water, rowing must be tiring?"

"Not tired." Jiang Ran took it, gulped a few sips, then handed it to Su Ruan, "Daughter-in-law, drink."

The sunshine was just right, the breeze gentle.

The family floated on the lake, surrounded by swaying flower shadows and glittering ripples.

At that moment, there were no business worries, no daily trivialities, only the purest gathering and companionship.

At noon, they found a clearing by the lake for a picnic.

Li Huijuan brought eggs and steamed buns, Jiang Jiaojiao bought cake and soda, Gu Yanshen sliced apples, and Su Ruan had specially prepared a few side dishes last night, filling the picnic cloth.

Everyone sat together, eating and chatting.

Jiang Jiaojiao flipped through the camera's Photo: "This one looks good... this one too... ah, Ranran's expression is so silly!"

"Let me see!" Jiang Ran leaned over, indeed saw a photo of himself rowing with a toothy grin, "Delete it, delete it!"

"Don't delete! Keep it as a black history!" Jiang Jiaojiao clutched the camera and ran off.

Gu Yanshen smiled and urged, "Alright, Jiaojiao, stop messing around."

Jiang Nainai watched the grandchildren playing, her eyes full of kindness: "So good... so good..."

After the meal, Jiang Jianguo accompanied Jiang Nainai for a walk by the lake to aid digestion.

Li Huijuan watched the two children nap.

Jiang Ran then held Su Ruan's hand, saying they should go find a Best Photo Spot.

The two walked slowly along the lakeshore, passed through a bamboo grove, and a small pavilion appeared before them.

The pavilion was built on a high spot, offering an excellent view.

Looking out, the entire peach blossom forest and lake were fully in sight.

"Here."

Jiang Ran pulled Su Ruan into the pavilion, and took something out of his pocket.

It was a tiny red velvet box.

Su Ruan was startled.

Jiang Ran opened the box; inside was a silver ring, simple in style but finely crafted, its band set with a tiny pearl.

"This is..."

"A wedding anniversary gift." Jiang Ran scratched his head a bit, embarrassed, "When we got married, I didn't buy you anything."

"Later we opened a shop, had kids, always busy. A while ago I went to Provincial Capital for business, saw this, thought it suited you."

He picked up the ring and carefully placed it on Su Ruan's left ring finger.

The size was just right.

"It's not a valuable thing, it's just... I wanted to give you something." Jiang Ran looked at her, his gaze sincere, "Su Ruan, thank you for marrying me. These past years, you've worked hard."

Su Ruan lowered her head, looking at the ring on her finger.

The pearl glimmered with a warm luster in the sunlight, like a droplet of solidified moonlight.

Her nose tingled, and she looked up at him: "Why all of a sudden..."

"It's not sudden." Jiang Ran grasped her hand, "I've wanted to give it for a long time."

"The preview was successful, the Provincial Capital partnership was also finalized, I just thought... it's the right time."

He pressed her hand to his chest: "Su Ruan, from now on our days will get better and better. I promise."

Su Ruan's tears finally fell, not from sorrow, but from overwhelming happiness.

She threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly: "Jiang Ran... thank you..."

"Silly words." Jiang Ran hugged her back, his chin rubbing her hairline, "I should be the one thanking you."

The two embraced in the pavilion for a long time, until Jiang Jiaojiao's voice called from afar: "Ranran! RuanRuan! Where are you? Grandma says she wants to go to the tea pavilion for tea!"

"Coming!" Jiang Ran replied, letting go of Su Ruan, carefully wiping the tears from her face, "Let's go back to the family."

In the afternoon, the whole family drank tea and rested at the park's tea pavilion.

Jiang Nainai sipped her favorite jasmine tea, watching the great-grandchildren run around, her wrinkles softened.

"Today is truly wonderful," she said slowly, "to see such a beautiful scene and be with the whole family, it's worth it."

"Grandma, we'll come out often from now on." Jiang Ran squatted beside his grandma, "When summer comes, we'll go to the sea. In autumn, we'll go see the red leaves. In winter... winter is too cold, so we'll stay home, waiting for the New Year."

"Good, good." Jiang Nainai smiled and nodded, "You have this intention, and I'm happy."

In the evening, the group returned to the guesthouse.

The guesthouse was simple but clean and tidy. Jiang Ran had booked two adjacent rooms, convenient for looking after each other.

After settling the luggage, everyone went to the restaurant next door for dinner.

They ordered a few home-style dishes, and the taste was surprisingly good.

Jiang Jianguo, rarely, had two drinks and talked more: "We had a good time today... Ranran, RuanRuan, you both are thoughtful."

"Dad, as long as you like it." Su Ruan pinched a piece of fish for her father-in-law, "We'll come out often from now on."

"Yes, often come out." Jiang Jianguo nodded, "A family should spend more time together."

After dinner, back at the guesthouse, the children were all tired and went to bed early.

The adults gathered in one room to chat.

Jiang Jiaojiao flipped through today's photos, commenting on each.

Gu Yanshen added comments from beside.

Li Huijuan and Jiang Jianguo talked about today's observations.

Jiang Nainai listened quietly, occasionally interjecting.

Jiang Ran and Su Ruan sat on the window‑side chairs, hand in hand.

Outside the window, night deepened, and the distant mountain ridges were reduced to black silhouettes.

But inside the room, the light was warm, and laughter lingered.

"Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the park again, then head home," Jiang Ran said softly, "Zhang Shifu said he'll come at nine to pick us up."

"Hmm." Su Ruan leaned on his shoulder, "Today… is really nice."

"It will get even better." Jiang Ran squeezed her hand, his fingertips rubbing the newly worn ring.

A little after ten, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Jiang Ran and Su Ruan lay on the bed, both unable to sleep.

"Daughter‑in‑law."

"Hmm?"

"When Jinjin and An'an are older, we'll take them to farther places—BJ, Shanghai—to see the world outside."

"Okay."

"When the shop becomes more stable, we'll also, like today, schedule regular family trips."

"Okay."

"When we're old… we'll still hold hands and watch the peach blossoms."

Su Ruan turned around, looking at him in the darkness: "Jiang Ran."

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Jiang Ran was startled, then hugged her tightly, his voice a little hoarse: "I love you too… Su Ruan, the best thing I've done in this life is to have married you."

Early the next morning, after Su Ruan woke up, Jiang Ran was still sound asleep, an arm draped across her waist, breathing evenly.

Su Ruan gently moved Jiang Ran's hand aside and sat up.

She lowered her head to look at the ring, an involuntary smile lifting the corner of her mouth.

Just as she was about to get out of bed, a hoarse voice came from behind: "Daughter‑in‑law, what time is it?"

Jiang Ran woke, his eyes not fully open, his arm already reaching out to pull her back into his embrace, his face nuzzling her neck: "Sleep a little longer…"

"It's six thirty," Su Ruan glanced at the watch on the nightstand, "Time to get up, Zhang Shifu is coming at nine to pick us up."

"Still early…" Jiang Ran mumbled, his hand beginning to wander mischievously around her waist, "Yesterday… in the pavilion…"

Su Ruan's face flushed as she grabbed his hand: "Stop messing around, Mom, Dad, and Grandma are right next door."

"Soundproof… it's okay…"

Jiang Ran chuckled softly, rolled over, and pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss carried the morning's laziness and warmth, unhurried yet deep enough.

Su Ruan felt dizzy from his kiss, her hand pressed against his chest, and the force of her resistance grew weaker.

Just as Jiang Ran's hand slipped under the hem of her nightgown, a door opened next door and Jiang Nainai's cough was heard.

The two froze instantly.