In less than an hour, Jinyong was already at their favorite place, waiting for Fang's arrival.
Fang finally got there, and they exchanged pleasantries as lovers would do.
"Hey, Fang. It's great to see you. How's your day been? He said smiling.
Returning the smile. "Hi, Jinyong. My day's been good, thanks. I've been looking forward to this day; how about you?"
"My day's been much better now that I get to spend time with you. So, what did you want to talk about? Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Everything's fine. I just thought it's a good time to discuss a few things, you know, about our relationship and how we can make it even better and spicy." She said it calmly.
Nodding. "Sounds like a worthwhile conversation. I'm all ears. Let's talk about it."
At this point, Jinyong and Fang were both settled in for their conversation, ready to strengthen their connection and conversation as a couple.
"So, Jinyong, I thought it might be a good idea to share some of our likes and dislikes. For instance, what's something you enjoy doing in your free time?"
"I love playing the guitar, and I'm into outdoor activities like hiking and camping. As for dislikes, I'm not a fan of crowded places."
"Why don't you like crowded places? Are you trying to say that you're the shy type?" She asked, beaming with a smile.
"Uuhm, I'm not the shy type; I just don't feel comfortable being in a crowded vicinity."
"That's great to know. I enjoy painting and reading in my free time. And just a heads up, I'm not the biggest fan of spicy food."
"Thanks for sharing. It's nice to learn more about each other. How about family? Tell me more about yours."
"Well, I have a younger sister, my mom is a trader, and my dad is a teacher. We're quite close. How about you? Tell me about your family."
"Well, I'm the only child in my family. My dad was a successful businessman who owned the companies that I currently run in his absence now that he's no longer in existence. My mother is a lawyer. She's quite supportive but can be a bit traditional sometimes."
"Wow! An only child. Sorry about your dad.
It's good to know about your family. Now, what are your long-term goals and expectations for our relationship, Jinyong?"
"I see how the relationship is growing stronger, and I hope we can be of great help in terms of supporting each other's dreams. I see you as a partner who shares similar values and aspirations."
"I feel the same way, Jinyong. I want us to be a team, and I believe open communication is key. What's your take on that?"
"I couldn't agree more. Communication is vital for every healthy relationship. Is there anything specific you'd like to see in our future together?"
"Well, I hope we can travel together and explore new places. And I want us to always make time for each other, no matter how busy life gets."
"That sounds wonderful, Fang. I'm excited about our future adventures together. One more question: What's your favorite childhood memory?"
"My favorite memory is spending summers at my grandparents' farm. We'd run around the fields and play by the river. How about you, Jinyong?"
"I have a fond memory of family picnics at the beach with some cousins of mine. The laughter and togetherness were priceless."
Their conversation got deeper, and they got to know each other on a deeper level, building a stronger connection.
They both looked at each other in silence for a while and smiled at each other.
After a brief moment of silence and exchanging smiles, Jinyong finally speaks.
"Fang, I hope you don't mind me asking, but I'm curious about your past relationships. What was your last one like?"
Nods. "It's okay to ask, Jinyong. My last relationship was with a guy named Li Wei. That was my first relationship as well.
We had some good times, but there were also a lot of issues. We just grew apart over time.
I tried to make things work out between us, but it later occurred to me that he had always wanted us to be apart.
We both wanted different things in life, and it was a difficult decision for me to break up with him."
"I appreciate you sharing that with me, said Fang. It's important to know each other's pasts. I'm glad to see that you can handle things with maturity and grace."
"Thanks, Jinyong. I believe in open and honest communication in a relationship. It's what helps us grow and build something meaningful together."
"You are right, Fang. I must confess that I'm lucky to have you in my life, and I pray what we share lasts forever."
"We'll get to work together to make that happen. We have a lot of work to do. What do you think?"
"You're right."
"Jinyong, I've shared my past relationship with you, and I'm curious to know about yours. Could you tell me about your last relationship and why it ended?"
He paused for a moment. "Of course, Fang. My last relationship was my first as well, and it was with a girl I loved so much called Ruoxi. We were together for a while, but it was a complicated situation. Ruoxi had some issues with alcohol and hard drugs, and she was heavily into the clubbing scene. It became clear that our lifestyles and values were just too different."
"I see. So why didn't you try to make her see reasons why she should stop indulging in such acts?"
"I tried my best to make her change. I had the intention of getting married to her, and I made my intentions known to her.
I thought letting her know could make her quit all of what she was involved in. Little did I know that she was not even interested in getting married to me or any other guy."
"Did she say that to you?"
"Yeah. She did. She told me not everyone wants to get married, and she is one of those ladies who wouldn't want to get married if given the chance not to.
She was only interested in flirting with me and other men."
"I see. It was obvious she was more interested in flying like a bird to perch on any available tree."
"That's the kind of lifestyle she wanted to continue with while still with me."
"I see. That sounds challenging. How did you and Ruoxi end up together in the first place?"
"Our parents were both quite influential and wanted us to be together. They thought it would be a good match for our families, but we realized we weren't compatible on a personal level. It was a difficult decision on my side to break things off; she did the breakup by walking out on me while I was on my knees."
"You didn't go after her immediately?"
"I didn't. At first, I thought I was dreaming until it became clear to me that it wasn't a dream but reality.
After trying to get through to her over the phone and I couldn't, I decided to visit her. Getting to her parents' house, where she lived, I discovered they had relocated to another city, and to date, I don't know where she is currently."
"It must have been tough, though."
"Yeah. Tough."
"Do you ever regret ever dating her?"
"At some point, I did regret it. Because there were few sweet moments with her and more altercations and misunderstandings.
The love was one-sided, as it was coming from me alone and not reciprocated by her."
"So tell me, have you forgotten about her completely? Or is there something that reminds you of her?"
"I have to be honest with you here. Before I met you, Ruoxi's pictures and tantrum behaviors always enveloped my mind.
Everything about her disappeared the moment I set my eyes on you."
"Don't tell me my presence in your life succeeded in eradicating the memories you had with Ruoxi."
"But that's the truth. I'm being plain with you here, Fang. Believe me."
"I don't know what more to say. All the same, thanks for opening up about it, Jinyong. I appreciate your honesty."
"Thanks for your understanding, Fang. It's important to know about each other's pasts to build a strong and trusting relationship."
"I've been thinking about what we share and our discussions so far. What do you think about abstaining from sex until we are certain about getting married?"
"I appreciate your honesty, Fang. I understand your perspective. But I believe that physical intimacy can strengthen our connection and commitment to each other. It's an important part of a romantic relationship."
"I understand that, Jinyong. But I believe that if we can build a strong emotional bond first, it will only make our physical connection more meaningful when the time is right. I want to be sure that we're in this for the long haul."
"I respect your viewpoint, Fang, and I think it's great that you want to make the right decision for both of us. But I also believe that a healthy sexual relationship is a crucial aspect of a committed partnership."
"I hear you, Jinyong. And I don't want you to think I'm rejecting that idea forever. I just want to be cautious, and I believe that I should be the one to decide when we take that step. It's about me feeling ready and secure in our relationship."
"That's fair, Fang. I respect your boundaries and will support your decisions. We must communicate openly about these things and move at a pace that makes you comfortable."
"Thank you for understanding, Jinyong. I value your support and want us to be on the same page about this. Our love and commitment are what matter most to me."
"I feel the same way, Fang. Let's continue building our relationship with trust, communication, and understanding. When the time is right, we'll take that step together."
Jinyong and Fang, having discussed the sensitive topic, decided to work on strengthening their relationship with mutual respect and communication.
Jinyong then suggested to Fang that she should spend the first month of her leave in town so that they could get used to each other.
"Fang, I've been thinking about your two months' leave. How about we spend the first month in town together, and then you spend the next month with your family? It would be a nice way to balance our time."
"Well, I appreciate the suggestion, Jinyong, but I already told my mother I would be spending the first month with my family. They are looking forward to seeing me, and I don't want to change those plans."
"I see. I didn't know you had already called your mom to tell her you would be with her for the first month. Family is important, and I completely understand your commitment to spending time with them. We can plan for the second month to be just the two of us."
"Thank you for understanding, Jinyong. I want to spend time with you too, but family commitment is something I take seriously. The second month sounds like a great plan."
"I respect your dedication to your family, Fang. Let's make the most of the time we have together and cherish the moment, both with family and just the two of us."
"I know, right? We're going to do that when I get back."
"So when are you planning to leave?"
"This weekend. That's in three days from now."
"Alright then. I'll drive you to the train station, where you can take a train to your destination."
"You're going to do that for me? That's so thoughtful of you, Jinyong."
"Anything for the one I love. Don't forget, I promised to support you with some financial assistance. I'll make a transfer to your bank account. Just punch in your account digits; I will do that immediately after I get home." Jinyong gave Fang his phone to punch in her bank account digits.
"Thanks so much, Jinyong; I appreciate your benevolence." She appreciated him as she returned his phone to him after entering her digits.