Chapter 31: Meeting the Parents~

“Dun dun dun~~”

A light, gentle chime sounded.

Lin Yiren stood up to fetch her phone, the screen displaying a call from “Mom.”

“Hello, Mom.”

“When are you coming over?”

“After lunch, I guess. Then we can have dinner at home together.”

“Alright, Zhao Yue will be coming too, right? I’ll go prepare then.”

“Mom, don’t scare her.”

Lin Yiren lowered her voice as she spoke.

The first time she brought a friend home for dinner in middle school, Ye Qiao was overjoyed, decorating the house with balloons and confetti. As a result, that friend sat through the entire meal with her back ramrod straight, as if attending some grand banquet.

“She’s the mother of your child, you know. Who knows, maybe in the future…”

“Mom, don’t say weird things.”

Lin Yiren snuck a guilty glance over her shoulder, uneasily fiddling with the corner of the table as she said, “I’ll ask her what she wants to eat.”

“Go on, go on.”

After hanging up, Lin Yiren pressed her hand to her brow, her small nose wrinkling.

She’d originally thought it was just a casual meal at her parents’ house with Xing Yao. Now, she was starting to feel nervous.

Bringing Chen Zhao Yue home to meet her parents and all…

Stop, just stop! It’s all Mom’s fault for putting strange ideas in my head.

Lin Yiren hurried to clear her mind, using her hands to cool her burning cheeks.

***

A few dozen steps away, Chen Zhao Yue turned to look at the slim silhouette of the girl.

Just sitting there, not moving at all. What was she doing?

Oh, she moved.

Lin Yiren walked back over, sat down beside Xing Yao, and stared intently at the table.

Chen Zhao Yue could only see the crown of her head.

After a moment, her voice finally came out.

“Is there anything you want to eat for dinner? I’ll tell my mom in a bit.”

She waited so long just to ask this?

Chen Zhao Yue chuckled and tapped her chin, replying, “Hmm, let me think—maybe braised pork trotters? Or how about we cook together?”

“No, no, having a guest cook is way too impolite.”

“Then you cook for me. I’d feel embarrassed having Auntie cook for me.”

So you don’t mind ordering me around, huh?

Lin Yiren still agreed, “Alright then.”

After lunch, the three of them packed up and got ready to leave.

Lin Yiren helped Xing Yao adjust her clothes, making sure her perpetually exposed little belly was covered.

For this little bundle, the prospect of sleeping somewhere new was exciting.

Was it because her mom had been the one taking care of her at first? Lin Yiren wondered.

“Let’s go.” Chen Zhao Yue picked up Xing Yao’s little suitcase.

She’d changed into a floral dress and had tidied her hair.

As they walked out the door, the wind stirred her dress, revealing a slender, pale ankle—a rare touch of brightness in the drizzly gray rain.

Lin Yiren couldn’t help but wonder why she’d dressed up specially.

But in the end, she scolded herself for acting like a repressed teenage boy.

***

The car brought them to Lin Yiren’s family home.

The apartment complex was one of Haishi’s older neighborhoods, the walls bearing the marks of time, but the property management kept things clean and well maintained.

“Up there is where Grandpa and Grandma used to live. Do you remember?”

Lin Yiren held Xing Yao as she looked up.

Chen Zhao Yue looked up too.

She tried to recall coming here a few months back, but her memory was hazy.

After all, she’d only thought of this place as an “investigation site” at the time.

But now—

She lowered her head, and the image of the young woman holding her daughter was reflected in her eyes.

There was an inexplicable sense of nervousness, as if she were about to be inspected.

Chen Zhao Yue hefted what she was carrying; besides Xing Yao’s small suitcase, she also had two gift boxes.

“Let’s go up.”

They went upstairs and knocked on the slightly worn door. Soon, it opened from within.

Ye Qiao saw the two adults and one child at the door, and her anticipation turned into a warm smile.

“You’re finally here! Come on in.”

She brought out three pairs of shoes, two big and one small, all pink.

“Mom, where are my old shoes?”

“Your feet are too big for those now.”

Ye Qiao scooped up Lin Xing Yao, who was wearing the tiny pink shoes, and listened to her call out, “Grandma!”

“Ay~ Good girl, good girl.”

Although she’d heard it over the phone a few times before, actually holding a rosy-cheeked doll calling her “Grandma” felt just wonderful.

Peering over the little one’s shoulder, she saw the beautiful girl standing there with a bright smile.

“Hello, Aunt Ye.” Chen Zhao Yue greeted her, handing over the gift boxes. “These are for you and Uncle Lin.”

Ye Qiao accepted them with a smile, telling her she was too polite, then linked arms with her and led her to sit in the living room.

Lin Yiren glanced at the gift boxes, spotting exquisitely wrapped high-end skincare products and two bottles of Maotai.

Worthy of a young lady, alright.

***

Chen Zhao Yue sat down on the sofa, hands at her sides, shoulders level, back straight.

Ye Qiao noticed her nervousness and couldn’t help but smile. “Since you’re here, Zhao Yue, why not let Yiren show you her room?”

Lin Yiren’s body jolted, and she stared wide-eyed at her mom.

Why bring her to my room as soon as we get here?

“Then, shall I take a look?”

Chen Zhao Yue’s lovely peach blossom eyes arched as she looked at Lin Yiren.

“Sure, sure, but there’s really not much to see.”

Lin Yiren avoided her gaze as she spoke.

Ye Qiao, with Xing Yao in her arms, kindly pointed the way. “It’s the one at the very back.”

Chen Zhao Yue followed her directions to the door, turning back to gesture for Lin Yiren to give her a tour.

“Most of my stuff is already moved out,” Lin Yiren said, pushing open the wooden door.

The door hit the wall with a dull thud, and a faint woody scent wafted through the room.

The layout was simple—the bed was right next to the desk, one side of which was a bookshelf already stuffed full of books. Several more books that didn’t fit were stacked on the desk.

Chen Zhao Yue flipped through them curiously. There was quite a range, even a few cookbooks.

Some of the books had lots of notes scribbled in them, all sorts of bookmarks wedged inside.

One of the bookmarks was actually a yellowed sycamore leaf.

There were also some little ornaments on the desk. The calendar had a few haphazardly drawn stick figures doodled on it.

Not even as good as Xing Yao’s art skills.

A faint smile played at the corner of Chen Zhao Yue’s lips.

She turned to see the wardrobe left slightly open, revealing a few clothes inside, nearly all in black, gray, or white.

There was also a basketball under the wardrobe—probably the one from the dorm.

“So? Not much to look at, huh?”

Lin Yiren stood in the doorway, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.

“I heard boys often hide their little secrets under the bed.”

“W-what? There’s nothing like that!”

Lin Yiren’s small hand froze, her face turning bright red.

She’d never bought anything physical before. Though she had some stuff on her phone, she hadn’t looked at it since becoming a girl.

And now she had no idea what to do.

Seeing that Chen Zhao Yue was about to say something else, Lin Yiren rushed over and hurriedly dragged her out.

Chen Zhao Yue felt the softness of the girl’s hand and couldn’t help but gently squeeze it in return.

I’ve gotten to know her a little more.

Lin Yiren pulled her back to the living room, then quickly let go.

The sky outside was getting darker. Ye Qiao had already turned on the lights in the living room and kitchen.

The bright lights shone on the small but cozy home.

Just then, the door opened, and Lin Zhengqing shook the raindrops from his umbrella, seeing the living room already filled with people.