Lan Hui was shocked. She had already explained everything in such detail, so why didn’t her mom believe her?
Was she calling Peng Kai back for dinner just to make things difficult for him?
“Mom, there’s really nothing going on between me and Peng Kai, please don’t jump to conclusions. I won’t ask him to come back for dinner.”
Zhang said, “I believe you, but since he’s your roommate, I just want to see what kind of person he is. Are you afraid I’ll bully him?”
Lan Hui was at a loss for words. That was exactly what she was thinking.
Zhang said, “Have him come back for dinner tomorrow night. I’ll cook a nice meal for him, and then we can talk about moving out.”
Her mom had lightly made a decision for her. Lan Hui was furious. “Mom, I worked so hard to find this place! The rent is cheap, and it’s close to both my work and school. I’m not moving.”
Zhang took a bank card from her pocket. “There’s ten thousand yuan in here. Use it to rent a better place. Fu Fu, you’re a girl, you need to be aware of your own safety. You can’t share an apartment with a man.”
Lan Hui was extremely dissatisfied. “I don’t want it.”
Zhang sighed, her tone firmer than ever before. “Call him back tomorrow. If you don’t listen, I’ll have your dad come, and he’ll force you to come home.”
Lan Hui was so angry she could spit blood.
Zhang didn’t care about her reaction and went straight into her room.
Lan Hui sat on the sofa, restless and annoyed, and finally couldn’t help but call Peng Kai to tell him what had happened that evening.
Peng Kai hadn’t expected things to be exposed so quickly, and comforted her, “Actually, Auntie isn’t wrong to want you to move out. She’s an elder, so naturally she thinks about things more thoroughly than us young people.”
Lan Hui’s voice was weak. “But I don’t want to move. This apartment is nice, and my roommate is nice too.”
How could Peng Kai possibly want her to move out? But since the elders had spoken, if she didn’t move, they’d force her to go back to her hometown.
Between those choices, there was only one path: moving out.
Lan Hui sighed. “Come back for dinner tomorrow night. My mom wants to meet you.”
Peng Kai was rarely nervous. “Is that really okay?”
Lan Hui said, “Mom asked you herself, so just meet her. Let her see what kind of person you are. Otherwise, she’ll always suspect something between us, and even if I move, she still won’t be at ease back home.”
Makes sense.
Peng Kai asked, “Should I buy something for Auntie?”
“No need, just come back and have a simple meal.” Lan Hui said.
“Alright.” Peng Kai said, “It’s already late, get some sleep.”
“Good night.” Lan Hui hung up, let out a long sigh, and got up to go to her bedroom.
Zhang was already lying in bed, eyes tightly closed and turned away. Lan Hui couldn’t tell whether she was really asleep or just pretending.
She grabbed her change of clothes and went to shower. When she came back, she lay in bed, completely sleepless.
Actually, Zhang wasn’t asleep either. She had things on her mind and couldn’t fall asleep at all.
The next day, Zhang got up early to make breakfast for her daughter. Lan Hui, to give face, ate it, but the two hardly spoke a word, and the atmosphere was tense.
Lan Hui went to work, and Zhang left the house with the keys.
Last night, her daughter had mentioned Peng Kai Auto Repair Shop, so Zhang decided to go check it out.
She asked her way there almost the whole time, and by the time she found Peng Kai Auto Repair Shop, it was nearly ten in the morning.
Zhang stood at the door, peering inside. “The shop looks pretty big, not bad. Just not sure about the people.”
At the entrance stood a man playing on his phone, looking relaxed and casual—he seemed like the boss.
There was also a chubby guy holding a water gun, washing a car. He was probably a staff member.
The chubby guy quickly noticed the strange Zhang, and smiled, making some hand gestures at her.
Zhang couldn’t understand exactly what he meant, but she could tell it was sign language. The chubby guy was disabled.
Zhang smiled and waved back at him, then looked at the man playing on his phone, feeling a little dissatisfied.
Average looks, average height—however she looked at him, he seemed ordinary and not good enough for her daughter.
But the guy changing tires on a big truck nearby was pretty good—good-looking, tall, worked quickly and efficiently.
Though he seemed cold, Zhang, as someone experienced, could tell at a glance he was a dependable man.
He looked very young, probably another employee at the shop.
Peng Kai naturally noticed Zhang’s gaze. At first, he didn’t intend to respond, but Zhang stood at the entrance and didn’t leave.
Guessing she had something to discuss, he put down his work and walked over. “Auntie, do you have any car problems you’d like to ask about?”
Zhang shook her head. “No, I’m here to see your boss.” As she spoke, her eyes turned to the man playing on his phone.
Peng Kai frowned. “Why are you looking for the boss?” He didn’t remember knowing this auntie.
Zhang saw she’d already explained her reason, but the man on his phone still didn’t move, even smiling at his phone, and she secretly decided to cut off her daughter’s contact with him in the future.
If her daughter dated someone like that, what kind of future would she have!
“I don’t want to see him anymore.” Zhang was completely unimpressed and didn’t want to stay longer.
First she wanted to find him, then she didn’t. Peng Kai’s frown deepened. “Auntie, what exactly do you want? I don’t think we’ve ever done business together?”
Zhang said, “No business, I just came to have a look today. Nothing major.”
Peng Kai was completely confused. “Just to have a look? But I don’t know you, Auntie?”
Zhang said, “I know your boss.”
Peng Kai was even more bewildered. “Auntie, you know me?”
Zhang was about to say she didn’t know him, when she suddenly realized the hidden meaning in his words. She asked tentatively, “You… are the boss?”
Peng Kai nodded. “I’m the boss.”
Zhang quickly lowered her voice and asked, “Then who’s that guy playing on his phone?”
Peng Kai was helpless. “He’s a customer, waiting for me to fix his car.”
Zhang was extremely embarrassed. “I thought he was the boss.”
“So, Auntie, do we know each other?”
Zhang’s attitude changed instantly, smiling sweetly. “I’m Yue Fu’s mother.”
Now it was Peng Kai’s turn to panic, suddenly feeling awkward and nervous. “Ah… Hello, Auntie.”
Zhang smiled. “No need to be nervous.”
Just then, the man playing on his phone spoke up. “Hey boss, how much longer for my tires? I have to deliver goods for my boss. If I’m late, I’ll get fined.”
Peng Kai apologized. “Just a moment, I’ll talk to Auntie for a bit and then get right to it.” Then he turned to Zhang.
“Auntie, I’m a bit busy right now. Why don’t you have a seat inside? I’ll be with you as soon as I finish?”
Zhang also wanted to see how he worked and agreed immediately. “Alright, I’ll go inside and sit for a while. You go ahead, don’t mind me.”
Peng Kai nodded. “Thank you, Auntie.” Then he gestured a few signs to the chubby guy, telling him to quickly buy some fruit.
Zhang dragged a stool to the entrance and sat, her eyes fixed on Peng Kai as she observed him.
The young man worked with strength, easily lifting truck tires that weighed over a hundred pounds.
His face, hands, and clothes were all covered in black grease, and Zhang grew more and more satisfied as she watched.
He was practical and hard-working. Not bad at all.
The chubby guy soon returned with two or three kinds of fruit, made tea for Zhang, and even thoughtfully wrote a little note: “Auntie, the boss asked me to buy these for you. Please enjoy.”
Zhang was all smiles. The young man was attentive, and after a whole night of worry, she finally felt at ease.
If her daughter dated this young man, she’d approve.
She sat at the entrance for over half an hour, watching as Peng Kai finished changing the truck’s tires. More customers came in during that time, and he was kept busy.
Zhang checked the time. It was already after eleven—she should head back. She got up to say goodbye, but Peng Kai spoke first, apologetic.
“Auntie, I’m sorry, today’s just too busy. I didn’t take good care of you.”
Zhang smiled. “It’s fine. It’s good to be busy. Did Fu Fu tell you last night? You’re coming for dinner tonight?”
Peng Kai nodded nervously. “She did.”
Zhang said, “Then come back after work tonight and try Auntie’s cooking.”
Peng Kai was flattered. “Thank you, Auntie.”
“Alright, I’ll head back first. I need to buy some groceries and make something good for you tonight. Is there anything you especially like to eat?”
Peng Kai said, “Everything you make, Auntie, I’ll like.”
Zhang beamed. “Alright, I’ll see what I can make.”
Lan Hui was just about to have lunch when she got a call from Peng Kai.
Peng Kai quickly told her that Auntie had come to the shop.
Lan Hui panicked. “My mom didn’t give you a hard time, did she?”
Peng Kai answered honestly, “No, Auntie was really nice. She even reminded me to come home for dinner tonight, asked me what I liked to eat, and so on!”
Lan Hui was completely confused. “Kai-ge, are you sure it was my mom you met?”
Zhang had always been strongly against her co-renting situation, even threatening to take her back to their hometown if she didn’t move.
It sounded like he’d met a totally different person.
Peng Kai described Auntie’s appearance and clothes.
“She smiles a lot, speaks softly, has a good temper, was wearing a red cotton jacket, short wavy hair…”
Lan Hui was even more baffled. “That’s definitely my mom. Never mind, I won’t overthink it. We’ll talk after dinner tonight.”
Peng Kai responded, “Alright, you go ahead and work.”
“Okay, I’m going to eat now.”
***
At five in the evening, Lan Hui got off work and hurried home.
Zhang opened the door with a smile, humming a little tune as she cooked, clearly in a great mood.
Lan Hui felt like, after a day at work, she’d missed out on the whole world.
“Mom, you—?”
Lan Hui was just about to ask what had happened when Zhang spoke first. “Fu Fu, give Peng Kai a call and ask when he’ll be here.”
“Okay.” Lan Hui took out her phone to call while glancing at the dishes in the kitchen, utterly shocked. Her mom had made eight or nine dishes, every single one of them her specialties.
She’d brought out all her best skills.
What on earth had Peng Kai done to make Zhang’s attitude do a complete 180?
The call connected, and Lan Hui asked, “Kai-ge, are you on your way? Mom says the food’s almost ready.”
Peng Kai was walking down the street. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”
After knowing he’d be eating dinner today, he’d been a little nervous last night, but after meeting such a warm Auntie today, he was even more nervous.
He’d even gone out to buy a new set of clean clothes that afternoon.
The chubby guy had even joked that his mother-in-law was very satisfied with him.
“Alright, we’ll wait for you.” Lan Hui hung up after speaking.