After a short while, Lan Hui heard a knock at the door—it must be Peng Kai arriving—so she hurried over to open it.
Peng Kai stood at the door carrying bags both large and small. Lan Hui was stunned. “Kai-ge, why did you buy so much stuff?”
Peng Kai smiled. “I wasn’t sure what Auntie liked, so I just picked up some fruit.” The house was filled with a delicious aroma that made anyone who smelled it hungry.
Upon hearing voices, Zhang came out of the kitchen and warmly greeted Peng Kai. “Xiao Peng, you’re home! Perfect timing, dinner’s almost ready.” Seeing the pile of things he brought, she beamed.
“Oh my, why buy so much when you’re at your own home? Auntie doesn’t lack anything, but I do like these, thank you, Xiao Peng. You’re so thoughtful.”
“Auntie, there’s no need to thank me—it’s what the younger generation should do.” Peng Kai replied humbly.
“Change your shoes and have a seat on the sofa, dinner will be ready in ten minutes.” With that, Zhang tossed out the words and returned to the kitchen.
“Alright, thanks for your hard work today, Auntie.”
“It’s nothing.” Zhang’s voice drifted from the kitchen.
“Kai-ge, give me the fruit.” Lan Hui saw Peng Kai struggling to change his shoes with the bags in his hands and quickly took them from him.
“Okay.” Peng Kai didn’t stand on ceremony and handed them all over.
After Lan Hui put the things away, Peng Kai was already sitting on the sofa. She went to sit beside him and lowered her voice.
“Kai-ge, what did you do to my mom today? She’s acting like a completely different person.”
Fruit.
Peng Kai was startled by the question. “I didn’t do anything.”
Just then, Zhang called for Lan Hui to help set the table and serve the dishes.
“Got it,” Lan Hui responded.
“I’ll help too.” Peng Kai stood up.
Entering the kitchen, Peng Kai was shocked—Auntie had prepared seven or eight dishes tonight, an elaborate spread.
Cold shredded trio, chilled beef slices, stir-fried pork with green pepper, steamed bass, braised chicken pieces, garlic lettuce, sour radish and old duck soup, and a plate of freshly sliced—
Lan Hui carried the dishes to the coffee table and whispered to Peng Kai, “My mom’s pulling out all her best dishes tonight.”
Peng Kai could feel it, and grew even more nervous.
At the dinner table, Zhang casually inquired about Peng Kai’s personal matters.
“Xiao Peng, your shop seems really busy. You must make quite a bit each month, right?”
Peng Kai didn’t hide anything and answered directly, “A bit over twenty thousand a month, but I took on about two hundred thousand in debt to take over the shop. I’m still paying it off—probably won’t be profitable until the end of next year.”
Zhang nodded. “You’re a hardworking young man.” Then she asked, “Xiao Peng, you’re so handsome—how many relationships have you had?”
Lan Hui instantly exploded, “Mom, are you interrogating him? That’s too much!” She quickly turned to Peng Kai, “Kai-ge, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
Peng Kai replied straightforwardly, “There’s nothing I can’t say. Auntie, I was in a relationship before. I grew up in an orphanage and liked a girl there…”
He told the whole story of his relationship with Gu Shinan.
Lan Hui already knew Peng Kai’s past from the system information, but hearing him say it out loud, about giving his heart and being abandoned, she couldn’t help but feel sad.
Tears streamed down Zhang’s face—she was always quick to cry and couldn’t bear such sad stories.
“Xiao Peng, you’re a good kid. You’ll meet someone better for you in the future.”
Peng Kai hurriedly grabbed some tissues and handed them to Zhang. “Auntie, don’t cry. It’s all in the past, I’ve already moved on. Now I’ve opened my own auto repair shop, and life’s going well.”
Zhang nodded. “It’s good you’ve let it go. Someone so ungrateful isn’t worth it.”
“That’s right.” Peng Kai agreed.
Lan Hui checked the time—it was already six o’clock. “Mom, let Kai-ge eat first, we still have to go to class later.”
Zhang came to her senses and quickly said, “Xiao Peng, I’ll stop talking. Eat up, or you’ll be hungry in class and have no energy.”
Peng Kai nodded and lowered his head to eat.
“Oh right, Auntie, do you have any plans for tomorrow?”
Zhang shook her head. “No plans.”
Peng Kai said, “Here’s the thing—if you’re free tomorrow, I’d like to take you to see some apartments. I already contacted an agent this afternoon and found a few single apartment listings.”
“If you find something you like tomorrow, we can settle on it, and then Yue Fu can move in.”
Lan Hui was surprised—she hadn’t expected Peng Kai to act so quickly when she’d only mentioned it last night.
Zhang was also startled, and after a long moment said, “No need to look, I’m not moving.”
Now it was Peng Kai and Lan Hui’s turn to be shocked.
Lan Hui asked, “Mom, do you know what you’re saying?”
Peng Kai also looked at Zhang, utterly confused.
Zhang’s gaze fell on Peng Kai, and she smiled. “No need to move. I trust that Xiao Peng is a responsible young man.”
“Before, I didn’t know what kind of person he was and had some worries, but now I have a pretty good idea and feel at ease.”
Peng Kai was diligent and hard-working. Even in his past relationship, he was sincere and wholehearted. The more she saw, the more satisfied she felt with such an upright person.
And when she mentioned having her daughter move out, not only did he not object, he actively helped look for a place, always thinking of her daughter.
Someone who respects and cares for her daughter like this is perfect as a son-in-law.
Since she was already hoping the two would end up together, how could she do something to separate them? Of course, living together and letting feelings grow over time was best.
She believed Xiao Peng had boundaries—even if something happened between the young people, he would definitely take responsibility.
There was nothing for her to worry about.
Lan Hui’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Zhang. “Mom, are you sure?” She was afraid she’d misheard.
Zhang nodded. “I’m sure.”
Peng Kai was deeply moved. “Auntie, thank you for your trust. Don’t worry, even though Yue Fu and I are roommates, I won’t do anything inappropriate.”
Zhang smiled. “Auntie believes in you.”
Peng Kai nodded and didn’t say anything more. “Auntie, I’ll go wash the dishes. You and Yue Fu sit and have some fruit.”
Zhang wouldn’t have it. “Xiao Peng, sit and eat fruit. I’ll wash the dishes.”
Lan Hui said, “You two argue about it. I’m going to wash my face and tidy up.” She was about to go to school and didn’t want to look a mess.
***
In the kitchen, Zhang was putting away the leftovers, while Peng Kai washed the dishes at the sink.
Zhang lowered her voice. “Xiao Peng, you have to work hard. Auntie really likes you as a son-in-law.”
Peng Kai froze, his ears instantly turning red. “Auntie, I…”
Zhang smiled. “I understand. Auntie’s done all she can—now it’s up to you.”
Peng Kai was overwhelmed with emotion, his nose stinging as waves surged in his heart.
He’d never thought Auntie would support him in pursuing Yue Fu.
He’d come back for dinner tonight mentally prepared. Even though he knew Auntie wouldn’t make things hard for him, she’d definitely want him and Yue Fu to keep their distance.
After all, with his current debts, what good family’s daughter would want to suffer with him, let alone have the family’s blessing?
But Auntie actually supported him—and so obviously, even directly saying Yue Fu didn’t need to move out!
Lan Hui went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, seeing Zhang whispering to Peng Kai in the kitchen. She felt a wave of exasperation and hurried over to pull Zhang into the room.
“Mom, what did you say to Peng Kai?”
Zhang laughed. “What else could I say? I’m supporting you and Peng Kai being together.”
Lan Hui’s eyes widened in shock. “Mom, what are you talking about? Peng Kai and I aren’t like that!”
Zhang gave her a look. “I know you’re not that kind of relationship now, but spend more time together and you’ll see if you’re a good match.”
“Fu-fu, trust your mom’s judgment. Peng Kai is really great—a good guy, a perfect match for a lifetime. If you’re with him, you’ll definitely live comfortably, with no troubles.”
Lan Hui felt a headache coming on. She knew Peng Kai was great, but she also knew he was a tough nut to crack. Zhang might be supportive, but whether Peng Kai liked her or not was another matter.
“Mom, what exactly did you say to Peng Kai?”
Lan Hui was genuinely worried. If Zhang said something out of line and scared Peng Kai off, all her efforts would be wasted.
Zhang was helpless. “What could I say? I just told him I support you two and that he should work hard to win you over. Then you dragged me back to the room.”
Lan Hui’s head hurt. On the way to school, she’d have to explain things to him properly.
“Mom, I’m heading to school now.”
“Go on.” Zhang let out a barely audible sigh. From her daughter’s tone, it was clear she still hadn’t figured things out.
As soon as Lan Hui stepped out, Peng Kai was already at the door changing his shoes. “Let’s go.”
Lan Hui nodded. “Kai-ge, you finished cleaning up so quickly?”
“Yeah.”
At that moment, Zhang came out of the room and reminded Peng Kai, “Xiao Peng, come home with Fu-fu after school. Don’t sleep at the shop anymore—this is your home.”
Peng Kai nodded. “Auntie, I understand.”
On the way, Lan Hui spoke first. “Kai-ge, don’t take my mom’s words to heart. She’s misunderstood our relationship.”
Hearing this, Peng Kai felt a bit stifled. Did she really not have any feelings for him at all?
“I know. Auntie is very warm—she’s an excellent mother-in-law.”
Lan Hui gave an awkward laugh. “Yeah, my mom cries easily, but she’s kind-hearted—a really good person. As long as her words didn’t pressure you, that’s good.”
“No pressure.”
Peng Kai said, “Do you have time tomorrow? If not, I can accompany Auntie around.”
Lan Hui replied, “I do. I already took two days off, so I’ll be taking her out these two days. Kai-ge, your business is busy, so you should focus on making money.”
Peng Kai nodded. “If you need anything from me, just let me know.”
Seeing Peng Kai as warm as ever and not at all intimidated by her mom, Lan Hui smiled like a flower. “Alright.”
Peng Kai was dazzled by her smile and took a while to recover. But when he thought about her being with someone else in the future, he felt a pang of discomfort.
“Yue Fu, do you have a boy you like?”
The question caught Lan Hui off guard. Did she have someone she liked?
She subconsciously looked at Peng Kai.
Growing up, plenty of people had pursued her, but she only seemed to think Peng Kai was outstanding.
As soon as this thought appeared, Lan Hui hurriedly shook her head, trying to get rid of that ridiculous idea.
She was great, yes, but this was Peng Kai—could he ever have feelings for her?