The roads were crowded on a weekend morning. Prioritizing safety, Tang Qingying drove slowly as the two of them chatted and laughed, enjoying their ti alone.
"By the way, how’s your cauliflower planting going? Are they big?"
"Not bad. In a little while, we’ll probably start seeing so results," Han Qiwu turned his head to answer. When he saw the familiar neighborhood, he quickly sat up straight and started giving directions: "Turn left here, that’ll do. Our area is small, so the cars are parked together. In a while, we’ll walk over to my place."
"Got it." Tang Qingying skillfully parked the car. After stepping out, she glanced around the neighborhood, then turned to look at Han Qiwu.
"What are you looking at? You haven’t been to neighborhoods like this often, have you?" Han Qiwu opened the trunk, picked up the box of Longjing Tea, and placed it in Tang Qingying’s left hand. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he held her right hand.
Here cos the marshmallow couple again.
Tang Qingying playfully swung their joined hands twice and sweetly said, "I’m looking at where you grew up, trying to see if I can find traces of little you here."
Han Qiwu chuckled. "Oh, they’re there. Under that stone lion over there, you’ll even find sothing I carved."
"Seriously? Take over to see it!" Tang Qingying perked up, striding quickly towards the stone lion.
Han Qiwu hurriedly stopped her. "Wait, wait, there’s nothing to look at!"
"When you say it like that, it makes think it must be quite sothing." Tang Qingying tossed off his hand, stretched her long legs, and ran to the base of the stone lion, bowing her head to look carefully.
The morning light trickled through the dappled leaves, spilling onto the soft wisps of her hair.
Han Qiwu, catching up, was imdiately captivated.
"’I, Han Qiwu, will definitely get first place on the exam! After the reward, I’ll leave ho and roam the martial world!’" Tang Qingying struggled to make sense of the crooked carvings. After reading them aloud, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
"What the heck! Next ti, I’m going to dig up your embarrassing childhood stories too!" Han Qiwu hurried over, using his hand to cover the carving.
Phone in one hand to snap a photo and the other prying his hand away, Tang Qingying laughed. "Hahaha! How ambitious—you dread of wandering with a sword? Too bad it seems your grades didn’t cooperate."
Han Qiwu: "...Are you a rapper star now?"
While the two were fooling around, Mrs. Han, who had been eagerly awaiting her son’s fiancée’s arrival, stood on the balcony watching them. At first, she instinctively wanted to shout, "Han Qiwu, get back here!" But considering her future daughter-in-law was watching, she hurried back inside to grab her phone and call Han Qiwu.
Hearing his ringtone, Han Qiwu glanced at the caller ID, looked up towards the balcony, waved at his mother with a smile, and hung up. Turning to Tang Qingying, he said, "Let’s go, my mom’s impatiently waiting."
"Oh, then let’s hurry." Tang Qingying, feeling a little flustered, thought to herself that giving a thesis presentation was far easier than eting her future in-laws.
"Don’t worry," Han Qiwu reassured her, gripping her hand. They had only taken a few steps when the aunties in the neighborhood courtyard noticed them and imdiately erupted in chatter.
"Oh my, Xiao Han, where did you find such a fairy of a girlfriend?"
"Well, well, this ans my niece missed her chance."
"This young lady is so pretty!"
"Goodness gracious, she’s stunning!"
Han Qiwu greeted them one by one with a smile and introduced, "Aunties, this is my girlfriend, Tang Qingying. She’s a PhD student at Rongcheng University."
Initially, the aunties focused only on her looks, but upon hearing this introduction, their awe turned into a round of accolades for her academic achievents.
"Wow, so young and already a PhD!"
"They’re such a perfect match. The Han family is truly blessed."
Smiling, Tang Qingying nodded and thanked them graciously.
It took a while for them to escape the aunties’ questions. As they climbed the stairs, Han Qiwu laughed, "Quite the scene, huh?"
Adjusting her skirt, Tang Qingying said, "Yes, it’s been ages since I felt this kind of liveliness."
When they reached the third floor, the door was already open. Standing at the entrance, Mrs. Han greeted them warmly, "Qingying’s here! Co inside and rest. We’ve got new slippers—feel free to wear them. And Han Qiwu, why didn’t you carry her upstairs? Making her climb all the way!"
Han Qiwu: "...Mom, I’ll make sure to carry her next ti."
"Hello, Uncle and Auntie." Tang Qingying greeted them confidently, presenting two gifts. "This Longjing is for Uncle, and these violets are for Auntie. I’ve also arranged for half a year’s worth of fresh flowers to be delivered—soone will bring them each week."
"Oh my, thank you, Qingying! You’re so thoughtful. But no need to go to such trouble in the future. We’ll be family soon—no need for formalities." Mrs. Han happily accepted the flowers, leaned in for a sniff, and exclaid, "They sll wonderful! This son of mine never thought to bring flowers."
Han Qiwu: "...Didn’t I just bring so sage the other day?"
It seed having a daughter-in-law made Mrs. Han forget about her son.
Once inside and wearing slippers, they found that Mr. Han had already brewed the bamboo-leaf green tea Han Qiwu had brought. The temperature was just right for drinking.
After chatting for a while, Han Qiwu checked the ti and stood up. "What ingredients do we have? I’ll cook."
"Let help," Tang Qingying quickly offered, standing up.
"No need, no need! Why should you two fuss? We’ve already prepared almost everything—pork ribs, ham hocks, pickled fish, spicy chicken, braised pork belly. For vegetarian dishes, we’ve got Mapo tofu and a cold salad." Mrs. Han intercepted them, turning to Tang Qingying with a smile. "Qingying, in the future, you don’t need to cook at all. If you’re hungry, just have Han Qiwu make sothing. If he can’t, I’ll co cook for you. You just focus on what you enjoy doing every day."
Han Qiwu: "...Is this even my real mom?"
Back at the table, Han Qiwu leaned over and whispered to Tang Qingying, "I’ll cook sothing for you myself later. My mom’s not bad, though."
"Alright." Tang Qingying nodded, then continued chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Han about Han Qiwu’s embarrassing monts. As they talked, she gradually relaxed, sensing the genuine warmth of his parents.
After over half an hour of lively conversation, it was finally alti. The four of them sat together and raised their glasses in a toast. After clinking glasses, Mrs. Han used the serving chopsticks to pile a mountain of at on Tang Qingying’s plate. "Eat as much as you want. There’s more in the kitchen if it’s not enough."
Tang Qingying nodded quickly. After taking a few bites, her eyes brightened with joy, and she praised aloud, "Auntie, this food is delicious!"
"If you like it, eat more. I heard from Xiao Han that you work at a research institute; that’s tiring work. You need to eat well," Mrs. Han encouraged enthusiastically.
The al, filled with eating and chatting, stretched on for more than two hours. Toward the end, it was mostly Tang Qingying and the others chatting while Han Qiwu focused on eating.
Internally, Han Qiwu wondered why his system didn’t notify him that his appetite had leveled up.
When everyone was full and satisfied, Han Qiwu took the initiative to clean up the dishes. Upon returning, he saw his mom reluctantly holding Tang Qingying’s hand. "Qingying, if Han Qiwu ever upsets you, just send a ssage, and I’ll sort him out for you."
"Sa goes for ." Mr. Han nodded firmly beside her.
Han Qiwu: "...I suddenly feel like running away from ho again."
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