Chapter 62: The Godly Couple
The silence didn't last long.
After finishing his banana, Xu Qing casually tossed the peel into the trash can and slapped his thigh.
“Dang it!”
“What’s wrong?” Xu Wenbin frowned.
“I forgot to bring so fruit or sothing. I an, it’s my first ti bringing soone over...”
“We don’t need that.”
“I’ll make it up next ti, next ti.”
Xu Wenbin didn’t respond, glancing at Jiang He, his mind still turning things over.
When your kid starts dating, parents always worry about a few things—are they compatible, what kind of person the partner is, whether they’ll be happy together...
And if they live together, well, there’s always the worry about whether sothing big might happen.
Compatibility depends on a lot of things: personality, work, values, family background. Looks are secondary—unless they’re completely mismatched, most people don’t care too much.
Based on what he’d seen the last ti, there didn’t seem to be any problems. The girl seed quiet and polite, and his first impression was good. At least she wasn’t one of those loudmouthed girls who clack away at keyboards with their feet up—
In fact, the two of them together really seed like they were living a simple, dostic life.
It was all a bit sudden, and Xu Wenbin wasn’t prepared for it. He was still pushing Xu Qing to find a job, and now the kid was already playing house. Sothing felt off.
Leaving aside the question of whether it made sense, even if they were really just dating seriously, was his laid-back son ready for this kind of life?
“Wash your hands and get ready to eat. Qingzi, co help serve the rice,” Zhou Suzhi called out, peeking out from the kitchen to look at the three of them in the living room.
“Okay, coming!”
Xu Qing stood up, gesturing to Jiang He where to wash her hands. Then he ran to the kitchen, washed his hands under the tap, and started filling bowls with rice, making sure Jiang He’s bowl was firmly packed.
Jiang He had been staying here long enough that, without much physical activity, her appetite wasn’t as big as when she first arrived. But compared to Xu Qing, she could still eat a lot.
Jiang He ca out of the bathroom, scanning the house with a curious gaze. Xu Wenbin also went to wash his hands. Zhou Suzhi brought out a big plate of sweet-and-sour ribs, and Xu Qing grabbed a few more bowls from the kitchen.
“Jiang... Jiang He, right? Sit down, make yourself at ho,” Zhou Suzhi said, taking off her apron and inviting Jiang He to sit.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
“Here, take your chopsticks.” Xu Qing brought out two bowls of rice, handed Jiang He her chopsticks, and went back for the remaining bowls.
Jiang He pressed her lips together. She thought it was just a al, but the reality was a little different—fragrant dishes, a warm living room, casual conversation, Xu Qing’s parents... The atmosphere was completely different from when it was just the two of them.
It was also different from the loud, chaotic als she had with her brothers back in the gang.
“What are you zoning out for?”
Xu Qing waved a hand in front of her eyes.
“Is this how you always eat?”
“Of course. Why?” Xu Qing looked puzzled.
“It feels nice.”
Jiang He’s thoughts grew a little somber. This wasn’t her world. She was just an outsider.
“Of course it’s nice. Co on, eat. My mom’s ribs are amazing. Ah, the braised ribs are even better, but today’s sweet-and-sour... still pretty good.”
Xu Qing didn’t know what she was thinking, but he felt a bit strange himself. Sitting at ho, having dinner with his parents and a ti-traveling lady knight—yeah, that was sothing else...
“What are you smirking about?” Xu Wenbin asked, finding Xu Qing’s smile suspicious. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his son was up to no good.
“I’m not smirking. Let’s just eat.”
Xu Qing picked up his chopsticks. To ease Jiang He’s discomfort, he quickly put two pieces of rib in her bowl. “Dad, there’s a difference between smiling and smirking. Can’t I just be happy?”
“...”
Xu Wenbin said nothing, watching the two whisper to each other. Then his son gave his girlfriend food, and sothing just felt off.
It didn’t feel real.
How did this kid suddenly grow up so fast?
“Eat up, make yourself at ho,” Zhou Suzhi said, shaking her head at Xu Wenbin’s dazed expression. He still treated Xu Qing like a child. The boy was in his twenties now, but having a girlfriend still felt like a shock to him.
The four of them each with their own thoughts, the al went by quietly. Jiang He didn’t hold back, finishing two big bowls of rice, her bowl spotless. Xu Wenbin and Zhou Suzhi stared in surprise—she ate as much as both of them combined.
“See, Mom? Your cooking’s that good.”
Xu Qing joked, taking the dishes to the sink. When he brought his girlfriend ho, either he or Jiang He did the dishes. Letting his parents wash them wouldn’t feel right.
Zhou Suzhi smiled, pleased with her cooking. She poured tea from the kettle while Xu Qing washed the dishes. When he finished, Xu Wenbin waved him into the study. The real conversation was about to begin.
“Jiang He, have so tea.” Zhou Suzhi handed her a cup and sat down next to her, admiring her clean, pretty face.
This girl was a beauty, and she didn’t even need makeup.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
“Qingzi never ntioned having a girlfriend. If it weren’t for soone else finding out... You two are living together, right?”
“Uh? ...Yeah.” Jiang He thought about it and nodded. Living together... that wasn’t wrong.
“That boy... always keeping things to himself. When did you two et?”
“A long ti ago.”
“Oh, a long ti, huh?” Zhou Suzhi nodded. “Where are you from? You’re not from Jiang City, right?”
“No.”
Jiang He nodded, pausing before adding, “Right, I’m from out of town. Not Jiang City.”
“Where, then?”
“A mountain village.”
“...”
...
In the study.
“What are you planning here?” Xu Wenbin asked Xu Qing.
“What do you an?”
“You know what I an.”
“We’re just dating. Isn’t that normal?” Xu Qing said.
“Dating is normal, but living together?”
“She’s just staying over. We’re just having als together.”
“You think I’m an idiot?”
“...”
Xu Qing had no answer. It was hard to explain living under the sa roof, eating and hanging out together, while claiming to be innocent.
Xu Wenbin felt his irritation rising. He tugged his collar, coughed, and tried to stay calm. “I know you young people have your own ideas, but have you thought about what happens if things go wrong? What about the future?”
“You don’t need to worry. Just let off the hook for rent, and we’ll talk about the rest later.”
Xu Qing quickly changed the subject. Any more talk, and he’d be asked to take responsibility.
Damn, it was all just pretend—what could possibly go wrong?
“The rent isn’t the issue...”
“It is, it is.”
“It’s not! I’m talking about...”
“Dad,” Xu Qing said seriously, “I know more than you think.”
“...”
“...”
Damn it!
Xu Wenbin almost cursed, but held back. After a long pause, he waved a hand. “Get out!”
“Got it.”
Xu Qing ran out. In the living room, Jiang He was sipping tea, and Zhou Suzhi turned to look.
“It’s getting late, Mom. We’re heading out.”
“Okay, be careful on the way.”
As they put on their jackets and hats, Zhou Suzhi walked them to the door. When she returned, Xu Wenbin ca out of the study, face dark.
“So, what do you think of the girl?” he asked.
“She’s nice,” Zhou Suzhi replied.
“What does she do?”
“Hmm... no idea.”
“You didn’t ask?” Xu Wenbin was surprised.
“I did.”
Zhou Suzhi blinked. “She said she does her own thing.”
“What ‘own thing’?”
“Just... her own stuff.”
“...”
“...”
Xu Wenbin sighed heavily, looking out the window. The streetlights illuminated two figures walking slowly out of the complex.
“They ca, ate a al, skipped out on the rent, and left?”
He turned back to Zhou Suzhi, feeling like he’d been thoroughly swindled.
Oh right, they didn’t even bring any fruit.
How was this any different from his son coming ho alone? Damn it!
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