Zheng Tianming drove the car, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. If it were anyone else, he might have argued back, but with his future mother-in-law, whatever she said went. If he didn't utter a word, his pursuit of Xu Mengyu would be impossible.

Upon arriving home, Zheng Tianming went straight to the kitchen and sent Feng Xi a text message asking for help: "Mom, what does Aunt Li usually like to eat?"

About a minute later, Feng Xi replied: 【Why don't you ask her what she doesn't like to eat?】

Feng Xi knew her best friend all too well; her cooking skills were less than stellar, but thankfully she wasn't a picky eater.

Zheng Tianming tried hard to recall. He opened the drawer and took out chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. He was going to make a spicy hot pot. He remembered that Li Mirui often ate this when she was a child.

Li Miru looked into the kitchen and saw Zheng Tianming wearing an apron, sleeves rolled up, diligently cooking. She sighed and said, "Mengyu, Mom wants to ask you something honestly. Don't lie to me, just tell me properly."

Xu Mengyu knew that what was coming would eventually come, so she patted Xu Lu on the shoulder and said, "Baby, go back to your room and read a book for a while."

Xu Lu gave Li Milui a quick kiss on the cheek: "Grandma, I'm going to do my homework now. See you later."

After Xu Lu closed the door, Xu Mengyu lowered her voice and said, "Actually, I'm very scared. I'm afraid that Zheng Tianming only came back to me because he was responsible and wanted to give Xiao Lu a complete family."

Li Mirui leaned back on the sofa. She understood this feeling all too well, so she didn't say anything about Xu Mengyu not showing up, nor did she try to persuade her to do it for the sake of the child.

"I want to end this relationship now while the other elders in my family don't know yet. Otherwise, I'm really afraid that if we get together, I'll find that what the other person is giving me isn't love. I won't force myself to stay together, otherwise it will only cause unpleasantness between the two families."

Li Mirui was also worried about this. She had a very good relationship with Zheng Tianming's parents, a friendship that had been through thick and thin. If things didn't work out in the end, once his family found out that their precious daughter had given birth, even if they didn't completely break off relations, they probably wouldn't be able to continue their relationship.

"What if Zheng Tianming loves you?" Li Mirui looked towards the kitchen. She was there to help Xu Mengyu analyze the situation, not to cause trouble.

We need to present all the ideas to her for her to consider and choose from.

Xu Mengyu took the cushion: "He only came to be nice to me after he found out about Xiao Lu. If he really loved me, he wouldn't have bullied me like that on the deserted island. So I was scared and didn't dare to gamble."

"And what about you?" Li Milui asked Xu Mengyu.

The tone of her voice suggested that she was afraid of getting hurt if she took a step forward, but afraid of regretting it if she took a step back.

Xu Mengyu buried her face in the pillow: "Mom, I've had my eye on him since I first fell in love. And I'm the kind of person who can't stand the thought of losing someone after just one month. It's not realistic for me to let go of him in just one month."

She simply analyzed their relationship rationally and then made what she believed to be the correct judgment.

The base sauce that Zheng Tianming had prepared himself was incredibly fragrant, and Xu Mengyu's stomach started to rumble. She hadn't eaten much at the hotel.

"Is that all you've got?" Li Milui said, standing up. She had only taken two steps when her stomach started rumbling.

Xu Mengyu: "..."

Zheng Tianming, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, stubbed it out and threw it in the trash can when he saw Li Mirui approaching. He had to make a good impression.

He also specially made a non-spicy version for Xu Lu, since children can't eat spicy food.

“Auntie, I just texted my mom. She said the company isn’t busy right now because it’s the off-season, so I don’t need to go back to help.” Zheng Tianming said, showing his phone to Li Mirui.

“I know your mom better than you do.” Li Mirui opened the refrigerator, took out two glasses of pure milk, and poured them to relieve the spiciness later.

Zheng Tianming leaned back, glanced at the living room, and said softly, "Auntie, I grew up right under your nose. I did do something wrong, and I'm trying my best to repent. Just think, if Xu Mengyu brings you back a curly-haired girl who becomes Xu Lu's stepfather, then you'll have no idea what kind of person she is..."

"Why are you just like your father, so stubborn? Does Mengyu want you to repent and admit your mistakes?" Li Mirui said with a look of disgust.

His father, at least, knows how to say a few comforting words and knows what he should do, but he's the opposite, only wanting to repent and admit his mistakes.

Repenting and admitting mistakes is easy; just say "I was wrong" a couple of times and that's it.

Zheng Tianming grabbed a handful of bean curd sheets: "What does Mengyu want?" It was time to find out.

"I knew but I wouldn't tell you, isn't that infuriating?" Li Mirui said, turning and leaving the kitchen. She was not young, but she had to admit that doing this made her feel much better.

Zheng Tianming: "..."

Admitting his mistakes and repenting was just wishful thinking on his part. Perhaps Xu Mengyu didn't want that?

He needs to find out the details tonight.

Li Milui had just started eating when her phone screen lit up. She used her chopsticks to unlock it, and after seeing the message, she immediately put her phone away.

He took a shower, and then even sent her photos to show her. Men of a certain age are incredibly concerned about their physique.

Compared to his three family members, Xu Sichen isn't exactly known for being diligent; he's recently started working out, all so he can show off his eight-pack abs and V-line in photos...

“I’m even thinking of poaching my dad to be my signed artist. He’d definitely be a hit in the uncle circle.” Xu Mengyu had just seen it, though it was just a fleeting thought.

Li Mirui, biting her chopsticks, said, "Okay, let's negotiate the price. I'm actually looking to buy a bag."

Xu Mengyu almost choked. She was holding her rice bowl, and if her father found out that she was only worth a bag, he would probably be furious again.

Zheng Tianming took the meatballs out and put them in a bowl to cool. Once they were at the right temperature, he served them to Xu Lu.

Li Mirui shook her head as she watched. He probably still didn't understand. He cared about his son without finding fault with him, but he was doing it in the wrong order.

Xu Lu pinched Zheng Tianming's leg: "Uncle Zheng, how did you know my mom likes beef balls? You even specially put them in her bowl and let them cool down."

Xu Mengyu looked up at Zheng Tianming.

Zheng Tianming held up the bowl and handed the beef ball he was holding with his chopsticks to Xu Mengyu: "Try it, this is different from the other meatballs in the pot."

If Xu Lu hadn't reminded him, the meatball would have gone into his own mouth. Even an eight-year-old would understand; he wouldn't have realized it.

"No, I don't like you." Xu Mengyu hummed softly. She just wouldn't accept it unless he offered it to her willingly.

Zheng Tianming rubbed against Xu Mengyu's leg under the table: "Then I'll put another one for you."

It's not that he doesn't care about Xu Mengyu, but rather that he's missed certain details.

"I'm full." Although she's not filming any movies right now, she still pays close attention to maintaining her figure.

Because she knew it was only temporary.

Xu Lu looked at Zheng Tianming with a disappointed expression. His son was safe here, but his wife might not be so lucky.

So many people are eyeing him covetously, how can he be so oblivious? He took a big bite of the meatball. All he wanted was a complete family, why is that so difficult?

Li Mirui felt that no matter how bad Zheng Tianming was, he was still better than Xiao Juanmao. Obviously, Xu Mengyu hadn't let go yet, so maybe she should stop causing trouble.

Respecting my daughter's choice, without breaking the law...

"I'm going to get some water," Xu Mengyu said, getting up.

Zheng Tianming stood up as well. He used to think that he was clear-headed, but now he was not so sure. If the process was wrong, the chance of the result being right was only one percent.

As Xu Mengyu was getting water, Zheng Tianming pulled her into his arms from behind: "Help me, Auntie wants to take me back, but..." He paused, his voice lowering as if he was having a hard time saying it: "I don't want to leave you."

Xu Mengyu retorted to Zheng Tianming: "..."

Why did she suddenly start saying sweet nothings? Did she miss something important?