Chapter 399 Heartfelt Intentions

On the day Zhou Xingzhi came for his formal visit, the sun shone brightly in the blue-porcelain-like sky, and even the grape leaves were curled up by the sun.

Feng Xuemei and Zhang Jianguo were on high alert. They got up early in the morning and tidied up the living room until it shone brightly.

Feng Xuemei had wiped the coffee table for the third time. The apples and oranges in the celadon fruit plate were arranged in a neat pyramid. The tea had also been changed twice, sometimes with Longjing tea and sometimes with black tea.

Zhang Jianguo paced back and forth in the living room, dark sweat stains seeping through the back of his shirt, the rustling sound of his military trousers rubbing against each other making him feel irritable.

He would peek at the wall clock for a while, then walk into the yard and try to make conversation with Gu Zhao, who was watering the roses.

"Xiaoman, these flowers...are blooming beautifully?"

Gu Zhao held up the watering can, her little face serious: "Grandpa, this is a rose, it blooms every month."

Zhang Jianguo nodded sheepishly, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Come on, Grandpa will take you to the convenience store to buy popsicles!"

Hearing the noise, Nan Zhiyi peeked out from the kitchen and gently persuaded the old man and the child, "Uncle Zhang, there's soda and ice cream in the fridge, please sit down and rest for a while."

She handed him a palm-leaf fan, saying, "A calm mind brings coolness."

Zhang Jianguo took the fan and sat down heavily, taking out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat incessantly, his hands trembling slightly.

Feng Xuemei came out of the kitchen with a freshly brewed jasmine tea in her hand. When she saw her husband's expression, she couldn't help but glare at him.

Last night, she left her resentful husband and squeezed into a bed with her daughter, questioning her about every detail of their affair.

When Feng Xuemei heard that her daughter had a crush on Zhou Xingzhi for over two years and had even actively pursued him, she was utterly exasperated. Who was this Zhou Xingzhi anyway? How could her daughter have fallen so deeply for him and secretly chased after him for over two years...? It was truly...

Feng Xuemei was too embarrassed to belittle or discourage her good daughter, so she could only repeatedly remind her, "You can't be so eager to pursue her anymore... You have to be reserved, understand?"

Zhang Yueran looked completely unconvinced at the time, muttering under the thin blanket, "How can I be reserved? I can't be reserved at all when I see Zhou Xingzhi's face..."

Thinking of her daughter's useless behavior, Feng Xuemei irritably adjusted the fruit platter, then looked up and scolded Zhang Jianguo, "Old Zhang, can't you sit down? You're making me dizzy."

Zhang Jianguo grabbed a palm-leaf fan and fanned himself vigorously a few times: "I'm just... worried that the kid won't know the way?"

Nan Zhiyi suppressed a smile and handed over the teacup: "Uncle Zhang, don't worry, Yueran went to pick her up early this morning."

These words made the old couple even more worried. Their daughter was really completely under their thumb. Early in the morning, Zhang Yueran dressed up and skipped out the door, saying that she was going to lead the way for Zhou Xingzhi.

Gu Zhao even whispered to her mother, "Why is Auntie so happy? Her feet are practically touching the ground!"

Nan Zhiyi rubbed her son's head and said, "We're having a guest at home today. He might be your future uncle. Mom will be busy entertaining the guest and might not be able to take care of you. You have to take good care of yourself. You can play whatever you want, but just remember, you can't do anything dangerous and you can't leave the compound."

Gu Zhao straightened her small frame and saluted: "I promise to obey Mom's orders!"

When the clock struck ten, there was finally some noise outside the courtyard.

Zhang Jianguo stood up abruptly and then sat down with a thud. Feng Xuemei quickly tidied her hair.

Gu Zhao cleverly ran to the courtyard gate and peeked inside. Turning her head, she called out in a clear voice, "Mommy! Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie's here with a really handsome uncle!"

Feng Xuemei and Zhang Jianguo exchanged a glance, then simultaneously straightened their backs and sat upright in their chairs.

Through the screen door, Zhang Yueran could be seen leading a tall, slender figure in a moon-white summer shirt through the courtyard, the man carrying several gift boxes.

Nan Zhiyi grasped Feng Xuemei's slightly cool hand and whispered, "Aunt Feng, Comrade Zhou is here."

Feng Xuemei stared intently and saw that the person had skin as white as jade, phoenix eyes and delicate eyebrows that exuded a noble air, truly like a banished immortal who had stepped out of an ancient painting.

She was startled and thought to herself that this man was indeed no ordinary man, no wonder her daughter had lost her composure.

Anyone who sees such beauty and charm would surely be captivated.

On second thought, Feng Xuemei felt a surge of pride: her daughter had managed to win over such a man; truly, a tiger mother has no dog daughter!

"Mom!" Zhang Yueran exclaimed excitedly, linking arms with Zhou Xingzhi as they stepped into the entryway. "We're here!"

Feng Xuemei secretly pinched her husband's thigh, and Zhang Jianguo snapped out of his daze in pain. The couple and Nan Zhiyi got up together to greet him.

"Hello Uncle and Aunt, hello Mrs. Gu," Zhou Xingzhi bowed slightly, "I apologize for this unannounced visit."

Zhang Jianguo was the first to greet him: "Comrade Zhou, please come in!"

Feng Xuemei quickly replied, "It's so hot, and you've gone to all this trouble."

Nan Zhiyi greeted him with a smile, "Comrade Zhou, please sit down and have a cup of tea to cool off."

Everyone moved to the living room, and Zhou Xingzhi gently placed the gift box he was carrying beside the coffee table: "I've prepared a small gift; please excuse my ingratitude."

Feng Xuemei invited everyone to sit down and have some tea, and Zhang Yueran sat down next to Zhou Xingzhi with a smile.

When she saw him this morning, he was so nervous that he had prepared gifts that filled half the trunk of his car, a dozen or so gift boxes tied with red ribbons, making quite a show of it.

"This is too extravagant..." she whispered, trying to dissuade them, "My family doesn't do these things."

Zhou Xingzhi insisted on bringing her, saying, "This is the first time I'm formally meeting your family, so please do as I say this time, okay?"

He coaxed her softly, "Actually, I wanted to prepare even more... so that your aunt and uncle would know that I'm sincere."

Thinking of this, Zhang Yueran couldn't help but gently hold his hand under the coffee table.

The two had been inseparable these past few days, but their most intimate gesture was merely intertwining their fingers while holding hands; she still hesitated to take anything further...

Feeling the warmth of his palm, she felt nothing but sweetness.

Feng Xuemei coughed lightly, her gaze sweeping over her daughter's restless hands.

Zhang Yueran blushed and released him, then began to introduce the gifts: "This is a jade bracelet for Mom, and a Gu Jingzhou purple clay teapot for Dad..."

She took out a velvet box and handed it to Nan Zhiyi, saying, "These are jade pendants for my sister and brother-in-law."

Finally, he picked up a jade safety buckle tied with a red string, beckoned to Gu Zhao, and said, "Xiaoman, come here, this is an old jade buckle from the Qing Dynasty, it's for protection."

She tied the safety buckle around Xiaoman's neck.

Nan Zhiyi held the jade pendant and examined it closely. The jade was as smooth and lustrous as cream, and the carving was exquisite and extraordinary, making it no ordinary object.

She quickly declined, saying, "Comrade Zhou, these are too valuable."

"yes,"

Feng Xuemei and Zhang Jianguo quickly declined, saying, "How can we accept such a generous gift..."

Zhou Xingzhi's gaze was sincere: "These are nothing in my collection, just a small token of my appreciation."

His eyes softened as he looked at Zhang Yueran. "Yueyue's family is my family."

Seeing that he said this, the three of them had no choice but to thank him solemnly.

Nan Zhiyi gently nudged her son: "Gu Zhao, quickly say thank you."

Gu Zhao touched the safety amulet, blinking her bright black eyes: "Thank you, Uncle!"

"Gu Zhao!" Zhang Yueran blushed instantly from her cheeks to her neck.

Zhou Xingzhi gazed at her with a smile, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He rose and bowed deeply to the elderly couple: "Uncle and Aunt, I apologize for visiting you today, but the reason is... I hope to marry Yueyue."

"Get...married?"

Zhang Jianguo nearly choked on his tea. "It's only been a few days? It's too sudden. What will happen next..."

Feng Xuemei's eyes lit up: "Great! How should we arrange it? We need to meet your parents first, right?"

Zhang Yueran lowered her head and twisted the hem of her clothes, unable to hide the smile on her lips.

Zhou Xingzhi's expression darkened slightly: "My parents died early, so I can decide my own marriage."

Feng Xuemei slapped her thigh, almost blurting out a shout of approval!

Orphaned, wealthy, and exceptionally handsome—this son-in-law is truly one in a thousand, a match made in heaven!