The high-speed train smoothly glided into Jiangcheng Station.

The familiar city atmosphere, mixed with a gentle river breeze, dispelled the tense hustle and bustle of Nanjing in the past few days.

Lin Que, dragging a simple suitcase, followed Shen Qingqiu out of the station exit.

I spotted Wang Xiulian standing on tiptoe, peering into the crowd.

"mom!"

Lin Que called out.

Wang Xiulian's eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly pushed through the crowd and ran over.

The first thing is not to pick up the luggage.

Instead, she reached out and squeezed Lin Que's arm, then touched his face.

"You've lost weight! I knew you'd lost weight!"

Wang Xiulian's brows furrowed instantly, her voice filled with heartache.

"Being away from home is tough; you definitely won't eat or sleep well."

Lin Que was both amused and exasperated.

"Mom, I only went for three days, how much weight could I possibly lose?"

Besides, I've been eating lavish meals these past few days.

"That still can't compare to the nourishment of home-cooked meals."

Without saying a word, Wang Xiulian snatched the suitcase and greeted Shen Qingqiu warmly.

"Teacher Shen, thank you for your hard work these past few days. Did this little rascal cause any trouble?"

Shen Qingqiu glanced at Lin Que, who was pretending to be well-behaved beside her, and her lips twitched slightly.

court disaster?

He almost overturned the table at the provincial writers' association!

But in front of the parents, Shen Qingqiu still gave them plenty of face:

"No, Lin Que...is very opinionated!"

...

Saying goodbye to Shen Qingqiu,

Sitting in Lin Jianguo's gleaming Mercedes, the car was filled with a reassuring leather scent.

At the dinner table, Wang Xiulian went all out.

Sweet and sour pork ribs, braised crucian carp, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a pot of milky white chicken soup.

"Come on, Xiao Que, drink some more soup to nourish your brain."

Without saying a word, Wang Xiulian filled his bowl to the brim.

Lin Jianguo sat upright in the main seat, his back ramrod straight.

His face looked serious, but his hand, which was picking up food, slowed down.

He kept glancing at his son's face out of the corner of his eye.

"So, what did you gain from your trip to the provincial capital?"

Lin Que was gnawing on a rib when he mumbled a reply:

"The world is vast, there's a lot of delicious food, and... there are plenty of interesting people too."

He looked thoughtfully at the Nanjing roast duck he had brought for his parents.

"Never serious."

Lin Jianguo gave a feigned reproach, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes eased a little.

"But speaking of which, I heard from your mom that you also got some kind of membership?"

"Oh, he's just an honorary member of the provincial writers' association."

Lin Que said it casually, as if to say that there was a lot of physics homework today.

Lin Jianguo and Wang Xiulian didn't quite understand the word "reputation."

But they knew the weight of the words "Provincial Writers Association".

Wang Xiulian's eyes reddened again:

"My son has made something of himself! He's even gotten a job in a provincial government unit!"

"What kind of organization is it? It's just a name without substance."

Lin Que shrugged.

Lin Jianguo didn't say anything, but turned around and took out a bottle of liquor that had been stored for several years from the cabinet.

She poured herself a small cup and then poured some plain water into Lin Que's cup.

"Since it's a provincial unit, it must be a legitimate one."

"Being able to stand up straighter when walking outside will be a good safety feature."

Lin Que raised his glass and clinked it against Lin Que's.

He knew that this was the best way his father could express his approval.

The meal was enjoyed by everyone, and Wang Xiulian opened up completely.

"Hey, by the way, do you guys remember that kid from Old Zhang's family downstairs?"

Wang Xiulian suddenly remembered some gossip.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Jianguo picked up a piece of peanut with his chopsticks.

"Oh dear, they're dating too early!"

Wang Xiulian's tone was both mysterious and critical.

"I heard that he walks home with a girl in his class every day after school."

Just two days ago, his dad cornered him in the grove of trees in the neighborhood park, and they got into a scuffle.

Tsk tsk, kids these days, they don't study properly, they just think about all sorts of nonsense..."

Lin Que lowered his head and drank his soup, not saying a word, but secretly laughing to himself.

This familiar "other people's children" criticism session

Past lives and present lives, never absent.

He had assumed Lin Jianguo would agree, but to his surprise, Lin Jianguo took a sip of his drink and slowly began to speak:

"That's not how you put it."

"Teenagers are just starting to experience romantic feelings; it's normal for them to have some attraction to the opposite sex."

Wang Xiulian's eyes widened: