"No, no, no..." Shen Qianxue panicked completely. "It's not appropriate. I wasn't prepared. I didn't bring anything..."
"No need to prepare, my parents are very kind and easy to talk to, don't be afraid!" Su Jin dragged Shen Qianxue along, her strength was surprisingly great.
As Shen Qianxue dragged herself back, she argued, "I...I'm not afraid. It's just...I feel that I've been traveling for days and my appearance is not neat. It's not appropriate to meet my elders. This...this is too impolite."
Su Jin stopped and tilted her head to look at Shen Qianxue. "Where is your appearance untidy? You're so handsome it's outrageous!"
Shen Qianxue...
"You, you, you let me think about it."
Su Jin pulled Shen Qianxue back up, "There's no time like the present, no need to think about it anymore."
Panicked like a young boy, Shen Qianxue finally stood in the courtyard of Su Jin's house.
Su's parents came out when they heard the commotion.
"Uncle, Aunt."
Shen Qianxue instantly regained her composure and greeted him calmly.
The Su family of three looked at him in surprise.
Su's parents came because an outsider had come to their home, and outsiders rarely came to Liuli Village unless the two parties had chosen each other and were engaged.
Su Jinxia was surprised by Shen Qianxue's change in attitude; she calmed down so quickly.
Little brat, you have two faces too.
Su Jin clicked her tongue twice inwardly, then explained to her parents, "He's a friend I met outside, you call him..."
Su Jin was momentarily stunned, fearing that Shen Qianxue's true identity would frighten her parents.
Shen Qianxue quickly replied, "Xiao Shen, Xiao Shen is fine."
Seeing the two exchanging glances, Su's father's wise eyes darted around, and he understood what was going on.
He straightened his back and glanced at Shen Qianxue a few times.
He's not bad looking, and he's quite a good match for my Ah Jin, but men who are too good-looking are unreliable!
A serious expression appeared on Su's father's brow.
"Come in, young man, have a seat!"
Su's father approached her seemingly enthusiastically, but in reality, he patted Shen Qianxue on the back several times. Seeing that Shen Qianxue remained calm and composed, he nodded in satisfaction.
He's got a good physique!
Seeing the atmosphere, Su's mother smiled knowingly and secretly gave Su Jin a thumbs up, as if to say: Where did this young man come from? He's quite good-looking!
Su Jin down...
Su's mother gestured for Shen Qianxue to sit down and then went into the kitchen to order more dishes.
Shen Qianxue repeatedly stopped her, saying apologetically, "I'm so sorry for coming so abruptly and for not bringing anything with me."
As she spoke, she secretly glared at Su Jin.
Father Su laughed heartily, “It’s alright, we’re mountain folk, we don’t have those kinds of formalities!”
Shen Qianxue smiled and said, "Uncle is a straightforward man. I had heard Ah Jin mention you before, saying that your lanterns are exceptional. Seeing them today, they are indeed masterpieces."
When Su's father was suddenly praised, he was startled for a moment, then his face lit up with a smile.
Su Jinxia chuckled. It was not easy for Shen Qianxue to say such flattering words!
Su's father seemed to understand that Su Jinxia was laughing at Shen Qianxue for praising him. He glared at Su Jinxia, then looked at Shen Qianxue and asked her warmly how old she was, where she lived, what she did, and how her parents were.
"Father, why are you asking these questions!" Su Jinxia quickly stopped her father from pressing for answers.
Unexpectedly, Shen Qianxue didn't care at all and chatted with Su's father in a generous manner, "I'm twenty years old this year. My home is in Lin'nan. I do some business. My parents are no longer here."
"Oh, so you run the business all by yourself?"
Shen Qianxue nodded gently.
Su's father looked distressed and asked a few more questions.
Shen Qianxue answered fluently, her words containing seven parts truth and three parts falsehood, making Su's father extremely happy.
Handsome, from a wealthy family, a scholarly background, and also skilled in martial arts—this was the first impression Shen Qianxue left on Su's parents.
The more Su's father looked, the more satisfied he became.
Gradually, Shen Qianxue steered the conversation toward hunting, a topic familiar to Su's father. The two chatted happily, and Su Jin couldn't get a word in edgewise.
During the meal, Su's mother subtly inquired about Shen Qianxue's attitude towards Su Jinxia.
In Su's mother's eyes, how could such an outstanding man fall in love with her crazy girl?
It couldn't be because of his own maid, Liuli's, identity!
As her mother, she still needs to carefully vet the candidates.
Shen Qianxue was perfectly aware of this and almost praised Su Jin to the skies.
“Ah Jin is very beautiful, probably inherited from her aunt.”
"Ah Jin is gentle and kind, a rare and insightful girl."
"Ah Jin is chivalrous, loyal, and has helped me a lot."
...
The sourness made Su Jin's lower teeth ache.
Actually, what Su Jin wanted to say was: I just invited him over for a meal, you don't need to do this!
However, Su Jin couldn't get a word in edgewise.
After the meal, Su Jin quickly pulled Shen Qianxue away, because her mother had already started cleaning the guest rooms.
Shen Qianxue followed Su Jin out of the village, a low laugh escaping her throat, and said coolly, "I'm not in a hurry, staying one night is fine too."
Su Jin down...
It feels like I've shot myself in the foot.
"You, you don't misunderstand, my parents are just hospitable, they didn't mean anything by it."
“Oh…” Shen Qianxue drawled out the last syllable.
"I only brought you home for dinner to repay a favor; I didn't mean anything else by it."
Shen Qianxue raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
Su Jin was speechless with anger.
Shen Qianxue pulled her into her arms and whispered in her ear, "Your aunt and uncle are very kind. I'm so happy. It's been a long time since I've had such a lively meal... Ah Jin, I haven't given up. As long as you don't give up, as long as you still love me, I will never give up on you."
Shen Qianxue knew about Su Jinxia's dilemma. Su Jinxia was afraid that their different identities would become an obstacle, and that he would give up on their relationship because of it.
Therefore, Su Jinxia couldn't help but want to express more, but she didn't want Shen Qianxue to misunderstand that Su Jinxia was forcing him.
Shen Qianxue understands everything. It's Su Jinxia who doesn't know how much Shen Qianxue loves him. No matter how many difficulties there are between them, Shen Qianxue will overcome them!
No one can separate him from Su Jin!
Shen Qianxue felt depressed and upset because she didn't know when they would meet again after today's parting, and what troubles might arise in between.
Su Jin has her own path to walk, and Shen Qianxue can no longer manage or protect her as before.
Su Jin calmed down from her anxiety. She had always been the one chasing after Shen Qianxue and clinging to her, so she was afraid that Shen Qianxue would easily back down and want to give up on their relationship.
That's probably what love is like—it makes you anxious, it makes you feel lost, and you're always worried that the other person doesn't love you enough.
Su Jin reached out and hugged Shen Qianxue, whispering, "I...won't give up either!"
The two embraced for a long time.
It was late at night, and Shen Qianxue had to leave. Phoenix Pavilion would definitely be thrown into chaos because of his departure, so he had to rush back without stopping.
Su Jinxia escorted Shen Qianxue down the mountain, and as she watched him ride away, a deep sense of unease suddenly welled up in her heart.
They explained things very well, opened their hearts to each other, and made promises, but why does the unease in their hearts grow stronger?
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