Chapter 194: Meeting of In-Laws
At night, in the master bedroom of the villa.
Yu Ling collapsed on the bed exhausted, feeling even more exhausted than a day of meeting a board member.
"How is it? My mom...didn't make things difficult for you, did she?" Zhao Chen came out of the shower, wearing the same Shiba Inu pajamas, and sat on the edge of the bed to massage her legs.
"No...it just feels like I'm at the ultimate job interview!" Yu Ling said weakly. "She's quiet, but her eyes are sharp, and she has an aura of two meters and eighty! I say ten sentences, and she only responds to one, and it's all just 'hmm', 'oh', or 'ok'!"
Zhao Chen chuckled. "That's normal. My mom was in a drama troupe when she was young and won awards. She's the best at using her eyes and silence to convey, 'Your audience isn't good enough.'"
Yu Ling: “…” No wonder! The oppressive feeling of a movie queen!
"However," Zhao Chen leaned over and kissed her forehead, his eyes gentle, "she came back today and praised me for the first time."
"What are you praising?" Yu Ling suddenly became stiff.
"Praise..." Zhao Chen deliberately dragged out his tone, "The roasted sweet potatoes next to the candy shop...smell delicious."
Yu Ling: “???” That’s it?!
On the third day, Yu Ling accompanied Liu Shuxian to bask in the sun in the garden.
Liu Shuxian was holding a thick book, not turning a single page. Yu Ling sat on a small wicker chair beside her, quietly peeling an apple, dicing it, inserting a toothpick into it, and placing it on a small plate next to Liu Shuxian.
The sun was warm as Wangcai dozed beside Liu Shuxian's wheelchair, with the jade "dog tag" around his neck, worth tens of millions, sparkling in the sun.
"This dog..." Liu Shuxian suddenly spoke, her eyes falling on Wangcai's dog tag.
Yu Ling's heart tightened. Here it comes! Is Mother-in-law finally going to be upset about Wangcai's extravagant outfit?
"Very energetic." Liu Shuxian said lightly.
Yu Ling: "Ah... yes! I'm quite energetic!"
"The necklace is unique." Liu Shuxian added.
Yu Ling looked at the priceless jade dog tag and almost broke out in a cold sweat: "It was... it was given to me by Zhao Chen's friend... he said... he said that Wangcai would look noble when he wore it..." Her voice became smaller and smaller as she spoke.
Liu Shuxian didn't ask any more questions and picked up a piece of apple to eat. Yu Ling breathed a sigh of relief.
After lunch, Liu Shuxian said she wanted to go back to her room to rest. Yu Ling pushed her to the bedroom door.
"In the afternoon," Liu Shuxian suddenly said, "accompany me to go somewhere."
"Okay Auntie! Where are you going?"
"Wutongyuan. Go see your parents." Liu Shuxian said calmly, as if she was talking about going to the vegetable market.
Yu Ling: “!!!” Is the ultimate test coming?!
No. 666, Area B, Wutongyuan.
Li Xiulan and Yu Jianbang were so panicked when they received a call from their daughter that they almost knocked over the pickle jar! The mother-in-law has arrived! It's Zhao Chen's unfathomable mother again!
The villa was hastily spruced up by the Shiba Inu housekeeping team. Li Xiulan dug through boxes and unearthed her cherished dark red velvet cheongsam (bought 20 years ago). Yu Jianbang ironed his "Wangwang Security" uniform until it was wrinkle-free, and polished the Shiba Inu badge until it could be used as a mirror.
The doorbell rang.
Yu Ling pushed Liu Shuxian's wheelchair.
The door opened. Li Xiulan and Yu Jianbang stood nervously at the door, their smiles stiff. "Dear...mother-in-law! Welcome, welcome!"
Liu Shuxian's eyes swept over the two of them, lingering for a moment on the Shiba Inu badge on the chest of Yu Jianbang's uniform. She nodded slightly and said, "Excuse me."
We sat down in the living room. The atmosphere was even more tense than in the villa.
Li Xiulan didn't know where to put her hands: "Mother-in-law...have some tea! Freshly brewed!"
Liu Shuxian picked up her teacup but didn't drink. Her gaze fell on the massive Wangwang Fresh Food smart refrigerator in the corner of the living room. The door was open, and the refrigerator was crammed full—jars of Li Xiulan brand pickles, jars of fermented black bean paste, freshly pickled radish...
"The refrigerator is nice." said Liu Shuxian.
"Ah! Yes! Xiao Zhao...ah no, it's guild benefits! High technology!" Li Xiulan quickly explained.
"Yeah." Liu Shuxian put down her teacup and looked at Li Xiulan. "I heard your pickles are delicious?"
Li Xiulan was flattered: "Oh! It's just some country tricks! Tinkering around! Not presentable! If my mother-in-law..."
"I'd like to have some white porridge tonight." Liu Shuxian interrupted her, speaking naturally, "Is it okay with some of your pickled radish?"
Li Xiulan was stunned for a moment, then ecstatically said, "Alright! Alright! That's great! I'll go get the freshest ones right away!"
She rushed to the kitchen as if she had received an imperial decree. Yu Jianbang also breathed a sigh of relief and straightened his back even more.
Liu Shuxian turned her gaze to the lush "smart vegetable garden" on the balcony and looked at the juicy little Chinese cabbage: "This vegetable..."
"Auntie grew them!" Yu Ling quickly replied, "They're grown using high-tech technology! They're so fresh! Can I make you a plate tonight?"
Liu Shuxian nodded without saying anything. She turned her wheelchair and slowly slid to the huge French window, looking out at the garden.
Bald "Iron Fist" was on a routine patrol with Wangcai No. 3 Rottweiler, codenamed "Iron Hammer." Man and dog, marching in unison, their steps full of momentum.
"The security is also good," Liu Shuxian commented.
Yu Jianbang immediately stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "Report to my mother-in-law! The security of Wutongyuan District B is under the leadership of Yu Jianbang... uh, under his guidance! It's impenetrable! I guarantee that not even a stray cat can sneak in!"
Liu Shuxian looked at Yu Jianbang's straight back and the glittering Shiba Inu badge, then looked at the majestic Rottweiler outside the window wearing the same Shiba Inu logo, and the corners of her mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.
We had dinner at the villa.
The atmosphere magically became much more harmonious.
In addition to the exquisite dishes, there was also a small plate of shiny and crispy pickled radish and a plate of stir-fried bok choy that Li Xiulan had just brought on the table.
Liu Shuxian scooped a spoonful of white porridge, picked up a small piece of dried radish, and tasted it carefully.
"Mm," she nodded. "Crispy, fragrant, and chewy. Better than those bland healthy meals abroad."
Yu Ling and Zhao Chen looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes.
Liu Shuxian tasted the bok choy again and said, "It's sweet. Using technology to grow vegetables is not bad."
The meal was a joyful one. Liu Shuxian remained silent, but the invisible pressure had clearly dissipated.
After dinner, Liu Shuxian signaled Yu Ling to push her to the terrace.
The night breeze is cool and the stars are bright.
Liu Shuxian stared into the distance in silence for a long time before she slowly spoke:
"Xiaochen has always had a strong sense of purpose. Once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it." Her voice was tinged with a subtle sigh. "His father passed away early, and I've been recuperating abroad for years... It's not easy for him to be alone."
Yu Ling listened quietly, her heart tightening.
"He told me that meeting you was an accident and also the greatest luck in his life." Liu Shuxian turned her head and looked at Yu Ling with a gentle gaze for the first time. The sharp edge was restrained, leaving only a mother's scrutiny and... approval.
"At first, I didn't believe it," she said bluntly. "I thought he was possessed. Why would an ordinary girl do that?"
Yu Ling's heart was lifted.
"But these past few days," Liu Shuxian's eyes fell on Yu Ling's face, with a hint of understanding, "seeing you trembling as you served me soup, clumsily trying to please me, queuing up to buy that bowl of sweet double-skin milk, and... your sincere protection and arrangements for your parents..."
She paused, took out a palm-sized, antique rosewood box from under the thin blanket, and handed it to Yu Ling.
"Open."
Yu Ling's heart pounded as she opened it. Inside was a pair of jade bracelets, incredibly watery and emerald green! They shimmered under the light, breathtakingly beautiful!
"This... is too valuable, Auntie! I..." Yu Ling was so scared that she almost threw the box away!
"Take it." Liu Shuxian's tone left no room for doubt. "It's not a good thing. I bought it from a street stall. I liked it."
Yu Ling: "..." I wonder if your roadside stall is called "Sotheby's"?
"Xiaochen looks cold, but his heart is warm." Liu Shuxian patted Yu Ling's hand. The movement was very light, but it carried a sense of entrustment. "If he chooses you, I... have no objection."
She looked at Yu Ling's eyes that instantly turned red, and smiled, a rare smile with a hint of mischief in it:
"Next time, if he dares to bully you, or if his 'guild' shit gets to you, tell me." Liu Shuxian pointed to an inconspicuous button on the armrest of her wheelchair, emblazoned with a miniature Shiba Inu paw print. "Press this. I'll have Uncle Chen... fly over to take care of him."
Yu Ling burst out laughing, tears streaming down her face. She clutched the rosewood box tightly, feeling it was heavy and warm.
"Thank you...thank you, Mom!" This "Mom" sounded so natural.
Liu Shuxian nodded with satisfaction, looked back at the starry sky, and said in a relaxed tone, "I want to have porridge for breakfast tomorrow. With that crisp cucumber your mother pickled."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
