6 Parents
◎"Only when you don't like something do you need to weigh the pros and cons; if you like it, you just need to like it."◎
Three months later, Li Li brought up the blind date with Song Chiyu again, because she felt that Song Chiyu had emerged from the gloom of the last blind date. This time, it was the son of her aunt's husband's comrade-in-arms, who was serving in the army and whose family had some influence in their local area. If Song Chiyu could get along with him, not to mention going to Beijing, it would be no problem for him to get a job in a relevant local unit and move up the ranks.
Song Chiyu felt that Li Li was becoming somewhat obsessed with helping her get promoted. She was thinking of choosing a suitable time to discuss with Qi Yanzhou about coming to her house. However, before she could think of the right words to contact him, he had already found her.
When Song Chiyu saw his name flashing on the screen, her back, which had been leaning back in her chair, immediately straightened up. "Hello?"
"Miss Song, I'm sorry to bother you so late."
"It's okay, go ahead." She got up and leaned towards the window on the bedroom balcony.
"Well, my parents heard about my wedding and are coming over. They wanted to ask if you have time to come over for dinner next Friday night."
"Yes." Even if she didn't, she would definitely find a way to make it, not to mention that he had come to inform her a week in advance. It would be a good opportunity to mention meeting her parents. "Where?"
"In my apartment building."
"Okay, send me your location, and I'll come over right after I get off work that day."
"Okay, thank you." His tone was gentle and polite, yet it also conveyed a clear sense of distance.
"Is there anything I need to prepare?" Song Chiyu asked.
What do you want to prepare?
"Should I buy something for your dad? It's our first time meeting, it wouldn't be right for me to go empty-handed."
“No,” he thought of her embarrassment at that moment and unconsciously raised the corners of his lips: “It’s already very good that you came. After all, the fact that I’m getting married has already made the elders very happy.”
The call ended.
Song Chiyu still felt it wasn't right to go empty-handed, so she searched online for nutritional supplements suitable for the elderly. After looking around, she called Qi Yanzhou again, asking, "Does your dad drink? Who else came that day besides your dad? What are their preferences?"
Qi Yanzhou lowered her eyelids slightly and quickly realized that she had been worrying about this matter for the half hour after they ended their call. "Miss Song, please come here. I will prepare these things."
"Huh?" Song Chiyu initially felt that this was not appropriate. How could his elders come to visit and he be asked to prepare things for him? But then he thought that it would be wrong for him to prepare things for him in the same way when he came to his house. "Okay, I will prepare things the same way when you come to visit my house."
"We'll see." His tone was calm yet gentle, neither rude nor offensive. Song Chiyu secretly admired his interpersonal skills and silently hung up the phone.
She couldn't help but recall the time three years ago when she was about to visit Xie Yunjin's home. He didn't care about anything, leaving her to figure it out herself. When she asked him about his family's preferences, he couldn't offer any suggestions, leaving everything for her to worry about. While she was worrying and struggling with this matter, Xie Yunjin would even laugh at her for making a fuss over nothing, saying it was just visiting his family, was it really worth taking so seriously? If she had put that energy into her work and studies, things would be very different now.
Although both were seven years older than her, Qi Yanzhou handled the matter in a completely different way. Sensing the pressure this was putting on her, Qi Yanzhou took the initiative to shoulder the responsibility, turning what was a huge burden on her heart into a trivial matter that didn't require her attention.
She increasingly felt that she should marry a man like Qi Yanzhou.
Perhaps there isn't much passion, but there won't be too many trivial matters holding you back.
The second Friday.
Knowing that they were having dinner at Qi Yanzhou's apartment, Song Chiyu specially left work an hour early to help, only to find that he had already prepared everything. The sofa was decorated with plush toys that girls would like, and a cute cartoon waterproof mat stood at the bathroom door, its vibrant color clashing with the rest of the room. A double toiletries set was laid out on the washstand, and the bed sheets in the bedroom had been changed to a pink that girls would prefer. Even though it was her first time here, it felt as if she had lived here for a long time, making her feel incredibly welcome and less awkward.
She walked into the kitchen wearing slippers similar in style to his. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
He turned around and said, "No need, you can just watch."
What do you mean by "watching"?
"It means you don't need to do anything, but you can participate in every dish I make. For example, if they ask who cooked this fish, you can say you watched them cook it."
Song Chiyu's expression went from puzzled to bewildered and amused.
"Seriously?"
“Yes,” he nodded, “or if they ask how the fish was cooked, you can tell them what you saw and let them think you cooked it. Of course, if they don’t think it’s very good, just mention my name.”
"Well, you're quite good at saving face for me." Song Chiyu was even more amused and exasperated.
"nature."
"What are you doing right now?" Song Chiyu leaned closer to him, peering over his arm into the pot.
"Hand-pulled mutton," he said, turning his head naturally, "have you ever tried it?"
"No." He turned around suddenly. Song Chiyu was so close that she could see his individual eyelashes clearly. She straightened up, pretending to be calm, and leaned against the kitchen counter to create some distance between them.
He raised the corners of his lips as if he hadn't heard, "Where are you from?"
"Xizhou".
"Southerner?" he asked, turning around.
"kindness."
Why did you decide to work here?
"You came here after taking the exam."
"Do you like it here?" he asked in a gentle and calm tone, like a kind elder, easily putting people at ease and making them feel comfortable with any of his questions.
She shook her head: "It's alright."
The smile in his eyes deepened: "I also came here for work."
"Your hometown is in Anxi, so your major should make it easy to find a job, right?" Song Chiyu started chatting with him without realizing it.
"Well, finding a job isn't hard, but finding a suitable one is, and I like it here."
Don't you feel trapped?
"What do you mean by that?" He turned around, naturally resting his hand on the marble countertop beside her, and raised his other hand to lean closer: "Excuse me."
Song Chiyu instinctively wanted to dodge, but his chest was already close to her nose. If she rashly dodged, it would only cause more trouble, so she simply stayed where she was and said, "Mm."
Qi Yanzhou lowered his eyelids slightly and instantly understood her meaning. He quickly took a bowl from the cupboard above her head and distanced himself from her.
Song Chiyu, feigning composure, tucked her hair behind her ear, seemingly unaffected by the almost overwhelming sandalwood scent. "Although this place is very close to the capital and is known as the ancient capital of seven dynasties, attracting experts from all fields of archaeology, economically speaking, it is ultimately just a third-tier city located in the northernmost part of Mingzhou. Whether it's resources or anything else, it cannot compare with the capital."
“Miss Song,” he said, his back to her, as he placed pieces of lamb chops from the pot onto his plate, “it’s only when you don’t like something that you need to weigh the pros and cons; if you like it, it’s simply a matter of whether I like it or not.”
Song Chiyu never expected to hear such irrational words from him.
But I was also inexplicably touched.
"I thought you were the more rational type."
"Most of the time."
Song Chiyu was amused.
He glanced back at her, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips, and asked as he prepared the dipping sauce, "Do you still like the plush toys outside?"
Song Chiyu didn't know why he suddenly asked this. "Hmm?"
“I saw this on your phone wallpaper when we were at the coffee shop that day,” he explained casually. “I hope you like it.”
Song Chiyu was taken aback.
It was only later that I realized the waterproof mat at the bathroom door and the bed sheets in the bedroom were chosen to match the color of her phone case, and I couldn't help but praise her: "So thoughtful."
"Of course."
"You can also tell me what you like, and I will try my best to make you feel at home when you come to my house, so that you won't be too nervous."
He smiled slightly, "I'm glad you feel at home."
His tone was calm and gentle, and Song Chiyu had the illusion that she had been flirted with. She clutched her chest and rubbed it, saying, "I'll go outside for a while."
Anyway, she can't help here.
“Okay,” he said, having finished his work, and wiped his hands. “I’ll call and ask them when they’re coming.”
There was a knock on the door.
Qi Yanzhou put down his phone, which was still dialing, and opened the door. Standing outside were a middle-aged man with a small braid and a tall, thin old man with a sage-like appearance. The middle-aged man was playing with a string of sandalwood beads: "I thought I had come to the wrong place. All the families in your family look alike."
Qi Yanzhou lowered his eyelids slightly, took out two pairs of slippers and threw them at the door.
A middle-aged man came in wearing slippers and immediately began to criticize his house: "Your house is too small. How can anyone live here? I'm buying you a new house as a wedding gift."
Qi Yanzhou ignored him.
He leaned close to the old man's ear and said, "Dad, change your shoes."
"Huh?" The old man's hearing wasn't very good, and he put one hand behind his ear: "What do you want to eat?"
Qi Yanzhou squatted down, helped the old man sit down, changed his shoes, and took a moment to reply to the middle-aged man: "No need, it's quite convenient to stay here."
The middle-aged men ignored them and continued to express their own opinions.
Song Chiyu found their combination to be absolutely amazing. One of them couldn't hear, and the other could hear but didn't listen. She didn't know how to get in when she greeted them, and she opened her mouth several times but then closed it again in frustration.
Qi Yanzhou sensed her unease, helped the old man put on his hearing aid, stood up and said, "Brother, stop for a moment."
The middle-aged man was still rambling on.
Qi Yanzhou stared straight at him: "Qi Jianguo—"
The middle-aged man seemed to have been awakened by something; not only could he hear, but even his eyes became clear. "Eh?"
"Can't you see there are still people inside?"
Qi Jianguo immediately noticed Song Chiyu behind him and quickly stepped forward to greet her: "This must be your sister-in-law, right? I'm sorry, please excuse my poor appearance."
Song Chiyu nodded slightly: "Hello, I am Song Chiyu."
"Song Chiyu." Qi Jianguo nodded in agreement, completely unaware of anything amiss.
"The things on the shoe rack are gifts Chi Yu bought for you. Remember to take them with you when you leave." Then, Qi Yanzhou squatted down and introduced her to the old man: "This is my wife, Song Chi Yu."
The old man didn't seem to have heard, but he kept nodding. Qi Yanzhou was sure he understood completely before he got up and walked towards the kitchen.
"Are you Yanzhou's wife?" After Qi Yanzhou went to the kitchen, the old man looked at her and repeated the question.
Song Chiyu nodded.
The old man smiled, his face full of kindness, and took out a red envelope from the pocket of his silk coat. "Yanzhou calls me Dad, so what should you call me?"
"Dad, Dad?" To be honest, the old man was old enough to be her grandfather, so Song Chiyu couldn't help but stutter a little.
The old man happily agreed and handed her the red envelope in his hand.
Song Chiyu could feel the thickness of the red envelope just by squeezing it; it must contain at least ten bills. She looked towards the kitchen, bewildered. Qi Jianguo happened to walk over and block her view, waving the red envelope in his hand: "So, what do you have to call me?"
"Big brother."
"Hey." Qi Jianguo handed her the red envelope in his hand. He didn't even need to touch it to know that there was at least ten thousand yuan inside. Song Chiyu accepted it with trepidation. No wonder Ms. Li went to great lengths to get married into this family. It was just a change of address fee. This was too generous.
[Author's Note]
Small Theater——
Qi Yanzhou (desperately hinting): Since you call him "Big Brother," then what should Miss Song call me?
Song Chiyu: ...Second Brother? [Sprinkling flowers]
Qi Yanzhou: ...
Qi Jianguo: You didn't even give me a change-of-address fee, so calling you "Second Brother" is already giving me face. [Hands clasped in prayer]
Qi Yanzhou: You don't need to change your shoes, just go out. [Cracks]
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