Chapter 17
Jennie treated everyone to this last meal, and Edward paid the bill. The good son-in-law, Zhuang Zhuoyuan, naturally wanted to pay, but was ultimately stopped by his future father-in-law. Edward seemed quite aware of his and Iris's situation, and his first suggestion was that he deposit the money into their joint account for their future family.
The unusual meeting with the parents and the equally unusual conversation that followed left Zhuang Sheng somewhat bewildered. In his understanding, parents usually wanted to get to know and test their children before entrusting their daughters to someone else. But Edward and Jennie seemed to trust him without going through these procedures. This made Zhuang Sheng think further, and ultimately, after returning to Iris's apartment, he immediately asked his girlfriend, "BB, could you give me some hints? Tell me what Uncle and Aunty are thinking, like how they feel about me. You two talked for so long, you must have asked about that, right?"
“No,” Iris shook her head, hugging her rabbit plushie, and extended her hand adorned with her engagement ring. “Does that even need asking? It’s obvious that Daddy and Mommy are very happy with you.”
Even with this helpful tip, Zhuang Zhuoyuan was still conflicted: "They only met me for the first time today, and they don't know much about me yet. What if the longer they stay, the more they'll think we're not a good match?"
“Hey! Relax, BB,” Iris stood up, feeling that she should hug her dear boyfriend more right now. “You’ve video chatted with them several times, and I’ve told them a lot about you, so Daddy and Mommy know a lot about you. And have you ever thought about how Elaine’s parents know so much about Oscar? Could it be that my parents did the same thing to you before they came to Hong Kong? You know, it’s not easy for me to find you, but it’s not so hard for Daddy to find you.”
"Hmm." Zhuang Zhuoyuan lowered his head and leaned on Iris's shoulder, feeling that he hadn't been comforted at all. Although it was to be expected, the news that he might have been investigated privately was anything but pleasant.
Iris keenly sensed his dejection and unhappiness, and quickly added, "Daddy and Mommy didn't mean to disrespect you, it's just that after Ella's accident, they're naturally a little more concerned about me. You'll be the closest person to me, so naturally they'll pay more attention. But our family is very sensible; we only did some basic research on you to make sure you have a clean background, are of good character, and won't use or hurt me. Yuan, don't be upset about this, and don't blame my parents, okay? Can I apologize on their behalf?"
"Silly pig," Zhuang Zhuoyuan patted Iris's head and kissed her forehead. No matter what, he didn't want his girlfriend to worry about these things. "I'm fine. I'm just a little disappointed because I don't feel a sense of accomplishment. It's like I've already reached the finish line before I've even taken a step."
Iris pinched the flesh on his cheek, letting out a sigh of relief as a smile appeared on her face: "Mr. Zhuang Zhuoyuan, do you know that what you just said will make a lot of people envious and jealous?"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan replied casually, "Let them be envious." Being able to marry a wife like that is already the best thing in the world.
Iris naturally knew things that Edward and Jennie might not. She intentionally wanted to reassure Zhuang Zhuoyuan, but as Zhuang Sir's informant, she should at least receive a small fee. The more the better, a little wouldn't hurt. Miss Zhou's offer was simple: "Do you dare stay tonight?"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan knew that if he won against Iris, he would have to pay a price.
Edward and Jennie planned to stay in Hong Kong for three days. Coinciding with the holiday, the young unmarried couple took their parents on a nostalgic trip. Afterwards, they enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Edward himself. By doing everything he could, Zhuang Zhuoyuan finally won over his future in-laws, making them all smiles and completely satisfied.
On the day of their departure, another small mishap occurred. Before Edward and Jennie checked out, Iris couldn't contact Zhuang Zhuoyuan again. The two had originally planned to see him off together, but given the current situation, it seemed Zhuang Sir was on another mission. So the plan had to be abandoned. Iris silently put away her phone, patted her cheeks to cheer herself up, and turned to her parents, saying, "Daddy, Mommy, it seems Yuan won't be able to see you off today. Let's go to the airport first."
How could Jennie not see the worry on her daughter's face? She was already quite satisfied with Zhuang Zhuoyuan. If there was any downside, it was his profession, which truly caused her constant worry. She was very reluctant to let her daughter live in fear every time.
“Honey…” Edward knew what she wanted to say as soon as she opened her mouth. Compared to others, Zhuang Zhuoyuan was definitely an excellent son-in-law candidate, and what’s more, his daughter liked him so much. The two of them should treat this prospective son-in-law well: “Alright Jennie, I know. You can put your luggage back. I’ll go talk to Michael and have him and Topaz handle things in England for the time being.”
Iris exclaimed in surprise, "Daddy?"
Edward waved his hand and smiled, "We'll wait for Ah Yuan to come back."
“But I don’t know when he will be back. Sometimes it’s quick, sometimes it takes two or three days, and sometimes…” Iris didn’t dare to mention another week or two. She was afraid that her parents would oppose their marriage because of Zhuang Zhuoyuan’s unpredictable disappearances. “It shouldn’t be too long. If it’s too long, he will tell me in advance.”
Jennie walked over, took her daughter's hand, and patted it. As perceptive as she was, how could she not hear the apprehension in Iris's words? This daughter had always been a well-behaved girl, and Jennie had always granted her every wish. Why would she want to cause her any more worry? "It doesn't matter how long it takes, sweetie. You've chosen A-Yuan, so your daddy and I will treat him like our own son. Of course we'll care about family members on missions, right? Don't worry about Daddy's company. Communication is so convenient these days; we can handle anything over the phone or online. Staying a few more days won't have a big impact. Now, why don't you help Mommy pack?"
Edward and Jennie stayed behind, and Iris deliberately didn't text Zhuang Zhuoyuan about it. You can imagine how touched he was when he got home and saw that his future in-laws had prepared a big feast to celebrate his safe return.
Jennie stepped forward and gave him a hug. Zhuang Zhuoyuan almost burst into tears. Having lost both parents at a young age, he hadn't felt this kind of warmth that belonged to family in a long time. "Thank you, Aunty, I..."
The next second, Jennie let go of him. She pointed at Zhuang Zhuoyuan with her finger and said, "Hey, no need for so many words of gratitude. Auntie prefers actions. If you can promise me that you'll reserve a room for Edward and me in your house in the future, then I might consider letting you call me 'Mommy' first!"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan naturally replied, "Mommy!"
“Okay, okay.” Jennie immediately beamed and hugged him and Iris, while Edward remained coolly standing aside without saying a word. Iris was suddenly more anxious than Zhuang Zhuoyuan. Jennie couldn’t stand it anymore and called out to her husband. Only then did Edward clear his throat and speak: “Nobody’s calling me Daddy, how am I supposed to go over?”
Iris immediately stretched out her arms and wrapped them around him: "Daddy~"
At the same time, an order was issued to a certain upgraded officer: "PC38171!"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan immediately straightened up and saluted, but what he said was, "Yes, daddy!"
The father-in-law, who had also been promoted, was now satisfied.
Staying in Hong Kong for an extra week naturally meant more things to do. The Team members had no idea what Iris's family was up to; they only saw Zhuang Zhuoyuan rushing off after work every day, barely participating in happy hour, which was excessive during his and Iris's most passionate period of romance. It wasn't until a gossip magazine published photos of the Zhou family that the Flying Tigers realized their brother had quietly made it big!
"A luxurious mansion spanning thousands of square feet, facing the sea, surrounded by mountains, where spring is always warm and flowers bloom—it's simply amazing!"
"And this van, it's all designer brands!"
"And the ULO Hotel! No wonder Iris has been staying there! It turns out it's her family's property!"
"My sister-in-law's family is so rich!"
"That loser Ah Yuan is so photogenic!"
A group of men gathered together, and once they found a suitable topic, they could talk non-stop. They were waiting for Zhuang Zhuoyuan to arrive, ready to interrogate the brat, but before they could, SDU Superintendent Liang Rifeng had already brought him to them.
Inspector Leung, who was never one to smile, was even more serious at this moment. He pointed to the magazine cover on the table, clearly expecting Zhuang Zhuoyuan to give an explanation for this matter.
Zhuang Zhuoyuan never expected that he would be secretly photographed while accompanying his parents-in-law to look at a house. Fortunately, Iris wasn't feeling well that day, so he took her to the hospital first before rushing to Repulse Bay to meet Edward and Jennie. He didn't have time to take off his mask, so his face wasn't fully revealed, and his identity wasn't exposed.
"Sorry, sir!" He straightened his back and apologized first. Fortunately, Zhan Hantao was also there to support him, so Inspector Liang did not pursue the matter further. However, the latter's meaning was quite clear: he could not interfere in the private lives of the Flying Tigers members, but he would absolutely crack down on disciplinary issues. If Zhuang Zhuoyuan appeared on the magazine cover again, there would be no reason for him to be let off lightly.
"Yes, sir!" Zhuang Zhuoyuan answered loudly, his heart filled with bitterness. It seemed that he and his BB wouldn't be able to go out shopping or dating for a while. In fact, if he went out with Edward and the others in the future, he would probably have to be fully armed with sunglasses, masks, and baseball caps to be safe. He finally understood the meaning of Iris's cryptic words from a few days ago—"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."
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