What was bound to happen has finally arrived.
"My father...drinks tea sometimes, and my mother...doesn't have any particular preference for jewelry," Meng Yihe replied vaguely, hoping Cui Yu would stop there.
"Tea? What kind of tea? Pu'er? Longjing? Or black tea? Do you have a preferred origin or vintage?" Cui Yu pressed for details, his finger already searching for "high-end tea gift box" on the tablet.
Meng Yihe: "...Either is fine."
“Director Meng.” Cui Yu looked up at him helplessly.
“Your ‘anything is fine’ attitude will drive anyone with decision-making difficulties crazy. Give me some specific suggestions, okay? This is also so that your parents don’t think I’m just being perfunctory.”
Cui Yu's gaze held a gentle persistence, as if he would keep asking until Meng Yihe gave a concrete answer. Seeing his determined expression, Meng Yihe knew she couldn't avoid it any longer.
He finally uttered a few words as if in resignation: "...Wuyi rock tea, my father mentions it occasionally."
A victorious smile immediately appeared on Cui Yu's face, and his fingers flew across the keyboard.
"Okay, Wuyi rock tea."
Meng Yihe felt a headache coming on.
He found himself being dragged step by step into a strange atmosphere of "preparing to meet the parents together," and he was powerless to resist.
Cui Yu was not satisfied with this and instead intensified his actions.
He launched a new round of "consultation" on the specific types of tea, the year, the packaging, and even the matching teaware. His questions were so detailed that Meng Yihe wondered if he was planning to switch careers and sell tea.
Finally, just as Meng Yihe was about to reach her breaking point, Cui Yu reluctantly selected a few top-tier Wuyi rock tea gift sets and added them to her shopping cart.
"Alright, Uncle's problem is solved."
Cui Yu put down the tablet with satisfaction, refocused his gaze on Meng Yihe, and smiled amiably.
"Next, for your aunt... She doesn't have a particular preference for jewelry, so how about a silk scarf? High-end skincare products? A limited-edition handbag? Or... is there anything she's always wanted but hasn't been able to bring herself to buy?"
Meng Yihe felt her patience was being exhausted at the speed of light.
He rubbed his temples, trying to end the ordeal: "She's picky about home furnishings and likes things with good quality."
This is the maximum amount of information he can provide.
"Home furnishings?" Cui Yu pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "That's a good direction, it's thoughtful and practical. Aromatherapy? Bone china tea sets? Or a high-end cashmere shawl? I remember an Italian brand that makes really nice cashmere products..."
Cui Yu was plunged into a new round of research and screening.
He would occasionally pick up his phone, seemingly consulting a friend with excellent taste.
Meng Yihe suspected it was Lin Xueyue.
Seeing Cui Yu's serious attitude, even more so than when he was choosing a project proposal, he was speechless for a moment. He simply stopped paying attention to Cui Yu and turned his attention back to his work, trying to use the cold screen to block out all external distractions.
However, Cui Yu's presence was not so easily overlooked.
His occasional mutterings to himself, "Isn't this color too old-fashioned?", the faint sound of the product introduction video playing from the tablet, and even just the aura he exuded while sitting there, all tickled Meng Yihe's nerves like feathers.
Meng Yihe found that she was unable to concentrate at all.
Finally, as it was almost time to leave work, Cui Yu seemed to have completed his grand purchasing plan and put down his tablet with satisfaction.
"That's about it. We've shortlisted a few items. Tomorrow I'll have Lin Xueyue go to the physical store to see the actual products and then we'll make a final decision," Cui Yu announced.
Meng Yihe didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, only letting out a very soft "hmm," which was considered as if she had heard it.
Cui Yu did not get up and leave immediately. Instead, he leisurely leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the armrest unconsciously.
“Speaking of which,” Cui Yu said casually, as if it were just a casual chat, “I chose a nice tea set and gave it to my uncle along with the tea. I heard that older people like to use complete tea sets, as it makes them seem more formal.”
Meng Yihe didn't say anything, only wanting him to leave quickly.
Cui Yu didn't care and continued talking to herself, but her gaze seemed to be glancing at Meng Yihe: "As for Auntie's cashmere shawl, I chose a classic dark red one. It's versatile and makes you look elegant."
"but……"
Cui Yu paused deliberately, successfully attracting Meng Yihe's slight attention.
“You said…” Cui Yu leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and said with just the right amount of confusion.
"Won't Auntie think I'm being too formal by receiving these?"
"Or... what's the misunderstanding?"
Meng Yihe's heart skipped a beat, and she raised her eyes warily to meet Cui Yu's smiling eyes.
"What misunderstanding?" His voice involuntarily tightened.
Cui Yu's smile deepened, as if he had been waiting for him to ask this question. He met his gaze and spoke slowly, almost maliciously: "You misunderstand me... as if you have ulterior motives?"
He looked at Meng Yihe's expression, which froze instantly, paused, and then slowly added an even more fatal sentence.
"Or... they might misunderstand and think I'm deliberately trying to please them."
"To...pursue their son?"
"Cui Yu!" Meng Yihe abruptly interrupted him, her ears instantly burning red, a rush of heat to her head. He was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, almost jumping up from his chair.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Seeing that things were going well, Cui Yu immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, but his smile grew even brighter, and his tone became innocent: "Just kidding, just kidding. Don't be nervous, Director Meng."
He leaned back, creating some distance, and eased the tension with a relaxed tone.
"What I mean is, I'm afraid your mother might think I'm giving this gift with too much ulterior motive and not being sincere enough. After all, I genuinely want to thank you both for having such an excellent son as my partner, right?"
He emphasized the words "excellent son" and "partner" slightly.
It's as if it's emphasizing something, yet also as if it's deliberately being ambiguous.
Meng Yihe realized that he couldn't communicate normally with Cui Yu at all! This person could always easily throw him into a state of confusion with just a few words!
"Get out." Meng Yihe squeezed out the three words through gritted teeth, her voice icy, but the lingering blush made her seem utterly intimidating.
Cui Yu chuckled softly and stood up readily.
"Fine, I'll leave."
He spoke in a cheerful tone, walked to the door, then turned back to add a sentence, his eyes falling on Meng Yihe's reddened earlobes.
"I'll prepare the gift. See you this weekend, Director Meng."
The door closed gently.
In the office, Meng Yihe slammed her pen on the table with a dull thud.
Pursuit?! Or ulterior motives?!
How could Cui Yu dare... how could he dare to use such words to joke?
Meng Yihe squeezed his eyes shut, trying to calm his wildly beating heart and the unusual heat on his face. But Cui Yu's smiling words, "pursuing their son," echoed repeatedly in his mind like a demonic chant, refusing to leave.
The next two days were still busy with work.
Ding Sheng's underhanded tactics were temporarily halted by Cui Yu's precise strikes.
Although the progress of the Linan project has been slow, it has been generally smooth.
It seems that Meng Yihe and Cui Yu have returned to a normal state, still working together as the efficient and tacit "Star Twins," handling official business and discussing decisions.
That "health management standard" is still being strictly followed, with regular reminders, just the right amount of warm water, and the occasional forceful interruption of his work...
Meng Yihe would subconsciously pay attention to the movement at the door when the break time was about to end. He would take the glass of water, and although his face was expressionless, the warmth from his fingertips seemed to soothe his heart.
When Cui Yu forcibly snatched the documents from his hand, he still maintained a cold expression, but beneath that coldness lay a degree of indulgence that even he himself was unaware of.
He became increasingly aware that he harbored feelings for Cui Yu that went beyond those of a partner, or even beyond those of a friend.
This realization terrified him.
This was an emotion an Alpha felt for another Alpha that shouldn't exist, an emotion that defied his years of understanding and societal norms. He suppressed it deep within his heart, wrapping it in an even harder shell, trying to isolate himself from all possible risks.
What frustrated him most was that he couldn't understand Cui Yu at all.
This man can be incredibly considerate at times, cunning and roguish at others, domineering and forceful at still others, and surprisingly reliable and gentle at still others.
Were Cui Yu's ambiguous words and actions merely his natural playfulness and desire for control, or did they have a deeper meaning?
Meng Yihe dared not think about it too deeply, and refused to think about it too deeply.
He preferred to believe the former.
Because the latter represented a possibility that was too shocking and too overwhelming for him.
Friday, after get off work.
Most of the employees had left, and the office building had become quiet.
After finishing the last email, Meng Yihe rubbed her slightly sore neck, looked out the window at the setting sun, and felt a strange emptiness in her heart.
The weekend is coming.
This means that the promise to "come home for dinner" is just around the corner.
Just then, there was a knock on the office door, which was then pushed open.
Cui Yu walked in. He was already wearing a coat, holding his car keys, and had a relaxed look on his face, as if he had just finished get off work.
"Finished with work?" Cui Yu walked to his desk and asked casually.
"Hmm." Meng Yihe responded, looked away, and began tidying the desk to hide her slight unease.
Cui Yu didn't seem to care about his coldness.
He leaned against the edge of the table, took out his phone, and said casually, as if he were discussing tomorrow's weather: "By the way, tell your aunt that we'll be over at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, is that convenient?"
Meng Yihe paused.
What was bound to happen has finally happened.
He hadn't figured out how to tell his mother that Cui Yu would be going too. Just as he was hesitating, he saw Cui Yu start dialing a number on her own, using speakerphone.
"You..." Meng Yihe tried to stop her, but it was too late.
The call was quickly answered, and Ye Chunhan's cheerful voice came through, "Hello? Xiao He, are you off work?"
"Auntie, it's me, Cui Yu." Cui Yu greeted her with a smile, her voice gentle and polite. "I'm with Yi He and I wanted to confirm with you that we'd like to visit you and Uncle at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Is that a convenient time for you?"
Ye Chunhan on the other end of the phone was clearly overjoyed: "Oh! It's Director Cui! Convenient, convenient! Of course! You can all come together! Oh, that's wonderful! I'll have the housekeeper prepare your favorite dishes first thing tomorrow morning!"
Her joy was palpable, and her enthusiasm could be felt even over the phone.
Meng Yihe stood to one side.
Listening to her mother's familiar and warm conversation with Cui Yu, her feelings were extremely complicated.
He felt like an outsider, watching as Cui Yu integrated so naturally into his family, and his mother welcomed and rejoiced at it.
“Okay, then I’ll trouble you, Auntie.” Cui Yu replied with a smile, and then very naturally handed the phone to Meng Yihe.
"Yihe, your aunt wants to talk to you."
Caught off guard, Meng Yihe could only take the phone and call out dryly, "Mom."
"Xiao He!" Ye Chunhan's voice was still excited. "Remember to come on time with Director Cui tomorrow! Dress smartly! Don't always have such a stern face! By the way, does Director Cui have any dietary restrictions? I'd like to prepare a few extra dishes..."
Her mother's nagging instructions came through the phone, every word filled with concern and care for Cui Yu. As Meng Yihe listened, the inexplicable bitterness and panic in her heart grew stronger.
He gave a vague reply.
"Okay, I see... He doesn't have any dietary restrictions... Okay, good..."
His gaze involuntarily drifted towards Cui Yu beside him.
The other person was watching him leisurely, a faint smile on their lips, their eyes deep, as if they were appreciating something interesting.
The call finally ended.
"Alright, mission accomplished." Cui Yu said casually. "Shall I pick you up tomorrow?"
“No need, I’ll go by myself.” Meng Yihe refused almost immediately; he needed some time to process things on his own.
Cui Yu looked at him for two seconds, then nodded without insisting.
"Okay, see you tomorrow." He turned to leave, but stopped at the door and looked back at Meng Yihe.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window, outlining Meng Yihe's slightly tense profile. Cui Yu's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and her tone suddenly became gentle and serious.
"Don't be nervous, Director Meng."
Meng Yihe's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up. Cui Yu smiled at him, a smile unlike his usual teasing or cunning one, carrying a strange, comforting power.
"It's just a casual meal." With that, he quietly closed the door and left.
The office fell completely silent.
Meng Yihe stood there, Cui Yu's last words and smile echoing in her ears.
Don't be nervous. It's just a casual meal.
How could he not be nervous?
He was nervous not only about bringing a powerful Alpha colleague home for dinner, but also about his own increasingly uncontrollable heart and the man's true intentions, which seemed omnipresent yet remained shrouded in mystery.
What will tomorrow bring?
Meng Yihe discovered that, amidst her fear, she shamefully harbored a sliver of anticipation.
At 9:50 a.m. on Saturday, Meng Yihe's car came to a steady stop in front of the Meng family villa.
He remained in the car, not getting out immediately.
His gaze fell on the beautifully packaged gift bag on the passenger seat, inside which were the Wuyi rock tea that Cui Yu had finally decided on and the dark red cashmere shawl that was said to be "versatile and elegant". In the end, he still acquiesced to the fact that Cui Yu would prepare the gifts.
Taking a deep breath, Meng Yihe removed the car keys, picked up the gift bag, and got out of the car.
Today he wore a light gray cashmere sweater with a dark coat, looking less sharp and more gentle than usual, but there was still a lingering tension between his brows.
He had just reached the door and hadn't even had a chance to ring the doorbell when the door was opened from the inside.
It wasn't a servant who opened the door, but his mother, Madam Meng.
Ye Chunhan had clearly been waiting for a long time, her face adorned with meticulously applied makeup and an barely suppressed smile of joy. Her gaze immediately swept past Meng Yihe's shoulder to look behind her: "They're here! Xiaohe, where's Director Cui? He's not with you..."
Her voice paused when she saw that there was no one behind Meng Yihe, her smile faded slightly, and she looked a little puzzled.
Just as Meng Yihe was about to speak, a deep engine sound came from afar, and a black sedan smoothly drove up and stopped behind Meng Yihe's car.
The car door opened, and Cui Yu got out of the driver's seat.
He was dressed more casually than usual today, wearing a high-quality dark blue turtleneck sweater under a long black coat. He stood tall and exuded an air of elegance. He was also carrying several gift boxes that looked quite expensive.
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