On the elevator upstairs, Xia Wei's heart rose up into her throat alongside the numbers. Jiang Zhi Zhou took Man Man and glanced sidelong at her. "Relax. You look like you've been summoned to the principal's office."
"...ahem." Xia Wei cleared her throat. "I'm surprised your parents live in such a normal-looking neighbourhood. I thought it would be more like a mansion."
"My dad's very independent and a bit of a maverick. All my other uncles and aunts live in the Jiang family mansion."
"Ah..." Xia Wei liked the thought. If his father hadn't had such an independent personality, then when she and Jiang Zhi Zhou got married they too, would have had to live in the Jiang family mansion. It was a bit terrifying to think about. "Does Man Man live there too?"
"Yeah," Jiang Man Man nodded. "It's no fun. The house is real big, Man Man is afraid of sleeping alone."
Xia Wei stroked her fluffy hair in silent comfort.
"Here we are." When the elevator came to a halt, Jiang Zhi Zhou led Man Man out. Xia Wei, however, lingered in the elevator. Jiang Zhi Zhou looked back at her and asked with a smile, "Would you like me to carry you?"
Xia Wei: "..."
Upon following them out, Xia Wei took a deep breath. Don't be afraid, it's not like you haven't met his parents already. She's a big girl! What hasn't she seen?
While she was psyching herself up, she heard Jiang Zhi Zhou ring the doorbell. The door opened to reveal his mother, and when Jiang Man Man saw her, she greeted her sweetly. "Third grandma!"
"Hello, Man Man darling." Mother Jiang hugged Man Man before greeting Jiang Zhi Zhou and Xia Wei. "Come on in."
After changing shoes on the porch, Jiang Zhi Zhou pulled Xia Wei inside. Father Jiang was sitting in the living room. Smiling, Xia Wei greeted them. "Uncle, aunt, I hope you're well."
"Xia Wei, glad you made it." Father Jiang stood up to greet her. "Why don't you keep Man Man company for a little? Zhi Zhou will be giving me a hand in the kitchen."
Xia Wei blinked quickly. Not for nothing was this man Jiang Zhi Zhou's father. Even a chef like Jiang Zhi Zhou was only able to help out in the kitchen. Jiang Zhi Zhou followed Father Jiang into the kitchen, while Mother Jiang stayed outside. Though she still felt a little nervous, Man Man's presence diffused the awkwardness somewhat.
"Little aunt, your nails are so beautiful! Man Man also wants painted flowers." Jiang Man Man took Xia Wei's hand and studied her fingernails. Xia Wei told her, "Man Man's nails are still too small to be painted. But when you grow up, little aunt will help you paint flowers on them."
"Hurray~"
Xia Wei smiled, then suddenly felt uneasy. Why on earth had she followed blindly after Man Man and claimed to be an aunt?! Jiang Zhi Zhou's mother was sitting right there!
Although embarrassment sat heavy on her heart, Jiang Zhi Zhou's mother fortunately said nothing. Instead, she simply brought out some toys and candy for Man Man.
In the kitchen, cutting vegetables, Father Jiang inquired of his son, "How are you and Xia Wei?"
Jiang Zhi Zhou replied, "We're doing very well. Why do you ask?"
"I was afraid that your mother and aunt scared her off last time." He looked back at Jiang Zhi Zhou. "Don't take what your mother said to heart. Those weren't originally her thoughts, but influenced by your aunt."
Father Jiang's statement gave Jiang Zhi Zhou a funny little feeling inside. He smiled, "I'm no longer a child, and neither is Xia Wei. We understand. Don't blame little aunt, she wasn't being malicious about it."
"I'm glad that's how you feel. Personally, I think Xia Wei's a pretty decent girl. It hasn't been easy for you to find a girlfriend, so take good care of her."
"I know."
The meal created by two chefs was soon complete. Jiang Man Man gazed at the table full of her favorite dishes and couldn't help but be wowed. "Third Grandpa and little uncle are so good at this! Man Man's got to marry the best cook when I grow up!"
Jiang Zhi Zhou pinched her cheeks, laughing. "Man Man, thinking about getting married so young?"
Jiang Zhi Zhou's mother chimed in, "Indeed, our family's Zhi Zhou is already thirty years old and still not married."
Jiang Zhi Zhou: "..."
"Eat up, everyone," Father Jiang snorted, but nonetheless latched on to the topic Mother Jiang had brought up. "Well, that said, you should still be making plans for your future."
Jiang Zhi Zhou told them, "I just bought a house with Xia Wei today."
Mother Jiang paused. "Where is it?"
"Kerry International."
"Oh... their houses aren't bad at all." Mother Jiang considered before asking him, "How do you plan to decorate? Do you need our help?"
"Now, now, don't interfere. Let them decorate the place how they like." Father Jiang picked up his chopsticks and added some of Mother Jiang's favorite food to her bowl. "Eat up."
Mother Jiang gave him a pointed look, but did not inquire further. Meanwhile, Father Jiang proceeded on to feed Jiang Man Man.
"Thank you, Third Grandpa." Jiang Man Man said to him in a childish voice as soft and sweet as honey.
"You're a good girl." Father Jiang praised. Turning to Jiang Zhi Zhou, he admonished, "When you and Xia Wei have kids, don't take after your eldest cousin, that nonexistent father."
Jiang Zhi Zhou said, "Don't worry, I definitely won't be anything like him."
Meanwhile, Xia Wei buried her head in her food and pretended that she didn't exist.
Hearing her father criticized, Jiang Man Man came to his defense. "Daddy's very good to Man Man!"
Jiang Zhi Zhou's mother immediately glared at the Jiang father and son. "What are you saying in front of a kid?" she demanded, then asked Man Man with a smile, "What else would you like to eat, Man Man? Grandma will make it happen."
"I wanna eat uncle's steamed eggs."
"Alright."
Although the topic of the meal often turned to Jiang Zhi Zhou's marriage, Xia Wei felt a great deal more at ease compared to the last time. After the meal, she stood to help wash the dishes, but was stopped by Jiang Zhi Zhou's mother. "It's your first time here, how could I let you wash the dishes? Let me do it."
Although she said this, Xia Wei was still embarrassed to impose. "The dishwasher that Jiang Zhi Zhou and I use to wash dishes is very clean and convenient. Why don't I buy one for you?"
"Oh, no need, we can buy it ourselves. Save your money."
"But..."
Jiang Zhi Zhou stood by, watching them with a smile on his face. "Mom, let her buy it. She just doesn't want to wash dishes. She practically twisted my arm into getting the one in our house."
Xia Wei: "..."
Could you please praise her in front of her future mother-in-law?! What was with this guy?
Xia Wei was still sulking after leaving the Jiang family. "Can't you at least talk about my strengths in front of your mother?! She didn't like me much to begin with, and now you tell her to her face that I'm lazy!"
Jiang Zhi Zhou smiled. "You are lazy."
Xia Wei: "..."
Stop the car, please! She wanted to get off!
"There, there, don't be angry. If I were to start on your strengths, we'd be there all night."
"...then start now, and you're not allowed to stop until Man Man gets home."
Jiang Zhi Zhou: "..."
Why did he have to go and dig himself into this hole? Man Man applauded from the back. "Man Man wants to listen too!"
Jiang Zhi Zhou: "..."
After having sent Man Man home, Jiang Zhi Zhou and Xia Wei dutifully walked Sunshine. Xia Wei showered, then lay comfortably on her bed, unwilling to move. Jiang Zhi Zhou also took a shower, then walked over and knocked on her door. "Are you asleep?"
"Not yet." Xia Wei immediately sat up and stared rather warily at the door. "What's up?"
Outside, Jiang Zhi Zhou suggested, "There's still a little strawberry whiskey left over. Would you like some?"
Strawberry whiskey? Xia Wei's eyebrows were sky-high. "Mr. Jiang, I believe you have ulterior motives."
Jiang Zhi Zhou said with a smile, "Well, if you don't want any, I'll just drink all alone."
Finished, he headed to the living room. Xia Wei listened to his footsteps and quickly flipped her phone open to the girlfriends group. "I have a question! How do you all feel about premarital sex?!"
Eight Treasures Congee Female Hero: ............
Eight Treasures Congee Female Hero: .......
Asking For Suicide At Eighteen This Year: I'm very serious about this question!
Eight Treasures Congee Female Hero: At 18 years old, you should be concentrating on your studies. Don't ask about these sorts of things. I'll tell your teacher.
Asking For Suicide At Eighteen This Year: ...
Not Losing 5kg Not Changing Name: If you're feeling it, go for it. You're an adult, repressing yourself isn't good for you.
Asking For Suicide At Eighteen This Year: ... But won't it be too bold?
Not Losing 5kg Not Changing Name: Think this way - if you don't check over the goods before marriage, wouldn't you be terribly disappointed afterward if he was unsatisfying in bed?
Eight Treasures Congee Female Hero: It makes a dirty sort of sense. Indeed spoken by someone who's been influenced by foreign ideas!
Invincible Little Sweetie: ...
Invincible Little Sweetie: Have you accepted this step, Xia Wei?
Asking For Suicide At Eighteen This Year: Eh, I was just asking casually. Asking doesn't mean we absolutely have to do it.
Eight Treasures Congee Female Hero: ... please leave
Xia Wei put down her phone, cheeks burning. If Jiang Zhi Zhou wanted to make love to her later, would she agree?
No matter which decision she makes, she'd first go have a drink!
Jiang Zhi Zhou was sitting in the living room in his pajamas. When he heard her coming out of the bedroom, he looked at her out of the corners of his eyes. "Unafraid of my ulterior motives?"
Xia Wei instinctively wrapped her robe a little tighter about herself, but put on a strong front. "What should I be afraid of? Twiggy lives upstairs. If I scream, she'll call the police!"
Jiang Zhi Zhou: "..."
He poured a glass of strawberry whiskey with a smirk and added two pieces of ice.
"I want strawberries."
Xia Wei reached out for a strawberry, but he stopped her. "It's been soaked for a long time now, I'm not sure if it's still edible. If you want them, I'll buy some for you tomorrow."
"Oh." Xia Wei drank from her glass and sat down on the sofa. Jiang Zhi Zhou turned on the TV and asked, "What would you like to watch?"
"Something that won't put you to sleep."
Jiang Zhi Zhou smiled. Snaking his arms around her, he kissed her lips. "I absolutely won't fall asleep this time."
Xia Wei: "..."
She suddenly felt that she liked him better asleep.