Chapter 406: Chapter 365: Meeting the Parents
A Bentley drove past the road in front of the mall, and suddenly the car window rolled down, Zhuo Yuqing leaned on the window and stared at the café across the street, rubbing her eyes hard.
"What are you looking at? Pull your head back in." Bai Chengxi reached out and pulled her back in, "Are you a three-year-old? Don’t you know it’s not safe like that?"
Zhuo Yuqing shrank her head back and guiltily straightened up, raising the car window again, but still, she took another couple of glances outside the window.
"I thought I saw someone familiar just now." Zhuo Yuqing withdrew her gaze; she thought she had seen Gu Qili.
Zhuo Yuqing thought for a moment and took out her phone to call Gu Qili, the call was connected quickly.
"Qili, are you in the business district?"
"No, I’m at home." Gu Qili asked in confusion, "Are you at the business district?"
"I thought I saw you here at the business district, but it was from a distance, so it might have been someone who looked a bit like you."
"I’m not at the business district, about to have dinner."
"Then it’s fine, we’ll hang out when there’s time." Zhuo Yuqing ended the call and noticed Bai Chengxi looking at her, "Qili? Gu Qili?"
Zhuo Yuqing in shock: "You know Qili?"
"Mhm."
The name Qili is very unique, so as soon as Zhuo Yuqing mentioned Qili, Bai Chengxi thought of Gu Qili, and it turned out to be her indeed.
"How do you know her?" Zhuo Yuqing was happy they had a friend in common, "She’s a friend of my brother. We’ve known each other for four years. She’s really nice and beautiful."
"She’s my friend’s wife."
"Mu Shuoqian?"
"You know him?"
Zhuo Yuqing nodded, "I’ve heard Qili mention him before. I heard they got back together."
It’s truly a small world, turning around and bumping into people who know each other.
Zhuo Yuqing muttered to herself, "But that person really did look like her."
They were already nearing the Bai family villa. Zhuo Yuqing secretly took out a small mirror and checked her reflection. She had applied a bit of makeup before leaving since she doesn’t wear makeup often and was worried it would smudge. She had checked it over ten times on the way. She clutched at the hem of her clothes, feeling nervous. She really was nervous; unsure whether Bai Chengxi’s family would like her.
"Are you very nervous?" Bai Chengxi suddenly asked, startling her so much she nearly dropped the mirror.
Zhuo Yuqing pretended to be very calm and sneakily put the mirror away, giving him a smile, "No, I’m not nervous."
Bai Chengxi couldn’t help but laugh, smoothing out the wrinkles on his trousers: "Don’t be nervous, my parents are very easy to get along with."
"Mhm, I’m not nervous." Zhuo Yuqing took a deep breath and picked up a water bottle on the side, taking a sip.
The car didn’t travel much further before turning into a villa complex. The Bai family’s house was located in the north, with mountains in the back, enjoying a secluded scenery.
After getting out of the car, Bai Chengxi opened the trunk and took out the things Zhuo Yuqing had bought. Seeing her standing there not moving, he walked over and naturally took her hand, his warm voice assuring her, "Just stay by my side."
His palm was dry, fingers long and well-shaped; grasping such a hand, her nervousness eased quite a bit.
The Bai family home was very lively today, as it was the matriarch’s birthday, which was being celebrated without ostentation, gathering family members. The Bai family relatives both high and low came to celebrate the matriarch’s birthday. On one hand, it was to celebrate the occasion, but most importantly, the matriarch’s grandson, the sole heir of the Bai family, was bringing home his fiancée. This matter had shocked all members of the Bai family, to the point where Bai Chengxi’s second aunt, even though far away in Australia, had made the long journey back.
In the kitchen, preparations were in full swing. The matriarch went to the doorway for the Nth time, craning her neck to look outside. Bai’s mother chuckled and said, "Mom, don’t rush, Chengxi said he’s already on the way."
"Oh dear, daughter-in-law, do I look alright dressed like this today?" The matriarch adjusted her own collar. The matriarch had a preference for bright red, and she was also wearing a red wool sweater today. Although the matriarch was older, the red didn’t seem out of place at all. On the contrary, it complimented her white hair, making her appear spirited and full of life.
"Mom, you look good in anything you wear." Bai’s mother smiled as she fixed the matriarch’s hair, "Your granddaughter-in-law will definitely praise you for looking young and beautiful when she sees you."
"Really?" The matriarch’s smile was so wide she could hardly close her mouth.
Just then, the sound of a car engine came from outside, and the matriarch, flushed with excitement, exclaimed, "They’re here, they’re here."
The matriarch was happy, her voice loud, and at her shout, everyone in the house heard her, Bai’s father even came down from upstairs.
The old lady moved faster than the servants, hurrying to open the door herself.
"Oh my, my dear grandson." The old lady saw her eldest grandson and had never found him more pleasing to the eye, but after just a glance, she quickly looked beside him.
Zhuo Yuqing saw an elderly lady with white hair coming to open the door and immediately thought this must be Bai Chengxi’s grandmother. So, without waiting for him to introduce her, she sweetly called out, "Grandma."
This call nearly made the old lady faint with joy; she grabbed Zhuo Yuqing’s hand excitedly, her trembling lips asking: "Child, what is your name?"
Zhuo Yuqing didn’t expect the old lady to be so enthusiastic, and she looked kind and amiable, making her feel instantly close. She smiled and replied: "Grandma, my name is Zhuo Yuqing."
"Oh my, Yuqing, what a nice name, come in quickly, come inside."
As she spoke, the old lady had already ignored her own grandson, pulling Zhuo Yuqing by the hand into the house.
The old lady had lived many years and seen all sorts of people; she had eaten more salt than others had eaten rice. She took a liking to Zhuo Yuqing the moment she first saw her. Not only was this girl pretty, but she also had a lucky and likable appearance, and her voice was especially pleasant to hear. Most importantly, the old lady felt that she had a good character.
"Yuqing, come over here, this is your ahh..." The old lady was about to say aunt, but suddenly remembered that Bai Chengxi said they had registered their marriage, and she quickly corrected: "This is your mom."
Bai’s mother came over with a smile. She had also taken to this daughter-in-law at first sight; if not for the old lady hogging all the time, she would have been the one holding her daughter-in-law’s hand right now.
Zhuo Yuqing was not yet accustomed to calling her mom, but in front of everyone in the room, she obediently called out, "Mom."
Like the old lady, Bai’s mother felt her heart soften instantly, too pleased to know what to say.
The Bai family had been longing for this daughter-in-law for so many years, and just as she was about to give up hope, suddenly her son said he would bring a daughter-in-law home. She felt this must be due to the good fortune she had amassed from offering incense and praying at the temple.
"Yuqing, this is your dad." The old lady, again holding Zhuo Yuqing’s hand, walked over to Bai’s father. Bai’s father wore glasses and looked refined; although middle-aged, he was well-maintained, with features somewhat similar to Bai Chengxi. It was said that he was a greatly popular star in his youth, but later he went into business.
Zhuo Yuqing naturally recognized Bai’s father; she had seen his movies when she was a child.
"Dad." Zhuo Yuqing’s calling became smoother with each attempt, later on towards the big aunt, the second aunt, the third aunt, as well as various uncles, sisters, brothers, and younger sisters; the old Mrs. Bai, afraid that not everyone had seen her new granddaughter-in-law, took her around and introduced her to everyone.
The old lady was so busy that she worked up a sweat, while Bai Chengxi seemed to have nothing to do, although this should have been his job.
"Oh my, Mom, this daughter-in-law of yours is really pretty." As soon as the big aunt spoke, the second aunt followed up: "That’s right, our Chengxi is capable, bringing back such a beautiful girl."
Zhuo Yuqing, being complimented, felt shy but maintained a faint smile. Then Bai Chengxi came over, his hand naturally resting on her shoulder.
"Auntie, if you all crowd around her, she will feel shy."
"Look, he’s already started to protect his wife." The third aunt joked with a laugh, then took Zhuo Yuqing’s hand and asked, "Yuqing, where are you from?"
"I’m from City A."
"City A, huh? City A is good, economically developed. So, what does your family do?"
Zhuo Yuqing glanced at Bai Chengxi. After their marriage, she had never told him about her family background, and Bai Chengxi had not asked either. He probably thought that family background wasn’t important.
"My father runs a real estate company, my mother is a designer, and my younger brother just started his senior year of high school this year."
Zhuo Yuqing didn’t mention how influential the Zhuo Family was in City A, she just gave a simple summary.
"I knew it, this is clearly a child raised in a well-to-do household, educated and reasonable. Mom, you can be at ease this time, your granddaughter-in-law will surely treat you well."
Old Mrs. Bai was so delighted that she couldn’t stop smiling, and she also felt a bit proud. She would soon tell the other elders from the six big families about this news, dying to make that bunch of old folks envious.
Zhuo Yuqing suddenly remembered the gifts she brought and asked Bai Chengxi to bring them over. She took out a coat and presented it to the old lady: "Grandma, happy birthday."
The old lady was delighted at the sight of the bright red color, her eyes sparkling. After inspecting the style of the coat, she immediately stood up to try it on.
The coat looked trendy on the old lady, and both the daughter-in-law and daughter praised her for looking beautiful. The old lady was so happy she wished she could wear it at home right then and there.
"Oh my, this coat is so expensive." The old lady inadvertently saw the price tag, and even though she was well-travelled and knowledgeable, she was still surprised to receive such a valuable gift suddenly: "Yuqing, you really shouldn’t have spent so much."
"As long as Grandma likes it, that’s good." Zhuo Yuqing also took out the gifts she had prepared for Bai’s mother and father. Like the old lady, Bai’s mother was eager to try on the clothes, and Bai’s father, looking at the tie in his hands, also smiled: "Thank you."
As for the others, Zhuo Yuqing had also bought gifts, and the family received the new daughter-in-law’s presents happily. The old lady nudged Bai’s mother: "You’re just taking things from her, shouldn’t you reciprocate?"
Bai’s mother said with a laugh: "How could I not reciprocate? I’ve been prepared for a while now."