My Life with Narration

Chapter 424 - 418: Mom, Something’s Off About You

When it came to the women around her son, Zhou Hui had a general idea, but two girls stood out in her memory: one was Shen Yi, and the other was the landlady with a child.

When Su He called home to announce the good news, Zhou Hui was a bit skeptical. She even asked if it was the landlady with the child. Upon getting a confirmation, the old mother went completely crazy.

She insisted that Su He hand the phone to her son to confirm multiple times and was ready to rush to the bank to withdraw money for the dowry right then and there. Luckily, Old Su stopped her on the spot.

"It’s just a relationship, not a marriage. Why would you, as a mother, need to go over there? Are you going to nag them to have a baby in person?"

"What’s wrong with me going over to clean the house?" Zhou Hui glared at her husband and retorted.

Hearing this, Old Su rolled his eyes. They’re adults now; do they really need you to clean their house? It’s not like they’re living in a pigsty without you.

He could already imagine his wife’s demeanor if she went over. They’re not even pregnant; what’s the point of this excitement? Besides, young people these days don’t view relationships the same way as they did in their time.

"Honey, listen to me. Our son is just dating, not to dash your hopes. Young people these days might be dating today and break up tomorrow; I’ve seen plenty of this. Every year at our school, we have kids acting like it’s life or death when a breakup happens. As parents, we need to stay calm, you know, calm?"

With much persuasion, Zhou Hui finally abandoned the idea of going over, but she still couldn’t sit still. In desperation, Old Su delivered an imperial edict, summoning Su Qing, the eldest of the Su Family, to return home for an audience.

He had no choice; if he didn’t go back, his mother might suffer insomnia leading to a nervous breakdown. As the one involved, he needed to go back and explain.

This interrupted their afternoon plans. Had it not been for this, they would have gone to the supermarket in the afternoon to buy some fruits, drinks, snacks, raw meat, and maybe they could have gone camping tonight. But now, he had to hand this task over to Shen Yi.

"This should be enough, right?" Shen Yi said as she loaded things into the car’s trunk, adding skincare products for his mom, face masks, and some cigarettes and alcohol for his dad, along with several fruits.

"Enough, enough! We really don’t need to buy more; the car won’t fit any more," Su Qing urged earnestly.

"By the way, doesn’t your dad like fishing? I remember Uncle Wen gave you a fishing rod, right? Lend it to me first, and I’ll get you a new one later!" Shen Yi suggested, feeling like something was still missing.

Su Qing: ...

He had to admit, giving that fishing rod to Old Su would be a total waste, but since Shen Yi asked, he couldn’t refuse. He could only grit his teeth and nod, "It’s fine. I don’t really like fishing anyway. We’ll just say you gave it to him. But are you sure you’re not coming back with me today?"

Hearing this, Shen Yi was a bit tempted, but in the end, she shook her head. "Don’t overthink it. It’s not that I don’t want to go home with you, but it’s just unreasonable to meet the parents after dating for less than a week. Your parents would surely think I’m immature, like a child. If we really want to meet, it should at least be at the end of the year."

He understood Shen Yi’s concerns. First of all, there was an age gap between them, and secondly, they had just started dating. Going home with him would mean something, as there’s this common notion among Chinese people that bringing someone home means you could marry at any time. Even if they were rash, they knew better.

Moreover, because of the age difference, Shen Yi tended to be more thorough in her thinking, as the maturity gap was clear.

And since it wasn’t a meet-the-parents visit, Shen Yi didn’t prepare any expensive gifts, but she couldn’t forgo proper manners, hence their shopping adventure.

"Alright, but without you around today, it’s going to be tough for me," Su Qing shook his head and smiled.

Hearing this, Shen Yi patted his head, taking on a sisterly demeanor, and whispered into his ear, "Be good, little brother. I know it’s hard for you this time, but when we go camping, big sis will make it up to you!"

Her voice was softly intellectual and alluring, making one feel the urge to conquer. Su Qing then reached out to pinch her cheek, "You’re just saying sweet nothings!"

In response, Shen Yi grinned widely, as if everything around was suddenly much brighter.

"Alright, off you go now. I’ll get the camping stuff ready for tomorrow. Come back early, and if you stay over, send me a message!"

"Okay!"

The two parted reluctantly, and anyone who didn’t know better might have thought Su Qing was heading to Syria to deliver supplies.

Driving Shen Yi’s car leisurely back to his neighborhood, Su Qing had to admit that although Shen Yi’s car wasn’t as flashy as the landlady’s sports coupe, it was still a luxury vehicle. Thankfully, over time, he had grown more accustomed and relaxed, handling the car with ease.

At 6:30 PM, Su Qing drove to the entrance of his apartment complex, where Su He and Old Su were already waiting.

"Dad, what’s with the big welcome?" Su Qing asked as he got out of the car.

Hearing this, Old Su looked into the car and, not seeing Shen Yi, asked, "You came back alone?"

"Who else? You were the one who told me to come back, weren’t you?" Su Qing played dumb.

Of course, he knew why Old Su asked like that, but during the call, Old Su only asked him to come back to explain, and didn’t specifically mention Shen Yi. It wasn’t a matter of politeness; it was also about sparing the girl any awkwardness.

When the parents ask, the girl has to come, but what if she isn’t ready? So in Jiang City, the more open-minded parents prefer to discuss such matters privately with their kids, allowing the children to decide among themselves.

Hearing this, Old Su took a deep breath, pointed a finger at him, and said, "You... really something!"

With that, Old Su turned and headed upstairs.

Seeing this, Su Qing shrugged, gesturing for Su He to help carry the items up.

"Bro, with sis-in-law not coming today, you’re in for it. Mom prepared a whole table full of food just to see her, and the incense ash of Guanyin Bodhisattva and Yue Lao barely fits in the offering dish," Su He joked.

"What are you laughing at? Isn’t it your fault? You traitor!" Su Qing glared at her.

"What does this have to do with me? But bro, you’re really something, managing to win over sis-in-law so quickly. Spill it, when did it happen?"

"None of your business. Just keep your mouth shut, okay? Otherwise, you can forget about getting any gifts from your sis-in-law again."

In response, Su He stuck out her tongue. "Alright, alright. It’s just a set of skincare products. By the way, it was sis-in-law who gave it to me because she thought I got tanned. I’ll put in a good word for you!"

"Just keep quiet!"

As they talked, they reached the front door and, sure enough, saw their mom, Zhou Hui, standing at the door, looking downstairs.

Seeing this, Su Qing quickly stepped forward: "Mom, thank you for your hard work, this is the skincare products and face masks that Shen Yi sent for you. She said last time when she saw how young you looked, she even thought you were my sister, so she specially prepared this for you, let me bring it back!"

No matter how sickening it might be, start with the compliments first. Praise doesn’t wear out, eventually, he’s become the kind of person he used to dislike.

Sure enough, upon hearing that it was a gift from Shen Yi, Mom Zhou Hui’s face visibly lit up with a smile, then she immediately asked, "Where is she?"

"Uh... you didn’t ask me to bring her back, did you?"

Mom Zhou Hui’s face instantly changed from this: (*｀▽´*)

to this: (艹皿艹)

The speed was utterly astonishing.

"I want the person, why do I need things?"

Saying this, she directly shoved him: "Go, go, bring her back for me. Wait, leave the stuff here first, my daughter-in-law bought it for me!"

Halfway through the push, she snatched the stuff from his hands, then continued pushing him out the door.

"Mom... Mom, calm down, calm down, Dad, control your wife!" Su Qing clung to the door frame, trying to stand his ground, thinking if the person were meant to come, they would’ve arrived earlier, not been fetched after the fact.

"I can’t calm down, does your mom lack these things? What I want is the person, don’t you understand!"

"Son, I can’t help you much here, you really shouldn’t have..." Old Su chimed in from the side.

Seeing this, he quickly spoke up: "Dad, Shen Yi knows you like fishing, and she specifically got you a fishing rod, it’s a limited edition, 75,000 yuan, Bull Brass version, maybe you could..."

Before he could finish, Old Su immediately stepped in to stop his wife: "Ahem, wife, I think, maybe we should give him a chance to explain!"

Su Qing: ...

Thanks to Auntie Shen, thanks to the good Sister, thanks to the gifts from the warm Mr. Wen, surely giving gifts should suit the recipient’s taste!

Ten minutes later, Zhou Hui clasped her hands together, prayed in front of the Moon God and the Guanyin Bodhisattva statue, then turned around and looked at her son, asking, "So you aren’t lying to us this time, right? You’re really together?"

Su Qing nodded: "This time it’s true, mainly because we’ve been together for less than a week, and since you didn’t specifically invite her, she felt a bit awkward to just come, that’s why she asked me to bring the stuff back—all of it she bought."

Hearing this, Zhou Hui’s expression finally changed from this: (艹皿艹)

to this: (ノ￣▽￣)

"Son, I must tell you, as you’re making friends with her, don’t mess around, okay? You have to date seriously. A relationship without the intention of marriage is just fooling around. By the way, are you two living together now?"

Su Qing nodded.

Seeing this, Zhou Hui immediately let out a breath of relief and patted her chest: "Now I can rest assured!"

Su Qing: ???

No, why does this make you feel relieved, Mom, something’s up with you!

"His dad, what are you doing clinging to that broken rod; our son is living together with his girlfriend!"

At this moment, Old Su was holding that fishing rod, with one hand holding a mobile phone, and the other stroking the rod, unable to stop murmuring: "Exquisite, exquisite, it really is great stuff, and it’s a limited edition, handcrafted, clicking his tongue, even the grip is adorned with jade, this must be a collectible, who’d use such a thing for fishing, it’s a waste!"

Looking like that, anyone would think he was holding some beauty.

[A lifetime of striving father has already confirmed Shen Yi as his prospective daughter-in-law, having raised a son for so many days, and using him at such a time, even if it means becoming a live-in son-in-law, Old Su thinks it’s negotiable, after all, they are getting a better deal.]

"Still watching!" Mom Zhou Hui immediately gave him a slap on the back.

"Ah, what is it, wife?"

Zhou Hui: ...

Then she turned around to face Su Qing and said, "Son, is this fishing rod really worth over seventy thousand?"

Su Qing nodded, at least that’s what the narrator said.

Seeing this, Zhou Hui sighed, glared at her husband, and spat, "What are you looking at, the girl isn’t even part of our family yet, and you’re shamelessly accepting such an expensive gift from her?"

Upon hearing this, Old Su immediately got nervous: "Then... what should we do, return it?"

"Get out the golden bracelet Mom left for me, let our son take it back!"

"Huh? Isn’t it too early for that?"

"Then why don’t you return the stuff!"

"Uh... let’s just give the bracelet, it’s meant for the daughter-in-law anyway!"

Su Qing: ...

A perfect day of tug-of-war!

...