This meal went on in a very peaceful manner.
Xu Musen was certain that his grandparents had already approved of his relationship with An Nuannuan.
However, they didn't bring it up at the dinner table, and Xu Musen naturally understood what that meant.
The best promise was no match for living each day well.
After dinner, the old master, slightly tipsy, took Xu Musen to the yard to practice martial arts again.
"Grandpa, are you..."
Xu Musen stood in front of a wooden stake.
"Join this old man for some practice. Stand with your legs and feet level with the stake!"
As the old master spoke, Xu Musen instinctively raised his arms, but the old man lifted his hand and shackled Xu Musen's arms to the stake.
"Grandpa..." Xu Musen was startled. How was this heading straight to punishment?
"Musen, you and I don't chat much, and I want to ask you, when do you plan to marry Nuannuan?"
The grandfather asked with a gentle smile.
"Regarding that question, actually, I should ask Nuannuan. Whenever she decides to marry me, that's when I'll marry her," Xu Musen replied.
"As a man, shouldn't you take more initiative, instead of waiting for my granddaughter to speak up?"
The grandfather's tone held a note of discontent, and he proceeded to bind Xu Musen's legs as well.
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Xu Musen wasn't flustered; he said with a smile, "It's not that I'm not taking initiative, but I feel that Nuannuan has missed out on too much before. Many things will be more meaningful before we discuss marriage. Of course, whenever she's ready, I am always prepared."
Looking at him, the grandfather thought, this brat sure knows how to talk. He patted Xu Musen's shoulder and said, "Good, you speak well. But, I've also heard that you've got quite a few girls around you lately."
The old master said, his gaze suddenly turning sharp.
"Grandpa, I don't quite understand what you mean..." Xu Musen's scalp tensed.
"If you don't understand, it doesn't matter."
Suddenly, the old man pulled out a flying dagger from his waist, moving as if he was practicing drunken boxing.
"Grandpa, what is this?"
Xu Musen swallowed nervously.
"Actually, our An family ancestors had a unique dart-throwing skill, which I haven't practiced in many years. Today, I suddenly feel a bit of an itch in my hand, don't worry, it's nothing."
The grandfather's smile was warm and amiable.
"Grandpa, listen to me, my relationship with them is absolutely clear, and they all know Nuannuan too," Xu Musen quickly said.
Xu Musen didn't believe his grandfather would actually throw a dagger at him, but seeing the old man's intoxicated condition, it was obvious he was still a bit uncomfortable with the fact that his granddaughter had been thoroughly conquered by Xu Musen.
After all, the cabbage he had raised for so many years had been rooted out by a pig; anyone would have a hard time accepting it at first.
"I heard there's a girl who's been your childhood sweetheart, and your relationship with her is pretty good, right?" the grandfather suddenly brought up this topic, fixing his eyes on Xu Musen after speaking.
Xu Musen was momentarily lost in thought; his past with Yao Mingyue, if Nuannuan's family were to investigate, they certainly wouldn't miss.
Remembering Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen felt no longer able to sever his emotions. Having drunk quite a bit today, the encounters between them after his rebirth were slowly healing the scars of his previous life.
Xu Musen met his grandfather's aged but still sharp eyes and didn't hide his thoughts, "I admit, I used to like her a lot, in that romantic way. But now, what I like the most is Nuannuan. My feelings for her now feel more like family, like she's a sister. There are some people who, even if they don't end up together, you still want to take care of them."
The grandfather didn't expect Xu Musen to respond this way.
Most men in such a situation would spout a flurry of words professing their loyalty. Yet here he was, tied up, facing a dagger, and still daring to say something that sounded ambiguous.
But as a man himself, the grandfather could sense the sincerity in his words and suddenly pondered... Is there really such an answer?
As memories seemed to come to him, the old man stroked his white beard, his eyes reddening a bit from the alcohol.
"I am Nuannuan's grandfather. She has suffered too much since she was young, with her mother passing away early. She cannot be wronged again. I know at your age, especially a fine young man like you, there are always some girls around. I just want to ask you, no matter what happens in the future, no matter how important other people are to you, will you always choose Nuannuan?"
Emboldened by the liquor, the grandfather said all that he usually found hard to say.
Xu Musen just shook his head with a smile.
"You're not happy with that?" The grandfather immediately became anxious, ready to unleash his throwing knife skills.
"No, what I mean is, Nuannuan has never been a matter of choice for me."
Xu Musen replied calmly, especially knowing that in his last life, An Nuannuan had foolishly waited for him her entire life.
Nothing could make him leave her in this life, no matter what happened.
"No matter how good I become in the future, Nuannuan will always be irreplaceable in my heart."
The grandfather was stunned for a good while before he finally sighed silently, his keenness softening into gentleness once more.
"Then I ask you, if one day in the future, Nuannuan and your childhood friend have some conflict, do you think you can keep the balance?"
After considering for a moment, Xu Musen spoke with a smile, "One is my future wife, and the other is like my sister. It surely can't be more difficult than handling a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, right?"