"I guess I should be used to it by now," Dubian Che said with a laugh.
Kiyono’s mother glanced up at him and said jokingly, "What if you run off halfway?"
"This isn’t mandatory, you can leave her whenever you want."
"So, you mean I shouldn’t expect others to accommodate her and she needs to change herself?"
"If that could happen, it would certainly be best, both for Lin herself and for the Kiyono family."
The suckling pig was propped up, its limbs positioned in ways it could never arrange on its own and would absolutely never want to.
"Sorry, Mrs. Kiyono," Dubian Che said. "Earlier, when I said ’whatever is fine,’ that wasn’t right. It should be—whatever Kiyono decides is fine."
Kiyono’s mother placed a slice of roast suckling pig on the plate in Dubian Che’s hand, looking him in the eyes.
"Do you like my daughter?"
"Um?!" Dubian Che was startled, "Why do you ask that? I’m dating Meiji."
"Since you’re not planning to help Lin change, to avoid her being lonely, I have no choice but to make you stay, even if you can’t stand it: you’ll just have to get used to her."
"Scared?" Kiyono’s mother laughed, her tone teasing and mischievous like an adult playing a prank on a child, "I won’t force you. Whether you currently like Lin very much, whether you can tolerate her flaws and make your decision? The rest, you can leave to me."
Dubian Che didn’t know whether her comment ’leave it to me’ hinted at involving the Jiutiao Family or meant that, when he could no longer tolerate Lin, she would make him unable to escape.
After a silence, Dubian Che said, "I..."
"Is there still any crab left? So stingy, just that little bit, not even enough for my Meiji," accompanied by a bit of grumbling and laughter, a voice melodious like a musical instrument came as Mrs. Jiutiao entered.
"Eating too much crab can be harmful for girls," Kiyono’s mother replied with a smile then turned to Dubian Che and said, "Mr. Dubian, it’s the same regardless of gender, too much and your stomach will feel uncomfortable."
"Don’t listen to her nonsense," Mrs. Jiutiao teased as she approached, "Mr. Dubian, aren’t you wealthy enough to eat whatever you want when you feel like it?"
"Mr. Dubian isn’t wealthy, and even if he were, he should still take care of his health," Kiyono’s mother said.
"My son, who says he isn’t wealthy?" Mrs. Jiutiao pinched a slice of roast suckling pig from Dubian Che’s plate.
The crispy skin crunched loudly.
"It’s not even marriage yet, and you’re rushing to be a mother-in-law," Kiyono’s mother chuckled.
Mrs. Jiutiao didn’t respond to her but, while eating the roast pig, said to Dubian:
"Mr. Dubian, in the future, if you want to buy sports cars, yachts, eat any delicacies, or wear expensive clothes, it’s all fine."
"But as for women, you can only have Meiji," Mrs. Jiutiao said with a sly smile.
She and Meiji looked very alike, so much so that when Dubian Che saw that sly smile, he reflexively felt a chill.
"That goes without saying," he assured.
"Are you lying to me?"
"Mr. Dubian, I’m not speaking as the Jiutiao Family Patriarch or as Mrs. Jiutiao, but as a regular person—you can think of me as a sister or a friend, I’m merely talking to you in that capacity, no pressure."
"You do look very young, if I weren’t Meiji’s boyfriend, I’d think you were only in your twenties."
"This kid, you’re quite the charmer, but that’s also thanks to your own good luck."
"Not at all, you naturally look young."
"Mr. Dubian, the Jiutiao family won’t do you wrong. Enjoy your life, but you must promise me, never do anything to betray Meiji."
"Of course, of course."
Mrs. Jiutiao pinched off a piece of roast suckling pig and brought it to Dubian Che’s mouth.
"Holding the plate, only looking, can’t eat, poor thing—I’ll feed you, ah—"
"Auntie, Mrs. Jiutiao..." Dubian Che leaned back.
"Stop it," Kiyono’s mother said, taking off her gloves and laughing, "Go ahead and take it back."
Dubian Che quickly left the kitchen.
Mrs. Jiutiao popped the piece of pork she’d been holding into her mouth.
"Mm, crispy skin, tender meat, just too greasy."
"Weren’t you here to get crab for Meiji? There’s some just delivered in the tank."
"Let the chef steam it." Mrs. Jiutiao said, "But you’ve really gone too far. That’s my Meiji’s future husband."
"He’s also Lin’s only friend."
"That can’t be helped then," Mrs. Jiutiao sucked the grease off her fingers nonchalantly, "It’s war then."
"Oho, quite confident, aren’t you? I won’t lose to you."
Mrs. Jiutiao reached out and pinched Kiyono’s mother’s belly:
"With that little belly of yours?"
"...I don’t have a belly at all when standing! And didn’t you also only recently lose yours?!"