Chi Dali looked up. His eyes were lined with the beginnings of a few wrinkles. He seemed to have detected that flicker in Mu Xichen’s expression.
As their eyes met, Chi Dali felt a small surge of compassion within.
Mu Xichen had always been like this, hiding all his emotions under a seemingly calm exterior.
However, the eyes did not lie.
Chi Dali covered up the oddness he was feeling and settled down on his seat. Very quickly, he changed the topic of conversation.
After a short time sitting on the sofa, Li Beinian was drawn away by Tang Xiaoge, who wanted to speak in private with her. They went into the room.
Once they got into the room, Tang Xiaoge even called Chi Hailang. In a dramatic tone, she said “Son, hurry and come home. Your big sister is back. We’ll have a feast tonight! Hurry up and come home, there’s a surprise for you!”
Chi Hailang was in the midst of a required course and whispered, “Okay, I’m in the middle of a class. Will come home tonight.”
Lin Yuxin threw Chi Hailang a glance and asked, “What’s up? What’s going on tonight?”
“Mom has asked me to return home. It seems like something’s going on,” Chi Hailang replied in a hushed tone. “Do you want to come with me? You haven’t met my parents. Treat it like a fun trip.”
Lin Yuxin blushed and said, “No way. I’m busy tonight. My parents are taking the family out to dinner. I’m going with them.”
“We’ll meet tomorrow, then.”
“Ok.”
“Let’s go for a movie tomorrow night,” Chi Hailang whispered. “Late night movie.”
His intention was explicit.
Lin Yuxin glared at him and pinched his thigh.
He gritted his teeth in agony but took her hand and asked, “Are we going or not?”
She turned a brighter red and replied quietly, “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
The tutor on the lecturing platform looked in their direction and remarked, “Will our classmates be more restrained in their public display of affections.”
Lin Yuxin turned bright red, this time with embarrassment from being called on.
Chi Hailang, on the other hand, wasn’t the least bit bothered and had a wide grin on his radiant and youthful face.
…
After Li Beinian had been led away by Tang Xiaoge, only Mu Xichen and Chi Dali were left in the living room.
Chi Dali made out some tea for Mu Xichen with practiced ease. He was quite emotional as he remarked, “Who’d have thought we’d become family. But, do you really like our precious daughter?”
“Yes, I do,” Mu Xichen answered without hesitation.
In response, Chi Dali asked further, “What is it about her that you like?”
“Everything.”
“How long have the both of you dated?”
Mu Xichen was stumped.
He didn’t quite know how to answer this question.
It seemed that they didn’t really date.
They had always been either having a clandestine love affair or on the way to one.
And even now when they were married, they had to keep it a secret…
This thought caused Mu Xichen much unhappiness.
Chi Dali’s heart sank when he noted Mu Xichen’s response. He sighed with worry and said, “Chief Mu, do you understand our daughter Beinian? You’ve married her just like that. To be honest, I’m worried that you’ve married her on a whim. That would cause harm to our daughter.”
Chi Dali understood Li Beinian and gave Mu Xichen a meaningful look. He continued, “My daughter grew up under our care. She’s got a fiery temper and a foul mouth.
“Alas, she’s stubborn as a mule. She’ll return the same treatment to whoever treats her well.
“In all fairness, you’re a good man.
“Perhaps you treat her very well. But our Nian Nian is very simple. If she’s given herself to you, she’ll certainly be devoted to you. That’s needless to say. But, what about you?”