"Mom... that, my classmate hasn't had dinner yet, can you go cook some food?"
Long Jinghan's eyes carried a hint of fear as she cautiously asked.
Long Jinghan's mother glared: "I heard you, go wash some fruit for them to tide them over."
Long Jinghan lowered her gaze and muttered a soft "Okay," then walked toward the kitchen with a dejected step. But halfway there, her mother added with a cold voice, "Remember to give some to your brother; he's about to take the college entrance exam and needs to get more nutrition."
Long Jinghan seemed to have grown accustomed to this treatment, responding with a "Got it" before silently entering the kitchen.
Qiao Lei watched, grinding her teeth, ready to explode at any moment. She thought, what kind of mother is this? As if her daughter isn't her own flesh and blood?
"This child just doesn't understand, she's never given us peace of mind."
Long Jinghan's mother shook her head, "A girl, not even graduated yet, stays away from home during the summer break, and also refuses to take the civil service exam. Wouldn't it be nice to find a decent job? Plus, she could help her brother later."
Qiao Lei frowned, "Auntie, she should have her own life, too. Why should she have to take the civil service exam just for her brother?"
Long Jinghan's mother frowned: "I've raised her all these years; isn't that what she's supposed to do? Do you really think I would harm her? Working in the government is respectable, no matter where you go, and you don't have to worry about losing your job."
"Hehe, but are you really doing this just for your daughter? Or is it all for your precious son?"
Long Jinghan's mother's face darkened, "Our family matters are not for you to meddle with."
She hadn't been fond of these two uninvited guests from the beginning—coming over so late was bad enough, but to arrive empty-handed and at this hour, claiming they hadn't eaten.
Now that she heard them meddling in her family affairs, she felt even more irritated.
However, arguing here was useless; the key was to get her daughter away from this "vase" of a man.
Long Jinghan's mother looked at Shen Yuan and asked, "Young man, are you dating our Jinghan?"
Shen Yuan didn't deny it, "Yes, I'm your daughter's boyfriend."
As she thought, admitting he is the boyfriend yet bringing nothing, he really lacks manners. Anyone with a bit of family upbringing wouldn't do this...
In her heart, Long Jinghan's mother had already written off her daughter's boyfriend and continued, "I normally wouldn't say anything about matters of the heart, since you're both young and I worry that you don't understand a lot of things."
Shen Yuan smiled harmlessly, "No worries, Auntie. If there's something to be said, please say it."
Qiao Lei felt a sting in her heart; Shen Yuan had never acknowledged her as his girlfriend before. Considering it was for Jinghan, it made her feel a bit better.
"So, that's how it is."
Long Jinghan's mother cleared her throat, "I think you two aren't quite suitable. Mainly because you're both too young, and Jinghan isn't very mature yet. So, I hope both of you can take some time to cool off."
Qiao Lei was baffled, how could a parent say that about someone like Shen Yuan?
No, Auntie, do you even know what he's capable of to say they're not suitable?
Long Jinghan's mother affirmed with a nod, convinced by her observations and judgments, she would not let her daughter be with such a man who had "low EQ, lacked manners, and was only good-looking." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI~Fire.net
"We were planning for Jinghan to take the civil service exam and then find someone local to Shaoyang."
"I really find this laughable."
Qiao Lei thought it was ridiculous, a bright future laid before Jinghan's mother, yet she chose an unknown muddy path.
Not willing to suffer, huh?
Long Jinghan's mother: "?"
Qiao Lei looked at her incredulously, "Auntie, do you have any idea how many girls in school are eager to be his girlfriend?"
Long Jinghan's mother was taken aback, "What do you mean?"
Qiao Lei raised her voice, "It means the person next to me is a son-in-law your family wouldn't find even if you were searching with a lantern!"
Long Jinghan's mother finally caught on and couldn't help but laugh, "You kids really exaggerate. Being handsome is an advantage at school, but if that's the only thing going for someone, it's useless."
"Not to hide anything from you, several families have taken a liking to our Jinghan. Their conditions aren't poor; some have businesses earning millions a year, others are officials in the county, but I haven't agreed yet."
Qiao Lei scoffed disdainfully, "They're all brothers!"