Xu Mey had to run inside the living room just to avoid Jie who was grinning in amusement at her retreating figure.
"Xiao Mey, when did you come?" Xu Mey was still looking in the direction of Jie when she heard her father's voice.
"Huh?" Xu Mey was brought back to reality and she cleared her throat before coming beside her father to take a seat. "I just got back, dad. How's your ankle?" She leaned a bit to check his ankle herself. After seeing that there was no more swelling, she was a bit relieved.
"I told you it wasn't a big deal. See, it's absolutely fine now." Xu Cheng tried to convince her but Xu Mey wasn't assured at all. She knew even if the swelling was gone, there must be some pain left.
She didn't want to reprimand her father before other people so she changed her direction towards her in-laws. "Father, Aunt Su, when did you get here?" Xu Cheng frowned at her way of addressing Zhu Chen as father and calling He Susu, Aunt Su. But he didn't point it out just yet.
"We came right from the police station. Since you looked anxious when you left in the morning, we decided to check up on your dad." Zhu Chen answered her question and Xu Mey nodded her head slightly in understanding.
"Stay for dinner then... I'm preparing a feast today." Xu Mey announced in a cheery voice Everyone in the room raised their brows while Jie who was leaning against the door frame was frowning. Why did she suddenly think about hosting a dinner party?
Knowing his wife, Jie knew that Xu Mey wouldn't just host a party out of nowhere. She definitely had a reason for it. But the question was, what is the reason?
"Feast? Who are you inviting?" Fan Bingbing asked.
"Auntie, I'm inviting everyone," replied Xu Mey in a frisky manner. "Oh, oh, Wang Ge will also bring Yang Ziyi." She informed Fan Bingbing with a big smile on her face.
"Really? That's awesome!" Seeing both Fan Bingbing and Xu Mey chatting happily, Xu Cheng could only shake his head in disbelief. While He Susu was rather uncomfortable that her own daughter-in-law wasn't actually this attached to her.
This relationship needed some serious bonding!
"I have a lot of work to do, I better get started now." Xu Mey announced as she lunged to her feet. She looked at her father and said, "Dad, wish me luck."
"You're not going on a battlefield, honey." Xu Cheng reminded her since Xu Mey's posture and attitude both were screaming that she actually was going to war.
"Dad, don't you know? Kitchen is one of the biggest battlefields for a woman." Xu Cheng pinched the space between his brows while Jie pursed his lips trying to stifle his laughter. "We fight with ingredients and we are only victorious when people find our food delicious."
"You and your battlefield, both are one of a kind." That was only thing Xu Cheng said to her and Xu Mey stuck her tongue out childishly before sauntering her way to the kitchen.
"Excuse me for a minute," Xu Cheng excused himself as he also followed Xu Mey. "Xiao Mey," as he called out to her, Xu Mey stopped and looked at him with an inquiring gaze.
"What is it, dad?"
Coming close to her side, Xu Cheng asked, "Why are you still calling your mother-in-law as Auntie?"
"What else am I supposed to call her?" It wasn't that she didn't know it herself, she still asked nonetheless.
"She is Jie's mother and he's your husband. Marriage is not between two individuals but rather between two families. His family is your family as well now. You should call her mother." Xu Cheng stated without skipping a beat.
"Dad, you and I both know that I don't want to call her a mother. Actually, I don't want to call anyone a mother. That word is not meant for me. Besides..." Taking a deep breath she added, "If I have to call someone a mother, the woman behind you would be the first one to get that title."
Hearing her words, Xu Cheng looked behind himself to see Fan Bingbing walking towards them. Finding both of Xu Mey and Xu Cheng's eyes on herself, Fan Bingbing felt uneasy. She raised her hand in defense and said, "I didn't do anything. I promise." Looking at her hands smudged with chocolate, she smiled cheekily and went on, "I just a single bite of the pastry."
Both father and daughter could only roll their eyes at Fan Bingbing's reaction but it wasn't something new for her. She never failed to amuse someone. But Xu Mey wasn't wrong, if anyone in her life deserved the title of mother, that would be this woman, Fan Bingbing. She had always been there for Xu Mey without complaining.
"Why are guys standing here?"
At Fan Bingbing's question, Xu Cheng shook his head and said, "I'll tell you later." Saying that he turned back to leave.
Fan Bingbing shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and turned to Xu Mey saying, "Come, Auntie will help you in your feast preparations."
Xu Mey nodded her head and entered the kitchen with Fan Bingbing. Xu Mey's relationship with Fan Bingbing was exactly that of a mother and daughter. Both went shopping together, schemed against Wu Wang together, cooked together, gossiped together. Once even Wu Wang said that they both share such a beautiful relationship that they can make a pair of real mother and daughter envious.