The long, fair fingers slowly moved downwards from Jiang Lai’s neck.
Seeing the situation was about to get out of hand, Jiang Lai punched Shen Liao in the chest, barely managing to turn her face away, yet Shen Liao persisted like a dog that eats anything, sticking to her earlobe and neck.
"My mom, my mom is outside!"
Shen Liao paused, a trace of frustration flashing in his eyes.
However, as composed as he was, he still managed to calmly help Jiang Lai tidy her clothes and hair after kissing her forehead, then turned around, opened the door, and got out of the car.
Around the corner, Mrs. Jiang stood holding trash bags, full of astonishment and embarrassment, wanting to leave but unable to, stuck in place watching the man who had just been teasing her daughter walk up to her.
Honestly, as a mom, she should at the very least scold him, or perhaps slap him.
But Shen Liao carried an air of dignity, a compelling aura, instantly quelling her urge to scold or hit him, leaving her with only helplessness.
"Hello, Auntie, I’m Shen Liao, Jiang Lai’s boyfriend."
"Oh... uh, Shen Liao, I’m Jiang Lai’s mom..."
Jiang Lai walked over to Mrs. Jiang, whispering softly.
"Mom, he’s really nice; don’t be nervous."
Mrs. Jiang nodded repeatedly, but the next second realized something off, poking her daughter on the back of her head.
"What do I have to be nervous about!"
——
Since Shen Liao was here, he had already made up his mind.
Fortunately, we just bought quite a lot of fruit at the fruit store, so we weren’t arriving empty-handed.
As Mr. Jiang just returned from his walk and opened the door, he first noticed the fruit gift boxes piled up at the entrance, then glanced inside, immediately catching sight of a pair of men’s leather shoes.
"Lai Lai’s mom, do we have guests?"
As soon as he reached the living room, a familiar figure stood up and bowed.
"Hello, Uncle, I’m Shen Liao, Jiang Lai’s boyfriend."
Mr. Jiang looked at him, and only one word came to mind.
A promising young man.
Oh, and one more.
Cadillac.
"Lai Lai’s boyfriend? Lai Lai, why didn’t you give us a heads-up!"
Jiang Lai smiled wryly.
She didn’t know why, but she felt there was a hint of excitement in her father’s gaze at Shen Liao?
"What a coincidence, so you’re Lai Lai’s boyfriend."
Mr. Jiang explained.
"We saw each other downstairs before lunch."
Mrs. Jiang quickly got up to slice the fruits while Mr. Jiang sat on the sofa sipping tea, constantly sizing up Shen Liao.
"Shen Liao, how old are you this year?"
"Uncle, I’m twenty-eight."
"Twenty-eight... our Lai Lai is only twenty-one this year, seven years younger."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Lai clung to Shen Liao’s arm protectively.
"What’s wrong with seven years? The older a man is, the better he knows how to take care of someone; Mom, don’t you agree?"
Mrs. Jiang in the kitchen slicing fruits agreed.
Because Mr. Jiang is three years younger than her, when he was young, he loved fishing and playing cards, caring little about her; now that he’s old, he’s still the same, always heading out to play cards as soon as he finishes a meal.
Mr. Jiang snorted, guiltily trying to change the topic.
"I heard from Lai Lai that you’re starting a business in Jiang City, right? The current economic situation isn’t great, and I’ve seen many companies shutting down. What’s your company doing, and how are things going now?"
Shen Liao glanced at Jiang Lai, his expression unchanged.
"Our company has a wide range of businesses; we’re mainly doing construction now."
"Oh, a construction company. I’m familiar with that. Lai Lai’s second uncle used to be a site foreman; he later opened his own construction company, and he could earn over a hundred thousand a year, busy round the clock."
Jiang Lai coughed, unable to stand listening anymore.