Apologies were useless, as a forced kiss was still a forced kiss, unforgivable. She had taken a stand against him, and this matter was far from over.
Wang Xiangxiang didn’t reply, contemplating a thousand and one ways to get back at him in her mind.
Due to the awkwardness between Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, the few people inside the carriage felt embarrassed until they arrived at Yang Ming’s home.
As soon as the carriage stopped at the doorstep, it alerted the family members who were having dinner.
Seeing Yang Ming being helped out of the carriage, everyone rushed over.
"What happened to the third son?" Yang Ming’s father asked anxiously.
"Dad, I was smoked out at the academy, I need to recover at home for a while," Xiaoxiao quickly explained the situation to everyone succinctly.
"Smoked out, is that serious, how bad is it?"
"Dad, don’t worry, look at me, I’m fine. Just need to rest for a few days," Yang Ming reassured the family, putting their minds at ease, "let’s get inside and rest."
Under Xiaoxiao’s lead, Yang Ming was helped into the house by Chu Lian. As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the room, she flung the peanuts arranged in the shape of "I LOVE YOU" from the kang bed to one side, and then pulled back the quilt, "Get on the kang and lie down."
Yang Ming was startled by the scene in front of him. Was this still his home? Why was the whole room so red, like a bridal chamber?
Chu Lian was even more shocked and at a loss. Was this really the home of Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao? Filled with the ambiance of a bridal chamber, had they been living in such an atmosphere for a few months?
Wang Xiangxiang was looking quite smug, proud of her own contributions to this setup.
The family members who came in later were utterly dumbfounded. Was this the surprise that their daughter-in-law had promised for the third son? No wonder she was so secretive, not letting them help with the kang or come near this room.
Xiaoxiao was not concerned with everyone’s reactions. Once Yang Ming had taken off his coat and slipped under the covers, "You lie down first, I’ll go heat up the kang."
She was seriously regretting her decision now. In order to maintain the surprise and keep people from entering her room, she now had to boil water and heat the kang with Yang Ming back.
"Daughter-in-law of the third son, leave the kang to me, you stay with the third son," her mother-in-law insisted.
"Right, you stay with the third son, your mother will take care of the kang,"
Xiaoxiao really wanted to stay with her nominal husband, so she readily agreed, "Okay, thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom."
"Dad, this is my classmate Chu Lian, please take him and Miss Wang to have dinner first. They have been busy all day because of me,"
"Master Chu, Miss Wang, we really appreciate your help. Come, follow me to the other room for dinner,"
Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang both responded in unison, displaying an oddly harmonious tacit understanding.
"No need to thank us,"
"No need to thank us,"
After speaking, they exchanged a glance and then looked away from each other in disdain.
Yang Ming’s father led the family members out, reminding Xiaoxiao on his way out, "Let your sister-in-law bring the food over later. I will make sure the family is aware of the situation, and no one will disturb you tonight, so don’t worry."
"..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. In such a situation, did her father-in-law really think they could do anything tonight? However, she indeed did not want anyone to disturb them.
"As for our two esteemed guests, rest assured, Dad will take care of everything," she addressed them.
After following Yang Ming’s father out to eat, Chu Lian kept thinking about what he had said. They weren’t allowed to disturb them tonight, but what were they supposed to do in the evening?
Soon after, his sister-in-law brought in the dinner, and his mother-in-law had already heated the kang as instructed by Yang Ming’s father before leaving, leaving only Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming together.
Xiao Xiao moved the kang table over, arranged the meals, and then heard her nominal husband say, "Wife, after we eat, I have something to tell you."