She hadn’t heard that Little Uncle was remarried!
"Xiao Meng, come here quickly, this is your Little Aunt. Honey, this is Su Xiaomeng and her husband, oh, and there’s a little boy too."
Little Uncle’s introduction was really half-hearted.
Yin Shixiu nodded slightly, said "Hello," and then carried Huang Huang into the house.
Bai Fengmao was just coming down the stairs with two toy ducks in his hands. He walked over and stuffed one into each of their arms, saying, "Went to the toy store, the owner said kids like these."
Bai Fengmao spoke as Shuangshuang happily clutched the yellow duck, feeling a little relieved.
But when he turned his eyes to Prince Huang, it wasn’t the same...
Prince Huang glanced at the duck and immediately turned his head away, shouting "pa pa" and clutching Yin Shixiu’s neck.
He seemed to be a bit afraid of the yellow duck.
"Come, let Great-grandpa hold you!"
Prince Huang was at least giving Bai Fengmao some face, shifting from Yin Shixiu to Great-grandpa without showing any reluctance.
Xiao Meng had just handed the gifts she brought to the maid and then saw two people entering from the backyard...
She was stunned. It was understandable for Bai Shunyuan to be here, but... why is Jiang Shanshan here too?
Moreover, seeing how the two of them are...
Xiao Meng knew they were in a relationship, but... they brought it home? And here of all places?
"Xiao Meng."
The first to greet her was Jiang Shanshan, while Bai Shunyuan merely glanced at her and said nothing.
Xiao Meng had no choice but to greet Jiang Shanshan and then turn away.
She’s not one to seek unnecessary embarrassment; since Bai Shunyuan doesn’t like her, she doesn’t need to pretend to like him either.
During dinner, Bai Shunyuan was surprisingly silent, while Jiang Shanshan eagerly picked dishes for him, which even made Su Xiaomeng feel sick...
But Bai Shunyuan didn’t say a word, just kept his head down and ate.
Jiang Shanshan came in the capacity of Bai Shunyuan’s girlfriend, and it was without the knowledge of Little Uncle and Little Aunt.
In front of the girl, Little Uncle and Little Aunt couldn’t say much, so they privately asked Xiao Meng, "Ah Yuan said this girl is also from A University, do you know her well?"
Xiao Meng shook her head, "Not well."
They’d only seen each other a few times, and none of the encounters were pleasant.
Little Aunt sighed lightly, not saying much, but Xiao Meng could tell Little Aunt wasn’t quite satisfied with Jiang Shanshan.
After dinner, Bai Fengmao chatted with Xiao Meng, mostly about trivial family matters.
Su’s mother had already gone back to work, and she probably wouldn’t be back in Beijing until April.
The elderly man was constantly worried about his daughter, so Bai Sidong comforted him by saying he’d take time off to bring the old man to Chengdu next month.
But Bai Fengmao immediately waved it off, "You’re a busy man, I don’t believe what you say."
Su Xiaomeng burst out laughing on the spot.
For someone like Little Uncle, a police officer, a call means he has to go on a mission right away.
The old man was certainly frightened by such situations.
Bai Sidong was choked with words, and Little Aunt, elegant and composed, laughed softly and spoke.
"Dad, I’ll take you."
"I trust what Mu Yu says!"
It was Jiang Shanshan’s first time at Yijing Manor, and she was completely shocked.
This mansion on the hilltop looked like an ancient castle...
The gardens front and back were filled with flowers and plants, how many gardeners would it take to manage this?
She dragged Bai Shunyuan back and forth around the manor, asking him to introduce this and that.
Maybe Jiang Shanshan’s perfume was too strong, making Ah Bu very uncomfortable, resulting in Ah Bu having little affection for Jiang Shanshan...
It followed closely behind Bai Shunyuan and Jiang Shanshan all the time, completely focused on this outsider.
"How much area does your grandpa’s house cover?"
Jiang Shanshan asked, Bai Shunyuan shrugged, "No idea, you can measure it yourself, I’m going to the bathroom."
Probably annoyed by Jiang Shanshan’s questions, he turned and headed back to the house, only to see Yin Shixiu with arms crossed, leaning by the door...
He nodded slightly and was about to walk past him.
"Not much of a taste."
Yin Shixiu casually remarked.
Bai Shunyuan’s steps paused.
"This kind of girl won’t be able to enter your Bai Family."
Yin Shixiu looked at Bai Shunyuan, somewhat looking down on him...
Bai Shunyuan took a deep breath, said nothing, and went straight back inside.
Yin Shixiu raised an eyebrow and then squinted his eyes, looking at Jiang Shanshan, who was glaring angrily at a dog in the yard.
Noticing Yin Shixiu’s gaze, Jiang Shanshan immediately dropped her fierce expression and put on a sweet smile, greeting, "Mr. Yin."
Yin Shixiu straightened up and strode over to her, crouched down in front of her, and patted Ah Bu on the head.
Ah Bu seemed to enjoy it, stretching its head forward and even licking Yin Shixiu’s palm.
"Go play by yourself."
Yin Shixiu said lightly, as he stood up, Ah Bu headed back inside.
Jiang Shanshan looked at Yin Shixiu, "Mr. Yin, you like dogs?"
"They’re alright, dogs are kind animals, it’s hard for them to be disliked..." Yin Shixiu said with a light laugh, "Just like kind people, it’s hard for them to be disliked by dogs."
Jiang Shanshan was startled.
"It seems you need to be nicer to Ah Bu, to prevent it from thinking you’re a villain."
"I... I also like dogs, it’s just... I was bitten by a dog when I was little, so it’s inevitable to feel a little..."
Jiang Shanshan said, with a pitiful look.
"I was just saying casually, no need to try to please a dog. After all... making Bai Shunyuan listen to you so obediently already takes some skill."
Yin Shixiu spoke, his eagle-like eyes meeting her gaze.
Just that instant, Jiang Shanshan felt a chill down her back, as if all her schemes were seen through, her nervous hands involuntarily clenched into fists.
"Oh, right, now you know Xiao Meng and Bai Shunyuan are cousins?"
"... I know."
"Then you should be able to control your mouth, not say what you shouldn’t, right?"
Jiang Shanshan forced a smile, "Mr. Yin rest assured, I won’t say anything I shouldn’t."
Yin Shixiu glanced at her again, he remembered this girl, running to him with some photos telling him to manage his own wife...
Reckless, brainless, so foolish that one had a lasting impression.
There wasn’t anything else needing a reminder, he turned to leave, yet... paused his steps, "Oh, I asked intrusively, you and Bai Shunyuan, how far has it developed?"
Jiang Shanshan’s face reddened slightly, "Um... Mr. Yin thinks meeting the parents means what level?"
Yin Shixiu raised an eyebrow, with an understanding expression, and then said blandly, "Young girl, playing with fire will lead to self-destruction, do you know what this means?"
Jiang Shanshan’s expression stiffened for a moment, not understanding why Yin Shixiu was telling her this, could it be... Bai Shunyuan told him?
Impossible...
Yin Shixiu is the last person Bai Shunyuan would reveal the truth to.
Jiang Shanshan had this confidence.
Then... what is he warning her based on?
Returning to the house, Yin Shixiu couldn’t believe if Jiang Shanshan hadn’t caught Bai Shunyuan with some important dirt, the Bai family’s Young Master would be interested in such a girl.
As for what exactly the dirt is, he had no interest in understanding, that’s Bai Shunyuan’s own business.
Moreover, Yin Shixiu originally didn’t have a good impression of Bai Shunyuan, as Bai Shunyuan did towards him.
After coming down from the mountain, they went directly to a fairly reputed Chinese restaurant for dinner.
What surprised Yin Shixiu was, Su Xiaomeng didn’t bring up the topic of Bai Shunyuan and Jiang Shanshan from beginning to end.
He couldn’t help but mention it.
"Bai Shunyuan originally has problems in his brain, I feel he and Jiang Shanshan are a good match."
Su Xiaomeng said this, causing Yin Shixiu to feel a bit amused.
"He’s an adult, bringing whomever home is his freedom, could Jiang Shanshan point a gun at his head, forcing him to introduce her to his parents? Even if Jiang Shanshan really does this, is Bai Shunyuan that easy to compromise?"
Yin Shixiu peeled a shrimp and placed it on her plate.
Beside them, Shuangshuang was babbling, yipping and wanting to eat too.
Su Xiaomeng just dabbed the shrimp in some sweet sauce and let her taste the flavor.
Unlike Shuangshuang, Prince Huang doesn’t drool over every food people eat, throwing away his milk bottle just to taste this then that; he wholeheartedly cuddled his bottle to drink milk.
This was probably why later Prince Huang grew so much taller than Shuangshuang.
On Lantern Festival day, Yin Shixiu brought Xiao Meng and the kids to the Yin Mansion.
Accepted by Mrs. Yin, Xiao Meng no longer had any fear towards the big mansion.
Even though lots in this big family were still hostile towards her, some still looked down on her.
But this no longer impacted Xiao Meng’s mood.
This year’s Lantern Festival was much more relaxing than last year’s.
Especially assured Su Xiaomeng was, Shan Mingxu returned.
After serving in the military for most of the year without leave, whether arranged by the old man or through other channels is unknown.
Shan Mingxu got a small vacation.
Seeing Su Xiaomeng, he felt a bit awkward, called "Aunt-in-law" so awkwardly.
Yet Su Xiaomeng was much more comfortable, even patted his shoulder, "Seems taller than Ming Lang now."
Much to the dismay, Ming Lang felt the same...
"The military is tough, right?"
Xiao Meng asked.
"It’s okay, once you get used to it, it’s just that."
"Ming Lang at home was quite worried about you, afraid you can’t endure the hardship."
Shan Mingxu glanced at Shan Minglang, "He’s probably afraid if I’m not around, he himself might suffer more, right?"
Su Xiaomeng laughed aloud.
"It’s a good thing my brother didn’t make it through the selection, or I’d really go mad," Shan Minglang sighed with relief.
And this was also the reason why Su Xiaomeng and Yin Shixiu sighed with relief before coming.
"I heard the Special Forces selection process is particularly brutal, not making it through is normal too."
Su Xiaomeng said, Shan Mingxu just responded faintly.
She and Shan Minglang didn’t see the pride hidden under Shan Mingxu’s bright eyes.
After dinner, Yin Shixiu talked to his parents about holding a wedding with Xiao Meng, and the Yin family elders also felt it necessary.
The wedding was set for the end of May.
As they were leaving, Yin Shixiu paused his steps in front of Shan Mingxu, softly asked, "Ming Xu, you... made it through, didn’t you?"