Chapter 517: Chapter 517: Night-blooming Cereus and Lean Pork Soup
"Hmph! At least that boy has some decency. He didn’t make a scene in front of the guests," Third Uncle Xiao said with a huff.
"Dear, don’t get all worked up and start finding fault with Ziquan just because he called our Yanzi tonight."
As Aunt Xiao spoke, she placatingly placed some food into her husband’s bowl. Deep down, all she wanted was for her daughter to be happy.
So she was especially afraid her husband would make things difficult for her hard-won son-in-law just to save face.
"Don’t you worry so much. The children will have their own fortunes. I’m just venting at home. Here, you eat some more, too."
Third Uncle Xiao said with a grin, returning the favor by placing a piece of food into his wife’s bowl.
"Third Uncle and Aunt Xiao, you two are so sweet together. Heh, Mom, you should eat more too. Dad’s no romantic, so if he won’t get you food, your son will."
Xiao Rui grinned as he spoke, placing some food in his mother’s bowl and shooting a contemptuous glance at his father.
"I can’t be bothered with a little rascal like you. Are you looking for a spanking, daring to make fun of your own father?" Patriarch Xiao gave his younger son a stern glare.
"Grandpa, you have some more too. Just look at your eldest son—so unromantic, and he can’t even take a joke about it~"
"Haha... Thanks, Xiao Rui. Spending so much time with Jiaojiao has certainly made you extra mischievous."
"But of course! My grand-aunt Jiaojiao says you should enjoy life to the fullest when you can, and ’not let your golden cup sit empty under the moon.’"
"Well, well. It seems following our grand-aunt has been good for you, Xiao Rui. You’re even starting to sound like a scholar."
The Xiao Family chatted in joyful harmony, all of them happy for their Little Yanzi.
By now, the sky outside was completely dark, and Xiao Jiyan had arrived at the gate to the Mu Family’s home.
She glanced up at the sky, which was now filled with twinkling stars. The sight made the corners of her lips curve into a small smile.
Although her heart fluttered with a bit of nervous uncertainty, her face broke into a radiant, contented smile.
Just as she reached the gate, Mu Ziquan came out to greet his fiancée and saw the smile playing in her eyes.
The joy on her face was plain to see, a happiness that came from deep within.
Her smile was infectious, and Mu Ziquan was glad he had agreed to get engaged to her. "You’re here. Come on in."
"Ziquan~" After propping up her bicycle, Xiao Jiyan heard his voice, as gentle and smooth as jade. Overcome with excitement, she broke into a run and flew toward him.
She threw herself into his arms without a second thought. He was the one she longed for day and night, the man she loved more than anyone.
Just seeing him, even a single strand of his hair, was enough to make her happy.
As for Mu Ziquan, he found that for the first time ever, he didn’t reject her intimate gesture and even enjoyed her embrace.
In the past, he would have pushed her far away. ’It must be because she’s my fiancée now,’ he thought.
’It seems people really do need to get engaged or married to truly accept each other,’ Mu Ziquan mused.
Xiao Jiyan, of course, had no idea what her Ziquan was thinking. Her own heart was pounding like a drum—THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
This was the first time they had ever been this close. Bathed in the moonlight, she looked up at her love, who was now just inches away.
Not knowing where the courage came from, she closed her eyes, rose onto her tiptoes, and aimed a kiss at his lips.
Whether it was because she wasn’t quite tall enough, or because her eyes were closed, she missed his lips.
The short, hard stubble of his beard pricked her lips, sending a jolt through her that was hard to describe.
Oh my god!
Her romantic first kiss had been bestowed upon his chin!
Mu Ziquan had seen the whole thing. The soft touch on his chin sent a shiver through him.
His little fiancée’s face was as red as a cooked shrimp, her fair skin like that of a porcelain doll.
She always blushed whenever she saw him. In the past, he’d noticed but paid it no mind. Now, however, he found her shyness utterly adorable.
He couldn’t help himself. He leaned down and pecked her soft, pink lips. He was about to pull away, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
Just as Xiao Jiyan was berating herself, her Ziquan actually initiated a kiss, filling her with excitement.
There was no way she was going to let him go now. She gently captured his tender lips with her own, lingering and exploring.
Everything around them fell silent, as if time itself had stopped. His clean scent, her softness...
Meanwhile, Gu Jiaojiao hung up the phone. The moment she turned, she was hit by the rich aroma of food from the dining table.
The scent invaded her senses with overwhelming force. She straightened up and watched the man bustling in front of the stove.
She walked over cheerfully and praised him sweetly, "It smells amazing! Even the banquet we had at noon wasn’t this fragrant. You’ve worked so hard, honey."
As she spoke, she swallowed audibly. It wasn’t on purpose.
She’d been hungry all afternoon, so smelling such delicious food naturally made her stomach rumble.
"Hungry, honey? Come and have some more. I’ll make you something else delicious when I get back."
Su Shuochi dished out the last course, a stir-fried cabbage, and turned to look at his sweet wife with a doting expression, his heart full of joy.
"Thank you, honey. My husband is so handsome." Gu Jiaojiao smiled in satisfaction. ’My man is just too perfect.’
’He learns everything so quickly, and his cooking is delicious on top of that. I’m so lucky I met him.’
Seeing his wife’s contented expression, the smile on Su Shuochi’s face grew even brighter. ’With her in my life,’ he thought, ’I’m the happiest man in the world.’
Although they ate breakfast and dinner together every day, he still felt it wasn’t enough.
He longed to be with her every single moment, to never be apart. But because of his younger sister’s actions, they would have to be separated for a few days.
He hated the thought of it, but for his wife to have some peace and quiet when she returned home for the New Year, he had to steel himself for their temporary separation.
He didn’t want anything unpleasant to spoil their first New Year together.
"Honey, have some of this night-blooming cereus and pork soup first." Su Shuochi ladled a bowl and placed it in front of Gu Jiaojiao, attentively handing her a spoon.
Gu Jiaojiao took the spoon with a beaming smile and took a small sip, savoring the soup’s delicious flavor.
She couldn’t help but make appreciative noises. "Wow, honey, you’re amazing! I can’t believe you made a soup this delicious. It’s so good! The flavor is just... mmm, I could die, I love it so much."
"Heh, if you like it that much, I’ll make you a different soup every day. Just don’t love the soup more than you love me, okay?"
Her praise made his heart bubble with sweetness, even as he playfully fished for more affection.
The couple ate and chatted, their simple happiness different and new each day.
But in the Bao Family, another war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had broken out. This was not the first time Granny Bo had been disappointed in her eldest son’s wife.
She pointed a finger at her eldest daughter-in-law, her voice laced with fury. "You! Look at the creature you’ve raised!"
"Ma, you can’t just blame me. What about Sisi? The way your own daughter raised her isn’t much better, is it?"
"You... Are you trying to rebel against me?"
