Zhao Lixia felt distressed at the sight.

"Mom, relax, it’s just a small thing!"

Su Zelin shrugged it off: "I’ll have a few bowls of the delicious soup you made, get a good night’s sleep, and by tomorrow morning, I’ll be full of energy again!"

Xiaolin was known for his quick recovery, and Su Zelin was well aware of that.

Clear your mind overnight, and by morning it’s back to full strength.

That’s why the night he went out with Qin Shiqing on Christmas Eve, he had to go to the bathroom and angrily scold that rebellious fellow several times, beating it to the point of spitting blood.

"Haha, you can’t go without your soup. I bought an old duck today, started stewing it at noon, and it’s just right now!"

Zhao Lixia was overjoyed.

A son craving his mom’s soup—it’s the happiest thing for any mother.

The women chatted over here, while two middle-aged men with a passion for driving were examining the Santana 2000 over there.

"Zelin, got a new car again?"

Qin Daqing asked.

Both were Santanas, but there were some differences. He could tell; the interior had some upgrades, after all, it cost a few tens of thousands more, so there had to be some improvements.

"Yes, Uncle Qin, the job’s different, so the company car is different too."

Su Zelin smiled.

"You brat, driving a car better than your old man!"

Su Jianjun was envious, jealous, and resentful.

When buying a car, he made a special effort to get a higher-end model of the Santana.

They said it was a high-end version, but there wasn’t much difference from the low-end one, mostly reflected in the car paint.

There were three versions: GU regular paint, GU semi-gold paint, and GU full-gold paint.

Old Su felt that being the father, having a car worse than his son’s didn’t look good, so he went for the GU full-gold paint.

Who knew, by the end of the semester, his son had upgraded to a Santana 2000.

Even the full-gold paint version of the regular Santana was only a little over 120,000.

While the base Free Boiling GS version of the Santana 2000 cost over 150,000, with the higher-end Times Superman GS and Junjie GS-AT versions costing even more—one over 170,000 and the other over 180,000.

They simply couldn’t be compared.

The younger generation surpasses the older, and the older generation is left on the sands!

Su Jianjun thought sorrowfully.

The middle-aged men with a passion for driving were originally unwilling to accept aging.

But no matter how much they resist, the next generation is just too strong.

Qin Daqing was very envious.

The Su family father and son both had their own cars, while his still seemed a distant dream.

Occasionally borrowing Old Su’s car was fine, but even if they were future in-laws, borrowing too often was embarrassing.

Those property investments seemed to be going well, so should I apply to the mother tiger for a car too?

Though it might require Zelin’s help, his words carry more weight than us old guys now.

After putting down the luggage upstairs, the first thing the rascal did was sneak a bite.

Though he had sneaked bites yesterday and this morning, Su Zelin’s interest in sneaking food hadn’t waned.

This was one of life’s biggest pleasures.

His mom knew he was coming home today, so she likely bought lots of groceries.

Besides, the other day they had a Qin family gathering, so today was their turn.

Every time Qin Shiqing came for a meal, the treatment was like she was royalty.

Meanwhile, for the first two days of his return home, he got treated like an emperor, only to revert back to being Xiaolinzi after a few days.

Why does a blood relative rank lower than an outsider?

Su Zelin shook his head and sighed as he entered the kitchen.

Sure enough, the place was piled high with ingredients, like a full feast.

But surprisingly, the chef tonight was Qin Shiqing.

Lately, Zhao Lixia had been nurturing her future daughter-in-law’s cooking skills, and Qin Shiqing had learned quickly and already graduated.

"No sneaking a bite!"

The young woman even inherited Zhao Lixia’s dog-beating stick technique, using the spatula to fend off attempts.

"I’ll sneak, what can you do, na-na-na!"

Su Zelin dodged the spatula with two-finger Zen, picking up small chunks of meat while sticking out his tongue to provoke the young woman.

The red tongue wiggled like a little snake flicking its tongue.

Even with my mom’s decades of dog-beating stick expertise, she couldn’t stop me.

Qin Shiqing, with your limited skill, you think you can stop me from sneaking bites? Impossible!

"Not only today, but I’ll sneak tomorrow, and keep sneaking the day after!"

The rascal boldly declared.

The blatant taunting infuriated Qin Shiqing.

The young woman moved like lightning, and this time, she wasn’t after the back of Su Zelin’s hand but pinched the rascal’s tongue with her thumb and index finger.

Such a vulnerable spot was definitely a weak point.

The captured rascal wilted instantly.

"Oh, why aren’t you being cocky now?"

The young woman was smug.

Don’t think you’re the only one who knows two-finger Zen; this palace can do it too.

"Ow, let go, it hurts so much!"

The rascal grimaced in pain.

"Oh, still daring to curse? Try it again, I’ll tear it off!"

Qin Shiqing glared fiercely.

"No, no, something so important, I still need it!"

Su Zelin conceded.

A wise man submits to circumstances.

If it really got torn off, life would literally lose flavor.

"Listen up, no more sneaking bites next time!"

Qin Shiqing issued a stern warning.

"Definitely next time!"

With his weakness compromised, the rascal could only comply outwardly.

But inside he was thinking: "Maybe next time, maybe not."

Not sneaking bites is impossible, never gonna happen in this lifetime.

Can’t help it, food snuck is tastier.

The young woman huffed, finally letting go, no longer holding onto her childhood friend’s tongue.

Su Zelin walked out of the kitchen disgruntled.

Since Qin Shiqing started learning cooking from my mom, she’s picked up that empress-like temper too.

If this keeps up, she might turn into a little tigress soon!

This could be tough.

...