"Surprise! Happy New Year!"

Ma Honglian caught sight of Pan Ge, and her heart skipped a beat. Damn! Could this fairy-like girl be my son's girlfriend?!

In an instant, she felt alive again and hurriedly welcomed them inside.

"Dear, come on, quick, inside the house!"

Under the watchful eyes of peeping figures from upstairs and downstairs, Zhao Anni, Pan Ge, Panzi, and the driver entered in that order.

As soon as Panzi saw Han Lie, he glared fiercely, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

The driver, carrying a giant suitcase, set it down by the door and took his leave immediately. "Boss, I'll wait downstairs. Just let me know if you need anything."

Panzi had just put down the bag he was carrying and nodded at the driver's words when he spotted Han Yong coming out of the bedroom.

Old Pan's expression changed in a flash, a warm smile spreading across his face as he strode toward Han Yong.

"You must be Han Lie's father, right? My name is Pan Shengwu, this is my wife Zhao Anni, and that is our daughter, Pan Ge. We apologize for dropping in unannounced, Brother Han, please don't take offense!"

Han Yong shook hands with Pan Shengwu, a befuddled expression on his face, chuckling awkwardly. "No offense taken, not at all..."

Then he shot Han Lie a hard look. What's the situation here?

Han Lie grimaced, quickly went to rinse his mouth in the bathroom, and then came out to introduce everyone.

"Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend, Pan Ge. This is Uncle Pan, and this is Auntie Zhao. Their family has been very good to me. Oh, and Mom, the pearl necklace I brought back for you was a gift from Auntie Zhao..."

Zhao Anni glanced at Han Lie, her expression unreadable, the corners of her mouth curling into an enigmatic smile. Well, well, he actually dares to bring up *my* necklace?!

Pan Ge instinctively shrank back, as timid as a quail.

Old Han and Old Ma were happy to hear Han Lie's introduction, but it also made them feel even more awkward.

A surprise visit from the in-laws? Who ever heard of such a thing? What are we supposed to do now?

Thankfully, Panzi and Annie were seasoned in handling major situations. They quickly placated Old Han and Old Ma with just a few words.

Panzi began with a grand air, "Respected in-laws, truthfully, the children are just dating while at school. They're both still young, and we shouldn't have dropped by so suddenly, making it seem like such a big deal.

"However, I also have some business dealings with young Han, and we are quite important partners. Last year, he helped me make a good deal of money. It's only right, both from a personal and a business standpoint, that I pay you two a visit to thank you for raising such an excellent young man. Moreover, we also wanted to hear your opinions regarding the children's future. If everything aligns well, we can let them continue to get to know each other and slowly start planning for what's next..."

PFFFT!

Han Lie nearly started foaming at the mouth again.

Pan Shengwu, you old coot! All I took were a few insignificant secondhand trinkets you weren't even using! Do you really have to screw me over this badly?!

Before Han Lie could recover, Zhao Anni twisted the knife.

"Sister Ma, I'm satisfied with Han Lie in every way. It's just that he's a bit too hasty... Our Pan Ge just turned eighteen... Sigh!"

That sigh made Ma Honglian's heart pound with a mix of alarm and elation.

Clever boy! So, you *are* capable, huh? Well done!

Pan Ge shyly hid behind her mother, her head hanging down quietly. The more Ma Honglian looked at her, the more satisfied she felt.

But actually... shy, my foot! She wasn't shy at all!

Han Lie was seething with frustration, completely dizzied by Panzi and Annie's sudden ambush.

And then Annie was still there, playing her part: "But really, we are quite satisfied with Han Lie in every way, so this matter will be easy to manage..."

"Engagement!"

Ma Honglian slapped her thigh and bellowed.

Her enthusiasm was palpable.

"My dear, don't you worry. Although our family may be a bit poor, our integrity has never been an issue. That rascal, whatever he's done, he can't escape responsibility for it! You just state your conditions, and we'll get right on it! A girl as sweet and beautiful as her, Old Han and I will definitely not let her be wronged!"

Pan Ge's shoulders began to shake as she kept her head down.

Crying? Hell no! She was about to split her sides laughing!

Han Lie was utterly despairing.

No matter how skilled or cunning he was, could he control this situation? Impossible! He might as well close his eyes and accept his fate.

At that moment, Old Han finally regained his composure and managed to utter a firm sentence,

"Let's have the engagement first! When they're old enough, they'll officially register their marriage! As for the Han family's daughter-in-law, I'll accept no one but Little Pan!"

Han Lie's vision went dark, and he collapsed onto the couch right then and there.

Panzi glanced sideways at him, winked mischievously, and raised an eyebrow.

Little rascal, thought my stuff was so easy to take? You're mine now!

...

In a flurry of words, a momentous matter was unbelievably settled.

Old Han and Old Ma hadn't yet adjusted to Han Lie's rise, nor could they grasp his current status and potential. They still saw their son as the foolish boy who would struggle to find a partner, not realizing how sought-after he truly was.

Seeing a fairy-like girl practically descend from the heavens and land on their doorstep, how could they not grab hold of her tightly and never let go?!

Panzi and Zhao Anni, on the other hand, not only recognized Han Lie's capabilities and potential but also confirmed his compatibility with their daughter. Therefore, even if it meant appearing a bit too eager or pushy, they were determined to secure this match first and foremost.

Anyone who thinks that a wealthy, beautiful woman has an easy time finding a partner is surely a naive child who hasn't stepped out of school yet. In fact, their search is much more difficult than that of ordinary people. Looking for someone superior, the options are too few; looking for someone lesser, it's fraught with conflict. Perhaps marrying someone purely devoted to academics could bring them more happiness.