"Qingcheng, are we out of stuff?" Zhang Nianping looked at the table full of items and said with a bit of bewilderment, "There’s so much here, your uncle and I can’t use it all up."

Liou Qingcheng laughed, "Actually, there’s more, two red-tailed golden dragons, and several pots of flowers. Since you and uncle don’t live here long-term, I didn’t bring them. I’ll have them sent when we return to the hometown."

"..."

They were both surprised and unsure of what to say.

"Uncle, Aunt, pack up and come stay at my place, the more the merrier," Liou Qingcheng said.

"Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?"

Lin Tian smiled, "There’s nothing inappropriate about it. Qingcheng’s mom has been looking forward to your visit, the rooms are all prepared."

"Auntie, just come, staying here means I have to keep running back and forth every day in this cold weather, surely you wouldn’t want that?" Liou Qingcheng held Zhang Nianping’s hand and said with a grin.

Zhang Nianping laughed and patted Liou Qingcheng’s hand, saying, "Ah, daughters are always more caring. Lin Tian seldom stayed with me growing up. All my love for him seems wasted over the years."

"I’ll stay with you in the future," Liou Qingcheng laughed. "But you have to stay at my place first."

"Alright, alright. I’ll go and bother you for a few days," Zhang Nianping said with a smile.

"What are you talking about? Being at my place is just like being at home, how could you be a bother?"

Zhang Nianping and Lin Hao grew increasingly satisfied with this daughter-in-law, wondering how their brat managed to win her over.

Suddenly, Zhang Nianping remembered something. She took off a bracelet from her left hand and placed it in Liou Qingcheng’s hand, saying, "Qingcheng, Auntie doesn’t have much to give you. This was given to me by Lin Tian’s grandmother the first time I visited. It may not be as precious as your gifts, but it’s meaningful."

Liou Qingcheng held the jade bracelet, admiring its warmth and transparency, feeling very comfortable as she touched it.

"Thank you, Auntie, I really like it."

Lin Tian walked over, took the bracelet in one hand and held Liou Qingcheng’s hand in the other, then carefully slipped it onto her wrist.

Liou Qingcheng looked at it happily, then turned to Zhang Nianping and asked, "Auntie, does it look nice?"

"Yes, it looks beautiful. You wear it much better than I do," Zhang Nianping said with a smile.

Lin Tian smiled and said, "With this on, you’re officially one of the Lin Family and can’t escape."

Liou Qingcheng cast a subtle glance at Lin Tian, blushing slightly and lowering her head, playing with the bracelet, tacitly acknowledging it.

...

Lin Tian greeted Wu Yong and then headed back with his parents and the gifts Liou Qingcheng brought.

Back at the Liou Family, Liou Zhengming had already returned from the company.

After all, nothing is more important than meeting the future in-laws.

Lin Hao and Zhang Nianping initially planned to shop and bring something to the in-law’s house.

Although the Liou Family doesn’t lack these things, it’s all about the gesture, right?

Yan Xinrou and Liou Zhengming heard Lin Tian’s car pulling into the yard and came out to greet them.

"Uncle, Aunt, these are my parents," Liou Qingcheng introduced.

Zhang Nianping looked outside the car, seeing Yan Xinrou all dressed up, she held Liou Qingcheng’s hand and said with a smile, "Your mom is also very beautiful. No wonder she gave birth to such a pretty daughter."

"You and uncle have good looks too. You just don’t dress up often, otherwise how could you have such a handsome son like Lin Tian?"

"Hehehe... You little girl, sweet talker!"

Opening the car door, Liou Qingcheng got off while holding Zhang Nianping’s hand.

"In-laws, in-laws!" Liou Zhengming warmly approached, extending his hand to Lin Hao.

Lin Hao paused for a moment; the handshake etiquette is rare in rural areas.

Lin Hao tried extending his hand to shake, then heard Yan Xinrou saying, "Let’s not talk out here, come inside."

"Alright, alright, let’s go inside."

Looking at the Liou Family’s big villa, if it were in the past, Lin Hao would have thought his son wasn’t good enough for them.

But now he feels they are well matched; after all, his son is so outstanding, isn’t he?

Thus, Lin Hao walked with confidence, exuding self-assurance.

"In-laws, Qingcheng must have already told you, right? Stay at our place for the next few days, let’s have a lively New Year together," Yan Xinrou said with a smile.

Zhang Nianping, holding Liou Qingcheng’s hand, nodded with a smile, "She did, she did. We’ll be bothering you for a few days."

"Oh, soon we’ll be one family, nothing to bother about."

Liou Qingcheng walked ahead with the four elders, while Lin Tian was somewhat overlooked, silently dragging his parents’ luggage into the house.

Everyone sat on the sofa. Liou Zhengming brewed tea while saying, "In-laws, Qingcheng has been pampered since childhood, if she does anything improperly, please forgive her."

"Forgiveness, forgiveness, Qingcheng is so sensible, I couldn’t be fonder of her," Zhang Nianping said with a beaming smile.

Yan Xinrou took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "I don’t know how you raised Lin Tian so well, he’s such an excellent young man, now it’s a blessing for our Qingcheng."

Lin Tian was over the moon listening. Listen to them, praising me!

Lin Hao glanced at his son, pursed his lips and said, "The kid was mischievous as a child, needed some discipline to get him to behave."

"..."

Except for Lin Tian, who was slightly sulky, the room was full of laughter, seemingly eager to see him teased.

"Hey, Lin Tian. Today is an important day, shouldn’t you show off a little?" Before Lin Tian could answer, Yan Xinrou continued, "The ingredients are all prepared in the fridge, mom’s counting on you."

Lin Tian looked at Yan Xinrou, sitting like a queen in the center of the sofa, and then at himself, feeling like a loner. It’s bitter!

"Hey, Lin Tian’s cooking isn’t really edible; better if I handle it," Zhang Nianping said, knowing her son inside out. Although he cooks occasionally at home, it’s seldom enough, and what he finds acceptable doesn’t mean it’s good enough to present to the in-laws and risk embarrassment.

Lin Tian smiled wryly, "Mom, my cooking has improved. You stay here and chat; it’ll be ready soon."

After speaking, not waiting for Zhang Nianping to say anything else, Lin Tian headed straight to the kitchen.

He didn’t find anything wrong with it; he considers himself part of the family, thus feeling comfortable enough to be so casual.

Walking down a corridor and turning a corner, Lin Tian reached the Liou Family’s kitchen.

The kitchen was large, neatly organized by the housekeeper. Lin Tian opened the fridge and saw it was fully stocked with vegetables, meat, and even seafood in an aquarium.

Just then, someone else entered the kitchen, Lin Tian turned to look, and it was his own mom.

Zhang Nianping gave Lin Tian a once-over, held back for a while, and finally asked, "Did you trick this girl?"