531. Mixed Doubles? 【2/30】
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Mother had previously mentioned that when they got married, she’d give them a car worth two to three hundred thousand as a dowry. On top of that, she would also foot the bill for their new home’s renovation, which also counted as part of the dowry.
Although Lin Nan thought this dowry was a bit excessive, considering her mother was just working her connections to hold a management position at a factory for not much pay per month. Unless they managed to reclaim that half a house.
And if Chen Yao’s father was to buy them a car as well, that would mean two cars.
Hearing that made her happy at first, but then it hit her—she didn’t even have a driver’s license! Sure, she could go take the test, but with her magic strengthening reflexes, she often found herself mentally exhausted.
So driving wasn’t exactly her strong suit at the moment.
Half an hour later, Lin Nan arrived at Chen Yao’s house.
As soon as she stepped inside, she was greeted by the mouth-watering scent of meat. She hurriedly slipped on her slippers and dashed toward the kitchen.
Chen Yao could only shake his head helplessly at the sight as he set his backpack down and strolled into the house leisurely.
“Wanna join me for a drink tonight?” His father followed closely behind.
Without hesitation, he shook his head, “Lin Nan says I can’t drink. At most, I’ll have a couple of beers. No way I’m touching any liquor.”
“You just got engaged and you’re already being so controlled? What a disgrace to my name!”
“Well, we’ve been living together for almost half a year now.” Chen Yao was about to explain, but got a swift smack on the back of his head for his troubles.
It’s one thing to talk back, but did you really have to hit me?!
Now Chen Yao was not pleased, quickly rebutting, “How am I a disgrace?! I’m just upholding the fine traditions of my family! When do you ever show some backbone in front of my mom?”
“You think I’m afraid of that?”
“Why do we always end up talking about me?!”
Auntie, with a gentle smile, emerged from the kitchen holding Lin Nan’s hand, curiously regarding the squabbling father-son duo. Beside her, Lin Nan was puffing her cheeks full of food, grease smeared over her lips, looking immensely satisfied.
The uncle, who had just been bickering with Chen Yao, immediately turned timid upon seeing Auntie, and without missing a beat, lied, “I told you you look beautiful, standing next to Lin Nan like sisters!”
Chen Yao shot a teasing glance at his dad, only to be glared at in return.
“Who’s a grown-up still talking nonsense?” Auntie scolded, although her smile was a mile wide. But then she turned to Chen Yao with a warning glare, “How have you been treating Lin Nan? Have you been bullying her?”
Why do you all think I would bully Lin Nan?
Chen Yao himself had no clue how he’d gained such an impression with his parents.
Maybe it was due to all those fights back in middle school?
“I haven’t! Why do you all keep asking me this?” Chen Yao felt a bit wronged.
It’s usually Lin Nan who bullies him.
Initially, it was bearable, but now Lin Nan wouldn’t eat what he didn’t, while everything she wanted, he bought for her. If he couldn’t find something, he’d even make it himself, and he wasn’t allowed to smoke or drink. If he wanted to play basketball, he had to file a report…
Even though they weren’t married yet, it felt like they already were!
Lin Nan stood nearby, enjoying the drama, finally managing to swallow the big chunk of meat in her mouth, before turning back, eyeing the pot.
Auntie had made some tender, juicy braised meat today that made Lin Nan’s mouth water even more.
“Auntie, I brought you zongzi!” Lin Nan suddenly remembered, rushing over to the shoe cabinet to grab her backpack. She pulled out a few bundles of zongzi, “Five each for you and Uncle, the rest I’ll take to my grandfather tomorrow.”
Auntie took the zongzi, did a quick inspection, and then looked up with a smile, “Did you make these yourself?”
“Yep! From buying the rice to wrapping the zongzi, I did it all.” Lin Nan had quickly formulated a plan to charm Auntie, “I specifically wanted to make these for you.”
Sure, it was Zheng Qian who paid for the rice and Tu Junhui who helped carry it, but hey, she did help grab a stack of bamboo leaves, right?
Auntie’s grin was ear to ear as she joyfully strolled into the kitchen with the zongzi, “Auntie’s going to taste your zongzi!”
“Mom! They’re all meat zongzi!” Chen Yao interjected from the side.
His parents never ate meat zongzi and had mentioned it to Lin Nan before.
“What’s wrong with meat zongzi? Isn’t Lin Nan’s heart in it? I can’t eat it?” Auntie shot back at Chen Yao, shooting him a sly look, “When will you ever be as sensible as Lin Nan? Just come home empty-handed on Dragon Boat Festival?”
“Three of those were wrapped by me!”
Auntie took a quick glance at the zongzi and spotted the three shaggy ones: “You can’t even wrap a zongzi properly?”
Chen Yao’s face darkened. He felt there was no point in talking to her anymore and turned to leave for his bedroom.
Seeing him a bit upset, Lin Nan hurriedly followed him, trying to comfort him, “At least you wrapped them, that Tu Junhui guy’s zongzi fell apart while cooking!”
She was a bit worried about Chen Yao’s mood. If her visit led to a rift between him and his mother, it would truly be a crime!
Once inside the room, she found that his glum expression quickly faded. Chen Yao was sitting on the edge of his bed, smiling at her.
“You’re not mad?”
“What’s there to be mad about?” Chen Yao propped his leg up casually, “They’ve been looking at my face for twenty years; they must be bored by now.”
But then his brow furrowed, “My parents seem to think of you as a guest.”
“That’s always how it’s been.” Lin Nan had already grown accustomed to their warmth. Sitting at the computer desk, she curled her legs and looked at Chen Yao, “Once they really consider me family, I bet they’ll start nitpicking at me.”
After all, she was still only half in Chen Yao’s family door.
Chen Yao thought about it and realized that such a scene might have a high probability of happening: “No worries, we’ll be working in the provincial city then. We just need to come back to visit occasionally. We don’t live together anyway; let them pick at me all they want.”
“Lin Nan! Chen Yao! Time for dinner! Why are you two hiding in here the second you get back?”
Lin Nan caught the teasing tone in Auntie’s voice, but fortunately, after all the embarrassing moments she had gone through, her skin had toughened a bit since then. Just slightly feeling awkward, she hurriedly stood up to head out.
But Chen Yao felt no embarrassment at all; instead, he teased Lin Nan back, “What if they hear something tonight…”
“Something? No way!” Lin Nan shot him a glare.
“Does that mean you’re planning to keep quiet?”
Lin Nan, flustered and angry, lifted her foot to kick him, “What I mean is, absolutely not tonight!”
Unfortunately for her, Chen Yao had already unraveled her plan long ago. He grabbed her delicate foot, a teasing grin plastered on his face, “Why not? At least this is my home, way better than some rental apartment or inn, right?”
“Get off me! Let go! If you don’t, I’ll call Auntie!” Lin Nan stood on one foot, wobbling and bouncing around, her face turning crimson.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Auntie popped her head in, her face turning serious.
“You said you wouldn’t bully Lin Nan!”
Chen Yao, startled, quickly released his grip, only to see Auntie snatch up a nearby broom. He turned pale, while Lin Nan scrambled to stop her, terrified that a domestic violence incident was about to unfold. But before Chen Yao could escape, Uncle showed up and blocked the door with his own broom.
Is this what they call mixed doubles?
While Lin Nan tried to intervene and explain, she couldn’t shake the sudden eagerness to see what would happen.
