On the eve of Spring Festival, after repeated urging from Yu Yiyun, Chen Yuzheng finally brought up having a meal with his family to Yu Nuo.
Sunday afternoon, it was drizzling slightly when Chen Yuzheng drove to pick up Yu Nuo.
She already had a naturally sweet appearance, and had applied light, soft makeup. She wore a light gray cashmere coat, cream-colored sweater, and a warm-toned plaid long skirt. She looked elegant and graceful overall.
After closing her umbrella, she got in the car.
Yu Nuo’s nose was red from the cold. The car’s heater was on, and she wrinkled her nose, putting the gifts she bought in the back seat. After fastening her seatbelt and settling in, she patted the water droplets off her coat, pulled down the passenger side sun visor, and combed her hair with her fingers.
Chen Yuzheng watched her while backing up the car.
After fixing her hair, Yu Nuo took out a lip gloss from her bag and touched it up. After looking at it for a while, she thought the color was too dark and found a tissue to blot it lighter.
The roads were somewhat congested at this time. Yu Nuo was completely focused on her phone, looking up details about meeting parents on Zhihu. The more she read, the more her brows furrowed. When Chen Yuzheng spoke to her, Yu Nuo just responded with “mm.”
Being too obviously brushed off, he called out: “Yu Chi.”
Yu Nuo mmm-ed again.
“Yu Chi.”
Yu Nuo finally moved her gaze from her phone and turned her head, “What is it?”
“Why are you being so dismissive of me now?”
Yu Nuo: “I’m looking at something.”
“Looking at what?”
Yu Nuo replied heavily: “Don’t mind me.”
Chen Yuzheng: “……..?”
He laughed angrily: “Yu Chi, you’re something else, is this how you treat me after catching me?”
“…….”
“You love scammer.”
“…….”
“I feel like I’ve been tricked.”
“…….”
“The Shanghai weather may be cold, but how can it be colder than my heart?”
“…….”
“Fine, no one’s paying attention to me, let it be this way, let me heartbreak alone in this icy world.”
“…….”
Seeing still no response from the person beside him, Chen Yuzheng started singing melancholically: “The one who loves more always cries first, the one who loves less always becomes fake first….”
“I was wrong, please stop singing.” Yu Nuo finally laughed at his antics.
“Is your conscience being condemned?” Chen Yuzheng snorted: “Let me tell you, apologizing is useless, it’s too late. I’m going to keep singing until you feel ashamed.”
Yu Nuo closed her phone, “I’m not ashamed.”
“Then why won’t you let me sing?”
“Because it’s a bit hard on the ears.” Yu Nuo held back her laughter, finding it fun to tease him occasionally, “My conscience is fine, but my ears are definitely being condemned.”
Chen Yuzheng: “……..”
After joking and laughing with him for a bit, Yu Nuo felt more relaxed.
The restaurant was located in an expensive commercial district, considered a landmark establishment. As soon as they entered, servers led the way. Yu Nuo took the gift box from Chen Yuzheng’s hands, “I’ll carry it myself.”
In the elevator, Yu Nuo anxiously started fixing her hair again, moving it to her chest then back to her shoulders, repeatedly checking if anything was amiss with her appearance.
“Why are you so nervous?” Chen Yuzheng found her behavior somewhat amusing and put his arm around her shoulders, “Relax, my parents don’t eat people.”
Yu Nuo pulled his hand off her shoulder and stepped aside, keeping her distance from him.
Chen Yuzheng complained: “What are you doing?”
Yu Nuo was preoccupied, her small face serious: “We’re about to meet your parents… this isn’t appropriate.”
“What’s not appropriate?” Chen Yuzheng was puzzled.
“It would seem, a bit immature.”
Chen Yuzheng laughed: “Surprisingly, you’re quite traditional.”
Yu Nuo was in no mood for jokes.
The elevator dinged, arriving at their floor.
Following the server forward, from far away, a woman waved at them by the door, “Over here, over here!” A man in a suit stood beside her.
Yu Nuo quietly adjusted her breathing as she walked over with Chen Yuzheng.
The woman leaning by the door had slightly brownish hair curled in big waves, wearing a cream-colored Chanel jacket and turtleneck sweater. She wore a coquettish smile, radiating elegance from within.
Yu Nuo was a bit dazed and asked hesitantly: “This is…?”
Chen Yuzheng: “My parents.”
Yu Nuo came to her senses, handed over the gifts, and quickly greeted them: “Uncle… A-Auntie, hello.”
Chen Bo Chang took the gifts and politely said thank you, inviting her: “Please, come sit.”
Yu Nuo responded with a “okay” and secretly glanced at Yu Yiyun.
The woman had taken excellent care of herself, her skin was fine and fair, without any trace of age. She looked less than thirty – Yu Nuo had thought they were Chen Yuzheng’s cousin or relative, never expecting them to be his parents…
Yu Yiyun warmly came over, forcefully pushing Chen Yuzheng aside to take Yu Nuo’s hand, “Come, let’s go in, it’s so cold outside.”
Chen Yuzheng was left standing alone, calling after them: “Mom, why are you stealing my girlfriend?”
Yu Yiyun completely ignored his complaint, focusing all her attention on Yu Nuo, “I’ve heard Tong Tong talk about how cute and well-behaved you are, finally getting to meet you today.”
Yu Nuo also ignored the abandoned Chen Yuzheng and walked in with Yu Yiyun. Up close, Yu Yiyun had a very sweet and fragrant scent.
Yu Yiyun frowned slightly, squeezing her fingertips: “Darling, why are your hands so cold? Shanghai’s raining today, you should wear more!”
After chattering warmly for a while, seeing the young girl still staring at her in a daze, Yu Yiyun paused and asked: “What is it? Is there something on my face?”
“No, it’s not that.” Yu Nuo answered honestly: “Auntie, you look so young, I thought you were Chen Yuzheng’s cousin… I’m still a bit stunned.”
Her tone carried a hint of guilt, not seeming like flattery at all, instead giving a very sincere feeling. Yu Yiyun immediately beamed with joy at the comment, smiling brightly, “When I go shopping, people say I look like Zhengzheng’s sister too.”
Chen Yuzheng had his hands on the table, playing with his car keys, and snorted when he heard this: “That person was just trying to trick you into buying clothes, deliberately making you happy.”
Hearing this, Yu Yiyun glared at him angrily: “Zhengzheng, you’re becoming less and less likeable. How can any girl put up with you like this?”
Chen Yuzheng: “…….”
After speaking, Yu Yiyun turned to Yu Nuo and said: “If he makes you angry in the future, just hit him, don’t hold back.”
Chen Yuzheng drawled: “How can you be like this? We’re not even married yet, and you’re already teaching my wife to abuse me?”
Yu Yiyun: “Next time I’ll take Xiao Nuo shopping, we don’t need you to accompany us.”
Chen Yuzheng: “Then who will pay for you?”
Yu Yiyun found it amusing: “I have your dad’s card, why would I need you?”
“That won’t do.” Chen Yuzheng put his hand on Yu Nuo’s chair, showing a strong possessive attitude: “You can use dad’s card, but I have to personally buy things for my wife.”
Yu Nuo tugged at Chen Yuzheng’s clothes under the table, signaling him to watch his words.
Chen Bo Chang sat nearby, unable to join the conversation, seeming like an outsider. Yu Nuo noticed this and poured him a glass of water, standing up to hand it to him: “Uncle, please have some water.”
Chen Bo Chang nodded: “Thank you.”
After observing for a while, she noticed that Chen Yuzheng got most of his looks from his father. Unlike other middle-aged men, Chen Bo Chang wasn’t pudgy or rough-looking. His face showed dignified elegance from years of refinement, his features still handsome as in his youth. He just spoke less and appeared more serious.
But overall, meeting the parents was more relaxed and pleasant than Yu Nuo had imagined.
Several servers quietly arranged the dishes.
Yu Yiyun was from Suzhou, speaking with a sweet accent, and didn’t mind Chen Yuzheng and Yu Nuo’s presence as she acted coquettishly with Chen Bo Chang.
Like a child, she pouted, “Ah, I don’t like this one, don’t give it to me.”
“I want that one.”
“Ah, honey, this dish is so spicy, pass me the water.”
Chen Bo Chang’s usually serious face was completely compliant with Yu Yiyun. After passing her the warm water, he even patted her back, “Be careful, don’t choke.”
Their interaction style fascinated Yu Nuo, while Chen Yuzheng seemed used to it.
Her experience with her original family had given Yu Nuo an inexplicable fear of “relatives” since childhood. Her childhood fragments related to family were all about separation, arguments, endless disputes, and fearful screaming. Chen Yuzheng’s parents seemed to open a door to a new world for her, redefining the word “family.”
It could actually be this warm.
She leaned over to whisper to Chen Yuzheng: “Uncle is so good to Auntie.”
“Our whole family is like this, but my dad isn’t as smooth as me, nor does he understand romance like I do.” Chen Yuzheng chuckled softly, “The student surpasses the master – I’ll treat you even better in the future.”
—
Since having dinner with Chen Yuzheng’s parents, Yu Yiyun had added Yu Nuo on WeChat.
Chen Yuzheng’s parents left such a good impression on Yu Nuo. From their words and actions, Yu Nuo could piece together a complete, warm, and happy family. Having yearned for family affection since childhood, Yu Nuo kept asking Chen Yuzheng to tell her more about his family in the following days.
A few days later, when Yu Yiyun asked Yu Nuo to go shopping with her, Yu Nuo happily agreed.
When spending time with Yu Yiyun, Yu Nuo felt completely relaxed, without any pressure. Yu Yiyun reminded her of Xu Yitong – although both were pampered rich young ladies who used luxury brands, they weren’t at all snobbish or distant, but rather very sincere with people. Their occasional spoiled behaviors only made others want to pamper them more.
After shopping, Yu Yiyun took her to a Thai restaurant.
After posting on Moments, Yu Yiyun thought of something and said to Yu Nuo: “Xiao Nuo, tell Zhengzheng to change his profile picture.”
Yu Nuo: “Hmm? Change the current one?”
Yu Yiyun wrinkled her nose: “Yes, his profile picture is so dark and gloomy. I’ve told him several times but he ignores me. It’s so ugly. Especially inauspicious during New Year.”
Yu Nuo held back her laughter and messaged Chen Yuzheng.
Yu Nuo: “Do you want to change your profile picture?”
Conquer: “My mom put you up to this?”
Yu Yiyun used Yu Nuo’s phone to share a song to him: “Listen to Mom’s Words”
Conquer: “You’re already ganging up with my mom against me? I’ve used this profile picture since high school, I’m emotionally attached to it, don’t want to change.”
Yu Nuo: “…..”
After a while.
Conquer: “Well, I suppose I could change it.”
…
…
In the afternoon, TG’s private group chat suddenly buzzed.
Conquer: “Anyone here?”
No response.
Conquer: “No one?”
No response.
Conquer: “Want to hear some gossip?”
Group notification: [“Conquer” changed group name to “Chen Yuzheng Global Fan Support Association”]
The group remained dead silent.
Chen Yuzheng sent several red packets.
They were claimed within three seconds.
Conquer: “?”
Ultraman: “?”
Killer: “?”
Conquer: “You guys are really quite inhuman”
Van: “What’s with this stupid group name, what are you doing?”
Conquer: “I’m here to announce something.”
Ultraman: “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Conquer: “Patience, haven’t you noticed that Shanghai’s weather seems particularly cold today.”
Ultraman: “……”
Thomas: “What’s wrong with you now?”
Conquer: “Thomas, wear more clothes, I’m worried you’ll catch a cold.”
Van: “?”
Thomas: “…… what do you want”
Conquer: “@Ultraman, your profile picture needs changing, it’s a bit outdated”
Ultraman: “???”
Conquer: “@Killer, come on, Brother Sha, appreciate my profile picture. Look carefully.”
Killer couldn’t appreciate it: “It’s just normal.”
Conquer: “Your taste is indeed mediocre”
Conquer: “@Van, come on, Brother Qi, appreciate my profile picture. Look carefully.”
Finally, Van sent a message: “Oh, your profile picture matches with Yu Nuo’s?”
Conquer: “Here’s someone perceptive”
Ultraman: “I’m a bit speechless….”
Killer: “Let’s all leave.”
Thomas: “Chen Yuzheng, you’re something else, wandering half your life, returning still an idiot.”
Conquer: “Alright, bunch of sour lemons, stop being jealous.”
Conquer: “Jealousy is a tumor of the soul — Ai Qing”
Just after Chen Yuzheng sent this chicken soup, group notification: [Conquer has been removed from the group chat]
Leave a Reply