Chapter 420: Chapter 386: Since They Were Unkind First, She Won’t Be Filial

"Screech~"

With a gentle screech of the brakes, Yang Yuxi drove her little red car smoothly into the underground parking of Haoting Garden District, like a flowing flame, expertly parking in her designated spot.

She slightly turned sideways to reach for her handbag on the passenger seat, while her fingers lightly brushed against a box emitting a tempting aroma of scallion oil stewed chicken. She picked that up as well...

The next second...

An even richer aroma wafted into her nose, making her involuntarily take a deep breath, a hint of craving surfacing in her mouth.

No, no, I must resist!

This is supposed to be my food for the whole day tomorrow!

I can’t indulge now!

She exerted great self-control to suppress her inner cravings.

Then, she promptly pushed the car door open, got out of the car gracefully, closed the door with a faint "click" sound, then elegantly pressed the car key to lock it.

At that moment...

A thought flashed through her mind: the aroma of this scallion oil stewed chicken is so strong, what if Dad and Mom smell it and want to have a taste?

Knowing their tendencies, they definitely would!

They might even fight over it~

So here’s the problem...

Should I let them have some or not?

If I do...

I can’t bear to part with it.

If I don’t...

I’m bound to face Dad and Mom’s nagging and complaints.

They might even steal it when I’m not paying attention, just like last time.

Thinking back to the last time when Dad and Mom, drawn by the aroma, secretly devoured the special Teacher’s Day gift Huang Jun made for her—peony puff pastry—leaving her nothing, not even a crumb...

Every time she thinks of it, it pains her to the point of breathlessness!

Although Dad and Mom later compensated her, it couldn’t heal her emotional trauma...

So!

Since they acted unkindly first, she can’t be blamed for not being filial.

Following the principle of "never let yourself suffer," she’s decided to hide this box of scallion oil stewed chicken and not let Dad and Mom find it.

But her conscience felt a little uneasy, and she muttered apologetically to herself, "I’m sorry, Dad and Mom, if it were anything else, I’d gladly offer it to you two. But this scallion oil stewed chicken made by Huang Jun, I really can’t bear to give it up. I’ll make it up by ordering you something later if you’re hungry..."

Saying that, she returned to the car, found some napkins, and meticulously wrapped the scallion oil stewed chicken tightly.

Well, let’s just say...

The conscience is there, but not much of it!

She placed it under her nose for another sniff, "Hmm, good, unless you specifically sniff, you can’t really smell anything now."

But just to be safe!

She decided to wrap another layer of plastic around it, to prevent any sauce leaks and thus, aroma escaping.

After ensuring everything was set, she finally placed the wrapped scallion oil stewed chicken into her handbag.

Feeling relieved, she took a step and walked into the elevator lobby.

As the elevator doors gradually opened, she walked in, lightly tapping the button for her floor.

As the elevator quietly started, she stood still inside, enjoying the comfortable sensation of the smooth ascent.

After a moment!

The elevator reached her floor, the doors opened again, and she stepped out, walking down the very familiar hallway to her apartment door, skillfully entering a familiar code. The door lock responded and unlocked, revealing the brightly lit and spacious living room.

"Dad, Mom, I’m home!"

She switched shoes at the entrance, carrying her handbag inside.

Hearing her voice, Yang Deyi got up from the living room and walked over, his eyes landing on the clock on the wall as he pointed out, "Xiaoxi, why did it take so long just to eat? Look at the time, your mom and I were getting sleepy waiting for you."

She left at a bit past four, and now it’s already after eight in the evening.

He had to urge her to come back, otherwise it might have been even later!

A classic case of "having colleagues and forgetting Dad," huh...

Yang Yuxi snuggled up, playfully shaking Yang Deyi’s arm, "Ah, Dad, don’t be mad, I just got home, didn’t I? And besides, I brought..."

Before finishing her sentence.

She suddenly realized she almost slipped and quickly stopped, a slight blush of embarrassment washing over her face.

Just like a child caught red-handed after sneaking candy!

Seeing her stop mid-sentence with raised eyebrows, Yang Deyi curiously asked, "Xiaoxi, what did you bring?"

Yang Yuxi: "(・ω・｀ll)"

Uh~

Yang Yuxi, don’t look so guilty like a thief, it’s an easy giveaway...

Keep calm, it’s no big deal!

She cleverly diverted, trying to cover her slip-up, "I mean I didn’t stay that long, it’s rare for my colleagues to gather, so we chatted a bit more."

"Dad, don’t be upset..."

Saying this, coquettishly swinging Yang Deyi’s arm.

Since childhood, she never worried the adults, and whenever she acted cute, Yang Deyi would relent, softening his tone, "Dad’s just concerned for you, not angry."

"I know, Dad, thank you. I’ll be more careful in the future, and I won’t make you worry anymore." Yang Yuxi responded, smiling as she took her dad’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "Oh, by the way, Dad, have you had dinner yet?"

"I have, your mom made sea cucumber porridge."

Yang Deyi noticed her handbag was bulging and looking quite heavy, so he considerately offered, "Here, let Dad carry it for you!"

"No, no! I can handle it myself..." Yang Yuxi quickly refused, as if afraid her dad might uncover a secret in her bag.

Yang Deyi: "???"

Previously, his daughter always wished he would help carry her bag. Every time, before he even spoke, she’d throw the bag to him. Why did she suddenly refuse his kindness today?

Yang Yuxi quickly changed the subject, trying to divert her father’s attention, "Dad, where’s Mom?"

"Oh, your mom." Yang Deyi snapped back and pointed towards the kitchen, "She’s brewing coffee in the kitchen!"

"Is she? Then I’ll go check on her~"

Yang Yuxi said this, and with light steps, she almost ran to the kitchen as if to escape.

Yang Deyi watched his daughter’s back and felt that she was behaving unusually tonight, but couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.

Wait a minute!

Since when did she treat her bag like treasure?

She wouldn’t let it out of her sight!

And why was that bag so bulging?

What on earth was inside?

He was even more puzzled but couldn’t figure it out.

Forget it, forget it!

His daughter had grown up and had her own little secrets.

Yang Deyi shook his head, no longer dwelling on his daughter’s unusual behavior and obediently sat down on the couch, immersing himself in his favorite war drama...

At this moment, a thrilling climax finally unfolded on the TV screen.

"Captain, where’s the damn Italian cannon, bring it up here for me!"

Yang Deyi’s eyes were fixed on the screen, completely captivated by this exciting classic scene.

Meanwhile, Yang Yuxi entered the kitchen, where the rich aroma of coffee filled the air, and saw her mom focused on brewing coffee.

She slowed down her steps, walked lightly to her mom’s back, hugged her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder, and coyly said, "Mom’s coffee smells the best..."

Shu Meiling turned her head and looked at Yang Yuxi, "That’s right, your mom is well-trained after all!"

Yang Yuxi playfully said, "Yes, yes, at our home, when it comes to making coffee, if you dare to claim second place, no one would dare claim first."

These words delighted Shu Meiling, making her mood a lot better. She smiled and asked, "Xiaoxi, do you want a cup too?"

"Mom, no need, I ate too much tonight, can’t drink anymore." She gently shook her head.

As Shu Meiling spoke, she belatedly noticed something, "Hmm? What’s poking me here?"

Looking down...

It turned out to be her daughter’s bag pressing against her, causing some discomfort.

Yang Yuxi immediately realized this, quickly let go of her mom, took down her bag, and apologized with a smile, "Oh no, sorry, Mom, my bag is too big."

Shu Meiling glanced at the bulging bag, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, "Xiaoxi, what’s in there that’s making it so bulging?"

Yang Yuxi felt a bit tense inside, but her face remained calm, "Oh, just some work-related stuff, nothing special."

"Weren’t you going to a colleague’s place for dinner? Why bring work stuff?" Shu Meiling’s question had a bit of probing in it, "That’s odd, your bag wasn’t this bulging before you left..."

Yang Yuxi: "..."

Mom, are you a radar?

You’re quite observant...

"Next week’s work materials, given to me by a colleague." She quickly made up a reason to try easing her mom’s doubt and then found an excuse, "Mom, you carry on, I’ll go change my clothes~"

Saying that, she swiftly fled the kitchen and entered her own room.

Seeing this, Shu Meiling’s suspicion deepened.

She picked up the freshly brewed coffee, went to the living room, handed a cup of coffee to Yang Deyi, and sat down beside him.

She glanced at Yang Yuxi’s room, saw the door still closed, and whispered, "Honey, don’t you think our daughter is acting quite strange tonight?"

Yang Deyi shifted his gaze from the TV screen to his wife, nodded, "Honey, you noticed too? Our Xiaoxi does seem a bit different today, but, you know, kids grow up, it’s normal for them to have some little secrets."

Shu Meiling sighed, "I just hope she isn’t hiding anything from us. You know how much I’ve always hoped she’d be honest with us."

Yang Deyi patted her hand, comforting her, "Don’t worry, Xiaoxi is a sensible child. If there’s anything, she would definitely tell us. We should give her some space."

Shu Meiling thought for a moment, felt her husband made sense, and relaxed with a smile, "Alright, then we won’t worry too much. However, I still feel there’s something hidden in her bag, it’s so bulging and all."

"I’m curious too, she wouldn’t even let me touch it! Surely there’s something in there she doesn’t want us to know."

"Honey, do you think our Xiaoxi might be dating?"

"What? Honey, you mean... Xiaoxi going to her colleague’s house for dinner was just an excuse? Dating was her real intention?" Yang Deyi’s mood instantly soured.

How could he be happy seeing "his cabbage" being picked by someone else after all these years of raising her?

"That’s right! Look at her outfit today, clearly, she dressed up carefully..."

"Well, isn’t our daughter always particular about her appearance? You’re probably overthinking it."

"Though Xiaoxi usually pays attention to her dressing, today she seemed to have put in extra effort."

"Then... shall we ask her later?"

"Do you think you can get a straight answer?"

Exactly!

If she wanted to tell us, she’d have done it already.

Now we’re in a bit of a conundrum...