Otherworldly Affairs Office-Chapter 617 Returning Home (Requesting Subscription)

When Pei Yan and his group, lugging large bags and packages, appeared at the gate of the neighborhood, half of the community was abuzz. Over a dozen families stood hopefully at the entrance after receiving phone calls, eagerly awaiting their children's return home.

"Mom!" Pei Yan, carrying a heap of gift boxes, felt a lump in his throat and almost burst into tears upon seeing his mother.

"Oh! Oh!" Mrs. Pei, Li Yuhua, replied with a choked voice, reaching out to touch her son's head. Looking at his tanned skin and strong build, she joyfully remarked, "You've grown taller again! The military sure does toughen a person up. You've changed so much that if I hadn't seen your sister, I wouldn't have recognized you! You look steadier now! Quite the young man."

She turned her head to look at Pei Jin and noticed the heap of items they were carrying, expressing her concern, "Oh dear, you didn't have to bring so much stuff back! We lack nothing at home! You don't earn that much in a month—it's a waste of money." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Hey, it didn't cost that much. Besides, I make quite a bit in a month! By the way, where's Dad?" Pei Yan replied with a silly grin.

"You should know your dad. He's always putting on airs, sitting at home as if he's on a fishing platform. Let's go home! The food's ready! Your grandparents are all here, just waiting for you two to return." Li Yuhua said while taking the gifts her daughter handed over with a smile.

"Okay!" Pei Yan took a few steps back and just happened to spot Wang Wenze chatting with his own parents. He stopped and called out to his mom, "Mom! This is Wang Wenze, the one I kept mentioning over the phone, my teammate who looked after me when I joined the team."

"Oh! Is it him! Your granddad always plays chess with their old man after moving here." Li Yuhua hurried forward to greet him upon hearing this. Meanwhile, Wang Wenze, who was introducing his girlfriend to his parents, started introducing Pei Yan's family turns upon spotting them. After a round of pleasantries, the families arranged to visit each other later and went their separate ways with their children.

Opening the door, Pei Yan couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so big inside!"

"Yeah, we got assigned a house that's over 200 square meters. I've been wanting to ask you what exactly you're doing, but your dad won't let me say much." Li Yuhua placed the gifts aside and glanced at her husband, who was busy in the kitchen, then discreetly tugged Pei Yan's sleeve and whispered, "What kind of job are you really doing? They value you so highly up there, not only buying our little restaurant but also giving us a house—well, two houses, each better than the last—and depositing money into our account every month. Are you in some really dangerous job?"

Just as Pei Yan was about to answer, his father suddenly came out of the kitchen, scrutinizing him and his sister blandly, "You're back! Wash up and have dinner."

"Okay!" Pei Yan replied, turning to his mom with a smile to reassure her, "How could it be dangerous! Look at me, I'm in perfectly good shape! Didn't you say I've even grown taller?"

As an ordinary person, Li Yuhua naturally couldn't see through the disguise that Pei Yan had put on, but understanding her son, she knew he wasn't telling the truth, and helplessly accepted his coat, patting his shoulder grumbly, "You just keep fooling around, keeping everything to yourself, fooling your mom!"

"I'm not!" Pei Yan, who was ruthless outside, childishly pouted in front of his mother.

"Alright, go wash your hands and eat."

Sitting around the dining table, the family happily enjoyed their meal. Pei Yan gnawed at a large bone, his mouth covered in oil, basking in happiness and satisfaction, "Oh, Mom, you don't know how much I longed for this taste when I was in the squad. Today I finally got my fill!"

"Eat as much as you like. Your dad specially went out to buy this for you two after getting the call. One sweet and sour fish, one braised ribs with sauce bones, he spent the whole evening just for you brother and sister." Grandpa remarked cheerily, sipping the Maotai that his grandson brought back.

"Gosh, is the food not so good at the squad? I remember Tuantuan didn't eat that much before. Look, the child's famished." Grandma said with concern, which immediately resonated with his mother and grandmother, who nodded in agreement.

"Nah, the food's good over there, it's just that I miss this homemade taste!" Pei Yan explained, turning to butter up his dad, "Dad, do we have more of these bones at home? I kept telling my teammates that our restaurant's specialty used to be these saucy bones, and they're so delicious they wouldn't believe me. I really want them to try it."

"Eat all you want! Tomorrow I'll go buy more so you can share with your teammates." Old Pei said, taking a sip of his drink, his face lighting up with a smug smile as he agreed.

"Won't that be troublesome?"

"What are you saying? We used to run a restaurant; what's the trouble in this! Just eat!"

Throughout the meal, Li Yuhua kept subtly questioning her son about his job, but whenever this topic came up, Pei Yan would skillfully dodge and change the subject. After several attempts in vain, she temporarily gave up and asked about something she was more concerned about, "Son, I noticed that your roommate seems to have brought his girlfriend along."

"Yeah, she's also my teammate, her name's Liang Qian." Pei Yan replied with a sigh of relief upon realizing his mother was off the job topic, not knowing he was digging a bigger hole for himself.

"So you're allowed to date? Things are that relaxed now?" Grandpa put down his cup and asked in puzzlement.

"We have special permission now, and I'm under local jurisdiction, so it's not as strict. That's why I'm able to come back and see you guys!" Pei Yan explained immediately.

"Local jurisdiction is good, local jurisdiction is good! It's safer here." Li Yuhua, finally getting some clarity, cheerfully chimed in, then cautiously took her son's hand and asked, "So do you have someone at your unit?"

Pei Yan, eating to the point his mouth felt dry, was sipping his orange juice when he nearly choked hearing this question. Gulping it down, he coughed and replied, "Mom! I'm still young! Why rush me into dating! You should worry about my sister first."

"I'm not worried about your sister. She's got the credentials. There'll be plenty chasing her."

"Mom, you mean my, my, credentials are not up to snuff, right?"

"Naughty boy, don't twist your mom's words! Don't bring up age; didn't you almost find someone when you were in college? Now you're working, you should at least start looking. I think those female colleagues of yours seem pretty nice, especially that girl with short hair and big eyes, she's so lively."

Pei Yan put down his chopsticks in exasperation, "That's Xia Yu, she already has someone she likes!"

"And what about that girl with long hair, carrying a backpack, with curved eyes?" Li Yuhua continued to press.

"That's Xue Buli! She also has a significant other, he's in our team too!" Pei Yan said, speechless, beginning to resent Wang Wenze for showing off in public. When he got back, he swore to give him a good knock on the head.