Fang Chenyi was quite gratified to see Bai Menghan looking so anxious she was about to cry.

He gently ruffled Bai Menghan’s hair.

"Don’t be silly. I bet you that just bringing you home will make my parents happier than any gift. Haha, come on, let’s go. We’re right at the front door."

"What do you mean, ’it’s fine’? Absolutely not! No matter how you look at it, this is my first time visiting your family. I have to bring a gift, at the very least! You can’t show up empty-handed for the first visit. And what about your little sister, Jinjin? I’ll be her sister-in-law. How can I not give her a gift the first time we meet?"

To be honest, Fang Chenyi hadn’t really thought that far ahead. It was just like he’d said: his parents had long been hoping that he would one day bring a wife home.

And now, he hadn’t just brought one home, but a stunning beauty at that. He didn’t even have to think to know his parents would be overjoyed.

But seeing how insistent Bai Menghan was about buying a gift, Fang Chenyi had no choice but to point to the Lamborghini SUV he was driving and say,

"Hey, I’ve already prepared a gift. Look, it’s this car. My dad has always wanted a car of his own, but because our family had limited means, that dream was never realized. Here, let’s just say this car is a gift from the two of us to my parents."

Hearing Fang Chenyi’s words, Bai Menghan shot him a look that clearly said, ’Who do you think you’re kidding?’

’Are you kidding me? A single one of Fang Chenyi’s pens is worth hundreds of millions, and he’s telling me his family has limited means? That they could never afford a car? Who is he trying to fool?’

As if he could read her mind, Fang Chenyi shook his head with a wry smile.

"You probably won’t believe me, but I only really got on my feet recently. Before this, I also lived an ordinary life, working nine-to-five, living in a shabby little rental... Haha, alright, let’s not talk about that. We have a gift now, so can we go in?"

Bai Menghan looked into Fang Chenyi’s eyes. Seeing no flicker of dishonesty in his gaze, she chose to believe him.

However, when she heard Fang Chenyi say it was time to enter the village, Bai Menghan started to get nervous again. Her hands unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her clothes, and her expression became flustered.

"But... but what about a gift for your little sister?"

He slapped his forehead helplessly. "Haha, as for Xiaojin, you can just take her shopping some other time. That way, you can get her a gift and get to know each other better, right?"

After a moment’s thought, Bai Menghan had no choice but to nod in agreement. She walked back to her own car. Seeing that Fang Chenyi had already started his, she scrambled to follow, her heart pounding like a drum.

Finally, she clenched her jaw. ’You have to face the in-laws eventually. This day was bound to come sooner or later, so what’s there to be afraid of!’

With that thought, the nervousness in her heart gradually subsided.

...

Although they had left quite early, by the time they drove all the way back, it was already past ten in the morning.

The car twisted and turned before finally pulling up to his front door.

Looking at the familiar street, the familiar doorway, the familiar one-story house, Fang Chenyi felt a strange sensation, as if a lifetime had passed.

As the car came to a stop, Father Fang, who was off for the weekend and tending to the vegetable garden in the yard, was the first to notice that a large car had suddenly stopped at their gate.

This left him a bit puzzled. ’Whose car is this, blocking our gate?’

But since they were all neighbors, he didn’t think much of it. He bent over, ready to continue with the work he hadn’t finished.

But just then, with the THUMP THUMP of two car doors shutting,

his son’s voice came from the courtyard gate:

"Dad! Mom! Hehe, come on out! Look at the surprise I brought you!"

His voice arrived before he did.

Father Fang stabbed the iron shovel in his hand into the ground, stomped it secure with his foot, and then straightened up to look toward the gate, scolding irritably:

"You little rascal, you’re back, so you’re back. What’s all the shouting?! A surprise? The only time we’d be sur—... uh... sur... Honey! Honey! Come quick! Get out here!! Get out here!"

He had been in the middle of his sentence when he saw a pretty young woman walk in behind Fang Chenyi. He choked back the rest of his words and immediately started shouting for his wife.

"Hello, Uncle. My name is Bai Menghan. Hehe, I’m Chenyi’s girlfriend. Your vegetable garden is amazing! My dad likes to fiddle with these things at home too, but his can’t even compare to yours."

Stepping through the gate, a slightly shy Bai Menghan quickly greeted him as "Uncle." You had to admit, the girl was sharp. With just a few sentences, she had Father Fang’s old face grinning from ear to ear.

While they were talking, Mrs. Fang walked out of the house holding a basin, grumbling as she went:

"I’m coming, I’m coming! I just went inside to get a basin to pick some green beans. Old Fang, what are you shouting about? Uh... who is this young lady?"

"Hello, Auntie. My name is Bai Menghan. I’m Chenyi’s girlfriend. Hehe, I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time, but Chenyi kept saying he was busy. So today, since he finally has some time, we hurried over to see you both. Here, Auntie, let me help you with that basin."

Hmm...

’This girl can lie without even batting an eye,’ Fang Chenyi thought, amused. ’"Been wanting to come for a long time"? I wonder who was so nervous they were twisting the hem of their clothes at the village entrance just a minute ago.’

But seeing his parents’ joyous expressions, Fang Chenyi still felt very gratified, especially when he saw how much his mom and dad adored Bai Menghan. They had even started completely ignoring their own son.

"This rotten kid, what’s he so busy with? My daughter-in-law wants to visit and you don’t bring her right away? I think you’re just asking for a beating! Let’s go, Menghan, let’s go inside. Inside."

Mrs. Fang took Bai Menghan’s small hand and started walking toward the house, not forgetting to shoot Fang Chenyi a fierce glare as she went.

"Hehe, Auntie, weren’t you going to pick green beans? Perfect, I’ll help you. I can stew them for you for lunch today."

Bai Menghan secretly shot a gloating look at Fang Chenyi, her eyes seeming to say, ’Serves you right for not telling me to buy a gift beforehand. See? Now you’re getting scolded. Hehe, you deserve it!’

She reached out, took the stainless steel basin from Mrs. Fang’s hands, and walked toward the green bean patch.

Behind her, Mrs. Fang watched this completely unpretentious daughter-in-law, her smile threatening to split her face.

[To be continued...]

PS: Everyone! More Chapters coming soon!