After taking care of matters at the factory, Lin Gaoyuan drove frantically toward Nanshan Primary School.
He glanced at the time on his wrist. The parent-teacher conference was probably almost over by now. No need to go into the school; he could just pick up his two daughters here and take them home.
Parents were trickling out of the school gates with their children. Just as the couple was about to call Yanwan, they saw Jiang Xia walking out of the school, hand-in-hand with their older daughter on one side and their younger daughter on the other. The three of them were chatting and laughing.
The father-in-law’s face twitched. ’It was one thing for that punk to snatch Yanwan away, but to not even spare Xiao Man? Was he even human?’
"That’s not the way home. Where is he taking your daughters?" Lin Gaoyuan asked, looking at his wife.
"Probably to his place," Ji Wanqiu said lightly.
At these words, the father-in-law panicked. ’That punk had been bold enough to mess around in *our* home before. Now that they were going to *his* place, wouldn’t he graduate from doing whatever he wanted to outright villainy? Who knew what he might do on his own turf.’
"No, no, they can’t go. It’s not like they don’t have their own home. Why on earth would they go to someone else’s house?"
As Lin Gaoyuan spoke, he started to get out of the car but was stopped by Ji Wanqiu. "Hey, hey, hold on. What’s the rush?"
"If I don’t hurry, both your daughters will be snatched away," he blurted out.
The corner of Ji Wanqiu’s eye twitched. She said lightly, "And you don’t believe me when I say you haven’t been paying enough attention to the girls. Your two daughters go over to Jiang Xia’s place for free meals all the time. My guess is that Teacher Xia saw we were too busy today and invited Yanwan and Xiao Man over for dinner."
"Who?"
"Xia Shanshan. Jiang Xia’s mother, Xiao Man’s homeroom teacher. She absolutely adores Xiao Man," Ji Wanqiu said.
Lin Gaoyuan pressed his lips together and fell silent. For the past few months, he’d been leaving early and coming home late, often traveling for business or attending social functions. He really hadn’t been paying as much attention to his two daughters as before. His wife handled almost all the family matters.
"And don’t always be so dissatisfied with Jiang Xia. When neither of us was free, he helped out a lot. Among his peers, he’s definitely outstanding. Whether it’s his character or his looks, he’s a good match for Yanwan."
"You’re just a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law—the more you look, the more you like what you see," Lin Gaoyuan muttered under his breath.
Ji Wanqiu chuckled. ’She really did like this son-in-law of hers. He was handsome, had a good character, was a smooth talker, and shouldered responsibility. Almost every good quality she could think of, she could find in Jiang Xia. What reason was there not to like him?’
’Sometimes she even felt that Yanwan was the one who was marrying up, but when it came to love, what mattered was that both sides were fond of each other.’
"What? So are you a father-in-law looking at his son-in-law—the more you look, the angrier you get?"
"Not exactly," Lin Gaoyuan said, frowning slightly in thought. "It’s just that feeling, you know? Your precious daughter, whom you worked so hard to raise, is suddenly snatched away by some punk who appeared out of nowhere. It’s a little frustrating."
"Oh, Old Lin, it’s the 21st century. We have to change some of these old-fashioned ideas. Our daughter is grown up and has her own thoughts. As parents, we can’t control every little thing like we used to. Try to be more open-minded; you’ll be happier for it. Besides, our daughter’s happiness is the most important thing, isn’t it?"
Looking out the car window at Jiang Xia holding a hand on each side, Ji Wanqiu couldn’t help but smile faintly.
"You’re right, it’s just... there’s this empty feeling inside," Lin Gaoyuan sighed softly. ’For the first time, he felt that his daughter was all grown up and didn’t need her dad anymore.’
Ji Wanqiu smiled. "I felt pretty much the same as you at first. You’ll get used to it. Gradually, you’ll see that kid is actually really great."
Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang. She glanced down and saw it was a call from Yanwan. The old couple exchanged a look, and she put the call on speaker.
"Mom, Xiao Man’s parent-teacher conference is over," her daughter’s voice came from the phone.
"How did Xiao Man do on her tests?"
"She said she wants to tell you in person when she gets home," Lin Yanwan said with a light laugh.
"Pass the phone to Xiao Man. I want to talk to her."
Ji Wanqiu looked up at the trio a short distance ahead. After Yanwan handed the phone to Xiao Man, her younger daughter’s childish voice came through.
"Mommy, it’s Xiao Man! I got a perfect score on my test today! Teacher Xia gave me three certificates, plus a first-place certificate of honor and a scholarship!" Lin Xiaoman blurted out everything at once, her tone practically begging for praise.
"Wow, Xiao Man, that’s amazing! Honey, Mommy wants to say sorry. Something came up at the factory today, so Mommy and Daddy couldn’t be there for your conference. But Xiao Man is such a sensible and good girl, you’ll forgive Mommy and Daddy, right?"
"Mhm!"
Lin Xiaoman pouted and said, "I was just a little sad at first. But then Sis... Brother Jiang Xia and my sister came to the conference with me, so I wasn’t sad anymore."
Hearing this, Lin Gaoyuan’s face darkened. ’How is that punk mixed up in everything?’ However, when he remembered that this was all due to his own failure to be there, he had to admit Jiang Xia had actually helped him out. His feelings were complicated.
"Mommy, Teacher Xia invited me and my sister to her house for dinner today," Lin Xiaoman said. "You and Daddy should just focus on your work and not worry about me. Xiao Man will take good care of my sister."
Lin Yanwan froze, the corner of her mouth twitching as she looked at her little sister. ’This little brat will say anything, won’t she? I’m obviously the one taking care of her.’
"Is that so? Well then, Xiao Man, you have to take good care of your sister. Don’t let anyone bully her," Ji Wanqiu said with a broad smile, her words carrying a hidden meaning.
"Don’t worry, Mommy! You can count on Xiao Man!"
"Good girl, Xiao Man. Now pass the phone to your sister."
"Mom, you and Dad don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Xiao Man."
"Yanwan, when you’re at someone else’s house, remember not to cause any trouble for Aunt Xia, understand?"
"Mhm."
Lin Yanwan blushed slightly.
After the call ended, Ji Wanqiu turned to Lin Gaoyuan and said, "See? What did I just tell you? Teacher Xia is very good to both of your daughters. I can tell she genuinely likes Yanwan and Xiao Man."
"I just think... they’ve only just started dating and they’re already meeting the parents. Isn’t this moving a little too fast?" Lin Gaoyuan said.
"What’s wrong with knowing everything about them from the start? Would you rather Yanwan date in secret and only have a rushed meeting with the parents right before the wedding? You wouldn’t know anything about him then, and I’m afraid you’d have even more objections," Ji Wanqiu said irritably.
"That’s true."
Lin Gaoyuan rested his cheek on his hand, pondering carefully. "In that case, should we find some time to invite that punk’s parents to dinner?"
"We should have done that ages ago. Putting everything else aside, Teacher Xia is going to be teaching Xiao Man for another five years. Having a meal together can’t hurt."
Lin Gaoyuan nodded.
He started the car, turned on the hazard lights, and slowly followed them.
"What are you doing?"
"Can’t I secretly observe my future son-in-law?"
Ji Wanqiu was taken aback for a moment, then she chuckled and looked out the window. ’Looks like her Old Lin isn’t so stubborn after all.’
...
(Wishing everyone can find a nice father-in-law and mother-in-law.)