Chapter 23: Meeting the Family

Mu Xingjue went to the post office to mail a letter, then stopped by the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some food and necessities for Su Yao, arriving home just before dinner.

At the dining table, Ye Simin and Xu Xingyu cast glances at the pair from time to time. Su Yao felt embarrassed, but a single look from Mu Xingjue was enough to make Xu Xingyu immediately lower his head.

After dinner, Mu Xingjue suggested swapping rooms with Ye Simin, proposing that she move into his room while he moved his things into hers. Ye Simin initially disagreed, but upon seeing him wrap his arm around Su Yao, she had no choice but to pack up.

"That shameless dog of a man," she thought.

While Mu Xingjue and Xu Xingyu were moving the furniture, Ye Simin pulled Su Yao aside, her face flushed as she whispered, "Yao Yao, how does it feel?"

Su Yao nearly choked on her own saliva. "Why don't you ask Xu Xingyu and find out for yourself?"

"Oh, you're terrible! How could I possibly ask that?" Ye Simin blushed and stamped her foot, then stole a glance at Xu Xingyu, who was busy moving a cabinet, feeling her entire body heat up.

There wasn't much to move, so the room swap was completed quickly as night fell. Once Mu Xingjue had settled his belongings, he locked the door and walked straight into Su Yao’s room.

"Aren't you going back to your own room?"

"Yao Yao, we are already together now. There's no need for that, and it's night, so no one will see." As he spoke, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Dazed by his affection, Su Yao found herself lying on the bed with him.

"Yao Yao, these are all my savings. I'm handing them over to you for safekeeping. From now on, whenever I need money, I'll come to you."

Su Yao accepted them without hesitation and rewarded him with a kiss. "Perfect. Keep it up."

"Yes, my wife."

"You change your tune fast, don't you? You haven't even called me 'Yao Yao' that many times, and now it's 'wife' already."

"Wife, wife..."

After a bit of playful banter, they went to sleep. They had already taken a day off; they couldn't keep asking for leave every day, or the team leader and the others would start talking.

The next day, after returning from work and finishing dinner, Mu Xingjue pulled Su Yao into the room. "What are you doing? It's still light out."

Mu Xingjue chuckled. "Is my wife feeling romantic? Don't worry, your husband will satisfy you in a moment."

"You..."

"Yao Yao, I want to take you to meet my family."

"Family? I only just arrived this year; I don't think I have any home leave, do I?"

Realizing she had misunderstood, Mu Xingjue explained, "It's not in the capital. They are right here."

"You have relatives here? Why have I never seen you visit them?"

"I have, but I didn't dare go openly. I've only ever gone in secret, at night."

Su Yao was puzzled. Why would visiting relatives require sneaking around at night? Was there such a place here? She suddenly realized there was indeed a place one couldn't visit openly. She pointed toward the direction of the cowshed.

Mu Xingjue nodded, watching her expression closely. If she had shown even the slightest hesitation, he wouldn't have taken her; after all, his grandparents' status was indeed very sensitive.

"Alright. Since it's our first meeting, what should I bring?" Su Yao began to mentally inventory her cabinet and the items in her private space to see what would be appropriate.

"Thank you, my wife. Don't worry, my grandparents will definitely like you." Mu Xingjue beamed with happiness.

Under the cover of darkness, Su Yao carried two tins of malted milk powder, two cans of fruit, a bag of brown sugar, and a bottle of Wuliangye liquor as she and Mu Xingjue headed to the cowshed.

"Wife, you really didn't need to bring anything."

"That won't do. One doesn't visit for the first time empty-handed, especially since they are your elders."

Mu Xingjue was delighted; this showed that his wife valued his family and did not look down on them despite their situation. He held her close as they carefully made their way to the cowshed.

Mu Xingjue knocked, and the door opened quickly. "Xingjue, why are you here again? We have enough to eat here; this is too dangerous for you."

"Grandpa, Grandma, look who I've brought." Ignoring their concerns, Mu Xingjue stepped aside to reveal the person behind him.

When Ren Zhiming and Deng Ruolan saw the young woman behind their grandson, they immediately understood. "You rascal, you bring someone over without telling us in advance so we could prepare!"

They pulled Su Yao inside. "You must be the educated youth, Su. This boy has talked about you so much, but I never expected such a beautiful girl. That rascal is truly lucky."

Embarrassed, Su Yao urged Mu Xingjue to hand over the items. "Grandpa, Grandma, my name is Su Yao. Please take these; you must take good care of your health."

"Your presence is enough; why bring gifts?" They then looked at Mu Xingjue. "You too, let her go to such expense when we already have everything we need."

"Grandma, this is just a token of Yao Yao's heart; please accept it."

"Very well, but Yao Yao, don't go to such trouble next time. This boy brings us things all the time."

Ren Zhiming looked at Su Yao, feeling a sense of familiarity. "Yao Yao, where are you from?"

"I'm from Su City."

"Su City? I had a student from there, also surnamed Su. Alas, he had a difficult life."

"Old man, why bring that up the first time we meet our granddaughter-in-law?"

"It's alright, Grandma. I'm sure your student was a wonderful person, or you wouldn't remember him so fondly."

"Indeed, he was a brilliant and diligent student. He and Yunliang were my most prized pupils."

"Yunliang? Zhao Yunliang?" The name sounded familiar, like the uncle she knew.

"You know him?" Ren Zhiming asked excitedly.

"Yes, he is a good friend of my father’s. They worked at the same research institute and both left it later on. Ever since my father met with misfortune, he has been helping me."

"Tell me, is your father's name Su Yuanrong?"

"Yes, do you know my father, Grandpa?"

"I do, how could I not? Your father and Zhao Yunliang were my pride and joy. After I got into trouble, they both left the institute. I never imagined you were Yuanrong's daughter."

Su Yao was equally stunned; it was such an incredible coincidence that they were connected in this way.

With this new bond, the two elders grew even fonder of her. Deng Ruolan held Su Yao’s hand and laughed, "Yao Yao, you probably don't know, but this rascal has been saying he wanted to marry you since he was five or six years old."

"Really? But we shouldn't have known each other back then."

"You didn't, but your father visited our home, and the boy happened to be there. Your father was bragging about his daughter and showed us a photo. This rascal snatched it the moment he saw it, declaring he would marry this little sister when he grew up. Your father was so angry he snatched it back and left."

"Later on, whenever he saw your father, he would pester him for the photo, asking where his wife was hiding. Your father was so annoyed he wanted to give him a good thrashing!"

Both Su Yao and Mu Xingjue were shocked to discover they shared such a fated connection!