Chapter 34: Family Matters

“When did you get back?”

“This morning. I finished my tasks and arrived here around this time.”

Xiao Qingru’s almond eyes curved slightly. “Did you come to see my brother again?”

Xu Muzhou chuckled softly. “Actually, I came to see you, Comrade Xiao. Could I join you for dinner?”

Before his mission, Xu Muzhou had delivered two fish to her family. Xiao’s mother had even mentioned at the time that she’d cook a meal for him when he returned.

Now, Xiao Qingru realized that he’d been planning this all along. Every move was calculated, and he’d already decided to come to her house for dinner as soon as his task was over.

Feigning a cough, she replied, “Since you didn’t give advance notice, my mother might not have prepared enough food for you.”

“Well, I called home around noon,” Xu Muzhou replied casually.

He said the word “home” so naturally that Xiao Qingru felt a hint of warmth in his tone, though she wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination.

“If you don’t want me to come over, I could call Auntie and say I’ve got other things to do,” he teased.

Xiao Qingru rolled her eyes. “Xu Muzhou, you’re such a pretentious man.” With that, she strode off toward her home.

Xu Muzhou quickly followed her. “I forgot to mention earlier, Qingru, I missed you these past few days. My ‘dinner request’ is just an excuse to see you.”

A blush crept across Xiao Qingru’s face. She avoided his gaze, lowering her head and picking up her pace.

A pleased smile spread across Xu Muzhou’s face. It seemed his beloved girl was beginning to view him differently.

Xu Muzhou rubbed his fingers thoughtfully. Honesty truly had its rewards. Had he kept his feelings hidden, he doubted their relationship would have progressed this quickly.

Keeping a respectful distance, he followed Xiao Qingru all the way back to her home.

The sight of them walking together sent a clear signal to everyone they were an item now. After witnessing the Jiang family’s recent humiliation, seeing Xu Muzhou enter the Xiao family home felt like a stark contrast, leaving many with mixed feelings.

“Xiao, please sit. Your mission must’ve been exhausting. I made lamb soup have as much as you like tonight,” Xiao’s mother said warmly.

“Auntie, thank you for going to the trouble.”

“Qingru’s father loves lamb soup, and when he heard you’d be coming, he specifically asked me to make it for you. We’re family, so there’s no need for such formalities.”

She quickly added, “You’re friends with Huaishu, so to me, you’re practically like a son. We’re all family here.”

Xiao Qingru, rolling her eyes at the obvious hint, grabbed her bag and went upstairs.

Her mother, however, was clearly pleased with her “prospective son in law.”

Pouring Xu Muzhou a cup of water, she said, “Sit tight. I’ll go steam some mantou (steamed buns) and dinner will be ready soon.”

“Let me help you,” Xu Muzhou offered.

Xiao’s mother initially intended to decline, but then she reconsidered. After all, she ought to observe him closely on her daughter’s behalf.

If Xu Muzhou was all talk and no action in the kitchen, she’d need to train him a bit. After all, she couldn’t expect her daughter to cook all the time. If he didn’t know how, she’d evaluate his willingness to learn and his sincerity. If he was unwilling to try, no matter how promising his career, she wouldn’t approve of him as her daughter’s match.

“All right then, help me out,” she replied.

Xu Muzhou placed his coat on the sofa, washed his hands, and joined her in the kitchen.

Xiao Qingru’s room was positioned diagonally above the kitchen, and with the window open, she could hear their conversation clearly.

“Xiao, so you know how to cook, huh? I would’ve never guessed. Your skills are quite good,” Xiao’s mother praised.

“My parents worked at the factory and usually didn’t come home for lunch, so I started cooking for myself at five years old.”

“I heard that factory workers live in shared dorms?”

“Not always. My family lives in a traditional courtyard house.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

“I’m an only child. My mother had a difficult delivery with me, so they decided not to have any more children.”

“That must have been hard on her. You and your future wife will need to take good care of your parents.”

Xiao Qingru’s lips twitched. Did her mother really have to say “you and your future wife”?

The conversation downstairs continued, and Xiao’s mother had almost gotten the entire family background of the Xu family.

Standing by the window, Xiao Qingru heard everything loud and clear.

She realized she genuinely had feelings for Xu Muzhou.

To be honest, she felt a bit embarrassed. It turned out she wasn’t as detached as she’d thought.