Chapter 7: Euphemism for Birth

“How could I not be scared?!” Lian Nanshu looked up and met Lan Xubai’s eyes, her expression full of anxiety. “Lan Xubai, you’re going to be the death of me!”

She was already imagining the awkward scene that awaited them inside.

At that moment, the people inside had started turning toward the entrance. Lan Luobai jogged over and took the gifts from Lan Xubai’s hands. Lan Xubai handed her the lighter items and freed his left hand to hold Lian Nanshu’s.

“Shall we go in?” he asked gently.

Lian Nanshu took a deep breath and followed him in.

The moment they stepped into the courtyard, she could already feel the curious gazes directed at them.

“Nanshu, you’re here?” Elder Lin was the first to greet her.

“Grandpa Lin, sorry we’re late!” she quickly responded.

She hadn’t realized until now—so many people had already arrived.

“Grandpa, Dad, Mom, Grandpa Lin,” Lan Xubai greeted them immediately.

Following his gaze, Lian Nanshu saw a middle-aged couple observing her.

They wore simple, grayish-black Zhongshan suits, similar to Western-style outfits. She remembered from the book that Lan Xubai’s parents both worked in the system—his father a former soldier, his mother a scientific researcher—both in high-ranking positions.

Other guests also glanced over, their eyes filled with curiosity, assessing her just like Lan Xubai’s parents were.

Her palms were sweating from nerves, and she instinctively gripped Lan Xubai’s hand more tightly.

Lan Xubai could feel how tense she was.

“Dad~”

“Grandpa, Mom, Dad—Sister-in-law is amazing! She’s the head of the Foreign Languages Department at our school and teaches four specialized courses!” Lan Luobai rushed to speak before Lan Xubai could introduce her himself.

She proudly linked arms with Grandpa Lan, her tone full of admiration.

Grandpa Lan gave his granddaughter a helpless look.

“Mom, Dad—this is Nanshu,” Lan Xubai said to his parents with a calm expression. Then, turning gently to Lian Nanshu, he said, “Nanshu, this is my grandfather, and my parents.”

“Grandpa, Dad… Mom…” Lian Nanshu tried to greet them with a polite nod.

Grandpa Lan immediately stepped in to ease the situation, saying, “You little rascal, hiding your wife for so long and never bringing her home. If you didn’t come today, I wouldn’t even get to meet my granddaughter-in-law!”

His words were a clear acknowledgment of Lian Nanshu’s identity.

Lan Luobai and Lin Manyin both instinctively glanced toward a particular family standing not far away.

Lan Xiong’an, Lan Xubai’s father, chuckled and said, “I’ve actually seen Nanshu before at a teachers’ conference, just didn’t get the chance to mention it to Dad—too busy.”

He tugged at his wife’s sleeve and smiled warmly, watching everyone’s reactions.

Luo Qingshu, Lan Xubai’s mother, also laughed heartily. She stepped forward and gently pushed Lan Xubai aside. “Go help Auntie Lin with something.”

Then she took Lian Nanshu by the hand and pulled her aside, her eyes kind and warm.

Lian Nanshu shot Lan Xubai a pleading look—clearly asking for help.

“Today’s a good chance to meet all these uncles and elders,” said Luo Qingshu, planning to introduce her one by one.

Lan Xubai shot a look to Lan Luobai for help, but his little sister pretended not to see it.

“小洛啊！” Elder Lin stepped in again to save the situation. “The kids just got here after a long journey. Let them sit down and have some tea, catch up a bit. There’s plenty of time for introductions before dinner, right, Old Lan?”

Luo Qingshu understood Elder Lin’s meaning and let go of Lian Nanshu’s hand. She gave her a look and said, “Go ahead.”

“Come on, come on!” Lin Manyin came over and hooked her arm through Lian Nanshu’s, pulling her away.

“小洛, your daughter-in-law is quite the beauty! She and your son look perfect together,” one of the older women commented. “My daughter Xiaoxiao is at the same school as her, and your daughter-in-law is a teacher. She’ll have to keep my girl in line for me!”

Luo Qingshu replied with a laugh, “Oh, don’t say that—our daughter-in-law doesn’t teach history!”

“Hahaha…” With that single line, the awkwardness vanished.

But one particular family remained silent, their expressions somewhat stiff.

Lin Manyin led Lian Nanshu to sit down in the backyard.

“Whew~” Lin Manyin exhaled in relief. “Sis, I was dying from secondhand anxiety for you!”

Lian Nanshu gave a half-laugh, half-cry smile—she was beyond embarrassed herself.

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law,” Lan Luobai chimed in, patting her chest. “I’ve got your back. My sister-in-law is a brilliant literary writer! That’s something to be proud of—everyone’s jealous of me!”

Lan Luobai bounced over with a proud and joyful expression.

Lin Manyin rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you used to say you hated your brother’s wife? What changed?”

Lian Nanshu stayed silent.

Lan Luobai scratched her head, embarrassed. “I was misled, okay! Chen family’s cousin told me my brother got forced into marriage by some woman from the countryside. Who wouldn’t be angry hearing that? But if I’d known she was this pretty, who would hate her? Honestly, my brother totally lucked out!”

“Of course Brother Dabai lucked out!” Lin Manyin said with admiration. “Sister is talented in every way—she’s my idol.”

Lian Nanshu blushed slightly, no longer feeling so nervous after all the compliments.

“Anyway, I’ve got every reason to be proud,” she muttered, a little shy.

“You totally should be proud!” Lan Luobai agreed. “I love your literary collection—it’s so good! Can you give me a sneak peek of what’s coming next?”

“Nope,” Lian Nanshu replied immediately. “The unpublished version isn’t the final draft, so I can’t reveal anything.”

“I object!” Lin Manyin was the first to speak up, not allowing any spoilers.

Lan Luobai, unwilling to give up, grabbed her sister-in-law’s hand and pleaded, “Come on, tell me~ My dear sister-in-law, my teacher, my idol?”

She glared at Lin Manyin, clearly not giving up without a fight.

Her gaze was full of provocation.

Lin Manyin, not one to back down, clung to Lian Nanshu and pouted, “Sister, now that you have a sister-in-law, are you going to stop caring about me? I’m calling Big Brother Dabai too—I’m also a sister-in-law! I think I have the right to speak!”

Lian Nanshu was getting dizzy from being shaken by the two of them and felt like she could see stars. “You two, can you calm down for a bit?”

Just then, Luo Qingshu walked over from the main hall with a faint smile on her face. She looked very satisfied with her daughter-in-law.

Lin Manyin and Lan Luobai both straightened nervously when they saw her.

“Mom?”

“Aunt Luo?”

Luo Qingshu said to them, “Go inside and chat with the elders, will you?”

Lin Manyin glanced at Lian Nanshu, a little worried, but this was something her sister had to face. She couldn’t help her.

“Mom?” Lan Luobai also tugged at Luo Qingshu’s hand anxiously.

Seeing the emotion in her daughter’s eyes, Luo Qingshu gently patted her hand and said, “Don’t worry. I just want to have a little chat with your sister-in-law. Go on in?”

Seeing this, Lan Luobai had no choice but to give in. “Come on, let’s go?” Lin Manyin pulled her inside.

Now only Lian Nanshu and her mother-in-law were left in the courtyard.

Lian Nanshu spoke timidly, “Mom?”

Luo Qingshu lightly waved her hand, “Let’s sit down and talk.”

Lian Nanshu glanced at the chair behind her and sat down with a straight back.

Luo Qingshu could tell she was nervous and said with a half-smile, “No need to be so tense. It’s just our first meeting. I didn’t expect it would be under such circumstances. Was it too abrupt for you?”

“No, not at all. It’s my fault as your daughter-in-law for not visiting you all these years!” she quickly shook her head.

That tone—Lian Nanshu felt this mother-in-law was really something. She spoke with just the right measure of firmness and gentleness.

Luo Qingshu stared at her and asked again, “Are you and Dabai getting along well? How have you been all these years?”

Lian Nanshu was a little stunned and looked at Luo Qingshu, nodding dumbly. “I’m doing well.”

What did that mean? Was this the “soft first, hard later” approach? She braced herself mentally.

“Mom, I know it was my fault back then. I delayed Xubai’s life. Don’t worry—I’ll resolve it with him,” she said, preparing herself for the worst.

That look in Luo Qingshu’s eyes clearly showed disapproval—she didn’t think Lian Nanshu was good enough for her son.

Oh well, what’s meant to come will come. Since they’re divorced, there’s nothing to worry about now.

“Yes, it’s something that should be carefully considered!” Luo Qingshu said with a satisfied smile. “Dabai is a soldier. He doesn’t get much time off. You two need to work hard while you’re still young. It’s time to start planning for children.”

Lian Nanshu: “…”

“Wait, wasn’t she trying to make me divorce her son?”

Now she was caught off guard.

Luo Qingshu sighed and held Lian Nanshu’s hand. “The unit Dabai is in… it’s very dangerous. He hasn’t been in contact with us for years. We’ve been so worried. So, his father and I hope you two can have a child soon.”

Lian Nanshu noticed the glimmer of tears in her eyes and seemed to understand.

“I know you must feel wronged, but Dabai is my son. I can’t control his career path. You’re his wife. I…”

As a mother, she couldn’t change her son’s choices, but she hoped he could at least leave behind a child.

Knowing that the couple had been living apart for years and might not have much of a relationship, she couldn’t say much.

After a pause, she looked up at Lian Nanshu. “Child, will you consider it?”

In her eyes, Lian Nanshu saw a mother worried for her son.

“Mom, I’ll think about it,” Lian Nanshu agreed, not wanting to disappoint her.

Besides, she had too many admirers lately. If she had a child, people would think she was already married with kids and stop pursuing her.

“That’s wonderful! But about this matter…” Luo Qingshu hesitated to speak.

Lian Nanshu blushed immediately. “Don’t worry. I’ll say it was my idea. You know about our past… whether it works out or not depends on Xubai.”

“Don’t worry. Boys like it when girls act cute. Just take the initiative, and he’ll definitely…”

“What are you two talking about?” Luo Qingshu’s words were interrupted by Lan Xubai.

Lan Xubai had heard from Lan Luobai that his mother had pulled Nanshu aside. Worried, he came out to check.