Chapter 29.1

Dinner was ready. The three of them sat in the dining room to eat. Mother Meng felt guilty towards her daughter-in-law and kept picking up dishes for Xu Yuan. “Originally, your father also said he would come with us, but an old friend of his came back from abroad. So, he went to their gathering today.”

Xu Yuan served soup to Mother Meng and smiled, “We should go back and accompany you and dad for dinner. It’s not reasonable for an elder to specially come and accompany the younger generation for dinner.”

Her words were so sweet that Mother Meng couldn’t help but smile broadly. “Xiao Yuan, you’re just too well-behaved. If Pingting had half your demeanor, I wouldn’t have to worry.”

Could it be that something’s wrong with Meng Pingting? Otherwise, why mention it now?

Xu Yuan glanced at Meng Zhengrong. After this incident, they had developed a good understanding.

Meng Zhengrong had to put down his chopsticks and ask, “What’s wrong with Pingting? Did something happen?”

He has a pretty good relationship with his sister, but because of the big age gap, Meng Pingting is afraid of him most of the time and doesn’t even act like a spoiled child very often.

Because Meng Zhengrong himself has been very independent since childhood and went to study abroad alone before he reached adulthood, he feels that his sister is already an adult and has adult rights. He is not unaware of many things, but this is his sister’s life, and she should decide what choices and what to do. All the family can do is to give advice or encouragement. She is the one who walks her own life and they cannot replace her.

Mother Meng sighed. She couldn’t even eat when talking about this topic. “Do you think she’s gone crazy, actually dating a guy from another city? I’m not that old-fashioned, but the difference between their families is too big. Can they live a good life?”

Xu Yuan finally understood—Meng Pingting was in love, and Mother Meng wasn’t satisfied with the boy’s family background.

This wasn’t something she could control or intervene in.

Meng Zhengrong handed a piece of ribs to his mother and said gently, “Mom, Pingting is still young. It will take at least a few years for her to get married. Who knows what the situation will be like in a few years.”

“I’m just worried that she’ll suffer a loss.” Mother Meng frowned. “Pingting is a good kid with a good heart. I’m just worried that if they date for too long, they’ll become inseparable.”

Xu Yuan didn’t want to express any opinions, just quietly drank her soup, but she also listened carefully when Mother Meng and Meng Zhengrong talked.

“‘That’s also a concern.” Meng Zhengrong cared about his sister, but hadn’t thought about it much before. From a man’s perspective, Pingting was still young. It was her freedom to date a few times. It wasn’t time to talk about marriage yet, so what could the family do about it?

“‘You think so too, right? If that boy’s family had some background, even if they weren’t a perfect match, I would turn a blind eye. But the key is, I’ve checked. That boy is from an ordinary family in a small third-tier city. Both his parents work in banks. In the context of ordinary people, his conditions are passable, but he can’t reach our family’s level no matter how hard he tries.” Mother Meng was upset when she thought about this.

“Let alone other things, their family probably couldn’t even afford a down payment in A-city…”

Being parents means worrying about their children forever, even if the Meng family is already wealthy. Even if Meng Pingting marries this boy from another city, with the dowry the Meng family gives and the annual stock dividends, it’s enough to let Meng Pingting live extravagantly for a lifetime. In the end, Mother Meng just can’t accept that her pampered daughter would marry into such a family.

For Meng Pingting, as long as she likes him, she doesn’t mind even if he can’t afford to buy a house. After all, she is rich enough.

No one can say who’s right or wrong, it’s just that what parents think and what their children think are different after all.

Meng Zhengrong had actually known about this situation for a long time and hadn’t stopped it because he had investigated. Apart from material conditions, the boy was decent. He even worked two jobs to date Meng Pingting, even though his living allowance was enough. He also received scholarships every year. Overall, it was acceptable.

He didn’t think like his mother did, insisting that the boy’s family must be well-off. As long as the person was capable and devoted to Pingting, there was nothing to stop.

After all, no one can predict how things will develop in the future. Since Meng Pingting will not get married immediately in the next few years, if she wants to fall in love and her partner has good character, then let her do it.

“Then what do you want to do, Mom?” Meng Zhengrong asked directly.

Mother Meng looked at her son, then at Xu Yuan, “Pingting is still young, and I’ve indulged her a bit. She probably won’t listen to me. I dare not let your dad know now. As her elder brother and sister-in-law, can you talk to her…”

Xu Yuan and Meng Zhengrong exchanged glances, both feeling helpless about being handed such a mess…

Even if it was a mess, since Meng Pingting was Meng Zhengrong’s sister and Mother Meng had spoken about it, they had to take it over.

“I’m old now, and I might be gone in the blink of an eye one day.”’ Mother Meng sighed again.

Meng Zhengrong’s face changed when he heard this, and he put down his chopsticks. “Mom!”

No child wants to hear such words.

“Mom was wrong, Mom was wrong. There are two things I’m looking forward to the most. First, as I just said, I hope Pingting can marry into a good family. Second,” Mother Meng paused here, looking at Xu Yuan. Xu Yuan suddenly had a bad premonition, and sure enough, Mother Meng continued, “Second, it’s to see your baby born. I don’t know when this wish will come true.”

Meng Zhengrong hadn’t expected his mother to suddenly bring up this topic. First, he was stunned, then he realized it and awkwardly coughed twice. “Mom, we just got married.”

He hoped to become a father sooner, but it wouldn’t be now. He was still pursuing Xu Yuan.

Mother Meng gave him a look. “Yes, you just got married, but you are not young anymore, you are already over 30. Wang Jia, isn’t he your classmate, and the same age as you? His child has just celebrated her first birthday.”

“What’s the comparison? Why don’t you look at Song Yu? He’s the same age as me and doesn’t have a girlfriend yet.”

Mother Meng said the most classic thing parents would say, “Why don’t you compare yourself with the best?”

“So I don’t compare myself with others, Mom. I’m busy with work now, and I don’t want children so soon.” Meng Zhengrong glanced at Xu Yuan. “Besides, even if I want children, it’s not a recent matter. You say Wang Jia, he and his wife have been preparing for a year. For the sake of the next generation’s health, let’s consider our physical condition.”

Meng Zhengrong couldn’t help wanting children. He wanted them sooner. Seeing the lovely daughter of his buddies made him want to sneak in at night.

But he also knew in his heart that his relationship with Xu Yuan hadn’t reached that  point yet. Even if they liked each other, it would take some time for the two of them to have a world of their own.

He wasn’t young anymore, but Xu Yuan was still young. She might not want to be a mom so soon.

Of course, he couldn’t say such true thoughts to his mother. She might have opinions on Xu Yuan. Even if she didn’t, she would urge Xu Yuan in the future. He had to stand in front of Xu Yuan on this question.

Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Earlier on the train, she had thought Meng Zhengrong was eager to have a child. When Mother Meng brought it up, she was still considering how to politely refuse or delay, but Meng Zhengrong’s sense of responsibility was already his greatest virtue, even if his other strengths were not yet clear.

Seeing her son and daughter-in-law show no reluctance to the idea, Mother Meng didn’t know what else to say. “As long as you both have this plan, I won’t rush you, but you should be clear about it.”

“We know,” Meng Zhengrong and Xu Yuan replied simultaneously.

Seeing that her son and daughter-in-law did not oppose the matter, Mother Mengwas satisfied and happily went home after dinner.

While Meng Zhengrong worked in his study, Xu Yuan sat on the sofa watching TV.

She was watching a popular drama about urban marriages, inevitably involving mother-in-law and daughter-in-law issues.

She might as well be grateful that Meng Zhengrong was clear-headed about this.

Compared to the male lead in this drama, Meng Zhengrong was simply a good man.

Before eight o’clock in the evening, Song Yu arrived.

Song Yu brought two boxes of cherries. Meng Zhengrong and Xu Yuan entertained him together.

“I never expected you to go to the countryside for charity yourself,” Song Yu said as he sat on the sofa, happily eating cherries. “Is that place really that poor?”

“You can try going next time,” Meng Zhengrong said with a glance at him.

“Forget it.”

Entertainment news was playing on TV. The host held a microphone and said seriously, “According to reports, rising star Yuyu is suspected to be dating male star Xiao Li’an. Reporters spotted them together at a hotpot restaurant, behaving intimately. Both agencies have not responded…”

Xu Yuan found the program boring and picked up the remote to change the channel.

Meng Zhengrong subconsciously glanced at Song Yu, who had previously been smiling but now looked serious.

He looked at Xu Yuan, hoping she would say something, especially since she was such good friends with Yuyu.

Meng Zhengrong tried to establish a telepathic connection with Xu Yuan. 

Request failed.

He regretted saying, “My wife is not stupid.”

Meng Zhengrong saw Song Yu’s gloomy expression. Thinking that this guy had helped him a lot and worked hard for the Meng family, he couldn’t bear it anymore, so he reached out and poked Xu Yuan, “Is this true?”

…Why are you so gossipy?

Xu Yuan was a little annoyed, but thinking that Song Yu was still there, it was not good to embarrass him in front of others, so she had to say, “How should I know?”

Although the original owner had a good relationship with Yuyu, she was really busy with filming lately, and their contact had decreased a lot. She really didn’t know if Yuyu was dating someone.

“…” He found that she was becoming more and more rude to him. Was this a good sign or a bad sign? “Why don’t you give her a call and ask her?”

Xu Yuan really wanted to roll her eyes and said, “No need to ask.”

This is someone else’s business, willing to say that it is, unwilling to say that it is not, why do you have to ask?

Meng Zhengrong’s face was hung, he did not care about this, but seeing Song Yu like this, he felt the same way. He had to hold back his temper and continued, “Pingting is a fan of Yuyu. She asked me to ask.”

There were outsiders present, and she didn’t want to embarrass Meng Zhengrong, so she took out her cell phone from her pocket and sent a message to Yuyu.

“I won’t call her. She’s currently filming a movie. I’ll ask her directly on WeChat.”

Xu Yuan felt that Yuyu shouldn’t be in a relationship. If she were, she would tell her. After all, when Yuyu was not so busy before, she even shared with her the fact that her breast cup size had increased.

“Is she very busy?” Song Yu, who had been silent, suddenly asked.

Xu Yuan nodded, “She said she accepted several roles this year.”

“Oh.”

Coincidentally, Yuyu quickly replied with a voice message. Xu Yuan opened it.

— “Those are all made up by reporters. I’m so busy now that I don’t even have time to play games. How could I be dating? Besides, that person is not my type at all. We’re just good friends. We went to a hotpot restaurant together that day, who would have thought the reporters would twist it like that. If I had a boyfriend, I would definitely tell you first.”

Xu Yuan glanced at Meng Zhengrong, “She said she’s not dating.”

With that, she lowered her head and continued chatting with Yuyu.

Song Yu didn’t stay long. After sitting with them for a while and chatting, he left. His face couldn’t hide his smile as he said to Xu Yuan, “There’s a great Cantonese restaurant near the company. Let me treat you to dim sum sometime.”

After Song Yu left, Xu Yuan was still puzzled, “Why did he want to treat me to dim sum?”

Meng Zhengrong sighed helplessly, “Maybe it’s to thank you for helping the sick children.”

“…”