Chapter 63.2

As soon as those words were spoken, before Xu Yuan could express her surprise, Pingting angrily interjected, “I’ve already said I’m not going, and I won’t go! Why does everyone think going abroad for study is a must for fulfillment?!”

Father Meng was so angry that he got up and strode over to Pingting. It was the first time Xu Yuan had seen him so furious.

“Your family can afford to send you abroad for further education, and you don’t want to go? Are you really willing to give up your future for a poor boy?”

It turned out it was all about Wang Lin. Xu Yuan sighed inwardly and turned to look at Meng Zhengrong, whose expression had become serious. She thought how fortunate she was that she and Meng Zhengrong didn’t have such obstacles or setbacks.

“He’s not poor at all!” Pingting’s face flushed with anger. “So, in Dad’s eyes, ordinary families are poor? Does he think the other person has to be richer than us? As long as he’s somewhat decent, I can marry him? Dad, this isn’t the old society anymore!”

Father Meng’s voice rose above hers. “Am I asking you to marry now? Am I asking you to break up with him now?”

Seeing that Father Meng was about to faint from anger, Xu Yuan nudged Meng Zhengrong, who immediately understood. He quickly got up to support his father and softly scolded Pingting, “Why can’t you discuss things calmly? Is this how you talk to Dad? After so many years of schooling, has it all gone to waste?”

Seeing her father speechless from rage, Pingting felt a hint of fear and fell silent.

Xu Yuan seized the opportunity to get up and pull Pingting to the sofa, and the atmosphere finally eased a bit.

Father Meng didn’t want to say anything more. He turned and went upstairs to the study. Meng Zhengrong followed him in. As soon as the study door closed, Father Meng was silent for a long time before looking at his son. “Your sister must go abroad for further studies. As for Wang Lin, find someone to investigate his background and character. If he’s acceptable, look out for him in the business world later.”

That was practically equivalent to giving his approval.

Meng Zhengrong looked at his father’s tired expression, starting to feel that his sister was truly inconsiderate.

If one day his baby Panda was a girl and grew up to argue with him like that, completely unaware of the struggles of being a father, he would surely feel heartbroken.

“If they can withstand these years of separation, and Wang Lin can achieve something in these years…” Father Meng didn’t continue.

But Meng Zhengrong already understood his father’s meaning.

In this world, how many parents could truly win their children’s hearts? In the end, it was usually the parents who compromised.

He hoped his baby Panda would be obedient in the future, just like him.

In the living room downstairs, Mother Meng changed her previously soft attitude and became firm. “Neither your father nor I are asking you to break up with him; we’re just asking you to study abroad. If you’re willing to give up your future for a man, don’t blame your father and me for opposing you.”

Hearing this, Xu Yuan understood the situation clearly. It was simple: Meng’s father and mother wanted Pingting to go abroad, and it was entirely for her own good. If this couple could withstand the years of separation and manage to maintain their long-distance relationship, while Wang Lin proved himself to be capable enough, then Meng’s parents would likely give their blessing. However, Pingting was still young, thinking that her parents just wanted to tear them apart, which was why this argument had ensued.

Pingting, feeling aggrieved, turned her head stubbornly away without saying a word.

“You will go abroad for further studies, unless you truly want to break up with Wang Lin.”

Mother Meng delivered the final ultimatum and stood up to leave. The living room was left with just Xu Yuan and Peiting. Seeing Pingting’s sad expression, Xu Yuan wanted to comfort her, but in the end, said nothing.

Forget it. There were many things she couldn’t explain to Peiting now. It would be better to let her experience and understand these things gradually.

What upset Father Meng and disappointed Mother Meng was not the fact that Pingting was in a relationship with Wang Lin, but the fear of seeing their daughter lose herself for this love, abandoning her future and dreams. That would break their hearts, as the ones who had raised her.

==

After dinner, Meng Zhengrong and Xu Yuan drove back home.

At that moment, neither of them was in the mood to check the comments on Weibo, especially since the situation with Meng Pingting was quite serious.

“Perhaps learning how to be a good father and how to raise my child is the biggest challenge of my life,” Meng Zhengrong said, sitting on the big bed with a heavy expression.

He hadn’t felt this way before, but after witnessing what happened with Meng Pingting, he realized that having a child was easy, but raising one was incredibly difficult. He worried about what kind of person their child would grow up to be and whether they would be obedient—those were major concerns.

It was far more challenging than running a company.

Xu Yuan felt the same way; perhaps it was because she was already prepared to be a mother, making her particularly empathetic to the feelings of Father and Mother Meng.

It wasn’t that Meng Pingting was wrong, nor was it that Father and Mother Meng were wrong.

Xu Yuan didn’t want to see Meng Zhengrong with such an expression, but she didn’t know how to comfort him. After all, even if they became parents, they would still be beginners.

Perhaps life needed such cycles. When they were children, they had also rebelled and unknowingly hurt their parents. God, in His fairness, allowed them to experience the joys and challenges of parenthood themselves, letting them walk the path their parents once took. Yes, that truly was fair.

“Let’s take a bath together tonight.” Meng Zhengrong said this with determination, not knowing how much courage it took Xu Yuan to voice it.

He shouldn’t be too affected by Meng Pingting’s situation. However, she didn’t know how else to divert his attention; after thinking for a while, this was the only idea she had left.

Meng Zhengrong was initially filled with a sense of urgency, but upon hearing this, all his negative emotions vanished.

He even became excited, pulling Xu Yuan close and repeatedly asking, “Are you serious?”

Xu Yuan regretted saying it as soon as the words left her mouth. But seeing that Meng Zhengrong wasn’t as gloomy anymore made her feel it was worth it. She nodded patiently for the first time, “Yes, serious. Three minutes; I won’t wait after that.”

Meng Zhengrong immediately swept Xu Yuan into his arms in a princess carry, prompting a surprised shout from her.

He strode towards the bathroom, not even bothering to grab their pajamas.

The two of them laughed and teased each other, as if they had returned to a happier time.

In the bathroom, the heater was on, making it wonderfully warm even when they were undressed.

Just moments ago, Meng Zhengrong was in a rush, but once they entered the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror, he became incredibly patient.

“I’ll help you take off your makeup,” he said.

He guided Xu Yuan to sit on the edge of the bathtub and rummaged through her makeup remover supplies on the counter, having seen her remove her makeup before and roughly knowing the steps.

There was something so appealing about a serious man. Xu Yuan had to give a nod of approval to whoever came up with that phrase. Even though he was earnestly helping her take off her makeup, he looked incredibly charming.

The two of them were very close, so close that she could wrap her arms around his waist with a simple stretch.

“Hubby,” Xu Yuan called out softly with her eyes closed, her voice tender.

Meng Zhengrong, however, felt a bit flustered upon hearing her call him that.

It felt like something wasn’t right.

Luckily, Xu Yuan’s eyes were closed, so she couldn’t see the expression on his face at that moment; otherwise, all the warmth between them would have come to an abrupt halt.

“I actually believe you will become a good father,” Xu Yuan whispered.

This was one of her rare, particularly gentle moments. Meng Zhengrong listened to her words, and when he looked at her smiling face, he regretted not bringing his phone in. Otherwise, he could have captured her current look, and later, even if she was unfair to him, just thinking of how she looked right now might make him forgive her unconditionally.

“Why do you say that? I don’t have that confidence,” Meng Zhengrong replied.

He had confidence in being a good boss, a good son, a good husband, and a good son-in-law, but he lacked the confidence to be a good father.

Being a dad was one thing, but being a good dad might take a lifetime and still not be accomplished.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment and replied seriously, “I don’t know; I just believe in you.”

She genuinely believed that Meng Zhengrong would become a good father, and there was no particular reason for it—she just believed.

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhengrong felt his heart melt. He pulled her close, and Xu Yuan opened her eyes. He pressed her against the wall, and as their eyes met, he lifted her up with a sudden effort. Xu Yuan instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist.

“This position really tests my strength,” Meng Zhengrong teased.

Xu Yuan wasn’t sure if it was the warmth of the bathroom or if she was just shy, but her face and body began to heat up.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

She had to admit that his current fitness level wasn’t quite enough; even if he wanted to maintain this position, he was strong in spirit but lacking in strength.

After teasing Xu Yuan for a while, Meng Zhengrong set her down. Still wearing his shirt, he leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “Help me unbutton this.”

Xu Yuan: “…”

If you’re going to take off your clothes, just do it! Why say it in such an ambiguous tone?

“Panda wants to live in your belly.”