"Don't wear such a long face, the relatives are all watching!" Father Fu came back after socializing for a while and couldn't help but nag when he saw his wife's gloomy expression.
Mother Fu shot him a glare. "Don't you know why I'm unhappy? They're not complimenting me, they're clearly just waiting to see me make a fool of myself!"
"You're overthinking things! They don't mean anything by it at all!" Father Fu thought she was too sensitive, always assuming the worst of people.
"Overthinking? Hmph!" Mother Fu couldn't help but roll her eyes. After being married into their family for so many years, didn't she still understand them? They were all two-faced.
She had suffered countless losses, both openly and behind her back.
"Alright, don't stay here, it's obvious people will gossip about this." Father Fu didn't understand. The relatives were guests, shouldn't the hosts entertain them properly? What was she doing hiding upstairs?
Father Fu still had to go downstairs to drink with some cousins. He went upstairs to get some wine he had stored and then went downstairs, leaving his wife to sulk alone upstairs.
Mother Fu, after all, was someone who had seen her fair share of storms and had been involved in the business world for so many years. She quickly adjusted her mood. By the time she came downstairs, she was already smiling gracefully and chatting with the relatives.
Because he was afraid Su Ying wouldn't adapt, Fu Zheng didn't bring her home. Instead, he arranged to meet his parents at a hotel.
"Why the sudden change of heart? The relatives are all here!" Mother Fu was a little unhappy when she received the call. "Why do you always act on impulse?"
"Mom, I just said our company is here for a trip, when did I say I was bringing my girlfriend back?" Fu Zheng rubbed his temples helplessly.
"You're telling me this, doesn't that mean the same thing?" Mother Fu gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"I mean it literally!"
"You child... aren't you putting us in a difficult position? So many relatives, all waiting to meet your girlfriend, and now you're telling me you're not coming back?"
"They weren't supposed to come over in the first place..."
"Also, my girlfriend is shy, what if so many people scare her!"
Mother Fu: .......
How shy!
I don't believe you for a second!
A fashion icon who frequently appeared at international fashion weeks and spoke four languages, would be shy? The excuse was too perfunctory!
"We're here for team building, we don't have much free time. Come if you want, don't if you don't!" Fu Zheng said, and then hung up the phone.
Su Ying came out after showering and didn't speak when she heard him on the phone. Seeing that he had once again parted on bad terms with his mother, she couldn't help but poke his head. "You need to change your tone!"
"My mom is too annoying, always jumping to conclusions... I don't want you to be bombarded with all sorts of strange questions!" Fu Zheng turned around and hugged her.
"Although I don't know how to get along with elders, it's okay to meet them," Su Ying said after thinking for a moment.
"No! Those relatives are very gossipy, they ask about everything!" Fu Zheng, having experienced it before, didn't want her to be attacked.
Su Ying was amused by him. "You're so cute!"
In the end, Mother Fu couldn't win against her son. She made an excuse, saying Su Ying couldn't come, and sent the relatives away. Then, she hurried to the restaurant Fu Zheng had booked and had a simple meal.
The meeting this time was pleasant enough.
At least, that's how Su Ying saw it.
Unlike her overbearing demeanor the last time they met, Mother Fu was much more polite. But it was just politeness, nothing more. Still, that was good enough, Su Ying thought.
There was no need for fake enthusiasm on their first meeting.
This was quite genuine!
"Are you here to play for a few days?" Father Fu asked.
"Three days," Fu Zheng replied while serving Su Ying. "Tomorrow we plan to visit Grandpa and Grandma."
"It has been a while since we went back. It's good to see them." The elderly couple's health was declining, and they had been longing for their grandson to visit.
After dinner, Su Ying was about to return to the hotel. Before leaving, Mother Fu took out a box from her bag and handed it to Su Ying, saying it was a见面礼 (meeting gift).
Su Ying wanted to refuse, but Fu Zheng had already accepted it for her. "Thank you, Mom!"
Mother Fu: ......
He accepted something meant for the woman!
Mother Fu was a bit speechless.
Her son was truly like he was adopted!
Su Ying was also quite speechless.
Before she could even speak, he eagerly accepted it. His eagerness was so apparent. Anyone would think she had instigated it behind his back.
"Take it, it's a small token of our appreciation from my parents. Although it can't compare to the gold bars your family has, this jewelry box was passed down from my maternal grandmother to my mother, with the intention of passing it to future daughters-in-law..."
Mother Fu had already adjusted her mindset and said calmly, "No one in our Fu family is less wealthy than your Su family, but this jewelry holds special meaning to me. Giving it to you is our small token of appreciation."
Su Ying knew this was their acknowledgment of her.
She was silent for a long time, then reached out and accepted it, thanking them solemnly. "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. I will take good care of it."
Back at the hotel, Su Ying held the jewelry box in her hands, her heart feeling a little heavy.
By accepting this gift, she meant that she and Fu Zheng would start planning their future.
Before coming to G City, marriage was not part of her life plan.
She was a woman with strong career aspirations, and her life was devoted to her family and work. In the next three years, she planned to buy a building to serve as her new company's headquarters, open branches in twelve countries worldwide, and spread this beautiful business across the globe.
She had grand blueprints and immense ambition, but she had never considered marriage.
She truly had little interest in getting married.
Seeing that she hadn't spoken for a long time, Fu Zheng's heart grew uneasy. "Yingying, did I make things difficult for you? If you really don't want it, I can take it back and return it to them..."
Su Ying turned around, looked at the boy who was more than a head taller than her, and suddenly smiled. "No. I was just wondering what gifts to bring your grandparents tomorrow."
"You don't have to, they have everything, your presence is enough!" Seeing that she had no intention of refusing the gift, Fu Zheng's smile returned.
"That won't do! It's the first time meeting elders, how can I go empty-handed." Su Ying took out her phone and began searching for relevant information.
Fu Zheng saw how seriously she took it and chose to help her shortcut the process.
"Grandpa usually enjoys a drink or two, so gifting him wine would be thoughtful!"
"As for Grandma... she used to be in the performing arts troupe and loved old records with good sound quality. I know a place nearby that sells these things, we can go shopping later."
With Fu Zheng's help, Su Ying successfully purchased what she wanted. In addition to these two items, she also picked out some health supplements and medical equipment, showing great thoughtfulness.
Fu Zheng's grandfather had hearing loss, so she chose an expensive hearing aid; Fu Grandma liked opera, so she personally designed a qipao and had it rush-made overnight, planning to surprise her elderly relative.
Fu Zheng scratched his head.
He hadn't expected her to be even more considerate than he had imagined.