The bedroom.
Jiang Ye turned off the light and lay down in bed.
Immediately, arms and legs wrapped around him like an octopus grabbing a crab.
"I was actually very nervous during the livestream today," Cen Yemeng said, resting her head on his chest. "But watching the replay, it doesn't seem obvious on the surface?"
"You performed very well," Jiang Ye said, stroking her head. "A qualified commander's wife."
Jiang Ye closed his eyes.
"Is what you said today true?" Cen Yemeng suddenly asked in a low voice.
"What's true?" Jiang Ye mumbled without opening his eyes.
"You said you married me not because I'm beautiful, but because I'm intelligent."
"Silly girl, if you were truly intelligent, would you ask such a question?" Jiang Ye chuckled. "I married you because you're beautiful, with a lovely face and a great figure, you've driven me wild. Don't overthink it, sleep."
"But you don't lack beautiful women."
"Beautiful women are certainly a scarce resource. How many truly beautiful women are there in the world? How can those gaudy women compare to you? I've never met anyone as beautiful as you," Jiang Ye yawned. "Don't think too much, sleep."
"Are you saying that... to make me happy?" Cen Yemeng's tone was uncertain.
"You're still not sure? What do you mean, you really think you're intelligent?"
Cen Yemeng looked up at him, smiling awkwardly. She probably didn't know whether to be happy or angry at this moment.
The phone on the bedside table suddenly rang.
Jiang Ye reached for it.
He felt his own phone and realized something was wrong. He reached again for Cen Yemeng's phone and found it vibrating.
"It's actually your call," Jiang Ye said, handing it to her.
Cen Yemeng took the phone and let out a loud shriek.
Jiang Ye woke up with a start. "What are you yelling about? The son is still sleeping."
Cen Yemeng flipped the phone screen over. The caller ID read "Old Man."
Jiang Ye forcibly suppressed the urge to scream. "Is... is that my father-in-law?"
"Nonsense, who else could it be!" Cen Yemeng blinked and made a shushing gesture before answering.
"Hello, Dad." Cen Yemeng spoke in the tone of a dutiful daughter.
"The company matters are settled. I have time now, and I'll come to see you," a deep male voice said.
"Dad, please don't come. I'm traveling and won't be home these few days. I'll come see you later," Cen Yemeng replied.
"Don't pretend. I know you're on Jiang Ye Star."
Jiang Ye's heart nearly stopped.
Cen Yemeng's face turned pale. "Dad, what are you talking about..."
"My spaceship is almost at Jiang Ye Star's orbit. This godforsaken planet probably doesn't have much anti-air identification firepower, right? It'll land in about half an hour. Come to the space station to pick me up."
The call ended.
Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng's mouths hung open, their expressions panicked.
The fearsome parents had arrived!
They had eloped so far away, only to be found!
Jiang Ye felt the same chilling dread as when he'd secretly skipped class to go to an internet cafe, just started a game, and then saw his dad push open the door with a stick, scanning the room.
"Wh-what should we do?" Cen Yemeng was at a loss.
"What else can we do? We'll go welcome our father," Jiang Ye sat up. "Alas, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Your father won't do anything to you, and he probably won't kill me. At most, he'll beat me up."
"No! Why should he hit you!" Cen Yemeng was angry.
"I eloped with his precious daughter, and even had a child. If he beats me up to vent his anger, I'll accept it," Jiang Ye said helplessly.
...
The night wind was cool.
Jiang Ye's heart felt even colder.
The space station had been cleared, and the honor guard and red carpet were ready. Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng stood on the steps, waiting with anxious faces.
A rumbling sound descended slowly, like the snore of some giant beast. A whale-shaped black spaceship emerged from the clouds, its windows glowing with orange light.
The spaceship landed.
Jiang Ye had seen no less than eight hundred spaceship models, but he had never seen one with such a sense of quality. He couldn't quite pinpoint where the quality lay, but it just felt expensive, impressive, and noble. Of course, it might have been psychological.
The honor guard quickly took their positions, their boots clacking.
The red carpet was also quickly unrolled.
Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng walked towards the spaceship, hand in hand. Their palms were sweaty, and the tighter they gripped, the more sweat seemed to be squeezed out of their bodies.
They waited for a minute beneath the spaceship, and finally, the hatch opened.
Golden light streamed out, and a majestic black figure emerged.
The dark figure walked down step by step. It was his father-in-law. Compared to their last meeting, he seemed to have aged significantly, with much more gray in his hair. But his imposing presence and authority remained, like an ancient emperor from a novel.
Jiang Ye had heard that the recent Mill War had a vast impact, leveling many of his father-in-law's factories and branches. Old colleagues had turned to dust, and billions in deposits had been wiped out overnight. The so-called commercial empire turned out to be so fragile. As its leader, how could he possibly feel at ease?
"Dad." Cen Yemeng said timidly.
"Dad." Jiang Ye called out after a moment's hesitation.
"Where is my great-grandson?" the father-in-law asked, looking behind the couple.
"He's sleeping at home. We didn't bring him. It's already two in the morning," Cen Yemeng replied.
The father-in-law fell silent. He looked his daughter up and down with affectionate eyes. Then he turned his gaze to Jiang Ye.
"You little rascal, you've got guts," the father-in-law said.
Jiang Ye didn't know how to respond. He braced himself and said, "I'm sorry. I promised you I'd marry her after I gathered the bride price, and I broke my word. But I can afford the bride price you mentioned now."
"No need to apologize. It's good that you broke that promise." The father-in-law's attitude was unexpected. "When Jie Dian Star fell, I sent people to pick up Mengmeng, and they all died. If you hadn't risked bringing her out, she wouldn't be standing here alive today. I've been an incompetent father. I'm relieved to entrust Mengmeng to you."
Cen Yemeng let out a sigh of relief and suddenly punched her father.
"Dad, you scared me to death! I thought you were going to beat up my husband!"
"I'm not beating up your husband, but I am going to beat you!" the father-in-law glared. "You had a great-grandson and didn't tell me, and then you cut off contact with me after eloping. What, do you want to sever your father-daughter relationship?"
"Wife, that's not right," Jiang Ye also turned to scold her.
Cen Yemeng's eyes widened, and she looked at Jiang Ye in disbelief, pointing a finger at his nose. "You! You're siding with my dad! Aren't you on my side?"
Jiang Ye smiled awkwardly. "It's chilly here. Let's go home quickly."
...
The father-in-law first went to the bedroom to see his great-grandson, Jiang Senlin.
Jiang Senlin was sleeping soundly. Jiang Ye wanted to wake him up to recognize his grandfather, but the father-in-law stopped him.
"Let the child sleep. This is when he's growing. He can't lack sleep," the father-in-law said. "I've asked friends in the medical system. For the 'rejuvenation syndrome,' children must be treated as children when they are young because their growth is real. They need good food and sleep."
After watching Jiang Senlin for a while, the father-in-law began to survey the entire estate.