Jiang Jingyu's arrangements were swiftly made.
The next morning, upon arriving at the company, he called his mother, Jiang Nan Fang.
Upon hearing he was bringing his girlfriend home, Jiang Nan Fang became incredibly excited. She asked whether they should host at home or dine out, and what specific instructions he had for them.
Jiang Jingyu suggested they go out. He mentioned his girlfriend came from a modest background and was quiet and honest. He worried that a grand affair at home might intimidate her. He asked Jiang Nan Fang to dress casually and find a reasonably priced restaurant.
In short, he valued this relationship highly and forbade them from messing it up.
Jiang Nan Fang herself came from a humble background and never had any notions of social standing. Moreover, she was adept at understanding a young woman’s feelings and promised to complete the task perfectly.
During lunch, Jiang Jingyu informed Tong An'an that they would be dining with his family after work, which startled her.
"So soon? Meeting the parents already? I'm not ready yet."
"What's there to prepare? Just bring your mouth. It's mainly a ceremony. To meet each other, acknowledge each other's existence, and give you some reassurance, so you don't constantly fear I'll change my mind midway."
Tong An'an wasn't as relaxed as he was. She glanced at her bare face and plain work uniform on her phone screen.
"You didn't mention this earlier. I should have put on some makeup and changed clothes when I woke up. Is it too impolite to meet them like this?"
"Also, didn't you say your sister is very beautiful? And your mother is also beautiful. I'm so disheveled, will I embarrass you too much?"
Jiang Jingyu replied, "Who says you're disheveled? You look great like this. My mother and sister are indeed quite beautiful, but they are natural beauties and don't like wearing makeup or grooming themselves much. They're messier than you. Don't worry."
Under Jiang Jingyu's unreserved flattery, Tong An'an found some confidence.
On the way to the restaurant before getting off work, she asked Jiang Jingyu if they should bring gifts.
"Even if not for your father and mother, we should bring something for your sister, right? After all, I'm their future sister-in-law. It doesn't look good to go empty-handed."
Makes sense.
Hearing the word "sister-in-law," Jiang Jingyu was overjoyed.
"Then let's buy a cup of milk tea for each of them."
"Ah, milk tea?"
But she quickly reconsidered.
They were the young ladies of the Zhan Group, born with silver spoons in their mouths. What world-class brands or excellent things hadn't they seen?
Expecting her to rely on a meager allowance, what could she possibly afford to buy them?
What they wanted wasn't gifts, but the thought behind them.
But she didn't understand why it had to be milk tea.
Jiang Jingyu explained, "Because Daddy and Mommy are strict, they still live at home and rarely have opportunities to drink things like this. I guess they're really craving it."
"If they like it, they can drink it. If not, that's fine, we'll drink it ourselves."
Tong An'an volunteered and bought ten cups of milk tea, one for each person.
It felt quite grand as the two of them carried a large bag to the restaurant.
To avoid making her feel pressured, everyone that day wore casual clothes with no makeup. They were lounging around in the private room, scrolling on their phones.
As the two entered, Jiang Nan Fang and Zhan Bei Jue were slightly taken aback upon seeing Tong An'an. They quickly stood up politely.
"Hello. An'an, is it? Welcome, welcome."
Tong An'an was stunned.
While bending down to greet them, she quietly asked Jiang Jingyu.
"Who are these people? What should I call them?"
"My father's mother, you can call them Uncle and Auntie."
"Your father and mother are so young?"
Jiang Nan Fang, with her plain face, looked no older than 30.
Zhan Bei Jue wore the same casual outfit as her. His features bore a striking resemblance to Jiang Jingyu's.
He was just slightly shorter than Jiang Jingyu, and standing together, they looked like brothers.
Oh my goodness.
Compared to her own parents, their parents were on a completely different level.
"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie."
Tong An'an didn't know how she managed to say it.
They were so young, she should have called them brother and sister.
"Hello, hello, don't be nervous, An'an. Our family is very open, very democratic, and we don't adhere strictly to seniority. If you feel awkward calling me Auntie, you can call me by my name. From now on, we're all friends. Come, let me introduce you to your younger brothers and sisters."
Saying this, Jiang Nan Fang affectionately linked her arm and led her to introduce Ge'er and Tian Tian.
One had long hair, the other short. Both were tall, slim, fair-skinned, and beautiful, like delicate flowers.
Seeing her, they eagerly reached out to hold her hand.
"An'an, you're so beautiful. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"What is my brother holding? You brought us gifts, thank you."
Then, Tong An'an met the two younger siblings. After everyone shared the milk tea, they sat down cheerfully.
Because the entire family had high emotional intelligence, the meal was very relaxed and harmonious.
Initially, Tong An'an sat next to Jiang Jingyu, afraid she might feel constrained and need his help.
However, in a short while, she was already hitting it off with Ge'er and Tian Tian, with the three young girls huddled together, whispering.
Jiang Jingyu was left alone, only able to talk to Zhan Bei Jue.
Truthfully, Jiang Jingyu had sent photos that morning.
Seeing Tong An'an's appearance, they had prepared themselves mentally.
But upon seeing her in person, their hearts still skipped a beat.
As the dinner neared its end, seeing the girls chatting happily, Zhan Bei Jue invited Jiang Jingyu out for a smoke.
As father and son stood in the hallway, before any words were spoken, Jiang Jingyu knew what he was going to say.
"Daddy, don't worry. I'm not an 18-year-old kid anymore. I won't be impulsive or rash. I am very serious."
Zhan Bei Jue replied, "I know you are serious. But the premise of your seriousness is that you truly understand. Whether you like her or want to compensate for guilt.
"I can see that An'an is a simple and well-behaved child. Although she looks very much like Jiaying, their personalities are worlds apart. If you are trying to compensate for guilt, it is very unfair to her."
Jiang Jingyu said, "As you said, they only look alike, and their personalities are vastly different. How can I mistake her for Lu Jiaying?
"In the beginning, I noticed her because of her appearance. But now, it's entirely because of who she is. I know what I'm doing."
"That's good." Zhan Bei Jue patted his shoulder.
"You and your sisters were sensible from a young age and didn't cause us much worry. Only when it comes to relationships... Cherish it well. Mom and Dad hope to attend your wedding banquet soon. By the way, Yaoyao is pregnant. You're about to become an uncle."
On the way back, Jiang Jingyu was filled with emotion, feeling like the luckiest person in the world.
Heaven seemed to have arranged all the good things for him. He was grateful and wanted to cherish it all.
He held Tong An'an's hand, bringing it to his lips and refusing to let go for a long time.
Tong An'an, feeling his emotions, also felt very happy.
"I was a little worried before, that since your family is so wealthy, they might look down on me. Today, I'm completely at ease."