"No, I don't feel it's too hard... Yingying is very good to me! She's good to all her employees!"
"Auntie, I, I'll do it myself!"
Fu Zheng, while answering questions, flushed and secretly glanced at Su Ying.
It was obvious that he was truly nervous.
It was understandable; meeting the parents for the first time could make anyone a bit uneasy. He sat properly on the sofa, his hands resting on his knees, looking somewhat lost. He almost knocked over the teacup on the table, his forehead beaded with sweat in his haste.
Seeing him like this, Su Ying couldn't help but laugh, "Aren't you usually so eloquent? How come you can't even speak properly now? Relax, my mom doesn't bite!"
Her teasing made Fu Zheng's face turn even redder.
"Sis, stop teasing him. Can't you see Comrade Xiao Fu is about to steam?" Su He couldn't help but chuckle.
Tang Jiaojiao also spoke up for Fu Zheng, and the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed.
Not long after, Su Chen and Su Lin arrived one after the other.
This time, Su Chen wasn't alone; he brought Jiang Xiaoxiao with him.
"Xiaoxiao is here too!" Tang Jiaojiao expressed surprise upon seeing her goddaughter. However, she didn't think much of it. They knew each other from before, and Jiang Xiaoxiao worked at Su Chen's company, so it was natural for them to come together.
Jiang Xiaoxiao, however, felt inexplicably excited. She dropped Su Chen's hand before entering the house.
"Godmother, I haven't visited you in a while. How has your health been recently?" She stepped forward and gave Tang Jiaojiao a warm hug.
"Good, good, everything is good." Tang Jiaojiao liked the cheerful Jiang Xiaoxiao and talked with her for a long time.
As for Su Chen and Su Lin, they were treated like air from beginning to end.
In the Su family, girls were indeed more cherished than boys.
Su Dazhi came out of the kitchen with a spatula and called them in to help. He was not at all polite when ordering his adopted sons around.
Su Chen and Su Lin exchanged glances and resignedly put on aprons, heading into the kitchen.
Half an hour later, the food was ready, and everyone sat down at the table.
"It's rare for us to be together, so we must have a drink or two." Su Dazhi had just returned from C City and hadn't reunited with his family for a while. Seeing his complete family gathered, he was in a very good mood.
He took out a bottle of aged white wine from the wine cabinet and was about to pour for everyone.
Tang Jiaojiao glared at him. "You have to drive later, why drink?"
Su Dazhi pouted aggrievedly and said, "Just a small cup, it won't matter. Besides, we can still call a designated driver..."
It was a rare moment of joy; she shouldn't spoil it.
"Yes, Mom! We rarely have the chance to get everyone together. Please be lenient and let them have their drink." Su Ying sat down with Fu Zheng and gestured for him to pour the wine for everyone.
Of course, Su He and Tang Jiaojiao were not included in this group.
Su He was pregnant and couldn't drink.
Tang Jiaojiao disliked drinking, finding it too spicy.
"Xiao Fu, sit down! It's your first time here, it's not right to make the guest pour the wine." Tang Jiaojiao took the wine bottle from Su Dazhi, intending to pour for everyone.
Su Ying held her shoulder and said, "I'll do it, I wouldn't dare trouble you!"
Everyone was gathered here today because of her, so it was only natural for her to serve them.
This time, Tang Jiaojiao didn't stand on ceremony and obediently sat back down.
"It's rare that I can drink wine poured by you." Su Chen looked at the clear liquid in his glass and smiled.
Su Ying glared at him and whispered, "Don't get happy too soon! Sooner or later, it will be your turn to toast me!"
As she said this, she glanced meaningfully at Jiang Xiaoxiao, who was sitting next to Su He.
Su Chen lowered his gaze, picked up his glass, and took a sip. He didn't tease her anymore.
Su Ying had won this round and walked away triumphantly.
Su Lin, however, didn't put on airs and directly offered his glass to her. "Thank you."
Seeing him so obedient, Su Ying rewarded him with a pat on the head.
Su Lin: ...
He had just styled his hair, and he had a magazine cover shoot to do this afternoon.
Su He saw this and chuckled, not unkindly.
Su Lin gave her a resentful look, but with Lu Yanbei present, he had to swallow the words he was about to say. Fine, considering she was carrying a baby, he wouldn't argue with her.
The meal was a delightful affair, with everyone enjoying themselves.
Fu Zheng drank the most and was getting quite tipsy.
Everyone present was an important figure, and he dared not refuse their toasts. By the end of the meal, his cheeks were flushed pink, as if he had applied blush, which looked rather amusing.
Su Ying helped him to a seat on the sofa and then went to the kitchen to make him a cup of honey water. "Here, a hangover cure."
"I'm not drunk." Fu Zheng was dazed, but his mind was clear.
"Yes, yes, not drunk." Su Ying tried hard to suppress her laughter. "You're also silly! If you can't drink, don't pretend. Would they force you to drink? You're the one who suffers in the end."
"It's rare that they are willing to accept me, how could I not drink..." Fu Zheng gently shook her hand.
He was truly happy.
He had initially thought they wouldn't like him, especially compared to him, he seemed too ordinary. Moreover, their family backgrounds were not on the same level. In TV dramas, couples like them would always be torn apart.
Fu Zheng had prepared himself mentally before coming.
If they didn't accept him, how would he cope? However, upon arriving, he suddenly realized that all his prepared speeches seemed unnecessary. The Su family was not only warm but also very open-minded. They didn't reject him because of the gap between their families, nor did they mock him. On the contrary, they offered him a lot of encouragement and made him feel warmth he had never experienced before.
This warmth had been absent since his parents brought him back to live with them.
Fu Zheng's nose felt a little sore, and he had the urge to cry.
"You see! I told you, you're so well-behaved, how could they not like you!" Su Ying gently patted his head, letting him lean against her.
Over in the kitchen, Tang Jiaojiao was talking softly with Su He.
"What do you think of your sister's boyfriend? He's actually two years younger than Yingying..." Tang Jiaojiao found it unbelievable. She had thought that a strong woman like Su Ying would find someone even stronger.
After all, seeking strength was human nature.
Su He, however, said, "Younger boyfriends are popular now! Besides, Fu Zheng looks like a puppy, but he's actually strong and mature. Otherwise, Sister Yingying wouldn't have kept him as her assistant."
"You know, her standards are very high, almost to a perverse degree," Su He couldn't help but complain. "How many assistants has she gone through over the years? Only he has lasted the longest."
"What does this tell you? Whether two people are suitable for each other doesn't depend on age or family background, but on compatibility. In my opinion, they are a perfect match."
Tang Jiaojiao looked at the two of them snuggling together in the living room, deep in thought.