It was clear that her cousin was restless. Mu Linjing deliberately picked up a tissue from the table and wiped the corners of Zhan Yichen's mouth, "Look how careless you are, getting food all over your mouth."
Knowing that she was being deliberately intimate to assert her claim, Zhan Yichen played along, gently holding her hand. "It's just that Mom's cooking is too delicious."
When she stopped calling his mother "Auntie" and only referred to her as "Mom," Zhang Xinyi immediately became agitated and started pulling at him.
"Brother Yichen, have you forgotten how my sister treated you before? You love her so much, but she doesn't have you in her heart at all. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left without a word and refused to come back for three years. Perhaps she's already found someone else abroad these past three years. She's only returning now because she can't make it abroad anymore, so she's come back to find you."
Zhan Yichen's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. Just as he was about to warn her, Mu Linjing stopped him.
She stood up, took a good look at her sister whom she hadn't seen in three years, and sneered, "What I think and how I've been living abroad, you seem to know better than I do? Zhang Xinyi, since you've said such unpleasant things today, I don't mind telling you, this man is my fiancé. From now on, you can only call him brother-in-law. He can never have any other relationship with you. Do you understand?"
"Brother Yichen, look how my sister is talking to me?"
She still wanted to act spoiled with Zhan Yichen, not realizing how annoying she looked. Zhan Yichen could barely hide his dislike for her, yet she showed no sign of restraint.
Dodging her outstretched hand, Zhan Yichen put his arm around Mu Linjing's shoulders. "I think your sister is right. You should be mindful of your status and not humiliate yourself."
Upon hearing Zhan Yichen's warning, Zhang Xinyi immediately looked wronged, her tearful demeanor might have evoked pity from other men, but today she was facing Zhan Yichen, a man who had no room for her in his heart.
Seeing her daughter being bullied by the two of them, Liu Xin immediately sat down on the floor, throwing a tantrum. "Oh, what did my good daughter do to deserve this? She was just trying to kindly remind them, and now she's being bullied. I'm useless, I can't even protect my own daughter."
Although this was Zhan Yichen's first time seeing this behavior, Mu Linjing had witnessed it countless times.
Ever since they were young, whenever they came to their house wanting something and didn't get it, they would throw a scene like this.
Mu Linjing was already immune to such antics.
She walked up to Liu Xin, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up from the ground. "Auntie, stop pretending. You can't even squeeze out a tear, so why bother acting? Hurry up and leave. You're not welcome here."
With that, she pushed Liu Xin towards the door. Over the years, she had come to understand that this family would take advantage of any kindness shown. The best way to deal with them was to show no mercy.
At this point, Zhang Xinyi, who had been crying and making a scene, joined the struggle. "Sister, if you have any dissatisfaction, take it out on me. Don't treat my mother like this, it's so rude."
Even now, she still managed to insult Mu Linjing.
Mu Linjing didn't hesitate. She slapped Zhang Xinyi directly, and the scene immediately fell silent, with only Zhang Xinyi holding her face, looking at Mu Linjing in disbelief.
"Mu Linjing, how dare you hit me?" In her desperation, she no longer addressed Mu Linjing as "sister."
Mu Linjing casually clapped her hands. "Didn't you say to take it out on you? I'm just being rude, so what?"
Seeing the way they had acted since they arrived today, Mu Linjing guessed that her parents had likely been harassed by them frequently during her absence. She had long been fed up with this family, and this slap was considered light.
Zhang Xinyi, in her fury, shrieked and lunged at Mu Linjing. With Zhan Yichen in between them, there was no way she could reach Mu Linjing. He flicked his arm, sending her flying to the side. "Zhang Xinyi, don't push your luck. Have you completely forgotten the desperate situation your family was in three years ago in Pengcheng?"
His words were quite impactful, immediately causing the faces of the mother and daughter to change drastically. Three years ago, they didn't even have a place to live in Pengcheng and worked for half a year for nothing. How could they forget such a miserable experience?
And all of this stemmed from the man standing before them.
Liu Xin instinctively pulled her daughter back a few steps. "Mr. Zhan, we apologize. We were out of line."
Zhang Xinyi also sensed that Zhan Yichen was about to get angry, and quickly retreated with her mother from the Mu family's home, leaving them in peace.
After this farce ended, Zhan Yichen thought that Mu Linjing would be too upset to continue eating. He quickly comforted her, "Don't be angry. When we get married, we can move Mom and Dad in with us. Then we won't have to see these relatives anymore."
But he was wrong this time. Mu Linjing's good mood was not ruined. Instead, she became playful and, imitating Zhang Xinyi's saccharine tone, stretched out her hand to him. "Brother Yichen, my hand hurts so much from that slap."
Zhan Yichen was initially taken aback, but upon realizing she was imitating Zhang Xinyi, he couldn't help but laugh. "Then, Brother Yichen will blow on it for you, okay?"
"Ugh, that's too cheesy, no, no," Mu Linjing waved her hands repeatedly. "If I have to speak like that, I'd want to slap myself."
Zhan Yichen gently rubbed her palm and chuckled, "How could that be? You sound very cute like this."
"Is this love?"
Zhan Yichen nodded in agreement. "No matter what, you are always the best in my eyes."
Mu Linjing was feeling rather pleased when she suddenly remembered her parents were watching. Judging by their expressions, they were clearly enjoying the sweet moment.
"Uncle and Auntie, please sit down. Let's continue our discussion."
They had been discussing wedding matters. Zhan Yichen believed that marriage was a matter for both families, and while fulfilling Mu Linjing's wishes, he should also do his best to meet his parents' requirements. Therefore, he inquired about their wishes.
Unexpectedly, Aunt Mu glared at him reproachfully upon hearing his address. "You child, you were just calling us Mom and Dad, why did you change it now?"
"Ah?"
Zhan Yichen was also taken aback by this sudden reprimand. He had called them "Mom and Dad" earlier to go along with Mu Linjing, never expecting that it would strike a chord with Aunt Mu.
"What 'ah' for? Aren't you planning to marry my daughter? You'll have to call us Mom and Dad sooner or later."
From her tone, it seemed that "Mom and Dad" sounded more pleasing to her ears than "Uncle and Auntie." Zhan Yichen couldn't help but smile foolishly.
He hadn't felt anything before, but now he was a little embarrassed.
"Yes, Mom and Dad. I'll have to call you that from now on."