Chapter 326: First Impressions Matter
When she woke again, it was already morning.
Slowly opening her eyes, she felt completely refreshed and full of energy. Then last night’s memories hit her all at once, and her face turned red on instinct, though she couldn’t stop the small smile that followed.
It wasn’t until she moved slightly that she realized they were still wrapped in each other’s arms.
Only then did she notice Xia Changyu lying beside her, still dead asleep, arms draped over her like a human blanket. He looked completely drained, as if someone had stolen all his strength.
She stretched like a cat in the sunlight, glancing sideways at her boyfriend beside her.
They really overdid it yesterday, huh?
“Changyu?” she called softly.
No response. Just the gentle rise and fall of his back and a faint mumble about wanting five more minutes.
Lin Yibai smiled, pulling the blanket over him a little more. "Rest well, I will make breakfast."
She slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to wake him. The floor was cool beneath her feet, a soft contrast to the warmth they’d shared all night.
But before doing anything else, she looked down at herself and frowned. Her skin felt sticky and she needed a shower.
She stepped into the bathroom and turned on the warm water. As the water ran over her, she felt more awake and clean. When she finished, she dried off, brushed her hair, and changed into fresh clothes, a soft cream-colored top and loose shorts that were comfortable but still looked nice. She gave herself a small smile in the mirror.
“Hehe, I’m so pretty~”
Now that she was clean and dressed, it was time to make breakfast.
In the kitchen, the morning sun came through the windows, making the room look bright and calm. She opened the fridge and saw eggs, tomatoes, and leftover rice. Good, just right for fried rice.
She started chopping the vegetables and heating the pan. The smell of garlic filled the air as she cooked. She added the rice, eggs, and vegetables, stirring everything together. Last, she sprinkled some green onions on top.
The house was still quiet, so she decided to clean a little while breakfast cooled.
"Why is Changyu's place so dirty? Oh right, how could I forget, he hasn't been here since he started staying at her place, right?"
It was clear the house hadn't been visited for a long time, dust covered everything. She started by sweeping the floors and then clean the table tops and any visible dirty patches.
Soon, the whole apartment looked much neater. It wasn’t perfect, but it was far more fit to live in. She looked around and felt a small sense of pride.
Just then, she heard soft footsteps coming from the bedroom and the sound of the door opening.
A sleepy voice called out, “Baiyi… is that garlic fried rice I smell?”
She turned around with a smile. “Perfect timing. Breakfast is ready.”
“Mmm… this smells amazing,” he mumbled, giving her a sleepy hug from behind. “You’re too good to me.”
Lin Yibai laughed softly. “Go clean yourself first quickly. I don’t serve breakfast to zombies.”
He chuckled and did as she said, returning a few minutes later looking a little more awake. They sat at the table together, digging into the warm fried rice.
For a while, they ate in comfortable silence.
Then Lin Yibai set her chopsticks down and looked at him, her fingers gently tapping the edge of the plate. “…So. About the day after tomorrow.”
Xia Changyu blinked, confused for a second. Then it clicked. “Ah, right. Meeting my parents.”
She nodded, trying to keep her face calm, but the slight furrow in her brow betrayed her true feelings.
“You’re nervous,” he said, leaning forward a little.
“Of course I’m nervous,” she admitted, looking down at her plate. “It’s the first time I’m meeting them. What if they don’t like me? What if I say something wrong?”
“They’re going to like you, trust me.” he said simply, without hesitation.
She gave a weak smile but didn’t look convinced.
What if they don’t like me? What if I say something weird? What if I accidentally wear something inappropriate and end up on a family group chat as a joke material?!
Lin Yibai took another bite of rice, then hesitated before speaking again. “Actually… I was thinking of going to the mall today.”
Xia Changyu raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
She nodded, setting her chopsticks down. “I want to buy a small gift for your parents. Something thoughtful, but not too much. And maybe… some proper clothes. You know, something a little more presentable than my usual stuff.”
He smiled gently. “You already look great in anything.”
But Lin Yibai instead gave him a stare, like she was saying, 'I'm not joking, you know!'
Xia Changyu: "Sorry, sorry, let's finish our meal first, I'll accompany you shopping later."
Later that day, after finishing their breakfast and other things in the morning, the two of them headed to the mall.
Xia Changyu asked, “Are you sure we need to do this today?”
“Yes,” Lin Yibai said firmly. “We only have two days, and I’m not going to show up looking like I didn’t prepare. First impressions matter!”
Xia Changyu sighed but nodded, following her. Actually, he wanted to say that there was no need to give any gift, just showing herself was enough to make his mom very happy.
She marched them straight into a gift shop, eyes scanning the shelves like she was planning a heist.
“This is too bland. This one’s too flashy. This one’s… what even is this?” she muttered, picking up a crystal pineapple.
Eventually, she settled on a beautiful porcelain tea set, classic and elegant, and paired it with a box of high-quality dried fruits.
“I don't have much money to buy something more expensive, will these items be accepted?” She asked, turning to him.
Xia Changyu: “Rest assured, they’ll be accepted.”
Next stop: clothes.
Lin Yibai stared at herself in the mirror, holding up two different outfits, one soft and flowy dress, the other more formal.
"Which one do you think your parents will like?" Lin Yibai asked.
Xia Changyu: "I like both."
Lin Yibai frowned slightly. "Hmph, I’m asking which one your parents like, not you!"
Xia Changyu shrugged casually. "My parents aren’t old-fashioned people who control what kind of clothes their daughter-in-law should wear. Whichever one you pick, they’ll love you. Probably more than they love me.”
She rolled her eyes, but the compliment helped.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in my life, every outfit suits you,” he answered honestly.
But Lin Yibai didn’t take that seriously and said, “I’m serious.”
Xia Changyu couldn’t help but find her reaction funny, it was unlike her usually calm character.
Then he said, “Baiyi, I’ve never lied about that. If you don’t believe me, I’ll call everyone in this store to ask for their opinions, how about that?”
“No need!”
That evening, after a day of shopping and an additional date afterward, Lin Yibai leaned back in the car seat and let out a deep breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Her hands rested lightly on the bag containing the porcelain tea set, the one she had spent nearly an hour choosing. The box of dried fruits sat beside it, carefully wrapped by the shop clerk. And also her new outfit to wear later.
The gift is ready. The outfit is picked. All that’s left is… her.
She glanced sideways at Xia Changyu. He was focused on the road, softly humming along to the song playing on the radio.
He noticed her looking and turned toward her, flashing a smile. “You’ve been amazing today. I feel like you’re taking this more seriously than your civil service exam prep.”
“Of course I am! I mean… it’s your parents. What if they think I'm not serious if I go there empty-handed? What if I accidentally wear something inappropriate?!”
Xia Changyu could only smile at her, then said, "I’ll be by your side, so don’t be afraid, okay? Everything will be fine."
As they drove back to his place, city lights flickering past the windows like soft lanterns, Lin Yibai leaned her head against the seat and watched them blur into lines of gold and blue.
She really, really wanted this to go well…
She didn’t need to impress them with perfection. But she wanted them to see how serious she was about Xia Changyu, about their future, about everything they were building together.
And maybe, just maybe, after it’s all said and done… she’d hear those simple, warm words, ‘You’re welcome in this family.’
She closed her eyes, whispered to herself, “Please let everything go smoothly.”
And with that quiet hope in her heart, the car rolled gently into the night.