Chapter 327: You Used to Call Me “Sister,” and Now It’s “Auntie”?
Life really is a strange and wonderful journey.
Lin Yibai never would have imagined that one day, she would be at the age where people talked about marriage, and as a woman, no less! And that in the near future, she might actually become someone’s wife.
She had been preparing for this for a long time.
Because Xia Changyu’s father had been abroad and only just returned, the visit to his home, which should have happened months ago, kept getting delayed until now.
On the highway to his home, Xia Changyu was driving as fast as he legally could, almost like he was flying a plane. But he couldn’t go too fast. Right now, the most important thing was to get her home safely.
Even Lin Yibai couldn’t help but say, “Slow down! You never used to drive this rough before! I’m starting to feel carsick.”
Was it really that bumpy? Fine, better slow down a bit.
Xia Changyu’s home was only a few hundred kilometers away from Fucheng. It was a coastal city. Small, lively, and prosperous, with its own local industries.
After they got off the highway and drove along the coastal road, Lin Yibai felt like her whole body and mind relaxed. The fresh sea breeze lifted her spirits and made her a little less nervous about meeting his parents.
Who says only girls get nervous about meeting their in-laws?
Even though Lin Yibai had a guy’s mindset, she was still really anxious right now.
The closer they got to Xia Changyu’s home, the heavier the pressure felt.
Finally, when the car turned off the main road and entered a gated community filled with villas, Lin Yibai couldn’t take it anymore. She asked him to stop by the side of the road and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
Trying to steady her nerves, she asked in a small voice, “Are you sure your mom and dad are really easy to get along with?”
Xia Changyu burst out laughing. “I swear, if you feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable or if they’re hard to get along with, then you can punish me however you want, okay?”
How could they not be easy to get along with? His mom had been bugging him every day, asking when he was finally going to bring her home!
At last, the car stopped.
Lin Yibai got out, a little unsteady from the nerves. There was no doubt that Xia Changyu’s house was huge and luxurious.
But she didn’t have the energy to admire it.
Feeling nervous and light-headed, she went to the trunk and pulled out the carefully prepared gifts she brought.
Scenes from countless dramas flashed through her mind, rich ladies looking down on poor girls, threatening them, and finally slapping them in the face with a credit card.
But now that she thought about it…
Getting slapped in the face with a credit card... didn’t sound too bad.
Please, if you must, use a card with a high limit. Then they'll use that money to elope.
The villa was big, really big, but to Lin Yibai’s surprise, it felt strangely empty. There weren’t even any maids or cleaning ladies around. It only had a bit of a “lived-in” feel because someone was still staying there.
She looked around and asked instinctively, “Does your mom usually live here alone?”
Xia Changyu shrugged and said helplessly, “There’s no other way. You know how my dad is, once he starts working, he never stops. And when he travels abroad for business, he’s gone for months at a time.”
Some things aren’t like how they’re shown in dramas. Being a CEO isn’t just about spending money and acting cool. Take Xia Changyu’s dad for example, he wasn’t just making money for himself anymore.
There were so many people in the company, so many families relying on that job.
To put it simply, if the company stopped growing or went bankrupt, a lot of people would lose their jobs.
Lin Yibai understood.
But Xia Changyu quickly explained, afraid she might misunderstand. “But Baiyi, please believe me. I’ll never be like my dad, too busy with work to even come home.”
He was seriously afraid that he might scare her off before they even got married!
After all, no one wants a husband who’s never around. He’s gone for months and months without coming home!
Ding ding clang—
The sound of dishes clinking came from the kitchen.
It was clear that the lady of the house had been busy getting everything ready to welcome her future daughter-in-law. She had already started preparing a big, delicious meal, hoping to make a good impression and make the girl feel happy and welcome.
After all, meeting the parents is a two-way street. It’s not just about whether the parents like the girl, the girl’s feelings matter too.
Lin Yibai gently tugged at Xia Changyu’s sleeve, nervously whispering, “Hey, come with me to meet your mom. I don’t want to go alone.”
Xia Changyu held back a laugh. “Why would you be nervous?”
Lin Yibai snapped, “What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you afraid that your mom and I won’t get along? People always say mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law don’t see eye to eye. What if we end up fighting?”
She admitted she didn’t have the nicest temper. Just because she was going to marry into his family didn’t mean she’d let herself be pushed around.
If they could get along, great.
If not, oh well.
Everything should be fair. She would treat his parents with the same respect she gave her own. But in return, she hoped his parents would love her like her own parents did, not throw a bad attitude at her.
Xia Changyu scratched his head awkwardly. He wasn’t sure how to respond.
But one thing he was sure of, he leaned in and said mysteriously, “Trust me, you and my mom definitely won’t fight. Actually, the two of you will probably team up... to fight someone else.”
Lin Yibai: “Huh?”
Forget it. Whatever.
She took a deep breath and looked toward the kitchen.
She could smell lamb stew mixed with the scent of healing herbs, along with the fresh aroma of steamed seafood. Every family’s mom had her own cooking style.
And this lady of the house. Lin Yibai was sure her cooking wouldn’t disappoint.
Looking at the woman’s slim and busy figure in the kitchen, Lin Yibai suddenly felt like she looked kind of familiar.
But that couldn’t be, right? This was Xia Changyu’s mom. They lived hundreds of kilometers apart. How could she possibly know her?
Right now, what mattered most was making a good first impression.
Lin Yibai took a deep breath and finally spoke, a little awkwardly, “Um, A-Auntie... Hello! I... I’m...”
The kitchen’s exhaust fan was very quiet. Unlike the loud, roaring one in Lin Yibai’s home.
So just as she spoke, the woman at the stove suddenly froze for a second, then turned around quickly and said with a laugh,
“Baiyi… hahaha… my sweet Baiyi, you’re finally here! You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for you. I’ve waited so long the flowers have all wilted!”
Lin Yibai: “Huh?”
Something felt very, very off.
This wasn’t the stiff or awkward meeting she had imagined, and definitely not the kind of scene where the mom is hard to deal with.
What kind of mother-in-law acts like a long-lost best friend the first time they meet?
Xia Zhilan was practically overjoyed. Her son not only brought home his girlfriend, but it was a girl she was 100% happy with! This might be the happiest day she’s had in years.
Lin Yibai still felt a little awkward. “Um, Auntie?”
Please, isn’t this too friendly?
Xia Zhilan quickly brushed her bangs out of her face and pointed at her pretty features excitedly.
“Why are you calling me Auntie? Don’t you remember me? I’m your Sister Zhilan! You used to call me ‘sister’, but now it’s ‘auntie’... how heartbreaking!”
Lin Yibai’s eyes widened in shock. After a moment, she blurted out, “No Way!!”
This was insane!
No wait, to be more accurate, she just realized the “Auntie” she met was actually her future mother-in-law. But calling her “Sister Xia” might actually still be okay.