Chapter 137: Reluctance (Late Night)

"Qingchen, your injuries..."

The person who had just arrived stopped mid-sentence, their words trailing off.

Before them, not far away, a delicate girl dressed in soft, pastel colors was holding a bowl of soup, carefully feeding it to that burly, hulking man. What was more, the boy—who was usually so arrogant and aloof, with his nose perpetually in the air—was currently watching the girl with a smitten, doting expression, his eyes crinkling with smiles.

It was... truly breathtaking, almost too much to witness!

"What is this..."

"Mom, Dad, this is Qingcheng."

Mu Qingcheng: "...!!!!"

Father Si: "...!!!!"

Mother Si: "...!!!!"

That single, casual remark from Si Qingchen left three people who had nothing to do with each other wearing the exact same expression: one of shock, bewilderment, and utter disbelief, mingled with a lingering, awkward confusion.

After a long silence, Mu Qingcheng was the first to regain her composure. She set down the spoon, stood up, and with a face burning as if it were on fire, said nervously, "Uncle, Auntie, it is nice to meet you."

"Oh, hello, hello."

"Ah, yes, hello. Please, sit, do sit down."

Both seasoned veterans of life, they had never expected to encounter such a scene. Fortunately, Mother Si reacted quickly, stepping forward to take Mu Qingcheng’s hand. After a brief look, she gently pressed her shoulders, urging her to sit back down. The couple then took their own seats.

Only then did it dawn on Mu Qingcheng what Si Qingchen had meant when he said they were "not anyone important"...

He had meant his own parents.

'This old man is truly unreliable.'

Mu Qingcheng began to realize that she had been hoodwinked by Si Qingchen into meeting his parents, completely unprepared. Though she maintained a nervous smile on her face, she could no longer hide her bashfulness under the table. She reached out and pinched the soft flesh of the man’s thigh with all her might.

In response, the man merely gave a subtle, hooked smile, reached out, and trapped her hand firmly against his leg.

Mu Qingcheng turned her head to look at him, her expression one of utter disbelief. Yet, the man remained unmoved, his voice calm and unruffled as he said, "Qingcheng, the soup isn't finished yet."

"..."

Mu Qingcheng frowned, not moving. Si Qingchen, naturally, was patient. He continued to watch her, but spoke to his parents, "Dad, Mom, please go ahead and eat. Otherwise, Qingcheng will only get more embarrassed."

"Si Qingchen!"

"Right, right, let’s eat, let’s eat." Mother Si immediately nodded along with her son, nudging her husband’s elbow. "Old Si, why are you just staring? Drink your soup!"

"Ah? Oh, right, the soup. Drink the soup."

The two of them lowered their heads, but their gazes kept drifting toward the pair across the table.

On her side, Mu Qingcheng knew she couldn't outwit this cunning man, so she resignedly picked up the soup bowl again. However, in the next second, she said, "The soup has gone cold. I'll get you a fresh bowl."

"Alright."

Si Qingchen nodded and finally released her hand.

A while later, once Si Qingchen had finished his hard-earned bowl of soup with apparent satisfaction, Mother Si, having held back for as long as she could, seized the opportunity. "Qingchen, how are your injuries?"

"They're fine, though Father was a bit ruthless this time."

"Hmph."

This remark immediately drew a disgruntled snort from Father Si. He set down his utensils and frowned, reprimanding him, "That’s only because you refused to admit it. If only—"

Perhaps realizing that Mu Qingcheng was still present, Father Si paused before continuing, "You say you made contact, yet you still let them slip away. I think the punishment you received was light."

'Slipped away? Who are they talking about... slipping away?'

Mu Qingcheng instinctively looked at Si Qingchen, only to find that he was already looking at her. The man lifted a hand to gently brush her cheek, while speaking to his father, "You want me to capture my own savior? I couldn't bear to do that."

Mu Qingcheng: "!!!!"